Chapter 273 - 169: Dispute with the 5-Finger Peak

Chapter 273: Chapter 169: Dispute with the 5-Finger Peak

"Cao Xing’an is bound to make a move today. Master Tao En is about to get a true taste of how fickle people in Longya City can be."

Zhong Yi glanced in the direction of Tao En’s suite.

During his time with Tao En, Zhong Yi could tell that he was a rather sentimental person.

Zhong Yi had heard from Guo Xing about the contributions Tao En had made to the Celestial Destiny Seekers of Longya City in the past.

Tao En’s contributions to the Celestial Destiny Seekers of Longya City were quite similar to Zhong Yi’s free healing services for the Celestial Destiny Seekers of Starlight City.

The difference was, when Zhong Yi healed the Celestial Destiny Seekers of Starlight City, it only consumed the Energy of the Resurrection Celestial Lord.

Moreover, ever since the Resurrection Celestial Lord’s Quality had improved, every time he healed another Celestial Destiny Seeker’s Order Beast or Guardian Beast, Zhong Yi would receive tangible benefits through the Withered Oasis.

But for Tao En, concocting Fifth Level Potions was a time-consuming and exhausting process that also required a great deal of materials.

After all he had been through, Tao En had probably come to terms with it.

But even so, it would be hard not to take it to heart when backstabbed by an old friend.

Just as the group finished lunch, He Meisi walked in with two Celestial Destiny Seekers.

One of the Celestial Destiny Seekers wore a long, dark green robe, his shoulder-length black hair resting on his shoulders. He had a thumb-sized scar on his cheek.

It was unclear whether this Celestial Destiny Seeker thought the scar was cool or if there was some reason he had been unable to heal the wound completely.

Never mind a Celestial Destiny Seeker; even an ordinary Guardian Beast Master would not choose to have a scar on their face.

The other Celestial Destiny Seeker had a very short buzz cut and was clad in heavy, dark teal armor.

When these two Celestial Destiny Seekers saw Tao En and his granddaughter, their expressions were mixed.

Despite having come here on their own initiative, neither of them spoke first.

Instead, it was Tao En who broke the stalemate.

"Lord Yin Mo, Lord Fu Mo. It has been a long time."

"You two look as distinguished as ever. As for me, though I’m still young, I’ve already aged into a man with one foot in the grave."

Tao En’s words were spoken with great enthusiasm, but his tone was somewhat icy.

Tao En’s relationship with Yin Mo was mediocre. Even back when he was still a Five-finger Peak Creator, Yin Mo had sided with Cao Xing’an and had often stepped in to "mediate."

Tao En wasn’t surprised that Yin Mo was here.

But why was Fu Mo here?

If he had no hope of recovery, Tao En might not have dwelled on this.

But now, Tao En was certain he could recover.

Tao En was unwilling to believe that an old friend for whom he had done so much in the past would make this trip on Cao Xing’an’s behalf.

"Lord Fu Mo, are you here because you heard I was attacked by a Bizarre last night? That I fled to the Celestial Destiny Society with my granddaughter to seek protection through these two lords from Starlight City?"

"Is that why you’ve come, specifically to show your concern for me?"

Upon hearing this, the Celestial Destiny Seeker known as Yin Mo showed little change in expression.

Fu Mo’s expression, however, was one of utter surprise.

"What? Master Tao En, you were attacked by a Bizarre last night?"

"How come I haven’t heard about this?"

Tao En gave a faint smile.

"We don’t usually interact, so it’s only natural that news about me wouldn’t reach your ears, Lord Fu Mo."

"Since you didn’t hear about my attack last night, and you’re not here to show concern, what important business brings you here?"

"If you’re not here for me, but for these two lords from Starlight City, I can take my granddaughter and leave."

Yin Mo still didn’t speak, but Fu Mo gave an awkward laugh.

"Master Tao En, I truly hadn’t heard about your attack."

"We didn’t come here for you. We have some business to discuss with these friends from Starlight City."

"It would be best if you could step aside, Master Tao En. I’ll find another chance to visit you at your shop later."

Tao En scoffed at his words and waved to Tao Niannian.

"Come, Niannian. Let’s go back to our room with Grandpa."

"Later, Grandpa will take you to play with Brother Zhong Yi."

Fu Mo watched with an awkward expression as Tao En led Tao Niannian away.

After Tao En left with Tao Niannian, the Celestial Destiny Seeker in the long, dark green robe who had been silent until now was the first to speak.

"This is the first time we’ve met since you two arrived in Longya City. It’s a pleasure."

"Tonight, Master Cao Xing’an is holding a banquet especially for you two. We hope you will grace us with your presence."

"Many of Longya City’s Celestial Destiny Seekers and the heads of various factions are eager to get acquainted with you, including Master Cao."

"Tao En has a difficult personality, and now he’s only at the level of a Three-finger Creator."

"Heh, even if one of you is an old friend of Tao En’s, you shouldn’t forsake all the other friends in Longya City who wish to befriend you just for his sake."

Hearing this, Wen Tao replied in a wry tone.

"Master Tao En was, after all, a Five-finger Peak Creator of Longya City. I’ve heard he contributed a great deal to the growth of its Celestial Destiny Seekers."

"How is it that in just a few words, you’ve positioned Master Tao En as an opponent to all the different groups in Longya City?"

"Is it Cao Xing’an who doesn’t want us to interact with Master Tao En?"

"Or is it that the Celestial Destiny Seekers and various factions of Longya City also don’t want us to associate with him?"

Yin Mo’s words were intended to leverage the names of various people and factions to intimidate the two Celestial Destiny Seekers from Starlight City. He was also laying out the stakes, warning Zhong Yi and Wen Tao not to get involved in the feud between Tao En and Cao Xing’an by offering Tao En protection.

However, Wen Tao didn’t follow Yin Mo’s line of reasoning. Instead, he countered with a question of his own.

Wen Tao’s question made Yin Mo’s already unsmiling face turn sour, and the expression on Fu Mo’s face grew even more awkward.

Tao En’s contributions to the Celestial Destiny Seekers of Longya City were indelible.

The man standing to the side in the dark teal armor was one of the greatest beneficiaries.

Fu Mo could only offer a dry laugh, unable to refute the point.

But Tao En, the man himself, had just brought it up, and now Wen Tao was doing the same. This made Fu Mo feel that Wen Tao was deliberately targeting him!

Fu Mo’s tone became extremely displeased as he spoke.

"A wise man adapts to the times. People strive for greater heights, just as water flows downward."

"I refuse to believe you don’t understand how to act in your own best interest."

"I hear a Healing-type Celestial Destiny Seeker with an SSS Level potential rating has emerged in Starlight City. Is there anyone among you who wouldn’t try to curry favor with him?"

As he said this, Fu Mo looked at Wen Tao and Zhong Yi with a scrutinizing gaze.

When Wen Tao heard Fu Mo suddenly bring up Zhong Yi’s other identity, his expression couldn’t help but shift slightly.

And this slight change in Wen Tao’s expression made Fu Mo think he had hit the mark and exposed Wen Tao’s true thoughts.

Wen Tao gently rubbed his fingers on the tabletop, offering no further explanation.

’It’s true,’ Wen Tao thought. ’Given the Talent and Ability Zhong Yi has shown, no one would meet him for the first time and not want to get on his good side. But getting on good terms with someone isn’t always driven purely by self-interest. If my personality clashed with Zhong Yi’s, I would just treat him the way I treat Bai Xuan and Yu Juanjuan. If Zhong Yi were to run into some kind of trouble right now, and standing by his side would conflict with my future interests... I know for a fact I would choose to stand with Zhong Yi.’

"There’s nothing wrong with acting in one’s own interest."

"But when faced with a conflict between personal gain and a debt of gratitude, you chose personal gain and disregarded someone who helped you immensely in the past."

"You might gain some benefits from doing this, but do you really think Cao Xing’an will ever see you as one of his own?"

"If I’m not mistaken, you came here to ask us to stop protecting Master Tao En."

"To prevent Master Tao En from being able to stay at the Celestial Destiny Society."

"If that’s your goal, I’d advise you to give up right now. We will not abandon our protection of Master Tao En."

Wen Tao’s words struck a nerve with Fu Mo.

For a Celestial Destiny Seeker who had reached the Immortal realm, it would be difficult to advance without the support of high-end Creator resources. Not only would the Bloodlines of their Contracted Guardian Beasts struggle to evolve, but even the Quality of their Order Beasts would stagnate.

Although the status of a Celestial Destiny Seeker was exceptionally noble, a powerful one simply could not do without a High Tier Creator.