Chapter 422 - 244: Plotting in the Shadows, Lan Hao: Why Is It You Again

Their party was quite large. Steward Feng had already directed the others to spread out, taking special containers to collect the crimson, lava-like liquid from the ground.

"Mm." Lan Hao merely nodded at Meng Shiyu’s comforting words. He could handle the rest, but the grotesque appearance of those Netherworld Creatures was something he found truly difficult to stomach. Just one look made his skin crawl.

"I heard that not long ago, Junior Brother Lan’s rank on the Holy List jumped more than ten spots. That’s quite astonishing," Meng Shiyu remarked, a hint of admiration in his voice.

Lan Hao was somewhat surprised and replied instinctively, "It was just a fluke."

"Rankings are earned through sheer effort; there’s no such thing as a fluke," Meng Shiyu said, shaking his head.

’Even though I’m a direct descendant of the Lan Family, my Talent isn’t that outstanding. In the past, people like Meng Shiyu, who comes from a similarly powerful background, couldn’t be bothered with me. We’d barely exchanged a few words,’ Lan Hao grumbled to himself.

But this time seemed different. He had already struck up a conversation with him several times on this trip.

"The process of a Melting Holy Profession is a rare sight. It’s a good chance to gain experience for the future. Lord Yunting clearly has high hopes for you," Meng Shiyu said wistfully.

Lan Hao gave a bitter smile. "This opportunity only came about because my father wouldn’t stop pestering him. Old Ancestor Yunting can’t even be bothered to glance my way."

’This kid’s personality is nothing like the rumors,’ Meng Shiyu thought, surprised after just a brief exchange.

He had heard that while this Lan Hao wasn’t exactly tyrannical, he was known to be quite arrogant. This encounter, however, didn’t give him that impression at all.

He subtly glanced around and exchanged a look with Qin Tianlin before saying gently, "This Red Fire Flame Liquid is a rare material. Let’s go collect some, too."

Lan Hao grew even more surprised, a guess forming in his mind. ’It seems Meng Shiyu wants to talk to me about something.’

"Then I’ll have to trouble you, Senior Brother." After a brief hesitation, Lan Hao agreed. Meng Shiyu got two jars from Steward Feng, and they started walking away from the giant mountain.

"Senior Brother, is there something you wanted to say?"

Only when the others had vanished into the mist did Lan Hao ask cautiously.

Meng Shiyu smiled. "I heard that you, Wan Chen, and Lin Yue competed against Su Chen, but none of you were chosen in the end."

Hearing this, Lan Hao frowned, his voice growing cold. "What are you getting at, Senior Brother? It’s true that I’m not Su Chen’s match. Neither are Wan Chen or Lin Yue. Is there anything more to say?"

By now, losing to Su Chen was hardly a disgrace, and Lan Hao had grown quite frank about it.

"Don’t get me wrong," Meng Shiyu said, shaking his head. "You all had significant contact with Su Chen, and I just have a few questions."

Lan Hao finally understood. Meng Shiyu wanted to ask about Su Chen.

Currently, all the information about Su Chen within the Sect came from Qing Cang, amounting to only a few lines on paper—

Both parents deceased, mentally resolute... things of that nature.

It was hard to glean any real details from it.

"For example, what’s his Talent really like?" Meng Shiyu’s eyes flickered.

"Talent?" Lan Hao frowned slightly. He, too, had heard that Su Chen had become a Double Fifth Tier Professional, and it had shocked him for quite some time.

"Did any of you personally witness Su Chen’s Talent test?" Meng Shiyu pressed.

"Well..." Lan Hao hesitated. Testing a Talent was simple, but under normal circumstances, nobody would just grab a Talent Detection Device and force Su Chen to take a test.

"The claims about his Talent came from a local power on Red Thunder Star. We never saw him get tested at the beginning, either."

As Lan Hao thought back carefully, he realized that in the beginning, it had all been based on the one-sided claims of that guy, Chong Jingtian.

They hadn’t paid Su Chen much mind at first. By the time he actually appeared on their radar, the claim of his Dual Ink Jade Talent had already become widely accepted.

’Just as I thought. There’s something fishy here.’

Meng Shiyu scoffed inwardly. ’That old scoundrel Qing Cang is certainly meticulous.’

Hearing that Lan Hao and the others had never personally witnessed the test, he became certain that Qing Cang had falsified the information in order to deceive Venerable Qin Yun.

"Talent aside, what is he like as a person?" Meng Shiyu asked, changing the subject.

"As a person?" Lan Hao grew more confused. ’How am I supposed to answer that?’

"For example..." Meng Shiyu paused, then switched to communicating via mental transmission. "His specific experiences on Red Thunder Star, who he’s close to... whether he’s really as loyal and sentimental as they say..."

Meng Shiyu’s inquiry was gentle, but Lan Hao’s heart suddenly leaped. ’No wonder this guy is being so cautious, leading me so far away from everyone and even using a mental transmission.’

’This guy is planning to make a move against him!’

Lan Hao swallowed hard. In his eyes, Su Chen was now a bona fide Star Seed.

And here they were, discussing how to move against a Star Seed.

"No need to be nervous."

The two of them walked on, pausing occasionally. Meng Shiyu smiled and said nonchalantly, "I hear that since arriving at the Sect, Su Chen hasn’t met many people. Aside from resource exchanges, he’s seen Wan Chen a few times."

Lan Hao remained silent.

"He’s also met with Lin Yue once. You’re the only one who hasn’t gone to see him," Meng Shiyu continued.

"Your father and Wan Chen’s father are both vying for the position of Commander of the Church Army. Su Chen is on good terms with Wei Zhenghong, and Wei Zhenghong is Venerable Chu Lingyuan’s student..."

Lan Hao’s expression changed. He could, of course, understand the implications.

If Su Chen served as a connection point, and Chu Lingyuan intervened to help Wan Chen, his own father would almost certainly be defeated.

However... Lan Hao hesitated. This was just his nature. He had hesitated before when pointing out Hu Qi, and now, faced with the prospect of saying something detrimental to Su Chen, he was hesitating again.

Meng Shiyu grew impatient. ’This Lan Hao hasn’t sought out Su Chen a single time since he came back. He’s obviously not on good terms with him, so what is there to hesitate about?’

He was about to press him further when, at that very moment, a sudden ROAR echoed from afar.