I Was Forced To Marry The Phoenix Empress-Chapter 165: Meeting Again
"Indeed, along with that, your status as an inner disciple will also make it easier for me to convince the two gatekeeping elders to allow you into the treasury, who are known to be quite rigid.
Earlier, it would have taken me almost a month to convince them and fulfil your request, but with your changed status along with your latest achievements, it’s just a matter of informing them, and the permission will be granted within the same day."
Feng Haoran explained with a reliable smile.
In reality, this was also the main reason why Feng Haoran had suggested the matter of changing Yi Chen’s status to the elders in the first place.
’With him being an inner disciple, those old fools won’t have any reason to reject or delay...’ Feng Haoran thought to himself.
Hearing this, Yi Chen’s excitement doubled as he immediately stood up from his seat and bowed to him respectfully.
"I’m extremely grateful for the Patriarch’s consideration."
"Don’t mind, it’s only natural for me to do these things for you," Feng Haoran waved his hand as if it was not a big deal, but, in his heart, he was immensely satisfied with Yi Chen’s actions.
Hearing this, Yi Chen still kept a grateful expression on his face while taking his seat. However, in his mind, a different set of thoughts was going on.
’If even the patriarch has to take so many steps to convince the gatekeeping elders, then doesn’t that mean...’ Yi Chen’s mood brightened when he thought of all the items that might be waiting for him inside the clan’s treasury.
Initially, he had thought that most of the items worth having would have already been taken or sold by the patriarch or the corrupt elders under him, but hearing what he had just said...had given Yi Chen hope, a hope of striking it rich!
Step!
Step!
Step!
Feng Haoran was about to mention a few other benefits to Yi Chen when his attention was piqued by the sound of distinct, steady steps that were coming towards him from behind.
With a frown on his face, Feng Haoran turned around and saw three cultivators who were making their way towards him.
Yi Chen’s attention was also attracted by the sudden changes as his gaze went past Feng Haoran’s figure and fell on the three cultivators who were approaching them.
"This..." Yi Chen couldn’t help but raise his brows the next instant.
Among the three cultivators, two were men at the First Level of Core Building Stage. Just this fact alone was awe-inducing, but Yi Chen’s surprise wasn’t directed towards their high cultivation bases.
Instead, what caused Yi Chen to raise his eyebrows in surprise was the woman who was walking in between the two Core Building Stage cultivators and was confidently making her way towards them.
Dressed in a violet qipao, her long, slender legs exposed themselves with each step as a soul-stirring scent of lavender soon spread all around.
Roused by the fragrant smell, even the cultivators who were sitting in the front rows turned their heads towards the source, only to be left mesmerised by the face that came into view.
Meanwhile, Feng Haoran, along with nearby elders, soon identified the woman who was in the middle and immediately stood up in an anxious panic to greet her.
"G-Greetings, Madam Gao,"
They all greeted simultaneously when Gao Zhen finally came to a stop just a few steps away from the patriarch.
Feng Haoran, too, did the same. In front of Gao Zhen’s identity, his paltry status as the patriarch was nothing but a joke.
At the same time, doubts began to develop in his mind.
’Just why would Madam Gao visit us? She’s never done so in the past...’
Even though his mind was filled with doubts, Feng Haoran didn’t dare to raise his head and waited for her response.
However, instead of responding to his greetings, she first momentarily glanced towards Yi Chen, who had a surprised expression on his face.
Seeing his reaction, an amused smirk formed on her face as she finally turned towards Feng Haoran and greeted him back.
"Greetings, Patriarch Feng Haoran, you may rise."
It was only when he heard those words that Feng Haoran dared to raise his head.
With a charming smile on her face, she continued, "Congratulations on rising to the first rank. Here’s a small gift from the Red Velvet Pavilion to congratulate the Feng Clan for this achievement."
When Gao Zhen finished her words, the storage ring on her finger shone subtly, and a thin wooden case with a glass cover at its top appeared in her hands.
Inside the glass cover was laced with white silk, and in the middle of the cloth, a red card with golden engravings was neatly resting.
The next second, she handed it over to Feng Haoran while saying.
"I hope these ten thousand high-grade spirit stones would greatly aid the Feng clan in ramping up the developmental progress since the resources from the Imperial family will still need some time to be officially sanctioned."
"This..." an expression of disbelief formed not only on Feng Haoran’s expression but also on every other member of the clan who was paying attention to this exchange.
’Ten thousand high-grade stones?!’ Yi Chen’s eyes widened in shock when he heard this huge number of high-grade spirit stones.
Meanwhile, traces of doubts and hesitation began taking root in the minds of the Patriarch and the other nearby elders.
’We don’t have any good relations with the Red Velvet Pavilion, so why would they suddenly invest so much into our clan...’
Even though they were now first in the major rankings with the quality of cultivators they currently possessed, Feng Haoran and the elders found it unlikely for a behemoth like the Red Velvet Pavilion to show its interest towards them.
Seeing the tightly knit brows of Feng Haoran, Gao Zhen was able to understand what was going through his mind, so the next moment, she decided to answer those doubts.
Turning towards Yi Chen, she greeted him with a charming smile on her face.
"We meet again, Young Master Chen,"
"Greetings, Madam Gao," Yi Chen greeted the next moment.
Seeing the two Core Building Stage guards next to her, he couldn’t help but feel more pressured than usual. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢
’To use two Core Building Stage experts as bodyguards...how extravagant!’ he thought in his mind while bowing.
The very next instant, he sensed a probing sensation run through his body, making him tilt his head up in confusion.
When he did so, his eyes met Gao Zhen’s.
The smile on her face greatly widened the next moment as she said, "Young Master Chen is a man full of surprises.
Just a few months ago, you were a complete novice who had just stepped into the First Meridian Refinement Stage and look at you now..."
Her brows raised to convey how impressed she was the next second.
"Not only has your cultivation level increased to reach the Fifth Meridian Refinement Stage, but you’ve also become strong enough to beat several cultivators much beyond your level. It makes me wonder whether the person in front of me is the same one or not."
Gao Zhen chuckled at the end of her words while glancing towards Yi Chen in a meaningful expression.
"This..."
Yi Chen had not expected Gao Zhen to be so up to date with everything he had done so far.
Little did he know that during these months, whenever he went out of the clan’s premises, Gao Zhen’s shadow guards were keeping a thorough eye on all his actions.
With an uncomfortable smile, he scratched the back of his head and said, "Thank you for your kind words, Madam Gao. I’ve been putting a lot of effort in these past months, so I’m glad to see that the results paid off."
"Such results are not achieved through effort alone. It’s also because Young Master Chen is very talented," Gao Zhen said with a soft chuckle, and the next second turned towards Feng Haoran and asked.
"Patriarch Feng, if you don’t mind, then can I take Young Master Chen to the second floor along with me? I wanted to discuss a private matter with him."
By now, how could Feng Haoran not realise that the benefit which he had received from Gao Zhen was all thanks to her connection with Yi Chen?
With bright eyes, he exclaimed the next second, "Mind? Of course not! Madam Gao is free to take him with you, haha."
He chuckled with a pleased expression, the next moment and while at it, patted Yi Chen on his back a few times.
’To think he would have a connection with someone like Madam Gao ...how lucky!’
Feng Haoran’s heart was leaping with joy, and agreeing to whatever Gao Zhen demanded was his way of ensuring that this fresh connection with the Red Velvet Pavilion would not be hampered.
"You have my thanks," Gao Zhen stated with a neutral smile and, turning towards Yi Chen, asked, "Then, Young Master Chen, shall we go now...?"
’Uhm....do I even have an option to reject here?’ Yi Chen muttered inwardly in amusement while nodding to her the next instant.
