Chapter Forty-Eight: Forced Demands

Reading those few short lines, Tu Tianxiong was already overwhelmed with excitement. He was a mutated single-root ice element cultivator, a rare prodigy in the Tu family in the last six hundred years, cherished by the entire clan and provided with abundant resources. In the end, he became a disciple of the Forge Heaven Valley's legacy, with the potential to become the next valley master—a beacon of hope for his sect and the future of Forge Heaven Valley.

Since childhood, he had always focused solely on his goals, measuring everything by the end result. It was this attitude that allowed him, at such a young age, to become one of the top ten young talents among the great sects of Gale Continent, earning the title of the Ninth Son of Gale.

Dao Sansheng watched as the two argued, finally calming with some effort. The Grand Elder turned to him, beckoning him closer. Dao Sansheng hesitated for a moment but slowly walked over. The Grand Elder handed him a storage pouch.

“This is your reward for this sect mission. Keep it well. Inside is an inner sect disciple token and a Foundation Establishment Pill. Once you receive them, train diligently and strive to establish your foundation as soon as possible.”

Dao Sansheng accepted the items. The Grand Elder gestured for him to leave quickly. Dao Sansheng noticed nothing unusual, only that the Grand Elder’s expression seemed somewhat grim, so he quietly withdrew.

At last, he could leave that doghouse of a place—the chaotic, faction-ridden outer sect. He was about to enter the inner sect. Dao Sansheng opened the storage pouch and inside, he saw a small blue porcelain bottle. When he uncorked it, a wave of medicinal fragrance drifted out. Dao Sansheng quickly closed the bottle again.

There was also a silvery token, its front engraved with five interconnected peaks—the five main mountains of the sect. On the back was a large iron hammer, inscribed with “Forge Heaven Valley Inner Sect Disciple.”

The token immediately drew Dao Sansheng’s spiritual energy into it. “Qi Refining, seventh layer, intermediate level. Dao Sansheng, Forge Heaven Valley Inner Sect Disciple.” All his information was recorded there. Dao Sansheng fiddled with the little object, intrigued.

Upon seeing this message, Tu Tianxiong could not bother to speak with his senior brother or continue cultivating. He immediately flew down the mountain without a moment’s hesitation.

The senior brother stood holding a steaming dish, unsure what to say. He had long since dispensed with eating, so he didn’t even know who the food was for. Staring at the departing figure, he mumbled, “Junior brother must have found some breakthrough elixir, or else he wouldn’t run off so fast.”

A figure descended from the sky, landing on the path where Dao Sansheng was passing. He saw a man dressed in white gauze, hands clasped behind his back, with his hair ribbon and robe fluttering in the wind—a figure of transcendent bearing.

“You must be Dao Sansheng. I hardly need an introduction—no one in the sect doesn’t know me.”

The man’s gaze was fixed on the distance, his face full of scorn and arrogance. He didn’t move an inch, not even shifting his stance.

“You're a celebrity, but I don’t chase stars. Please step aside; you’re blocking my way home.”

Dao Sansheng had no intention of engaging with him, only wanting to hurry back and pack for the inner sect.

“You really don’t know me? I’m Tu Tianxiong, the sect master’s personal disciple!”

Tu Tianxiong was surprised. This fellow had been at the sect for so long and never heard of him—what ignorance.

“You’re not my junior sister, and I’m not interested in you. Why would I ask about you? Do you want men fawning over you? That’s just perverse.”

Dao Sansheng brushed past, pushing him aside. Tu Tianxiong’s attempt to act superior failed, and he was at a loss for words, unsure how to prompt Dao Sansheng to hand over the item.

“Do you want to join the inner sect? I can recommend you.”

Dao Sansheng shot him a glare and replied irritably, “No need, thanks.”

“I have a Foundation Establishment Pill. Answer one question for me and it’s yours.”

He produced a blue porcelain bottle. Dao Sansheng pulled out his own, imitating Tu Tianxiong’s gesture, shaking the bottle in his hand.

“What do you really want? We can make a deal. Just hand over that item.”

Dao Sansheng finally stopped, realizing this man had the same purpose as the Elder Tu in the council hall earlier. It seemed Elder Tu had tipped him off, and now escape was impossible.

His eyes flickered with cunning as he pinched his chin, feigning deep thought and sighing with exaggerated regret.

“It seems I can’t hold onto this item. ‘An innocent man gets into trouble for carrying a treasure.’ Senior brother, whatever terms I set, will you agree?” Dao Sansheng probed his sincerity.

“Let my friend into the inner sect and give me ten thousand top-grade spirit stones.” Dao Sansheng thought he was asking a lot, but to his surprise, the other agreed instantly. Clearly, he’d asked for too little, and he regretted it at once.

Tu Tianxiong handed over a storage pouch. Dao Sansheng channeled spiritual energy into his dantian, extracted some icy qi from the Yin-Yang Fish’s Ice Fish, and condensed it into an ice bead in his palm. It was identical to the one produced by the ice corpse, both in appearance and chilling aura.

He passed it to Tu Tianxiong, who inspected it with spiritual energy. As described in the books, every characteristic matched. He had worried about the quality, but this was perfect.

Dao Sansheng’s eyes twinkled. “Senior brother Tu, you’ve seen the item. Are you satisfied with my sincerity?”

Tu Tianxiong nodded. “Brother, from now on in Forge Heaven Valley, you have my protection. No one will dare bully you, or they’ll answer to me. I’m pleased today—let’s have a drink at your humble abode and show the outer sect that you’re under my wing.”

Dao Sansheng still wasn’t sure how long the item would last—it was, after all, a fake. Given time, the truth would come out, and the risk outweighed the gain. He politely declined several times.

But Tu Tianxiong insisted, and so the two of them set off toward the outer sect’s residential quarters together.

Chao Xiong, after calling someone “Grandfather,” was still pinned to the ground. Young Master Liu had already made him mimic all sorts of spirit beast cries and even ordered him to slap himself a few times. The group, half-drunk, was still in high spirits.

One after another, they came up with ideas. Chao Xiong’s hair was disheveled, his clothes torn and filthy, his face unrecognizable.

“Master, this kid is already like a dog. Tell him to go west, he wouldn’t dare go east. Tell him to drink, and he’ll finish every drop.”

“Sun Dali, all you know is drinking—you’re already puking your guts out. Master, I have a good idea. Isn’t this kid always hanging around with Dao Sansheng, acting like you don’t exist? I say, make him curse that guy out. That’ll make you feel better.”

Young Master Liu, half-asleep from drink, perked up at this suggestion, his mind already spinning with ideas.

“That’s a great idea—I’ll take it.” Hearing this new game, Young Master Liu’s interest was rekindled. He was already bored of tormenting the boy, and this suggestion came just in time.