Chapter 1635 — Zhao Qilei's Phone Call
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
Once out of the house, Tang Zhi went to Wei Zhao's villa. She did not disturb him, but simply settled in to stay there. She knew he was working at recovering his strength, and so she kept out of his way.
Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu were, of course, all in favor.
This was already Wei Zhao's one hundred and eighty-sixth attempt. The energy spheres that had burst apart were beyond counting, and still he had not met his own requirement. Now he was condensing the one hundred and eighty-seventh.
Only a little more—just a little—and Wei Zhao would be able to condense an energy sphere that could carry him through to the Earth Rank in a single stroke. Yet for that mere sliver, he had already tried more than a hundred times!
Fortunately, Wei Zhao was a patient man. Anyone else, in his place, would most likely have flown into a rage long ago.
"Bang!" The energy sphere exploded once more at the final, crucial moment, and Wei Zhao was left with not a shred of temper to lose. He could only begin condensing anew...
Word that Wei Zhao had been struck by the Five-Step Power-Dispersing Powder had already reached the Hidden Zhao family. But Old Master Zhao was still in secluded cultivation, and the only ones in the household capable of taking charge were Old Bi and Zhao Guangyin. It was no secret, and Zhao Qilei had naturally heard the news as well; inwardly he was anxious on Wei Zhao's behalf.
He knew that Wei Zhao could recover his strength swiftly, but he also knew the potency of the Five-Step Power-Dispersing Powder—it was viciously overbearing. Even if Wei Zhao recovered, without an antidote his restored power would swiftly dissipate again, and he would be reduced to an ordinary man.
So Zhao Qilei placed a call to Wei Zhao, to offer a word of comfort to his Leader.
Wei Zhao's phone was always left on. Hearing the ringtone, he withdrew from his cultivation and answered. His present task was chiefly the condensing of energy spheres; taking a call would do no harm.
"Hello?" Wei Zhao picked up, somewhat surprised. This was the number Zhao Qilei had left him—what could he want at such a time? "Zhao Qilei?"
"Leader, it's me!" Zhao Qilei said, lowering his voice. "Leader, I heard you were hit with the Five-Step Power-Dispersing Powder. Have you recovered?"
"What, are you sounding me out?" Wei Zhao asked mildly.
"That—" Zhao Qilei's voice caught, and he hurried on: "How could you think that? Leader, I'm genuinely worried about you! I know this Five-Step Power-Dispersing Powder isn't easily cured. Whether you've recovered or not, just tell me—the Zhao family is about to sit down and discuss how to move against you! I have to know your condition, or I won't be able to find a way to speak up at the meeting!"
"I haven't," Wei Zhao said mildly. He had not lied to Zhao Qilei: on the one hand, he judged the man to be reasonably dependable and unlikely to betray him; on the other, it was a test of sorts, to see just how loyal he truly was. Even if the Zhao family came looking for trouble, Wei Zhao was not afraid—his skill at compressing energy spheres had improved enormously, and now even a sphere compressed at the peak of the late Yellow Rank was enough to cripple a first-rate Earth Rank expert.
So long as he did not meet them head-on, catching troublemakers off guard and crippling them was an easy matter for Wei Zhao.