Chapter 70 Entering the Fraud Group

"There’s also this rule?" "Of course, this is to show respect to our sect’s predecessors—to worship them with a clean body." Lu Zhong spoke with confidence, though in truth, the Eight Clouds Hall had no such rule. The whole bathing and changing clothes idea was just an excuse to get Jiang Cheng to voluntarily remove his storage ring. Outside the hall, Qi Cang had been waiting for a long time. Meanwhile, within the surrounding mountains, Ling Yi and his trusted experts were also lying in ambush, ready to intercept. Everyone was waiting for the moment the ring came off. Once they got their hands on that storage ring containing the Tier Nine Spirit Talisman, they’d have accomplished their mission. "Oh." Jiang Cheng nodded in understanding, then said, "Then, I won’t need it." "Huh?" "Why?" At this moment, not only Lu Zhong but even Qi Cang and Ling Yi wanted to directly ask him. Don’t you understand, ’When in Rome, do as the Romans do’? "I’m already perfectly clean, no need to wash." Kidding, the Celestial Desolation Indestructible Body has an automatic dust-removing effect every day. Besides, Brother Cheng is always good with personal hygiene. "But, the ritual of bathing and changing clothes is best to be observed..." Brother Cheng impatiently interrupted him, "They’re your ancestors, not mine. If you love bathing, go ahead—what does it have to do with me?" Lu Zhong had no words left. He was angry, so angry he wanted to slam Jiang Cheng to the ground. But he knew that if he kept pushing it, this kid would surely turn his back on everything and leave. It seemed relying on such a small tactic to trick him into removing the ring wasn’t going to work. They could only hope for the next step. "Yes, yes, if Sect Leader Jiang does not wish to, then that’s that." "It’s still early. As per tradition, guests usually wait in the Tongming Hall for the ceremony to start. I’ll lead Sect Leader Jiang there..." This was indeed a genuine tradition. It’s just that the waiting spot wasn’t in the Tongming Hall, but in the Everlasting Hall. Anyway, there was no way that kid would know the truth. Over at the Tongming Hall, Qi Cang’s trusted gang had already set the traps. "Then lead the way." Dammit, really treating this old man, a First Layer Celestial Fate, as a pathfinder! Lu Zhong gritted his teeth, continuing to act with patience. The two soon arrived at the Tongming Hall in the main peak hall complex. Upon entering, Jiang Cheng saw dozens of people seated on both sides of the hall. Each was young, either handsome or beautiful. As he walked in, these people stopped talking and looked over curiously. "Elder Lu, who is this?" "Oh, this is Jiang Cheng, the Sect Leader of Feixian Sect!" Lu Zhong introduced him with great importance, then someone stood up to make small talk. "So it’s Sect Leader Jiang, a pleasure to meet you!" Lu Zhong discreetly nodded; their acting was decent. This group consisted of 25 people, including 11 True Disciples and 14 Inner Sect Elite Disciples, all core members of Qi Cang’s faction. They were waiting here entirely to cooperate with the plot, trying every means to trick the storage ring into their hands. Brother Cheng was like a lone outsider in a fraud group, surrounded by swindlers. "Come, come, let me introduce you, Sect Leader Jiang." "This is Xu Xing, ranked eighth among our sect’s True Disciples!" "And this is Li Yehong, ranked twelfth among our sect’s True Disciples..." He blabbered on with the introductions, doing ample facade work. Brother Cheng didn’t bother remembering their names, knowing they’d all be complicit at the Eight Clouds Hall’s final act against him. "You are all young heroes of your generation, you should get closer to each other." After Lu Zhong left, the atmosphere became awkward. In their bones, this group looked down on a Sect Leader from a small place. While cooperating with the act for the plan, they still held airs of superiority. They expected Jiang Cheng to lick up to them and initiate conversation. Unaware, Brother Cheng was just here to watch the show in his mindset. What conspiracy do you have? Quickly reveal it; Brother Cheng is a bit curious! Let’s see your performance... As it was growing awkwardly silent, Xu Xing had to break the ice himself. "Sect Leader Jiang, just waiting around is quite dull, how about playing a little game with us?" A little game? Are they finally going to make a move? Jiang Cheng was a bit expectant. "What game?" "Including Sect Leader Jiang, there are 26 of us; everyone puts their storage rings on the table. The previous person guesses what’s in the next person’s storage ring." This was a pre-rehearsed plan all along, aimed at tricking Jiang Cheng into handing over his storage ring. "If they guess correctly, the next person must give that guessed item to the previous person. If they guess wrong, the previous person must give the said item to the next person." "To be fair, I’ll act as an arbiter. Each round, I’ll check if the guessed item is truly in the storage ring; does anyone object?" This game hinged on this point. The rings would pass through Xu Xing’s hands. Once he got Jiang Cheng’s storage ring, the plan would be considered successful. Li Yehong quickly nodded and smiled, "Senior Brother Xu is known for his fairness. With you as arbiter, I fully support it." The other disciples had rehearsed many times and eagerly got into their roles, expressing agreement. "With Senior Brother Xu arbitrating, we couldn’t be more at ease." "Indeed, start quickly!" "Senior Brother Xu, you must check carefully!" They said this while quickly placing their storage rings on the table. Jiang Cheng couldn’t help but want to mock them on the spot, your acting is way too fake. A group of cultivators inexplicably says they want to play a game, without any buildup—it’s extremely abrupt. Then everyone responds unanimously, without the slightest doubt; could it be any more fake? Can’t you have some dedication to acting quality? The whole scene is full of insiders! "Sect Leader Jiang, don’t you want to participate?" Seeing Jiang Cheng not responding, Xu Xing was getting anxious. The so-called game was designed to trap him; if he didn’t join, how could they proceed? Before Brother Cheng could respond, Li Yehong and the others preemptively began using the Provocation Technique as per their backup plan. "Is Sect Leader Jiang afraid to play? Afraid to lose?" "A dignified Sect Leader afraid to lose? Seriously?" "Understandable, Feixian Sect probably doesn’t produce much, Sect Leader Jiang might be worried his ring’s contents are too shabby..." "No worries, Sect Leader Jiang, I’ll cover your losses, it’s just for fun!" "If even with this you still dare not, then we have nothing more to say." This Provocation Technique was so awkward it made Jiang Cheng cringe for them. Not because of their snide remarks, mainly because their acting wasn’t good enough. Too eager, too deliberate. Brother Cheng hadn’t even refused yet, why provoke unnecessarily? How could anyone fall into this trap with such bad acting—it left him mentally exhausted. "Since you all insist, I’ll reluctantly join in." It takes a truly honest and kind-hearted person like me to agree, right? Xu Xing was overjoyed, giving Brother Cheng a thumbs-up. "Great, Sect Leader Jiang is indeed magnanimous!" Then, the gaze of him and everyone else turned blank. Jiang Cheng reached into his pocket and pulled out another ring to place on the table. This... What they wanted was the ring on Jiang Cheng’s finger, identified by Lu Zhong himself, as the one containing the Tier Nine Spirit Talisman. As for any other ring, it held no value at all! "Come on, let’s start. Who goes first?" Jiang Cheng still didn’t know they were after his storage ring, but the ring on his finger did contain quite a few spirit stones and spirit pills. He wasn’t willing to lose it to this bunch. So, he pulled out a different ring. The ring fished from his pocket had earlier given a bunch of spirit stones and pills to Luo Yuan and others for cultivation. It’s empty now, with nothing inside it.