111: Waiting in wait

Inside the Immortal Cave, Li Dong sat cross-legged, his Early Stage Golden Core aura already stable. The golden pill spinning in his Dantian was no longer an illusory spiritual energy vortex, but a weighty, real entity. He slowly opened his eyes; the Immortal Cave was still as simple as ever: a stone bed, a meditation cushion, and nothing else.

"Golden Core... it feels pretty good," he muttered to himself, then pouted, "But with this level of cultivation, it's still not enough to overturn those old geezers."

With a thought, the Spiritual Domain quietly unfolded, this time no longer as unrefined as before. He cautiously tried to extend this perception deep into the capital's underground, making more detailed contact with the polluted Dragon Vein.

"Whoosh..."

Vaguely, he seemed to hear the Dragon Vein's mournful cry, a pain and unwillingness stemming from its very essence. Strands of black Qi, like maggots clinging to bone, wrapped around the Dragon Vein, constantly sucking its power.

"Purification... easier said than done." Li Dong shook his head slightly. This was much harder than simply killing enemies.

He took out the "Shadow Council Elder Token" he had acquired at Jubao Firm from his storage ring. The jade token was cool to the touch, with intricate patterns carved upon it.

"System, scan this thing and see what's hidden inside."

【System: Scanning... The Elder Token contains encrypted information. Attempting to decrypt...】

The light screen flickered, and after a moment, an incredibly complex three-dimensional structural diagram appeared before Li Dong.

【System: Decryption successful. This is a partial structural diagram of the "Vortex Trap Zone" and the activation incantation for its outer areas. Core control permissions and deep-level structural diagrams are missing.】

"Partial?" Li Dong looked at the structural diagram, which was layered like a honeycomb and resembled a giant mechanical heart. "These old dogs are really cautious. Still, something is better than nothing."

He firmly memorized the structural diagram and incantation. This might prove very useful in the future.

Just then, a special communication talisman at his waist vibrated slightly. It was from Zhou Boqian.

"Old Zhou has news?"

He activated the communication talisman, and a faint voice entered his mind, encrypted content relayed by the System.

"Lord Mu Feng, Zhang Wu has escaped danger and is hiding in a secret stronghold in Qingzhou Prefecture. Your subordinate has provided the necessary support as per your instructions. However, the remnants of the Lin family and Luo Yi's remaining forces are frequently active in Qingzhou Prefecture, seemingly plotting something. Zhang Wu's situation still requires caution."

"Oh? It's good that Zhang Wu is fine." Li Dong breathed a slight sigh of relief. That kid hadn't wasted his efforts after all. "Lin family, Luo Yi... Hmph, mere jumping clowns dare to show themselves."

He continued to listen.

"Here in the capital, this official's situation is becoming increasingly difficult. Although Lord Wei Zheng personally supervised the 'Jubao Firm' case, there are obstacles and heavy resistance from all sides. The First Prince and Third Prince's factions took the opportunity to attack, and He Tianzheng deliberately muddied the waters. The investigation is now almost stalled, and it seems no one dares to delve deeper into the Soul-Devouring Demon Flower incident, fearing to burn themselves and touch the 'Shadow Council's' iron plate."

"Indeed." Li Dong was not surprised by this. How many of those imperial family members truly cared for the country and its people? "Wei Zheng... a pity, he's fighting alone."

"On Seventh Princess's side, she is still persisting. Mr. Xu has also contacted this official multiple times, asking for your opinion. They seem to want to take further action but lack concrete evidence and sufficient power."

"Tell them to wait a little longer," Li Dong replied. "Now is not the time."

"Additionally, He Tianzheng has been making frequent movements recently, seemingly secretly transporting 'materials' and 'personnel' to a certain location south of the city. The exact location is unknown, but based on this official's observations, it may be related to a leyline node. The 'Vortex Trap Zone' project is likely accelerating."

Zhou Boqian's tone carried a hint of urgency.

"Understood. Tell Old Zhou to be careful himself." Li Dong cut off the communication.

He Tianzheng, that old dog, truly couldn't sit still.

He stood up and paced a few steps in the small Immortal Cave.

"Should I continue using the identity of 'Mu Feng'?" he asked himself, then nodded. "Hmm, it's better to keep my Golden Core Stage cultivation hidden for now. Let them think I'm still the Foundation Establishment Stage 'Mu Feng'; it will make them relax their guard and reveal more flaws."

The enemy in the dark and me in the light is not a good feeling. Now, everyone is in the dark; it just depends on who can't hold back first.

He then turned his attention to himself.

"The Heavenly Pill Sky-Rending Demon Suppression Seal... this Cultivation Technique is truly overbearing; it can even refine impure spiritual essence."

He had already experienced the wonder of this transformation when he broke through in the spiritual spring. Now, he wondered if he could more actively and safely absorb and transform this evil power, turning it into pure spiritual energy for his own use.

"If I can do that, purifying the Dragon Vein in the future might be a bit more certain."

He extended his hand, and a faint wisp of black Qi emerged from his fingertip—the residual spiritual essence he had forcibly absorbed from the Jubao Firm explosion earlier. The power of the Spirit Transformation Demon Suppression Seal slowly circulated, attempting to envelop, decompose, and transform this sinister energy.

The process was not easy; the resentment and madness contained within that spiritual essence constantly impacted his mind.

"Tsk, quite stubborn."

However, as the Cultivation Technique operated, threads of pure spiritual energy were being stripped from the black Qi and integrated into his Meridians.

"It's working!" Li Dong's spirits lifted. Although the efficiency was low, it at least proved its feasibility. This was much more technically advanced than simply fighting and killing.

"Oh, right, and the Qian Yuan Cleansing Spirit Pill." He remembered the Pill Formula the System had given him.

【System: The 'Qian Yuan Cleansing Spirit Pill' Pill Formula has been analyzed. Main ingredients: nine nether soul-suppressing grass, hao yang cleansing spirit flower, purple-veined dragon blood ginseng, thousand-year warm jade marrow...】

A string of strange names appeared.

"These things, just by their names, sound hard to find." Li Dong stroked his chin. "System, where can I find clues for these medicinal ingredients near the capital?"

【System: Based on database analysis, nine nether soul-suppressing grass and hao yang cleansing spirit flower were once recorded in three abandoned ancient Spirit Medicine gardens outside the capital: Hundred Herb Valley Ruins, Hidden Dragon Gorge Medicine Garden, and the 'Misty Swamp' on the edge of the Royal Forbidden Garden. These areas are ancient and may contain unknown dangers and guardian forces.】

"Abandoned ancient Spirit Medicine gardens?" Li Dong's eyes lit up. "It's better if there are guardian forces; it means there are really good things inside."

If it were barren, that would be a wasted trip.

"It seems I need to find time to scout them out."

He once again cast his gaze towards the direction of the capital's underground. The "Vortex Trap Zone," which was accelerating its operation, was like a giant vortex threatening to drag the entire Great Yan Dynasty into the abyss.

"Shadow Council... Qiankun Zi..."

He knew that the real confrontation was far from coming. These old monsters had lived for hundreds of years, possessing endless trump cards and being as cunning as foxes.

"No rush, no rush," Li Dong murmured. "I need to wait for an opportunity, an opportunity to uproot them completely."

He had a premonition that the so-called "Vortex Trap Zone" activation ceremony might be the moment of the final showdown.

Before that, what he needed to do was accumulate strength, gather intelligence, and then, at the most crucial moment, deliver the enemy the most fatal blow.

He was biding his time, only for that earth-shattering gamble.