Chapter 45

Jiang Xiaotong the "master of none" was what the man claimed once. But the crowd seemed to think that he was a master tamer, evident with his many contracted beasts. Befriending beasts and taming them took a special innate skill that not many possessed. Though Mimi noted that Jiang Xiaotong was exactly what he claimed himself to be a "master of none". His cultivation technique was a mix from all schools of cultivation. Now knowing that Jiang Xiaotong was affiliated to all of these cultivators it made sense how he achieved it.

Jin Liwei and Li Jiayi were the ones with the most subtle background. It took Mimi a short while to dig up any sort of information regarding them, and it was very sparse. Jin Liwei was the accountant responsible for handling monetary affairs in his former sect. While Li Jiayi was a descendant of a long line of librarians.

Tian Mengshen personally could not see how these two fit into the group, they were rather unremarkable amongst the extraordinary.

Lan Jianhong the son of Xiulan sect's Sect Leader, the one meant to inherit the Xiulan sect yet he denied his position as heir, instead tossing it to his brother. All so he could build "buildings". To sum it up he was a fool, this was according to Mimi. Tian Mengshen will give Lan Jianhong the benefit of his doubt.

Feng Delun's mastery in the arts of arrays was unmatched in the entire realm. He was undoubtedly the one who had placed all of those arrays formation in the kitchen. Tian Mengshen would like to see this man face off against another master of arrays, unfortunately the latter had reached the heavens. And judging from the Golden Crowned Lord's actions, the Immortal decision to remain within the mortal plain would surely influence Feng Delun's decision to not ascend.

Then there was the strongest man in the entire mortal realm in this era, the only man to have broke through and reached the immortal stage of cultivation in three thousand years, lauded as the Golden Crowned Lord, Ming Yongnian. His prowess was well known throughout the realms. Moving mountains, lakes, and even the seas. This man had done it all.

Tian Mengshen chuckled in his heart, who had given the man the grand title "Golden Crowned Lord" he wondered. The immortal was wearing no golden crown, his hair fell lazily over his back. Not a single hair stick was at sight. He sees no "Golden Crowned Lord", could Ming Yongnian former Sect spread the title on purpose to the masses? It would not be surprising.

Also, he could not read the motives the man known as Kaijun has. What a very rare occurrence, Tian Mengshen usually could somewhat sense a person's purpose. Their intent. There was not even any wind or storm indicating that Ming Yongnian had an older brother, who was known as Kaijun. Even this piece of news was something Mimi had yet to hear. Or the old ghost knew but was under a binding contract.

"What's this? You are choosing this Lord's child's a name without inviting me? How rude."

Tian Mengshen did not sense the man's arrival, what was more surprising was the identity of the man standing in front of the door. Mo Huijun the Devil Venerable had arrived.

***

"Mo Huijun, put my daughter down."

"My daughter does not require anyone's attention but this Lord's, least of all 'your' attention."

A week had passed since Tian Mengshen's arrival. In the span of one week he had earned much knowledge.

"My daughter does require my attention, especially when a man happens to hang her upside down over his shoulder, tied with a rope." The immortal's voice was frigid.

Dangling behind the Devil Venerable was the baby. Tied using a rope bundled like a pupa. The baby had been hung upside down like this ever since the sun had risen beyond the horizon. The child looked rather lifeless… not that she was dead. Rather she was deadpanning as her body swayed following the Devil Venerable's movements.

Mo Huijun chuckled. "It could not be my daughter you're speaking of. She's feeling all the love I'm providing her with gratefulness."

"Ah, ahh."

Kaijun cleared his throat. "Ahem, your daughter was saying, and I quote 'I feel dizzy, I'm going to puke'. I think it's best if you let Xiaobao down now."

"When have I given you explicit permission to name my child?" A vein seems to bulge on the Devil Venerable's neck out of annoyance.

Kaijun ignored Mo Huijun's question, and instead offered, "Maybe you and Nian should name your child?"

Ming Yongnian, "MY daughter."

Mo Huijun, "She is only this Lord's child, no one else's."

A thunder fell somewhere from the sky in the distance.

Kaijun sighed full of agony for the umpteenth time. The Immortal's older brother had been sighing a million in a day for the entire week. At least it's a good way for him to exercise his lungs.

A vast knowledge which Tian Mengshen shelved into the category of eccentricities.

BANG!

The front door fell to the ground with a loud noise. Lai Meihui came bursting into the house with vengeance in the air. Her was floating around, while her face was twisted as she screamed, "Which one of you ate MY lotus seeds?!"

"Why is everyone putting a capital 'my' in their sentence today." Kaijun commented while rubbing his forehead, which was ignored by Lai Meihui. "Oh, it's not me since you're asking."

Lan Jianhong paused his inspection, and answered, "It's also not me this time. I've been busy with the silver tree wood." The man in blue had been drooling over every single piece of silver tree wood he received from Jiang Xiaotong for an entire week. With no breaks, he would not even move from his spot if someone had not told him to move.

This time? Did you steal her food the last time, Tian Mengshen asked in his heart.

"I'm busy drafting Mengshen's contract." Li Jiayi stated. His eyes glued to the parchment in front of him, his hand holding the brush constantly moves.

Jin Liwei followed with his own statement of, "Exclude me from your suspect list, I don't like lotus seeds."

Growling Lai Meihui eyes searched for the others. "Where are the others?"

Feng Delun shook his head, he didn't know where the rest were. He wasn't exactly stretching his spiritual senses. He could've found them, but Lai Meihui could do it herself. So he settled with, "They should be nearby."

Lai Meihui stalked out of the house.

Yes, Tian Mengshen indeed gained a vast knowledge, ones pertaining to this era's best and brightest group of cultivators.

"So it was all of YOU!!!" Lai Meihui shouted.

The woman's voice was loud enough that Tian Mengshen heard the house creaking. Tian Mengshen was rather impressed with the house Lan Jianhong had built. The house had been subjected to a Nascent Soul and higher cultivator's bursts of spiritual energy for the past week. It remained standing against all odds.

Why Tian Mengshen who was living in the same house as these cultivators with high cultivation bases was alive, it was because his Shifu had made sure that he was well protected. She had casted a protective barrier around him, in case one of his martial uncles or aunts decided to throw their weight around. Like what Lai Meihui was doing right now.

From inside the house Tian Mengshen heard the conversation outside.

"Little sister, be careful you'll waste the lotus seeds!"

That sounded like Tian Mengshen's Shifu.

"If I can't have it all, no one should!"

"Meihui stop being such a child." That was Wu Jinjing complaining.

"Hey, no one called dibs on who's lotus seeds these were. Huifang bought it for everyone." And Tian Mengshen was certain that, that voice was Jiang Xiaotong's.

"Lotus seeds are my favorites, obviously it is MINE!" Lai Meihui shouted louder.

"We can always buy some more." Jie Qiqiang tried to calm the woman, or at least Tian Mengshen was sure that was Jie Qiqiang's voice. The man did not seem to cross him as someone who would take others' food, even though it was never Lai Meihui's food.

"We're on a budget, getting money from Liwei is like trying to tell him to get in bed with me." Lai Meihui stated.

"I heard that." Jin Liwei said from where he was.

Their conversation began to thread into dangerous waters that were not suitable for a child to listen to. Something relating to Lai Meihui thirst— The Immortal swiftly casted a silencing array surrounding them, sheltering their ears from a certain woman's thirst talk.

What an incredibly vast and eccentric knowledge Tian Mengshen had gained. Knowledge which Mimi would crave for. Knowledge which Tian Mengshen did not require, though it was entertaining to watch these cultivators interaction. The heavens watching above must be pleased with the entertainment these group of cultivators provided.

The Devil Venerable hummed.