Chapter 42: The Three No Cultivator
As the words fell, He Song's figure had already started moving to the side.
Although maintaining the Spirit Rain Technique while walking was somewhat challenging, He Song carefully manipulated the spell as he moved away from Chen Zhou, determined to avoid seeing him any longer.
Faced with such an obtuse cultivator, He Song remained cautious but unafraid. After all, within this Immortal Market, there was no reason to fear.
Chen Zhou was merely a Spirit Planter at the fourth level of Qi Refinement—comparable in cultivation to He Song.
Even in the event of an ambush, He Song, ever vigilant, was confident that Chen Zhou could do him no harm.
Moreover, Chen Zhou appeared to lack connections or influence. Otherwise, he wouldn't have so easily lost two acres of spirit farmland to Zhao Lin, who transferred them to He Song's name.
And when faced with the sudden loss of his land, rather than confronting Zhao Lin, Chen Zhou approached He Song to propose an exchange—revealing a timid and opportunistic nature.
No background.
No threat.
No courage.
With such a cultivator, He Song saw no reason to fear him.
Though these thoughts settled in his mind, He Song decided to visit the Spirit Herb Pavilion later to ask Zhao Lin to investigate Chen Zhou's background.
If there was nothing to uncover, all would be well.
But if Chen Zhou did have something hidden, He Song might have no choice but to enlist help to eliminate this potential trouble.
"You..."
Nearby, hearing He Song's words, Chen Zhou's face flushed red. He pointed at He Song as if wanting to speak, but after several trembling attempts, he ultimately said nothing.
Stomping his foot in frustration, Chen Zhou, seeing He Song focused on maintaining the Spirit Rain Technique and ignoring him, hesitated for a moment before leaving begrudgingly.
He Song's cold rejection, along with his connection to a manager at the Spirit Herb Pavilion, left Chen Zhou angry but too intimidated to press further.
A manager at the Spirit Herb Pavilion was a figure of real authority. For a lowly Spirit Planter like Chen Zhou, such a person was as unreachable as the heavens.
He couldn't afford to provoke someone like that.
Nor could he afford to provoke He Song, the friend of such a powerful figure.
So, he had no choice but to leave.
As Chen Zhou walked away, He Song faintly overheard mutterings like "bully," "tyrant," "oppressive," and "relying on connections."
He Song paid no mind to this, though. He simply followed Chen Zhou with his gaze, silently noting the direction in which he left.
Soon after, He Song finished watering the newly allocated two acres of farmland.
Rather than heading directly to the Spirit Herb Pavilion, He Song leisurely walked in the direction Chen Zhou had taken.
Unfortunately, after walking for quite some time, He Song was unable to determine where Chen Zhou resided.
Left with no other options, He Song returned home.
Once back home, He Song picked up a piece of paper and began to write:
"Brother Zhao,
Today, while watering the spirit farmlands, I encountered a man named Chen Zhou, a fourth-level Qi Refinement cultivator.
He offered me ten spirit stones, claiming the two acres of farmland previously belonged to him, and requested to exchange land with me. I refused, and he left begrudgingly.
I hope you can investigate this man's background for me. My cultivation level is low, and I fear retaliation.
If there is anything unusual, I hope you will let me know.
He Song"
At the Spirit Herb Pavilion, Zhao Lin soon received He Song's message through a transmitting paper crane.
After carefully reading it, Zhao Lin frowned and then destroyed the paper.
Zhao Lin felt a surge of inexplicable irritation.
He couldn't help but curse silently:
"Helping a friend with such difficulty, and this Chen Zhou just adds to my troubles."
Having completed the task for his friend, Zhao Lin had left loose ends. Now, with He Song's message asking him to investigate Chen Zhou's background to guard against retaliation, it felt like a slap to Zhao Lin's face.
He had painstakingly helped his friend, only to botch the follow-through and leave potential issues unresolved.
And to think, he had reassured He Song back then with words like "Don't worry, it's all taken care of."
Recalling what he had said, Zhao Lin was now filled with awkward regret.
How could he face He Song in the future with his head held high?
These thoughts gradually darkened Zhao Lin's expression.
Without further delay, he reached for a thick tome nearby and began flipping through it rapidly.
After a long while, Zhao Lin finally lifted his head, his heart faintly tightening.
"Chen Zhou, fourth-level Qi Refinement cultivator, wandering cultivator, age 31."
"Three years ago, he was recruited into the Immortal Market and became a Spirit Planter. He has remained in this role to this day."
The investigation bore fruit.
Chen Zhou had indeed been recruited three years ago.
And three years ago...
A glimmer of recollection passed through Zhao Lin's eyes, his expression growing obscure.
Three years ago.
That was when True Master Chengshan left the Immortal Market, and soon after, Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market suffered the evil cultivators attack!
After that calamity, the Spirit Herb Pavilion eased its restrictions on recruiting Spirit Planters.
The Immortal Market had lost many Spirit Planters during the attack, leaving spirit farmlands untended. The leadership of the Immortal Market had been desperate to fill the vacancies.
At that time, Zhao Lin, fulfilling his responsibilities, had recruited one wandering cultivator after another.
Chen Zhou must have been one of those recruited then.
A hint of caution flickered in Zhao Lin's eyes.
A wandering cultivator.
Someone from such a background who could reach the mid-stage of Qi Refinement before joining the Immortal Market—Chen Zhou was not ordinary.
Surviving the precarious early stages of Qi Refinement as a wandering cultivator and advancing to the mid-stage was no small feat.
The difficulty was immense, yet Chen Zhou had managed to overcome it.
This alone suggested that Chen Zhou was far more capable than he appeared on the surface.
With this realization, Zhao Lin quickly pulled out a piece of paper and began writing:
"Chen Zhou, fourth-level Qi Refinement cultivator, wandering cultivator, age 31."
"Three years ago, he was recruited into the Immortal Market as a Spirit Planter. He remains in this role to this day."
"This is all I could find. However, based on my speculation, Chen Zhou's ability to reach the mid-stage of Qi Refinement as a wandering cultivator suggests he is not as simple as he seems."
"Be cautious. This matter arose because of me, and I deeply regret the trouble it has caused you. If you need assistance, I will not hesitate to help."
"I hope you will not hold this against me."
"Zhao Lin."
Not long after, He Song, who was cultivating at home, received Zhao Lin's paper crane message.
Sweeping his eyes over the words, He Song's brows gradually furrowed.
"Three years ago, he joined the Spirit Herb Pavilion as a Spirit Planter. Yet, before that, he was already a fourth-level Qi Refinement cultivator."
Zhao Lin's speculation wasn't baseless—in fact, it might be close to the truth.
But then again, the Chen Zhou he had encountered…
No background.
No threat.
No courage.
How could this align with Zhao Lin's analysis?
If He Song remembered correctly, Chen Zhou had acted utterly submissive in front of him, so much so that he didn't even dare utter a harsh word when leaving.
Only after walking some distance away had Chen Zhou muttered phrases like "bully," "tyrant," and "relying on connections."
How could this timid, cowardly person be the same Chen Zhou with a capable and resilient past?
<+>
Tn: If you want to see more chapter of this story, please join my Patreon, for $5 each month, you can read all of the available chapter.
Patreon Account:
Latest Chapter In Patreon:
Link to the latest chapter: