Chapter 10: Backing Collapsed? A Battle of Acting Skills!
After seeing Uncle Meng off, Li Jianping turned to look at the small courtyard ahead. The sect master of the Trinity Saint Sect, who had just been trembling in fear after hearing Su Wu’s voice, had now regained his confidence. He recalled the conversation he had earlier through the Trinity Saint Stele with the ancestor.
"Unworthy disciple Li Jianping seeks the ancestor’s guidance—has any outsider powerhouse descended upon the Heaven Primordial Continent?"
Back when the ancestor ascended, he had placed a formation over the continent. Its purpose was to detect any arrival of extra-worldly beings too powerful for the continent to handle.
"No outsider has descended," the ancestor’s voice responded sternly from the stele. "What has happened in the Heaven Primordial Continent, Li Jianping?"
"The one who descended upon the Heaven Primordial Continent years ago—the Heavenly Dao Realm cultivator—has returned."
"Impossible!" the voice inside the stele snapped. "Over these past years, I’ve investigated those who descended back then. They entrusted their child to us and entered a secret realm of the Infinite Realm."
"That secret realm is said to have been left behind by the strongest powerhouse in the void beyond—the Chaos Dao Lord. It's unimaginably dangerous. Even Infinite Realm cultivators could die in there, let alone ones at the Heavenly Dao Realm!"
"If they had survived and returned, the entire outer void would have sensed it. There’s no way it would’ve gone unnoticed until now."
"The so-called descent you’re talking about is likely just a prearranged soul fragment or a remnant will."
"I see. Thank you for your time, Ancestor. This unworthy disciple takes his leave."
With the truth now clear, Li Jianping immediately cut off the connection with the stele. After just a few exchanges, the Trinity Saint Stele had already formed multiple cracks.
However, in the void beyond the world, the Trinity Saint Sect’s ancestor was anything but calm. He hadn’t even finished speaking before the connection was cut. Worse yet, he was currently inside a secret realm and could only receive messages, not send them.
"If a will remains, that means the person isn’t dead. And if that will could unleash a full-force strike of the Heavenly Dao Realm, then... I hope Li Jianping has some sense and doesn’t ruin the foundation I left behind..."
"No... I can’t rest easy. Once I get out of this realm, I’ll have to return to the Heaven Primordial Continent to check the situation!"
...
Back to the present.
After contacting the ancestor and overhearing Su Ming’s conversation with Elder Meng, Li Jianping had it all figured out.
Su Ming’s parents had never truly returned to the Heaven Primordial Continent. In fact, they might not even be alive! Which meant Su Ming’s greatest backing had already collapsed!
However, the treasures Su Ming held still posed a real threat. He needed to find a way to get them. With those treasures in hand, wouldn’t the entire Heaven Primordial Continent become the Trinity Saint Sect’s playground?
Of course, everything had to be done with precision. If Su Ming were pushed too hard, he might choose to perish along with them all. The best way to handle a young man—was with another young man. In peer-level competition, would Su Ming dare use his backing to threaten others?
"Lower the stance first, give him some benefits... then pick someone from the younger generation as the core executor of the plan..."
Li Jianping already had someone in mind—Chu Fan.
"If everything goes smoothly..." With ambitious thoughts, Li Jianping entered Su Ming’s courtyard.
Upon seeing Su Ming, Li Jianping offered a warm smile and spoke first, "Su Ming, I must apologize. The sect has wronged you in many ways. These are some compensations. I hope they can help you progress further in your cultivation."
Su Ming accepted the space ring and immediately held up the Chaos Spirit Crystal, speaking coldly, "Just this? Sect Master, it seems... you’re not being very sincere."
Even though Su Ming was trying to extort more, Li Jianping wasn’t angry. In fact, he sneered inwardly.
"Childish brat. Give him a bit of sunshine and he thinks he’s the center of the universe. Think just because he has some backing, he can do as he pleases?"
"Fine. I’ll lift you to the heavens first... then show you what it feels like to fall into hell!"
Still wearing a kindly expression, Li Jianping said, "What else do you want? Just say the word."
"I recall there's a large-capacity space ring in the sect’s treasury. Give me that one, and fill it with some additional treasures. I’ll be generous and let the past go. Otherwise, when my father returns... heh heh..."
Su Ming responded proudly, nose practically pointed to the sky.
Li Jianping was trying to deceive Su Ming—but Su Ming was doing the same in return. After briefly recalling what Su Ming was referring to, Li Jianping agreed, "Fine, I’ll go get it from the treasury right now."
What he feared wasn’t Su Ming’s demand—but if Su Ming didn’t ask for it at all.
As he watched Li Jianping leave, Su Ming’s expression turned cold again.
"Li Jianping, I really should thank you... for delivering one of Chu Fan’s greatest opportunities to me in advance!"
Originally, Su Ming had planned to obtain this item through the sect’s grand competition, but now there was no need—Li Jianping would deliver it himself.
Su Ming wasn’t worried about being brushed off. Li Jianping was too smart for that and knew what it would cost to be caught lying. Besides, from the outside, that ring just looked like an ordinary large-capacity space ring. There was no reason to deny the request.
But in truth, that ring contained a map to a mysterious ruin—and the key to enter it. Without the resources and treasures from that ruin, Chu Fan couldn’t have risen so fast, let alone surpass the cultivation speed of the Devouring Demon Lord.
Soon, Li Jianping returned and handed the turquoise-colored storage ring to Su Ming.
"This is what you asked for. I also placed some extra treasures inside."
"Sect Master, once Uncle Meng returns, I’ll have him verify its authenticity. If you’re lying, you know what the consequences will be."
"Of course not. You’ve misunderstood me too deeply."
"Have I? I doubt it. If there’s nothing else, you may leave now. I need to resume my cultivation."
Knowing when to retreat, Li Jianping left the courtyard. Yet in his heart, he was laughing at Su Ming’s so-called caution.
A mere storage ring? Giving it away was no big deal. As for the resources inside, they were just leftover scraps originally seized from Su Ming’s protector. All in all, he had lost two rings at most—what did that even count as?
Now, it was time to check on Chu Fan’s progress.
As he flew away from Chenyang Peak, he heard Su Ming’s wild laughter echoing behind him.
"Go ahead, laugh... The harder you laugh now, the more miserable you’ll be later."
But only Su Ming—and the system—knew what that wild laughter truly meant.
[Host, you’re laughing like a proper villain right now.]
"So what? To those so-called protagonists chosen by destiny, aren’t I the villain anyway? System, play the update again. Tell me how many Destiny Points I just earned!"
[Congratulations to the host for severing Chu Fan’s core opportunity. Destiny Points acquired.]