Cultivating In Secret Beside A Demoness

1465  Meeting Disciple Shang An Again (2)

From Zhang's perspective, it seemed that Situ Jingjing was not cautious in nature.

If it really came to a fight, it should not be too difficult to handle.

Hearing Jiang Hao's instructions, the Tea Master did not dare to delay and immediately headed to the Poison Valley.

He was determined to acquire the Dew of the First Sun and was eager to finally see it.

Jiang Hao did not even glance back and instead slowly walked toward the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect.

As he walked, his aura began to change.

It became ordinary and unremarkable and eventually settled at the early stage of the Golden Core Realm.

He appeared as someone hiding his true cultivation, though those with some ability might still see through to his real realm.

It was so clumsy that it was laughable.

Unless some people were bored and looking for trouble, no one would bother him.

After a short while, Jiang Hao sensed poisonous gas around him.

He did not pay it any mind and continued forward. @@novelbin@@

Soon, the massive stone gate of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect loomed before him.

In front of the gate knelt a man in black robes. His face twisted and scarred.

Though he concealed his cultivation which made him appear as though he was an ordinary cultivator, Jiang Hao could sense his true cultivation realm.

'Peak of the Immortal Human Realm… So fast!' Jiang Hao thought.

In just a few short decades, he had jumped from the early stage to the peak of the Immortal Human Realm.

The strongest aura within the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect seemed to be only at the early stage of the True Immortal Realm.

"Unknowingly, I've already become stronger than many sects."

Jiang Hao sighed. However, the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect might have more than one early-stage True Immortals.

There were still poisonous creatures deeper in, but he did not investigate further.

At this moment, Jiang Hao held his immortal sword and slowly approached Disciple Shang An.

The people passing by were not surprised by this.

It seemed he was not the only one getting close to Disciple Shang An.

Perhaps other people had approached him before this. Otherwise, the people would not be this unbothered by it.

When Jiang Hao lowered his head, he noticed that Disciple Shang An was looking up at him.

"We meet again," said Disciple Shang An slowly.

Jiang Hao was surprised. Did Shang An recognize him?

That was impossible.

Only a few people could recognize him behind his disguise, like Hong Yuye.

"Senior, do you know me?" Jiang Hao asked calmly.

"No, but I can tell we've met before, though I can't recall exactly when or where," Disciple Shang An said honestly. "You need not worry. I don't intend to pry or deceive you."

Jiang Hao was not worried at all.

He looked at Shang An's knees that were sinking into the ground and could not help but sigh. "Have you been kneeling here all this time?"

"Yes, for quite a while now," Disciple Shang An said with a sigh.

"But why?" Jiang Hao took out two fruits he had bought in the city and offered one to him. "Would you like one?"

"Thank you." Disciple Shang An accepted the fruit and said, "I want to see my Master."

"With your strength, it shouldn't be difficult to enter the sect," Jiang Hao said.

"It's not difficult, but if I were to force my way in, it would disturb him," Disciple Shang An said.

"But wouldn't kneeling here also disturb his peace?" Jiang Hao countered.

"It might, but not enough to make him send me away. This way, I can see him and talk to him," Disciple Shang An said truthfully.

Jiang Hao looked at the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect and asked, "What if he never comes out?"

"He will. He's my Master," Shang An said with a sigh.

Jiang Hao was surprised by his confidence. "You're that sure?"

"Yes, if I keep kneeling here, he'll think I'm wasting the great opportunities of this era and won't be able to bear it…" Shang An smiled. "My Master was always hard on me. He used to beat and cold me. He even called me ugly…"

Lowering his head in reflection, Shang An said, "But he truly cared for me. I remember when I helped him with tasks, he often told me I shouldn't stay by his side. He tried to persuade me to leave. Eventually, he couldn't tolerate me anymore and sent me to the Clear Sky School without my consent."

"Do you resent him for that?" Jiang Hao asked.

"No. I want to see him." Shang An looked at the Thousand Poisons Sect and said, "I want to see him, not in some sneaky way, but as a disciple requesting an audience."

"Can't you wait until later?" Jiang Hao asked casually as he took a bite of the fruit.

"No." Shang An shook his head. "I don't know if I'll survive what comes next. With the great changes in the world, I'm already deeply entangled in them. When I leave, it might be for the last time, and if we meet again, it could be across the boundary of life and death."

Jiang Hao was surprised.

Shang An was willing to risk his life.

In this era of upheaval, although he wanted to save the Charm Goddess, there were many other things he could not avoid.

Even without doing anything, Jiang Hao constantly got into trouble, let alone Shang An, who was well-known and powerful. That was why he was so determined to see his Master.

"You're forcing your Master's hand," Jiang Hao said.

"Maybe I'm a little angry with him," Shang An said.

Jiang Hao looked at him and continued eating his fruit. He remained silent as time passed until evening.

Then, he received a message from the Tea Master informing him that the Dew of the First Sun had been purchased successfully for one and a half million spirit stones.

Jiang Hao lowered his head in thought.

He knew that Shang An was planning to seek out the Charm Goddess. But why was he going overseas?

He shook his head. He had no clue.

Then, he turned around and left to get the tea.

He needed to ensure everything was okay. After that, he would not have to worry about much until he turned eighty.

Meanwhile, in the air above, Situ Jingjing took out her storage treasure. "One and a half million spirit stones. I didn't expect the tea leaves to go up in price again. Heaven is helping me. Soon, my physique will be fully restored. Then I'll use that woman to test my blade and deal with Shang An.

"I'll pretend to be that woman. Since she's from the Astronomical Academy, I can frame them for it. Then the Clear Sky School and the Astronomical Academy might end up clashing.

"This ugly man is supposedly a powerful cultivator, yet he has the nerve to kneel there pathetically. All cultivators should be ashamed of him."

The man beside Situ Jingjing remained silent as they returned to the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect.

She would enter seclusion and recover.

She was right about one thing. Recovery of her physique was indeed important for their plans.

...

Jiang Hao arrived at the edge of the city and met with The Tea Master.

"Here is the item you wanted, Senior." The Tea Master handed over a box without hesitation. It was sealed with an array.

Jiang Hao gently opened it and confirmed it was the Dew of the First Sun. He recognized it from the aroma, as he had drunk it before.

"This is it." Jiang Hao nodded.

Then, he appraised it.

He needed to confirm if it had really been purchased at the auction for one and a half million spirit stones. There was no problem.

Jiang Hao turned to the Tea Master and asked, "Did it really cost that much?"

"Y-Yes, one and a half million spirit stones," the Tea Master stammered.

Jiang Hao frowned.

"Senior, I must confess. I was greedy. It actually only cost one million four hundred thousand," said the Tea Master immediately.

As he spoke, he took out one hundred thousand spirit stones. Jiang Hao looked at him silently.

Seeing the Tea Master trying to return even more, Jiang Hao sighed inwardly and let him have the hundred thousand spirit stones. "Keep them. It's for the information you provided."

Seeing this, the Tea Master was shocked.

But he did not accept the fifty thousand spirit stones and returned it. "It's my honor to be able to assist you, Senior. I can't keep these 50,000 spirit stones."

Jiang Hao sighed inwardly.

This man was difficult to shake off, but for the time being, he still needed him.

Perhaps he could try to cultivate the Dew of the First Sun.

It was too difficult to obtain it otherwise. He could try to figure out a way to plant it.

If he could, he had every reason to drag Hong Yuye along.

"You can go no," Jiang Hao said and dismissed the Tea Master. Then, he headed to the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect.

He gradually approached the gate and moved to stand beside Shang An.

Then, he entered the sect.

His arrival did not attract any attention other than from Shang An.

In the sect, Jiang Hao moved as if he was strolling in his own courtyard. No one noticed or stopped him.

This was how it felt to be powerful. He could do whatever he wanted without anyone hindering him.

It was a wonder he had survived so long in the Heavenly Note Sect, likely due to Hong Yuye's attention.

Shang An had done him a favor before.

If he could help him in return, it would be a good thing.