This novel is available on "p𝑎wread.com".
"Daoist Zhu, Daoist Chen, there's really no suitable place here for a discussion, so let's just sit on the ground and talk about how to divide these two Rebirth Pills."
"Alright."
"That's exactly what I was thinking."
Zhu Xiaosuo, Chen Pusuo, and Shang Shan Qiusuo sat down together.
Shang Shan Qiusuo had a refined and scholarly appearance, seemingly from a family of literary tradition.
Chen Pusuo, on the other hand, had sharp features and was a handsome man.
The three of them had only two Rebirth Pills to divide.
This matter needed to be clarified.
"Since we've met by fate, let's first talk about our backgrounds," suggested Shang Shan Qiusuo.
"Alright."
"Sounds good."
"I'll go first. I'm from the Shang Shan family in the City of Seeking Immortality. My family mainly runs a money house business. The family head, Shang Shan Hezhi, is my father, and I'm the twenty-third in line."
Chen Pusuo asked after hearing this:
"I've been in the City of Seeking Immortality, but I haven't heard of the Shang Shan Money House."
"Our money house doesn't bear the family surname; it's called Ruoshui Money House."
"Ruoshui Money House? I've heard of it! It's an honor!"
Chen Pusuo quickly cupped his hands in salute.
Zhu Xiaosuo, having lived in Mountain Chicken County, hadn't seen much of the world.
He only knew of the Yang Clan Money House and hadn't heard of the Ruoshui Money House.
But judging by Chen Pusuo's reaction, the Shang Shan family must be quite influential in the City of Seeking Immortality.
"Daoist Chen, you're too kind."
Chen Pusuo said:
"I don't have as illustrious a background as Daoist Shang Shan. I'm the fourteenth in my family. My father was once an officer in the Shenwei Army and now runs a blacksmith shop in the City of Seeking Immortality."
"The Shenwei Army? That's the foremost of the five armies of the land of the Exiled Immortals. Your father being an officer there must be quite extraordinary!"
Shang Shan Qiusuo was also filled with respect upon hearing the name of the Shenwei Army.
Zhu Xiaosuo hadn't heard of the Shenwei Army, but from Shang Shan Qiusuo's reaction, it seemed Chen Pusuo also had a notable background.
Zhu Xiaosuo sighed; his own background was nothing to boast about.
But he couldn't remain silent.
"Compared to you two, I'm really not worth mentioning. I'm the head of the Zhu family in Immortal-Knocking Town, Mountain Chicken County. My parents have passed away, and I run a small business to make ends meet."
He expected to be looked down upon or comforted by the other two.
But to his surprise, Chen Pusuo and Shang Shan Qiusuo seemed to realize something upon hearing his introduction.
Their eyes widened simultaneously:
"You're the one from Mountain Chicken County with the surname Zhu?"
"You're Zhu Xiaosuo?"
Zhu Xiaosuo was a bit taken aback:
"Uh... didn't I already say my name is Zhu Xiaosuo?"
Chen Pusuo and Shang Shan Qiusuo exchanged glances, still a bit surprised.
"We were just dueling and didn't think much of it, but the name Zhu Xiaosuo sounded familiar. I didn't expect it to really be you, Daoist."
"Indeed, I was also too focused on the duel to realize. It wasn't until you mentioned you're the head of the Zhu family in Mountain Chicken County that I connected the dots."
Seeing the two becoming more intrigued by him, Zhu Xiaosuo asked in confusion:
"Have you two heard stories about me?"
Shang Shan Qiusuo clicked his tongue and said:
"Heard? I've heard plenty. My father made me listen on my knees. What about you, Daoist Chen?"
"Me? I listened lying down."
"Oh, why did you listen lying down, Brother Chen?"
"My father, after hearing about Daoist Zhu's deeds, thought I was a failure compared to him and beat me until I couldn't sit, so I had to listen lying down."
Seeing the camaraderie between the two, Zhu Xiaosuo felt uneasy.
The stories they heard about his glorious deeds were probably...
"Daoist Zhu, your name is well-known among the cultivators in the City of Seeking Immortality."
"Daoist Shang Shan is being modest. From the elders at the Humbling the Present Stage to newcomers who just took the Vein Opening Pill, everyone knows of Daoist Zhu's name."
Zhu Xiaosuo felt a bit dizzy upon hearing this:
"Why is that?"
Shang Shan Qiusuo patted Zhu Xiaosuo's shoulder:
"The greatest scourge of the Immortal Sect in the City of Seeking Immortality, Mission Elder Sun Qingde, who stood unchallenged for over a hundred years, was taken down by you."
Chen Pusuo also gave a thumbs up:
"Indeed, Daoist Zhu, you just joined the Immortal Sect and managed to use the Sect Rules, which Sun Qingde was most adept at manipulating, to defeat him. It's unprecedented and likely will never be repeated."
Zhu Xiaosuo, hearing this, felt no pride, only a headache.
"Ah, wasn't the Immortal Sect supposed to keep the Black Snow Ridge spirit collapse incident a secret?"
"With so many cultivators dead, how could it remain a secret? Only small, isolated places like local counties wouldn't know."
"..."
Zhu Xiaosuo was about to go crazy.
Even if the Immortal Sect announced the Black Snow Ridge incident, he thought he wouldn't attract attention.
He just expected to gain Ba Shanyue's favor.
Now things had developed far beyond his expectations.
His deeds had become household knowledge.
Does that mean everyone knows he's a cunning strategist who can manipulate Sect Rules?
How can he keep a low profile now?
How can he lay low?
It's all over!
As a small cultivator at the Rebirth Stage, will he have to live under the spotlight from now on?
He's just a small family head trying to survive and develop, not a web novel writer relying on popularity.
He doesn't want the attention!
In Mountain Chicken County, being stronger is better, but outside, being more discreet is advantageous.
From what Shang Shan Qiusuo and Chen Pusuo said, he's become a star in the City of Seeking Immortality?
How can this be good?
Thinking about his uncertain future, Zhu Xiaosuo couldn't help but cover his face.
It's too difficult.
"What am I going to do in the future?"
"You're worried about the future?"
"Huh, what do you mean?"
Shang Shan Qiusuo smiled and said:
"I mean, you don't have to worry about your future! Countless prominent families are ready with betrothal gifts, just waiting for the Immortal Sect to announce the Black Snow Ridge incident to propose to you. Ahem, my father seems to have prepared quite a few gifts for my sister too."
"Yes, my father is also planning to bring my sister to your house to marry you. Daoist Zhu, you might consider marrying into the Chen family."
"Daoist Chen, that's too much. I was hoping to become Daoist Zhu's brother-in-law."
"Wait, you two, hold on! Hold on!"
Zhu Xiaosuo quickly signaled for them to stop talking.
Every word was torture to him.
The more he listened, the more his head hurt.
"What is this? Proposals, marrying into families?"
"Is it hard to understand? It's literal. Those who want to marry you are from prestigious families. With strong women and weaker men, you'd be marrying into their families."
"But why? Why is everyone targeting me?"
Shang Shan Qiusuo said:
"Daoist Zhu, you're too modest. A young talent, famous throughout the city, with a clean background, a good man. Anyone who marries you would gain great prestige. Plus, in times of trouble, they could seek your counsel, having both face and substance."
Chen Pusuo agreed:
"Indeed, Daoist Zhu, you're now ranked first on the list of ideal sons-in-law for the daughters of major families in the City of Seeking Immortality. You know, many daughters from prominent cultivator clans have broken off previous engagements just to make room for you to marry in as the main husband."
"Daoist Zhu, you're now the dream meal of unmarried female cultivators and the mortal enemy of male cultivators marrying in."
Zhu Xiaosuo felt no joy upon hearing this.
He just wanted to curse.
His mind was filled with censored words.
Marrying in?
He's seen the dirty affairs in the backyards of cultivator clans at the Zhu family.
Zhu Xiaosuo waved his hands repeatedly:
"Impossible, I'm the head of the Zhu family, the sole heir. I would never agree to marry into another family!"
...