Big Data Cultivation
Chapter 1181: Elder Token

Chapter 1181: Chapter 1181: Elder Token

The president of Tiantong’s branch? As soon as Pan Shangren heard this, he understood the reason why the other party wasn’t willing to cooperate.

The influence of Tiantong isn’t any less than that of the Ten Directions Platform.

What was particularly troubling for him was that he could sense Huang Fu Wuxia’s strong support for Feng Jun.

The four masters traveling together might not necessarily help when faced with trouble, especially when the trouble comes from the cultivator society.

In short, there are different levels of friendships. Traveling together is one kind, hunting wild beasts together is another, and dealing with a massive sect is yet another kind, but the significance varies greatly.

Huang Fu Wuxia publicly challenging the Ten Directions Platform for Feng Jun... do you still need to ask about their relationship?

Pan Shangren took another look at Kong Ziyi—unsure why, he felt that this woman might have an even more significant background, so he spoke up again, "May I ask, are you from one of the Four Great Sects or Wutai?"

Kong Ziyi, seeing that Huang Fu Wuxia had already revealed her identity, didn’t hold back, but suddenly, she felt a mischievous urge, "What if I told you I was from the Ten Directions Platform..."

Pan Shangren’s mouth couldn’t help but twitch—what did you say?

Then Kong Ziyi gave a charming smile, "You might not believe that, so I’ll tell you the truth. I’m Kong Ziyi from Taiqing Zixia Peak!"

"Taiqing Zixia Peak..." Upon hearing this, Pan Shangren couldn’t help but gasp, "Is Master Sumiao your..."

"She’s my master," Kong Ziyi replied with a cheerful smile, "Even if I were bolder, I wouldn’t dare falsely claim to be associated with a Golden Core Master, right?"

Pan Shangren’s face turned ashen instantly.

Indeed, one could impersonate a disciple from the Four Sects or Wutai, but to falsely claim association with a Golden Core Master... that would be seeking one’s own death!

No wonder she dared to ask which master from the Ten Directions Platform was behind me, having real ability to confront directly.

Just then, someone timidly spoke up, "May I ask if Chairman Huang Fu... is the chairperson of the Donghua Branch?"

Everyone turned to look and saw a man at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining, standing far away with cupped hands.

Feng Jun’s group did not recognize him, but everyone else did; he was Manager Tang from the Tiantong Lantern Town Branch.

Though called a manager, he actually belonged to the Tiantong Mingsha Fang Market Division and was essentially the chair of a primary branch.

Huang Fu Wuxia’s Eastern Division was actually part of the Donghua Branch, which was under the Qiuchen Fang Market Division, making her a secondary branch chair; she was at the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining when she first met Feng Jun.

After advancing to the Out of Dust Phase, it wasn’t quite suitable for her to continue as a secondary branch chair, but she insisted, and no one objected.

Manager Tang, as a primary branch chair, had both Qi Refinement and Out of Dust phase cultivators, though his cultivation level was slightly lower.

Upon seeing him ask a question, Huang Fu Wuxia shook her head then nodded, "I’m not the chair of Donghua Branch; I’m the chair of the Donghua Eastern Division. Who are you?"

"My name is Tang," he replied with a smiling face, "I’m the manager of this branch. May I approach you?"

The unrelated people had already been dispersed, so he dared not come too close but could keep a certain distance; the Wu Family and Pan Family couldn’t turn him away.

Huang Fu Wuxia instinctively glanced at Feng Jun before nodding, "Manager Tang’s rank is above mine, no need for such courtesy. Come over."

The masters from the Pan and Wu families watched her actions and felt a sinking feeling: even the chairman of Tiantong’s branch had to consider Feng Shangren?

They were not familiar with Tiantong’s system and didn’t understand why a manager was ranked above a chairperson, but Chairman Huang Fu definitely being in the Out of Dust Phase wasn’t fake.

Manager Tang smiled and walked over, still being polite, "Chairman Huang Fu, you’re being too formal. You are a master, and I’m only in the Qi Refinement Stage. In your eyes, the ranks of the Commerce Alliance mean nothing. Your colleagues often say that you’ll become another Golden Core Master in your clan sooner or later."

The faces of the Pan and Wu family masters changed again—was this young girl from a Golden Core Family?

However, they immediately felt a great wave of gratitude: Manager Tang, who was usually meticulous in business dealings, showed no trace of his usual conduct, now giving a subtle warning—rare indeed.

They could understand the hint, how could Huang Fu Wuxia not catch on? She looked at Manager Tang, half-smiling, and asked, "Are you very close with the Pan and Wu Families?"

"Just customers," Manager Tang quickly shook his head, then added with a smile, "The Pan Master seems to have little to do with the Ten Directions Platform, but rather has some dealings with the Yinsha Sect."

Initially feeling grateful, Master Pan’s expression turned dark upon hearing this, "Manager Tang, did I offend you somehow?"

Of course, Manager Tang knew very well that these two families, relying on their Out of Dust masters, would conduct most of their major transactions at the Mingsha Fang Market rather than the local branch, except for smaller deals.

As a cultivator at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining, it wasn’t surprising that people preferred dealing with the Out of Dust masters from the divisions, but... the Lantern Town branch also needed performance.

True, the Pan and Wu families didn’t dare to harass him much, but they had no sense of gratitude towards him either. Therefore, he gave a warning and then exposed Pan Family’s lie, not deliberately targeting them.

In response to Master Pan’s questioning, Manager Tang smiled slightly and replied nonchalantly, "Master Pan, you are a master while I am at the Qi Refinement level. How could I purposely offend you? However, I and Master Huang Fu are both from Tiantong; would it be appropriate for me to watch you deceive her?"

Master Pan was at a loss for words. Indeed, Tiantong was not one of the Four Great Sects or Wutai; it was simply a loose Commercial Alliance. However, they were united under the same banner.

Master Wu furrowed his brow upon hearing this and asked seriously, "Master Pan, is it really the Yinsha Sect?"

Generally speaking, the Four Sects are stronger than Wutai, but not here. This proximity to the Ten Directions Platform alters the dynamic, as its influence extends nearby, while Yinsha Sect is much further away.

Master Pan’s lips twitched, "That... I’m not sure; it should be the Ten Directions Platform, right?"

"Heh," Manager Tang snorted coldly, "Tiantong may recognize others incorrectly, but the people from the Ten Directions Platform? That’s unlikely."

As previously mentioned, the Ten Directions Platform also did business, acting as a strong opponent for Tiantong, but their transactions were limited to major forces, refraining from dealing with Loose Cultivators, projecting some exclusivity.

Feng Jun understood that the Ten Directions Platform was, after all, a sect and not purely a commercial organization; its disciples needed extensive cultivation resources, making wide-scale expansion and establishing more branches impractical, unlike Tiantong.

Nonetheless, this did not stop Tiantong from viewing the Ten Directions Platform as a competitor.

Manager Tang’s comments implied: if you Pan Family claimed involvement with other forces, it could pass. But claiming ties with the Ten Directions Platform? That warranted a response from me to prove I’m not idly occupying my position.

"Heh, the Yinsha Sect," Feng Jun chuckled, giving Master Pan a cold look, "Is there anything else you’d like to explain?"

Master Pan fell silent for a while before speaking dejectedly, "The Pan Family acknowledges its fault. Since Mountain Master Feng left some dignity for the Wu Family, we also hope the master can forgive us. Name a penalty, and we’ll comply."

Feng Jun turned his head, looking at him with surprise, "I’m curious why you believe that paying a fine would settle the matter? Do I look like someone who’s hard up for money?"

Master Pan glanced at Kong Ziyi before looking back at Feng Jun, "Mountain Master Feng certainly doesn’t lack money, but... I won’t say anything insincere; the Yinsha Sect is indeed tougher to deal with than the Ten Directions Platform."

This statement held some truth; indeed, the Ten Directions Platform had significant influence in Lantern Town, but the Yinsha Sect, one of the Four Great Sects, acted more dominantly. The Ten Directions Platform, needing to conduct business, generally maintained good relations with the other Four Sects and the Four Platforms, avoiding unnecessary conflicts.

After saying this, Master Pan took another look at Kong Ziyi, squinting as he said, "The Taiqing Sect where Master Kong belongs also has a good relationship with the Yinsha Sect."

It’s well known that the Taiqing and Yinsha have a good relationship.

Kong Ziyi glared coldly at him, about to speak when Feng Jun preemptively said, "I also know a few people from the Yinsha Sect; who contacted you, You Longzi or Bai Li?"

Upon hearing this, Master Pan’s eyes narrowed, "You actually... know You Longzi?"

Feng Jun smirked, "So, it was that troublesome guy..."

However, he didn’t dwell on this topic and instead turned to Master Pan with interest, asking, "How much did you scam from the Sun Family?"

Master Pan shook his head decisively, denying, "I didn’t set any trap; I was merely helping to pay off debts, considering our hometown connections."

Feng Jun blinked, chuckling, "Are you sure... there’s absolutely no involvement on your part?"

Master Pan dared not answer this question. After a long pause, he mumbled quietly, "Perhaps some youngsters from my family mentioned that the Sun Family’s been wealthier lately, but it definitely wasn’t under Pan Family’s directive."

He absolutely couldn’t admit to this; otherwise, he’d find it challenging to live in Lantern Town in the future.

"Some won’t shed tears until they see the coffin," Feng Jun laughed, "Sun Daqi, do you know who set the trap?"

"I do," Sun Daqi nodded, replying respectfully, "It was a group from the Mingsha Fang Market with three Out of Dust masters backing them, the Lu Family brothers."

Kong Ziyi spoke, "Friend Yang, take this person and apprehend the culprits. Should anyone resist, have no mercy!"

As she spoke, she took out a command token, "This is an Elder’s token from my master... reportedly, it permits immediate action in the market."

No fighting is allowed in the market, but possessing a Golden Core token tells another story, especially since Master Sumiao of the Taiqing has the authority to oversee major markets, a rare power even among Golden Core Masters.

Huang Fu Wuxia also spoke seriously, "You can go to Tiantong to summon assistance, whether using the Huang Fu Family banner or the Nangong Family’s; inviting two masters for assistance shouldn’t be a problem... Could I trouble Manager Tang to accompany and serve as a witness?"

(To be continued; asking for monthly and recommended votes.)