84: The Abnormality of the Kang Family

"Fellow cultivator Zhang, your cultivation talent is truly excellent. To have already reached the Lianqi 9th Layer at such a young age, you certainly have a great chance of becoming a Foundation Establishment Cultivator."

"If you can truly achieve a Breakthrough, our Wanqing will be able to enjoy a good life with you."

"Auntie wishes you success in your one-time Breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage here in advance, so you may become a Foundation Establishment Elder of the Xiaoyao Sect."

Li Wanqing's mother, Lin Yun, was immensely happy to see that Zhang Qingxiao had finally relented and given a positive reply.

Ever since she learned that Zhang Qingxiao had reached the Lianqi 9th Layer so quickly, she had been very anxious and kept urging her daughter to visit Zhang Qingxiao's home more often.

"I will take your kind words to heart, Auntie."

"Regardless of whether I can reach the Foundation Establishment Stage, I will not treat Wanqing poorly."

The matter between the two was basically a settled fact, so Zhang Qingxiao was not as reserved as before.

He ate lunch at Li Wanqing's home and stayed for over an hour before leaving.

Over the next few days, the incident regarding the murder of the Wu Family's Cultivation Level 8 Cultivator began to ferment.

As Zhang Qingxiao had anticipated, the situation did not attract too much attention from the Enforcement Hall.

They only conducted a routine investigation, concluded that the victim had been killed by a 2nd-grade Yao Beast, and hastily closed the case.

The Wu Family's Foundation Establishment Cultivator was in seclusion, and the other Cultivators of the Wu Family did not dwell on this matter.

What appeared to be a massive crisis was thus temporarily avoided by Zhang Qingxiao and his group.

For the next half year, Zhang Qingxiao remained very low-key.

Every day, apart from Alchemy, talisman making, and practicing spells, he spent his time Cultivating.

This allowed his proficiency in his Cultivation Technique and spells to improve rapidly.

His Spirit Detection Technique had reached the Great Grandmaster Level. When using this spell, it felt as if he had opened his Heavenly Eye.

Not only could he see the status of a Cultivator's internal spiritual power, but he also possessed a certain degree of X-ray vision.

He could see through clothing and the surface of the body to observe some conditions inside.

In order to practice the Spirit Detection Technique to the perfection level as soon as possible, Zhang Qingxiao gained a deeper understanding of human anatomy.

Besides the Spirit Detection Technique, his other spells also saw significant progress.

Even his Sword Flight technique had been Cultivated to the Grandmaster Level.

When using Sword Flight, his consumption of spiritual power became lower, and his speed became faster.

With his Lianqi 9th Layer Realm and while continuously recovering spiritual power, he was already capable of continuous Sword Flight for over an hour.

His speed was about the same as a Foundation Establishment First Layer Cultivator's Sword Flight.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

"Brother Zhang, it's me, Luo Fei."

That morning, while Zhang Qingxiao was Cultivating the Barbaric Body Refining Art, Luo Fei's voice suddenly came from outside the gate.

"Come in."

After opening the courtyard gate and letting Luo Fei in, he asked, "What happened this time?"

"No... nothing happened."

Luo Fei smiled somewhat awkwardly before saying, "Lin Ying told me that the Wu Family's Cultivator has come out of seclusion."

"I'm worried that he will continue to investigate that matter."

"Half a year has already passed; everything that needed to be handled has already been cleaned up."

"This matter has nothing to do with us."

"If the Wu Family people come to find you, you just need to explain the conflict that night clearly."

If it were half a year ago, he would have been truly worried, but now he didn't care at all.

Over such a long time, Lin Ying had basically resolved all potential dangers.

Furthermore, this Foundation Establishment First Layer Cultivator of the Wu Family was not that highly regarded in the Xiaoyao Sect.

He would not dare to investigate with such fanfare like the Kang Family Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Relying solely on the Wu Family's own Cultivators to investigate something from half a year ago was simply daydreaming.

"Brother Zhang, I'm just afraid that the Wu Family's Foundation Establishment Cultivator will approach me alone..."

Luo Fei said with some embarrassment.

There were quite a few Cultivators who knew about his conflict with the Wu Family's Cultivation Level 8 Cultivator.

If the Wu Family's Foundation Establishment Cultivator really wanted to investigate, he would definitely be called in for questioning.

He was very worried that he wouldn't be able to withstand the pressure of a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator and would accidentally let something slip.

"Then what do you plan to do?"

"Are you planning to leave the Xiaoyao Sect?"

"If you leave now, that would be confessing without being asked."

"If you want to avoid suspicion, you must withstand the pressure of the Foundation Establishment Cultivator and tell the Foundation Establishment Cultivator the story we agreed upon earlier."

"Or, just stage an accidental death for yourself now..."

Zhang Qingxiao frowned and said in an unkind tone.

"Then I'd better go back and memorize the agreed-upon story a few more times."

Thinking of the four beautiful young Dao Companions in his home, Luo Fei quickly shook his head.

"How is business recently? Has it attracted the attention of Outer Sect Disciples or Foundation Establishment Family Cultivators?"

Zhang Qingxiao couldn't be bothered to talk much more to Luo Fei and asked directly about business matters.

He knew very well in his heart that the possibility of the Wu Family's Foundation Establishment Cultivator continuing to pursue that matter from half a year ago was not large.

If they really cared, even if he were in seclusion, the people of the Wu Family would definitely have informed this Foundation Establishment Cultivator immediately.

Over the past half year, Zhang Qingxiao had also learned about Foundation Establishment Cultivators going into seclusion to Cultivate new Cultivation Techniques through various channels.

He knew that Foundation Establishment Cultivators Cultivating new Cultivation Techniques could not be interrupted.

From this point, one could also see the attitude of the Wu Family's Foundation Establishment Cultivator toward the Wu Family Cultivation Level 8 Cultivator they had killed.

"Business is very good. I have already had Zhao Si and the others arrange for subordinates to contact the original Utility Disciples of the Xiaoyao Sect."

"There are already Utility Disciples starting to cooperate with us."

"Now, the daily income has already exceeded two hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones."

"When the number of cooperating Utility Disciples increases, this income will continue to rise."

Speaking of business, Luo Fei's eyes lit up.

For such a long time, no one had discovered that their business could earn so many Spirit Stones, which also made him a bit bolder.

After discussing it with Zhang Qingxiao some time ago, he began to continue expanding the business.

"That's good, but still pay attention to safety; you must not be careless in any way."

"For the subordinates contacting the original Utility Disciples of the Xiaoyao Sect, you must find the most trustworthy people."

Zhang Qingxiao instructed very seriously.

"Rest assured, Brother Zhang, the subordinates I found this time are all trustworthy."

"Moreover, I have increased the monthly Spirit Stone income for these subordinates, so there will absolutely be no problems."

Luo Fei was very confident about this matter.

"I heard from Lin Ying that the Kang Family Cultivators have been investigating Utility Disciples more frequently than before recently."

"Instruct your subordinates to be more careful."

"It has already been over a year, and the Kang Family is still investigating at such a high frequency; it is very likely they have other motives."

Zhang Qingxiao recalled what Lin Ying had just told him that morning and quickly instructed him.

The actions of the Kang Family Cultivators were very abnormal.

It always gave him a bad premonition.

It was just that he knew too little about the situation of the Kang Family and could not yet make an accurate judgment.

"Hmm, Lin Ying also told me about this, and I have already instructed Zhao Si and the others to manage their respective subordinates well."

Luo Fei quickly replied.

"It's not just about managing subordinates; you must also keep a constant eye on the Utility Disciples cooperating with us."

After sending Luo Fei away, Zhang Qingxiao was still a bit uneasy, so he sent a message to Lin Ying and called him over.

...