29: Chapter 29 Using power to intimidate others, and leveraging their strength against them!

In the darkness, Gu Changsheng's eyes were shockingly bright.

Those few lines of pale golden text were deeply carved into his mind like a brand.

Yunhe Commandery, the Wang Family, ancient spirit well, yin essence of the great moon.

Most importantly, there were those two words: Low Risk.

This was simply someone sending a pillow right when he was feeling sleepy. He was just worrying about his Bottleneck, and the System immediately provided a perfect solution—and an absolutely safe one at that.

He had to go on this mission.

Gu Changsheng sat up from the cold stone bed but did not set off immediately. He habitually reviewed the entire plan in his mind.

The mission was to assist in recruiting new Disciples; this was a perfect cover that would make his actions in Yunhe Commandery seem reasonable.

As for the location of the target "yin essence of the great moon," the Wang Family was merely a local mortal Family, and their strongest member was only at the jade capital wheel stage; they didn't even have a single Qi Refining Cultivator.

For an Inner Sect Disciple at the Qi Refining Second Layer like him, this truly posed no threat.

But what Gu Changsheng believed in was absolute safety. Any trace of an accident had to be nipped in the bud.

"Simulate."

With a thought, he brought up the newly upgraded function.

"Simulation target: How to obtain the yin essence of the great moon from the Wang Family's spirit well in Yunhe Commandery in the safest way?"

【 This simulation is expected to consume five Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Do you wish to continue? 】

Five.

This number made his heart ache slightly. It was almost his entire monthly allowance from before.

But upon second thought, using five Spirit Stones to trade for absolute safety during an operation and an Opportunity to break through his Bottleneck—this deal was a massive profit!

"Continue."

He took five Low-Grade Spirit Stones from his Storage Pouch and held them in his palm. Almost instantly, the crystalline Spirit Stones lost all their luster, turning into a pile of useless gray-white stone powder.

Immediately after, a line of more refined golden text slowly formed in his mind.

【 Simulation result: Use influence to suppress, borrow strength to strike. 】

Eight characters, concise and comprehensive.

Gu Changsheng carefully pondered the meaning behind it.

Using influence to suppress—this was easy to understand. He was now an Inner Sect Disciple of the Taiqing Sect; in a mortal territory like Yunhe Commandery, this identity was the greatest "influence."

Borrowing strength to strike... what he would borrow was likely the power of this Sect mission to "recruit new Disciples."

Using the righteous cause of the Sect mission as a cloak and his identity as an Inner Sect Disciple as a stepping stone, he could enter the Wang Family openly and investigate that ancient well.

The plan was perfect.

Gu Changsheng stood up; years of caution made him think of the final link.

Tasks released by the Sect's Mission Hall, especially lucrative ones like traveling to a commandery city, were always snatched up immediately by those veteran Disciples with backgrounds and connections. For a newcomer who had just been promoted and lacked any Foundation, trying to snatch meat from the mouths of wolves was almost impossible.

Since conventional methods wouldn't work, he had to take unconventional channels.

A short, fat figure immediately appeared in his mind.

Hundred Herbs Peak Deacon, Zhang Ling.

This greedy fatty, although lacking in character, excelled at "knowing the rules" and had some connections within the Sect. Using him was most appropriate.

Gu Changsheng did not hesitate at all and took a jade bottle from his Storage Pouch. Inside the bottle remained only one peiyuan pill that Wen Yuechan had bestowed upon him back then.

Trading one peiyuan pill for an Opportunity to break through his realm with zero risk.

Worth it!

He removed the seclusion wooden plaque at the entrance of his Immortal Cave and pushed open the heavy stone door. The sunlight, unseen for a year, spilled in, causing him to squint slightly.

Without a moment's delay, he headed straight for the Deacon's courtyard on Hundred Herbs Peak.

Zhang Ling's courtyard was still the same, everywhere exuding a vulgarity that did not befit a Cultivator's status.

When Gu Changsheng stood at the entrance, the fatty was lying on a rocking chair in the courtyard, humming a tune, looking quite comfortable.

Hearing footsteps, Zhang Ling impatiently opened one eye slit. When he clearly saw that the person arriving was Gu Changsheng, he sat up abruptly from the rocking chair.

"Junior... Junior Brother Gu?"

The fat on Zhang Ling's face quivered. A flash of surprise first crossed his small eyes, immediately followed by an irrepressible heat.

Qi Refining Realm!

This kid had actually broken through to the Qi Refining Realm! And his aura was solid, far beyond what an ordinary Qi Refining First Layer could compare to.

He had indeed not misjudged him back then; this kid was talent worth molding! A potential stock worth investing in!

"Deacon Zhang, it has been a few years, you are as impressive as ever."

Gu Changsheng spoke calmly, as if the two were just old friends who hadn't met in a long time.

"Hey! What Deacon or not Deacon!"

Zhang Ling waved his hand, his face filled with an enthusiastic smile, and he walked up to greet him quickly.

"Junior Brother Gu, you are now an Inner Sect Disciple of high standing, on equal footing with me. To call me Deacon would be to belittle me, your senior. From now on, just call me Senior Brother Zhang!"

His attitude was more than ten times more enthusiastic than it had been a few years ago.

Gu Changsheng sneered internally; this was the effect of strength. If he were still that Outer Sect Disciple, this fatty would never have shown this face.

He didn't waste words and went straight to the point.

"Senior Brother Zhang, your Junior Brother has come today to ask for a favor."

As he spoke, he handed over the jade bottle containing the peiyuan pill without leaving a trace.

Zhang Ling was just about to say a few polite words, but when his fingers touched the cool jade bottle and his Divine Sense subconsciously swept inside, he froze completely.

A peiyuan pill!

And such a high-quality peiyuan pill at that!

This item was priceless in the market; it was worth at least one hundred contribution points! This Gu Changsheng, what a generous hand!

Zhang Ling's breathing became a bit rapid; his expression when looking at Gu Changsheng changed instantly.

This was no longer just being "sensible"; this was treating him as one of his own who could truly get things done!

"Junior Brother Gu, this is..."

Zhang Ling said while stuffing the jade bottle into his own bosom with lightning speed, his movements fluid, fearing that the other party would change his mind.

"Junior Brother, just say it! As long as it is something this Senior Brother can do, I will not refuse!"

He patted his chest, making a solemn guarantee.

"Your Junior Brother wishes to accept the mission released by the Mission Hall today, the one to travel to Yunhe Commandery to recruit new Disciples."

Gu Changsheng said calmly.

"Yunhe Commandery?"

Zhang Ling's brows twitched slightly upon hearing this; an expert like him immediately smelled something unusual. This kind of lucrative job was not something a newly entered Disciple should be eyeing.

However, he didn't ask further.

Having received such a heavy benefit, he had to handle such a heavy matter; this was the rule.

"A small matter!"

The smile on Zhang Ling's face became even brighter.

"This mission is indeed highly sought after, but, Deacon Li, who is responsible for releasing it, just took a three-hundred-year-old Fire Ganoderma from me a few days ago and still owes me a favor. Let's go, this Senior Brother will take you there personally!"

Zhang Ling pulled Gu Changsheng along, looking like close brothers, and headed straight for the Mission Hall on the Main Peak.

With a local snake like Zhang Ling stepping in, things went exceptionally smoothly.

That Deacon Li saw Zhang Ling, then looked at Gu Changsheng behind him, and without saying anything, directly handed a bronze token engraved with the two characters "Yunhe" to Gu Changsheng.

A potential intense competition was thus easily resolved into nothingness by a single peiyuan pill.

"Many thanks, Senior Brother Zhang."

Having obtained the mission token, Gu Changsheng thanked him again.

"We are brothers, why be so polite!"

Zhang Ling patted his shoulder forcefully and lowered his voice.

"Junior Brother, the Wang Family in Yunhe Commandery once produced a Deacon for our Hundred Herbs Peak; although they have since declined, the Peak still remembers some old sentiments. When you go there, if not necessary, do not come into conflict with them."

This piece of advice counted as extra information thrown in for free.

Gu Changsheng's heart stirred, and he nodded calmly.

After parting ways with Zhang Ling, he did not linger outside and immediately returned to Cave Dwelling No. Ding 97.

He closed the stone door, placed the mission token on the stone table, and felt a sense of peace in his heart.

From discovering the Bottleneck, to obtaining intelligence, to resolving obstacles, to securing the mission, the entire process was smooth and fluid, without a single ripple.

All problems had been resolved in advance by him in the most secure and effective way.

This feeling of having everything firmly under his control intoxicated him.

From his Storage Pouch, he took out a small, greenish sword with an archaic design.

This was a Flying Sword, a Low Grade Magical Artifact in decent condition that he had picked up as a bargain in the market for twenty Low-Grade Spirit Stones by relying on intelligence.

After reaching Qi Refining, he had long since taken the time to Cultivate the "Sword Control Technique" to proficiency, but this was still his first time preparing to ride a Flying Sword outside the Sect.

Gu Changsheng held the Flying Sword and walked outside the Immortal Cave.

He took a deep breath and injected his magic power into the sword body.

Hum!

The small greenish sword emitted a light chime and hovered beneath his feet.

Gu Changsheng tentatively stepped onto it; the sword body swayed slightly, but it quickly stabilized.

With a thought.

The next moment, the greenish Flying Sword carried his figure, transforming into a blurry green rainbow, shooting up into the sky, tearing through the clouds and mist, and heading straight in the direction of Yunhe Commandery, breaking through the air.