Big Data Cultivation

Chapter 270: Chapter 270: The Blockade of News (Vote for Monthly Pass)

“`

Feng Jun traversed between two planes, and this was the first time he had been invited to join the “Band of Braves.”

Although he liked to be sophisticated, he couldn’t resist such a temptation and eventually agreed, albeit reluctantly—after all, it was just an advisory role, which wouldn’t affect his main tasks.

It must be said that despite Lord Beiyuan’s appearance being the epitome of a righteous gentleman, with an aura that was majestic and unyielding, he had a way of ingratiating himself with others, making them feel as if basking in the spring breeze without any sense of annoyance.

Otherwise, he could not have won over the Yongyi Duke’s Princely Heir, which showed that his methods were not ordinary in the least.

After the agreement was reached, Lord Beiyuan excused himself, stating he would send Brother Bao over as soon as possible to fulfill the promise.

Then, Magistrate Han approached, seemingly having heard the rumors about Feng Jun. He bowed his hands in greeting, his expression quite strange, “Feng… this Divine Doctor, I spoke impulsively just now, and I offended you.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Feng Jun waved his hand dismissively, truly unable to harbor any ill feelings toward the other man, and thus didn’t bother to make an issue out of it.

But Magistrate Han did not wish to leave it at that. There were things he needed to clarify and, at the same time, he made an effort to ingratiate himself, “Previously, when the Yongyi Duke’s Princely Heir mentioned purchasing land, in my view, it was indeed permitted by law… Of course, your land should not be sold.”

Feng Jun rolled his eyes helplessly, “Listen to me, I really wasn’t intending to pursue the matter, wouldn’t it be nice if everyone could get along just like before after this?”

“Go back to how things were before?” Magistrate Han let out a wry smile, shaking his head helplessly and whispering, “That’s easier said than done… We really can’t go back.”

“What’s with all this ‘can’t go back’?” Feng Jun snorted disdainfully, but thinking about the bothersome matters that might surround him afterward, he felt somewhat overwhelmed. He then jerked his chin upward, “Go, call the Princely Heir over.”

Some matters needed to be formally discussed.

The Princely Heir arrived swiftly, not daring to bring many people with him, only that eunuch at his side.

Feng Jun sized him up, lit a cigarette, and then ordered Tian Yangni, “Bring over two chairs.”

The Tian Family members were quick to respond. In little more than a dozen breaths, two chairs and a small tea table were brought over, with someone else going to fetch tea.

Feng Jun nonchalantly took a seat. Seeing this, the Princely Heir moved toward the other chair—while an Immortal held high status, he should be the most prestigious amongst those present, aside from the Immortals.

“Stop,” Feng Jun said coldly, “Did I say you could sit?”

The Princely Heir turned around, his face flushed with shame and anger. But at this point, he truly didn’t dare to act rashly and could only stammer in explanation, “Both of these chairs… were brought by me.”

“My generator almost became yours too,” Feng Jun sneered and turned to address someone, “You… please have a seat.”

The one invited was none other than Miss Yu’s transformed brother, disguised as a middle-aged person.

She glanced at him, hesitated for a moment, and then gracefully seated herself, her face betraying no emotion.

The Princely Heir’s face grew even redder, and he even clenched his fist quietly but quickly released it, fearing to be seen.

Feng Jun ignored him, leisurely smoking his cigarette. After a few puffs, the Tian Family Disciples also brought over the teapot.

He began to drink from the teapot, without offering to any of the others.

Miss Yu frowned at him but said nothing.

After taking a few sips of tea, Feng Jun felt he had set the scene properly, leaving the other party hanging long enough, and then looked up at the Princely Heir, “Tell me again, this is not your Spirit Stone?”

While speaking, he fished out the dulled Spirit Stone from his pocket and tossed it in the air.

The Princely Heir’s mouth twitched slightly, thinking to himself that indeed it wasn’t his Spirit Stone, but rather, someone else had entrusted him with a task and given him half a Spirit Stone.

But such sophistry wasn’t necessary right now as he didn’t want to further provoke Feng Jun.

“See, I knew you wouldn’t be so bold now,” Feng Jun scoffed contemptuously, “You have no backbone, what kind of Princely Heir are you… In my opinion, you’re nothing but dogshit!”

The Princely Heir’s face became even more flushed, but still, he remained silent.

“You think keeping quiet means nothing’s wrong?” Feng Jun huffed coldly, “I’m very curious, though, the Princely Heir of the prestigious Prince’s Mansion actually colluding with those thieves and rats from the Wonderful Hand Pavilion… What would people think if I spread the word about this?”

The Princely Heir could no longer endure it and growled lowly, “Damn that Lord Beiyuan!”

Such detailed information could only have been leaked by Lord Beiyuan just now.

“Look at that, the nature of the Ducal Heir,” Feng Jun ridiculed with a sneer, “blaming the one who exposes the misdeed while he himself colludes with bandits…”

He turned to the eunuch, speaking seriously, “I hope you suggest to the prince that this Princely Heir is really not suitable… He must be replaced, otherwise the Duke’s Mansion will be ruined in his hands.”

He didn’t know that the words “must be replaced” had truly hit the Princely Heir’s sore spot.

The Princely Heir instantly calmed down, eerily calm, his complexion gradually turning from red to white. He took a deep breath, “I am willing to compensate, if you could tell me what you want here… perhaps I have a way.”

“`

Actually, he had already figured it out; his impulsiveness may have disrupted the plans of the Immortal, but there was no doubt that this Immortal lingered without leaving for a reason.

As a mortal, he certainly wasn’t qualified to interfere in the affairs of Immortals, but as the eldest son of a duke, he might still serve a useful role when it comes to matters of The Mortal Realm.

Feng Jun, upon hearing this, was unexpectedly impressed with him, taking another look. This young man wasn’t entirely a wastrel, and actually knew how to curry favor.

Then thinking of Wu Limin, he felt reassured. Indeed, the offspring raised in large households did have their merits.

He found it restrictive to go about his business here, but with a Ducal Heir stepping in, it could bring many conveniences.

So he started by scowling and saying, “Any further plans I had are now ruined because of you.”

“Not necessarily,” the Princely Heir replied with surprise at being able to negotiate. He immediately shook his head decisively and glanced sideways at the eunuch, trying out a statement cautiously, “I’ve already warned them not to spread the word about what happened here.”

Feng Jun, resigned, smacked his lips and looked at the other with an eye that one might give to an idiot, “Are warnings effective? Great Ancestor also warned you not to bully the common people, did you heed that?”

Yet, the Princely Heir directly ignored the ridicule and, smiling, responded, “Your Excellency is unaware; with someone of your stature involved, warnings do work. Similar incidents have occurred in Donghua not just once or twice.”

Feng Jun was skeptical of his claims and turned to glance at Lang Zhen, giving him a questioning look.

But Lang Zhen nodded in agreement, “What he said is not wrong. When there are legends, few dare to venture forth, and the officials must actively dispel rumors, or else the trouble will be great.”

Feng Jun mulled this over and realized it made sense. Although many had confirmed his identity as an Immortal today, most were from the Official Government. The majority of the onlookers were there for the spectacle.

Officials, in general, would indeed have to be cautious. Feng Jun asked himself, if he were an official and an Immortal appeared in his jurisdiction, his first response would certainly be to understand the Immortal’s needs.

If the Immortal indicated that he didn’t want the news to spread, the local officials would suppress the information.

It couldn’t be helped. No one dared provoke the wrath of an Immortal, and local officials, being closest to the Immortal, would be the easiest targets.

And as for someone hearing rumors and coming to seek apprenticeship? Heh, such a possibility didn’t exist!

Don’t think too highly of local officials; in their desperation, they might even block roads and forbid entry!

Defy them? Try forcing your way through a checkpoint and watch how the officials teach you a lesson.

Even in the Earth Realm, politicians who lie through their teeth are not uncommon, adamantly denying the existence of Immortals in their district, just like how some were absolutely sure Saddam had weapons of mass destruction—what’s the essential difference?

Once Feng Jun realized this, his mood improved somewhat, and he set his terms, “Since you can’t produce a hundred Immortal Crystals, bring some Immortal Arrays as compensation, and they must be of at least today’s caliber.”

The Princely Heir’s eyes went wide in astonishment, “You… why would you be in need of such things?”

As far as he knew, the Immortal Arrays produced by Wonderful Hand Pavilion weren’t of a high caliber, just slightly better than the most basic ones.

Of course, for both Wonderful Hand Pavilion and the Princely Heir, these were already rare treasures, but that didn’t change what they essentially were.

The Princely Heir was curious, after all, being an Immortal meant breaking such formations would be effortless, so why would you want such rubbish?

Upon hearing these words, Lang Zhen scoffed and took a step forward, “Impudence, how dare you speak to the Divine Doctor in such a manner?”

The middle-aged eunuch also stepped forward diagonally, though he only gathered energy for defense and dared not take action.

But the Princely Heir was filled with many emotions. When had his people ever rebuked Feng Jun like this?

In fact, even in the capital, apart from his royal cousins, he had behaved this way towards most others—”How dare you speak to me like that? Have you no sense of respect and inferiority?”

Now, at last, it was his turn to be scolded by someone else.

Feng Jun gestured to stop Lang Zhen, then spoke indifferently, “You have no Spirit Stones… If I take an Immortal Array, I can exchange it for Spirit Stones, understand?”

“Snacks?” the Princely Heir’s face showed complete confusion. After hesitating, he attempted, “If you’d like some delicacies, I brought a chef with me from home.”

Feng Jun, exasperated, slapped his forehead, “I’m talking about Spirit Stones, what you call Immortal Crystals… Understand now?”

He decided to standardize the terminology of this plane; otherwise communication would be too troublesome.

“So it can be exchanged for Immortal Crystals,” the Princely Heir nodded as if suddenly understanding, then smiled bitterly, “But Immortal Arrays… I don’t have any at all. The only Golden Armor Charm I had was staked to Lone Wolf.”

Lone Wolf snorted, “We won that fair and square. If you had won, wouldn’t we have to pay you twenty?”

The Princely Heir was close to tears: Being an Immortal, even if you lose a bet, you could default on the debt.

(I’m nearly done with stuff on hand; a vote with your monthly ticket would be a great motivation for Feng Xiao to add more chapters.)