Chapter 49: Hiding One’s Weak Points (1/2)

Chapter 49: Hiding One’s Weak Points

The tree branch that skewered the tiger meat sat rotating over the fire. Sparks flew from time to time as grease dripped into the fire, releasing a tempting fragrance.

The meat of the Rainbow Tiger was extremely fragrant, but it was also quite tough and did not have a great texture. Biting into it was like biting into meat that had been smoked for a long time. Thankfully, Origin Qi Scholars had good teeth. To them, the quality of meat was irrelevant. More important was the amount of Origin Energy that the Vicious Beast contained. Eating it could increase one’s ability to absorb, rotate, and utilize Origin Energy. It was a great supplement.

Because heat had ruinous effects on the nutritious value of beast meat, a few Origin Qi Scholars would even choose to eat Vicious Beasts raw.

Su Chen and Zhang Yuanliao could not do such savage things, but they still began to eat as soon as the tiger meat was cooked.

Origin Qi Scholars had very large appetites. They could eat an entire tiger, bear, leopard, etc. in one sitting. This was mostly because they could exercise an absorption technique to help them absorb anything that was nutritious for them quickly. They did not need to wait for their waste to be discharged before they could continue eating. When there was not much food to be had, they could temporarily hibernate, instead absorbing trace amounts of Origin Energy from the air.

This caused them to be very efficient in using resources, and every time they successfully hunted something, they would have a sumptuous meal.

“Here!” Zhang Yuanliao retrieved a piece of meat from the grill that had just finished cooking and gave it to Su Chen.

“Thank you.” Su Chen received it and bit into it. His mouth filled with oil, and the fragrance spread very rapidly.

“That’s right, why has the Su Clan’s Fourth Young Master run into the Scarlet Mountain Range?” Zhang Yuanliao asked.

“Scarlet Punishment,” Su Chen indifferently replied.

“Scarlet Punishment?” Zhang Yuanliao was stunned. “What did you do to force your clan to give you Scarlet Punishment?”

“Lots of things…… I crippled an underling, beat up an Aunt, and made it so that a cousin of mine couldn’t get out of bed for ten days.”

Zhang Yuanliao let out a low whistle. “I didn’t expect that a blind man would be able to act so viciously.”

“It’s precisely because I’m blind that I need to act so viciously…… Grab their vital points and don’t let go!” Su Chen lightly smiled.

Zhao Yuanliao was startled for a moment before laughing loudly, “Good, well said. I brought some wine with me, as brothers we should drink some together.”

As he spoke, he pulled out a flagon and two cups from within his sack.

He poured a cup for Su Chen, then poured one for himself. Zhang Yuanliao said, “Come, let us have a toast to commemorate our meeting. Meeting each other in this kind of wasteland was fated!”

u Chen gently took a sip.

The alcohol was very strong. It burned like fire going down his throat.

“How is it, pretty strong, right?” Zhang Yuanliao laughed, downing the wine in his cup in one gulp, then filling it to the brim.

“I am not used to drinking strong wine.” Su Chen shook his head, then lowered the cup of wine. “That’s right, why is Senior Brother Zhang here in the Scarlet Mountain Range?”

“Some people discovered starsilver ore in the Halcyon Gorge. They believe that there may be a vein of starsilver nearby. I came to see if I could encounter some good fortune,” Zhang Yuanliao replied nonchalantly.

“A Starsilver mine?” Su Chen was also shocked.

Starsilver was a rare metal that Origin Qi Scholars commonly used. It was a first-rate Origin Energy conductor that could be used to construct Origin Tools and refine Origin-related items. It could even be used to supplement one’s cultivation.

Starsilver was normally not found in isolated quantities. If some had been found, most likely there would be a mineable vein nearby.

Based on what Zhang Yuanliao said, the person who discovered the starsilver in the Halcyon Gorge was a common hunter. He didn’t understand the true value of starsilver; he only thought that it looked pretty, so he brought it with him. Thus, he had not kept it a secret. Once the rumors spread, many people quickly discovered that there could possibly be a starsilver vein in the Halcyon Gorge. Thus, they all went out in search of an opportunity to strike it rich.

Zhang Yuanliao did the same. Once he received notice, he hurriedly entered the Scarlet Mountain Range, hoping that he could obtain his first substantial sum of money in his life.

Although cultivators never lacked money because they could produce their own Origin Stones, from another aspect a cultivator’s great need made it so that they lacked money more than anyone else. In addition, producing Origin Stones would affect one’s cultivation. A year of hard work would only produce three or four hundred Origin Stones, which was not enough to use. Naturally, Origin Qi Scholars, who were always in need of more wealth, would want to seize any opportunity they possibly could.

The starsilver vein in the Halcyon Gorge was clearly a great, rare opportunity.

“This is also why I wanted to tell you. Although the Halcyon Gorge does not have any master, and anyone who wants to go there can, because of this there is no order or restriction, and there are a lot of disputes. Rules and ethical restrictions do not exist there. Even if one were to do evil things, there most likely would not be any consequences. The evil in one’s heart will become enlarged, and the weak will become prey to the strong there. This is why I want to work together with you. If we combine our efforts, we should be able to establish a place for ourselves there,” Zhang Yuanliao pleaded. He had not given up on his goal of allying himself with Su Chen.

Su Chen didn’t really care. He only responded with an “oh”, then continued to eat meat.

“You’re not interested?” Zhang Yuanliao was somewhat surprised. “We’re talking about starsilver here! A small piece of starsilver is worth tens or even hundreds of Origin Stones!”

“But you need to go there to mine it, right?” Su Chen replied. “I would rather stay here in this forest and battle Vicious Beasts, consuming their flesh and blood, and skinning them for their hides. In addition, I can continue to temper my body and accumulate experience rather than depending on luck while mining.”

“That’s too slow!” Zhang Yuanliao sighed, “People don’t get rich without a windfall!”

“Is that your life’s principle?” Su Chen laughed. “Then I cannot agree blindly. Oh right, where is the spice jar? Can you help me grab it? I want to put some more on this piece of meat.”

Zhang Yuanliao turned his head around to look, muttering, “Strange, it was just here a moment ago. Where could I have put it?”

Zhang Yuanliao looked around, unable to find it.

“If you can’t find it that’s fine. In any case, I am pretty much full.”

“Are you leaving?”

“Yes.”

“Okay then, let’s toast one more time, then we can split up.” Zhang Yuanliao lifted the cup in his hand.