Who Let Him Cultivate?! (WX)-Chapter 709: The Chess-Observing True Lord’s Pursuers

While Tao Tingfeng was eating his barbeque skewers, he happened to see a youth around his age enter the barbeque shop. The youth was filthy, his clothes ragged, like a street beggar.

“Shopkeeper, are you still hiring here?” the grimy boy asked. “I'm not asking for much, just the minimum wage will do.” Seeing how business was booming, the youth figured they must be short-handed. This was his chance.

“Shoo, shoo! Where did this little beggar come from? We’re not hiring.” The shopkeeper chased the boy away. After all, this place was a barbeque shop on the surface but a Nine-Netherworlds Creed base in secret; they couldn’t hire outsiders.

“I’m not a beggar!” the youth retorted angrily.

Do you know what status I have? If not for being down on my luck and getting robbed by scoundrels, how could I have been reduced to this plight, to the point of being mistaken for a beggar?

This is absolutely humiliating!

The shopkeeper had no intention of listening further. He directly grabbed the boy by the collar and dragged him out.

“Out you go.”

The filthy youth reached into his pocket. He only had sufficient money for lodging now, insufficient to take a flying vessel or carriage to his destination.

He sighed. The most urgent matter now is to find a job quickly.

Tao Tingfeng didn’t pay much attention to the youth and continued focusing on eating his barbeque skewers.

Time flew by, and another half a month passed. Tao Tingfeng’s performance in the clan academy became increasingly outstanding. He could answer all his clan uncle’s questions in class and even scored full marks in the semi-annual examinations, earning everyone's admiration.

Previously, Tao Tingfeng’s academic performance was at best above average. But with the Chess-Observing True Lord’s assistance, his perspective and knowledge had improved tremendously. The content his clan uncle taught in class was now mere beginner's knowledge to him.

“Elder cousin brother,[1] you’re so amazing!”

After class, the Tao Family descendants often gathered around Tao Tingfeng, casting envious looks his way. Tao Tingfeng would curve his lips into a humble smile, saying it was all luck and he wouldn’t perform as well next time.

The Tao Family disciples who had previously outperformed him looked at him with jealousy. So what if you have good grades? The most important thing in cultivation isn’t knowledge but bone foundation!

The Chess-Observing True Lord also slowly recovered from his soul injuries during this time. However, his recovery was extremely slow. From meeting Tao Tingfeng until now, over a month had passed, yet he had only progressed from gasping out words to being able to speak properly.

In truth, this was the normal recovery speed for cultivators.

Someone like the Everlasting Immortal Fairy was one of a kind in the cultivation world.

Even the Four Ancient Immortals couldn’t achieve her level of liveliness.

“True Lord, can my bone foundation really be changed by the Golden Cicada Shell?” Tao Tingfeng was the most concerned about this issue now.

The day for the clan’s bone foundation test was approaching. He had already found out his spirit root from the Chess-Observing True Lord in advance.

Wood, Fire, Earth Spirit Roots—Triple Spirit Root.

The past him would have him overjoyed; it was undoubtedly the best bone foundation in the clan.

But it was different now. After getting to know the Chess-Observing True Lord, his horizons had broadened. He didn’t want to be confined to the small Tao Family anymore.

A Triple Spirit Root was far from enough.

“Of course, it can.” In the mental space, next to the Chess-Observing True Lord was the Golden Cicada Shell, already merged with Tao Tingfeng.

The Chess-Observing True Lord said proudly, “This Golden Cicada Shell is a relic left by an ancient gold cicada that cultivated to the Apex Transcendent Tribulation Stage. If not for misfortune befalling that Golden Cicada old ancestor, he might have been able to advance a step further, becoming a legendary half-immortal!

“The Golden Cicada Shell is enough to transform your Triple Spirit Root into a Single Spirit Root! Even granting you an immortal physique is possible.”

Tao Tingfeng’s eyes shone with excitement at the thought of joining one of the Five Great Immortal Sects with a Single Spirit Root. My future is destined to be boundless!

“However, if you join an immortal sect, remember to conceal your spirit root,” the Chess-Observing True Lord warned.

“Why is that?” Tao Tingfeng was puzzled.

The Chess-Observing True Lord was disappointed in him. “This is called ‘concealing one’s abilities.’ As the saying goes, ‘the wind will destroy the tallest tree in the forest.’ As someone with a Single Spirit Root joining the sect, you will inevitably attract jealousy from your fellow disciples.

“You must understand, the larger the sect, the more severe the factionalism. Take the Dao-Seeking Sect, for example. With your Single Spirit Root, you will not only face suppression from senior and junior brothers, but even the elders may make a move on you!”

“Th-then what should I do?”

The Chess-Observing True Lord said confidently, “Easy. The Golden Cicada Shell can mask your spirit root. Unless a Transcendent Tribulation cultivator personally investigates, no one can see through your true bone foundation.”

Only then did Tao Tingfeng exhale a sigh of relief.

He then remembered another question. “By the way, True Lord, you previously mentioned that you were hunted down and ended up like this. Who was pursuing you?”

“You don’t even have cultivation yet. Don’t worry about these matters; they’re too distant for you. Just remember to hide my existence and don’t let outsiders know.”

“Alright.” Tao Tingfeng would have done so even without the reminder.

Lu Yang heard the Everlasting Immortal Fairy’s warning while watching from the shadows.

“Three Fusion cultivators are rapidly approaching this area, and their foundations are solid.”

“What?!” Lu Yang jumped in fright. Could it be that the Chess-Observing True Lord’s enemies have caught up?

The Chess-Observing True Lord had stolen the Golden Cicada Shell from a Great Yu cultivator and killed two companions who succumbed to their avarice. Be it for wealth or revenge, they would come for him.

“Should we summon Big Senior Sister?”

The Everlasting Immortal Fairy waved her hand. “Nothing will happen. Just watch.”

The three Fusion cultivators flew at incredible speed. Everyone in Yanshan City saw them.

The three landed on Mount Yan, finding the spot where the Chess-Observing True Lord had fallen back then.

The leader picked up an exquisitely crafted wooden box from the ground, the very one that had contained the Golden Cicada Shell. He calculated with his fingers, then sharply turned his head toward Yanshan City at the foot of the mountain.

“Found you!”

Color drained from the Chess-Observing True Lord when he saw the three Fusion cultivators flying again. “Kid, run! My pursuers are here!”

“Run...run where?”

“Don’t worry about where, just run first!”

Following the Chess-Observing True Lord’s instruction, Tao Tingfeng couldn’t care about packing his things, getting up to run out the door.

A terrifying aura enveloped him, making him feel like he was plunged into endless darkness. Even the Chess-Observing True Lord in his mental space was too frightened to move.

“Kid, let me ask you—is there another soul entity inside your body, or have you seen anything resembling a golden cicada?”

“No...not at all.” Tao Tingfeng forced himself to maintain composure and managed a weak smile.

The leader knitted his brows, not exactly satisfied with the answer, but stopped deliberately releasing the terrifying aura waves. “KId, are you telling the truth?”

“It’s the truth.” Freed from the terrifying aura, Tao Tingfeng gasped for air.

He finally dared to look at their visitors—three unfamiliar cultivators who were undoubtedly powerful.

The leader looked at Tao Tingfeng and sighed before saying solemnly, “We three are members of the Luoshui Guard. Chess-Observing True Lord, we are now officially notifying you that you are under arrest for the robbery of a Golden Cicada Shell from a Great Yu cultivator.”

The leader turned his gaze to Tao Tingfeng. “As for you, you are also under arrest for concealing proceeds of crime and harboring a criminal suspect.”

The Luoshui Guard was Great Xia’s special force responsible for dealing with diabolic creeds, evil cultivators who bullied others, and archaic cultivators who broke the law.

Both Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou recognized the leader. It was Yu Qian, a friend of the Fifth Elder and one of the Luoshui Guard Nine Palaces, who had taken part in multiple arrests of Fifth Elder for speeding.

1. To be more specific, this is an older cousin from the father’s side. ☜