FVN Chapter 631 The Situation! A Warning! Back to the Thatched Cottage!
Chapter 631 The Situation! A Warning! Back to the Thatched Cottage!
A brief silence fell over the pavilion.
Chen Fan picked up the teacup on the stone table and took a sip. His expression remained calm, but his mind was racing.
The vast desert grasslands, a grand gathering of a hundred sects.
This wasn't all bad for him.
He was missing the two main ingredients of the Soul-Devouring Gu: Illusionary Grass and Soul-Devouring Flower. These two items were extremely difficult to find in other parts of Tiannan Star, and could only be found deep in the desert grasslands.
If we can take advantage of this assessment opportunity to travel to the desert grasslands and collect the two main medicinal ingredients, we can then begin to completely transform the Golden Cicada into the Soul-Devouring Gu.
Moreover, the Hundred Sects Conference brings together Gu cultivators from all over the grasslands, providing him with an excellent opportunity to observe Gu techniques and improve his own Gu cultivation system.
After all, no matter how detailed Master Chong's notes are, they are still just theoretical knowledge. Only by witnessing the real Gu cultivation methods firsthand can one truly make the methods in the notes work for oneself.
"Your Highness," Chen Fan put down his teacup and slowly asked, "Are there any cultivation level restrictions for the Hundred Sects Assembly?"
"Yes," Zhao Yan nodded. "The Hundred Sects Tournament restricts participants' cultivation levels to the early Nascent Soul stage. This is a rule personally set by the Gu King. However, this rule applies equally to all forces. Even the Gu Cultivation Tribe can only send cultivators below the early Nascent Soul stage to participate. Therefore, this assessment is not about individual combat, but about the cooperation and tactics of each team."
He looked at Chen Fan, his tone more earnest: "Lord Chen, I know that you were able to kill a Nascent Soul cultivator and a Deity Transformation demon cultivator in the Boundless Sea. This combat power is already top-notch in the Hundred Sects Assembly. However, the methods of Gu cultivators are completely different from those of demon cultivators. Demon cultivators confront each other head-on and use brute force to overcome skill, while Gu cultivators are known for their insidious and cunning methods. Gu worms, Gu poison, Gu formations—every method is difficult to defend against. I have ordered people to collect a lot of information about Gu cultivators. You can study it carefully in your residence these next few days so that you can have a better understanding of them."
Chen Fan nodded: "Your Highness is very kind."
Zhao Yan then turned to Han Cen and Ouyang Ye: "Elder Han, Elder Ouyang, although you two will not be directly involved in the battle on this trip to the Great Desert Grasslands, I hope you can accompany the team and provide support in terms of pills and formations from the rear. After all, among the methods of Gu cultivators, Gu poison is the most troublesome aspect. With Elder Han present, there will be an extra layer of protection against poisoning. Elder Ouyang is proficient in formations and can also restrain Gu formations."
Han Cen and Ouyang Ye simultaneously bowed in agreement.
Zhao Yan stood up, walked to the pavilion, and gazed at the moonlight reflected on the lake. After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke: "Gentlemen, I have something to say beforehand. This Hundred Sects Assembly is not only about my position as regent, but also about the prestige of the Zhao Kingdom. The Gu King's grand hosting of this assembly is clearly an attempt to bolster his own power by undermining the reputation of the Zhao Kingdom. If the Gu cultivators were to win first place, not only would I be unable to hold my head high before my father, but the entire Zhao Kingdom would also lose face. If the Gu King were to seize this opportunity, the border situation would likely deteriorate further, and it might even trigger a large-scale conflict."
He turned around, his gaze sweeping solemnly over the three of them: "Therefore, this time, you are only allowed to win, not lose."
Chen Fan stood up and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Zhao Yan: "Your Highness, rest assured. Now that I'm on Your Highness's side, I will do my utmost."
Han Cen and Ouyang Ye also stood up and bowed, saying in unison, "We will certainly live up to Your Highness's expectations."
A hint of relief appeared on Zhao Yan's face as he took out a jade slip from his sleeve and handed it to Chen Fan: "This contains intelligence on various forces in the Great Desert Grasslands, gathered by my men, as well as detailed records of the rules and Gu cultivation methods of the Hundred Sects Conference over the years. Chen, study it carefully these next few days. The team will depart in three days. Fifth Brother Zhao Ying is already waiting for you in the army by the East Sea. He will send an elite squad to escort you, Elder Han, and Elder Ouyang north to the grasslands."
Chen Fan took the jade slip and scanned it with his divine sense. He found that it not only contained detailed records of the power distribution and list of experts of dozens of tribes in the desert grassland, but also a large number of methods for identifying and restraining various kinds of Gu insects, Gu poisons, and Gu formations.
The intelligence was so detailed that it was clearly not gathered on short notice; Zhao Yan had prepared for this assessment for far longer than anyone imagined.
"Your Highness has been preparing for this day for a long time, hasn't you?" Chen Fan said calmly, putting the jade slip into his sleeve.
Zhao Yan was slightly taken aback, then gave a wry smile: "Elder Chen has keen insight. To be honest, from the day I learned that the Gu King had broken through to the half-step Void Refinement stage, I knew that such a contest would happen sooner or later. My father has seen the ambitions of the Great Desert Grasslands over the years, and so have I. This Hundred Sects Conference is less a warning from my father to the Gu King, and more a test of the entire Zhao Kingdom's strength over the Grasslands. If we win, the Grasslands will not dare to act rashly for at least a hundred years. If we lose, the consequences will be unimaginable."
He walked to the stone table, sat down again, and personally poured a cup of spiritual tea for each of Chen Fan and the other two. His tone lacked some of the princely authority and was more sincere and candid: "Elder Chen, Elder Han, Elder Ouyang, in the past three years, I have been able to stand on equal footing with the Fourth Prince in the court, entirely thanks to your strong support. This Hundred Sects Conference is fraught with danger and unpredictability. The methods of the Gu cultivators are bizarre and unpredictable. Even a Nascent Soul cultivator might not be able to escape unscathed if he entered the grasslands. If any of you have any concerns, you may withdraw now. I will not force you."
Han Cen stroked his beard and smiled, "Your Highness, what are you saying? I've been in the Hall of Offerings for hundreds of years, and I've long disliked those Gu cultivators. This time, I can serve the court and also witness the secrets of grassland Gu techniques. Why wouldn't I do it?"
Ouyang Ye rarely showed a smile, and said in a hoarse voice, "Although this old man's bones are no longer useful, I can still set up a few formations to block the Gu worms for you all."
Chen Fan didn't say much, but simply picked up the spirit tea, took a sip, and then gently placed the teacup on the stone table.
"Your Highness, you only need to tell me when we will depart."
Zhao Yan looked at the three of them, a hint of emotion flashing in his eyes.
He stood up, straightened his robes, and bowed deeply to the three of them.
"I will forever remember your great kindness. Regardless of the outcome of this battle, I will always owe you three a debt of gratitude."
As night deepened, the lights in the pavilion in the middle of the lake remained lit.
Zhao Yan explained the information about the desert grassland to the three of them one by one, from the geographical distribution of the grassland to the power structure of various tribes, from the competition rules of the Hundred Sects Tournament to the countermeasures against the Gu cultivators' methods, he explained everything in great detail.
Han Cen and Ouyang Ye interjected from time to time to add their comments, and the three of them had a very lively discussion until the moon was high in the sky before they dispersed.
……
After returning from the First Prince's residence, Chen Fan did not go back immediately. Instead, he changed into ordinary clothes, disguised himself slightly, and went straight to the Imperial City branch of Baicaotang.
The Baicaotang branch in the Zhao Kingdom's capital city is located in the most bustling middle section of Zhuque Street, occupying a three-story wooden building with a more imposing facade than the one in the Dayu capital city. When Chen Fan stepped through the door, several cultivators were selecting spiritual herbs at the counter, and a middle-aged manager in a blue robe was working on an abacus.
Upon seeing someone enter, the shopkeeper raised his eyelids and glanced at them.
His gaze lingered for a moment on the gold offering token at Chen Fan's waist, and his fingers, which were working on the abacus, paused.
He quickly put down his abacus, walked around from behind the counter, and greeted everyone with a beaming smile, "Fellow Daoist, are you perhaps Senior Chen Fan, the Gold Medal Guardian?"