Infinite Lifespan, Life's Fortunes and Misfortunes Are Unpredictable

Facing the unfriendly stares from Chen Li and the others, and the surprised looks from his fellow disciples, Jiang Changsheng remained calm.

He instead asked, "That's right, I practice foot techniques. But may I ask how you, Benefactor Chen, knew this? I see over a hundred disciples in the temple; how did you confirm it was me? Did you check all the disciples?"

Checking over a hundred disciples in less than an hour was too rushed, unless the perpetrator was determined to be from Dragon Arising Temple.

Chen Li shook his head. "Of course not. It just rained last night, and stopped an hour ago. Although it wasn't heavy, the mountain path was muddy. If the disciples didn't go out last night, their boots should still be damp today. Everyone's are, except for yours. You even have dried mud on your trouser legs, indicating you made significant movements with your legs last night."

Jiang Changsheng looked down. It was true; there were numerous mud stains of varying sizes on his trouser legs.

The disciples outside the hall began to stir, whispering amongst themselves.

He remained unfazed and looked at Chen Li, asking, "Your guess about the foot technique is plausible, but what about my motive for murder? I've lived in Dragon Arising Temple my whole life and never left. I haven't interacted with you these past few days either. Why would I kill him?"

Qingxu Taoist Priest remained expressionless, while the three senior disciples appeared to be deep in thought.

Even the five guests behind Chen Li began discussing in low tones.

Indeed.

Why kill him?

A wealthy young lady spoke up, "That's right. He died in his own room. If this young Taoist killed him, entering someone's room late at night, how much hatred would that entail?"

The Jing Dynasty had an open culture, and women were allowed to go out. This wealthy young lady wasn't traveling with Chen Li but had come to Dragon Arising Temple to cultivate and find peace during this period. Her servants were waiting outside the hall.

Jiang Changsheng began to observe Chen Li and the others. He suspected the killer was very likely among them.

Huh!

This fellow has True Qi within him!

Jiang Changsheng keenly noticed a very low-profile, thin, gaunt man. The Dao Follows Nature Skill was a cultivation technique. Although he hadn't cultivated Spirit Energy, his senses were abnormally sharp, far surpassing ordinary people.

The gaunt man was dressed like a merchant, frail in appearance, making it hard to believe he was a martial artist. Moreover, his True Qi was very weak and difficult to detect, but it couldn't escape Jiang Changsheng's senses.

This subtle True Qi was emanating from specific acupoints. This meant the man had sealed his True Qi within his acupoints, creating a false impression that he didn't practice martial arts.

Chen Li frowned. "Indeed, there's no motive. But just because we don't know the motive, and we need to investigate past relationships and evidence, we can't simply conclude based on words alone. It requires an investigation by the Yamen. Are you willing, young Taoist...?"

Jiang Changsheng interrupted him suddenly. "Benefactor Chen, you previously said that everyone behind you doesn't know martial arts, is that correct?"

Chen Li nodded. "That's right. Your three senior brothers and sisters have already checked."

That means their martial arts aren't good enough!

Why wasn't it Master who checked?

He didn't dare to ask more, fearing he would slight Qingxu Taoist Priest's dignity.

Jiang Changsheng asked, "May I examine them?"

Chen Li became wary. "That's inappropriate. After all, we are currently suspi—"

Before he could finish, Jiang Changsheng's figure flickered, transforming into afterimages as he zipped past Chen Li and attacked the gaunt man. He reached out to grab him, but the gaunt man reacted extremely quickly, jumping away and evading his grasp.

Chen Li turned back and stared wide-eyed at this scene. The other four guests were equally astonished.

Someone among them knew martial arts!

The servants outside the hall rushed in and surrounded them.

The gaunt man's earlier nervousness vanished, replaced by a fierce smile. He stared at Jiang Changsheng and chuckled, "Young Taoist, I didn't expect your cultivation to be so profound that you could see through my technique. You truly are a prodigy."

Jiang Changsheng calmly replied, "Your movement technique is also extraordinary."

The wealthy young lady retreated, asking in fear, "Xue Hai, how do you know martial arts?"

Xue Hai grinned sinisterly. "You know me very well?"

The wealthy young lady fell silent.

Xue Hai looked at Chen Li and said, "Valedictorian, isn't it ironic? If the opponent hadn't been so skilled in martial arts, would you have arrested him by force and convicted him as you pleased back at the Yamen? The Chen family has always been like this. Even during the Chu Dynasty, you were the same."

The Chu Dynasty was the predecessor to the Jing Dynasty. In the late Chu Dynasty, eunuchs ruled corruptly, and the people suffered. Righteous individuals rose up in rebellion, leading to the collapse of the Chu Dynasty and ushering in an era of warlordism. Jiang Yuan was not from an aristocratic family but a martial artist. However, he successfully established the Jing Dynasty.

With a martial man as emperor, the Jing Dynasty embraced martial arts, fostering a culture far surpassing that of previous dynasties.

Chen Li frowned. "Xue Hai, why did you kill him?"

Xue Hai didn't answer. He suddenly attacked Chen Li with incredible speed.

Jiang Changsheng didn't move because he also found Chen Li unpleasant. The man had wrongly accused him and wanted to take him to the Yamen.

"Hmph!"

Qingxu Taoist Priest let out a cold snort and appeared before Chen Li in an instant, striking out with his palm. His palm met Xue Hai's right palm. Xue Hai's hand bones shattered, and he spat blood, flying backward and crashing through the doors and windows. The disciples outside recoiled in shock.

This guy actually knows palm techniques, so why did he use foot techniques to commit the murder?

Jiang Changsheng suddenly suspected Xue Hai was framing him.

Could it be that Xue Hai saw me practicing earlier?

After landing, Xue Hai quickly leaped up, soaring several dozen feet into the air before disappearing outside the courtyard.

"Chase him!"

Second Senior Brother Meng Qiuhe rushed out, shouting. Dozens of disciples immediately followed him out of the courtyard.

Chen Li, still shaken, nearly collapsed onto the ground.

Qingxu Taoist Priest withdrew his hand and supported Chen Li's shoulder. "Benefactor Chen, though the realm is settled, undercurrents still churn. As the Jing Dynasty's top scholar, you shouldn't wander so carelessly. Today's calamity is but a precursor to future trials."

Chen Li quickly bowed in thanks, then apologized to Jiang Changsheng. Seeing his sincere attitude, Jiang Changsheng didn't press the matter.

The incident concluded, with Jiang Changsheng becoming the center of attention. Disciples who hadn't pursued the culprit flocked around him, asking about the martial arts he used and how fast they were.

Even Senior Disciple Li Changqing and Third Senior Sister Meng Qiushuang were curious.

Qingxu Taoist Priest spoke, "Changsheng, you no longer need to attend the regular doctrinal lectures. You may focus on your martial arts practice. Aside from ringing the morning bell, you may set your own daily schedule."

Upon hearing this, the other disciples looked at him with envy, including Li Changqing and Meng Qiushuang, who themselves had to guide their junior brothers and sisters.

Jiang Changsheng paused for a moment before bowing thankfully to Qingxu Taoist Priest.

Qingxu Taoist Priest turned and left. The disciples outside the hall immediately swarmed in.

After warding off his fellow disciples for a while, Jiang Changsheng found an opportunity to slip away. Even that wealthy young lady seemed interested in him, which was more than he could handle.

The case was temporarily set aside. Whether the killer was caught was no longer Jiang Changsheng's concern. Other disciples continued their training as usual. He returned to his own courtyard, where he was alone.

At Dragon Arising Temple, each courtyard housed four rooms, with two disciples to a room.

Sitting on his bed, Jiang Changsheng began to organize his thoughts.

He had always been unsure if Qingxu Taoist Priest knew his true identity. After bringing him to Dragon Arising Temple, Qingxu Taoist Priest hadn't given him any special treatment, and he couldn't very well ask directly.

Today's events involved the previous dynasty. After exposing his martial arts, for Qingxu Taoist Priest to grant him such freedom made him speculate wildly.

[Year 12 of Kaiyuan. You encountered remnants of the previous dynasty committing murder. You were drawn into the conflict. Relying on your skills, you escaped the danger and received a survival reward - the martial art 'Vajra Howl'.]

A line of text, visible only to him, appeared before his eyes, bringing a smile to his face.

Another calamity averted!

If not for his six years of dedicated martial arts practice, he wouldn't have been able to force Xue Hai to reveal his skills today. He would have likely been arrested by the yamen and then possibly killed by those in power.

"I must continue to cultivate diligently and not slack off. Today's events prove that if there's a justifiable reason, the court can find a way to get me out of trouble."

Jiang Changsheng thought to himself.

He also considered one point: did Qingxu Taoist Priest truly not see that Xue Hai knew martial arts?

Regardless, he couldn't rely on anyone but himself.

With his thoughts settled, Jiang Changsheng began to learn the new martial art, Vajra Howl.

Vajra Howl was a martial art that stimulated the throat meridians with True Qi, allowing one's voice to become exceptionally loud, thus injuring enemies. When mastered, it could even expel evil spirits.

The mention of "evil spirits" sent a shiver down his spine. Did ghosts and monsters truly exist in this world?

Well, he had been reincarnated, so it wasn't strange for there to be ghosts.

If this life was truly like the game he designed in his previous life, then his lifespan would be infinite. He only needed to avoid disasters and continuously cultivate, and eventually, he would achieve immortality!

Once immortal, what other demons or monsters would he have to fear!

Over the next few days, Jiang Changsheng was plagued by attention. The disciples were extremely curious about him. He spent most of his days dealing with his peers, and at night, he would encounter them peeking at him. Even his junior disciple, who was a year younger than Jiang Changsheng and shared his room, pestered him. In desperation, he taught him the basic footwork of the Nine Seeking Heavenly Dragon Steps, which finally got the junior disciple to leave him alone.

Finally, peace returned. Jiang Changsheng was cultivating the Dao Follows Nature Skill in his room.

Clang—

Junior Disciple Qing Ku rushed in, excited. "Senior Brother, the scholar has returned! He specifically asked to thank you, and Master has agreed. He's already outside the courtyard. Should we see him?"

Jiang Changsheng frowned. "No, just tell him he doesn't need to thank me."

Qing Ku paused. He had grown up with Jiang Changsheng and was quite obedient to him in important matters. He nodded, turned, and walked towards the door.

"Hahaha, little Daoist priest, it seems you're holding a grudge. It's true I was too presumptuous back then. I've come specifically to apologize and to offer you a martial art from my Chen family. I hope you'll accept it."

Chen Li strode in, his face beaming with a friendly smile. The eleven-year-old Qing Ku couldn't stop him.

Jiang Changsheng said helplessly, "You're still being presumptuous now."

Chen Li sat down on his own accord and took out a golden-threaded, blue-covered manual from his embrace, placing it on the table.

"This martial art is called Qi Finger. It requires the cultivation of True Qi to practice. Unfortunately, my Chen family shifted from martial arts to civil service a hundred years ago, and since then, no martial arts prodigies have emerged. Today, I present it to you, little Daoist priest."

Chen Li explained with a smile, his tone tinged with melancholy as he spoke of his family's history.

In the martial-focused Jing Dynasty, the Chen family had a difficult time surviving.