Proving God begins with the principle that no effort is wasted.

The Liu family of Fucheng, a pavilion overlooking the water.

The morning mist pressed against the eaves, filling the room with a solemn atmosphere.

Four stewards in black stood on either side, heads bowed. The head steward, with a furrowed brow, stood at the front and said to Liu Ruyan:

"Miss, you mustn't gamble."

"Black Wind Stronghold has been entrenched in the miasma river for decades. Wen Guishou has mastered the Condensed Strength technique, and there are five peak-level experts at the Nine Acupoints level guarding the stronghold."

"Jiang Lan is just an outer disciple with a fourth-grade talent. He has no backing and no fellow disciples to help him."

"If we send someone to provide backup, we'll lose manpower. If we don't send someone to provide backup, we're doomed."

"If this batch of goods is lost, it's lost. At most, we'll lose some silver. It's not worth risking the Liu family's reputation and gambling on an outer sect martial artist."

The other managers echoed his sentiments.

"Yes, Miss. Youjintan is eyeing this batch of goods, and it's all aimed at our Liu family. If Jiang Lanruo dies in Zhangjiang, the outside world will only say that the Liu family sent someone to their death and used someone else to settle things, which will give them a reason to criticize us."

"Besides, this person comes from a humble background and is too wild, making him difficult to control. Even if he manages to return by chance, it would be like raising a tiger to cause trouble, and he is not worth showing kindness or trying to win over."

……

Liu Ruyan stood by the window, her back straight, dressed in plain clothes, her expression calm and undisturbed.

She gazed at the misty river outside the window, unhurried and calm.

After a long silence, she finally spoke, her voice cold and her words harsh, drowning out the noise in the room.

"First, the goods cannot be lost. If they are lost, it will be seen as the Liu family bowing down to the Youjin Altar, and from then on, all forces in the prefecture city will dare to ride roughshod over the Liu family."

"Secondly, people cannot be abandoned. Jiang Lan dares to take on a deadly situation and dares to venture alone into the miasma-ridden river, making him a hundred times more valuable than a bunch of cowardly managers."

"Third, if he lives, my Liu family will have one more weapon. If he dies, it's just a loss of ten thousand taels of silver."

"I'll take responsibility for the win or the loss."

In short, he overruled all objections!

There is no room for negotiation or compromise.

The head steward's expression darkened slightly, but he still wanted to persuade her further: "Miss, what about the elders in the manor—"

"The elders only care about profits and losses." Liu Ruyan glanced sideways, her gaze cold and piercing. "The affairs of my Liu family are none of other people's business."

"Issue the order: block all news about the miasma-ridden area and await the outcome. Anyone who dares to spread rumors or obstruct the proceedings will be treated as a traitor."

Once the order is given, there is no room for argument.

All the managers fell silent, and no one dared to speak.

They all harbored doubts.

But everyone was convinced that Jiang Lan's body was gone forever.

Half an hour later, the news reached the attic.

Jiang Lan returned alone!

No one was hurt, the gun was bloodied, and all the goods were returned!

The entire management of the Liu family was shaken!

The head steward strode in, his expression erratic, no longer the composed man he once was.

"Miss! Jiang Lan is back!"

"Alone, he escaped unscathed! Black Wind Stronghold was wiped out, Wen Guishou was executed, and the banditry of the Miasma River was eradicated overnight!"

His tone held an incredulous horror.

A faint flicker of emotion finally crossed Liu Ruyan's eyes.

She had long anticipated that this person was hiding his true strength.

But to my surprise, his confidence was even more ruthless and steady than I had anticipated.

"Prepare the car, let's go to the dock."

……

The fog at the dock had not yet lifted.

The water vapor pressure was very low, making the entire ferry crossing completely airtight.

Jiang Lan jumped off the cargo ship, his boots hitting the waterlogged bluestone slabs and splashing up tiny droplets of water.

He was covered in blood.

The surface had long since dried, forming dark brown scabs that stuck to the fabric.

The stench of blood mixed with the foul smell of the river was strong and pungent, as if he had just crawled back from a pile of corpses.

The spearhead in his hand gleamed, with bits of flesh and blood clinging to the blade, a gruesome sight.

Outside the fog, the carriage stood still.

Liu Ruyan stood beside the car, her posture upright and her clothes neat.

The two stewards behind him stood with their hands at their sides, looking at Jiang Lan with calm demeanor.

Liu Ruyan's gaze fell upon him. "Brother Jiang."

"All goods were recovered undamaged."

Jiang Lan leaned the spear against the carriage shaft with a swift and decisive motion, showing neither a desire for credit nor any sign of fatigue or weakness.

He reached into his robes and pulled out a neatly folded secret letter, the paper carrying a faint scent of gray medicine.

"The goods were found on Wen Guishou of Black Wind Stronghold. This batch of private goods from the Liu family was indeed a pledge of allegiance forced upon them by Youjin Altar."

Liu Ruyan took the secret letter.

Slender fingertips, graceful movements.

Unfold it and scan all the writing at a glance.

His brow furrowed very slightly for a moment, then returned to its normal shape.

He concealed his emotions so well that even the steward beside him couldn't detect them.

She slowly folded the secret letter and tucked it into her sleeve.

The next moment, she took out a silver note and handed it over.

"Ten thousand taels, the agreed price."

Jiang Lan reached out and took the silver note, then carefully put it away.

Liu Ruyan tilted her head in a gesture.

The steward stepped forward, holding the brocade box, and presented it with both hands.

Jiang Lan opened the lid.

These two 10-year-old *Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides* plants have plump and intact roots, a subtle medicinal effect, and a rich and lingering aroma, making them far superior to ordinary products on the market.

"Nourishing Vitality Grass belongs to the category of Vitality-Nourishing Plants and can also strengthen the body's foundation and cultivate vitality."

Liu Ruyan took half a step closer, lowering her voice so that it disappeared into the mist, and only the two of them could hear her clearly.

"You're currently stuck at the Qi Condensation stage. The more stable your foundation, the smoother your future breakthroughs will be. This is perfect for you."

She has a good eye.

They could see through his cultivation level, his current shortcomings, and his desperate situation of lacking resources and having no one to rely on.

Liu Ruyan took a half step back, her demeanor composed.

"Go back and recover. I'll send someone to deliver medicine in a few days."

Boarding the carriage, the curtains were lowered.

The wheels rolled over the stone slabs, the rumbling sound piercing through the thin mist, slowly fading into the distance, and finally dissolving into the depths of the fog.

……

Back in the courtyard, I closed the door, bolted it, and shut out all sight and sound.

The room was dark and quiet.

The spear stood upright against the wall, the bloodstains on its tip dried and embedded firmly in the grooves, impossible to wipe off.

Jiang Lan took out all the silver notes and bowed her head to count them.

Liu Ruyan was rewarded with 10,000 taels of silver, in addition to the more than 5,000 taels seized from Black Wind Village.

The total is a little over 15,000.

It looks like a lot, but it doesn't last long.

Cultivation, elixirs, techniques, residence, and daily expenses all consume silver.

He precisely split the banknotes.

One of the items was pressed into a hidden compartment in the bed board as a last resort for survival.

One copy is tucked into a drawer compartment for everyday use.

Keep one close at hand, so you can use it anytime.

The gold leaf and jewelry were all wrapped up tightly and pressed into the deepest part of the cabinet, sealed away and left untouched.

Five bottles of pills were neatly arranged on the table.

Three bottles of Qi-boosting pills, for ordinary purposes, strengthen the body's foundation.

A bottle of Gathering Evil Pill, a crucial medicine for condensing evil.

The last bottle of healing pills had a strange smell, with a faint hint of blood.

Take out the Gathering Evil Pill separately and place it beside your pillow, where it is readily available.

He then sat cross-legged on the bed, took a pill of the Gathering Evil Pill, and put it in his mouth.

The pill was dark red, with a faint fluorescent glow, and its medicinal fragrance was domineering and intense.

The medicinal power instantly dissipated, and a scorching stream of air entered the abdomen from the throat and rushed straight to the dantian.

The scalding sensation burned through his meridians, causing his energy core to tremble instantly, frantically absorbing the medicinal power with insatiable greed.

……

As dawn broke through the window, the light pierced the darkness of the entire night.

The morning light illuminates the paper, dividing the room into light and shadow.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Thump, thump, thump.

Three times.

Not in a hurry, not too slow, not timid.

Jiang Lan opened her eyes, got out of bed, and opened the door.

A Taoist priest in a green robe stood outside the door.

He was twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with fair skin, neat clothes, a jade pendant hanging from his waist, and clear silver thread embroidery on his cuffs.

It is the Wutai School of Incantation, and the formal inner disciple's robe is the standard Taoist robe.

Their identities are obvious.

"Junior Brother Jiang."

Zhou Jin smiled and clasped her hands in a gesture of respect, her smile appropriate and her manner just right.

"My name is Zhou Jin. My junior brother single-handedly wiped out Black Wind Stronghold, killing five peak-level Nine Acupoint cultivators and one early-stage Condensation Realm cultivator. The whole sect is full of praise for him, and he is truly admirable."

His gaze swept quickly over Jiang Lan's blood-stained clothes, the blood-stained spear by the wall, and the pills on the table.

Appreciation is a pretense; inquiries are the real purpose.

Look at the injuries, the family's assets, the resources, and the strengths and weaknesses.

For members of a sect, every polite word is a test.

"Senior Brother Zhou," Jiang Lan responded with a fist salute, standing at the doorway, neither making way nor welcoming guests.

The guard is direct, cold, and frank.

Zhou Jin didn't care at all and continued to speak enthusiastically.

"Senior Sister Su knows about your achievements, and the Dean has also heard about it. He speaks highly of you."

"Junior brother, right now is the most crucial opportunity for you."

Jiang Lan remained silent, waiting for what would happen next.

"The sect's triennial Hidden Dragon Ranking is about to begin."

Zhou Jin's eyes gleamed, her tone deliberately inciteful.

"Those who make the list will receive a massive influx of resources from the sect, be favored by the heads of various academies, and have the opportunity to become disciples of the sect's personal disciples, thus taking a step towards the top."

"Your performance in this battle was truly phenomenal. I have prepared an invitation for you. Tomorrow, I will host a banquet to invite all the core disciples of your generation to publicly announce your achievements."

"To become famous overnight and be listed as a candidate on the Hidden Dragon List. This is an opportunity that many people would rather die for."

The words were well-chosen, sounding like a mentorship for a younger generation.

It's all scheming inside.

Zhou Jin's praise of him was not out of appreciation for his talent.

He was using Jiang Lan's ruthless achievements to curry favor, build reputation, and advance his own career.

Once Jiang Lan made a name for herself in public, she immediately became the focus of attention among all her peers in the entire sect.

The focus is the target.

Countless people are watching, stepping on, waiting to find fault, waiting to be proven wrong, waiting to bring him down.

Jiang Lan, who has no connections or faction and only a fourth-rank talent, is doomed to die once he steps onto the stage.

"No need."

Jiang Lan interrupted him on the spot, her tone flat and emotionless.

Zhou Jin's smile froze slightly.

"Junior brother, why be so modest?" He quickly suppressed his unease and continued to persuade him, "In chaotic times, fame and fortune come first in cultivation. With fame comes resources and support. You are all alone and are in dire need of opportunities."

"If anyone has any doubts, I'll take care of it for you; you won't need to lift a finger."

The pros and cons are laid out, and temptations abound.

It's betting on the ambition of young people who are eager to get ahead.

Jiang Lan's eyes were icy as she repeated herself.

"Need not."

He refused twice, decisively and without leaving any room for negotiation.

The smile on Zhou Jin's face completely vanished.

Gentleness vanished, politeness disappeared, and displeasure, disdain, and a hint of cold indifference surfaced in his eyes.

Ungrateful.

Don't take opportunities that come knocking on your door, and don't walk down roads that are paved for you.

If you fall on hard times and become destitute, no one will speak up for you anymore.

"In that case, junior brother, take good care of yourself and rest well."

"If you change your mind in the future, you can come to me anytime."

Zhou Jin turned and left, his back straight, his steps even, exuding the arrogance and indifference of an inner disciple.

I offered the favor, but you refused it.

From now on, you will not be involved in my schemes, will not have access to my connections, and will not receive any preferential treatment from the sect.

Jiang Lan closed the door and bolted it.

The room fell silent once more.

To become famous.

The list.

Passed down personally.

Resources.

All of them were knives coated in honey.

In the Qinglin Society of Gaolin County, many talented disciples enjoyed immense prestige, but in the end, they all became stepping stones for others, dying mysteriously.

He was of mediocre talent, had no teachers or support, and was all alone.

He doesn't deserve fame.

They are only fit to lie low.