Stepping into the Mountain Mists to See the Truth

Before the middle-aged Daoist's corpse, Liu Dongqing frowned deeply and paced in circles without pause.

The wind filled the tower before the mountain rain came.

This man's uninvited arrival meant that trouble was already close at Liu Dongqing's side, unavoidable.

Yet what Liu Dongqing was thinking of at this moment was the deeper, more central question behind the coming storm.

Why me?

What was it about me that made them target me?

And who, exactly, was targeting me?

He raised his head to gaze at the deep night sky, as though he wished to peer through layer upon layer of mist and glimpse someone's true figure within.

To go so far as to target an outer disciple of Sunward Dao Academy, there must be a reason. What have I done recently that was worth someone's attention?

The instant this confusion surfaced in Liu Dongqing's mind, another thought followed close behind—

Accepting the Dharma decree and heading out to Autumn Water Plateau? Obtaining the cultivation arts of the Crimson Crow and Ghost Vine lineages from the Demon Refining Mystic Sect?

The moment the "answer" emerged, an even more terrifying chain of speculation sprang up in Liu Dongqing's mind.

Was it because of Jiang Qi?

The Jiang Family of Dingfire Circuit?

That Jiang Family disciple who had once successfully contested for the position against the juniors supported by their branch, and now stood high above the clouds?

A flash of terror sent a chill racing down Liu Dongqing's spine.

But immediately afterward, he shook his head in confusion.

Am I worthy of it?

If someone of that stature truly wished to deal with me, would they need to send someone to watch me for several days?

At that thought, Liu Dongqing looked again at the corpse lying sprawled upon the ground.

Is he worthy of it?

Qi Refining sixth level only means his realm was higher than mine. Middle-aged with cultivation like this, and this little ability when casting spells externally—it does not even catch my eye. Would a man like this be fit to serve as the servant, the Dao Slave, of someone seated high above the clouds?

With that thought, Liu Dongqing suddenly relaxed.

It was not the Jiang Family.

At the very least, the so-called master who sent this man to act could not have been that person from the Jiang Family.

At this moment, Liu Dongqing stared fixedly at the corpse on the ground, as though he intended to find flowers blooming upon its charred surface.

Not Jiang Qi, not Autumn Water Plateau, not the cultivation arts of the Demon Refining Mystic Sect.

Then the only thing about me still worth looking at is the Jade Cloud Fruit. But I have been growing it for more than three years. What poorly informed person would only come knocking today?

Then it is related to the Jade Cloud Fruit, but also something that happened recently...

Rising Mist Dao Academy, Senior Sister Zhang!

Her opponent in the struggle for the position?

Liu Dongqing's brow eased slightly.

That is it. Judging from the spell this man used, that emerald-green heavenly light was somewhat similar in quality to the spiritual power contained within the bag of Azure Light Spirit Beads in my hands.

Since it is a contest for position, it is only natural for their strength to be roughly equal.

But this is only my guess. There is still far too little evidence to establish the connection between them.

As that thought crossed his mind.

Liu Dongqing suddenly came to a stop once more.

Take a deep breath—Liu Dongqing—take a deep breath—

After several breaths, deep and slow.

When Liu Dongqing opened his eyes again, only clear, bright light remained in them.

Is there any use in thinking so much?

Whether those targeting me are people from the Jiang Family or people competing with Senior Sister Zhang for position, aside from the difference in their rank, is there any concrete distinction?

No matter who it is, this is ultimately a huge problem I cannot resolve on my own!

I cannot drill myself into a dead end!

One cannot force oneself to swallow hardship for no reason. If calm analysis says a huge problem cannot be solved, then do not stubbornly force your way through it. Otherwise, you will only create more trouble, until the whirlpool of adversity wraps around you, suffocates you, and buries you.

He abruptly turned his head toward Departure Peak.

I need to learn to throw problems to those who can solve them.

No matter what result they truly wish to obtain from Liu here, they certainly must be, and must have been, plotting against Senior Sister Zhang!

This cannot be my predicament.

This must be Senior Sister Zhang's predicament!

For Senior Sister Zhang, there is no need to complete the evidence. The corpse of a middle-aged Daoist roughly comparable to the Dao Slaves beneath her command is already the strongest and most compelling proof pointing the way!

One must learn to manage upward.

At that thought, Liu Dongqing turned his head again toward the earthen plots in the courtyard.

Toward those Jade Cloud Fruit plants that had already become sickly beneath the heat waves.

Then.

Liu Dongqing slowly closed his eyes.

The vast and surging inheritance of the Ghost Vine Blood-Draining Bone-Devouring Pill-Subduing Art emerged once more within Liu Dongqing's mind.

With the Ash-Feathered Crow supplying me during this period, I have spent most of my time immersed in cultivating the Crimson Crow Spirit Incantation. The Bloodthirsty Medicinal Vine has only been used to draw the Blood Filth and bone fragments from the Ash-Feathered Crow, as well as the Azure Light Spirit Beads, to condense Elixir Fruit.

Yet I have rarely looked through this surging inheritance of the Ghost Vine Lineage's Pill-Descending Art.

Using the Bloodthirsty Medicinal Vine to condense Elixir Fruit is only the most essential, but also the most superficial, usage of the Pill-Descending Art.

The sages of the Ghost Vine Lineage have already developed and derived many more inconceivable marvelous uses from the Bloodthirsty Medicinal Vine.

If the shallow impression I received when accepting the inheritance was not mistaken...

One of the uses of the Bloodthirsty Medicinal Vine was recorded in this handbook...

Found it!

After briefly flipping through that handbook with his divine sense.

Liu Dongqing finally reopened his eyes in calm.

In the flash of lightning and spark of flint, he had found the final missing piece in his plan to manage upward.

Thus, in the next instant.

Liu Dongqing raised his hand without hesitation.

In the instant azure light shone forth, four Azure Flame Flying Birds shot through the air toward the earthen plots.

At that moment, within the brilliant blaze, there was none of the power that bewitched the mind—only the blazing intensity of descending flames.

At once.

Of the Jade Cloud Fruit in the greater half of the plots that the middle-aged Daoist had not destroyed, sixty to seventy percent were promptly incinerated by Liu Dongqing's own hand, here a patch, there a patch.

Even the Jade Cloud Fruit deliberately left behind had either withered yellow branches and leaves or shriveled flower buds, clearly already dead plants.

After finishing all this, Liu Dongqing bent down and dragged up the charred corpse, which had already begun to stiffen. Then he opened the courtyard gate and strode toward Departure Peak.

Bang—Bang—Bang—

The night was already exceedingly deep when a frantic barrage of pounding struck the gate of Manager Hou's courtyard in the mountain forest.

Heavy footsteps sounded from deep within the courtyard.

Before the gate even opened, Manager Hou's displeased voice, thick with sleep, had already rung out.

"Liu Dongqing?"

"You dog-begotten thing! What is with the firelight in the earthen plots of your courtyard? Why are you not putting it out? What are you doing coming to your father here?"

The Holy Cult's laws are strict. Without entering late-stage Qi Refining, how dare you come up Departure Peak? How are you even worthy of coming up Departure Peak?

"Still knocking? Still knocking! Reporting a death, are you—"

As he spoke.

The instant Manager Hou impatiently opened the courtyard gate.

Every resentful word he had been about to say lodged back in his throat.

Before him stood Liu Dongqing in an utterly bedraggled state. Several soot-black smears marked his face, while several locks of hair floated beside it, visibly singed and curled by fire.

His pale green Daoist robe was riddled with holes burned by falling sparks, and one corner of his robe had even vanished entirely.

More importantly, upon seeing Manager Hou open the gate, Liu Dongqing fiercely hurled the charred corpse in his hand onto the ground.

The bang seemed to strike straight into Manager Hou's heart.

He really did come to report a death...

Just as he was thinking this, Manager Hou heard Liu Dongqing speak urgently.

"Manager!"

"Someone is trying to harm Senior Sister Zhang!"

"Someone is trying to ruin your and my prospects and lives!"