Chen Heng could swear that he had never made trouble for anyone in the Flowing Cloud Sect.
His original identity was not that outstanding, and even though he could not become the Sect Master’s disciple, as long as he worked hard and displayed enough talent, it was possible for him to become an Elder’s disciple.
After enough time had passed and the previous generation of Elders died, as long as his cultivation was sufficient, he would be able to become one of the higher-ups of the Flowing Cloud Sect.
Perhaps becoming the Sect Master would be a bit difficult, but becoming an Elder would not be too difficult.
When that time came, he would then think of a way to take control of the Flowing Cloud Sect and use it as a foundation to continue to develop.
What a wonderful plan.
However, Liu He’s actions had now disrupted his plans.
The evil aura hiding in his body was trying to control him.
It seemed that something was going to happen within the Flowing Cloud Sect, and it did not seem likely that Chen Heng would be able to patiently bide his time and eventually take over the Flowing Cloud Sect.
Thinking to there, Chen Heng felt quite frustrated.
“I wonder just how many people they have control of,” Chen Heng thought to himself as he walked on.
It seemed that these people had come very prepared.
Since they had special methods like this, it did not seem likely that they would only use it on Chen Heng.
In that case, were they preparing to act against the Flowing Cloud Sect?
Chen Heng began to consider himself.
If they were going to act against Chen Heng, what benefits could he obtain from this?
Should he directly report this to the Elders and tell them about these people?
That might work.
But that had its risks.
Since they had dared to appear within the Flowing Cloud Sect and taken the identity of a Flowing Cloud Sect Outer Court Disciple, it seemed that they had been hiding here for a long time.
Who knew if there were Elders among them?
If Chen Heng directly reported it, would he risk running into them?
Moreover, even if he was able to tell the Sect Master, this would create problems for him in the future—who knew if this would affect him becoming a higher-up in the Flowing Cloud Sect.
After all, he had once been affected by Liu He’s evil aura.
Now that that had happened to him, it did not seem likely that they would ever allow him to have great power in the sect.
It seemed that no matter what he chose, he would have great problems.
Chen Heng thought of various things before shaking his head in the end.
After leaving the marketplace, he returned to his residence.
The surroundings around his residence were the same, but there were some people standing there, looking like they had been waiting for some time.
Seeing Chen Heng approach, they hurriedly went up and chatted with him.
It seemed that they all wanted to ask him to refine items.
Chen Heng originally did not plan on paying any attention to these people.
However, he found that there was something off about some of these people.
“These people…” Chen Heng looked around but his expression did not change.
“The feeling of the evil aura…” he immediately sensed the same evil aura.
It seemed that there were some other people who had an evil aura in them, and there were quite a few of them.
“Three of them in total…” Chen Heng’s pupils constricted.
Just in front of him, there were three people tainted by evil aura.
If there were three here, then what about other places?
Chen Heng could not help but wonder about this.
Perhaps he could not continue to stay here.
As he thought this, he quickly turned and prepared to leave.
He ignored the people behind him and turned and left.
“Clan brother, are you preparing to return home?
In the Outer Court, seeing Chen Heng, Zhang Ya looked quite shocked and seemed quite surprised.
“That’s right.”
Meeting Zhang Ya’s gaze, Chen Heng nodded with a calm expression, “I have some matters to take care of back at home. What about you, Ya’Er?”
He had come this time, ready to run.
He could see that there were people with evil aura all over the place, and it would be much better for him to escape early on.
After all, even if Chen Heng stayed here, it would not benefit him much.
Whether it was spirit stones or cultivation techniques, he did not lack either.
If the Flowing Cloud Sect had been fine, he would have stayed so he could eventually gain authority.
However, the Flowing Cloud Sect had been infiltrated by the Demon Sect.
Since it was like that, there was no longer any reason to stay here.
In the end, this was just a small sect and there was no reason to risk his life.
As such, Chen Heng did not have any intention of staying here and prepared to leave.
He had already done all that he needed to do.
The previous day, he had already requested to go out to defend a spirit garden as a task.
When that time came, he could leave this place and avoid anything that came.
However, before he left, he was preparing to bring a few people with him, such as Zhang Ya and Hou Juan.
Zhang Ya was part of his identity’s clan, and he naturally needed to look after her. As for Hou Juan, she was someone with Fortune.
If possible, Chen Heng wanted to bring both people with him.
Of course, if they did not want to, he would not force them.
“Since clan brother is planning to return, Ya’Er will naturally go with him,” Zhang Ya thought for a few moments before giving a slight smile and making a decision.
To her, this decision was quite simple.
After more than half a year, she had become a Spirit Refining realm cultivator.
However, there were far too many such people in the Flowing Cloud Sect, and this was not a big deal.
If she wanted to be noticed, just this was not enough.
However, things would be different if she followed Chen Heng’s side.
In terms of relationships, Chen Heng was her clan brother, and they had a bloodline relationship.
In terms of cultivation, Chen Heng’s cultivation was far superior to hers, and he could help her a lot.
Of course, the most important reason was that Chen Heng had money.
As one of the few refining masters in the Flowing Cloud Sect, Chen Heng was able to earn money quite easily.
Zhang Ya knew that he was not someone who lacked spirit stones, and within the world of cultivation, spirit stones meant everything.
Without spirit stones, it would be incredibly difficult to advance.
Zhang Ya had realized this over the past half a year in the Flowing Cloud Sect.
In the Flowing Cloud Sect, having spirit stones was incredibly important.
If one did not have enough spirit stones, not only would no one pay attention to them, but it would also be difficult to progress.
It would be incredibly hard to make it to Foundation Building.
If she followed such a rich person, would she lack spirit stones?
After thinking about this, Zhang Ya did not hesitate and directly agreed.
Seeing Zhang Ya agree, Chen Heng nodded and said, “Go and prepare; we’ll leave in three days. However, there might be someone else coming with us.”
“Another person?” Zhang Ya felt quite surprised, “Who is it?”
“Hou Juan,” Chen Heng replied.
Following this, as Zhang Ya wondered to herself, Chen Heng did not say much and left.
Elsewhere, Hou Juan had also chosen to agree to Chen Heng’s invitation.
Compared to Zhang Ya, it was much easier for her to make this decision.
After all, with her cultivation, it would be difficult for her to stay in the Flowing Cloud Sect regardless.
Honestly, if it hadn’t been for Chen Heng bringing her to the Outer Court and helping her find some work, she most likely would not have been able to stay since long ago.
After half a year, she had not even started internalizing spirit qi.
This kind of talent was simply too poor.
Even Chen Heng could not help but shake his head, not knowing what to say.
Even with Chen Heng looking after her, there were not many people in the Outer Court who took her seriously.
Facing such a situation, she naturally did not have much keeping her here.
Three days later, Chen Heng left.
When he left, Zhang Ya and Hou Juan were with him.
The journey was quite a long one.
If it was a powerful cultivator, they would be able to fly.
However, evidently, Zhang Ya and Hou Juan could not do this.
As such, they travelled on a carriage like ordinary people and left the Flowing Cloud Sect.
Only half a month later did Chen Heng arrive at his destination.
Nine Peaks City.
Chen Heng came from the Zhang clan, which was a large clan in Nine Peaks City, and they could be called the overlords here.
There were many cultivators in the clan, but there were only three in Chen Heng’s generation.
Apart from Chen Heng and Zhang Ya, there was one more person. That person had not been able to enter the Flowing Cloud Sect and went out to travel by themselves, and they rarely came back.
As such, Chen Heng and Zhang Ya were the Zhang clan’s main seedlings of this generation.
When Chen Heng and the others reached the Nine Peaks City, there was already a large group of people waiting outside to receive them.
The Zhang clan had long since heard the news and were waiting here.
“Young master, young miss,” a middle-aged man walked up and looked at Chen Heng and Zhang Ya, a look of delight on his face, “The Clan leader is already waiting for you at the residence.”
“Lead the way,” Chen Heng nodded and said.
After a while, Chen Heng and Zhang Ya followed a few people in.
Within the hall, there was an elderly man sitting there.
“Hao’Er, Ya’Er, you’re back,” the elderly man looked at the two of them and gave a slight smile.
Under the sunlight in the hall, the elderly man’s appearance was revealed.
He looked quite old and frail and was around 70 or 80 years old. Even though he was quite old, his mental state seemed quite good, and he gave a slight smile as he watched Chen Heng and Zhang Ya walk over.
“We pay our respects to the clan leader,” Chen Heng walked in with Zhang Ya in tow and bowed towards the elderly man.
The elderly man’s name was Zhang Chong, and he was also a cultivator.
“Spirit Refining Level 6…” Chen Heng looked up and thought to himself.
Spirit Refining Level 6 was quite good, and in the Flowing Cloud Sect, it would have been enough to become an Inner Court Disciple.
However, compared to ordinary cultivators, this Zhang Chong had lived for far too long and his body had long since declined.
If he had to fight, his battle power would be far below that of an ordinary Spirit Refining Level 6 cultivator.
Even despite that, this was still quite good.
Ordinary solo cultivators would not be a match for Zhang Chong at all.
This was the Zhang clan’s trump card and their greatest force.
Thinking to there, Chen Heng could not help but shake his head.
This was a cultivator family, and yet their strongest person only had Spirit Refining Level 6 cultivation.
This was quite low, but there was nothing they could do about this.
The Yue Kingdom was a small kingdom and did not have many cultivators to begin with. Most of them were solo cultivators, and they only had Spirit Refining Level 1 or Level 2 cultivation. Those with Spirit Refining Level 3 cultivation would already be top-tier solo cultivators.
Not only was someone like Zhang Chong invincible among solo cultivators, but even in Nine Peaks City, there were not many people who could rival him.
Moreover, because of this, the Zhang clan put great emphasis on Chen Heng’s original identity.
If Chen Heng had not come, when this identity reached the end, he would most likely be able to reach Spirit Refining Level 5 or Level 6 and might even be able to enter the Flowing Cloud Sect’s Inner Court.
Such a person would have been a sizable figure.
Zhang Chong began to speak.
“Hao’Er, why did you suddenly return this time?”
Looking at Chen Heng, Zhang Chong asked in concern, “When I received your letter, I was given a big fright.”
“I came back because of a mission,” Chen Heng replied calmly, “The spirit garden outside Nine Peaks City is under my jurisdiction.”
Hearing this, Zhang Chong stared for a moment before looking delighted, “This is very good.”
Looking after a spirit garden was no ordinary mission, and it was a piece of good news.
“Then Ya’Er…” Zhang Chong looked over at Zhang Ya and Hou Juan.
“Since I’m going to the spirit garden, it’s better to have some people with me; it will make things more convenient,” Chen Heng said as he looked at Zhang Ya and Hou Juan.
Only then did Zhang Chong understand, “That is true. The things in the spirit garden are quite complicated, so bringing Ya’Ere will indeed make things easier on you. Do you need more helpers?”
Zhang Chong thought as he said, “Taking care of a spirit garden is no simple matter, and if you need, I can help you think of some solutions. If it comes to it, this old man can also come and help you.”
He was quite passionate about Chen Heng’s mission and took it very seriously.
However, in response, Chen Heng shook his head and said, “I won’t trouble clan leader. However, if I do need help, I will naturally ask clan leader.”
The two of them chatted for a while before Chen Heng left with Zhang Ya and Hou Juan.
After Chen Heng and the others left, Zhang Ya came back after some time.
“Did your clan brother really come back just for the spirit garden?” Zhang Chong asked worriedly, “Did your clan brother offend someone in the sect?”
“Not at all,” Zhang Ya shook her head as she smiled, “In fact, clan brother is very popular in the sect.”
She told Zhang Chong about the things Chen Heng had done in the past half a year, causing Zhang Chong’s eyes to light up.
“Who would have thought Hao’Er would be so capable. The Zhang clan has great hope in your generation.”
His eyes shined before asking in confusion, “But who was that other person behind Hao’Er? Her spirit light seems quite dim, and she does not seem like one of us.”
He was talking about Hou Juan, and he could not help but frown, “What did Hao’Er bring a mortal back for?”
“I don’t know either.”
Zhang Ya shook her head and looked quite confused, “Perhaps clan brother is looking for a Dao Companion?”
“Dao Companion?” Zhang Chong felt quite surprised.
“Yes.” Zhang Ya nodded, “That person is not a mortal but a disciple of the Flowing Cloud Sect. It’s just that her talent is incredibly poor, and even though she has joined the sect for a year, she still has not reached Spirit Refining… However, clan brother seems to care much about her and even brought her back with him this time.”
