I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals 176

## Chapter 176: Bad News from the Front Lines

After Mu Bingyun left, Lu Changan began considering how to deal with Senior Brother Zhuo.

He had previously analyzed that Senior Brother Zhuo had been expelled from Li Huo Gong and there should be no Soul Lamp left behind in their official records.

However, as a black glove for Li Huo Gong cultivators, he might have connections with the upper echelon, so precautions were necessary. If he died, there might be other means of sensing it.

At least, Senior Brother Zhuo couldn’t die at this point in time.

Ideally, he would appear in another place at some point in the future and then die. This way, he could be cleared of any connection with Wu Qi Shan and Lu Changan.

As for the scapegoat, it was best to let it happen naturally, without forcing it.

Otherwise, it would be like painting the snake and adding feet.

“Half a year later.”

Lu Changan set a deadline for Senior Brother Zhuo. At least half a year, or a year later.

The spoils of war on Senior Brother Zhuo were valuable, but few were useful to Lu Changan.

The rudimentary gold fighting treasure was clearly stolen goods and couldn’t be used openly.

Lu Changan had a rudimentary treasure that he had been nurturing and refining for many years, and it was more suitable and required less energy to use.

Normally, it would take a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator with a strong cultivation base, or someone with exceptional spiritual consciousness, to control a rudimentary treasure.

The two quasi-third-order talismans, one for attack and one for escape, were good additions to Lu Changan’s talisman collection.

These quasi-third-order talismans, due to differences in refining techniques and materials, were unsuitable for nurturing.

Quasi-third-order talismans, corresponding to False Core cultivators, were often born in two ways:

First, due to insufficient refining skills, using third-order materials to draw talismans, they are downgraded to quasi-third-order.

Second, skilled artisans using quasi-third-order beast skin to draw talismans.

When a beast ascends to the third-order, similar to human cultivators forming a Core, they must condense an inner core within their bodies.

If a low-quality inner core is formed, it’s equivalent to a False Core cultivator in humans, a quasi-third-order beast.

“Those materials for the Condensing Crystal Pill, if I ever have the chance to refine pills, any extra Condensing Crystal Pills can be considered for the Di Yan Shu.”

Lu Changan pondered.

The process of beasts reaching the third-order and condensing inner cores is similar to human cultivators.

Therefore, the Condensing Crystal Pill is also useful to the Di Yan Shu.

The Condensing Crystal Pill is specifically designed for human cultivators, and its effectiveness for beasts is reduced.

There are many types of beasts, and the closer they are to humans in life, the closer their effectiveness when taking the Condensing Crystal Pill.

The effectiveness for a rat demon in taking the Condensing Crystal Pill will not be bad.

After all, many human medicines are tested on rats.

Before, Lu Changan didn’t have a clear plan for his own Core Formation, so he was only considering a quasi-third-order for the Di Yan Shu.

If he has any spare Condensing Crystal Pills in the future, he can ensure the Di Yan Shu at least reaches False Core and has a slight chance of becoming a third-order Great Demon.

…

Currently, Senior Brother Zhuo was bound in the underground near the north side of Wu Qi Shan.

The underground rocks had a strong blocking effect on spiritual consciousness.

Without knowing the exact location, even a Core Formation cultivator flying nearby would not notice him.

The Di Yan Shu was responsible for guarding, using Fasting Pills to maintain Senior Brother Zhuo’s nutritional supply.

Because of the restrictions placed on him, he didn’t even have the ability to commit suicide.

Lu Changan wanted to interrogate Senior Brother Zhuo, but considering the intelligence about the “Night Fisherman” appearing, Li Huo Gong might send cultivators to visit soon, so he temporarily put it aside.

Three days later.

Song Wenshu, accompanied by two Li Huo Gong cultivators, came to Wu Qi Shan to gather information and search for the “Night Fisherman.”

The three peak masters of Wu Qi Shan actively cooperated and provided clues.

Lu Changan and Shi Xianzi honestly answered about what happened that night.

Lu Changan only concealed the part about capturing and killing Senior Brother Zhuo afterward.

After the routine inquiries,

Song Wenshu stayed as a guest at Xiao Gui Feng, accompanied by the three peak masters of Wu Qi Shan.

“Daoist Lu, the ‘Night Fisherman’ appeared again near Wu Qi Shan, almost injuring your juniors, this is my negligence!”

Speaking privately, Song Wenshu apologized, his tone softened.

Lu Changan had previously paid him spirit stones to improve the security around Wu Qi Shan, and they had a bit of a connection.

Song Wenshu’s words and actions made Shi Manrong and the others have a good impression of him.

Li Huo Gong cultivators were considered a level above others outside, and rarely gave loose cultivators any face.

“Daoist Song, you’re overthinking it. After all, this is a special time, your sect’s manpower is also limited.”

Lu Changan politely replied.

If he didn’t know the truth, he might be swayed by this person’s words.

“The three peak masters, please don’t worry, I will further increase patrols around Wu Qi Shan in the future…”

Song Wenshu reassured them.

“By the way, Li Huo Gong is planning to increase the reward for the ‘Night Fisherman’, are the three of you interested in participating?”

After some casual conversation, Song Wenshu brought up the topic casually.

Only Lu Changan understood that Song Wenshu’s words were a probe.

To test their determination to pursue the “Night Fisherman.”

“Alas, Lu is not confident in capturing such a notorious bandit. I didn’t know his identity when I lured the robber that night. Going out in the future, not being targeted for retaliation by this person is already a blessing.”

Lu Changan said with a wry smile.

Shi Manrong said regretfully, “This thief was seriously injured and escaped that night, making him wary. In the future, it will be more difficult to capture him again…”

Song Wenshu, without showing any emotions, saw that the three peak masters were not interested in digging deeper.

After staying at Xiao Gui Feng for two quarters of an hour, Song Wenshu got up to leave.

The three peak masters of Wu Qi Shan saw him off outside the cave.

Ye Fei sighed, “This Daoist Song, he is gentle and elegant, not putting on airs about his status, he’s a man worth befriending.”

Lu Changan smiled and nodded, without discussing it further.

Shi Xianzi, who had a deeper relationship with him, had a vague intuition.

Although Lu Changan was polite to Song Wenshu, he seemed to lack the interest and sincerity in befriending him that he had in the past.

…

Half a month after the Li Huo Gong cultivators left,

Lu Changan finally went to the underground north of Wu Qi Shan and attempted to interrogate Senior Brother Zhuo.

In the dark underground cave.

Senior Brother Zhuo was pale, his eyes sunken, and his expression vacant.

When he saw Lu Changan, his pupils constricted, but he didn’t show any surprise.

Senior Brother Zhuo was being watched by the Di Yan Shu during these days, so he had some guesses.

Lu Changan released some of his restrictions, restoring his ability to speak.

“Brother Zhuo, answer some questions honestly, and I’ll give you a quick death.”

Lu Changan said frankly.

“Lu Changan, do you know who I am? If you have the guts, kill me! Then the entire Wu Qi Shan will be buried with me!”

Senior Brother Zhuo froze for a moment, his face cold, he sneered.

“Such big talk.”

Lu Changan was slightly surprised, did this person really have a powerful background?

“Ridiculous! If you have the ability, why hide in the shadows, wandering around as a robber?”

“Humph! I am the descendant of a Li Huo Gong elder, if you don’t believe me, go ask Song Wenshu.”

Senior Brother Zhuo scoffed.

“The descendant of a Li Huo Gong elder? I haven’t heard that any powerful Li Huo Gong elder has the surname Zhuo.”

Lu Changan was skeptical.

The elders of Li Huo Gong, at the very least, had to be Core Formation cultivators, most of them were ordinary elders, or external elders.

The truly core elders were few in number.

These big shots, Lu Changan had been familiar with them for over a hundred years during his cultivation in Liang Guo.

Senior Brother Zhuo fell silent. Either there was something he couldn’t say, or he was intentionally creating mystery. He didn’t elaborate on his origins.

Lu Changan didn’t force him.

He was seriously injured and had lost his cultivation base. Except for his will and insight, he was essentially a mortal, his body couldn’t withstand torture.

Apart from physical torture, Lu Changan had plenty of other ways.

Days passed.

Lu Changan didn’t give Senior Brother Zhuo any Fasting Pills, causing him to become weak and delirious from hunger.

In this state, Lu Changan used the “Soul-Entrancing Spell” and he successfully fell for it.

Whoosh!

After only a short moment, Senior Brother Zhuo woke up from the “Soul-Entrancing Spell”, after all, he was a peak late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator who had fallen, his will was strong.

“You, who are you? At the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, your spiritual consciousness is so strong…”

Senior Brother Zhuo broke out in a cold sweat, he looked at Lu Changan in disbelief.

In Li Huo Gong, only the seeds for Golden Core, when they reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment, could have such powerful spiritual consciousness.

Lu Changan smiled, but didn’t speak. He fed him a Fasting Pill, re-imposed the restrictions on him, making sure there were no loopholes.

During that brief moment, he used the Soul-Entrancing Spell to ask Senior Brother Zhuo a few questions.

…

Back at Xiao Gui Feng, Lu Changan pondered for a long time.

Senior Brother Zhuo’s real name was “Zhuo Yangping”, and he was actually the great-grandson of a powerful Li Huo Gong elder.

Many years ago, he did something wrong in the sect and used threats and inducements to sexually assault several female disciples, including a False Core disciple from the inner sect.

When the matter was exposed, Senior Brother Zhuo fled in fear of punishment.

The powerful elder, known for his righteousness, declared he would kill his own relative.

In the end, Li Huo Gong’s Law Enforcement cultivators “killed” Senior Brother Zhuo outside to quell the matter.

From then on, Senior Brother Zhuo was expelled from Li Huo Gong, he changed his name and lived in the shadows, associating with Li Huo Gong cultivators, acting as a black glove.

According to Senior Brother Zhuo’s answers, the powerful elder had no intention of saving his great-grandson.

It was a deputy hall master from the Law Enforcement Hall who secretly saved Senior Brother Zhuo, either to please the powerful elder or for other reasons.

This deputy hall master was Song Wenshu’s senior.

Over the years, Senior Brother Zhuo had used a significant portion of the wealth and female cultivators he had plundered to pay tribute to the deputy hall master.

“The great-grandson of a Core Formation elder, this connection is neither close nor distant…”

Knowing the truth, Lu Changan was apprehensive, but he felt a sense of assurance in his heart.

Senior Brother Zhuo’s background was indeed not small, but it was far from being invincible.

His status was far inferior to the direct disciples of the Li Huo Gong Master or the Law Enforcement Elder.

The Nascent Soul Zhen Jun of Li Huo Gong was a Grand Elder who generally did not concern himself with the sect’s mundane affairs.

If it involved the direct descendants or disciples of a Nascent Soul Zhen Jun, who had a background beyond Lu Changan’s understanding from his previous life, he wouldn’t even consider it, he would run away, even leave Liang Guo.

…

Two months passed in a flash.

There was no response from Li Huo Gong, and Song Wenshu did indeed strengthen patrols around Wu Qi Shan during this period.

The security environment in the surrounding area had improved.

One day.

Lu Changan received a letter from Jin Yun Valley.

Zhang Tieshan and Lin Lu were both fighting in a neighboring country. The author of the letter was Zhao Siyao.

Zhao Siyao implied in the letter that the sect would soon be recruiting a second batch of cultivators to go to Feng Guo for the war.

Lu Changan guessed that Zhao Siyao might be on the list for the second batch of war cultivators.

At the same time, the letter also brought bad news, or rather, a piece of bad news from the front lines of Feng Guo.

Update 17 will be delayed. (I got home too late and have no energy to write. I’m going to sleep early, I’ll try to update earlier tomorrow..)

(End of Chapter)

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