Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 1503 - 1503 0863 Ingratitude

Chapter 1503: Chapter 0863: Ingratitude Chapter 1503: Chapter 0863: Ingratitude As Qi Tian and Zhang Baolin were enjoying their conversation together, Zhang Chenghua returned to the Ink Flood Dragon Association. The more he thought about it on his way back, the angrier he became. At the Wanjie Commerce, he was directly confronted by Qi Tian, which he felt was a great loss of face. If it hadn’t been for the upcoming grand competition and not wanting to discourage the few Gold Core Realm Peak representatives heading to it from Wanjie City, he would have taught Qi Tian a lesson right there and then. At that time, he suppressed his anger, but now, he always felt that tolerating this rage made his mind unsettled and it was very unsatisfying.

Despite trying to rationalize with all sorts of reasons, Zhang Chenghua still felt he couldn’t swallow the insult. Since he couldn’t swallow it, he decided to let it out. In the entire Wanjie City, no one had ever made him, Zhang Chenghua, suffer such indignity. He immediately ordered people to summon Xu Xinge and Wu Jiahui.

Three years ago, during the dispute over the ownership of the Fiery Cloud Secret Realm between Wanjie City and Sui’an City, Xu Xinge and Wu Jiahui were the main forces dispatched by the Ink Flood Dragon Association. Everybody had expected them to glorify the Association’s name, but to everyone’s surprise, they performed very ordinarily in the battle, bringing great shame to the Ink Flood Dragon Association. Since then, their status within the Association had declined significantly. If it hadn’t been for this, Zhang Chenghua wouldn’t have casually ordered for them to be summoned so brusquely—previously it would have been a polite request.

Not long after Zhang Chenghua gave the order, Xu Xinge and Wu Jiahui appeared before the vice president, scared and anxious. In the past three years, this was their first time being summoned by the vice president, so how could they not be apprehensive?

Zhang Chenghua looked at the two with disdain in his eyes and impatience in his tone, “I just went to Wanjie Commerce, guess who I saw? I saw Qi Tian. That kid was extremely arrogant in front of me, showing no regard for our Ink Flood Dragon Association at all. He even said that Wu Jiahui, you are without integrity, abandoning your comrades on the battlefield, a disgrace to Wanjie City. Hearing this, I felt my face burning with shame, and I couldn’t show my face to anyone. Come on, Wu Jiahui, tell me, what are your thoughts on this?”

Wu Jiahui’s face turned red with anger. Three years ago, Qi Tian had made this matter public, resulting in countless disapproving looks wherever he went in these three years. Wu Jiahui hadn’t reflected on what he had done wrong but had blamed all his resentment on Qi Tian. Now, Qi Tian was publicly announcing this again, exposing his humiliation repeatedly. It was too much to bear.

“Vice President, where is Qi Tian now? I want to find him.”

Zhang Chenghua snorted coldly, “You want to find him, but what’s the use even if you do? Can the face that I lost be regained? Can the honor of our Ink Flood Dragon Association be restored? I have long wanted to tell you both that you’re good for nothing but causing trouble.”

Xu Xinge remained silent, but the flicker in his eyes suggested the rage in his heart. At this moment, he had completely forgotten the life-saving grace he owed to Qi Tian.

Wu Jiahui said furiously, “That damned brat Qi Tian is just too much. Didn’t he just find some place to hide three years ago? Otherwise, how could he be basking in his current glory? Vice President, please give me a chance to teach Qi Tian a harsh lesson.”

“Teach a lesson? How? So that he can continue to tarnish the reputation of our Ink Flood Dragon Association afterward?” Zhang Chenghua said dissatisfiedly.

Wu Jiahui’s eyes lit up with uncertainty, “Vice President, do you mean to say…”

“What do I mean? I mean nothing at all,” Zhang Chenghua did not want to give anyone cause for gossip.

Wu Jiahui quickly nodded and said, “I understand, I understand! It was my meaning.”

Zhang Chenghua then gave Wu Jiahui an approving look and said, “Some things, you should not take action yourselves. Take a detour; the effect might be better. Old Xu, don’t you have acquaintances in Sui’an City? Use your brain. Don’t foolishly rush forward and tarnish our Ink Flood Dragon Association’s reputation, understand?”

Wu Jiahui and Xu Xinge quickly nodded, and Zhang Chenghua waved his hand impatiently and said, “If you understand, then scram and get it done. I hope the next time I see you, you will have done something that can make my face shine and have raised the reputation of our Ink Flood Dragon Association.”

Qi Tian and Zhang Baolin’s gathering took up more than half a day, and they disbanded still reluctant to leave. They had a rather pleasant conversation with each other, and if it weren’t for the tournament that was to happen soon, they would have arranged the next gathering.

During his conversations with them, Qi Tian had tried to subtly inquire whether they knew of any opportunities that could elevate one to the Nascent Soul Stage, but he made no gains. He wasn’t sure whether they genuinely knew nothing about such opportunities or if they were feigning ignorance. Apart from that, Qi Tian did have some gains in other areas, but overall, this was merely their first gathering of four Gold Core Realm Peak cultivators. They hadn’t yet reached the point of deep conversation.

After parting ways with Zhang Baolin and the others, Qi Tian pondered that he couldn’t put all his hopes on the tournament. On one hand, he wasn’t sure he could secure one of the top spots, and on the other, if he could find a suitable opportunity before the tournament to advance his cultivation level, he could gain some extra time. This might provide him with an advantage over his peers.

As much as he thought, Qi Tian faced a very real problem: where was the opportunity, and how was he to find it? Qi Tian wasn’t completely without direction. During the Fire Cloud Secret Realm Battle, he had subdued several Nascent Soul Masters to become his Immortal Slaves. Later on, to avoid unnecessary trouble, Qi Tian let them leave the Fiery Cloud Secret Realm before him and told them to scatter, each to their own home. In the three years since, he had been in closed-door cultivation and had not contacted them at all.

The relationship between Qi Tian and his Immortal Slaves was secured and wouldn’t change just because of three years of no contact. Whenever Qi Tian needed them, he could ask for their assistance. As his Immortal Slaves, they had no ability to refuse.

However, there was a problem with this approach: these Nascent Soul Immortal Slaves were in Sui’an City, quite distant from Wanjie City. With his current status as the Great Elder of National Master Manor, especially since he was designated to participate in the upcoming tournament, it wasn’t really appropriate for him to openly contact these Nascent Soul Immortal Slaves at this critical juncture. Should he be noticed by the wrong people, he feared he might lose his qualification to participate in the tournament.

Sui’an City would also send Gold Core Realm Peak cultivators under the age of thirty to the tournament. Contacting Sui’an City during this period could easily lead to criticism. If Qi Tian must make contact, he must choose a cautious method.