202: Chapter 202 In-depth Investigation: Fang Zhuo's Speculation

"What?" Li Zhiyi looked shocked. The strength of ancestor Li Yu's Physical Body was indeed a mystery. Having been burned by flames for 300 years without decaying simply couldn't be explained by a Flying Sky body.

She had once suspected whether Li Yu had achieved a Breakthrough to become a Cosmic Martial Artist.

But if he had achieved a Breakthrough to become a Cosmic Martial Artist, why did he die silently in the Li Family manor without any of the Martial Artists in the Family noticing a thing?

Now that Fang Zhuo mentioned it again, she began to waver.

"Then... you should try."

"Hmm."

Fang Zhuo nodded, then cupped his hands and bowed to Li Yu lying in the coffin: "Senior, I apologize for the offense."

He raised his blade and struck downward suddenly, the tip of the blade flashing with cold light as it pierced into the coffin and stabbed into Li Yu's bare thigh.

'Clang—!'

A sound like metal striking stone rang out. Fang Zhuo increased his force, fully unleashing his Perfection-level control, causing the blade to bend under the strain.

"It didn't break through at all?"

As the blade straightened, Fang Zhuo was repelled. When he walked forward to look closely, there wasn't a single mark on Li Yu's bare thigh.

This... there was no doubt now; Li Yu could not possibly be a Flying Martial Artist!

Flying Martial Artists are known for being impervious to blades and guns, but that only applies to Martial Artists of a lower tier. Against Martial Artists of the same Flying Sky level, a full-force strike with a blade can easily break through their defense.

"Is Ancestor's Physical Body truly at the level of a Cosmic Martial Artist?"

Li Zhiyi was stunned too.

Fang Zhuo was also at the Peak of the Flying Sky level!

A powerful strike hadn't even left a scratch on the ancestor!

No wonder these flames had burned for 300 years without causing any damage.

"Has your ancestor, Li Yu, ever been at odds with any Cosmic Martial Artist of the Federation?" Fang Zhuo sheathed his sword and asked Li Zhiyi, who looked complex.

He was curious now; if Li Yu had gone into seclusion to achieve a Breakthrough to Cosmic Martial Artist, what kind of accident could have caused him to die suddenly at home?

Assassination by an enemy?

Li Zhiyi understood Fang Zhuo's meaning and shook her head: "No. Not only was my ancestor not at odds with any Cosmic Martial Artist in the Federation, but he also had good relationships with the only three Cosmic Martial Artists at the time."

"It is rumored that Chairman Onni, founder of the Future Group, even actively pursued ancestor Li Yu..."

Li Zhiyi stopped herself, her expression filled with shock and doubt.

Could it be a crime of passion? As a veteran Cosmic Martial Artist, did Chairman Onni, rejected in his pursuit, sneak into the Family manor to assassinate the ancestor while Li Yu was attempting a Breakthrough to Cosmic Martial Artist?

But... there were no injuries on his body!

Li Zhiyi looked grim and bowed to Fang Zhuo:

"Chairman Song Shou of your group might know some inside information about this. If there is an opportunity, I hope you can help me ask."

Chairman Onni might have killed the Li Family ancestor, Li Yu, 300 years ago?

"If there is an opportunity, I will find out."

Fang Zhuo felt his thoughts were in chaos, but he deliberated and said: "However, the Civilization Assessment is the priority right now. This matter can only be put aside until after the Civilization Assessment, if... there is still an opportunity."

Since he had decided to make this deal with Li Zhiyi and accept this... special flame, he also hoped to uncover the cause of Li Yu's death.

A newly promoted Cosmic Martial Artist dying in his place of seclusion was simply too shocking.

"I understand."

Li Zhiyi bowed again: "Regardless of whether you can uncover the cause of ancestor Li Yu's death, my Li Family will owe you a favor. In the future... if the Federation still has a future, for anything, you only need to say the word, and my Li Family will fully cooperate!"

Li Zhiyi felt a bit manic inside.

Ancestor Li Yu had actually achieved a Breakthrough to Cosmic Martial Artist before dying!

A Cosmic Martial Artist! Possessing a lifespan of ten thousand years; if Ancestor Li Yu hadn't met with an accident, my Li Family would have stood at the Peak of the Blue Moon for generations!

"No need to be so formal."

Fang Zhuo waved his hand, then looked at Li Yu's corpse with some difficulty... How was he supposed to take it away?

Should he open the tactical space backpack given by Director Song and temporarily move the resources? Three cubic meters of space would be just enough to fit it.

No... Director Song had warned that this tactical space backpack could only be opened after boarding the Universe adventure ship and initiating Universe jump.

Fang Zhuo shook his head.

It was a pity the Federation didn't have the technology to develop space backpacks; otherwise, he would have spent a fortune to buy one regardless of the cost.

"I will come to this room often in the future. Head of the Li Family, is that convenient for you?"

After considering it, Fang Zhuo decided to come to the Li Family to practice before the Civilization Assessment.

Because of the flames on Li Yu's body, the fire-attribute source power in this room was exceptionally dense, even if he didn't yet know how to use these flames to practice a Divine Ability.

But practicing here for a long time would definitely have potential benefits.

"It is convenient."

Li Zhiyi wished for Fang Zhuo to come more often. She smiled and said: "This courtyard is a Forbidden Ground for my Li Family. Usually, no clansmen will come here. Don't worry, I will emphasize this to the clansmen later."

"Hmm, then I will trouble you, Head of the Li Family."

Fang Zhuo cupped his hands and asked: "By the way, my sister's cultivation speed is so fast, is it related to... this?"

He glanced at Li Yu lying quietly in the flames.

"Yes, a special cultivation room was built on the back of this courtyard. The ventilation System is connected to this room, and the fire-attribute source power is also very dense."

Li Zhiyi pointed to the corner of the wall.

Fang Zhuo realized. The Martial Aspect Fire Phoenix must have a miraculous effect when absorbing fire-attribute source power, which was why his sister could become extraordinary so quickly.

"However, this is only secondary. The main reason is your sister's own talent. My Li Family has had many legacies over the years, and many Martial Artists have awakened the Fire Phoenix Martial Aspect, but only Fang Jing has made such rapid progress after absorbing fire-attribute source power!"

Li Zhiyi praised.

"Is that so? But Head of the Li Family, you can tell me that, but please don't say it in front of her, lest she gets too cocky."

Fang Zhuo smiled: "Alright, I will come here often to practice before the Civilization Assessment. After the Civilization Assessment ends, if the Federation is unfortunately downgraded... I will come immediately to take away Senior Li Yu's corpse."

"Head of the Li Family, please finalize the list this week. When the time comes, together with my sister, the 'tour group' arranged by the Federation will set off in these two weeks."

"Okay."

Li Zhiyi nodded in agreement and walked out of the room side-by-side with Fang Zhuo.

...

Outside the courtyard.

Hearing footsteps, Fang Jing's ears twitched, then she swung her arms and ran wildly, rushing to Fang Zhuo's side in one breath.

"Brother! I've been in seclusion for a year, how did so many big things happen!"

"You and sister-in-law Shi Wei have two babies, and I'm an aunt?!"

"I haven't been able to watch them grow up. Sigh, I'm really not a good aunt, too irresponsible..."

Fang Jing pinched her fingers, blamed herself for a few seconds, and then put on a worried look: "By the way, Brother, is the Civilization Assessment unavoidable?"

"You are now a great Martial Artist at the Peak of the Flying Sky level. How much confidence do you have in winning the Civilization Assessment?"

"Ninety percent."

Fang Zhuo patted Fang Jing's head and said boldly, though he did not have that much confidence in his heart.

His own combat power multiplier was currently 355.2 times, which was already in the first tier of Peak Flying Sky in the Blue Moon Federation, but compared to the Civilization Assessment candidates with combat power multipliers of over 400 times, he was at a significant disadvantage.

At the moment, the secret technique Jade Shatter had not yet been mastered.

He could only hope for the Divine Ability 'Flame'. Could the Fire Breath, which had displayed such Divine Might at the Extraordinary level, still be sharp at the Flying Sky level?

When he killed Ding Nan in the Wilderness Area, the scene of blades of fire breaking through the defensive Divine Ability of the Martial Aspect 'Black Tortoise' flashed in Fang Zhuo's mind again.

No... The Civilization Assessment is a life-and-death battle; one cannot blindly trust intuition!

In these few days, he had to find Minister Chu Jiang to test his skills and determine the strength of the Divine Ability 'Flame'. If the effect was not as expected, he could still think of other ways during the four-plus months before the Civilization Assessment.