I Can Transfer the Side Effects of Evil Skills

But as it turned out, Chen Bogong had not only failed to handle the matter, but had actually worsened the Purple Cloud Association’s relationship with a dual-list potential prodigy.

”If word of this gets out, and other organizations find out that our Purple Cloud Association can’t even keep a single Outer Sect disciple in line, don’t you think this will become one of the Inner Sect’s biggest jokes for the next few months?” Wang Rui resisted the urge to slap Chen Bogong.

In truth, a so-called dual-list potential prodigy was no big deal to the Purple Cloud Association.

The reason Wang Rui was so angry was because he felt that if word got out, it would be too humiliating and would damage the Purple Cloud Association’s reputation.

Chen Bogong said with great trepidation, ”Brother Wang, that Zou Feng... He hasn’t even formed a Spirit Body, yet he managed to land on both lists. He’s clearly got some real skill. How could I have possibly predicted...”

”Forget it. Luckily, Brother Fu had to leave on business...” Wang Rui let out a long breath. ”What do you plan to do next?”

’The whole reason I came to report this is because I don’t know what to do,’ Chen Bogong thought. ’So what do you mean by turning the question back on me?’

”Well... for the next monthly assessment, I could arrange for some...”

Before Chen Bogong could finish, Wang Rui cut him off. ”Arrange my ass! He’s a dual-list potential prodigy! By now, he’s probably the disciple of some Inner Sect Elder or has received an investment from a big shot. And you still want to pull these same clumsy, pathetic tricks?”

Hearing this, Chen Bogong was stunned for a moment, then gave a bitter smile. ”Brother Wang, according to the information I have, an Inner Sect Elder did indeed express interest in taking him as a disciple, but Zou Feng turned him down...”

”He refused!?” Wang Rui was quite surprised.

”That’s right. Also, Jiang Wanzhao, Jiang Zhenchuan, sent him a congratulatory gift...”

”Jiang Wanzhao?” Wang Rui snorted. ”She was just promoted to True Disciple. Her foundation is unstable, and she can barely look out for herself these days. This is nothing more than a careless, random investment.”

”If Zou Feng had become the disciple of an Inner Sect Elder, it would have been difficult to settle the score with him for now. A pity... It just goes to show that arrogance invites disaster!”

Chen Bogong naturally understood why Wang Rui would say such a thing.

Although a True Disciple was far stronger than an Inner Sect Elder, the higher one stood, the more one had to worry about.

They wouldn’t pay too much mind to a casual investment made in the Outer Sect.

It was even possible she hadn’t been personally involved in making the investment at all; it was probably handled entirely by her trusted aides.

In contrast, if Zou Feng had become an Inner Sect Elder’s disciple—taken under his wing and carefully nurtured—it would have become genuinely difficult to cause trouble for him.

As it turned out, Zou Feng had rejected the path to survival and chosen a dead end.

Of course, Wang Rui could actually understand this completely.

Who hadn’t been young and reckless? Especially those who had just entered the Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect and were already making a name for themselves in the Outer Sect—which one of them would want to be tied down?

However, there were far too many so-called Outer Sect prodigies like Zou Feng in the Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect. In the end, how many of them could actually maintain their momentum and climb to the top?

”Alright, I’ll handle the matter with Zou Feng myself!” Wang Rui already had a plan. ”Just wait for my notice.”

Chen Bogong had wanted to ask if they should report to Fu Jiaming before making a decision, but seeing the impatience written all over Wang Rui’s face, he swallowed his words and hastily took his leave.

Meanwhile, Zou Feng had just returned to Courtyard Nine when he felt a wave of profound malice.

Hmm?

’Who the hell has it in for me now?’

He quickly checked the List of Gods, and sure enough, a new name had appeared: Wang Rui.

The name was unfamiliar to Zou Feng, but he figured it must be someone from the Purple Cloud Association.

It was always safest to investigate and find out exactly who this new person on his list was.

So, Zou Feng took the initiative and knocked on Qiu Lan’s door.

Qiu Lan didn’t have to work at the Dining Hall today, and since it wasn’t long after dawn, she should still be in her room.

”Who is it?”

”It’s me!”

Upon hearing Zou Feng’s voice, Qiu Lan was surprised for a moment, but then a knowing smile spread across her face.

’I knew it. What’s meant to be will be.’

”Brother Zou, please wait a moment!” With that said, Qiu Lan went into her inner room and changed into what she considered her most alluring battle attire.

She did all this very quickly and didn’t keep Zou Feng waiting long.

But to her surprise, when she opened the door filled with anticipation, Zou Feng didn’t step inside. He got straight to the point: ”Junior Sister Qiu, do you know a Wang Rui?”

Qiu Lan had never practiced any charm techniques before and just assumed she’d done something wrong. Nevertheless, she reflexively replied, ”Wang Rui? Brother Zou, are you talking about the Wang Rui from the Purple Cloud Association?”

”Uh, he’s a confidant of Vice President Fu Jiaming and wields considerable power in the Purple Cloud Association.”

Since Qiu Lan had been very eager to join the Purple Cloud Association in the past, she was quite knowledgeable about it.

’Just as I thought. Looks like the Purple Cloud Association still hasn’t given up. They’re dead set on picking a fight with a mere Outer Sect newbie like me, huh?’

’Once they lose face, they just have to get it back. There’s no shortage of petty people in this world...’

”Thanks!”

With that, Zou Feng had no intention of chatting any further. He had to attend the gathering for the people of Great Yan at noon, so he needed to hurry and go cultivate the Dragon and Tiger Kan and Li Skill with Gongsun Jinghong.

Seeing Zou Feng hurry away without so much as a second glance, Qiu Lan bit her lip and swore to herself, ’Next time, I won’t wear anything at all!’

Back in his room, Zou Feng immediately took a bath.

And while he bathed, he had Gongsun Jinghong come over to cultivate the Dragon and Tiger Kan and Li Skill together.

They cultivated this way until it was nearly noon, at which point Zou Feng hastily got dressed and headed for the gathering.

The gathering was set to be held on Celestial Bright Mountain, where Su Qingyu resided.

Since a good number of people were attending, the Outer Sect disciples’ shared residences were not convenient.

However, the various mountains of the Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect were certainly not lacking in establishments like teahouses, private restaurants, and inns.

The venue Su Qingyu arranged was a sizable restaurant on Celestial Bright Mountain, opened under the name of a certain Head Chef disciple from the Inner Sect Dining Hall.

The Spiritual Food at such restaurants came from the respective Head Chef’s private menu and was naturally more delicious and beneficial than the free Spiritual Food offered in the Dining Hall.

Of course, the prices were anything but cheap.

When Zou Feng arrived and saw how well the restaurant was doing, he couldn’t help but think about opening one himself.

After all, this was an industry that could generate a stable and continuous income.

The problem, however, was that excellent cooking skills and sufficient funds were not enough to open such a restaurant.

You definitely needed to have connections higher up.

Zou Feng figured that if he had agreed to become the disciple of Elder Xue Cang from the Inner Sect Dining Hall, opening a similar restaurant on one of the Outer Sect mountains probably wouldn’t have been an issue.

But now... without truly being part of the Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect’s Spirit Chef circle, trying to open a restaurant would be extremely difficult.

Su Qingyu had reserved an area large enough for a hundred people to dine at once and had arrived early, quietly waiting for her old acquaintances from Great Yan.

Of course, it was impossible for everyone to show up.

For their group of survivors from the Glazed Immortal Palace, a turnout of twenty or thirty people would be considered quite good.

After all, many would feel there was no need to participate in such a minor ”huddling for warmth” type of gathering.

If it weren’t for Su Qingyu having a natural Calamity Poison Body of Spirit and Flesh—making her entry into the Inner Sect a near-certainty—and Zou Feng having just distinguished himself in the monthly assessment, likely even fewer people would have bothered to show up.

The final turnout was just as Su Qingyu had expected.

Only thirty-six people came.

Among those who didn’t come, the absence of Celestial Sword Li Dingjie, who had entered the Inner Sect directly upon joining the Immortal Sect, was the biggest disappointment to everyone.

After all, compared to Su Qingyu and Zou Feng, Li Dingjie was currently the most powerful backer they had.

Without him present, their group had almost no chance of becoming a real force, and the gathering would ultimately be nothing more than a simple meal to catch up.

While Li Dingjie from the former Celestial Essence Sword Sect was absent, Jing Huaisong, the former Sword Saint, made a surprising appearance.

Although the old distinctions between righteous and demonic factions had long vanished for those from Great Yan who had joined the Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect together, seeing the former Sword Saint on this occasion was still a poignant sight.

Especially since Jing Huaisong had long since lost his former heroic air.

The tedious farming life in the Spirit Plant Garden had smoothed away all his sharp edges.

At a glance, he now looked almost indistinguishable from an ordinary farmer.