Within the Duo'e Sect, an undercurrent quietly began to stir among the outer disciples.
No one knew when it had started or where it had come from, but all sorts of rumors about Li Kui began circulating through the North Cliff Market, the Merit Hall, and the places where disciples from the various peaks gathered.
At first, they were merely guesses built on chasing the wind and catching shadows.
"Have you heard? Old Li at the Scripture Repository might really be nearing the end of his allotted years."
"What's so strange about that? He's been stuck at ninth-level qi refining for years. Who in the sect doesn't know?"
"Heh, this time is different. Apparently, he stumbled into some damned stroke of luck a while back and broke through to the great perfection of qi refining. Now he's probably even less willing to just sit down and die."
Gradually, the rumors became more specific-and more enticing.
"Unwilling? That's hardly the half of it. I heard Old Li has guarded the Scripture Repository for over a hundred years and handled countless cultivation manuals. In private... hehehe, he must have skimmed off a few benefits.
"Spell Coins, pills, even fragments of cultivation methods. His wealth is downright frightening."
"And don't forget his dealings with the Upper Mound Commerce Association. Lending money and squeezing his fellow disciples dry-the cut he takes from that is another enormous sum!"
"Exactly, exactly. A senior brother swore up and down that he'd seen Old Li constantly studying a jade slip lately. With how obsessed he looked, it could very well be some secret foundation establishment technique."
"A secret foundation establishment technique! Dao Lord above... how many Spell Coins would that cost? Looks like the rumors are true. That old fellow is so rich he's practically dripping oil!"
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