Although Qin Changsheng was puzzled, he still asked Hu Nan to open the door.
With a soft creak, Hu Nan opened the door.
Standing in the doorway was none other than Chen Erniu.
Chen Erniu had an honest face and a calm expression, appearing as ordinary as ever, without the slightest abnormality.
But it was precisely this seemingly honest face that made Qin Changsheng, watching from afar in the courtyard, feel a sense of unease.
Chen Erniu cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Hu Nan, his tone even: "Senior Brother Hu, won't you invite this fellow practitioner in for a seat?"
"Fellow practitioner?" Qin Changsheng's eyes were filled with doubt.
He completely didn't understand why Chen Erniu would say such a thing.
However, Qin Changsheng calmly had Hu Nan invite Chen Erniu inside.
"Junior Brother Chen, please come in..." Hu Nan said.
After speaking, Hu Nan led Chen Erniu inside.
Hu Nan walked to the stone table, picked up the rough porcelain teapot, and poured a cup of clear tea, its surface steaming gently.
He pushed the teacup towards Chen Erniu, his tone still calm: "This humble abode offers only this tea; please don't find it unpleasant, Junior Brother Chen."
Chen Erniu smiled, walked to the stone table, sat down, picked up the teacup, and took a sip. The smile remained on his face, but a subtle, almost imperceptible, amusement flickered deep in his eyes.
Setting down the teacup, he looked up at Hu Nan and said with a grin, "Senior Brother Hu, you're also a reincarnated person, how come you don't even have spiritual tea?"
"A reincarnated person?" These words struck Qin Changsheng's heart like a hammer blow.
Qin Changsheng's eyes were filled with astonishment.
He completely didn't understand what Chen Erniu was talking about.
Hu Nan was merely an avatar of his; how could he be a reincarnation?
Could it be that Chen Erniu was a reincarnation?
However, Qin Changsheng still sent a telepathic message to Hu Nan, instructing him to probe Chen Erniu for information.
Hu Nan subconsciously frowned, his eyes filled with confusion and doubt as he looked at Chen Erniu, his tone full of bewilderment: "Junior Brother Chen, what...what are you saying? What reincarnation? I don't understand. Are you sure you haven't mistaken me for someone else?"
Chen Erniu, seeing Hu Nan's feigned astonishment, showed no doubt whatsoever. Instead, he smiled even more calmly, gently shaking his head, picking up his teacup, taking another sip of tea, and then slowly setting it down.
"Brother Hu, no need to pretend. We're all reincarnated beings, why hide from each other?"
Speaking of which, he glanced at Hu Nan and said, "Your current appearance isn't your true form, but rather an avatar. This kind of avatar technique isn't something ordinary cultivators can practice; in the entire Southern Region, only Nascent Soul cultivators can cultivate it."
"An avatar?!" Hearing this, Qin Changsheng could no longer suppress his shock.
He simply couldn't understand how Chen Erniu knew so much.
And he even saw through the avatar technique that Xuan Yangzi and the others hadn't?
"Brother Hu, no need to be so astonished!"
"I am also a reincarnated Nascent Soul cultivator!" Chen Erniu smiled and continued, "However, my talent is limited, and I haven't learned the avatar technique!"
Hearing Chen Erniu's words, Qin Changsheng, far away in the courtyard, was filled with shock.
But he quickly believed Chen Erniu's words.
After all, Chen Erniu was extremely mysterious, and his cultivation speed was incredibly fast.
Moreover, Chen Erniu could tell at a glance that Hu Nan was an avatar.
All signs pointed to Chen Erniu as a reincarnation of a Nascent Soul cultivator.
At the same time, Qin Changsheng gave Hu Nan instructions to begin probing Chen Erniu.
After a moment of silence, Hu Nan slowly spoke: "I wonder if Brother Chen, you too were reincarnated after failing your Nascent Soul tribulation?"
Hearing Hu Nan's question, the smile on Chen Erniu's face faded slightly, and his honest and composed expression was gradually replaced by a trace of loneliness and bitterness.
He nodded slowly, picked up the tea on the table, but didn't drink it. A trace of pain flashed in his eyes, then he sighed softly, "That's right, I also failed my Nascent Soul tribulation, and was forced to reincarnate."
He paused slightly, his eyes filled with endless sorrow and hatred, "However, my failure wasn't an accident, but rather a sneak attack by my beloved, who severed my path to immortality, leading to this end."
As he finished speaking, Chen Erniu sighed heavily again, a sigh filled with boundless sorrow and resentment, completely shedding his usual honest and mediocre facade.
Far away in the outer courtyard, Qin Changsheng watched Chen Erniu, remaining silent for a long time.
He could feel the overwhelming hatred and endless sorrow in Chen Erniu's words.
After a moment of silence, Hu Nan slowly spoke, saying, "Brother Chen, your visit so late tonight is surely not just to tell me about your past and to acknowledge our shared beliefs."
"What is it? Please speak frankly."
Hearing Hu Nan's question, the sorrow and hatred in Chen Erniu's eyes gradually subsided, replaced by composure and certainty.
"Brother Hu is indeed straightforward. Since that's the case, I won't beat around the bush. I've come today to cooperate with you."
"Cooperate?" Hu Nan was somewhat surprised. "Brother Chen, what kind of cooperation do you wish to have with me? Please be frank. As long as it's within my power and doesn't violate my principles, perhaps we can discuss it."
Chen Erniu drank a cup of spiritual tea and said, "Brother Hu, rest assured, this cooperation will only benefit you, not harm you."
"I know that Brother Hu is hiding his strength and participating in the sect competition, undoubtedly for the Spirit-Suppressing Pearl in the Heavenly Sword Sect's treasury."
He paused slightly, then continued, "My request is simple: I hope Brother Hu wins the championship in this sect competition and hands me that mysterious token."
"You want that token?" Hu Nan was also somewhat astonished.
Qin Changsheng, far away in the courtyard, was also extremely astonished.
He completely didn't understand why Chen Erniu wanted that token.
Why didn't he try to obtain it himself, but instead came to Hu Nan for cooperation?
Chen Erniu slowly spoke, saying, "That token isn't a key to some ancient opportunity, but rather a keepsake from my past life."
"In that case, why doesn't Brother Chen go on stage?" Hu Nan asked.
"My strength is too weak, and my burst of power is insufficient."
"Besides, with a master like Brother Hu present, it would be difficult for me to win the championship!"
"Why not give the championship to Brother Hu!" Chen Erniu said with a smile.
Qin Changsheng, far away in the courtyard, didn't believe Chen Erniu's words at all.
At the same time, he guessed that Chen Erniu didn't want to go on stage because he was afraid his enemies from his past life would find out.
However, Qin Changsheng decided to first assess Chen Erniu's terms.
If Chen Erniu's terms were very favorable,
he would be willing to cooperate with Chen Erniu.
After all, Qin Changsheng didn't know what use that token might have.
Seeing Hu Nan remain silent, Chen Erniu spoke up, "Of course, I won't let Brother Hu help for nothing. In exchange, if Brother Hu wins the competition and hands over the token, I will give you a high-grade Foundation Establishment Pill."
Looking at Hu Nan's shocked expression, Chen Erniu smiled knowingly and continued, "Brother Hu should know that the sect only rewards the competition champion with a low-grade Foundation Establishment Pill. A low-grade Foundation Establishment Pill has only a 10% success rate; a slight mistake will lead to failure. My high-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, however, has a 40% success rate, far exceeding that of a low-grade pill!"
"With Brother Hu's abilities, you will definitely become a Foundation Establishment cultivator!"
After speaking, Chen Erniu slowly raised his hand, and a small, exquisite jade bottle appeared out of thin air in his palm.
The jade bottle was pure white, with a warm, smooth texture, and a faint aura of spiritual energy swirling around it. Simple patterns were engraved on its surface; though not luxurious, it exuded an extraordinary aura.