Cunning Schemes to Seize Treasures Part 1

Before Zhang Jingmo even had a chance to inquire further, someone had already come knocking at his door.

The Gong family was one of the hereditary clans that held a position within the Lingxu Sect. They had the protection of a Nascent Soul elder, so their conduct was usually quite high-profile.

Gong Cheng was an elder of the Lingxu Sect. His cultivation was not much higher than Zhang Jingmo's, but with the backing of the Gong clan, he held a certain status within the sect.

The Gong Jiguang that Zhang Jingmo had sought out earlier was Gong Cheng's younger brother. His temperament was very different from Gong Cheng's. Gong Jiguang was unconcerned with worldly affairs and devoted himself wholeheartedly to crafting magic tools, somewhat similar to Zhang Jingmo in his first life.

Gong Yujin had previously witnessed Lu Guijiu seizing the first prize token at the Xuanwu Conference. He immediately declared that one must never associate with the likes of Lu Guijiu.

However, as a member of the younger generation, Gong Yujin was unable to persuade his uncle Gong Cheng. Left with no choice, he could only watch helplessly as things unfolded.

When Zhang Jingmo left the Lingxu Sect quietly with his severely injured body, in the eyes of many, it was a journey of no return. More than twenty years after his departure, Gong Jiguang began forging a sword with the first-place token.

No matter how low-key this matter was within the Lingxu Sect, it couldn't be hidden from the Gong family. Gong Cheng naturally learned of it too. At that time, a thought arose in his mind - if Zhang Jingmo never returned, could the weapon forged with the first-place token belong to his Gong family?

Gong Cheng later approached Gong Jiguang and explained the matter to him. Unexpectedly, Gong Jiguang didn't give Gong Cheng any face at all. He coldly laughed and said, "Give it to you? Why should I give it to you?"

Gong Cheng angrily retorted, "I am your own brother, yet you dare speak to me like this!"

Gong Jiguang directly replied, "A precious sword should be matched with a hero. I don't want the magic tool I forge to gather dust." He then shut the door, not giving Gong Cheng any face.

Having been rebuffed by Gong Jiguang, Gong Cheng didn't give up. He managed to find a connection to the Nascent Soul elder. The elder listened to the matter but didn't take it seriously. He simply said, "If that Zhang Jingmo really never returns, there's no harm in you taking the sword."

Gong Cheng was overjoyed upon hearing this, treating those words as a pass.

The sect master later learned of this matter too. It was impossible for Gong Cheng to gain the sect master's support, but after all, with the passage of time, if Zhang Jingmo didn't return for several hundred years without any news, perhaps the sect master really wouldn't be able to protect this magic tool.

But now, not even eighty years had passed before Zhang Jingmo returned from the outside, still looking weak. However, his disciple Lu Guijiu had already successfully built his foundation, and it was a rare ninth-grade spiritual platform.

Such a genius would be highly sought after anywhere. Although the sect master was wary of the Gong family's power, he wouldn't easily strip away what originally belonged to Zhang Jingmo as Gong Cheng had said.

Historically, there were only four or five disciples who had won the first place in the Lingxu Sect. In recent years, two had emerged in succession. This should have been a good thing, but due to Zhang Jingmo's mishap, the good news was tainted by ulterior motives.

If Gong Cheng was determined to be shameless and forcibly taint Zhang Jingmo's first-place token, the sect master probably wouldn't be able to do anything about it. After all, although he was partial to Zhang Jingmo, he was still the sect master and had to consider the bigger picture.

In the cultivation world, cunning schemes to seize treasures were commonplace. If one wasn't strong enough, they would ultimately be bullied. This was why the sect master repeatedly warned Zhang Jingmo to cultivate diligently.

But now, it was all too late. Zhang Jingmo's physical foundation had been nearly destroyed, leaving him with almost no possibility of a breakthrough. Thinking of this, the sect master couldn't help but sigh.

Others who had a slightly better relationship with Zhang Jingmo, upon learning of this news, all sighed and frowned. However, Zhang Jingmo, as the person involved, was completely unaware of the matter and lived leisurely.

After returning to the sect, he paid no visits and only stayed in his cave abode, claiming to be recuperating. If someone came to visit him, he would put on a weak appearance as if he were on his deathbed...

Gong Cheng investigated the news about Zhang Jingmo and was extremely excited. He learned from Gong Jiguang's servant boy that Gong Jiguang's sword was at a critical moment in its forging. In a few more days, it would require a drop of essence blood to recognize its owner.

Gong Cheng also had an inner disciple. Everyone knew that he spared no effort in teaching and nurturing this disciple as if he were his own child. However, what they didn't know was... this disciple was actually his biological son.

It was just that because his wife had great power, he didn't dare to reveal it.

For the sake of this disciple, Gong Cheng had poured in all his efforts. Just when the first-place token seemed to be within reach, at the critical moment, the rightful owner Lu Guijiu actually returned.

Gong Cheng was extremely agitated. He even considered finding an opportunity to secretly kill Lu Guijiu... But the formations around Zhang Jingmo's residence had been reinforced by Shuying early on. If they could keep out Tianlu with Nascent Soul cultivation, how could they not stop Gong Cheng, who was only at the Golden Core stage?

Left with no choice, Gong Cheng could only turn his attention to Zhang Jingmo. Hearing that Zhang Jingmo had been resting in his residence, he made some preparations and went to visit.

Zhang Jingmo didn't know why Gong Cheng had come, but he was very clear about this person's character. He never visited without a purpose. Seeing him arrive with such an enthusiastic demeanor, it was unlikely to be anything good.

Sure enough, Gong Cheng first exchanged some pleasantries with Zhang Jingmo and asked where he had been for the past eighty years. Zhang Jingmo answered half-heartedly, his attitude very cold.

Although Gong Cheng intended to get close to Zhang Jingmo, Zhang Jingmo was uncooperative. Seeing this, he couldn't be bothered to continue beating around the bush and directly brought up the matter.

Zhang Jingmo didn't expect Gong Cheng's ambition to be so great, actually setting his sights on Lu Guijiu's first-place token. After hearing Gong Cheng's probing words, he didn't respond and only showed a half-smiling expression.

Gong Cheng directly asked, "Elder Zhang, what are your thoughts on this matter?"

Zhang Jingmo lazily replied, "What thoughts?"

Gong Cheng said, "Naturally, it's about the first-place token." Since it was already out in the open, he didn't fear losing face and said, "I may not sound pleasant, but it's all for your own good. If I'm not mistaken, Elder Zhang's injuries are quite severe, right? Your disciple is merely at the Foundation Establishment stage. Wouldn't it be a waste to use the first-place token to forge a magic weapon for him? It would be better to exchange it for something more practical."

Upon hearing Gong Cheng's words, Zhang Jingmo wasn't angered. He indifferently said, "Practical things? I wonder what Elder Gong Cheng is referring to."

Hearing this, Gong Cheng knew there was an opening. He took out a qiankun bag that he had prepared earlier from his Sumeru Ring and placed it in front of Zhang Jingmo.

Zhang Jingmo opened the bag and found that it contained several thousand high-grade spirit stones and many rare materials. He only glanced at it before casually placing the qiankun bag aside. He no longer addressed Gong Cheng as an elder and coldly said, "Gong Cheng, are you looking down on my lack of experience?"

Gong Cheng said, "Why do you say that?"

Zhang Jingmo coldly said, "How many first-place tokens has Lingxu Sect produced? Don't you know? Don't you understand how difficult it is to obtain this first-place token? With just these few things, you want to exchange for the first-place token. Are you crazy, or do you think I'm a fool?"

Upon hearing this, Gong Cheng's face alternated between green and white. He inwardly complained, wondering how the rumors about Zhang Jingmo's gentle personality had spread within the sect...

Seeing Gong Cheng's unpleasant expression, Zhang Jingmo softened his voice and said, "Elder Gong, although your offer isn't high enough, there's still room for negotiation."

Hearing this, Gong Cheng instantly changed his attitude and enthusiastically said with a smile, "Elder Zhang, you are indeed a wise person. I won't beat around the bush. Just tell me directly what you want. As long as you give up the first-place token, I will provide it to you."

Zhang Jingmo said, "I heard that in the past, Elder Gong, you entered an ancient battlefield and obtained a famous painting called 'Wanli Landscape'. Is that true?"

Upon hearing this, Gong Cheng immediately understood Zhang Jingmo's intention. His expression showed some hesitation, clearly unwilling to agree to Zhang Jingmo's request.

Zhang Jingmo gently said, "The Gong clan has a large number of members within the sect and can be considered a prestigious family. I believe, Elder Gong, you wouldn't commit the act of killing and robbing within this sect, right?"

Gong Cheng felt suffocated in his chest, not knowing how Zhang Jingmo had learned about his possession of this item. He hadn't told anyone about it.

However, since Zhang Jingmo knew, it was evident that he had set a price. Although Gong Cheng currently didn't know the purpose of the Wanli Landscape painting, since it was obtained from an ancient battlefield, it was unlikely to be an ordinary object.

Gong Cheng was struggling internally when Zhang Jingmo deliberately coughed a few times and said, "If Elder Gong doesn't agree, then forget it. Your younger brother, Gong Jiguang, sent me a message a few days ago, saying that the time for dripping the blood essence is approaching..."

Once the blood essence was dripped and the sword recognized its owner, changing ownership would be no easy matter.

Seeing Zhang Jingmo's attitude of take it or leave it, Gong Cheng gritted his teeth and agreed to the matter. He promised to bring the Wanli Landscape painting to Zhang Jingmo the next day. At the same time, he also had to inform Gong Jiguang that during the blood dripping recognition, the person dripping blood would no longer be Lu Guijiu.

Zhang Jingmo said "good" and watched as Gong Cheng left.

After Gong Cheng's figure completely disappeared, he calmly said, "Come out."

From behind the screen, a person emerged. It was none other than Lu Guijiu. He had listened to the entire conversation behind the screen that had a formation set up, his face expressionless.

Zhang Jingmo asked, "Did you hear?"

Lu Guijiu nodded.

Zhang Jingmo then asked, "Do you have anything to say?" Logically speaking, when a disciple encounters a situation where a treasure that should have belonged to them is taken by their master to exchange for something else, they would usually have some emotional response.

But Lu Guijiu said, "If it weren't for Master, the first-place token wouldn't have been mine. However Master chooses to handle it, I agree." After saying that, he knelt on the ground.

Zhang Jingmo chuckled, "You are becoming more and more eloquent."

Lu Guijiu remained silent.