After leaving the Infirmary Pavilion, Chen Yan headed straight to the Sect's Treasury with determined steps.
Old Elder Shen, head of the Treasury, irascible and eccentric as he was, had no reason to turn down a visit from a talented senior disciple.
After all, this generation of disciples was about to leave the sect for a long, long ti. Perhaps Chen Yan, that crafty boy, was bringing him a parting gift?
His hopes were dashed when he saw Chen Yan's empty hands as he entered his resting chamber.
Face sour, the Elder said, "Little Yan, it seems you've forgotten your manners. No gift, no greetings, not even a salute?"
Chen Yan ignored the disapproving words, took his seat, and got straight down to business.
"I have a proposition for you, Elder. It could bring you imnse benefits if you play your part well."
Elder Shen's scowl vanished. Leaning forward, he said with a hint of anticipation, "What kind of benefits?"
Chen Yan dragged on the suspense for a few seconds before whispering, "How about a reserved quota for anyone nominated by you in the next batch of voidboats?"
"The batch that's about to leave soon?"
"No, the following batch. I'll have to join the Inner Court first to guarantee those things, won't I?"
A look of interest flickered in the Elder's eyes, but only for a mont.
Leaning back, he waved his hand and said, "Getting a spot on a voidboat isn't exactly impossible for an Elder like . As long as I use my connections and ask for so favors-"
"Didn't you try that already and fail? I heard you even grabbed our sect master's legs and bawled for a seat for your youngest grandson. But you still couldn't acquire a single ticket."
Elder Shen's countenance turned frigid. Eyes narrowed, he slowly said, "I knew you had deep connections in the sect, little Yan.
But I didn't expect you to have eyes on our Sect Master as well! Impressive! I wonder what will happen if I report this to him!"
"Since I dare reveal it, do you think I fear being reported for it?"
Holding Chen Yan's defiant gaze, Elder Shen contemplated the situation for a long ti before saying, "Since you don't fear being reported to the Sect Master, it ans the goal you're after is invaluable to you.
In that case, whatever you want to do must be sothing risky and problematic. Tell , little Yan, I wouldn't incur the wrath of the Sect Master if I made this deal with you, would I?"
Chen Yan rolled his eyes. "Just say you're not satisfied with the benefits promised. How about this, then?
Not only will I guarantee your grandson a quota in the next voidboat, I'll also guarantee a spot for him in the Inner Court of the Sect, even if he doesn't et the requirents to qualify for it."
Elder Shen's interest returned. "Do you have the ability to make such promises, little Yan? I'm not quite convinced!"
Chen Yan pulled out a small bronze key from his pocket. Greed flashed in the Elder's eyes as he recognized it.
"An unaffiliated voidboat ticket. That's impressive. But it doesn't reach the standards of your promises."
This ti, Chen Yan pulled out a red dallion, holding it with utmost care. It took Elder Shen a couple of closer looks to determine what it was. But when he did recognize it, he jumped to his feet.
"A Lineage Seal?!"
"Correct. It can ensure that I will have a faction backing even if the Inner Court refuses to take in."
Aghast, the Elder's gaze shifted between Chen Yan and the red dallion repeatedly as an oppressive silence filled the chamber.
Finally taking a deep breath, he motioned at Chen Yan to speak.
"Tell your plan. But if you hide anything, know that I won't risk my life to be used by you, little Yan."
Chen Yan smiled, knowing that the first hidden card in his hands was ready to be cast.
Half an hour later, Elder Shen saw him off. Seeing him heading towards the Detention Pavilion, a sneer slowly ford on his face.
"An idiot blinded by his own greed and interests, unable to see the bigger picture despite having the ans to see it clearer than anyone, tch~."
Elder Shen quickly retreated to his resting chamber, locked the door, and activated an isolation array imdiately.
Then he began to send out so ssages to his fellow Elders of the Crimson Snow Sect.
The content of these ssages varied, but there was one common sentence.
[ An opportunity to oust Sect Master Xuan Zi has co! ]
Several mountains away, in the Temporary Detention Pavilion, Chen Yan was having a hard ti convincing the Disciplinarian Elder to cooperate with his plan.
Even the promise of a reserved quota in the Inner Court of the Crimson Snow Sect couldn't sway this Elder. Perhaps the main reason behind it was Chen Yan's screw-up a month ago, when he had bypassed the Elder and abused the committee's authority to harass Han Xuhan.
As Chen Yan was turned away from the Pavilion, the Elder received a ssage. And then several more ssages followed. So of them ca through disguised diums. So of them were re signals for an ergency eting.
But each and every ssage was transmitted through the most secretive ans, ans which even a cultivator at the Dao Integration Realm might not be able to detect.
The Elder read the ssages in a daze, contemplating the odds, before hurrying out of the building to chase after Chen Yan.
The deal was struck, and Chen Yan descended the mountain with a faint smile of confidence. He made a quick return to his own mountain this ti, and summoned a junior disciple using a secret signal of his own.
"Tell what junior brother Xuhan has been up to since I left the infirmary."
The junior disciple spoke earnestly. "At first, he discussed so rapid healing thods with the Healer in charge of his case. He chose the most expensive treatnt plan. By tomorrow morning, his body might return to its peak condition."
Then, with a silver of fear in his voice, he added, "Do you think he'll start challenging us to duels again as soon as he's healed?"
Throughout the last few weeks, Han Xuhan had forced him into several rounds of martial duels. Having little foundation on that path, he was beaten horribly every ti.
To his relief, Chen Yan shook his head and motioned at him to continue.
The junior disciple thought for a mont and said. "He didn't do much else, to be honest. Oh, right! He did stroll outside the cabin, looking for people who have been afflicted by the poisonous fog. He even discussed the effects of the poison with the Healer for a bit."
Chen Yan threw back his head and laughed. "Hahaha! That overconfident monkey still thinks he can use the fog?!
Looks like he really was fooled by my instructions. I told all the juniors to pretend that they had no idea about this cheating tactic of his, even if it ant they had to lose the duels!
He must have thought he could control what I know about his combat thods by flaunting so of his trump cards. He didn't expect that he would be fooled by his own strategy, did he? Hahahaha!"
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