I Can Use Myriad Divine Abilities-Chapter 282: Stripped of Authority

The owner of the rice shop is a genteel middle-aged man, fair-skinned and refined in appearance.

He looks very much like a scholarly literati.

But Zhang Yuan immediately saw that the other possessed the cultivation strength of the Tier Three Transformation Realm.

And he had reached the peak level.

Just a step away from breaking through the bottleneck and opening the Sea of Qi!

This rice shop owner knew of Zhang Yuan’s background, so he greeted him very politely, asking, "Lord Guardian, is there anything I can help you with?"

"I want to buy rice."

Zhang Yuan stated plainly, "To distribute congee to aid famine victims inside and outside the Ruins City!"

The rice shop owner was momentarily stunned, "Lord Guardian, you can’t be joking, right?"

Currently, there is a food shortage inside and outside Xia Ruins, with rice prices skyrocketing, leading to widespread famine and countless beggars.

It’s not that there haven’t been any large clans or wealthy families stepping up to distribute congee.

But individuals like Zhang Yuan using their own money for charity are rare indeed.

After all, the price of grain is so high!

Zhang Yuan replied sternly, "I, Zhao, don’t joke."

"Forgive me, Lord!"

The rice shop owner quickly apologized and asked, "Then how much grain does Lord intend to purchase?"

Zhang Yuan did not answer directly but instead asked in return, "How much do you have?"

Currently, he’s holding several ten-thousands of silver notes.

Nowhere to spend them!

So since he’s decided to distribute congee for charity, he certainly won’t make it a small affair.

The rice shop owner smiled, "As much as you need, we have!"

The rice shop owner wasn’t exaggerating; as long as there was enough silver, if their own stock wasn’t sufficient, they could borrow from other businesses or even purchase grain from the Great Dream Marsh.

It’s not a problem at all!

After thinking for a moment, he gritted his teeth and said, "Since Lord is distributing congee for charity and virtue, we can offer a 5% discount!"

The profit margin on rice isn’t very high, really.

This rice shop owner mainly wanted to establish a goodwill connection with Zhang Yuan.

"Great."

Zhang Yuan nodded, took out a silver note with a face value of five thousand taels from his pocket, and placed it on the table, "This is a deposit. I want to purchase thirty thousand taels of silver worth of grain."

"Additionally, I also request your shop to handle the arrangements for the congee distribution, and I will cover all related expenses."

"Oh, and this should be done under the name of the Primordial Celestial King!"

The rice shop owner was initially delighted, then stunned.

A thirty-thousand-tael silver transaction is indeed big business, and if done properly, the rice business could profit enormously.

Having the rice shop set up a congee distribution site is completely manageable.

Now they don’t even have to pay for labor; offering a meal can draw in a large crowd.

But what he hadn’t expected was that Zhang Yuan wanted to do it under the name of the Primordial Celestial King.

What did Zhang Yuan want out of this?

Seeing the rice shop owner dazed, Zhang Yuan asked, "Is there a problem?"

The rice shop owner snapped back to reality and quickly replied, "No, absolutely no problem."

Distributing congee in the name of the Primordial Celestial King would not face any opposition from the Celestial King Hall.

In fact, they’d welcome it.

Because this is gathering Belief Power for the Celestial King!

He couldn’t help but add, "Lord, actually the Celestial King Hall also has congee distribution sites."

Zhang Yuan smiled, "Just do as I said."

The idea of distributing congee for charity occurred to him after seeing the widespread hunger on the way.

And doing it in the name of the Primordial Celestial King was Zhang Yuan’s way of repaying the deity’s favor.

Previously, at the Celestial King Hall, he received a blessing, which made Xuan Cheng view him differently and allowed him to join the Outer Hall as a Guardian.

Which led to a series of ensuing opportunities.

Zhang Yuan felt grateful.

So this time, it was to fulfill a vow!

Seeing Zhang Yuan so insistent, the rice shop owner had no further objections.

After the two agreed on the detailed implementation plan, Zhang Yuan left the rice shop and headed to the Celestial King Hall.

For the past few months, he’d been in seclusion at home cultivating.

He hadn’t even been to the Celestial King Hall yet this year.

But as soon as Zhang Yuan arrived at the Outer Hall, he was blocked by Outer Hall Steward Daoist Xuan Yong.

"Protector Zhao, you came just in time."

Daoist Xuan Yong took out a Daoist letter for him, "I was just about to send a messenger to you. This is a task assigned to you by the Inner Hall."

A task assigned by the Inner Hall?

Zhang Yuan was quite surprised and took the Daoist letter to read.

The contents of the Daoist letter were simple.

He, an Outer Hall Guardian, was ordered to hunt a Moon Gazing Bear King within half a month.

To bring back its bear gallbladder as proof!

Moon Gazing Bear King?

Zhang Yuan had never heard of this name before, but at a glance, he knew it wasn’t an ordinary fierce beast.

So where was he to hunt it?

Taiwu Mountain, perhaps?

The time given was only half a month.

Absurdly unreasonable!

Moreover, Zhang Yuan could sense the malicious intent embedded within this so-called Inner Hall task.

Xuan Xin!

He suspected this was a trap laid out for him.

Nine out of ten, a serious trap!

Zhang Yuan thought for a moment and decisively handed the Daoist letter back to Xuan Yong, "Sorry, I’m injured and need to recuperate at home recently, so I can’t fulfill this task."

"Huh?"

Xuan Yong, obviously unaware of the situation, was momentarily stunned, "Then what should we do?"

Zhang Yuan smiled, "Please return it to the Inner Hall, and besides, I’m only an Outer Hall Guardian, not an Inner Hall Guardian."

Back then, Xuan Cheng had told him that being an Outer Hall Guardian was akin to being an Honored Guest Elder, with little obligation.

So he certainly held the right to refuse!

Xuan Yong seemed to have realized something, his face suddenly changing.

He gave Zhang Yuan a deep look and then said, "Protector Zhao, please wait a moment; I will report back to the Inner Hall right away."

Saying this, Xuan Yong hurriedly left.

Zhang Yuan’s eyes flashed, and he took out his Guardian Token and converted all the Daoist Merit within it.

Previously, he had earned quite a bit of Daoist Merit, and after exchanging for ’Nine Blades of Wind and Cloud,’ he still had some left.

Now he converted it all to Talismans.

Not leaving a single Daoist Merit!

The Magic Talismans from the Celestial King Hall are considered hard currency within Xia Ruins, easy to sell and convenient to use.

And it’s practical to keep some for personal use as well.

Just as Zhang Yuan finished exchanging his Daoist Merit, a burly-faced Daoist hurried to the Outer Hall accompanied by Xuan Yong.

Upon seeing Zhang Yuan, this Daoist immediately said gruffly, "Protector Zhao Yun, why did you refuse the task assigned by the Inner Hall?"

Beside them, Xuan Yong introduced, "This is Inner Hall Steward Xuan Ji."

Zhang Yuan sneered coldly, "Since when did Outer Hall Guardians have to complete tasks assigned by the Inner Hall?"

Xuan Ji’s eye twitched, as he said with a threatening tone, "This is an Inner Hall Decree, as an Outer Hall Guardian you must execute it, no room for negotiation. Otherwise..."

He stared ominously, "It will be seen as defiance, and you will be expelled from the hall!"

Just as he suspected!

Zhang Yuan’s mind was crystal clear.

Xuan Xin previously tried to scheme against him through the Martial Power Sect, and having failed, now presented a new ploy.

The first step was to kick him out of the Celestial King Hall, stripping him of his Guardian position.

Then proceed to the next step.

Currently, Xuan Cheng has not come out of seclusion, and Han Zixun is far away in Qianjing; Zhang Yuan is isolated within the Celestial King Hall, with no one to speak on his behalf.

Zhang Yuan shook his head and tossed his Guardian Token to Xuan Yong, "No need to expel me; I’m leaving on my own."

He didn’t hold much regard for the position of Outer Hall Guardian, mainly valuing it for exchanging cultivation techniques.

Now, Zhang Yuan has mastered enough Qi Entry Realm skills.

So it doesn’t matter anymore!

He turned and left without the slightest hesitation.