Promise!

Chapter 229, Entering the Circle

Ten days passed quickly.

That day, Ji Tongxiu came over and said, "The exotic beast meat shop in the East Third Ring Road has been doing very well these days and has already made a name for itself. This month's revenue contribution points will probably be around 300,000."

"Just a little,"

She glanced at Zhuang Jin and voiced her concern: "Suppliing such a large quantity of meat from beasts at the Bone Forging Realm, at a relatively low price, has already caused some noise from other shops on the same street. You don't need to worry about those first-, second-, or third-rate families, but the shop of the Hong family, a family of innate origin, is not far away after it relocates."

"Nearby, there are several other shops with connections and backgrounds; they seem to be part of the same circle as the Hong family..."

"It's alright. This is just a grand opening promotion. It won't last long, nor can it last long. This matter is not insignificant, but in the eyes of us, the Innate Venerables, it's not a big deal. When they can't sit still any longer, they will come to me."

Zhuang Jin smiled faintly, her face displaying a calm and composed demeanor.

This was originally a two-birds-with-one-stone plan. Hunting exotic beasts and opening up the market for exotic beast meat shops were just side effects. The main purpose was to use this as an opportunity to join the innate circle.

Once these people can't sit still any longer, they'll approach him with promises of benefits to appease him, and he'll be able to join on equal terms and even gain a slightly more dominant position.

This was all as expected.

Zhuang Jin looked at Ji Tongxiu: "I have my own plans for this matter. You have been busy managing things these past few days, and you have worked hard. You can use these 30,000 contribution points to buy some clothes."

One shop here has already yielded considerable profits under his "opening the book" (a metaphor for his expertise), and there are also profits from another shop, as well as various privileges from the Xuan Snake Token. He sought brokers to resell them. Although he didn't have a good channel and sold them cheaply, he still has a great surplus of contribution points.

In this situation, since it's a woman he's slept with and he's also bearing the potential risks, he naturally won't be stingy.

"Thank you, Mr. Zhuang."

Ji Tongxiu opened the token's light screen and saw a golden coin pouch-like pattern open, from which a string of numbers appeared. His eyes seemed to light up instantly, and his complexion looked better, his expression full of surprise.

Seeing this scene, Zhuang Jin sighed inwardly. No matter the past or present life, spending money to woo women is indeed an invincible magic weapon!

……

Just as Zhuang Jin had predicted, Hong Baoshu's small circle of innate beings couldn't sit still any longer. His supply of high-end Bone Forging Realm beast meat in large quantities at low prices was seen by them as something akin to 'malicious pay raises' or 'giving away hard-earned money to peasants'... It was simply outrageous!
They originally thought they could hold off on the opening promotion for one, two, or at most three days, but now it's been five or ten days and there's still no sign of stopping. Hong Baoshu's inner circle didn't want to be forced into infighting, so they jointly sent an invitation to Zhuang Jin that day.

……

Zhuang Jin received the invitation and came to the Cen residence in the Third Ring Road. The surname Cen made him think of the Cen family, one of the three great families.

Upon entering, they discovered that there were seven Xiantian individuals in this small circle. Apart from Hong Baoshu, whom they had met before, the other six were dressed in various styles: some were dressed in moon-white robes and looked like scholars; others had cold faces and carried swords, keeping strangers at bay; some looked wealthy and dressed like rich old men; others had unshaven beards and red wine gourds hanging from their waists, appearing carefree, unconventional, and unrestrained; and still others were handsome middle-aged men.

His gaze finally settled on an elderly man who looked to be in his seventies or eighties, with white eyebrows and a long beard. He sensed that this man was at the same level as him, at the third level of the Innate True Qi Realm. He thought to himself that this man must be the core of this circle, today's host, Cen Zhanshan.

As Zhuang Jin sized up the seven people, they all looked at him, their faces expressionless, but each of them was surprised and shocked by the aura that Zhuang Jin was displaying at this moment: the second level of the Innate True Qi Realm!
Zhuang Jin did not use that technique again. Today, he fully concealed his aura and displayed his realm at the second level of the Innate True Qi Realm. In this way, he would not be underestimated and would avoid trouble, but he would not be unleashing his full power without reservation, which would seem like a confrontation or provocation and would overshadow the main character.

Amidst the amused glances of the others, Hong Baoshu stepped forward, smiled wryly, and clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Last time we met, I was mistaken. Today... I had planned a martial arts contest, but I concede defeat here."

Zhuang Jin's actions, a plan to kill two birds with one stone, naturally could not be hidden from these old foxes. It was not unreasonable to accept Zhuang Jin into the circle, but they originally planned to let Zhuang Jin show his strength and have a match. Now that Zhuang Jin has clearly shown his second level of the Innate True Qi Realm, they have skipped this step, which has made them all show goodwill.

"Haha, let me introduce Venerable Zhuang."

Cen Zhanshan laughed heartily and said, "Let me introduce myself first. My surname is Cen and my given name is Zhanshan. The surname Cen is quite famous in Cangzhou City. I have some connection with the Cen family. We were one family hundreds of years ago, and I am a descendant of a branch that separated from us."

Because Zhuang Jin was young and energetic, had a good grasp of his own condition, and possessed a powerful 'god' who was perfectly integrated with heaven and earth, he concealed his realm to the fullest extent, so even this person of the same realm did not notice him.

"This is Venerable Hong Baoshu. Venerable Zhuang knows him and has dealt with him before, so I won't say more."

"This is Venerable Feng Qingyin, who is nominally affiliated with the first-class martial arts academy Qingfeng Martial Academy, where he currently teaches martial arts."

Feng Qingyin wore a moon-white long robe and a sky-blue square scarf on his head, looking refined and elegant.

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Jin immediately thought of Feng Yunyang, who hundreds of years ago led a group of innate venerables to establish a martial arts academy on the shores of Taiyuan Lake!
The man seemed to understand Zhuang Jin's thoughts, and sighed, "It is true that I am a descendant of that person, but it is a broken lineage. I did not enjoy the benefits of that ancestor, it was all..."

He shook his head slightly and didn't continue.

"This is Venerable Leng Kui. He broke through to the Innate Realm after a fierce battle. He was a legend back then... His strength was outstanding among those of the same realm!"

Leng Kui gave a stiff smile and nodded slightly.

"Greetings, Venerable Leng!"

Zhuang Jin looked at this cold-faced man carrying a sword, who seemed unapproachable and as cold as a stone. He had a murderous aura about him, but Zhuang Jin vaguely sensed that this man's mind was somewhat unsettled.

"This is Venerable He Zhaoyi. During the great year of the Yuanqi Tide, he obtained a rare herb in the Second Forbidden Land and later broke through to the Innate Realm... He was extremely lucky, and it is quite a legendary story."

'The He family?!'

Zhuang Jin looked at the smiling man who resembled a Maitreya Buddha or a wealthy old man, and instantly realized that this was the man who had used the land dispute to swindle those first-, second-, and third-rate families out of a fortune.

"This is Venerable Min Zhongmin, a dashing and unrestrained man. I imagine he and Venerable Zhuang will have much in common." Zhuang Jin looked at the unshaven man with a red wine gourd hanging from his waist, who indeed appeared dashing and carefree.

"This is Venerable Bi Boyi, who also came from a lower prefecture city and comes from a powerful family..."

"Greetings, Venerable Bi!"

Zhuang Jin looked at the handsome middle-aged man and returned his greeting.

The experiences of these seven individuals—Cen Zhanshan, Hong Baoshu, Feng Qingyin, Leng Kui, He Zhaoyi, Min Zhongmin, and Bi Boyi, including Zhuang Jin—before they attained innate abilities can each be described as a legend.

—Don't assume that just because so many innate martial artists have appeared all of a sudden, that innate martial artists are as common as cabbage. This is survivor bias. Behind these successful people, there are countless people who failed and fell by the wayside, their bones scattered across the fields.

After exchanging greetings, we added each other as token friends.

A friend position with a Celestial Venerable is priceless to those who aspire to higher social status, but Zhuang Jin acquired it effortlessly. This demonstrates that one's social circle is determined by one's own level, and only those of equal status have the right to engage in equal dialogue.

After introductions, everyone sat down. In this garden, flowers bloom in all four seasons, and wine is served over flowing water. Amidst the clinking of glasses and the exchange of toasts, conversation began.

Hong Baoshu brought up the matter of the exotic beast meat shop: "Venerable Zhuang, your exotic beast meat shop east of the Third Ring Road..."

While they felt troubled by the matter, they were also quite understanding. Zhuang Jin had just obtained the Xuan Snake Token and discovered all sorts of enjoyment, such as the Ascension Pavilion. It was inevitable that he would indulge himself for a while. Back then, they... each had their own unbearable experiences.

But you really don't need to be so addicted to that kind of thing. There's plenty of time, you'll get tired of it eventually, so don't keep up with us like this!

"so."

Cen Zhanshan picked up the thread: "We innate venerables have all sorts of privileges, such as the Heavenly Garment Workshop and the Star-Picking Tower Starry Sky Banquet, which we can't even use up every month. Venerable Zhuang is all alone, so it's even more so. He can sell through our circle's channels, which will earn him much more than through ordinary brokers."

These privileges of innate venerables are extremely attractive to the women of second-, third-, and lower-class families, who flock to them, making them a true tool for reaping benefits.

Zhuang Jin is all alone, so she naturally has far more privileges than she can use; this is a deliberate attempt to curry favor.

Well, it's almost like we're telling him directly: "Young man, you've got a bit of a 'that' addiction, we understand, but stop hunting strange beasts, disrupting the market, and being a troublemaker. We'll find you another way to make up for your contribution points. Let's be peaceful, join hands and continue being high and mighty innate venerables, and work together to exploit those peasants, isn't that better?"
Zhuang Jin showed a perfectly timed hint of embarrassment: "Thank you very much. Please rest assured, everyone. I will give the order as soon as I get back that starting tomorrow, the exotic beast meat shop on the East Third Ring Road will not supply such a large quantity of meat, and the price will be increased."

He was well aware that such measures could not last. For now, small-scale actions were acceptable, but if things went too far, the Xuantian Division would intervene.

"Even if I personally hunt Bone Forging Realm beasts, it's not sustainable. If I hunt too many in a short period, the resentment of those beasts will accumulate on me. If I enter the Funiu Mountains again, I'll likely be targeted by Five Organs Realm or even Six Bowel Realm beasts, bringing unnecessary danger to myself. It would be a losing proposition."

"Hahaha!"

Seeing Zhuang Jin's demeanor, the others smiled knowingly and were quite satisfied with her attitude.

Little did anyone know, Zhuang Jin was also secretly marveling at how this time she had achieved two goals at once: she had entered the circle, and even gained a slight advantage, while also receiving benefits and compensation.

This is exactly what they mean by: the squeaky wheel gets the grease!
Having resolved this major issue, today's gathering consisted mainly of casual conversation, ranging from the capital city to the surrounding prefectures and counties, and even to all corners of the country.

These people had been at the Innate Realm for a long time, and some had even traveled to other states for many years. They were very knowledgeable, and their stories broadened Zhuang Jin's horizons.

Zhuang Jin listened more and spoke less. As he listened to the various interesting stories, he gradually discovered something very interesting: without exception, when these people mentioned martial artists below the Innate level, their attitude was indifferent, as if they regarded them as ants. To put it bluntly, it seemed that they did not consider them to be their own kind. It was as if they were high and mighty gods looking down on all living beings. Only when they talked about the Innate level did they show an attitude of equality.

The reason for this is that the gap in strength between those at the Innate level and those below it is too vast, like an insurmountable chasm. Furthermore, Innate martial artists are extremely rare. For example, out of a population of 110 million in Cangzhou, there are only about 200 Innate martial artists currently alive—truly one in hundreds of thousands.

"Then there's the set of rules and regulations governing this city. Innate Venerables are the guests, while martial artists below the Innate level are the food on the table. What empathy can a person have for food? Just as a wolf cannot empathize with a sheep."

'This system, over the years, has subtly and gradually distorted and influenced them, making them feel that it should be this way, and that it has always been this way,' Zhuang Jin thought to himself.

A group of men, naturally, would talk about matters of love and romance. Dengxian Pavilion was no exception. However, when Zhuang Jin brought it up intentionally or unintentionally, he noticed that the micro-expressions of several men were off: Feng Qingyin seemed to be recalling something, and the pain on his face flashed by; Leng Kui's coldness intensified, and the surrounding temperature seemed to drop significantly; Min Zhongmin's expression paused for a moment, then returned to normal.

Hong Baoshu intended to maintain the relationship and be on good terms, so he used telepathy to explain to him.

It turns out that Feng Qingyin was a descendant of Feng Yunyang who had died out. He was unaware of the Ascension Pavilion and fell in love with a 'star' that it promoted. On the day he successfully broke through to the Innate Realm and obtained the Xuan Snake Token, the woman silently met him and committed suicide. This caused him great pain, and he lost his ambition in martial arts and went to teach at Qingfeng Martial Academy.

Leng Kui came from a second-rate family. After breaking through, he learned that the women in his family were actually... From then on, he sealed his heart and locked away his love, never getting close to women.

This is also why Zhuang Jin previously felt that this person's mind and spirit were not very harmonious.

Min Zhongmin was similar to Feng Qingyin. He fell in love with someone promoted by the Immortal Ascension Pavilion. After breaking through to the Innate Realm and obtaining the Xuan Snake Token, he learned that his goddess had been unsealed... However, he was luckier than Feng Qingyin. He later redeemed her and got his wish, but he no longer believed in love and became a carefree playboy.

These three are indeed pitiful people.

The other four are: Hong Baoshu, born into a family with a special connection, who avoided this pitfall; He Zhaoyi, cold-hearted and indifferent, who treats women like clothes; Bi Boyi, from the prefectural city, who escaped the calamity; and Cen Zhanshan, who came from a branch of a prominent family, who is sincere when he is in love, but also clean and decisive when he wants to break up, and who is said to have been quite promiscuous when he was young.

"Of the seven people in our small circle besides myself, almost half were affected. They were severely tricked by the Ascension Pavilion of the Heavenly Palace. The three great families are truly inhuman!"

Zhuang Jin sighed inwardly.

……

(End of this chapter)