Nighttime Visit to Li Manor

City Lord Liu Ruying also has a problem? It has to be said that Zhuge Xiang's words Zhang Kuang and the others. They looked at Zhuge Xiang with surprise, but they also knew that Zhuge Xiang was not the kind of person who would speak without reason, so they were all waiting for his analysis.

"Su Huayu, how many Innate Realm Squad Leader assist in the management of your Rakshasa City?" Instead of rushing to explain, Zhuge Xiang looked at Su Huayu and asked.

"Our Rakshasa City has Sixteen Squad Leader at the Innate Realm assisting us. The Inner Sect also stipulates that each city can have fifteen to twenty Inner Sect Teams assisting us," Su Huayu replied, her expression slightly surprised, clearly understanding Zhuge Xiang's meaning.

"That's right. The Steward from the City Lord's Manor said that the City Lord took all the experts out, but only seven Squad Leader returned. If that's the case, there should still be about ten who haven't shown up yet," Su Huayu and Zhuge Xiang's conversation made Zhang Kuang and the others beside them realize what was going on and exclaim in surprise.

"And what was the Steward's attitude when we said we wanted to go to Tang Family Fort ourselves? He stopped us, and he seemed very anxious."

Zhuge Xiang continued his analysis, meticulously explaining, "Furthermore, Liu Ruying led a group of experts to investigate, setting off before dawn and returning only in the evening. They spent the entire day without finding a single clue? The information he gave us was the same as what several Rogue Cultivators on the mountain road reported. So, what was he busy with all day?"

"Indeed, now that you mention it, it seems that Liu Ruying is indeed very suspicious," Qin Qing interjected, holding the Weeping Blood Demonic Zither in her arms. "He also tried to persuade us to stay at the City Lord's Manor before. Even when we wanted to enjoy the night view of Shuzhong City, he had Captain Hua accompany us. It seems that he was trying to monitor us."

"If that's the case, then why did you agree to stay at Liu Ruying's City Lord's Manor?" Upon hearing this, Zi Xiang, who was standing next to Zhuge Xiang, looked a little anxious and asked him.

Zhuge Xiang glanced sideways at Zi Xiang and said, "It's simple. To avoid Stirring the Grass to Startle the Snake, we'll stay at the City Lord's Manor, right under his nose. This will make him less vigilant. More importantly, I suspect Liu Ruying is suspicious; I don't have concrete Evidence. He might want us to stay to monitor us, but why can't we monitor him too?"

"Zhuge Xiang, tell me, what are your thoughts? What will happen to Liu Ruying?" Niu Geng interrupted, clearly disliking Zi Xiang Zhuge Xiang, thus diverting Zhuge Xiang's attention from Zi Xiang.

"This is just my guess," Zhuge Xiang stated before revealing a bombshell prediction. "If I'm not mistaken, Liu Ruying should have joined forces with the Li Family to destroy Tang Family Fort. As for the fact that only seven Innate Realm Squad Leader remained, perhaps the other Squad Leader who opposed him have already been killed by him."

Hiss...

Zhuge Xiang's guess was undeniably bold. His audacious speculation caused Niu Geng and the others to gasp in shock. If Liu Ruying was indeed involved, what was his purpose?

Taking matters into his own hands and wiping out a cultivation family without informing the Sect would inevitably lead to a strict investigation by the Sect once exposed. If Zhuge Xiang's guess is correct, Liu Ruying even killed the Squad Leader who assisted him but opposed him, so he would certainly have to bear the Sect's iron-fisted punishment.

"Although we are all quite strong, this is, after all, the City Lord's Manor. It wouldn't be appropriate for anyone to stay here," Zhuge Xiang said after a moment of silence, allowing everyone to calm down from the shock of the news. His gaze fell on Xiao Yue, and he added, "Fortunately, Xiao Yue's size provides cover. If we sneak in to investigate, it should be completely undetectable."

"Such a dangerous thing, you want me to do it?" Xiao Yue's eyes widened as she turned her head away, indicating that she was unwilling to take the risk for no reason.

Seeing Xiao Yue's appearance, Zhuge Xiang smiled slightly, knowing exactly what it was thinking. Divine Sense Transmission and said, "How about a Twelve Star Magic Tool?"

"No! At least five!"

"Two! That's all! You know the Twelve Star Magic Tool aren't easy to forge."

"How about three items?"

"Just two items!"

"Alright, it's settled then." Seeing that Zhuge Xiang was sticking to the price and wouldn't budge, Xiao Yue had no choice but to bend her knees slightly, spring out, and nimbly slip into the dog hole of the City Lord's Manor.

"What a smart little dog Zhuge Xiang, where did you get this dog?" Zhang Kuang, Mo Wuyan, and the others were astonished to see Zhuge Xiang assigning tasks to the little dog. They had always thought that Xiao Yue was just a pet dog that Zhuge Xiang kept, but now it seemed that it was no ordinary dog.

"It's something that can't be forced," Zhuge Xiang said with a mysterious smile, then added, "Alright, time is of the essence. Let's go check out the Li Family first; perhaps we can still find some clues there."

Shuzhong City is the only city in the Shu region. Some of the larger powers naturally set up their base headquarters here. Tang Family Fort is one such example, as is the Li Family. Without needing to ask anyone, Niu Geng knew where the Li Family was. Following behind Niu Geng, under the cover of night, they walked for about the time it takes to drink two cups of tea in Shuzhong City before arriving at the Li Family's gate.

A large mansion, spanning over a hundred meters in circumference, with vermilion gates and high blue stone walls. On the huge plaque above the entrance, the two characters "Li Manor" are written in strong, elegant strokes, seemingly by a master calligrapher, their sharpness almost piercing through the plaque.

"These two characters seem to contain the Spear Qi, but within this sharp Spear Qi, one also feels a sense of danger, like that of Venomous Snake." Looking at the characters on the plaque of the Li Manor, one is struck by the Zhang Kuang of wielding Spear.

"Well, Tang Family Fort is famous for its mechanisms and poisons, while the Li Family is famous in Shu for its Poison Arts. In particular, the Li Family's Spear Arts incorporates Toxins, making it both unpredictable and ferocious," Niu Geng Zhang Kuang's words.

The Shu region was a major producer of Poisonous Creatures in the entire Great Qin Empire, and any forces that could establish themselves there naturally possessed profound expertise in poisons.

The poison of Tang Family Fort is mainly used in conjunction with mechanisms and Hidden Weapons. Even if it falls into the hands of ordinary people, it can have a strong killing power. However, the Li Family is different from the Tang Family. The Li Family mainly integrates poison into Martial Skill. The internal Qi Energy they cultivate and the weapons they use are all infused with domineering and strange Toxins.

Under the cover of night, the Li Family was brightly lit, but mournful music could also be heard coming from within. After destroying Tang Family Fort, the Li Family itself had suffered casualties, Li Family were holding a funeral for their fallen comrades that very night.

Although Zhuge Xiang and the others weren't top-tier in terms of strength, they were still considered rare experts in the Qi Refining Stage. The group cautiously and secretly infiltrated the Li Family to search for useful clues.

After searching around, they could see the front yard of the Li Family, where more than a dozen coffins were placed, and the sound of wailing was deafening. They could also see many people wearing mourning clothes, and many of the Li Family Guard were also injured. It was clear that a great battle had taken place. After patrolling the front yard, with so many people and eyes, Zhuge Xiang and the others could not find any substantial clues. They discussed in hushed tones for a moment and then sneaked into the back yard of the Li Family.

The backyard of the Li Family was much quieter than the noisy funeral in the front yard. However, it was precisely because of this quiet that Zhuge Xiang the others heard a series of unusual sounds in the darkness. After following the sound a little closer, they realized that it seemed to be a man's roar, but the roar was weak and feeble.

The incoherent shouts of a madman were initially ignored by Zhuge Xiang and the others, but Niu Geng suddenly jolted and said, "Zhuge Xiang, go and see. I think I heard someone mentioning Ninth Miss Tang Xiaorou's name."

Zhuge Xiang also knew about Niu Geng's affair with the Ninth Miss of Tang Family Fort. Hearing him say this, Zhuge Xiang nodded and told the others to hold their breath and wait. He and Niu Geng sneaked over to check the situation. Relying on the effect of the Breath Concealing Jade, Zhuge Xiang and the others finally arrived at the place where the madman was roaring.

This was a locked room, with a large iron lock on the door. Inside, a man's incoherent roars could be heard; he seemed to have fallen into a state of madness. Occasionally, one could hear words like "Tang Family Fort," "Our Li Family," "Tang Xiaorou," and "Cannot," but it was impossible to understand what the man was saying. At the door of the room, two men, both around twenty years old and at the Meridian Opening Realm, stood guard on either side.

"Alas, this Sixth Young Master is truly pitiful. He was deceived for four whole years by that unfaithful woman from the Tang Family. What's even more lamentable is the Sixth Young Master's infatuation," a roar came from inside the room, prompting the guard on the left to murmur with some emotion.

"Sixth Young Master is just asking for trouble. As the young master of the prestigious Li Family, what woman can't he have? Tang Xiaorou had an ambiguous relationship with one of the servants in the past. Once it's been investigated, she should Drowning in a Pig Cage according to the rules. Besides, Tang Xiaorou has been in our Li Family for four years and hasn't laid a single egg. Why is Sixth Young Master so opposed?" The guard on the right also curled his lip and shook his head.

Hidden in the shadows, Niu Geng overheard the conversation between the two guards. His face darkened, and he seemed to lose control of his Qi Energy in his dark hands.

Understanding Niu Geng's feelings, Zhuge Xiang gently patted him on the shoulder, telling him to go to the room and rescue the so-called Sixth Young Master, who should know some important information.

After giving his orders, Zhuge Xiang activated his Explosive Steps, unleashed Eagle Eye Technique, and brandished the Sword of Slaughter. In the darkness, a flash of Blood-Red Sword Light disappeared.

Before they could even scream, with Zhuge Xiang's cultivation level, ambushing and assassinating a guy at the Meridian Opening Realm was a piece of cake.

After instantly killing one of them, Zhuge Xiang struck the other guard on the neck with the hilt of his sword. Before the guard could even cry out, he was knocked unconscious by Zhuge Xiang. Then, Zhuge Xiang and Niu Geng each carried a guard and the unconscious Li Family's Sixth Young Master, who was inside the room, and quickly left. (To be continued...)