On the Path to Immortality, Mastering All Arts Chapter Eleven: Exchanging Leverage

Li Feng’s room was as simple and tidy as always. Aside from the table, chairs, and bed, there was nothing else.

Hong Ling sat down gracefully and began to inquire about his well-being. "You have been at Biyan Hall for quite a while now. Are you finding your living arrangements satisfactory?"

"Thanks to the care of all the sisters here, it feels just like home. I am very comfortable," Li Feng replied, answering only what was asked and never offering a word more.

"Have you considered what you might do in the future?" Hong Ling asked, probing indirectly while keeping a close eye on his every word and action.

"I haven't thought that far ahead yet."

"I remember when you first arrived, you said you were a wanderer with no family."

"Yes, my only sister was murdered by a wicked person." Li Feng knew she was setting the stage, so he offered a piece of information at the right moment to advance the conversation.

"Could you tell me about your sister?" Hong Ling seized the lead, pressing further.

"It is shameful to admit, but as her brother, I was incompetent. I let the evildoer escape justice, and they have yet to face the retribution they deserve."

"Who harmed your sister?"

"A cultivation sect. It is not worth mentioning." Having said this, Li Feng waited silently for her to take the bait.

As expected, Hong Ling followed up. "If I am not mistaken, the cultivation sect you are referring to is the Sky Crane Sect, is it not?"

Li Feng feigned surprise. "How did you know, Sister Hong?"

Hong Ling smiled softly. With the pieces falling into place, she felt a sense of certainty. "I also know that you are actually a cultivator who understands the art of alchemy."

This was exactly what Li Feng was waiting for. He did his best to look nervous and panicked, stepping back several paces. "Who on earth are you? What do you want?"

Seeing his anxiety, Hong Ling became even more convinced of her judgment. "I am merely a mortal for now, so you need not be afraid."

"I have never leaked any information about my identity. How did you discover the clues, Sister Hong?" Li Feng sat back down and drank a cup of hot tea to suppress a smile.

Everything was going according to plan. Once the Tianqi lineage learned of his identity as an alchemist, they would certainly want to win him over; otherwise, they wouldn't have sent Hong Ling to waste her breath in the middle of the night.

So long as they were interested in an alliance, the plan was a success.

"Before I answer your question, shouldn't you tell me your real name?" Hong Ling remained calm, convinced she had the young man in the palm of her hand.

"My real name is Li Feng. To escape the pursuit of the Sky Crane Sect, I was forced to hide my identity and take refuge here at Biyan Hall. I hope you will not take offense, Sister Hong." Li Feng bowed in apology. This was the truth. Before reaching the Golden Core stage, he had to remain hidden to avoid detection by the Sky Crane Sect.

"So, the bloody war between the two sects was triggered by you." Hong Ling was overjoyed, believing she held a trump card over him. With a talented alchemist like him working for the Tianqi, their future rise would be much faster.

"Sister Hong hasn't told me yet—how did you see through my disguise?" Li Feng had to play his part well; he dared not slacken on the details for fear of raising her suspicion again.

"You may not know this, but I am the princess of the former Tianqi Kingdom. In this city, I have many informants."

Li Feng pretended to have a sudden realization. "I have only been to the Spirit Herb Hall recently. Could it be that the shopkeeper..."

Hong Ling nodded with a smile. "Exactly. Uncle Fu is one of my Tianqi kin. He recognized the storage pouch you were using. It just so happened that when Cuicui took that pouch out of your room, I ran into it."

"No wonder I was discovered despite my precautions. I am truly impressed, Sister Hong," Li Feng said with a bow.

"You flatter me. At first, I wasn't certain of your true identity, but after the Sky Crane Sect cultivator was killed, I concluded that you were not one of them."

That day, after killing the Sky Crane Sect cultivator and returning to Biyan Hall, Li Feng had intentionally left behind traces to help Hong Ling determine his position. Every step he took was designed to make her believe he was a candidate worth recruiting.

"Sister Hong, I only came to Biyan Hall to hide from disaster; I have no malicious intent." He offered, "Take these one hundred spirit stones as a token of my apology. When the sun rises, I will find another place to stay and will certainly not cause you any more trouble."

A normal person would try to flee as far as possible after their secret was exposed. Li Feng wanted to carve the image of being completely harmless into Hong Ling’s mind.

Hong Ling refused the spirit stones; she didn't care about such trifles. "Li Feng, I exposed your identity not to drive you away."

"Then what is your intention, Sister Hong?"

"Both of us carry the weight of hatred and share a common enemy. Why not work together and support one another?"

"How would we cooperate?"

"You possess the art of alchemy, and I have a wealth of spiritual materials. If you are willing, your cultivation will progress rapidly."

"That sounds good, but..." Li Feng looked hesitant.

"If you have any concerns, feel free to speak them."

"Sister Hong, I am afraid that if my identity is exposed, it will implicate you and the influence behind you." This sounded like kindness, but it was actually a subtle jab at Hong Ling. What Li Feng was truly worried about was her using this leverage to threaten him in the future.

Hong Ling was sharp and shrewd; how could she not understand his implication? "You are afraid that I will inform the Sky Crane Sect of your identity in exchange for rewards, aren't you?"

"I naturally trust your character, Sister Hong, but one can never be too careful of villains."

"Speak your mind. I am inviting you with sincerity, so you can set your heart at ease." Hong Ling realized that this seemingly simple and honest young man was not simple at all; he was quite deep and calculating.

"Sister Hong, I trust you completely. However, that Liu Tianci intends to harm you in secret, and I simply cannot stand by and watch." Li Feng’s words were abrupt; they had been discussing cooperation, yet he suddenly brought up Liu Tianci.

Hong Ling seemed to guess something and asked cautiously, "How does Liu Tianci intend to harm me?"

"Sister Hong, look—this is the 'Widow’s Poison' that Liu Tianci forced me to accept. His intentions are truly vicious. If he is not removed, it will be hard to quell the hatred in your heart!" Li Feng spoke with force, his display of righteous indignation enough to move anyone.

Hong Ling watched his performance quietly, understanding the hidden meaning behind his words. It was, in fact, an exchange of equivalent leverage. She knew his true identity, so he naturally needed to have something on her. Only in this way could they check and balance each other without falling into a passive position.

Killing Liu Tianci was clearly good leverage. Once Liu Tianci was dead, his father, a Foundation Establishment stage nine cultivator, would inevitably hunt down the killer. As the only person in the know, Li Feng could hand over the evidence of the murder at any time.

This boy had a clever plan indeed; he must have been a master abacus in his past life.

Li Feng stopped talking and waited for Hong Ling’s reply. He was certain she would agree. This was the confidence of a nineteen-year-old high-grade first-tier alchemist. Any typical faction, unaware of his potential lifespan, would inevitably spare no effort to cultivate him. To say nothing of the long term, within the Guiyuan Kingdom alone, a nineteen-year-old high-grade first-tier alchemist had infinite potential, enough to elevate a family's foundation by several levels.