Xiao Chen Attacked (Please Keep Reading!)

After choosing Hextech, Xiao Chen took advantage of the lingering momentum from his breakthrough to circulate his mana again and consolidate his cultivation.

Having reached the 7th level of Qi Refining, his Dantian capacity had finally expanded to fifteen strands of mana.

With this foundation of mana, he finally had the chance to truly participate in spell battles and represent the sect on missions outside.

At the same time, it meant that he no longer needed to keep watch over Spirit Fields and could receive a monthly stipend higher than that of an Outer Sect Disciple.

The sect provided every Inner Sect Disciple with five Spirit Stones per month as a cultivation subsidy.

If they had the time, they could visit the Merit Hall to accept missions and earn Spirit Stones and sect Contribution Points.

If they did not lack resources, they could remain in the sect for Closed-door cultivation until they were assigned elsewhere by the sect after turning thirty.

If Xiao Chen could break through to Foundation Establishment before the age of thirty—in other words, within the next eight and a half years—he could advance another step, join Sect Management, and become part of its core middle ranks.

Of course, all of that was still far away for now.

After completing three Great Heavenly Cycles, Xiao Chen got up and returned to his room to catch up on sleep, planning to report his breakthrough to Manager Chen after waking.

He had just returned to his room and lain down for less than ten breaths.

Li Sibao, who had been made to stand as punishment for an entire day and night, arrived outside his room with a bottle of Spirit Wine in hand.

It was the second quarter of the Hour of the Snake in the morning. Xiao Chen's neighbors were all busy tending Spirit Fields or gathering ore, and the surrounding homes were empty.

So Li Sibao swaggered right up to his door, intending to scout the place out first.

While he was at it, he also wanted to see whether Xiao Chen had left any spiritual treasures in his room.

To his delight, he discovered that Xiao Chen was actually still asleep.

"Ha, cultivating six hours every day? Looks to me like you sleep six hours every day."

Li Sibao's face was full of disdain. "The sun is already three poles high, and you still aren't out of bed. How do you have the nerve to call yourself diligent? That Liu fellow even lied for you. None of you are any good."

He raised the wine bottle and gulped down a mouthful, his face immediately reddening as he let out a full belch.

Then he drew the Flying Sword from his waist, easily pried open the Door Bolt, strode inside, and slashed at Xiao Chen.

When Xiao Chen heard footsteps stop right outside his door, some of his drowsiness faded.

But he was just a moment too slow sitting up when he saw a burly figure rush in, a gleaming Flying Sword in hand, hacking straight at him.

His sleepiness vanished in an instant. His legs explosively exerted force, smashing the bed boards beneath him as he flipped through the air like a swallow and landed by the window.

At once, he instinctively formed a hand seal and cast Golden Light Art, summoning Golden Light Body Protection.

Only then did he have time to look up. "Li Sibao? What are you doing?!"

"Hm? You weren't asleep?" Li Sibao froze in surprise, then sneered. "Your reactions are pretty quick."

As he spoke, he formed another hand seal, readying an attack.

Xiao Chen frowned. Though a single Fireball could end this fight, that would treat the symptoms but not the root cause.

Li Sibao's behavior was far too abnormal. It would be best to get some answers first.

So, while casting Earth Shield Art, he demanded, "We have no old grudges and no recent enmity. Who sent you to cause trouble for me?"

Several sharp-edged snowflakes had already gathered before Li Sibao. He grinned. "Want to know? Call me Dad, and I'll tell you!"

With that, he thrust out his hand, and all the snowflakes instantly shot toward Xiao Chen like sharp arrows.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

A string of sparks erupted, followed by bursts of Cold Air, but all of them were blocked by an earthen-yellow Square Shield.

Xiao Chen held the shield in his right hand and raised a Fireball in his left. "Go!"

The Fireball flew straight at Li Sibao, faster than the snowflakes had been.

Li Sibao raised his Flying Sword sideways to block it while following the mysterious person's instructions and using a spell formula to connect with the Cold Air.

Those snowflakes were not as simple as they appeared. As long as...

However, in the next instant, it felt as though someone had kicked him viciously in the stomach. The tremendous impact sent him crashing directly into the wall behind him.

Looking down, through the hole in his Flying Sword, he saw a portion of his intestines missing—and the rosewood wardrobe in the neighboring room.

That wardrobe also had a hole as large as the one in his stomach.

"Ahhh! My Dantian!"

Only after standing there in a daze for three full breaths did Li Sibao finally realize, belatedly, what fear was.

But before he could react, several barbed Wooden Vines bound him tightly in midair.

Xiao Chen discarded the Earth Shield. A Fireball appeared in his palm once more, and he extended it directly before Li Sibao's face.

The flame was close enough to easily set Li Sibao's eyebrows and hair alight.

Xiao Chen turned a blind eye to it and demanded harshly, "I'll give you one last chance. Tell me honestly—who exactly sent you to cause trouble for me?"

Li Sibao craned his neck. "You spineless coward! If you've got what it takes, kill me!"

"Who are you trying to scare with that lousy Fireball? Go on, touch me if you dare!"

The Li Fire Sect strictly forbade disciples from killing one another. Li Sibao was completely unafraid and even continued shouting, "Xiao Chen, this isn't over today."

"You injured me for no reason and even used private punishment. I'll report you to Elder Jiang at the Law Enforcement Hall! Just you wait."

"Wh-what are you doing?"

A stream of pure water rushed into Li Sibao's stomach. Instantly, a sizzling sound came from within, like droplets of water splashing into a pan of hot oil.

Xiao Chen controlled Water Healing Art, sending it through Li Sibao's internal organs and washing black blood out from inside him.

The moment Xiao Chen noticed that black blood had begun flowing from Li Sibao's ruptured stomach, he immediately used Water Healing Art to suppress it while releasing him from the vines.

Water Healing Art had limited effects against toxins.

But because he had discovered it early, and with Hextech's enhancement, he temporarily preserved Li Sibao's life.

"Black blood? Poison!"

Seeing the puddle of poisoned blood on the floor, Li Sibao panicked. "How could this happen?"

He tried to circulate his mana to heal himself, only to suffer an immediate backlash and vomit another mouthful of black blood.

Xiao Chen examined him carefully, then shook his head slightly. "What a potent poison. It has already penetrated your Meridians. It looks like it has seeped into your very marrow. You are almost beyond saving."

Li Sibao's expression changed drastically at those words.

Struggling, he pulled out a medicinal pill and swallowed it, then tremblingly took out a Water Healing Talisman and activated it.

However, ordinary Water Healing Art had no effect whatsoever.

"It's useless. What's going on? Why isn't it working?"

His legs gave way, and Li Sibao collapsed onto the floor.

His eyes were wide open. "That stream of water clearly washed out the poison just now. Right, Senior Brother Xiao—you have a way. Senior Brother, save me! Please, save me!"

Xiao Chen asked, "Weren't you acting tough just now? I thought you weren't afraid of dying. Besides, why should I save you?"

Li Sibao immediately grew anxious. "Because... because someone wants to cause trouble for you..."

Seeing that Xiao Chen remained unmoved, he hastily added fuel to the flames. "No, Senior Brother, someone wants to harm you. Someone told me to kill you!"

"I'm still useful! I saw his face! I can't die! If I die, you won't have any clues!"

"Senior Brother, I'm begging you! Save me, quickly!"

Li Sibao truly could not die here.

It was not only to preserve a lead. More importantly, there were no witnesses here. If Li Sibao died inside the room, Xiao Chen would instead be the first person suspected.

So Xiao Chen acted again, using Water Healing Art to suppress the poison inside Li Sibao's body.

At the same time, he fired a Fireball at the tallest house in the distance, setting its roof ablaze.

Hopefully, someone would see the fire and come quickly.

P.S. I'm a new author. Please give this book a chance if you think the earlier content has been decent.

As of this morning, September 30, three esteemed readers have already left comments saying that the plot from Chapters 31 to 35 is not very good.

If later readers feel the same way, please try skipping to Chapter 36.

I'm a little panicked right now, but I think I can still be saved. Manual image attached: Doctor, can I still be saved?.JPG

Lastly, I bow to everyone—Or2

Anyone who can see this has already finished reading this chapter. So let me ask in advance for you to keep reading next Tuesday's latest chapter. If you have time, please keep reading next Tuesday as well. Thank you very much.