86: Rumors spread to isolate

The 'Phantom Demon Illusion' trial concluded, but the atmosphere in the New Recruit Camp did not relax; instead, it grew a bit more unsettling. Those who passed were naturally joyful, but more people felt the invisible pressure and the unusual importance the higher-ups placed on this selection.

Li Dong still maintained the honest appearance of 'Mu Feng.' Every day, apart from necessary Cultivation and assemblies, he spoke little, trying to minimize his presence. However, trouble is often something you can't avoid, no matter how much you try.

That afternoon, an Instructor responsible for guiding new recruits found Li Dong. This person, Instructor Meng, was about forty years old, always wore a genial smile, and spoke politely. He was reportedly a veteran who had been transferred from Qingzhou Prefecture to the capital many years ago.

"Mu Feng," Instructor Meng patted Li Dong's shoulder, very cordially, "Your performance in the illusion realm yesterday was excellent. It's not easy to complete the mission in such an environment."

Li Dong, or rather 'Mu Feng,' immediately showed a flattered expression, scratching his head: "Instructor Meng, you flatter me. I was just lucky, like a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse."

"Hehe, luck is also a part of strength," Instructor Meng said with a smile. "I heard you came from Qingzhou Prefecture? Ah, speaking of which, my ancestral home is also in Qingzhou, so we're half fellow townsmen!"

"Oh? Really? That's quite a coincidence!" Mu Feng's eyes lit up, his honesty mixed with a hint of surprise.

"Isn't it!" Instructor Meng naturally sat down and started chatting casually. "Qingzhou Prefecture is a good place, with beautiful mountains and rivers, and outstanding people. By the way, Little Brother Mu Feng, which county in Qingzhou is your home from? How much has the Prefecture City changed? I remember there used to be a Wangjiang Tower in the East City, with excellent scenery. Is it still there?"

Instructor Meng asked casually, as if he was genuinely reminiscing about his hometown.

Li Dong, however, was keenly aware: "It's here, the probing has begun. This Instructor Meng is likely one of Luo Yi's old subordinates in the capital, sent by He Tianzheng to probe my background."

He remained outwardly calm, still maintaining his simple demeanor, and recalled: "My home is in a small place called Shiqiao Town, under Qingzhou Prefecture, far from the Prefecture City. I've been to the Prefecture City a few times, it's so big! The Wangjiang Tower Instructor Meng mentioned seems to still be there; I saw it last time I went, and a new pastry shop opened next to it, business is really good!"

"Oh? Shiqiao Town... East City of the Prefecture City..." Instructor Meng's eyes flickered, and he continued to ask, "Are you familiar with the Demon Suppression Division in Qingzhou Prefecture? I heard many capable people have emerged recently."

"Demon Suppression Division? That's where the officials stay; how could common folk like us be familiar with it?" Mu Feng waved his hands repeatedly, his face full of awe. "I just heard it's very imposing, and they're really good at catching bad guys!"

Through the conversation, Instructor Meng asked many questions about Qingzhou Prefecture's customs, local characteristics, and even some intricate details only locals would know. Li Dong, however, always managed to give reasonable yet un-focused answers from his 'country bumpkin' perspective, occasionally interjecting with some local dialect. Instructor Meng's brow subtly furrowed at times, then quickly relaxed.

"This kid is very slick. I asked for a long time, and it's like I asked nothing at all," Instructor Meng mused inwardly, maintaining his amiable smile. "Hehe, it's really pleasant chatting with you. Keep up the good work; I have high hopes for you!"

"Thank you, Instructor Meng! I will definitely work hard!" Mu Feng replied with a simple smile.

After seeing Instructor Meng off, Li Dong's lips curved into an imperceptible arc. Trying to trick him with such shallow tactics? They underestimated him too much.

However, the matter did not end there.

In the following days, a subtle rumor began to spread within the New Recruit Camp.

"Hey, did you hear? That guy named Mu Feng, it seems he didn't get in through proper channels!"

"What do you mean? Didn't he pass the assessment?"

"Assessment, my foot! I heard his real name is Li Dong, a troublemaker from Qingzhou Prefecture who offended someone and ran to the capital! His entry into the New Recruit Camp this time was probably through some Evil Path, maybe he's the illegitimate son of some big shot!"

"Really? Li Dong? Why does that name sound a bit familiar..."

"More than familiar! Wasn't that person who caused such a commotion in the Qingzhou Prefecture Demon Suppression Division a while ago named Li Dong? They say he turned Qingzhou Prefecture upside down!"

Rumors, as if on wings, quickly spread throughout the New Recruit Camp. The versions became increasingly outrageous: some said he was a notorious bandit who killed and plundered, others that he was a remnant of a wiped-out noble family, and even more, that he was a spy for demons.

For a time, 'Mu Feng' became the focus of everyone's attention, but most of these gazes carried suspicion, disdain, and aloofness. The few candidates who had previously exchanged a few words with him now deliberately avoided him, fearing they might get into trouble.

Li Dong naturally observed all of this.

The System prompted: Detected negative public opinion targeting the host spreading, involving 'Li Dong of Qingzhou Prefecture' and 'obtaining a spot through improper means.' Tracing information source... Confirmed as deliberately guided and disseminated by He Tianzheng's faction. Initial assessment of purpose: to exert psychological pressure, observe the host's reaction, and attempt to isolate the host.

"Isolate me? Test my psychological resilience?" Li Dong sneered inwardly. "Their methods are endless. But this is good; it allows me to see just how many fish are in this muddy water."

That day, while eating in the New Recruit Camp's public cafeteria, trouble came knocking.

A burly, mean-faced candidate, carrying his tray, swaggered up to Li Dong and slammed his tray onto the table with a 'bang,' splashing soup everywhere.

"Hey! Are you that... what's-his-name... Mu Feng?" The man squinted at Li Dong, his tone extremely arrogant. "I heard you're not a good guy, kid? Did you buy your way in from Qingzhou Prefecture?"

The cafeteria immediately fell silent, and everyone's eyes focused on the scene.

Li Dong slowly raised his head and glanced at the other person. This man was named Qian Pi, with a strength roughly at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Stage - Early Phase. He usually liked to form gangs and bully new recruits.

"Maximize the effect of the Aura Concealing Jade Pendant," Li Dong thought silently.

The honesty on his face was tinged with even more bewilderment, as if he hadn't understood what the other person was saying. He slowly asked, "Big brother, are you... are you talking to me? My name is Mu Feng, not 'hey.' And I didn't pay any money; I passed the exam to get in."

His voice was soft, carrying a hint of timidity, combined with his harmless expression and the Aura Concealing Jade Pendant's effect, which suppressed his Qi to be almost indistinguishable from a Mortal. He looked like a frightened country boy.

"Ha! Still playing dumb!" Seeing his appearance, Qian Pi became even more smug, raising his voice a few octaves. "Stop playing innocent with me! I'm asking you, are you that wanted criminal named Li Dong from Qingzhou Prefecture?!"

As these words came out, there was a collective gasp from the surroundings. A wanted criminal? That was a serious accusation!

Li Dong blinked, appearing even more confused: "Li Dong? Wanted criminal? Big brother, have you mistaken me for someone else? I... I don't know any Li Dong." He even shrank his neck, looking like he was about to cry.

Qian Pi's punch felt like it hit cotton. His burning anger and prepared retorts were all stifled, leaving him in an awkward and extremely uncomfortable position. He had intended to provoke the other party, preferably to make him strike first, so he could legitimately 'teach a lesson' to this ignorant fellow and curry favor with Lord Lin Fan.

But now, with the other party acting so cowardly, if he were to strike, it would make him look like a bully picking on the weak.

"Hmph! Coward!" Qian Pi spat viciously, but found no further reason to escalate. He could only leave with a harsh threat, "Don't let me see you again!" With that, he unhappily picked up his tray and left.

A commotion thus ended anticlimactically.

The atmosphere in the cafeteria, however, became even more subtle.

"Tsk, I thought he had some great ability, turns out he's a pushover."

"Exactly, being lectured like that and not even daring to fart."

Some people who already looked down on 'Mu Feng' were now even more disdainful.

But there were also some shrewd individuals who noticed something different.

In a corner, Chu He put down his chopsticks and thoughtfully glanced at Li Dong's back. He always felt that this 'Mu Feng' was not as simple as he appeared. To remain so calm in the face of such provocation, this Heart-Nature was not like that of an ordinary country boy.

"Interesting," Chu He's lips curved slightly upward.

High above, in a hidden observation room.

Instructor Meng was reporting to a Silver-Armored General. This Silver-Armored General was the same one who had announced the trial rules on the training grounds that day, standing beside He Tianzheng.

"General, target 'Mu Feng'... encountered Qian Pi's public provocation today," Instructor Meng said, bowing.

The Silver-Armored General was expressionless: "What was the result?"

"He... he didn't have any excessive reaction," Instructor Meng's tone was hesitant. "One could even say... no reaction at all. Qian Pi specifically called him Li Dong from Qingzhou Prefecture, but he merely denied it outright, acting like a startled ordinary person."

"Oh?" The Silver-Armored General's brow slightly raised. "No anger? No excuse? And not the slightest fluctuation in Cultivation?"

"Yes, General. It's as if... those words had nothing to do with him," Instructor Meng added. "Qian Pi was like a punch thrown into the air, and in the end, he could only leave feeling foolish."

The Silver-Armored General remained silent for a moment, his finger lightly tapping the table: "This Mu Feng is even more composed than expected. Either he truly is a lucky fool, ignorant of everything; or... his cunning and scheming are far beyond our imagination."

"The General's meaning is?"

"Continue to observe. There's no need to use such crude methods to probe him anymore; it's easy to alert him," the Silver-Armored General said coldly. "Give the order: increase the difficulty of the upcoming assessments. Whether he's a mule or a horse, he'll eventually show his true colors. I want to see how long he can keep up the act!"

"Yes, General!" Instructor Meng acknowledged and withdrew.

Late at night, Li Dong sat cross-legged in his barracks.

He wasn't asleep, but rather had brought up the System interface in his mind, carefully analyzing all the information he had gathered today.

"He Tianzheng and his group really have many tricks," Li Dong muttered to himself. "First, they sent someone to probe me, then they spread rumors to isolate me, and then came the public provocation. Step by step, they're applying pressure, just wanting to force me to reveal a flaw, or to get what they want from me."

He recalled Qian Pi's arrogant face and the calculating gazes in the cafeteria. Far from feeling bothered, he felt a subtle excitement.

"The greater the pressure, the more opportunities there are. The more they pay attention to me, the easier it will be for them to inadvertently expose their own secrets."

System analysis: Based on the behavior patterns and energy fluctuations of today's target, Qian Pi, combined with his past social network, the probability of him being instigated by Lin Fan, a collateral descendant of the Lin family, is 75%.

"Lin Fan? The Lin family is also involved? Is it for revenge for Lin Xiao, or does the Lin family itself have ties to He Tianzheng?" Li Dong's eyes narrowed slightly. "It seems the waters in the capital are muddier than I imagined."

He continued to scroll through the New Recruit Camp personnel relationship chart compiled by the System.

System alert: New Recruit Camp internal personnel structure analysis updated. Seven new He Tianzheng faction informants confirmed. Some personnel are disguised as ordinary candidates, with no unusual daily behavior. Detailed list and potential contact methods have been marked.

Looking at the newly added list, Li Dong couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. One of the names was surprisingly that of a quiet female Cultivator who had shown him sympathy earlier in the day.

"Heh, how interesting. This New Recruit Camp is practically a sieve, full of holes everywhere. Is He Tianzheng treating the selection as his own backyard?"

Li Dong closed the System interface and slowly exhaled a turbid breath.

"Since you all enjoy acting so much, I'll play along with you. Inviting a wolf into the house? Hehe, it's still uncertain who has fallen into whose trap!"

Outside the window, the moonlight was like water, and the night wind was cool. A larger storm seemed to be brewing. And Li Dong was already prepared, waiting for the best moment to counterattack. He knew that the real contest had just begun.