No wonder Steward Fu had earlier told him to spend more time with Shangguan Ziyun.
He'd wanted Shangguan Ziyun to shelter him and keep him safe.
"I understand. Here, take this Dust Origin Pill, Steward Fu. See if it can help you break through to the Innate Realm."
Su Chen spoke.
"Young Master, you're at Postnatal Peak. If you take this Dust Origin Pill, you'll surely reach the Innate Realm. This old servant is getting on in years; entering the Innate Realm wouldn't be of much use to me."
Steward Fu hurriedly replied.
"I've already entered the Innate Realm. This pill is no use to me."
Su Chen handed the bottle of pills to Steward Fu, then waved him out of the secret chamber.
He still needed to cultivate.
He also had to go out tonight.
To kill that assassin.
He would use the assassin's blood to pay tribute to Su Mengbai and help the original owner fulfill a long-held wish.
When Steward Fu heard that Su Chen had already entered the Innate Realm, surprise appeared on his face.
But thinking of the skills Su Chen had just displayed, he felt it was only natural that Su Chen had reached the Innate Realm.
"Thank you, Young Master!"
Steward Fu hurriedly expressed his thanks.
Su Chen closed the secret chamber and sat cross-legged. First, he directly claimed the three years of Innate Inner Qi he'd obtained.
At once, a stream of Innate Inner Qi appeared inside him, merging with his own Innate Inner Qi and circulating through his body, continually cleansing his meridians.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Su Chen also swallowed several Innate Pills to speed the flow of his inner qi and increase his strength.
After some time,
Su Chen opened his eyes, a flash of light passing through them.
He drew in all the inner qi within his body.
Then he swallowed Qi and Blood Pills and began tempering his body. His blood surged, and red light kept shining from his skin.
It seemed as if a new force was taking shape within his flesh and blood.
Meanwhile,
somewhere else,
at Ling Tianhe's residence, Lei Ao arrived outside in a carriage.
He announced his name.
The gatekeeper hurried into the courtyard to report his arrival.
Before long,
a middle-aged man who looked like a steward led Lei Ao to the back courtyard.
By then, dusk had begun to fall.
"Protector Lei, you came yesterday and again today. What do you want?"
"Do you think I'll hand over the mine just because you keep showing up?"
Ling Tianhe looked at him and spoke coldly.
"Deputy Tower Lord Ling, first let me congratulate you on eliminating your rivals in Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower and taking control of it."
"But although you've taken control of Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower, Qingcheng City is still a small place. There are plenty of people out there we can't afford to offend!"
"Do you know who has their eye on that mine? Third Young Master Qin of the Qin Family, Young Master Qin Hao."
Lei Ao spoke.
"Hmph, Lei Ao, it's just an ordinary mine. Why would Third Young Master Qin be interested in it? I think it's your Lei Hall that wants the mine."
Ling Tianhe looked at Lei Ao.
He said this mainly to test Lei Ao.
"Don't tell me you don't know there's a large deposit of Void Nether Stone deep inside that mine. It seems that even as Deputy Tower Lord, you're in the dark about plenty of things."
Hearing Ling Tianhe's words, Lei Ao replied.
"Void Nether Stone? Your Lei Family has been collecting it lately. So because the tower master wouldn't hand over the mine, your Lei Family sent an assassin to kill our tower master?"
Ling Tianhe asked coldly, staring intently at Lei Ao.
He wanted to know who had sent someone to kill Su Mengbai.
He suspected it wasn't Third Young Master Qin, but someone from Lei Hall.
Third Young Master Qin Hao had experts by his side. If he wanted someone killed, he wouldn't need to hire an assassin.
So it was possible the Lei Family had paid someone to kill the former tower master.
"Su Mengbai was too stubborn. Third Young Master Qin approached him twice, and both times he refused."
"Because Void Nether Stone was needed by Zitan Palace, he clung to that mine. He was so loyal it was ridiculous. When Third Young Master couldn't get anywhere with him, I think he had someone take care of him."
"Deputy Tower Lord Ling, I don't suppose you'll make the same mistake as Su Mengbai!"
"Hand over the mine deed without fuss, and it'll be better for everyone. Once you've taken care of this, I'll introduce you to Young Master Qin!"
Lei Ao's threat carried an offer of favor.
Hearing Lei Ao's words, Ling Tianhe's expression grew clouded and uncertain.
He seemed to be weighing the pros and cons.
Seeing Ling Tianhe's expression, Lei Ao sneered inwardly and said, "Deputy Tower Lord Ling, you're a smart man. You should know what to do!"
"Lei Ao, there's something I don't understand. Even if the tower master refused to hand over the deed, you could've simply seized the mine. Why kill him?"
Ling Tianhe asked gravely.
"Your tower master had Zitan Palace backing him. If we seized the mine, Su Mengbai would definitely contact Zitan Palace!"
"If Zitan Palace sent experts, we still wouldn't get the mine—and we might bring trouble down on my Lei Family!"
"Now that he's dead, Zitan Palace won't send any experts. After all, Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower is just a minor operation."
"You've learned what you wanted to know. I'll come for the deed tomorrow night. You have one day to think it over."
Lei Ao glanced at Ling Tianhe, then turned and left.
Watching Lei Ao's departing figure disappear, the gloom on Ling Tianhe's face vanished. In its place, a hint of delight appeared.
"Lei Ao, I didn't expect your visit to earn me a merit. I really ought to thank you."
"You might've lived a while longer before, but now I doubt you'll make it past tomorrow."
"A man who courts death can't be saved by anyone!"
Ling Tianhe planned to tell Su Chen about this first thing tomorrow morning.
By then, Lei Ao certainly wouldn't live to see the day's end.
Night fell.
Ling Tianhe was in his study.
He examined the secret messages written on bamboo slips that had flown in from various directions.
Although he already knew why Su Mengbai had died,
Qin Hao's visit surely hadn't been only about the Void Nether Stone. He must have had some other purpose.
So Ling Tianhe needed to dig deeper and uncover Qin Hao's intentions.
As Deputy Tower Lord of Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower,
Ling Tianhe was exceptionally capable when it came to intelligence.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have found out so early that the assassin was at Lei Ao's residence.
Suddenly,
a figure entered the courtyard.
The person came before Ling Tianhe.
"Greetings, Master!"
"Has the assassin stayed put?"
Su Chen asked.
"The assassin hasn't left. He's still within our sight."
"Good! I'll take care of him first. Taking one of them out will put my mind at ease."
"Master, I've learned the reason behind the tower master's death!"
Ling Tianhe immediately told Su Chen what Lei Ao had said when he came by that day.
"Qin Hao, Void Nether Stone... What do they want so much of it for?"
Su Chen was puzzled.
[Quest triggered: The host has learned the cause of Su Mengbai's death. Find out why Qin Hao wants Void Nether Stone. Reward: 5 White Draw Cards.]
Su Chen's thoughts stirred.
Ling Tianhe bowed and said, "Your subordinate has already sent out informants to investigate. We'll find out as soon as possible and report back to you, Master."
"Good. Handle this matter. Also, where is Lei Ao now? I'll take care of him along with the assassin."
Su Chen spoke coldly.
He had a quest to uncover the cause of Su Mengbai's death and avenge him.
He already knew the cause. As for revenge, he planned to kill Lei Ao and the assassin first, and see whether that completed the quest.
"This subordinate has learned that Lei Ao returned to Lei Hall and hasn't come out since. He should be in the fifth residence in the back courtyard of Lei Hall."
Ling Tianhe replied.
"Then we'll take care of Lei Ao first, and afterward deal with the assassin outside the city."
Su Chen said.
Lei Ao was at the Innate Mid Stage, about as strong as Ling Tianhe. He could be dealt with.
But Lei Ao was at Lei Hall, so they would need to lure him out.
Of course, if they couldn't lure him out, Bai Tianyu could make a move too.
Still, if they could avoid involving him, they should.
After learning Qin Hao's purpose, perhaps Bai Tianyu would be the one to deal with him.
Before you continue