DIV Chapter 62: Zheng Lingfeng's Confusion

In the underground space, Li Chang'an temporarily stopped his interrogation.

"Zheng Lingfeng actually wants to use me to deal with Zheng Qingqing."

He lowered his eyes slightly and pondered for a long time.

This matter was more complex than he had imagined.

It actually involved the internal strife of a Foundation Establishment family like the Zheng family.

Li Chang'an was merely a rogue cultivator.

Once he became entangled in this, if he caught the attention of the Zheng family head or even a Foundation Establishment ancestor, the situation would be quite dire.

"His poisoning attempt failed this time. He'll likely use other methods in the future."

Li Chang'an pondered for a long time, the killing intent in his heart growing increasingly intense.

As long as he eliminated Zheng Lingfeng, everything would become simple.

"Zheng Lingfeng is one of the Zheng family's Foundation Establishment seeds. He most likely has life-saving measures bestowed by a Foundation Establishment ancestor. It won't be easy to kill him."

Li Chang'an frowned tightly, various methods flashing through his mind.

Currently, he had basically no problems dealing with anyone below Foundation Establishment.

But facing Foundation Establishment methods, his power was still too weak.

At his side, Chu Mu noticed Li Chang'an's expression constantly changing and sensed the killing intent.

His face turned pale and he was drenched in cold sweat.

"Fellow Daoist Li, spare my life! This was all Zheng Lingfeng forcing me to do it. He's the one who wants to harm you. If you want to kill someone, kill him! I can help you lure him out of the market!"

"Lure him out of the market? A useless endeavor!"

Li Chang'an shook his head slightly.

Even luring Zheng Lingfeng out of the market would make it difficult to kill him.

If he couldn't kill him in an extremely short time, he would most likely be detected by a Foundation Establishment ancestor.

"Foundation Establishment..." Li Chang'an sighed deeply.

If he had Foundation Establishment cultivation, why would he need to think so much? He could just attack directly.

All of this, fundamentally, was still a matter of strength.

"Forget it, this matter can't be rushed. I must proceed gradually."

Li Chang'an put aside other thoughts.

He reached out and took the storage pouch and other treasures from Chu Mu.

After erasing the storage pouch's restrictions, he carefully examined its contents.

"Worthy of being a spirit plant cultivator, the variety of spirit plants stored is truly abundant. The 'Hundred Bitter Grass' and 'Thunder Heart Wood' I need are both here, and even several other needed varieties are present."

Li Chang'an nodded slightly.

The quantity and variety of spirit medicines in this pouch satisfied him greatly.

With these, he could save himself considerable trouble.

"Eh, there's actually a Tranquil Heart Bamboo!"

Li Chang'an looked surprised as he took out an emerald green long bamboo.

Tranquil Heart Bamboo, although only first-tier mid-grade in rank, had a value far exceeding many first-tier superior-grade spirit plants.

This was because of its special effects and extreme rarity.

"Tranquil Heart Bamboo strips can be used as talisman paper to create precious Spirit Calming Talismans. This type of talisman is considered premium among mid-grade talismans and can be used to soothe the mind and spirit. It's said to have some effect on breaking through realms."

What cultivators feared most when breaking through was restlessness and agitation.

It was said that Spirit Calming Talismans even had some slight benefit for breaking through to Foundation Establishment.

"This is an unexpected delight."

Li Chang'an put it away.

Then, with a thought, he took out a jade slip.

"First-tier mid-grade spirit plant inheritance."

Li Chang'an roughly glanced through the contents of the jade slip.

Spirit plant cultivator inheritance was much simpler than talisman and puppet arts, requiring no particularly strong talent.

One only needed to slowly grind through it with time.

"I can learn it casually."

Li Chang'an made this decision. After all, this thing didn't require much effort.

He could look at it when he had free time.

He put away the jade slip.

Subsequently, he took out a translucent small jade bottle from the storage pouch.

On the bottle body were carved the three characters "Meridian Burning Grass."

"Fellow Daoist Chu, the poison you gave me was this Meridian Burning Grass?"

"Yes... yes."

Chu Mu answered nervously and cautiously.

Meridian Burning Grass was extremely toxic.

After being poisoned, one couldn't detect it at first.

Several days later, one would discover a warm sensation throughout the meridians but by then it would be too late.

The toxicity would have penetrated the meridians, causing meridian damage and poor circulation of spiritual energy.

"Besides Meridian Burning Grass, there are several other poisons mixed together. This compound poison is from a secret formula that Zheng Lingfeng accidentally obtained in a robber cultivator's cave dwelling. Only he knows the antidote formula."

Chu Mu didn't dare conceal anything and told him everything.

Soon, Li Chang'an found the other poisons.

There was also a small bottle of antidote.

This was what Zheng Lingfeng had given Chu Mu to use.

After all, during the poisoning process, Chu Mu himself would also be contaminated by this poison.

"Fellow Daoist Chu, what else do you know about Zheng Lingfeng?"

Li Chang'an's tone was indifferent as he looked at Chu Mu.

He tried to obtain more information but Chu Mu was purely Zheng Lingfeng's tool and knew nothing else.

He had no more value.

Finally, Li Chang'an casually sent out a finger of sword qi that pierced through Chu Mu's forehead.

"You..."

Chu Mu's whole body trembled and he slowly fell down.

A moment later, fierce flames rose up and consumed his corpse.

...

At noon, Li Chang'an returned indoors.

He took out the various spirit medicines obtained from Chu Mu's storage pouch and began preparing the medicinal liquid for the next stage of body cultivation.

As for Zheng Lingfeng, he instructed Big Yellow to keep watching him.

Time passed quickly.

Three days went by rapidly.

During this period, everything in the market remained normal.

No one discovered that Chu Mu had disappeared.

After all, very few cultivators stayed shut indoors all day like Li Chang'an. Most would frequently go out, either to hunt demon beasts or explore for treasures.

Even not returning for several months was normal.

...

This evening, Zheng Lingfeng left the Hall of All Affairs and came outside Chu Mu's residence.

"Three days have passed. Li Chang'an should have discovered he was poisoned, right?"

He was somewhat puzzled.

Why hadn't Chu Mu reported new information to him yet?

"Fellow Daoist Chu, are you home?"

Zheng Lingfeng knocked on the door but after a long time, no one responded.

He found it strange and had to turn and leave.

Over the following days, Zheng Lingfeng came almost every day, but never saw any trace of Chu Mu.

"Could this Chu Mu have died? How could he not even leave a message?" Zheng Lingfeng frowned tightly.

He glanced in the direction of Li Chang'an's residence, feeling increasingly puzzled.

...

Without realizing it, a month had passed.

Li Chang'an completed this stage of body cultivation, and his physique had strengthened considerably.

This period had been relatively peaceful with no one disturbing him.

He released a puppet and controlled it to attack himself.

This puppet was stronger than the previous spider puppet, roughly equivalent to a second layer Qi Refining cultivator, but still couldn't break through Li Chang'an's physical defense.

"My current physique can withstand attacks from the second layer of Qi Refining."

Li Chang'an smiled with satisfaction.

The goal for the next stage was to withstand attacks from the third layer of Qi Refining.

"The medicinal liquid for the next stage requires more spirit medicines and demon beast blood essence. I haven't gathered several key treasures yet and need to trade with others."

Li Chang'an immediately went to discuss with Luo Kun.

Soon, Luo Kun provided information about several key treasures.

"Fellow Daoist Li, the treasures you need can be exchanged from Fellow Daoist Chen."

"Which Fellow Daoist Chen?"

"Chen Qianya, daughter of Senior Chen Yuanshan."

Speaking of this, Luo Kun chuckled, and that strange expression appeared on his old face again.

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