“That chicken-raising laborer… is certainly cautious.”

Perhaps due to the recent death of Liu Changfeng, Yu Changchun’s demeanor was noticeably graver than before. He pondered for a moment before continuing.

“However, the moment we left yesterday, he couldn’t wait to start studying the secret technique. I observed him for the better part of the day; aside from feeding the poultry, he remained holed up in his hut, pouring over the manual.”

Yu Changchun’s eyes narrowed with calculation. “Presumably, he hasn’t lost his obsession with possessing a Spiritual Root. This sort of person is the easiest to manipulate. I estimate that when the human puppet arrives today, the kid will inevitably try to probe him for information.”

“And if nothing unexpected happens, he will definitely be interested in where the puppet got his bones replaced… As long as the interest is there, the desire to try will follow. Once he attempts the ‘Lower Volume Bone Replacement Method’ that the puppet deliberately leaks to him… everything that follows will be out of his control.”

As for whether he actually joins the Ascension Society? Does it even matter?

“Three days. At most three days, he will inevitably become one of us!”

Yu Changchun gave a time estimate that was both fair and brimming with confidence.

Li Zhi’s smile remained fixed on his face, though his attitude was far more conservative.

“My thoughts differ slightly from yours. This kid is excessively cautious. I previously attempted to shake his mental defenses with the secrets of the Physique Strengthening Scripture multiple times, yet his reaction was minimal. Either he is a man of deep schemes, or he truly doesn’t care. In my opinion, it is the former.”

Li Zhi’s eyes gleamed with a predatory light. “Three days might not be enough. We must remain vigilant, lest this person harbors plans of his own.”

Although Yu Changchun disagreed, the memory of Liu Changfeng—who had been beheaded for his negligence—flashed through his mind. He nodded slowly.

“There are too many restrictions here; it is inconvenient for us to act freely. Indeed, we cannot underestimate these mortals… Huh? The human puppet has arrived!”

The two cultivators immediately turned their gaze toward the water mirror.

Inside the shimmering surface of the water mirror, a Laborer Disciple driving a donkey cart entered the surveillance range, humming a jaunty tune.

The laborer appeared to be in his forties or fifties. His green robe, unwashed for ages, was stiff with grime. Even his hair was a matted, tangled mess from sheer neglect.

It was Old Hou.

Perhaps it was because he had joined the Ascension Society—feeling his physical condition improve and seeing the hope of condensing a Spiritual Root—but Old Hou’s mood was exceptionally good.

Deep down, he knew that at his age, even if he managed to condense a Spiritual Root, he might not achieve much on the path of cultivation. But isn’t that human nature? People always hold a blind, desperate confidence in themselves.

Maybe before long, he would stumble upon some ancient Immortal’s legacy cave and suddenly soar to great heights?

Cultivation in old age… tsk, it had its own thrilling flavor!

If given the chance, he wanted to shout at those who had looked down on him all his life:

“Don’t bully the old for being poor!”

Then, one day in the future, he would return gloriously to the hometown he hadn’t dared to visit for thirty years. He would hold his head high, basking in the envy and admiration of his peers who had stayed behind and found success early.

That’s right!

I, Old Hou, didn’t go home before not because I was a failure who was too ashamed to return! It was because I was making waves among the Immortals and had no time to bother with you mortal ants!

“It’s a pity the Ascension Society is so strict. Without permission, we aren’t allowed to say a word to outsiders.”

The memory of the Society punishing rule-breakers flashed through his mind—a gruesome scene that made Old Hou swallow hard in terror.

But that fear didn’t stop him from replaying the satisfying ‘thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river’ revenge fantasy in his head repeatedly.

The donkey cart soon arrived at the foot of Manor Ding-87.

“The supervisor seems to value Brother Wang quite a bit. If Brother Wang joins the Society, I’ll have earned another merit. I can exchange it for another bone, and maybe my Spiritual Root will finally form!”

“I wonder how Brother Wang’s consideration is going,” Old Hou muttered to himself.

He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted toward the manor, “Brother Wang! Come down and get your chicken feed!”

Soon, a familiar figure walked down the path from the manor.

“Old Hou, you’re finally here! I’ve been waiting for you for a while!”

Old Hou grinned. “Waiting for me? What for? I’m not some beautiful fairy…”

Despite his teasing, he grabbed two buckets and helped this ‘Brother Wang’ carry them up the slope.

The two chatted idly for a moment. Seeing Wang Ba looking as if he wanted to speak but was holding back, Old Hou felt a burst of amusement. He recalled his own behavior when he first learned of the Ascension Society; he had been exactly the same.

He laughed. “Brother Wang, if you have something to say, just spit it out. Why are you acting like a blushing maiden?”

Hearing this, Wang Ba seemed to grit his teeth before speaking. “Old Hou, tell me honestly… what exactly does this Ascension Society do? I’ve been in the Sect for almost a year and haven’t heard a whisper about them. It’s hidden so deep, I just feel something isn’t right!”

“If you feel something isn’t right, then you’re right!”

Old Hou’s rhetoric, honed through repeated practice, was smooth as silk. He delivered the deliberately shocking line with ease, glanced around theatrically, and then lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper.

“This Ascension Society… the Society Leader also rose up from the ranks of the Laborer Disciples. That’s why he takes such good care of us. Of course, there is a price. Once you join, replace your bones, and gain a Spiritual Root, you must be of one heart with the Society Leader!”

“To put it bluntly,” Old Hou leaned in, “we are the Society Leader’s loyal followers. How would he dare let others know about a private force like us?”

“But even though we have to obey the Leader, it’s also our only chance. Otherwise, what? You plan to rely on the Physique Strengthening Scripture?”

Old Hou’s words seemed to strike a chord in Brother Wang’s heart. He stood stunned for a good while before whispering, “Then… this Society Leader, could it be Meng Randao?”

Meng Randao was the only one among the Outer Sect’s top ten disciples who had risen from a laborer background.

“No,” Old Hou shook his head. “Although Meng Randao holds a decent position, I heard he’s ostracized and doesn’t have that much influence. Could it be… Elder He Lin, the Head of the Clean Mountain Department?”

Wang Ba couldn’t help but offer another guess.

Old Hou smiled mysteriously without answering, though internally he was surprised that Brother Wang had actually guessed it.

Then again, there weren’t many high-ranking figures who had started as laborers, so it wasn’t a difficult deduction.

This Brother Wang was clever. He seemed to immediately pick up on the confirmation in Old Hou’s attitude. He hurriedly stuffed a few Spirit Poultry eggs into Old Hou’s hands and asked about the bone replacement.

Old Hou carefully lifted the hem of his dirty green robe, revealing a long, narrow scar running across his waist.

“Pelvic bone?!” Wang Ba’s eyes widened in shock.

“That’s right! I had to earn quite a few merits to exchange for this. This is the pelvic bone of a Qi Refining cultivator!”

Old Hou patted his side proudly. “I heard from the supervisor that if a Spiritual Root condenses from this, eighty percent of the time it will be a three-element root—Metal, Fire, and Earth. Although it’s Low Grade, it’s still far stronger than a five-element root.”

Wang Ba’s eyes immediately filled with unmistakable envy.

Old Hou, knowing that haste makes waste, didn’t press his advantage. He knew when to fold.

“Alright, I still have to go deliver chicken feed. Damn it, I was late yesterday and got scolded again by that bastard from Manor Ninety-Two. Heh, when Old Hou becomes an Immortal, I’ll definitely slap him a few times!”

Cursing and grumbling, Old Hou turned and left.

Only Brother Wang remained standing in place, his eyes seemingly burning with longing.

This entire scene was reflected clearly in the water mirror hovering before Yu Changchun and Li Zhi in the distant mountain col.

“How about it?”

Yu Changchun looked at Li Zhi smugly. “With this story I instructed the human puppet to tell, can we win him over within three days?”

However, Li Zhi’s blurred, indistinct face showed no emotion. “You had the human puppet tell him that He Lin, the Head of the Clean Mountain Department, is one of us?”

Yu Changchun frowned, puzzled. “What of it? This laborer couldn’t possibly run to He Lin to confront him. Even if we lied to him, it doesn’t matter, right?”

“It’s not that.”

Li Zhi stared at him, his voice flat and expressionless as he delivered a sentence that instantly stunned Yu Changchun.

“He Lin… is indeed one of us.”