Li Jianqiu's Investigation

As night fell, Zhao Wuji found Oscar and relayed that Flender had been asking about the Sky Net, warning him once more.

Oscar leaned against a tree as thick as two men, his mouth opening slightly:

"Teacher Zhao, the Dean cannot know about the Sky Net. The chain reaction of trouble that would follow is something we cannot afford to bear."

Seeing Oscar still holding firmly to his bottom line, Zhao Wuji could only sigh helplessly.

"Teacher Zhao, it's getting late. Go back and get some rest. I need to make a trip to the Star Dou Great Forest soon."

"Why go there?"

Zhao Wuji was stunned. He knew that ever since Oscar obtained his third spirit ring, he had been deeply wary of the Star Dou Great Forest. Even when Meng Yiran was acquiring her spirit skill, Oscar had only sent a few members of the Sky Net to follow her secretly!

"I'll keep you in suspense for now."

Oscar chuckled, turned, and walked toward the dormitory area.

Watching Oscar's hand waving continuously in the air, Zhao Wuji furrowed his brows.

"Why go to the Star Dou Great Forest at a time like this? He and those little guys couldn't possibly have broken through in such a short time. Could it be a Spirit Bone? Can he even calculate something like that?"

In the end, he couldn't figure it out and could only shake his head in resignation.

Meanwhile, Oscar took a turn outside the dormitory area and headed to a blacksmith shop in Soto City.

"Old Qing, keep watch."

Outside the shop, he spoke to Old Qing with a solemn expression before turning to walk into the inner courtyard.

Unlike the usual meetings, only Li Jianqiu was there this time.

"Uncle Li, how is the investigation going?"

Before even sitting down, Oscar asked directly.

Over the past two years, the Sky Net had expanded many channels within the Heaven Dou Empire, and Li Jianqiu had been investigating the truth of what happened back then.

One had to remember that he was a Spirit Douluo; although he was only level 82, he still held a respectable status within the Heaven Dou Empire.

Even though he had lived in seclusion later on, he was not someone an ordinary noble could afford to offend!

Moreover, the noble capable of finding three Spirit Douluos to attack him was certainly no ordinary noble. The one driving the carriage that crushed his child back then was definitely just a pawn sent by someone else!

Li Jianqiu sat on a bench, his hands resting on his legs, one hand rubbing his brow.

"It hasn't been fully investigated yet, but I can confirm it is related to the Imperial Family."

Oscar nodded. With the immense influence within the Heaven Dou Empire, the most likely culprits were indeed the Imperial Family, so he said:

"Aside from the two deceased princes, the remaining members of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family are Emperor Xue Ye, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, the Fourth Prince Xue Beng, Prince Xue Xing, and Princess Xue Ke. Uncle Li, since you've traced it to the Imperial Family, you must have concrete information. I hope you'll tell me directly."

He sat down beside Li Jianqiu, patted his shoulder, and continued:

"The original intention of building the Sky Net was to protect commoners and Spirit Masters bullied by nobles. I don't want anyone to abandon their hatred for the sake of the Sky Net's development."

Li Jianqiu looked up, his eyes slightly red.

"What I've discovered points to Princess Xue Ke. I obtained a Spirit Bone back then that happened to be suitable for her; she had a motive to act. But I always feel something is wrong. Princess Xue Ke's personality isn't cruel, and she was very young at the time. Even if she had planned something, she wouldn't have acted so decisively."

"You suspect Xue Qinghe did it? He and Princess Xue Ke have always had a good relationship, and he certainly has the..."

Before Oscar could finish, he was interrupted by Li Jianqiu.

"It couldn't be Xue Qinghe. Based on the Sky Net's investigations over the years, he has intentions of ascending the throne; he wouldn't leave such a flaw, even one that is difficult to uncover. I suspect Prince Xue Xing and Xue Beng did it. They have the strength."

Oscar frowned slightly and looked at Li Jianqiu, signaling him to continue.

"Leader, you might not know this yet, but although I lived in seclusion, I had always supported Xue Qinghe. The accident back then is best explained as them settling scores."

When Li Jianqiu said this, he pursed his lips and hesitated for a moment before continuing:

"Leader, I know you have some reservations about Xue Qinghe. After all, we have already discovered that he is secretly poisoning Emperor Xue Ye, wanting to commit patricide. But he treats commoners well, and he would likely be a wise ruler if he becomes Emperor. Most importantly, have you ever considered that he might not be the son of Xue Ye?"

Oscar's pupils constricted. During his inquiry in the Inner Scene, he had already guessed at Xue Qinghe's identity, but he hadn't expected Li Jianqiu to have investigated this far!

His reservations about Xue Qinghe were definitely not because of the patricide; he had long suspected that the two were not father and son, and that Xue Qinghe was highly likely from the Spirit Hall!

His vigilance toward Xue Qinghe stemmed from his wariness of the Spirit Hall!

Oscar stood up immediately and said softly:

"Then this matter makes sense. We have found very little, but that doesn't mean those nobles are completely unaware in private. The purpose of Prince Xue Xing and Xue Beng targeting you was to let others know that Xue Qinghe doesn't truly care about Spirit Masters from commoner families. Even if a talented Spirit Master like Uncle Li reaches the level of a Spirit Douluo, Xue Qinghe wouldn't seek revenge after he loses everything. And Xue Beng can use this playboy persona to continue protecting himself in front of Xue Qinghe, avoiding being eliminated as a rival."

"Leader, after I was crippled, Xue Qinghe once sought me out in private, and he said many things to me.

It's just that at the time, I was held hostage by my hatred, and I kept thinking he was the same as those people.

But thinking back on it now, it's very likely he tried to help me seek justice, but was forced by circumstances."

Li Jianqiu didn't elaborate, but Oscar understood what he meant.

If Xue Qinghe really was a mole sent by Spirit Hall, he would definitely be walking on thin ice in that position; both sides were watching him, one waiting for him to make a mistake, the other refusing to let him make one.

This also meant that even if Xue Qinghe wanted to help him seek justice, he would be unable to act due to the pressure from both sides.

Thinking of this, Oscar spoke up to ask again.

"Is there any lead on that Spirit Bone?"

Li Jianqiu sighed, then stood up, his eyes once again filled with endless killing intent and resolve.

"There are no leads for now, but it will eventually surface. When that happens, we will be able to truly confirm who that person is!"

"Uncle Li, rest assured. No matter who the investigation eventually points to, we will kill them without hesitation!"

Oscar patted Li Jianqiu on the shoulder, his voice low but filled with confidence.

"Yes, Leader!"

Li Jianqiu moved to kneel on one knee, but was stopped by Oscar.

"Uncle Li, there is no need for this between us. Just do what you need to do; Sky Net will always be your home and your backing."

Li Jianqiu looked up at the young man before him, feeling an unprecedented sense of belonging from that youthful face.

Perhaps... this was the reason he had stayed in Sky Net all along...

"Mm."

The two remained in the small courtyard of the blacksmith shop for a long time, and it wasn't until two pots of tea had been consumed that Oscar stopped the idle chatter and turned the conversation to his trip to the Star Dou Great Forest.

"Uncle Li, I am going to the Star Dou Great Forest tomorrow."

"For that matter? But don't forget, those spirit beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest won't let you go once they catch your scent."

Li Jianqiu felt a toothache just thinking about the spirit beast Oscar had hunted; back then, he and Oscar had been chased by that group of spirit beasts for a full half-month. If it weren't for the fact that both of them could run, they likely would have been left behind in the Star Dou Great Forest!

"I won't be able to rest easy until I investigate that Blue Silver King."