Purple Mist Dao Master-Chapter 178 - 159: Dividing the Spoils!

"It’s safe now!"

After running for another two hours, Yan Chuan set down Wang Kuan. Only then did he take a closer look and saw that Wang Kuan’s arms were ripped open, exposing the stark white bones.

If it were just flesh wounds, it wouldn’t be a big problem.

But Wang Kuan had—

"Muscle Burst!"

Yan Chuan frowned. Wang Kuan sought to unleash power by drawing a bow and shooting an arrow, forcibly stretching the tendons in his arms. These fully tempered tendons harbored immense potential. Once they erupted, they possessed incredible power.

But the price was steep.

After the burst, the skin tore apart, and the tendons ruptured. They needed to regrow and be re-tempered.

In other words—

Wang Kuan’s eight years of arduous cultivation, countless efforts, countless resources, were all destroyed in this one battle!

Breaking limits is tough!

The cultivation journey is bitter!

The injuries and price are devastating!

"Father!"

Wang Zhengyi was filled with guilt: "I’ve harmed you!"

When a father and son meet unknowingly,

Such a tragedy occurred!

"Your son deserves a thousand deaths!"

Wang Zhengyi was filled with remorse and hatred. If he had informed his father earlier that he had already broken limits and passed the test to become a Centurion in the Black Armor Army of Danhu Royal City, perhaps today’s mishap could have been avoided. Instead, he could have used this identity to coordinate from the inside and outside. It would have been easier to steal the Essence Stone from the Xuan Tie Ore.

Instead of now, where Wang Kuan’s cultivation was completely ruined!

"Alas!"

"It’s not your fault!"

Wang Kuan sighed.

Who could be blamed for this?

He wasn’t wrong in trying to steal the ore. Facing opposing factions like the Black Armor Army, there was no room for mercy or holding back. Shooting secretly was the correct strategy.

Wang Zhengyi wasn’t wrong either!

Without relying on background, resources, the Academy, or his father, he carved out a path in the Mountain and Sea Realm by himself. Not only did he successfully break limits, but he also infiltrated the Black Armor Army of Danhu, gaining both the army’s salary and resources, while also potentially earning further rewards and resources from the court upon reporting success to Great Yan.

The future was bright!

He was on the brink of soaring high!

But this battle revealed his identity due to Wang Kuan and others’ intrusion, and he could no longer return to the Black Armor Army. All efforts were wasted, and the great momentum in the Mountain and Sea Realm crumbled into nothing!

Though Wang Zhengyi was unharmed physically and his cultivation remained, his losses, if compared, were not less than those of his father, Wang Kuan.

Father and son!

Both suffered heavy losses!

Yet, destiny and fate, no one to blame!

On the side.

Everyone watched and sighed deeply.

They realized that the Wang Family father and son bore the heaviest price in this battle.

Jian Rong and Huo Zhen didn’t really suffer any loss; even if they did, it was minimal. If they had managed to sneak into the mine, they could have obtained at least a few taels of Essence Stone, making it worthwhile.

But due to these unexpected events, they gained nothing.

Instead, Yan Chuan, Chen Ze, and Cheng Fengxiao—

Each draped in Essence Stones, their buckets full!

...

"A total of twenty-four pounds."

Yan Chuan gathered the Essence Stones he had taken from six limit-breaking miner stealers, estimating them to weigh about twenty-four pounds. He looked at Jian Rong and then at Huo Zhen. Both said, "These were obtained through Palace Master Yan’s efforts, and should be disposed of by Palace Master Yan alone."

Though they too coveted the Essence Stones, the decision on distribution or lack thereof was solely Yan Chuan’s, as he had acquired them. They couldn’t make any suggestions.

Yan Chuan cast a glance at Wang Kuan.

Wang Kuan forced a smile: "Palace Master Yan doesn’t need to consider me. This time, I didn’t contribute and rather added burdens to everyone. I’m ashamed to accept."

Despite his suffering, he indeed didn’t contribute and just caused trouble.

While it’s said that even "brothers keep clear accounts," sometimes it’s better to ignore strict calculations for the sake of relationships.

"Here’s the plan—"

"The twenty-four pounds of Essence Stones first compensate individual losses. Elder Jian and Sect Leader Huo suffered no loss. Elder Wang’s eight years of cultivation are gone; one pound of Essence Stone can compensate for half a year of hard work. He should take sixteen pounds."

"I lost a surprise weapon, a Flying Knife, which once killed Yuan Shicai, Tu Lie, Tang Huai Ren, and Yue Junyang, four limit-breaking individuals—"

Yan Chuan looked at Wang Zhengyi: "Brother Wang can attest to the truth of my words."

"That Flying Knife—"

It could turn!

Wang Zhengyi, even now when he thought of it, felt fear. When the knife turned, he should have been dead, but by luck, the flying knife broke, sparing his life. At that time, it seemed miraculous, but now he understood: "Palace Master Yan had shown mercy!"

Wang Zhengyi hurriedly bowed deeply towards Yan Chuan, saying solemnly: "Thank you, Palace Master Yan, for sparing my life!"

"Brother Wang overstates the kindness."

Yan Chuan helped Wang Zhengyi to his feet.

Wang Zhengyi thanked him repeatedly, then added: "That flying knife was worth its weight in gold!"

Literally ’deep pockets’!

In Great Yan’s gold and silver exchange, 1 gold was equivalent to 24 silver.

A thousand taels of gold equaled twenty-four thousand taels of silver.

And one pound of Essence Stone was officially priced at a thousand taels of silver.

So that means—

"My flying knife is worth twenty-four pounds of Essence Stone."

Yan Chuan looked at Jian Rong, Huo Zhen, and Wang Kuan: "Do you agree?"

"The surprise weapon is priceless!"

"Palace Master Yan’s Flying Knife killed four limit-breakers in succession, his exploits remarkable, priceless indeed!"

Jian Rong agreed.

"If I had such a flying knife, I wouldn’t trade it for a fortune!"

Huo Zhen also agreed, feeling sympathetic towards Yan Chuan.

Wang Kuan, with a pale face, forced a smile: "Palace Master Yan, I—"

He truly didn’t know what to say!

Only now did he realize that Yan Chuan too suffered heavy losses for Wang Zhengyi’s sake.

"Elder Wang, there’s no need for this."

"A fortune can be gained again, surprise weapons can be found, but one’s life is only once."

"It’s not really a loss."

Yan Chuan maintained a good attitude.

His flying knife could turn and was indeed top-grade, worth more than twenty-four pounds of Essence Stone.

But given its Spiritual enhancement, earning it was simple, and there was no need to haggle overmuch.

However—

"Only eight pounds of Essence Stones remain. I’ll record a debt of the twenty-four pounds first and repay in the future."

"Of the remaining eight pounds, I’ll take four. Elder Wang and Elder Jian provided intelligence, together they’ll take three pounds. Sect Leader Huo, with apologies, will only receive one pound."

Yan Chuan looked at the three: "Is this distribution agreeable?"

"Palace Master Yan is fair!"

Yan Chuan was conscientious and selfless, having sacrificed the most and paying the most significant price, convincing everyone!

...

After the distribution of spoils.

It was time to discuss the next step of the plan.

"Will you stay or leave?"

Yan Chuan looked at everyone.

Wang Kuan could definitely not stay. His injuries were severe, his combat prowess severely diminished, and now he might not even win against an ordinary Limit Extreme Martial Artist, let alone initial limit-breaker, Huo Zhen.

"I must first return to recover."

Wang Kuan was apologetic.

Yan Chuan comforted, "Elder Wang, first heal well; the rest will follow."

"I’ll escort my father back."

Wang Zhengyi supported Wang Kuan, indicating he too would leave.

The Wang Family father and son were about to depart.

At that moment.

Chen Ze hesitated for a moment and finally spoke: "Brother Wang, wait!"

"Brother Chen?"

Wang Zhengyi turned his head, of course recognizing Chen Ze, one of the ’Four Immortals’ of Guangling Academy, known as the ’Sword Immortal,’ esteemed alongside the ’Drunken Immortal’ He Junjie, ’Daffodil’ Tang Huaiyu, and ’War Immortal’ Chu Yan. Usually low-key, yet unexpectedly had already broken his limits.

He looked at Chen Ze: "Brother Chen, why are you calling me?"

"Brother Wang,"

Chen Ze cupped his hands to Wang Zhengyi and then to Cheng Fengxiao, Yan Chuan, Jian Rong, Wang Kuan, Huo Zhen, saying, "Earlier in the mine, I encountered an alien beast. At that time I didn’t react, but in hindsight, it’s likely a ’tiger cat’!"

"Tiger cat?"

Yan Chuan, Cheng Fengxiao, and Huo Zhen looked puzzled. Coming from non-orthodox backgrounds, their understanding of alien beasts in the Mountain and Sea Realm was very limited.

But Wang Kuan, Jian Rong, and Wang Zhengyi were different. Hearing this, their expressions became excited.

Jian Rong looked at Chen Ze, "Are you sure it’s a ’tiger cat’?"

"With speckled patterns on its body, size comparable to a calf."

"Agile!"

"Ferocious!"

"Prefers caves, loves darkness!"

Chen Ze affirmed, "It’s likely!"

"It’s truly a tiger cat!"

Jian Rong exclaimed with joy, eyeing Chen Ze, "Last time, weren’t you the first to discover the ’Golden Rock Earth Dragon’, and later obtained ten pounds of dragon blood? Did you break your limits with dragon blood?"

"Elder Jian remembers me."

Chen Ze smiled, "I’m aware I can’t compare to Brother Wang or Senior Sister Gong in talent, making it hard to comprehend the ’Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound.’ Since I obtained ten pounds of dragon blood, I might as well break my limits."

"Knowing oneself is a virtue."

"In this aspect alone, you surpass many."

Jian Rong looked at Chen Ze, full of appreciation.

Though ’treasure breakthroughs’ aren’t as grand as ’secret technique breakthroughs,’ at least they are breakthroughs. As long as there are enough resources, cultivation progress won’t necessarily lag behind someone mastering the ’Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound’ at a limit-breaking level.

Over the years, Jian Rong had seen many ambitious extreme martial artists, all full of self-confidence, stubbornly pursuing secret techniques and refusing to break limits without mastering the ’Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound.’

The result—

They failed year one!

Failed year two!

Failed year three!

Wasting time and delaying for years, eventually resigning themselves to ’treasure breakthroughs.’

Chen Ze, understanding himself from the start, avoided years of detours. At his age, his future accomplishments could be considerable.

Moreover—

"Your fortune is truly unique!"

Wang Kuan was surprised and admired as he watched Chen Ze, "The previous ’Golden Rock Earth Dragon’ was already a rare treasure among alien beasts. A living ’Golden Rock Earth Dragon’ could greatly enhance Guangling Academy’s strength, providing a steady source of breakthroughs. The ’tiger cat’ you mentioned this time is equally extraordinary. Neither cat nor tiger, its spine bones, boiled into broth, far exceed the value of Golden Rock Earth Dragon blood in bone training break limits! The progress in bone training would be rapid!"

’Tiger cat!’

’Spine bones!’

’Bone training!’

Wang Kuan looked at Yan Chuan, "Palace Master Yan, alien beasts are rare and hard to find. If you capture this tiger cat, it might be equivalent to ten years of cultivation; it cannot be missed!"

Looking at Yan Chuan, Wang Kuan sighed.

In this battle, his cultivation was ruined, and even with sixteen pounds of Essence Stones, who knows how long it’d take to recover.

And Yan Chuan?

Though he lost a flying knife, it was a mere possession.

Despite gaining only four pounds of Essence Stone, a ’tiger cat’ was presented almost immediately. Capturing it would be worth three to five times that!

Looking at Chen Ze—

In the Guangling Academy, he wasn’t among the Ten Masters or noticeable.

Yet, he first discovered the ’Golden Rock Earth Dragon’ and now the ’tiger cat’. This man’s affinity with alien beasts was enviable and unmatchable, paired with his self-awareness and diligence. Predictably, Chen Ze’s future achievements wouldn’t be minor.

Looking at these two young men.

And then looking at himself.

At his son, who disrupted a promising situation.

Wang Kuan was filled with endless emotions.

Then he understood why Chen Ze called to stop Wang Zhengyi. Before Chen Ze could speak, and before Wang Zhengyi could refuse, Wang Kuan spoke first: "Zhengyi, once you’ve escorted me, return to help with whatever little strength I have!"

’Tiger cat’ was discovered by Chen Ze.

’Tiger cat’ would benefit Yan Chuan the most.

Wang Zhengyi’s help, while risky, might not bring any tangible benefit.

But Wang Kuan, wise from experience, knew well that befriending the likes of Chen Ze and Yan Chuan would never be a mistake.

...