368. Worrying Thoughts
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Su Xue and Su Yue went off into the land of dreams. Chen Wentian didn’t get up and stayed with them, hugged their warm bodies against his. He could have been cultivating his souls but he was feeling rather lazy after an enjoyable training session with the twins. The Anatta Soul Nirvana art could steadily improve his souls through meditation but this method was rather slow and tedious. He preferred the much quicker method of refining enemy souls. Especially after the experience of refining Abbotess Liang’s soul, ordinary meditation almost seemed like a waste of time.

He spent a few moments catching up on the status of his other disciples through his souls and the state of the various provinces through Chen Mo’s soul anchors. His disciples were doing fine. They were practicing diligently, even in his absence. The only outlier was Jasmine but she was able to cultivate simply by sleeping most of the day.

The provinces were also doing fine, except for a few murders and deaths here or there. But that was to be expected. The world was not peaceful and cultivation was not a peaceful endeavor. However, one of his souls provided him with worrying thoughts on some news that wasn’t publicly available…

---

“Enter.”

A voice drifted through the closed door to where Chen Wentian stood, in the body and soul of Ming He. The top disciple of the Eastern Light Clan was currently near the top of the tower, in front of the private residence of his father, Immortal Light Warder Ming Hai.

Chen Wentian opened the door and stepped inside. He walked quickly through the familiar hallways, making sure not to let his eyes stray, and arrived in a small sitting area.

His father was alone though he sensed several female presences nearby. At least he was clothed, which was a rarity.

"Xiao He." Ming Hai said after putting down a goblet of what had to be wine.

"Father." Chen Wentian bowed deeply.

"Mmmm..." Ming Hai muttered while scanning Ming Hai with spiritual light, "Good, you didn't disappoint me. You managed to retain your top spot in the ranking test. I was worried the loss of Long Yifei would affect you but it seems you managed to overcome that."

Chen Wentian snorted in his heart but kept a straight face, "Indeed, father. Your strict training sessions after that incident kept my mind focused. She no longer affects my thoughts at all, even if she were to appear in front of me again!"

Ming Hai waved his hand, "Now, now. No need to boast. She can make even this daddy lose control with her beauty... but it doesn't matter. Since Virtuous Order dragged themselves into the issue, Long Yifei is no longer your concern. Don't worry about that Chen Wentian either. Those two are no longer your targets, they are my targets now."

"This... does father wish to destroy that person?" Ming He asked.

Chen Wentian was keenly interested in the answer. He already viewed this immortal Ming Hai as an enemy but only a low-priority one at the moment. He had bigger souls to fry including the two despicable kings of Beast God Sanctum and the three Beast Kings still running rampant in the Eastern Wilderness.

He had less than a year to match Jasmine’s explosive growth in cultivation and help her fulfil her revenge. She already at fifth stage of spiritual strengthening and rapidly approaching the sixth. Soon she would reach the seventh and final stage of strengthening after which she would enter several months of hibernation.

She would emerge from that sleep a Spirit King. It was almost guaranteed from what her mother described. The cultivation habits of divine beasts were simply too divine. If he couldn’t reach the Spirit King Realm at the same or soon afterwards, she would not listen to him and their relationship as master and disciple would be turned on its head.

Such a thing was the last thing Chen Wentian wanted and so a useless idiot like Ming Hai was a mere annoyance.

Ming Hai laughed nonchalantly and took a swig of wine, "Plenty of people wish to see him disappear but doing so is easier said than done. That lucky bastard managed to find himself so many thick thighs to hug. Truly shameful… As I said, don't worry about it from now on. Focus on your cultivation."

"Yes." Chen Wentian answered was he was frowning inwardly.

Such an answer was to be expected but it was problematic and could mean anything. This Ming Hai could already be planning something or simply boasting in front his son. Yet the danger of the first possibility was too strong to ignore so Chen Wentian was already thinking of countermeasures.

“Enough of this, I want to talk to about you, not a useless person.” Ming Hai said, "Son, Long Yifei might be gone but you still need to find a wife. You cannot delay your first light ceremony much longer. Do you have anyone in mind?"

"No… I don't.” Chen Wentian admitted.

This was the truth as Ming He had put all his faith and hope in obtaining Long Yifei. The poor sap was rather unfortunate in the love department. 

“Does father have any recommendations?"

"Very perceptive. I actually do."

Ming Hai waved his hand and a scroll appeared in the air. It unfurled, revealing the portrait of a pretty but otherwise unremarkable woman. Ming He, and Chen Wentian as well, recognized the person. She was Tang Xiang, executor for the House of Axes, a subsidiary of the House of Armament and their enemy.

“This…”

The immortal laughed, “Don’t be so surprised. Anything is possible in this world. Although she is a little lacking in the looks department, her talent is undeniable. Age thirty-eight, already at the lesser realm of Spiritual Formation. She is stronger than you by a whole lesser realm. Do you think you can handle her?”

“I can… but I must ask, what is going on?” Chen Wentian asked.

“The Virtuous Order of Chunzhen has made their intentions clear. They never cared about this small subcontinent before but Long Yifei changed everything. Now, the balance of power is shifting. The Eastern Light Clan can no longer afford to be involved in petty squabbles with the House of Armament. Sect Master Ming Mu is already in talks with them for a tentative peace that might eventually lead to an alliance. You and Tang Xiang were brought up almost immediately as a suitable match to seal the deal.”

Chen Wentian, acting as the ever-obedient son, did not raise any objections.

This was the unavoidable reality. Spirit Kings were not dumb. Old immortal sects had deep and formidable legacies. They didn’t get to their position without foresight and sense of self-preservation. They were prepared to put aside old hatreds to weather the furious storm that was the Virtuous Order looming across the horizon.

“I will follow father’s instructions.”

“Good, good. First order of business, you are to visit Tang Xiang and help her with a case that has been troubling the House of Axes for many months. Treat it as an opportunity to get to know her, to see if you two are compatible.”

“An unsolvable case?”

“A nasty case.” Ming Hai answered, “They recently lost an executor to a gruesome death. Only their shriveled husk remained. And it’s not the only attack. There’s been an increase of such reports all over the metropolis. The House of Axes suspect its some kind of demon infestation. They are trying to keep things calm but it’s starting to get difficult. You must find it quickly and deal with it quietly.”

“Yes, father.”

“You can head out immediately when you are ready.”

“Yes!” Chen Wentian didn’t ask anymore useless questions and promptly left the room, his mind filled with worrying thoughts.

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