Chapter 00143: Borrowing a Blade
# Borrowing a Blade
Chapter 143
Novel: After the Myth
Chapter 143: Borrowing a Blade
Ding Huan could sense that Li Diteng was not an ordinary person.
Most people in this place cultivated martial arts, but this guy practiced the Dao.
From the fluctuations in his aura, Ding Huan estimated that Li Diteng's strength was around that of a fourth-level gene cultivator.
From the beginning until now, Li Diteng had seemed to be speaking in Ding Huan's favor.
So, when Li Diteng extended an invitation, Ding Huan didn't refuse.
Li Diteng's residence in the market was simple—just one bedroom and a living room, with an additional private cultivation room.
His household was also modest, consisting only of himself and a maid.
When Ding Huan arrived, the table was already set with food and drinks.
Clearly, Li Diteng had prepared everything in advance.
"Thank you, Brother Teng, for your keen insight," Ding Huan said, raising his cup in a toast to Li Diteng before downing it in one go.
This surprised Li Diteng.
He had waited for Ding Huan to arrive before pouring the wine to show that he had nothing to hide.
He had even planned to drink first to prove that the wine wasn't poisoned.
He had also prepared to take the first bite of every dish to demonstrate their safety.
But Ding Huan had drunk the wine without hesitation, as if he completely trusted Li Diteng.
This was unusual.
Wasn't Ding Huan worried about being poisoned? Or had Li Diteng misjudged him? Was Ding Huan not the scheming, cautious type he had assumed?
No, that couldn't be the case.
If Ding Huan was truly relying on luck, then his luck was simply too extraordinary.
However, Li Diteng quickly recovered and laughed heartily.
"Well said, Brother Ding! Your keen insight is truly admirable. I'll drink to that as well."
He downed his cup and then picked up his chopsticks, inviting Ding Huan to eat.
Soon, Li Diteng noticed that Ding Huan ate casually, only picking dishes in front of him and not the ones Li Diteng had tested for poison.
This made Li Diteng think that either Ding Huan was incredibly lucky or his strength was so terrifying that he didn't fear poison.
Li Diteng's experience told him to believe the latter.
Luck might work once or twice, but not three or four times.
Regardless of where Ding Huan came from, the fact that he had arrived here unscathed couldn't be attributed solely to luck.
Li Diteng didn't believe that.
"Brother Ding, I enjoy making friends. At first glance, I found you much more agreeable than that Jin fellow. You should be careful of him—he won't let this go easily," Li Diteng said after a few drinks, speaking more candidly.
"Thank you, Brother Teng. I don't do anything wrong, so I'm not afraid of ghosts knocking on my door," Ding Huan replied, unsure of Li Diteng's intentions but playing along.
Li Diteng suddenly asked, "Brother Ding, do you know why Jin isn't in the Little Star Corner Market right now?"
Ding Huan didn't answer, knowing Li Diteng would continue.
Sure enough, Li Diteng lowered his voice.
"You must know that the Four Directions Starland is located in a corner of the universe surrounded by the lowest-level starlands, right?"
Ding Huan nodded.
He was aware of that.
"Everyone here dreams of leaving this starland and finding a Dao cultivation starland or a civilized starland," Li Diteng continued.
Ding Huan's interest was piqued.
"Brother Teng, are you saying Jin left the Little Star Corner Market for that reason?"
Li Diteng was pleased that Ding Huan addressed him as "Brother Teng."
It showed that Ding Huan was socially adept, not some clueless fool.
This confirmed Li Diteng's earlier judgment.
Li Diteng chuckled.
"Brother Ding, I don't know if your goal is to leave this starland, but if it is, you should thank me."
Ding Huan stood up and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.
"Brother Teng, that is indeed my goal. But I know it's difficult. Even the head of the Zhan family, Zhan Changjing, hasn't had the chance to leave this starland. How can someone like me hope to do so?"
Li Diteng laughed.
"Brother Ding, that's where information comes in. Senior Zhan Changjing did have the opportunity to leave, but the timing wasn't right."
"Please enlighten me," Ding Huan said, cupping his hands again.
Li Diteng explained, "Brother Ding, you probably don't know that every hundred years, a spaceship from a high-level civilization comes to the Four Directions Starland, do you?"
Ding Huan shook his head.
He truly didn't know, but even if he had, the information would have been of little use to him.
So far, he hadn't fused any lifespan-extending gene potions.
For Ding Huan, fusing such a potion was something he could do at any time, but he believed it was better to extend his lifespan through cultivation.
Only if his strength plateaued and his lifespan ran short would he consider fusing such a potion.
Li Diteng didn't hold back.
"The universe where the Four Directions Starland is located may be low-level, with many life-bearing planets still in a primitive state. But this starland has one great advantage—it produces all kinds of top-tier treasures. For example, there's the billion-year-old stalactite marrow, the Chaos Lotus that can cleanse one's marrow and meridians, and the never-before-seen Mother Iron..."
As Li Diteng listed these treasures, Ding Huan's mind automatically conjured images of their immense value.
It seemed this knowledge existed in his memory, but he wondered why such a barren starland would produce so many precious items.
"A hundred years ago, a spaceship from a high-level civilization passed through here and acquired a piece of Mother Iron. It's said to be a material for crafting magical treasures. I don't know what a magical treasure is, but I can guess these items are priceless," Li Diteng said, sighing before taking another drink.
It seemed he was lamenting his own inability to reach a high-level civilization planet.
Perhaps emboldened by the alcohol, Li Diteng became more talkative.
"When Senior Zhan Changjing emerged from seclusion, the spaceship from the high-level civilization had just left. His age was catching up to him, and if he didn't break through soon, he would be stuck at the Foundation Establishment stage forever. So, Senior Zhan Changjing couldn't wait another hundred years. He chose to advance beyond the Foundation Establishment stage and created a new realm called the Dan Cloud Realm. Now, Senior Zhan Changjing is considered the strongest in this universe, which is why the Four Directions Starland has remained peaceful."
Ding Huan, however, felt a doubt arise.
Even if Zhan Changjing had created a new realm, why couldn't he have left with the spaceship from the high-level civilization? He didn't ask this question, though, as he was sure Li Diteng wouldn't know the answer.
"Brother Teng, when did the spaceship from the high-level civilization last come to the Four Directions Starland?" Ding Huan asked with some anticipation.
Li Diteng laughed.
"Brother Ding, you're finally catching on. In two years, the spaceship from the high-level civilization will arrive at Four Directions City. That's one of the reasons I invited you here today."
"Thank you, Brother Teng, for this valuable information," Ding Huan said sincerely.
For someone like Ding Huan, who was at the bottom of the social ladder in the Four Directions Starland, such information was priceless.
Without Li Diteng's deliberate disclosure, he would never have known about it.
Even if he had learned about the spaceship's arrival later, he might have failed to leave due to lack of preparation.
Li Diteng nodded, accepting Ding Huan's gratitude.
If Ding Huan hadn't shown any appreciation after being told such important news, Li Diteng would have felt he had misjudged him.
"This time, the spaceship from the high-level civilization is coming mainly to collect rare natural treasures. Each time, they also take a few exceptionally talented individuals with them..."
When Li Diteng mentioned that they took a few prodigies each time, Ding Huan's heart stirred.
He didn't know about his own talent, as it was a result of fusing spirit root genes.
But Xin Yue's talent was undoubtedly top-tier.
Ding Huan asked with some confusion, "Has no one ever tried to buy a spot with purple gold coins or spirit stones?"
Li Diteng shook his head.
"Think about it. In the Four Directions Starland, the highest currency is the crystal coin. Do you know where these crystal coins come from? They're brought by the high-level civilization."
Ding Huan understood.
If the high-level civilization brought the currency, why would they care if you traded it back to them?
"I know Brother Ding is no ordinary person. If you want to leave this place, you should hurry to Four Directions City and establish good relations with the four great families. When the alien civilization arrives, they mainly deal with the four great families and the three major sects to acquire their treasures. It's a pity your battleship is damaged; otherwise, it could have been considered a treasure."
At this point, Li Diteng seemed to remember something and lowered his voice again.
"Earlier, because the Zuo Shi family and other families and sects were negotiating how to receive the spaceship from the high-level civilization, they didn't send anyone to investigate Sister Tou's disappearance. But now that the reception plans are finalized, they'll probably send someone here."
Ding Huan remained silent.
He now understood why Li Diteng had invited him here.
Li Diteng had already concluded that Ding Huan was the one who killed Kan Ni and Sister Tou.
Because of Ding Huan's strength, Li Diteng wanted to befriend him.
Even though Li Diteng had guessed correctly, Ding Huan wouldn't admit to anything.
As if to confirm Ding Huan's thoughts, Li Diteng added, "That Lord Jin struts around here like he owns the place. If he were to die one day, I doubt anyone would shed a tear."
Ding Huan raised his cup and toasted Li Diteng again.
Li Diteng's words weren't explicit, but Ding Huan understood the implication: he could kill Jin without fear of being pursued.
Although this was a case of using someone else's blade, Ding Huan didn't mind.
He had already planned to kill Jin.
The only trouble was the Zuo Shi family, which had Foundation Establishment experts—possibly more than one.
The drinking session ended on a high note.
As Li Diteng saw Ding Huan off, he added, "Sister Tou was nothing. If she hadn't brought some treasures to the Zuo Shi family every year, she would have been killed long ago. But the people the Zuo Shi family sends to investigate her disappearance—those people can't be harmed. If something happens to them, the Zuo Shi family's experts will come."
"Thank you for your hospitality, Brother Teng. I'll take my leave now," Ding Huan said with a laugh, bidding farewell.
Li Diteng had reminded him that killing Sister Tou wouldn't be a problem as long as he didn't get caught, but he couldn't harm the investigators sent by the Zuo Shi family.
(End of Chapter)