Chapter 13: Exchange, Revenge?

By the time the grain delivery was completed and they returned, it was already evening.

Chu Danqing had no choice but to head back to the Lu Mansion, though the trip was not without rewards.

This time, Chu Danqing had acquired five thousand faction contribution points.

With one point per *dan* of grain, it was neither particularly reasonable nor entirely unreasonable.

Combined with the amount he had obtained previously, he now held a full six thousand faction contribution points.

To be honest, if he were willing to push his luck a little further, he might genuinely have a chance at the top-ranking fine-grade inherited skill in the faction store.

However, he firmly believed in securing gains immediately. The moment he returned to the Lu Mansion, his very first action was to exchange for *Notes of True Man Baihe: Volume One*.

Unfortunately, the stock did not refresh after the exchange; only the available purchase count decreased. Otherwise, Chu Danqing would have liked to convert all his points into knowledge-based items.

The remaining three thousand faction points could only buy two portions of the Lu Family Body-Refining Secret Elixir.

Now, he was hesitating over how to use these two portions of the elixir.

The simplest way was for him and Dabao to take one portion each. However, there was another potential usage: utilizing them as developmental resources.

If he waited until his summoning basic skill reached Level 10, these two resources could increase the success rate of Dabao awakening the skill that enhanced bleeding effects.

After careful deliberation, he decided to consume them directly.

Reaching level 10 in a basic skill was no easy feat, not to mention the further nurturing required afterward.

"I, no need, blood rage is enough."

"Little Chu, you eat," Dabao refused Chu Danqing's offer, giving his reasoning: "You have more health, you live longer."

His meaning was simple: it wouldn't be too difficult for Chu Danqing to survive and then resurrect him, but if Chu Danqing died, Dabao certainly couldn't bring him back.

Chu Danqing tried to persuade him several times, but Dabao remained adamant, insisting he didn't need it.

Seeing this, Chu Danqing had no choice but to consume both portions himself.

The secret elixir melted upon contact with the tongue, quickly turning into a warm current that surged into his abdomen. After about two minutes, the Dimension Paradise prompt surfaced.

[Your maximum health has increased by 300] × 2

From every perspective, this secret elixir far surpassed the White Dragon Fish food Chu Danqing had consumed earlier.

Both in terms of efficiency and the amount added to his maximum health.

Just as he finished swallowing the elixir, Chu Danqing noticed that the attribute-enhancing medicine in the faction store—which had only one portion left—had also dropped to zero.

Clearly, someone had rushed to exchange for it out of fear that Chu Danqing would take them all.

"It must be that flat-topped youth called Fierce Fist." Chu Danqing did not believe Tie Yan could gather fifteen hundred faction contributions in such a short time.

"Fierce Fist's true target is most likely the top-ranked fine-grade inherited skill in the faction store."

"His faction contribution might not match mine, but acquiring a single bottle of attribute medicine wouldn't be difficult for him."

"He just didn't expect my efficiency to be even higher."

"Still, my efficiency has reached its limit here." Chu Danqing knew it was unrealistic to expect to acquire such massive amounts of faction contribution going forward.

Checking the time, he realized it was still quite early—barely past eight o'clock.

Deciding to make use of the hours, he took out *Notes of True Man Baihe: Volume One* and a desk lamp, beginning to read late into the night.

Reading by candlelight alone was far too harsh on the eyes.

Dabao stood by, manually cranking a generator to provide electricity for Chu Danqing's reading light.

Compared to the Holy Son of Qingyun, the contents of True Man Baihe's notes had a different focus, granting Chu Danqing a much broader horizon of knowledge.

He read very slowly, pondering every single line and word, and the harvest was immense.

Time ticked away second by second. Dabao's hand-cranking motion suddenly faltered, and he abruptly raised his head to look upward.

The desk lamp went dark. Without asking what had happened, Chu Danqing immediately shoved the notes into his storage space and grew alert.

He readied himself for action at a moment's notice.

A fierce glint began to surface in Dabao's eyes. He activated his Rending Claws, and his bulky frame nimbly scaled the wooden pillars.

The next moment, he tore off the roof tiles, leaped directly onto the rooftop, and engaged in a fierce battle with some unknown enemy.

Chu Danqing couldn't see in the dark, and both Life Link and Energy Link required targets while failing to penetrate obstacles, leaving him unable to offer much assistance.

However, the commotion quickly alerted various personnel within the Lu Mansion.

"How bold! To dare break into the Lu Mansion by night!"

Xie Liyang was the first to arrive. A winding snake of fire surged forward, followed by a crackling explosion of spells.

After about three minutes, Dabao leaped back down from the roof. His fur was slightly singed, clearly having been caught in the crossfire.

"Ran away. It was a dark shadow, terrifying," Dabao said.

Shortly after, Xie Liyang walked in, a trace of regret on his face. "It seemed to be a demonic creature, though I know not whence it came. Does Envoy Chu have any clues?"

Judging from the marks at the scene, Chu Danqing had been the first to discover the intruder, so naturally, Xie Liyang asked him.

"I'm not entirely sure. I was reading at the time," Chu Danqing replied after a brief moment of thought. "Perhaps the Way of Peace?"

If he had offended anyone, only the Way of Peace was a likely suspect.

Aside from them, ever since entering the trial, the only people he had offended were those few fellow dimension apostles.

Yet those individuals had also joined the Way of Peace, so the final target remained unchanged.

As for Fierce Fist? That guy had joined the government faction and was likely busy scrambling for faction contributions; he wouldn't have the time to bother with him.

At that moment, Lu Yin arrived as well. Hearing Chu Danqing's words, his expression darkened.

"It's highly probable. This is undoubtedly the work of the Way of Peace," Lu Yin said. "That demonic creature bore a three-tenths resemblance to the form of the Upper Corpse, yet it was far more vicious."

"Isn't the Upper Corpse..." Chu Danqing originally wanted to say it was on Ji Zhen, but upon further reflection, a mere miner like Lu San was able to forge the three corpses—upper, middle, and lower—using the corpse-slashing technique.

Creating another one certainly wouldn't be difficult.

"Envoy Chu eliminated the Middle Corpse and helped Ji Zhen suppress the Upper Corpse, which undoubtedly ruined the plans of the Way of Peace," Xie Liyang said, aware of the inner details, and added his thoughts.

"What strategy should we adopt?" Chu Danqing looked toward Lu Yin.

Lu Yin pondered for a moment before replying, "Envoy Chu, please temporarily change your quarters. Tomorrow I shall seek you out to discuss this further."

"Everyone else, disperse. Do not let word of this matter spread."

Clearly, Lu Yin needed time to make preparations before devising a plan.

While the Way of Peace's influence in Yangxian County was inferior to that of the Lu family, they had countless followers spread across the entire realm.

Moreover, the Supreme Master of the Way of Peace was the current Imperial Preceptor—his influence was at its zenith.

After the others dispersed, Lu Yin continued, "This matter arose entirely on account of my Lu family, which has caused Envoy Chu to be implicated."

Chu Danqing immediately replied, "To eat the lord's stipend is to share the lord's worries. Young Master Lu speaks of implication; this is merely the fundamental duty of a retained guest and envoy."

His words greatly pleased Lu Yin, who then said, "Previously, Envoy Chu mentioned needing heavenly treasures to make up for Dabao's innate deficiencies. I have already made some headway on that matter."

"Tomorrow evening, I will send someone to deliver them to you. If they are not to your liking, I will have the estate search for more."

"It is getting late; Envoy Chu should rest early." With that, Lu Yin also departed.