The Golden Core cultivator finally smiled and spoke.
"Everyone, if you want to know what happens next, you will need to part with a few spirit stones. Wan Daoyou worked hard to gather this information. He called in many favors and connections. All of that costs spirit stones. What do you say?"
Someone immediately heckled. "Tch, so this is just to make money."
Others, eager for first-hand news, spoke up at once. "Daoyou, if you can guarantee the news is genuine, I will pay."
The Golden Core cultivator vowed solemnly. "The information is absolutely authentic. 'Know-It-All' Wan Daoyou did not earn his name for nothing. He would never smash his own signboard."
"All right. Name your price. I will buy this message jade slip."
"Straight to the point. One hundred low-grade spirit stones per copy. I only have twenty copies. When they are gone, that is it."
Seeing the timing was right, the Golden Core cultivator took twenty cyan jade slips from his storage bag. These slips were sealed. Unless the one who set the seal removed it, any forced opening would erase the contents. In the cultivation world, such slips were common for everyday transactions.
"Give me one."
"Here are the spirit stones. Mine first."
"And mine."
Many wanted first-hand news. Even knowing they might be cheated, some were still willing to pay. In moments the Golden Core cultivator was surrounded. The twenty jade slips sold out in a flash. When more tried to buy, he said they were gone, then turned smartly and left.
Leaving the Wei estate, Zhang Lingrui and Lin Keyang also witnessed the Golden Core cultivator's little performance. The two exchanged a glance. Zhang Lingrui flashed forward to block the man's path.
"This Xiaoyou, this Zūnzhě is very interested in your jade slips. Do you have one more to sell me?"
The Golden Core cultivator already jumped at the sudden appearance. Hearing the other call himself Zūnzhě, then seeing the Haoran Sect robes, his knees nearly softened. He fumbled out a jade slip and offered it up with both hands.
"Senior, there is no need to be polite. This one I kept for myself. I present it to Zūnzhě."
Zhang Lingrui drew the jade slip into his hand with a wisp of spiritual power. A sweep of divine sense was enough to read it. He raised an eyebrow.
"I did not expect this 'Know-It-All' to have some skill. About sixty percent of the information is accurate. But he overstates Ran Xi's role. It gives the feeling of 'praise to kill.' That is not good. Revise it before selling. Understood?"
The Golden Core cultivator's heart lurched. He bowed his head at once.
"Yes. I will remember."
"Carry a message to Wan Bowen. If you intend to publish information, be honest. Do not become someone else's knife. Evil cultivators are looking to return in force. Stirring up infighting among the regions now is the wrong move. Do not ruin yourself."
"Yes, yes. I will remember and deliver your words. I will go recall the slips I just sold and explain the situation."
The man ducked even lower.
"Hmph. You are wise enough."
When he looked up again, no one stood before him. Wiping cold sweat from his brow, he turned back at once to retrieve the jade slips.
Lin Keyang glanced at Zhang Lingrui as he flashed back to his side. "Handled?"
"Mm. That jade slip was interesting. It assigned all the credit for the Shanhe Scroll battle to Ran Xi. That is blatant 'praise to kill.' Those of us who survived the Shanhe Scroll know Ran Xi indeed holds the greatest merit, but the fallen also contributed.
In some eyes, that kind of account erases the contributions of the dead. What will their fellow disciples, clansmen, and loved ones think? The move is truly vicious."
Lin Keyang frowned. "There is something off here. We just returned, yet the news has already spread to the Western Region. Who released it? That 'Know-It-All' cannot get near Divine Transformation cultivators like us. What are his sources? Who told him to sell this at all?"
Zhang Lingrui could not be bothered to dig deeper. "Let the sect have that headache. First we visit the Feng Clan and finish what Ran Xi entrusted to us. Then we will bring this slip back to the sect.
As long as you and Ran Xi are around, you refuse to use your head."
Lin Keyang shot him a helpless glare, then stepped into the shop run by the Feng Clan.
Feng Jiaqing had never expected to meet two Divine Transformation Zūnzhě of Haoran Sect. He courteously invited Lin Keyang and Zhang Lingrui into an inner reception hall and asked after Ran Xi.
He had heard many rumors about the Five Region Grand Tournament, but could not tell truth from falsehood. He was worried about Yunxi, so he had been watching Haoran Sect closely. When he learned the participants had returned, he waited daily for a message talisman from Yunxi. Instead, two powerhouses arrived at his door.
When he learned Ran Xi had reached Divine Transformation, Feng Jiaqing felt both relieved and uneasy. From the two Zūnzhě he learned that survival from the Shanhe Scroll had only one path, to reach Divine Transformation. Even without experiencing it himself, he could imagine the peril. One misstep and the immortal path would end.
"You need not worry. Ran Xi is uninjured and earned honor for the sect in this tournament. These are items she asked us to deliver to you. She also asked us to tell you to move the Feng Clan to Haoran City as soon as possible, do not stint resources, and train the juniors.
The five regions are unstable. Evil cultivators show signs of a comeback. Prepare early."
"Many thanks, Zūnzhěs, for coming in person."
Feng Jiaqing accepted the storage ring and bowed. Yunxi had been through nine deaths and one life, yet still remembered to aid the Feng Clan. Feng Jiaqing was deeply moved.
Now the Feng Clan had carved out a place in Haoran City. Feng Ancestor had previously sent a group of outstanding body cultivators, raising the clan's overall strength. Their task was to develop quietly, train disciples well, and stand firmly behind Yunxi when she confronted evil cultivators.
Seeing that the Feng Clan understood their position and would not drag Ran Xi down, Lin Keyang and Zhang Lingrui flashed back to the sect.
Their first act upon returning was to seek Sect Master Yu Geng.
Yu Geng had not expected the two to return again and rose at once. "Zūnzhěs, is there an urgent matter?"
Lin Keyang nodded and pushed a jade slip across to Yu Geng. "Originally, Zhang Lingrui and I planned to resupply in Haoran City and then depart. Instead, we found a cultivator selling message jade slips. About sixty percent of the contents are true. The remaining forty percent are labeled conjecture, yet they grossly exaggerate Ran Xi's contribution. Something is wrong."
As Sect Master, Yu Geng understood at a glance. Someone was deliberately trying to "praise to kill" Ran Xi.
"Thank you both for coming back to warn us. Ran Xi is always low-key. The sect respects that. I did not expect someone to make an issue of even this. It seems the image-recording jades you brought back should be put to use."