Truly the Right Trip

The rainy season had finally drawn to a close. Having journeyed from afar, this wave of the ghost tide had temporarily chosen a ceasefire, making it seem as though everything had settled into peace. Yet... it was merely an illusion. Shortly after dawn, the torrential downpour finally ceased, and long-absent sunlight bathed the Yellow Springs Mouth area. "My King, wake up! Wake up!" Staring at the ethereal, azure Black Tortoise charging swiftly toward them from outside the stronghold, an elderly ghost creature anxiously shook the Ghost Emperor awake as he slept atop the battlement. Startled out of his groggy slumber, the Ghost Emperor sprang up almost reflexively and quickly scanned his surroundings. Spotting the spectral azure beast hurtling straight for the wall, he reacted without an instant's hesitation, vaulting off the parapet. He hovered in midair. Enveloped in gray mist, he shot toward the sea off Yellow Springs Mouth like an arrow. It was a long story. A truly exhausting one. More than ten days had passed since he negotiated a peace with Fan Domain, during which everything had appeared normal, with neither side interfering with the other. When he first fled the Yellow Springs Mouth area, he had shaken off that ethereal azure Black Tortoise in no time. He had to admit one thing. Though this azure tortoise was utterly insubstantial and practically invincible, it was still a tortoise, after all. Its speed fell far short of his own. Aside from a slightly faster burst when it initially charged, he had quickly pulled away from it. He had even lingered in the city within the Yellow Springs Mouth area, comfortably passing the hours until daybreak. Yet not long after dawn... things went wrong. At the far edge of the plain, he caught sight of the azure Black Tortoise once more. While nowhere near as fast as before, its purpose was unmistakably fixed. As though locked onto him, it surged straight toward the ramparts. He kept running. He led the tortoise on a wild chase all the way into the ocean. Then, humming a little tune, he sped up and returned to the Yellow Springs Mouth area. And then... on the very next day, that azure Black Tortoise charged out of the sea and into the Yellow Springs Mouth area once again. From that point on, it haunted him like an unyielding wraith, clinging to him relentlessly. It refused to let him go. Ever since, every day unfolded the same way: in the morning, he had to kite this tortoise deep into the waters, only for it to reappear in the Yellow Springs Mouth area the next morning, barreling straight toward him. He had thought of countless ways to dispose of the spectral creature once and for all. All had proved futile. Its body was entirely incorporeal, granting it complete immunity to every form of attack. He had tried digging a massive pit to bury it. Useless. The blasted thing turned completely ethereal and phased directly through the earth. He had tried sending an inquiry to Fan Domain, but their reply was simple: "No idea." Eventually, unable to bear it any longer, he sent another inquiry to Fan Domain. And Fan Domain answered him once more: "Truly, no idea." *** "Delicious! What a treat!" Chen Fan stood cheerfully beside the pot, lifting a dumpling with his chopsticks, blowing on it, and popping it into his mouth. Dumplings had to be eaten steaming hot. Beside him, Wang Kui felt the voice transmission talisman in his robe grow warm before speaking up. "Domain Lord." "Word has arrived from the Fan Domain Yellow Springs Mouth Defense Line again. Jiuwu is still asking how on earth he can shake off that azure Black Tortoise." "Hmm..." Deep within his soul, Chen Fan glanced at the entry for the Black Tortoise Cannon on his Eternal Night Lord panel. [Building Name]: Black Tortoise Cannon [Building Grade]: Blue [Building Level]: Level 10 [Building Effect]: City defense structure [Max-Level Effect]: [Black Tortoise Incarnate]: One of the Four Divine Cannons. Forging all four Divine Cannons simultaneously allows them to fuse into the Heavenly Dao Cannon. He had tested the Black Tortoise Cannon once before. Back then, at the Fan Domain Yellow Springs Mouth Defense Line, a flesh worm ghost tide had attacked, and he had fired a single shot from the Black Tortoise Cannon. The resulting azure Black Tortoise had launched into a wholesale slaughter of the flesh worm ghost tide. Before long, the flesh worm ghost tide had been wiped clean. Having lost its targets, the azure Black Tortoise simply stood dazed on the ground before gradually dissipating into the air after a prolonged while. The recorded duration back then had been two incense sticks' time. The azure Black Tortoise was only supposed to last two incense sticks. Why had it persisted for more than ten days this time? He truly had no idea. There was no record of such a detail on the panel. Perhaps... Thoughtfully dipping another dumpling into his saucer of vinegar, Chen Fan wondered: if its target never perished, would the azure Black Tortoise remain permanently locked onto it until the target was destroyed? Wait— A realization suddenly struck him. If that were genuinely the case, then he roughly understood what the Heavenly Dao Cannon was. Each of the Four Divine Cannons possessed a rule-based ability. And the rule-based ability of the Black Tortoise Cannon was absolute lock-on. It would never dissipate until its target died. Combining the four rule-based abilities of the Divine Cannons together yielded... the Heavenly Dao Cannon. For now, it was merely a hypothesis. After all, he had no way of knowing how long the azure Black Tortoise pursuing the Ghost Emperor could actually last. It had only been ten-odd days so far; perhaps it would vanish in another ten days or half a month. Yet if it could truly persist indefinitely—or even just for thirty to fifty years... that would be pure torture. Absolute torment. Every day, the moment the target opened his eyes, he would have to start racing against time. The Ghost Emperor was exceptionally fast. If it had targeted someone slower, that person would have to run constantly without a single moment of rest. Now Chen Fan understood why a single shot from the Black Tortoise Cannon demanded one million ghost stones. All that energy was channeled into maintaining the Black Tortoise's form. "Ignore him," Chen Fan said, waving a hand casually as he dipped another dumpling into his vinegar saucer. "Just tell him we can't solve it. Have our people keep an eye out while they're at it, and see roughly when the tortoise dissipates." "I'm quite curious myself." *** After their meal, Chen Fan disguised himself and departed Fan Domain in secret aboard the Fan Domain high-speed rail, accompanied by Qi Yue and a few others. Their destination: the heartland of the Eternal Night Continent. No one knew that Chen Fan was sitting inside this train bound for the Eternal Night Western Black Tortoise Front No. 1. If the Ghost Emperor below ever caught wind of it, that would spell trouble. Although a temporary truce was in effect, Chen Fan had no doubt the Ghost Emperor would not hesitate if given a chance to kill him. As the high-speed rail swept over the Yellow Springs Mouth area, Chen Fan looked down from the window. Below him stretched countless ghost tides, blotting out the landscape, with quite a few ghost creatures actually cultivating the fields. "Now that's a rare sight," he remarked with a slight smirk. "Do ghost creatures eat grain?" "Most likely not," Sick Monkey replied, shaking his head. "If ghost creatures needed to eat, they would have starved to death in the ocean long ago. They shouldn't require food. Planting crops now is probably just mimicking human behavior. They... want a little too badly to become human." Right at that moment, Chen Fan caught sight of the Ghost Emperor returning from the distance, panting heavily and standing out glaringly among the sprawling ghost tide. He stood more than a dozen meters tall. Unlike other ghost creatures that barely resembled mortals, this Ghost Emperor looked almost indistinguishable from a human. He had no tail, no sharp claws—only blood-red, heavily engorged eye sockets. He looked like a giant, his face etched with exhaustion. This was the first time Chen Fan had seen the Ghost Emperor with his own eyes. After only a fleeting glance, he swiftly pulled back his gaze. He did not know whether the Ghost Emperor could sense someone watching him, but it was better not to stare. The train sped along. Before long, it left the Yellow Springs Mouth area behind, gliding along the elevated tracks toward Qiuming Basin. Instead of continuing toward the Eternal Night Western Black Tortoise Front No. 1, it halted midway. A flying boat was already hovering nearby in wait. The party switched transportation without delay and boarded the flying boat, plunging deeper into the heartland of the Eternal Night Continent. Their objective: Black Tortoise Plain. Located in the continent's interior, it was landlocked on all sides. It was also one of the few regions on the Eternal Night Continent where the spatial nodes remained completely intact, meaning it bore not a single defense line. Until those nodes shattered, not a single ghost creature making landfall from the ocean could breach the front lines and reach this territory. Naturally, naturally occurring ghost creatures still roamed the area, but overall safety was exceedingly high. "Combat state versus pursuit state." Seated aboard the flying boat, Chen Fan flipped through the intelligence in his hands. According to the collected details, the azure Black Tortoise essentially operated in two modes. Freshly summoned, it entered a combat state, moving relatively fast and packing immense destructive power. Once locked onto a target, however, it transitioned into a pursuit state. In this mode, it became completely incorporeal. In other words, it inflicted no damage on any other entity. Much like the tortoise chasing the Ghost Emperor, it trampled right through the ghost tide without crushing a single creature, passing straight through their bodies. Nor did it damage city ramparts or structures. It dealt harm exclusively to its locked target. "Fascinating," Chen Fan mused thoughtfully. After half a day's flight, the flying boat gradually slowed to a stop. Weiwei began digging a pit on the spot. Once it was ready, Chen Fan crafted a signal tower, placed it inside the pit, and had it buried before they pressed onward. Though he was traveling independently this time, he could not afford to lose communication with Fan Domain. This ensured he could receive real-time updates from home and immediately trigger the Fan Domain Missiles should an enemy appear. Following the rainy season, both Fan Domain Missile Reserve Bases had finished recharging, ready to fire at a moment's notice. A full four thousand max-level Heaven-Reaching Pillars stood on standby. Three days later, the flying boat made a gentle landing on the outer perimeter of Black Tortoise Plain. After concealing the craft within a canyon, they switched transport once more to an ordinary skeleton horse carriage and set off toward the nearest city. This marked their first visit to the interior of the Eternal Night Continent. Peering out from behind the carriage curtain, Chen Fan felt the weariness of several days' continuous travel. He hoped to find an inn first to rest for the night. Outside, vast stretches of farmland unfolded before him—a sight he had never witnessed in these lands. "Don't the people here worry about ghost creatures destroying their crops?" Sick Monkey peered out as well, murmuring with some hesitation, "Perhaps they have protective measures in place?" While one could hardly call it a realm of idyllic peace, the spirits of the folk here were noticeably brighter than those in other regions, free from that despair of living under the constant threat of being devoured by ghost creatures. Soon, he spotted a city at the end of the plain. Despite the immense distance, he could still clearly make out the three large characters carved into its walls: "Black Tortoise City." It seemed to be an effect akin to a landmark banner. The carriage picked up speed, heading straight for the settlement. Yet a short while later... "Halt!" Chen Fan frowned slightly and drew back the curtain to gaze at the distant city. He had distinctly seen it just several thousand meters away earlier, so why did it appear even further now that the carriage had traveled so long? He rubbed his eyes, wondering if his vision was playing tricks on him. "Young Master," Quehou rubbed his eyes as well. "My eyes must be failing me. Why does the city look farther and farther away?" "Keep going," Chen Fan said evenly, keeping the curtain raised as he ordered the carriage forward. This time, he watched intently: as the carriage approached within about a thousand meters of the city, the distance visibly widened. The carriage was unmistakably driving forward, yet the city receded further away. "What in the world?" Chen Fan looked up at the sun hanging overhead. Had it not been broad daylight, he might have assumed they had run into a ghost town. No sooner had he arrived than Black Tortoise Plain had handed him an unexpected hurdle. "I'll get down. You guys keep driving forward." Chen Fan stepped out of the carriage, leaning on his emerald cane, and stood in place, watching Black Tortoise City several thousand meters away alongside the carriage beside him. The carriage picked up speed, soon passing him and heading toward Black Tortoise City. Yet he saw with utmost clarity that as it neared the city, it began retreating, backing up continuously until it halted right beside him once more. The carriage had actually moved in reverse! Yet those inside had felt nothing of the sort; to them, the carriage had been driving forward the entire time! "Young Master," Sick Monkey realized what had happened the moment Chen Fan reappeared outside his window. Leaping down from the carriage, his expression darkened. "This feels like a ghost wall maze." Right then, a silvery, bell-like laugh drifted into their ears. "Hey there, travelers! First time visiting?" Chen Fan turned toward the sound and saw an extravagantly decorated pink carriage pulled up alongside theirs. A curtain was pushed aside, revealing a slightly chubby-cheeked young woman smiling out at them. "Indeed," he replied, cupping his hands in greeting. "We hail from the Qitian Chamber of Commerce and came to Black Tortoise City seeking business opportunities. We had no idea the city harbored such oddities. Would the young lady mind enlightening us?" "A chamber of commerce?" The young woman's eyes brightened. She dropped the curtain, gathered her skirts, and quickly stepped down from the carriage. Trotting briskly over to the two of them, she cleared her throat in a dignified manner, then began explaining like a schoolmaster. "This Black Tortoise City has stood on Black Tortoise Plain for seventy-eight years." "A major reason it has never fallen to ghost creatures in all this time is that its walls possess a special upgrade path: the closer you try to get, the further you end up from them." "Carriages, flying boats, walking on foot—" "none of it works." "Even ghost creatures can't get close." "Only someone holding a Black Tortoise City Entry Token can enter the city." "Virtually everyone on Black Tortoise Plain knows this. You had no clue at all—are you from outside the plain?" "Normally, a chamber of commerce visiting Black Tortoise City for the first time has to buy an Entry Token at a pavilion ten li to the west before they can enter." "However..." The girl paused deliberately, then retrieved a bronze token from her robes and offered it to Chen Fan. "I happen to have a spare Entry Token on me. I'll give it to you—consider it making a friend." Chen Fan accepted the token. Its familiar texture told him immediately it was a product of the Living Workshop. Raising an eyebrow with a smile, he said, "Much obliged. How might I repay your kindness?" Judging by his past experiences, the script usually called for this girl to be the daughter of some prominent clan, saddled with an arranged marriage she despised, looking to drag him in as a scapegoat by claiming he was her beloved. Suited him fine. His primary aim on this journey was to scout the various factions within the Eternal Night's heartland; such an opportunity couldn't be more fitting. "Ahem..." Grasping her skirts, the girl's gaze wandered self-consciously. "Aren't you with a chamber of commerce? The situation is a bit complicated." "I'm from the Tang family of Black Tortoise City. Our clan primarily engages in commerce." "A year ago," "our patriarch sent the four of us siblings out, giving each of us two hundred thousand ghost stones. He told us to use those funds over the course of a year to contribute to the clan, and the heir would be chosen based on the merit of our achievements." "It could be befriending a top faction, opening a trade route—" "anything at all, and the elders would evaluate the contribution." "The one-year deadline is up today. Returning empty-handed wouldn't look good. By pure luck I ran into you, and since you didn't even know about Black Tortoise City, you must be a chamber of commerce from beyond Black Tortoise Plain. If you could come back with me to help me report in, I could tell the old master that I used those two hundred thousand ghost stones to bring in an outside chamber of commerce to inspect our family." "When the time comes, boast a bit about how formidable your chamber is, put on a show of inspecting us, and then just say the inspection fell through." "Understood," Chen Fan nodded, eyeing the baby-faced young woman with a peculiar expression. "So in this past year, with two hundred thousand ghost stones in hand, you did absolutely nothing?" The interior of the Eternal Night truly possessed a casual leisure that coastal regions completely lacked. Along the coast, folk were fighting tooth and nail just to survive. Here in the interior, people could actually spend an entire year traveling for fun. "Yup!" Tilting her head, the girl said earnestly, "I have three older brothers, and all of them are far more capable than me. It's much better for one of them to become the heir anyway. The old master never genuinely expected me to accomplish anything big." "Still, going back empty-handed feels embarrassing. If I bring back even a modest pretense of success, the old man will be happy." "So, what do you say? Will you help?" A flicker of nervous anticipation danced in her eyes as she stood on tiptoe, hands clasped behind her back, looking up at Chen Fan. "Of course." Chen Fan smiled. "Awesome!" Nodding with satisfaction, she extended a hand. "Then from now on, we're friends! My name is Tang Yue." "I'm Chen Fan." Chen Fan shook her hand. He didn't bother using a fake name; after all, no one here would recognize the name Chen Fan. This place lay far from the coast, and even if someone had heard it, they would merely assume it was a coincidence. Now possessing an Entry Token, Chen Fan sat inside the carriage and lifted the curtain to look outside. Sure enough, they could now draw near the city. This particular upgrade path was rather intriguing—likely a legendary-grade qualitative leap. If erected in a coastal region, one would instantly hold an invincible position. Ghost tides would never be able to reach the walls. He simply wondered whether it had limitations—such as whether powerful great ghosts could breach it, or whether inanimate objects like Heaven-Reaching Pillars could draw near. Meanwhile, the young woman named Tang Yue sat opposite him in the compartment, inquiring with a serious expression: "We need to align our stories beforehand so we don't slip up later. What's the real strength of your chamber of commerce?" "Uh..." Chen Fan hesitated briefly, choosing his words carefully. "Decent enough, I suppose." "Do you have a reserve of a million ghost stones?" "Yes." "Really?" Tang Yue looked up at him, a trace of surprise flashing across her eyes. "Then your chamber isn't bad at all! Well, that makes sense; any chamber capable of cross-regional trade wouldn't be weak. Still, in a bit you'll need to brag harder. Say you have a reserve of ten million ghost stones." "Try saying it now. Let me see if your voice carries enough conviction." "Our chamber of commerce possesses a reserve of ten million ghost stones." "Impressive!" Tang Yue gave him an admiring thumbs-up. "You sound brimming with confidence—doesn't feel like a lie at all. Um... I won't take up too much of your time, but could you tell me what kind of business opportunities you're mainly looking for? I can serve as your local guide." "Architectural blueprints." "Blueprints? Hmm, let me think..." Chen Fan said nothing more. Sitting quietly in the compartment, gazing out the window, his thoughts began to drift. Ten million ghost stones? Fan Domain's ghost stone reserves had been tallied in the hundreds of millions for quite some time. Even after consuming an enormous quantity to build three defense lines during this rainy season, their current stockpile still numbered in the billions. Fan Domain was neither a clan nor a mercantile firm. It was a comprehensive front-line faction. An entity like that kept colossal quantities of ghost stones on hand; after all, every ghost stone was essentially artillery ammunition, an indispensable strategic resource. He had not brought the Nine-Five Dragon Carriage on this journey, relying instead on an ordinary carriage. With Tang Yue joining them, the carriage interior felt somewhat crowded. Seated beside him, the delicate, fresh fragrance unique to a young woman gently drifted into his nostrils. It was quite pleasant. She was an exceedingly chatty girl with little guard against strangers, chattering the entire way about the places she had visited over the past year, while Chen Fan chimed in occasionally. Before long, the carriage smoothly entered Black Tortoise City, navigating the bustling streets before turning several corners and coming to a halt before a grand estate. "We're here! This is the place!" Tang Yue hopped down from the carriage. Suddenly remembering something, she hurried to her own carriage behind them and with considerable effort hoisted out a massive, white-and-yellow cat. It wasn't a leopard; it was truly a cat, only far larger in size. Limp as though boneless, it draped languidly over her shoulder. "It's quite strange," Tang Yue remarked in confusion, looking at Chen Fan as he stepped out. "Her name is Pangmiao. Normally she sticks to me like glue, but when I climbed into your carriage earlier, she wouldn't follow me in." Chen Fan glanced toward the interior of Tang Yue's carriage. It held only miscellaneous feminine belongings and no other passengers, save for the coachman seated up front. Evidently... this exotic beast had been assigned to protect her throughout the journey. It was only natural that it hadn't dared follow her. Residual traces of Weiwei's aura lingered within his carriage. Mortals couldn't detect it, but a fellow exotic beast certainly could. Weiwei hadn't accompanied them into the city, remaining behind in the canyon with the flying boat. Weiwei was exceptionally strong among exotic beasts; back then, even a pack of monkeys had been swiftly subdued by him. Lately, Weiwei seemed to be growing stronger by the day. "An exotic beast?" Chen Fan asked with a smile. "Uh-huh," Tang Yue patted Pangmiao's head. "She's a Dragon Cat, an incredibly formidable breed of exotic beast. Supposedly, she carries a trace of White Tiger bloodline. You know of the White Tiger, right? One of the four ancient divine beasts." "Legend has it—" "that long, long ago, there were four great divine beasts: the White Tiger, Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise." "Later, they sired many exotic beasts, and the Dragon Cat is one that carries the White Tiger's lineage." "And Black Tortoise Plain was supposedly once the Black Tortoise's domain." "The Black Tortoise and the White Tiger were lovers." "They bore many children together, and one of their offspring gave rise to the Dragon Cat lineage." Chen Fan listened silently to Tang Yue's recounting. He had never heard these tales before and had no way to verify them, so he simply listened. Even so, he found it somewhat difficult to picture a White Tiger and a Black Tortoise mating. Which of them was male, and which female? Still, myths had a way of being passed from one person to another, morphing until they spawned countless variations. Just then, the grand manor doors swung open. A hale and hearty elder with salt-and-pepper hair, dressed in casual robes, stepped out. He looked at Tang Yue, his eyes brimming with warmth and affection. "Did you have fun playing outside this past year?" "I wasn't just playing!" Tang Yue's eyes lit up as she bounded into the old man's embrace, whispering with a lack of conviction, "I did serious work! I brought back a chamber of commerce from outside Black Tortoise Plain. They're very powerful, and they might even help our Tang family!" "Oh?" The elder chuckled, patting Tang Yue on the back. But when his gaze shifted to Chen Fan standing beside the carriage—robed in azure, leaning on his cane—the smile gradually faded from his eyes. Releasing Tang Yue, he straightened his robes, cupped his hands with a solemn expression, and bowed. "I am the patriarch of the Tang family of Black Tortoise City. May I ask how to address our esteemed guest...?" "Chen Fan, President of the Qitian Chamber of Commerce." "President Chen, please, come inside!" The patriarch had initially assumed the girl had found someone to put on an act, and he had been happy to play along just to indulge her. Yet the moment he laid eyes on the young man, he knew this was no performance. He had interacted with countless youths, and this young man was plainly cut from a different cloth. Above all else was his sheer composure. That unflappable calm stemmed from overwhelming confidence, the relaxed ease of someone accustomed to massive, world-shaking affairs. That was something one could never fake. After all, their clan's estate was vast and lavishly furnished. An ordinary youth would inevitably betray some nervousness upon seeing it—an instinctual, unavoidable reaction. "President?" Standing nearby, Tang Yue stared at Chen Fan in astonishment. "You're actually the president?!" "Yes," Chen Fan nodded with a wry smile. He hadn't intended to claim the title of president, but this elder was clearly a man of vast experience. Cooking up a lower rank at this point would have felt like an intentional disguise, creating unnecessary suspicion. The manor was bustling with activity. Numerous banquet tables were arranged across the grounds, with over a dozen servants weaving back and forth bearing platters. They had arrived at the perfect moment; the banquet was just getting underway. Before the feast commenced, the Tang family patriarch stepped forward to address the gathering. Smiling warmly at the crowd, he announced, "A year ago, I sent out the four Tang siblings, each carrying two hundred thousand ghost stones, to seek fortune and opportunity for our clan. Now, the deadline has arrived." "All four have returned safe and sound." "Every member of our Tang clan is gathered here today, and none of our elders are absent. Today, we shall let the elders evaluate their deeds and determine who has made the greatest contribution. Whoever achieves the highest merit will become the heir of the Tang family, shouldering the great duty of expanding our house!" Applause rippled through the courtyard. Seated at the main table, Chen Fan looked toward Tang Yue's three older brothers and clapped along with the crowd, finding the scene quite novel. This was the first time he had attended a gathering of such an established family, and the turnout was truly impressive. The four siblings clearly belonged to the main lineage. Even the branch families accepted this method of selecting an heir. After all, the branch lines also wished for a formidable leader capable of guiding the Tang family to continued prosperity. Seated to one side, Sick Monkey felt a pang of nostalgia. Back in the Jiangbei Chen family, gatherings like this had taken place as well. Back then, however, the young master had stayed in the woodshed, and he had been right there beside him. The family had invited the young master, but he had refused to go. "Allow me to go first." A weathered, middle-aged man rose to his feet. Facing the assembled Tang clansmen, he said in a deep voice, "As the eldest son of the Tang family, I took two hundred thousand ghost stones this past year and traveled across the entire Black Tortoise Plain, even crossing paths with Little Sister once." "And I have discovered... a clue regarding the White Tiger." The moment his words fell, the courtyard plunged into stunned silence. Confusion washed over everyone's faces. The love between the White Tiger and the Black Tortoise, and their ancient residence on Black Tortoise Plain, was the stuff of legends—tales told in countless variations. What did he mean by finding a genuine clue regarding the White Tiger on Black Tortoise Plain? The White Tiger, one of the four ancient divine beasts? The man, clearly near forty years of age, continued gravely, "It was in a small border town on Black Tortoise Plain. As I passed by a brothel, I saw a beautiful maiden seated outside the entrance, surrounded by a throng of stray cats at her feet." A burst of suppressed snickers erupted from the crowd. So that was the kind of "White Tiger" he meant. Two hundred thousand ghost stones had certainly been an overpayment. "Tang Zong!" The patriarch's face darkened, embarrassment getting the better of him. "You had better explain this supposed clue of yours clearly!" An esteemed guest was present today; causing such an embarrassment made it impossible for him to save face. They were airing their humiliation right in front of an outsider. "Understood," Tang Zong replied, his expression entirely unruffled as he addressed the gathering. "She was a pure, innocent maiden with her hair tied in a ponytail. Sitting outside that brothel, she looked like a lotus rising unstained from the mud." "I couldn't resist approaching to speak with her." "I learned she merely served dishes inside the establishment, and the stray cats adored her. She claimed it was because she frequently fed them leftover food from the patrons, but I could tell there was more to it." "Afterward..." "I went nowhere else. I remained in that town, growing closer to her over time, until I gradually uncovered a shocking secret: she and her kin did not reside in the city, but within a cavern on a mountain outside town. Even during the rainy season, they stayed there. You all know what that implies." "And within that cave, I found a whisker." Tang Zong reached into his robes and drew forth a white cat whisker roughly three feet long. Walking over to Tang Yue, the plump cat resting at her feet instantly bristled the moment it caught the scent of the whisker, shivering violently before scrambling under Tang Yue's stool to hide. Seeing this, Tang Zong smiled. "I believe this whisker alone is well worth two hundred thousand ghost stones, is it not?" "This whisker very likely belongs to the White Tiger, one of the four ancient divine beasts!" The courtyard fell utterly silent once more, though this time it was accompanied by ragged breaths. The beast beside Tang Yue was a Dragon Cat, a creature of terrifying might. Everyone knew it could even trade a few blows with a ghost king. Yet a single whisker had completely suppressed the Dragon Cat. The owner of that whisker was undeniably extraordinary; it truly might be a clue pointing to the White Tiger. The Tang patriarch glanced inconspicuously at Chen Fan seated at the main table, his scalp tingling slightly. He caught the spark of curiosity in Chen Fan's eyes. While they hadn't disgraced themselves in front of their guest this time... they had exposed a massive clan secret to an outsider. This secret had belonged exclusively to the Tang family; now, it might leak out. At that moment, Tang Zong spoke again. "I searched that cave thoroughly. There was nothing else inside, only this whisker. And once I removed it, the cavern lost its ability to repel ghost creatures during the Eternal Night." "Even if this whisker does not belong to the White Tiger, it remains an invaluable heavenly material and earthly treasure." "Furthermore..." He took the hand of the ponytail-wearing maiden seated beside him. "Over the past year, feelings blossomed between us. I have brought her home today, wishing to take her as my wife." "Splendid, splendid!" The Tang patriarch smiled once more. It seemed the lead went no further, so there was no need to worry about additional leaks. Moreover, his eldest son had remained unmarried for years, a matter that had troubled him greatly. Who would have thought this journey would resolve that problem as well? A double blessing. "Elders, please cast your scores." Soon, after brief deliberation, the elders delivered their score based on Tang Zong's contribution: "79 points." The next to rise was the Tang family's second son, a pale-faced man with the air of a playboy. Swaying slightly, he stood up. "Father, during this past year, I established ties with a cultivation sect, the Guyun Sect. They have promised that our Tang family may send three disciples each year to cultivate in their sect." "Good, very good!" The patriarch looked at his second son with deep satisfaction. The lad usually indulged in nothing but wine and pleasure, but it seemed he had finally grown up. The Guyun Sect was the most powerful cultivation sect on Black Tortoise Plain; establishing ties with them was genuinely commendable. "Elders, please cast your scores." "47 points." Next came the third son. A relatively young man stood up, staring at his toes as he stammered, "Father... I... over this past year... didn't find any opportunities... but... I didn't dare spend the ghost stones either... I brought all... two hundred thousand ghost stones back intact." "It's fine, that's fine too," the patriarch consoled him helplessly. While the second son spent his days carousing, the third son was the polar opposite: too timid to do anything, his sole talent lay in guarding wealth. A year had passed, and the two hundred thousand ghost stones remained untouched. Thrifty indeed. Across the entire Black Tortoise Plain, one would be hard-pressed to find another scion of a prominent clan quite so frugal. "Elders, please cast your scores." "18 points." Then— every gaze fell upon Tang Yue and Chen Fan seated beside her. "Ahem," Tang Yue stood up, cleared her throat, and made her introduction with utter solemnity. "Allow me to introduce everyone. Beside me is the President of the Qitian Chamber of Commerce. His faction is immensely powerful, hailing from beyond Black Tortoise Plain. Through my introduction, he has come to inspect our Tang family. If we reach an agreement, it will lead to a massive transaction." "And just how massive is it?" No sooner had she spoken than a mocking laugh rose from the crowd. "Isn't it more likely that you just grabbed a random stranger to put on an act, Tang Yue? With your capabilities, what sort of major chamber could you possibly reach?" The crowd turned to look. A middle-aged woman draped in jewels, flanked by two servants, strode into the courtyard from the front gate. Pausing between the banquet tables, she glared at the Tang patriarch. "The Tang family holds a banquet, yet didn't bother inviting me. What is the meaning of this? Am I not a member of the Tang family?" "Nonsense!" The patriarch's expression turned stormy. "An esteemed guest is present; this is no time for your unreasonable antics. Withdraw!" Every household had its troubles. Though the Tang family appeared illustrious on the surface, behind closed doors lay grievances unknown to outsiders. This woman was indeed family— she was his elder brother's widow. Years ago, during the clan's rise, his brother had sacrificed his life for the family. The patriarch had taken over his brother's position, leading the Tang family to steady growth. Yet this woman remained bitter, convinced that had her husband lived, the Tang family would belong to his lineage today. She seized every trivial opportunity to oppose him. He could understand her pain, but with an esteemed guest present today, making such a scene was utterly disgraceful. Tang Yue took a deep breath and met the woman's glare directly. "His chamber possesses a reserve of ten million ghost stones—no, fifty million ghost stones! Tell me, does that count as massive?" "Massive?" The jeweled woman sneered, her necklace made of flawless, perfectly round pearls, the jade bangles on her wrists rich with vibrant green. Her opulent attire practically screamed wealth, her lips curving downward with mockery as she looked at Tang Yue. "Of course it counts as massive. Any chamber with a reserve of fifty million ghost stones would be considered a titan anywhere." "How convenient," she said, raising a pale white pebble in her hand. "I happen to possess a Truth-Testing Stone obtained from the Eternal Night Hall. Hold this stone in your palm: speak the truth, and it remains inert; speak a lie, and it shines with crimson light." "Do you dare let that young fellow beside you test it?" The courtyard fell utterly still, every pair of eyes fixing on Chen Fan. In truth... everyone already suspected the man had been brought in by Tang Yue to put on a show. After all, she harbored no ambition to vie for the succession; among the four siblings, only Tang Zong possessed the capacity to lead. The rest were hardly suited for the mantle. As a young woman who cared nothing for authority, why would she pour genuine effort into such a pursuit? She had simply brought someone back to appease the patriarch. Yet now she was cornered. If exposed lying in public, Tang Yue would lose face entirely. "You... you!" Tang Yue's eyes reddened slightly, her voice trembling with indignation. "I never provoked you! Why are you targeting me?" Pangmiao, curled at her feet, sensed her mistress's distress. Its fur bristled as it arched its back, issuing a low growl. "I'm not targeting you," the wealthy woman said, tossing the pebble lightly in her palm. "I'm merely verifying the truth. Or is Clan Head Tang's selection of an heir nothing more than a joke?" "Did so many elders gather here just to play house?" "Enough!" Unable to stomach the embarrassment any longer, the patriarch roared, "The Tang family has never mistreated you over the years! Of all those jewels on your body, which one wasn't bought with the Tang family's coin? Anything you ever desired, the Tang family provided!" "With an esteemed guest present, what do you think you are doing?!" "That is what I was owed!" Unintimidated, the woman turned to glare at the patriarch. "If my man hadn't died, it would be him standing up there right now, not you!" "One simple question." "Do you dare take the test?" "If you don't, then get lost!" "The Tang family doesn't welcome riffraff coming in to scrounge free meals! If you're truly starving, I'll have the kitchen pack up some scraps for you to take!" "You're courting death!" Sick Monkey, seated beside Chen Fan, could endure it no longer. He slammed the table and stood up, his face grim. "Say one more word, and I'll tear your mouth apart!" "My, my," the woman turned toward Sick Monkey with a smirk. "So, do you dare test it or not?" "Bring it here." Chen Fan, who had remained seated throughout, waved a hand nonchalantly. Hearing the command, Sick Monkey's expression darkened as he strode over to the woman, snatched the pebble from her grasp, and returned to hand it to Chen Fan. Chen Fan inspected the stone, his eyes narrowing slightly. Rather intriguing—it could detect truth and falsehood? He wondered where she had obtained it. When he headed back, he would see if he could acquire a batch of them. "You..." Tang Yue leaned close to Chen Fan's ear, whispering frantically in panic, "You don't have to test it! Fly into a rage right now, say you've been insulted, and leave immediately! I'll handle the rest!" "No need." Chen Fan chuckled, enclosing the pebble within his palm. "My chamber of commerce possesses a reserve of fifty million ghost stones." The next instant, crimson light erupted. The pebble in his palm flared a violent, bloody red, rays of crimson shooting out between his fingers. Red indicated a lie. Everyone in the courtyard froze. What happened? The Tang patriarch took a deep breath, eyes squeezed shut as he stood frozen, trying to figure out how to salvage the situation. Brother, you looked so confident and unflappable—why on earth did it glow red?! "It's over," Tang Yue murmured in despair, burying her face in her hands. She could already feel the mocking gazes of countless clansmen landing on her. That earlier, utterly confident 'no need' had briefly kindled a sliver of hope in her chest. "Hahahahaha!" The middle-aged woman had also frozen for a moment before bursting into raucous laughter. "Why don't you try saying forty million? Maybe your chamber just spent ten million a moment ago!" "Can't I try again?" Chen Fan smirked, weighing the pebble in his hand. This Truth-Testing Stone was remarkably precise. Closing his hand around it once more, he murmured softly, "My faction possesses fifty million ghost stones." This time, the pebble remained completely inert, displaying not a speck of red light. The courtyard plunged into sudden, absolute silence. The woman's laughter cut off abruptly as she stared at the stone in Chen Fan's hand in disbelief. "See?" Chen Fan turned with a grin toward Tang Yue. "Told you it wouldn't be an issue. Just don't inflate my numbers next time. Didn't we agree on ten million at the start? Why did it suddenly jump to fifty million?" "Take her away!" Recovering immediately, the patriarch barked a grim order. Two servants seized the middle-aged woman and dragged her out. She offered no resistance, her eyes glazed as she stared blankly at the unlit pebble, unable to comprehend what had just happened. How could it be true... fifty million ghost stones? Just what kind of colossal faction was this? The patriarch then strode over to Chen Fan, bowed deeply, and offered a wry smile. "President Chen, every family has its troubles. I have made a fool of myself before you. For such poor hospitality, I am deeply ashamed." He understood now: the title of chamber president was false, but having his own faction was very real. And it was no small force... a faction holding a reserve of fifty million ghost stones was not to be underestimated. Ghost stone reserves meant liquid cash. One might find seven or eight families across Black Tortoise Plain whose total assets amounted to fifty million, but finding someone sitting on fifty million in liquid cash was another matter entirely. To hold that much cash implied an overall foundation of vastly greater scale. "No harm done." Casually slipping the pebble into his robe, Chen Fan rose with a smile. "Your family's troubles are relatively easy to manage." "Pay me no mind; please continue." "Very well, we shall converse later." Taking a deep breath, the patriarch called out, "Elders, please cast your scores." The elders exchanged glances, deliberated for a moment, and delivered their verdict: "78 points." Exactly one point lower than Tang Zong. It was a fair assessment. While Tang Yue had indeed formed ties with a major faction, they had yet to determine what concrete benefits could be gained from them, making it difficult to award an exceptionally high score. At the same time, it couldn't be too low; an esteemed guest was present, and a low score would offend him. Ultimately, they awarded 78 points, just one below Tang Zong's 79. Amid cheers from the crowd, Tang Zong was formally named the heir of the Tang family. In truth, there had been little suspense. The Tang family lacked an atmosphere of fierce internal rivalry, and the other two sons, along with Tang Yue, clapped enthusiastically. Having only one capable heir in a clan was, in a sense, a blessing. At least it prevented internal strife, as the others were well aware of their own limitations. *** After the banquet concluded, Chen Fan and Tang Yue strolled through the rear gardens, with Qi Yue and Sick Monkey trailing behind them. "Thank you for earlier," Tang Yue murmured bashfully. "I ended up exposing your identity... it won't cause trouble, will it?" She wasn't foolish. She naturally understood that Chen Fan's claim of being a chamber president was a cover for some special mission, and that he had blown his cover just to back her up. "It's fine," Chen Fan said, leaning on his emerald cane as he looked at the decorative rockeries in the nearby pond, thinking he ought to build something similar for Fan Domain to please the eye. "I didn't really expose much anyway." Biting her lip slightly, Tang Yue said, "Since we're friends, and you helped me so much, giving you just an Entry Token isn't nearly enough repayment. When Eldest Brother reported earlier, he mentioned meeting me in that border town." "Do you want to know why he ran into me there?" "Oh? Why?" "Because years ago, that was where I found Pangmiao. It was her homeland, so I took her back there to play." "Back then..." Tang Yue's voice drifted into memory. "I was wandering alone near that town when I stumbled into a set of ruins—some sort of inheritance site. After entering, everything became a blur, and I forgot what happened." "All I remember is that when I came out, I was holding a Dragon Cat cub in my arms—Pangmiao. Her eyes weren't even open yet; she looked freshly born, soaking wet all over." "And in my hand was an architectural blueprint." "A blue-grade blueprint." "That was six or seven years ago. The blueprint has been sitting in the Tang family's treasure pavilion ever since, as our clan's architects could never comprehend it. Recently, the patriarch has been preparing to sell it off." "Didn't you say your main purpose here was to look for architectural blueprints?" "Why don't you see if you need it?" "If you do, I can beg the old master to sell it to you at a low price." "Oh?" Chen Fan's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the Dragon Cat trailing Tang Yue, then thought back to the supposed White Tiger whisker. A possibility flashed through his mind. No way... If it truly was that, this trip would be an unimaginable jackpot. "Sure, let me have a look." "Wait here." Having led Chen Fan before a pavilion, Tang Yue glanced left and right before sneaking inside. Moments later, she trotted back out, clutching an architectural blueprint in her hand, and handed it to Chen Fan. "Here it is! Take a look and see if you need it. You can roughly check the building's exterior from the blueprint—it seems to be a city defense structure." Chen Fan stared at the paper-thin, azure-glowing blueprint in his hands, standing motionless in silence. [Anomalous Treasure Name]: White Tiger Cannon [Anomalous Treasure Grade]: Blue [Anomalous Treasure Type]: Architectural Blueprint, City Defense Structure He had never actively sought out the Four Divine Cannons because it had seemed like a distant pipe dream; Fan Domain was not yet influential enough to purchase such relics across the entire Eternal Night Continent. He had hardly spared the idea much thought, preferring to let nature take its course. Yet... now, one of the Four Divine Cannons—the White Tiger Cannon—had landed effortlessly in his hands. The Black Tortoise Cannon, and now the White Tiger Cannon. Of the Four Divine Cannons, he would possess two if he secured this blueprint. He had to have it! Anything that could be bought with ghost stones was no problem at all. If ghost stones couldn't buy it, he wouldn't hesitate to employ other means. In short, this blueprint was his. Taking a deep breath, he called out toward the pavilion, "Patriarch Tang, come on out. Let's talk price." The next instant, the figure of the Tang patriarch emerged from the pavilion. He offered an admiring smile. "Impressive. I considered myself somewhat skilled, but it seems I'm nothing before President Chen." Chen Fan smiled without responding. Naturally, he hadn't detected him on his own; Qi Yue had warned him. "Father!" Tang Yue exclaimed in disbelief. "You've been tailing us?! I thought the guard just happened to be eating at the banquet!" "Hardly tailing," the patriarch replied helplessly. "I only rushed over after you broke into the treasure pavilion and triggered the formation. I had to see what was going on—it wasn't easy building up our family's wealth..." He then turned to Chen Fan with a serious expression. "President Chen," "I won't beat around the bush. This architectural blueprint is the only blue-grade blueprint our Tang family possesses. As someone of your standing, you must know the value of a blue-grade blueprint—calling it priceless wouldn't be an exaggeration." "Our clan's architects spent seven years failing to comprehend it simply because their skills were limited." "Even if put on the open market, its price would never be low." "Selling it for six or seven million ghost stones would be child's play. If taken to wealthier regions and placed before the right buyer, fetching ten million or even more is entirely possible." "However—" "Since you are friends with my daughter, I won't ask you for ghost stones. There is a matter—" He was cut off before he could finish. "Twenty million ghost stones." Chen Fan raised two fingers. "Say the word, Clan Head Tang, and I take the blueprint. Twenty million ghost stones in cash, paid right here on the spot." Catching sight of the storage ring on Chen Fan's finger, the patriarch's pupils contracted. Twenty million ghost stones... That price choked off every word he had prepared. In truth, a blue-grade blueprint was indeed worth that much, but virtually no one could afford it, making it practically unsellable. Market value existed, but buyers did not. After all, even Celestial Master architects at the front lines required immense time to comprehend a blue-grade blueprint. It was extraordinarily difficult to master. Thus, he had never genuinely expected to sell it for that price, hoping instead to exchange it for intangible benefits. Yet the staggering sum of twenty million ghost stones left him completely stunned. "Twenty million. No haggling. Cash on delivery," Chen Fan emphasized once more. It wasn't that he didn't grasp the patriarch's intentions, but delays bred complications. With the blueprint already in his hands, he had no desire to return it, nor did he care to perform errands for the Tang family. Paying cold hard cash was simpler than anything else. And far more convenient. "Then... deal." The moment the word fell, tens of thousands of high-grade ghost stones materialized out of thin air, tumbling onto the ground in a shimmering heap. "Count them." Chen Fan grinned and tucked the White Tiger Cannon blueprint into his robes. He was already contemplating whether to head back early. His original plan had been to stay for half a year or so, but... with this unexpected windfall, returning immediately seemed like the better choice. Staring at the mountain of high-grade ghost stones on the ground, the Tang patriarch froze. His throat bobbed, and dread flickered across his eyes. He was now utterly certain of one thing: the faction backing President Chen possessed far more than fifty million ghost stones. Vastly more. What kind of person carried twenty million ghost stones on their person at all times? Could he be a scion from the front lines? "Um..." After a long pause, the patriarch finally found his voice, speaking in a raspy tone. "President Chen, do you need other blue-grade blueprints? I know of another faction that studied one for years without understanding it, and they're also looking to part with it." "If you need it, I can help you acquire it." "However, I hope President Chen won't spread word of this. That way, I can purchase it at a relatively low price." "The more, the better," Chen Fan laughed. "For every blue-grade blueprint, I will pay you ten million ghost stones. Regardless of what you pay to acquire it, you get ten million from me." "As for yellow-grade, green-grade, or white-grade blueprints, you can bring them over for me to inspect first." "If I have a use for them, I'll buy those as well." "And if you find anything of a higher grade, I'll pay you... one hundred million, or even more." "A higher grade?" The Tang patriarch blinked in surprise, then gave a self-deprecating smile. "There probably aren't any. Blue-grade is the absolute ceiling. At least, I've never seen anything higher, let alone heard of it." "Perhaps they exist," Chen Fan said with a light smile, holding no real expectations. He was already satisfied; anything else would merely be a bonus. Chen Fan did not linger long at the Tang manor. After bidding farewell to Tang Yue and the patriarch, he found an inn within Black Tortoise City to lodge for the night. He planned to wait until the patriarch gathered a batch of blueprints before heading back with them. "White Tiger Cannon." Inside the inn room, Chen Fan pulled the blueprint from his robes and tore it apart on the spot. Moments later, the option to construct the White Tiger Cannon appeared on his build list. He felt an itch to rush back immediately and build a White Tiger Cannon in Fan Domain just to test its effects. Assuming his deductions were correct, each of the Four Divine Cannons possessed a rule-based ability—an extraordinarily potent effect. The Black Tortoise Cannon granted the Heavenly Dao Cannon absolute tracking, which meant the White Tiger Cannon should also provide a rule-based ability. The Black Tortoise governed endurance, relentlessly pursuing its target until death. While the White Tiger... was traditionally the harbinger of slaughter. "This trip was truly worth it." Sitting by the bedside, he poured himself a cup of hot tea and gazed out the window, a smile playing at the corners of his eyes. It was winter. Hot tea warmed the stomach, bringing immense comfort. At some point, fine snowflakes began drifting from the sky, dusting the rooftops across the city. Viewed from above, the entire settlement looked like something lifted straight from a painting, harmonizing seamlessly with heaven and earth. Sick Monkey was equally delighted, sitting opposite him with a goofy grin. Though he didn't fully understand what that architectural blueprint was, he could tell the young master was thrilled. If the young master was happy, he was happy too. Qi Yue, on the other hand, gazed out the window with an aching heart. In truth... they could have simply summoned Shao Qiu. He was certain Shao Qiu could have stolen the blueprint without anyone being the wiser, easily saving them twenty million ghost stones. That was no small sum; just thinking about it made his heart ache.