As the eldest brother, I am like a father to you.

[I understand what Master means. Even if Master discovered so many unfavorable conditions for them, they still don't value Master enough, feeling that the weight of your cooperation isn't sufficient.]

[What Master needs to do is increase that weight, making them take the initiative to seek your cooperation, or even beg for it.]

The corners of Chu Xinghe's mouth curled up.

"Luo Yao is indeed getting smarter and smarter. Correct, that's exactly my idea."

"I said if you can't beat them, join them. But having joined, we can't just be pawns. At the very least, we need to jump halfway out of the chessboard to observe what's happening outside."

[Master is amazing! No wonder Master hasn't increased your strength even though your talent value is already sufficient.]

Chu Xinghe sighed; there was a deeper reason he hadn't mentioned.

After the destruction of the Dongfang Family, Great Ancestor Dongfang had suddenly died.

This point had already made Chu Xinghe alert.

It certainly wasn't the Zhangtian Cult's doing.

They were all remnants of the God-Demon Era. Even if that Old Thing from the Zhangtian Cult was strong enough,

he couldn't have killed Great Ancestor Dongfang so quickly.

Then who exactly did it?

One didn't even need to think to know.

Chu Xinghe was now speculating on the worst possible outcome.

Jiang Wanyin or Zhongli Qingmeng already knew he was alive.

They weren't in a hurry to reunite with him,

but were instead helping him from the shadows.

If this were before,

the Zhangtian Cult would have surely wiped him out.

But now they were willing to cooperate with him.

This was not a good signal at all.

So he had risked letting the Sky Trapping Array appear,

precisely to verify that bad suspicion.

But this verification also allowed Chu Xinghe to test out certain circumstances.

Namely, that someone had already done something even more Heaven-Defying than him.

This was what had diverted the gaze of the Heavenly Dao.

He hadn't figured out who it was yet.

Chu Xinghe was just about to return to the tavern.

"Big Brother, Big Brother!"

A calling voice rang out.

Chu Xinghe turned his head and saw the old fortune-teller from before.

This Old Thing actually managed to find his way here.

"Second Brother, why have you come?"

As soon as Chu Xinghe spoke, the corners of Suandao's mouth twitched.

"Big Brother, it's not like I have nowhere to eat; I've come to seek refuge with you."

Chu Xinghe nodded.

He took a step forward and put his arm around Suandao's shoulder.

"Perfect, I happen to have a good place here. I just ran into a few suckers."

Suandao was stunned.

"Well, that's great. As long as there's food to eat."

"Don't worry. Since you called me Big Brother, I won't mistreat you. An elder brother is like a father; as your daddy, I'll definitely take good care of you."

Suandao blinked his eyes.

What the heck?

Just a moment ago it was 'Big Brother', and now he's 'Daddy'?

"Kid, don't go too far, or I'll kill you."

Chu Xinghe laughed it off.

"I was just using a metaphor, Little Brother. Your mindset isn't right."

Suandao looked at Chu Xinghe with disdain.

Damn it.

If not for being entrusted by that Old Devil,

this old man would have slapped you to death.

The kind where you couldn't even be scraped off the floor.

"Let's go, I'll treat you to a meal."

Suandao followed Chu Xinghe inside.

Upon entering, his expression remained unchanged.

*Pfft.*

As if on purpose, Suandao suddenly let out a fart.

The originally solemn atmosphere in the tavern suddenly changed.

Chu Xinghe hurriedly retreated to the side.

What a shameless fellow.

As the scent drifted, several people in the hall wearing armor suddenly became flickering.

They slowly dissipated.

Chu Xinghe stood at a distance without saying a word.

No one knew what he was thinking.

The Children of Destiny in the hall looked up.

They had already seen through it just now.

This was the technique of 'Sowing Beans to Create Soldiers'.

Upstairs.

The second and third brothers glanced at each other.

A voice suddenly appeared in their minds:

"Do not provoke this Old Thing."

The two were stunned; Big Brother had actually spoken.

What did he mean?

They didn't know this person, yet he could easily break their technique,

and used such an insulting method to do it.

Could it be Big Brother's enemy?

"This Old Thing is someone from the same era as me. Back then, during that war, this Old Thing didn't participate. To think he would appear in this era."

The two were taken aback.

If he didn't participate in the great war, wouldn't that mean he's a God-Demon without any injuries?

"This Old Thing is naturally gifted in Deduction Techniques. Do not act rashly."

Before the second and third brothers could react,

they found Suandao glancing toward the two of them.

A smile suddenly appeared on his Face.

The two felt a deep sense of malice.

Chu Xinghe pulled Suandao to find a random seat and sat down.

"What do you want to eat?"

Suandao withdrew his gaze.

"Big Brother is indeed generous!"

Chu Xinghe smiled on the outside, but was cursing in his heart.

The situation I worked so hard to create was completely ruined by one of your farts.

The Zhangtian Cult people didn't trust him to begin with.

Now that he was involved with this Old Thing,

those people would be even more on guard against him.

Moreover, using a fart to resolve the second brother's technique,

needless to say, was a blatant provocation.

The second and third brothers actually didn't make a move, clearly being very wary.

It seemed the two of them were no match for this Old Thing.

Even that Old Thing from the Zhangtian Cult didn't make a move.

That could only mean the Old Thing in front of him was also someone from the God-Demon Era.

Such a person intentionally approaching him,

and being so shameless to boot.

Chu Xinghe's mind kept spinning.

At the same time, he poured a cup of wine for Suandao.

"Second Brother, I still don't know your name?"

Suandao no longer obsessed over Chu Xinghe's form of address.

"This old man is called Suandao."

"Suandao, what a great name!"

"What's so good about it?"

"'Suan', this character implies profound calculation, and adding the word 'Dao' makes it even more extraordinary. Suandao, the operation of this world and all things depend on the word 'Dao'.

As the saying goes, the Dao that can be spoken of is not the eternal Dao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name. Second Brother, these two words 'Suandao' deserve a large toast."

Suandao didn't pay attention to Chu Xinghe,

but instead muttered the few words Chu Xinghe had just spoken.

"The Dao that can be spoken of is not the eternal Dao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name."

What an impressive sentence, though it feels a bit incomplete.

This kid is so young, yet he can say these words.

"Big Brother is truly amazing to be able to speak such Daoist Words."

Chu Xinghe shook his head.

"I didn't say it; a Senior told me in a dream."

"He said this sentence has another meaning."

"Dao, can be Dao, not, eternal Dao. Name, can be name, not, eternal name."

Suandao was stunned.

He began to have doubts in his heart.

Who said this? What a terrifying thing.

"I really don't know which Senior said it. To be able to speak such Profound Truths... hearing it makes one realize everything, like waking from a dream!"

Chu Xinghe laughed it off.

"That Senior muttered a few more lines afterward. I actually think they're more useful than these ones."

Suandao was stunned and poured a cup of wine for Chu Xinghe.

"Big Brother, tell me. Your little brother also wants to hear."

Chu Xinghe shook his head.

"Why should I teach you? If you become stronger than me, then where would my Face as Big Brother go?"

Suandao: ...Fine, fine, fine, you kid are playing this game with me, aren't you?

Chu Xinghe drank his wine.

"Second Brother, you really should have poured me this cup of wine. That fart of yours was profoundly meaningful!"