Chapter 93: Foresight?

After some interrogation.

Zheng Qian told Li Chang’an everything he knew.

He went on and on.

But he provided very little useful information.

Li Chang’an frowned and questioned Zheng Qian again.

"Daoist Zheng, has Zheng Lingfeng been planning anything lately?"

"Daoist Li, I really don’t know, I beg you to spare my life!"

Zheng Qian’s face grew pale, and he was growing desperate.

’Only those with value get to survive.’

’And to Li Chang’an, he had no value at all!’

"Forget it. It seems you really don’t know."

After pressing him some more.

Li Chang’an was a little disappointed.

With a thought, the Heart Control Gu pounced again.

’Zheng Qian’s identity could be quite useful. If I play this right, I might be able to create an opportunity to eliminate Zheng Lingfeng.’

...

Not long after.

Zheng Qian walked out of Li Chang’an’s residence.

He acted completely normal, showing no sign that anything was wrong. A pleasant smile remained on his face.

But when he returned to the Hundred Affairs Hall.

His expression immediately turned bitter. He found Zheng Lingfeng and reported what had happened.

"Second Young Master, I failed. That Li Chang’an has a Protective Treasure that blocked the Talisman. It’s a good thing I ran fast, or I wouldn’t have made it back."

"Absolutely useless!"

Zheng Lingfeng’s expression turned ugly, and his mood soured instantly.

He cursed furiously.

"Just like Zheng Jinbao, you’re both useless. You can’t even handle a simple task like this. How am I supposed to trust you?"

"Second Young Master, please give me another chance. I will definitely succeed this time!"

"You want another chance?"

Zheng Lingfeng raged.

"More chances would be pointless. A useless fool like you would just waste more of my Treasures!"

His face ashen, he waved his hand furiously and told Zheng Qian to get lost.

Zheng Qian kept his head low, appearing terrified. He didn’t dare say another word, turning and hastily leaving the hall.

An instant later.

From within the shadows of the hall.

Cao Shaolin’s figure slowly emerged.

"Heh heh, why are you so angry? That Li Chang’an is just a nobody. Once you reach Foundation Establishment, you’ll be able to crush him easily. What’s the rush?"

"But I can’t let this slide!"

"You’ll have to, whether you can stomach it or not!"

Cao Shaolin’s tone changed.

He said in a low voice, "Your most important task right now is dealing with Zheng Qingqing. Once you eliminate her, all of the Zheng Family’s Foundation Establishment Resources will be funneled to you!"

"Since when was Zheng Qingqing so easy to deal with?"

Zheng Lingfeng grew impatient.

A hint of irritation crept into his voice.

"Last time, with the Array, you signed a Spirit Contract with me. You guaranteed that as soon as the Array was broken, your Cao Family’s ancestor would kill Zheng Qingqing. So why did something go wrong? Was there a leak from inside your Cao Family?"

"Impossible!"

Cao Shaolin’s expression was icy as he denied it.

’Hardly anyone in the Cao Family knew about this. The problem must have come from the Zheng Family’s side.’

But Zheng Lingfeng denied it as well.

He had been extremely secretive about the Array; there was no way an outsider could have known.

"If there wasn’t a problem on either of our sides, then where did it come from? It’s not like someone can see the future, is it?"

...

「Outside the Hundred Affairs Hall.」

Zheng Qian, under Li Chang’an’s control, was smiling again.

He went back to handling his other miscellaneous duties, occasionally chatting with the Zheng Family disciples around him.

「In the days that followed.」

The charade was quite convincing.

No one discovered that Zheng Qian was no longer himself.

Even Zheng Lingfeng didn’t notice anything was wrong and would occasionally assign him tasks.

’This Zheng Lingfeng sure is cautious.’

Li Chang’an frowned.

Not only did Zheng Lingfeng not leave the Marketplace, he barely even left the Hundred Affairs Hall.

As a result.

Li Chang’an simply couldn’t find a suitable opportunity to make his move.

’Oh well, I’ll just have to wait a bit longer.’

...

「Over the next month.」

Surprisingly, Zheng Lingfeng quieted down and stopped causing trouble for Li Chang’an.

This came as a surprise to Li Chang’an.

However, he had a growing suspicion that Zheng Lingfeng was plotting something big.

’As long as it has nothing to do with me, I don’t care.’

Li Chang’an thought to himself.

During this temporary period of peace.

His Alchemy Skill improved further, and he was now able to refine Tier One Middle Grade Elixir Pills.

「On this day.」

Su Yuyan paid him a sudden visit.

Her face was alight with joy, and she was all smiles.

"Brother Li, we’ve confirmed the approximate location of the senior’s cave dwelling. Come with us tomorrow!"

"Tomorrow?"

Li Chang’an thought for a moment and did not refuse.

"Alright, Yuyan. I’ll make some extra preparations tonight, and I’ll go with you all to explore the cave dwelling tomorrow."

"Don’t worry, Brother Li. Nothing will go wrong."

Su Yuyan said with a radiant smile, sensing Li Chang’an’s apprehension and telling him not to worry.

According to her.

The senior had been a very peaceful person in life and wouldn’t have set up too many traps or mechanisms in his own cave dwelling.

This trip to the cave should be quite relaxed.

All they had to do was go and collect the treasures.

But Li Chang’an did not let down his guard.

In the Cultivation Immortality Realm, many cultivators underwent drastic personality changes in their later years or on their deathbeds. Someone who had been kind and merciful might become vicious and cruel.

Of course.

There were also many who had committed evil their entire lives and suddenly began doing good deeds in their old age.

You could never be sure.

’I’ll see what tonight’s Divination says.’

Li Chang’an never had a good feeling about these kinds of ancient cave dwellings.

’If the Divination indicates danger, I’ll just find an excuse not to go.’

He waited quietly until night.

Just past Midnight.

A golden light appeared before his eyes.

[Divination has been refreshed]

[Today’s Divination: Auspicious]

[A friend invites you to explore an ancient cave dwelling. You happily accept. You will not encounter any major dangers along the way and will smoothly reach the depths of the cave, where you will obtain a Tier Two Talismanic Inheritance.]

"A Tier Two Talismanic Inheritance?"

Li Chang’an’s eyes widened, and he was instantly overjoyed.

He had yearned for this inheritance for far too long.

Due to the lack of a follow-up inheritance, his Talisman Art had been stuck at the Tier One Peak, unable to break through.

He had also tried to break through on his own.

He had hoped to rely on his own talent in the dao of talismans to forge a path to Tier Two.

After all, the so-called Talismanic Inheritances of today were simply the paths forged by those who came before.

The very first seniors who practiced Talisman Painting had no inheritances to learn from.

However, he had overestimated his own talent.

Every attempt to break through ended in failure.

Ultimately, he still needed an inheritance.

’Yuyan truly is my lucky star.’

Li Chang’an was overjoyed and immediately began to prepare.

Although the Divination was auspicious, he could not be careless.

’The Divination’s text said, "will not encounter any major dangers," which means there are still some dangers.’

’Even the smallest risk must be met with full preparation!’

...

「Early the next morning.」

Having made all his preparations, Li Chang’an met up with Su Yuyan and her two companions.

Upon seeing him.

Although Yuan Ying and Huang Feng’s expressions didn’t change much, they were both inwardly displeased.

"Junior Sister, didn’t I tell you? This ’Brother’ of yours is too weak. He isn’t suited for exploring a senior’s cave dwelling. Why did you bring him along anyway?"

Yuan Ying secretly sent a Sound Transmission to Su Yuyan.