Chapter 664: Chapter 657: Zhang Biao

Humans are social creatures.

Chen Hai had always engaged in solitary cultivation, and only a handful of people had ever dealt with him.

Although he did not recognize a single person who had already gathered in the valley, all of whom were utterly unfamiliar to him, wandering among the crowd and listening to the various discussions, he felt a peculiar kind of enjoyment.

“Brother, which hall are you from? You look a bit unfamiliar, are you here to participate in the Sect’s grand competition?”

A young man, scrawny and frail with constantly darting eyes, carrying a large wooden chest on his back, proactively approached him, trying to cozy up with that remark.

“I am merely an Outer Sect Disciple, I haven’t been in the Bloodthirsty Sect for very long, so it’s normal that you don’t recognize me!” Chen Hai stopped in his tracks, examined the young man before him for a few moments, and responded with a smile.

Unsolicited favors are suspect; one might be a swindler or a thief—this was a saying of truth coined by the ancients.

This frail youth, who deliberately sought closeness with him, must have had some ulterior motive.

However, Chen Hai did not take it to heart.

After all, in the face of absolute strength, any conspiracy or trickery would instantly be crushed to dust.

He had come here with a certain playful intention, and he was rather interested to see what this frail youth, who struck up a conversation with him, was really after!

“An Outer Sect Disciple? I see!”

Hearing Chen Hai’s response, the frail youth named Zhang Biao grinned and continued, “My name is Zhang Biao, an Inner Sect Disciple. You can call me Senior Brother Zhang.”

“If I’m not guessing wrong, you must have come to the valley’s competition to get a glimpse of the world, right?”

“For the twenty Sect geniuses with a chance to secure a place, I have all the information here. Do you want to buy a copy for reference?”

As he spoke, the young man opened the wooden chest he was carrying and took out a thick stack of booklets.

Before Chen Hai could even speak, Zhang Biao had already begun promoting on his own: “This is the ten-year archive, which contains detailed information on the ten elite disciples who have a chance to compete for the top three spots. For only one hundred Spirit Coins, you can take one home.”

“This one’s the twenty-year archive, the thirty-year archive… All these booklets are the same price, one hundred Spirit Coins each.”

“If you want all the booklets, I can offer you a discount; you only need five hundred Spirit Coins to take them all.”

After introducing the booklets in his hand, the frail youth Zhang Biao assumed a mysterious air. He moved closer to Chen Hai and lowered his voice deliberately: “Additionally, I’ll tell you a secret.”

“See that crowd gathering in the northwest corner? Just between you and me, there are several brothers opening a betting pool there.”

“Among the many disciples participating in the grand competition, if you fancy someone, you can place bets directly there.”

“If you’re lucky enough to hit a big upset with astronomical odds, you could suddenly become rich overnight and never worry about cultivation resources again.”

As he spoke, Zhang Biao deliberately patted the booklets in his hand.

After all, if Chen Hai really intended to gamble a few bets, then these booklets were definitely crucial reference materials, practically indispensable.

“Betting isn’t necessary, but give me a complete set of those booklets in your hand!”

After listening to Zhang Biao finish his talk, Chen Hai nodded, casually took out five hundred Spirit Coins, and handed them over to him.

That amount of Spirit Coins meant little to him.

He was indeed somewhat interested in the information on the booklets, and he naturally wouldn’t mind spending a bit of money to casually browse the content they recorded.

“Make way, don’t block the path!”

“Is it you again, Zhang Biao? Who gave you permission to peddle information for profit without our consent?”

A sudden shout rang out, and from not too far away, a young man dressed in white gently fanned himself as he slowly approached, surrounded by a group of people.

Seeing Zhang Biao, the youth in white halted his steps and stopped.

Folding his fan, he gently pointed in the direction of Chen Hai and Zhang Biao.

Immediately, the lackeys surrounding the youth in white rushed over. Several of them kicked Zhang Biao to the ground, then snatched the booklet from his hand along with the wooden box he was carrying and burned it all to ashes.

“Gentlemen, Sect rules strictly prohibit private fights. Here, at the Sect’s grand competition grounds, to lay hands directly on a fellow Sect member—don’t you think that’s going too far?”

Holding his head, Zhang Biao curled up on the ground like a dead dog.

On the side, Chen Hai could hardly stand to watch. Pointing his finger at those who had just made their move, he sternly questioned them.

“What, you have a problem?”

“Debts must be paid; it’s only right. Zhang Biao owes us a hundred thousand Spirit Coins. Just burning his booklet and kicking him—that’s letting him off easy!”

“You want to stand up for him? Pay off his debt first!”

Chen Hai said nothing, and no one bothered him. The moment he spoke up, however, the group that had just returned to the side of the youth in white immediately focused their attention on him.

One of them, a scar-faced youth, rolled his eyes disdainfully, surveyed Chen Hai, and spat viciously onto the ground.

“Kid, I’ll remember you!”

The youth in white at the center carried himself with a superior air, his face filled with scorn as his gaze swept over Chen Hai.

“Let’s go. Today is the Sect’s grand competition. Try to cause as little trouble as possible!” He then signaled to those beside him, and they all walked leisurely toward the valley.

Watching them leave, Chen Hai’s brows knitted slightly, but after a moment’s hesitation, he ultimately chose not to say any more.

After all, he had no real connection with that Zhang Biao; he had merely bought a few booklets from him, and there was really no need to take it upon himself to stand up for him.

Besides, today’s grand competition at the Bloodthirsty Sect was also to select his own named disciples, and in such a circumstance, he did not want to create an unmanageable situation.

“Junior Brother, I’m sorry for involving you!”

“These people—we can’t afford to provoke them. You heard what Shang Yunfeng said when he left!”

“While they still don’t know who you are, you’d better get away quickly, or you’ll suffer later on!”

Zhang Biao, now back on his feet and with an apologetic face, sighed deeply and advised Chen Hai.

“What, those guys are that formidable?”

“I just couldn’t stand what they were doing and said one word to them. Are they planning to take revenge on me later?”

Shrugging nonchalantly with a light chuckle, Chen Hai replied.

“Among the booklets I just sold to you, the one at the top of the list—that’s that youth in white, Shang Yunfeng. Tell me, isn’t he formidable?”

Rolling his eyes, Zhang Biao continued: “My entire Zhang Family, eighteen souls, were all killed by him. I’m the only one left, barely clinging to life.”

“The hatred between him and me is insurmountable; there’s no possibility of reconciliation.”

“Originally, I changed my name and joined the Bloodthirsty Sect, hoping to acquire the skills and then consider taking revenge.”

“Unfortunately, shortly after I advanced to Inner Sect Disciple, Shang Yunfeng discovered my identity.”

“Due to Sect rules, inside the Sect gates, he dares not kill me directly. However, he makes life difficult for me at every turn.”

“But this is my personal matter, nothing to do with you. Listen to me, you’d better leave quickly!”

…

Zhang Biao continued to plead earnestly with the Chen Hai before him.