Chapter 561: Chief Chen

Chapter 561 -523: Chief Chen

The entire city was bustling.

Wei Yanzhou’s sudden reveal as a Nascent Soul True Monarch had taken the Primordial Sect, which previously had one foot in the grave, and breathed an unbelievable vitality into it, sending it into overdrive.

The heads of every Hall were replenishing their ranks, and everyone was rushing about in a frenzy.

The No-fly Order was also temporarily lifted.

The skies were filled with figures zipping back and forth, and the Primordial Sect disciples were all so busy their feet never touched the ground. It was the very picture of a sect rising from the ashes, with a thousand tasks to be done.

“Chief… Chief Chen…”

A squad of people flew past overhead. Their leader stopped, immediately descended before Chen Che, and bowed deeply.

It was Tang Linli.

News of Chen Che’s promotion to Chief of the Pill Hall had already spread after the meeting concluded. Every Primordial Sect Disciple they encountered on the way stopped to pay their respects.

“What’s the rush?”

Chen Che glanced over curiously.

“I’ve been ordered by Duobao to gather men. We march on the Celestial Spirit Palace by tomorrow.”

After this brief explanation, Tang Linli lowered his voice and said:

“I haven’t had the chance to report to you yet. After the meeting, Duobao summoned me and restored my position as Chief Steward. He also said bluntly that he would support my Core Formation. In that situation, I didn’t dare refuse.”

“Chief, I want to go to the Pill Hall…”

He had long since secretly pledged his loyalty to Chen Che. Being summoned and reinstated by Duobao now… in truth, he was quite reluctant.

After all, Duobao had completely abandoned him before. If it weren’t for Jinyun Valley’s backing, not only he himself, but his entire family would have been uprooted. As they say, adversity reveals true character. Who would want to follow such a master?

Moreover, during the crisis when the Star-Picking Sect breached the city walls, Chen Che had even thought to help him escape on a boat.

Anyone with half a brain would know who to choose.

He could also guess Duobao’s reasons for reinstating him: he was at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer with a stable cultivation base and had a high chance of reaching Core Formation. As it happened, Duobao was running short on capable men…

It’s just that he was in no position to refuse.

However, if Chen Che were to ask for him, Duobao would probably grant the favor and let him go.

“This is a good thing!”

In response to this, Chen Che merely nodded and advised him earnestly:

“Duobao is, after all, one of the sect’s old guard, and he has the Sect Leader’s trust. Working under him, your future will be much brighter than with me. With me, the most you could ever hope to be is a Vice Chief.”

“Chief…”

Tang Linli’s heart skipped a beat. He thought Chen Che was mocking him for being a fence-sitter and was about to explain himself. But when he looked up, he saw not reproach in Chen Che’s expression, but approval, and his confusion vanished.

‘He wants me to be a spy under Duobao.’

Realizing this, Tang Linli immediately bowed.

“I will not disappoint you, Chief!”

“Excellent.”

Chen Che smiled, patted Tang Linli on the shoulder, and said warmly, “The Celestial Spirit Palace doesn’t have many Golden Cores left. This trip shouldn’t be too difficult for you, but you must still be cautious. Only with caution can a ship sail for ten thousand years.”

“Yes.”

“Do you still have pills?”

“I still have some, I haven’t used them all…”

“Go on, then.”

“Yes!”

With another deep bow, Tang Linli finally took his leave.

…

Watching Tang Linli leave, the corner of Chen Che’s mouth quirked up. ‘Talk about an unexpected windfall…’

Originally, he’d thought that with the Primordial Sect gone, this asset would no longer be useful.

But he hadn’t expected Duobao to recruit Tang Linli back at this juncture. Although Duobao wouldn’t dare make a move against him now that he was a Chief, the man was insidious and had to be guarded against.

And given the Primordial Sect’s resurgence, it was bound to be around for a long, long time.

Having to be on guard day and night was not a good thing.

‘Now, if Duobao makes any moves in the future, I’ll be the first to know.’

Out on the street, Chen Che spotted Jiang Shaotian and his group. Numerous Golden Core cultivators, much like them, were casually strolling about. They hadn’t left, choosing to reside temporarily in Primordial City. The Foundation Establishment cultivators they’d brought along had even joined the city’s reconstruction teams.

Many people still harbored hostility towards the Star-Picking Sect.

“Why doesn’t the Sect Leader just slaughter these Golden Cores? And he lets them strut around the city. Mist Rain Tower and the Celestial Spirit Palace were dealt with, so why did the Star-Picking Sect get away?”

“Their sect has a Nascent Soul too. If we kill them, our two sects would be locked in a death struggle with no turning back.”

“Still, they should have killed one or two of their Golden Cores just to vent some steam…”

…

Jiang Shaotian stopped and swept his gaze over the side of the road. A few Foundation Establishment cultivators were so frightened they immediately lowered their heads, not daring to utter another word.

The few Golden Cores accompanying him also felt that fate was playing a cruel joke.

As he looked up, he saw Chen Che’s group walking towards them.

“Chief Chen.”

Jiang Shaotian cupped his fists.

“I trust you are well, Right Protector?”

Chen Che returned the gesture.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two groups passed each other. The moment their backs were turned, the smile on Jiang Shaotian’s face vanished. He glanced at the departing Chen Che out of the corner of his eye and slowly shook his head.

“What a pity.”

Hearing the Protector speak, everyone nodded slightly.

Yu Yunko’s expression remained unchanged. Of course she knew what he meant.

In this battle, Chen Che’s performance had been too outstanding. If not for Du Zhongyi’s appearance, he would have been the one to turn the tide. The combat prowess he displayed was also deeply intimidating.

Any discerning person could see that this was a second True Master Chixia.

Even now, his rise was proving more explosive than True Master Chixia’s had been. Wei Yanzhou had clearly seen this as well, hence why he had so decisively absorbed him into the Primordial Sect.

That’s why all the Golden Cores present felt daunted and fearful whenever they saw him.

…

“That Right Protector is also a formidable character.”

After they passed each other, Chen Che turned and spoke to the few Golden Cores with him. He didn’t look down on his opponent just because he had defeated him. The Array Master’s methods were far more terrifying than he had imagined.

‘If he had pulled out a third Array in that last fight, I would have been severely injured even if I’d blocked the blow with the Thunder Jade Gourd.’

“And he certainly realizes this too.”

After a lap around the city, Chen Che leisurely made his way toward Jinyun Valley’s temporary office. The moment he appeared, cries of “Valley Master” and “Chief” rose up from all around.

At the same time, the crowd, which was three layers deep, parted to form a path.

Just like Wei Yanzhou, the Nascent Soul True Monarch who had delegated matters to Qiu Tianshui, Chen Che also handed off the remaining trivialities to Hu Yao, not bothering with them himself.

The Meng and Lu Families were the same.

They all had their families with them, young and old, and rewards had to be distributed according to merit.

This was where the advantage of being a Loose Cultivator like Zhao Shifeng or Xiao Chan—who only had to feed themselves—became apparent. Although Chen Xi had a family, none of them were Foundation Establishment cultivators, and Meng Qianxun had also dumped the work on Meng Changtu.

“Valley Master, you’re finally back.”

Chen Che had just sat down when Hu Yao hurried over and poured him a cup of Spirit Tea.

“Hm?”

“A lot of people are asking if they can return to their clans for a visit.”

Hu Yao asked in a low voice, “Everyone feels that the battle here is more or less over, and they want to go back to report that they’re safe and put their clansmen’s minds at ease. Plus, many are still worried about the situation back home.”

“I almost forgot about that.”

Chen Che’s brow twitched. After all, the fighting had only stopped for less than half a day. People on the outside probably didn’t know what had happened here yet. It was possible that the territories under Jinyun Valley’s jurisdiction were still being harassed by Evil Cultivators.

Besides, there were a ton of matters in those territories waiting for him to handle.

After a moment of thought, Chen Che tapped his fingers.

“Of course they should go back. But the fighting in our territories hasn’t stopped. If they go back in small groups, they could easily meet with disaster. Let’s do this: have everyone wait two or three days. You take my personal order to Qiu Tianshui, Chief of the Internal Affairs Hall, and requisition two Spiritual Boats to transport everyone back together.”

“A few of us Golden Cores will make a tour of the territories first to put everyone’s minds at ease. And as it happens, I have some business to take care of as well.”

…

「Several days later.」

WHOOSH—

A sky-piercing sound that echoed through the clouds suddenly rang out above Jinyun Valley.

Several distinct rays of Escape Light could be seen streaking in from the horizon. They suddenly scattered above Jinyun Valley like a sky full of stars, flying off in all directions. A few of the rays shot directly down into Jinyun Valley.

“So many Golden Cores? Could it be… another enemy attack?”

“They flew straight into the valley… It’s the Valley Master! Who else besides the Valley Master can fly directly into the valley? What’s the news from the front line…”

Seeing the return of so many Golden Cores, all of Jinyun Valley erupted in a commotion.