371: Women's Schemes

[Fairy Zhiyun took it, her fingertips stroking the ring's surface as her smile deepened. "You are always so courteous; I suppose I'll accept it then."]

[She tucked the ring into her sleeve and changed the subject, as if mentioning it in passing. "By the way, that dead ghost Jiang He has been gone for years. Why haven't you changed the sign for the 'Jiang Clan Merchant House' yet? It sounds like such an eyesore."]

[Zhong Linger pursed her lips and smiled, her expression calm. "Hall Master Jiang He may be gone, but the old customers still recognize the 'Jiang Clan' brand. My Foundation isn't stable yet, so why rush for such empty fame? Making real money is what truly matters."]

[Hearing this, the look of approval in Fairy Zhiyun's eyes grew stronger, and she nodded. "Mhm, you're a sensible person. It seems helping you back then wasn't in vain."]

["However, having said that, you must remember that no man is any good. Even though you've achieved a Foundation Establishment Breakthrough, in this vast Tianshu City, you are ultimately an ant if you don't reach the Golden Core stage."]

[There were several layers of meaning in Fairy Zhiyun's words—]

[First, she was reminding Zhong Linger that her cultivation was only at the Foundation Establishment stage and her Foundation was still shallow.]

[Second, Fairy Zhiyun knew Zhong Linger had recently been trying to cling to Immortal Master Yulong, and this was a warning not to trust him too easily.]

[Zhong Linger naturally understood. She nodded with a smile. "Rest assured, Fairy, Linger has understood this truth since she was a child."]

[This entire conversation entered your Sea of Consciousness, word for word.]

[The Formation on the ninth floor of Zhiyun Pavilion that blocked Divine Sense might work against a Nascent Soul Cultivator, but before you, it was as good as non-existent.]

[Following this lead, they continued to chat intermittently about past events, allowing you to piece together most of what Zhong Linger had done over the years.]

[It turned out that eleven years ago, when Zhong Linger was first taken as a concubine by Hall Master Jiang He, she was quite well-behaved and managed everything inside and out in an orderly fashion.]

[Seeing how capable she was, Hall Master Jiang He gradually dumped all the business onto her, concerning himself only with closed-door cultivation.]

[As time passed, the scales in Zhong Linger's heart began to tilt.]

[She felt that the Jiang family's vast estate was almost entirely supported by her own hands. Aside from being a hands-off manager, Hall Master Jiang He was useless and simply didn't deserve her.]

[Once the seeds of betrayal were sown, they were hard to suppress.]

[So, she sought out Fairy Zhiyun.]

[She offered a straightforward deal: half of the Jiang Clan Merchant House's annual profits in exchange for the Fairy's assistance.]

[How could Fairy Zhiyun refuse? She casually refined a colorless and odorless lethal poison pill.]

[Zhong Linger took the pill, found an opportunity, and sent Hall Master Jiang He on his way.]

[After all, the Medicinal Pills Hall Master Jiang He used for his daily cultivation were all brought to him by Zhong Linger.]

[However, the circumstances of Hall Master Jiang He's death were noticed by Strict Butler Yan, who had always followed him.]

[But even Strict Butler Yan... could not resist Zhong Linger's seduction.]

[With a few tricks, a few suggestive glances, and some sweet talk, this old butler actually fell head over heels for her.]

[Things remained stable for half a year.]

[Once Strict Butler Yan had completely let down his guard, Zhong Linger followed the same pattern and sent him to follow his former master with another poison pill.]

[From then on, everything inside and outside the Jiang Clan Merchant House completely changed its surname to Zhong.]

[This Zhong Linger was indeed a "remarkable" person.]

[She knew exactly what her greatest reliance was. Every year, half of the profits were delivered personally to Fairy Zhiyun on time, without a single penny missing.]

[Because of this, when Immortal Master Yulong, the leader of the Money Gang, wanted to cause trouble over Hall Master Jiang He's death, Fairy Zhiyun intervened to mediate and suppress the matter, tacitly allowing Zhong Linger to take over the Jiang family business.]

[Now that the Jiang family's situation was stable, Zhong Linger's mind began to wander again.]

[Her new goal was to climb the even taller tree that was Immortal Master Yulong.]

[She was very clear that whether it was the Spirit Stones in her hand, her beautiful face, or her body, they were all just bargaining chips for her ascent.]

[She was extremely shrewd and willing to pay the price.]

[As for Yang Yan, he had always adored Zhong Linger and pursued her relentlessly.]

[Zhong Linger naturally wouldn't like him; she only had eyes for the strong.]

[But since Yang Yan had at least achieved a Foundation Establishment Breakthrough and she needed hands, she simply took him on as a guard.]

[However, Yang Yan was completely unaware of the things Zhong Linger did behind the scenes.]

[In his eyes, Zhong Linger was perfect—diligent, smart, hardworking, and pure, just like a goddess.]

[Listening carefully to the conversation between Fairy Zhiyun and Zhong Linger, you began to consider whether to change your target—to Zhong Linger.]

[After all, silently controlling a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was much easier and far less risky than controlling a Golden Core.]

[Your original plan was to wait for Fairy Zhiyun to leave Tianshu City, which would be your chance to strike.]

[However, Fairy Zhiyun seemed extremely cautious, almost never leaving Tianshu City or the Liu Clan Territory.]

[You had to keep in mind that a Golden Core Cultivator already possessed Magic Treasures. If Fairy Zhiyun were to self-detonate her Magic Treasure in an instant, the commotion would certainly not be small.]

[If it alerted the Void Refining Cultivator Liu Suifeng in the Tianshu Pavilion above, it would be troublesome.]

[Soon, Zhong Linger rose to take her leave and departed gracefully.]

[The moment she stepped over the threshold of Zhiyun Pavilion, a wisp of your Divine Sense swept past like a breeze, quietly probing into her body.]

[Flesh, meridians, Bloodline...]

[They faded layer by layer within the "vision" of your Divine Sense, until finally, the clear outline of a lustrous white skeleton emerged.]

[In the center of the pelvis, two distinct clumps of Origin radiance were slowly flowing and intertwining with a mysterious rhythm.]

[One clump was translucent deep blue, emitting a chilling cold—it was an Ice Spiritual Root.]

[The other was a leaping crimson, surging with a scorching aura—it was a Fire Spiritual Root.]

[Ice and fire in the same body, conflicting yet generating each other, maintained a fragile balance within her, counteracting and nourishing one another.]

[Clearly, she possessed a genuine Spiritual Root, and a High Grade one at that.]

[Looking at the vibrant, glowing Spiritual Root Origins within her, you then looked inward at yourself—]

[Deep within your Dantian, a hazy, lusterless, and coarse object, like a stubborn rock, lay curled up lifelessly.]

[That was your Spiritual Root, the most mundane of the mundane.]

[Comparing the two, they were as different as clouds and mud.]

[You silently withdrew your Divine Sense, and that trace of helplessness you had suppressed for so long surfaced once again.]

[Exhaling a deep breath of turbid air, your Divine Thought turned back toward the top floor of Zhiyun Pavilion.]

[At this moment, another person had appeared in the seat opposite Fairy Zhiyun.]

[It was none other than her Dao Companion, Vast Emptiness Master.]

[Vast Emptiness Master picked up his teacup, blew on the floating leaves, and had a teasing smile on his lips. "I just heard you tell Zhong Linger—no man is any good? So what... does that make me?"]

[Fairy Zhiyun glanced at him and shook her head with a laugh. "Just polite words to coax that little girl, and you actually took them to heart?"]

["Just a joke." Vast Emptiness Master took a sip of tea, his expression becoming serious. "However, this Zhong Linger... is an out-and-out venomous snake."]

["Those around her likely won't meet a good end."]

["If she really manages to cling to Immortal Master Yulong, that gang leader might just become the next Hall Master Jiang He."]