https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-121-A-Lantern-Festival-Encounter-with-Jing-Qiyuan/13510327/
Chapter 122: You Didn't Really Think I Was Powerless, Did You?
Chapter 122: You Didn’t Really Think I Was Powerless, Did You?
"Seven Stars Sword Technique—Tianquan."
Xiao Chen unleashed the fourth sword formation he had just mastered. Tianquan's defining trait was its steady, overwhelming force. With a single slash, the giant serpent was split vertically in two.
In three swift movements, he blocked Zhu Xiu Guo's escape path. "Don’t panic. I’m not here to kill you—yet. Answer my questions first."
While maintaining a defensive spell barrier, Zhu Xiu Guo secretly formed hand seals. "What do you want?" he demanded, eyes locked warily on Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen ignored the covert maneuver. "Why did you kidnap those solitary cultivators? Are you from the Luotian Sect or the Divine Flame Cult?"
Zhu Xiu Guo countered, "Who are you to ask this? Why should I tell you?"
Shaking his head, Xiao Chen muttered, "Unsatisfactory answer."
"Seven Stars Sword Technique—Tianji."
Tianji emphasized unpredictability. Before Zhu Xiu Guo could even glimpse the sword beam, a sharp crack echoed as his protective aura shattered. Pain lanced through his left thigh.
Xiao Chen pressed on, "Answer me. What’s your relationship with Jing Qi Yuan? Is someone manipulating you? Who?"
Gritting his teeth, Zhu Xiu Guo refused to cry out. "Since you recognize Elder Jing, you should know some questions are dangerous to ask."
"We’re working for the Jiang Family", he hissed. "Fail their mission, and you’ll regret it."
Shaking his head again, Xiao Chen warned, "No lesson learned." He executed Tianshu, severing both of Zhu Xiu Guo’s legs. "Talk. Or I’ll end you."
Unfazed by pain, Zhu Xiu Guo raised his hands, chanting. His spiritual pressure surged, condensing vast mana into a glowing crimson 'Seal' character overhead.
With a thunderous push, the seal blazed downward, pinning Xiao Chen.
"Enjoy interrogation?!" Zhu Xiu Guo roared, deploying his ultimate Immobilization Art. Bloodied but defiant, he crawled toward Xiao Chen. "Like asking questions? Try another!"
"You think you’re untouchable?" he spat. "Believe I’m helpless? Now—can you move?!"
Reaching for Xiao Chen’s hood, he snarled, "Let’s see who hides behind that—"
Thud. A Flying Sword pierced his heart.
Xiao Chen smiled. "Surprised? Not what you expected? You really thought I couldn’t move? Just playing with you."
Gasping, Zhu Xiu Guo choked on blood as the sword twisted, silencing his final words. The 'Seal' had seemed formidable—unfortunately, Xiao Chen’s Divine Veil completely nullified its binding.
"Silent? Then I’ll find my own evidence."
Pocketing the storage bag, Xiao Chen incinerated traces with mysterious flame. Since mastering the Seven Stars Sword, battles left cleaner scenes—less smoke, less mess. To preempt the Zhu Family’s escape, he bypassed immediate loot inspection and headed straight to Zhuxian County.
Though named for the Zhu Clan, the county hosted four minor cultivation families. Presenting Zhu Xiu Guo’s head and Chu Mo Dian’s manager token, Xiao Chen convinced them to besiege the Zhu residence. Their elder, a lone Foundation Building ancestor, couldn’t resist as Xiao Chen stormed their cellar, freeing fourteen imprisoned cultivators—irrefutable evidence.
"Manager Xiao", a Sun Family leader reported, "we’ve located the Zhu warehouse. Seal it or search?"
"Search", Xiao Chen decided.
Inside, they found spirit mines, four spirit stone chests (each holding a thousand stones), and custom-made artifacts—bloodstained ropes and manacles. "Take samples for demonic clues", he instructed. "Spirit stones go to the sect."
The four families agreed. After settling affairs, Xiao Chen returned to Lihuo Sect, deposited goods, and stored 1,000 spirit stones across four boxes. Back at Cuiwei Valley, he spent an hour cracking Zhu Xiu Guo’s storage bag seal.
Inside dazzled with 7,500 spirit stones—far exceeding expectations for a Foundation Building Layer-2 cultivator. Alongside an upper-tier Flying Sword and mid-tier artifacts (robes, swords, belts), the bloodied ropes matched warehouse stock—clearly used.
Two second-tier fire-attribute cultivation manuals and account ledgers followed. Most records detailed mundane transactions, but one fresh ledger revealed "spirit sheep" trades with the Jing Family. Transactions began last spring, paused during a crackdown, then resumed in August—quadrupling recently. Stranger still, the Jings paid 50% more per sheep: 75 spirit stones each.
"No wonder his bag overflowed", Xiao Chen mused.
(End of Chapter)
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