DIV Chapter 51: The Young Miss's Surprise

Previously, the robber cultivator who died under the sneak attack was the Seventh Chief of Black Wind Mountain.

"These two were both at the seventh layer of Qi Refining cultivation. The reason they targeted the Zheng family was because they accepted employment from the Foundation Establishment Cao family."

After some interrogation, Li Chang'an obtained the answers he wanted.

The Foundation Establishment Cao family had actually colluded with the notorious Black Wind Mountain robber cultivators.

If this matter were to spread, it would definitely cause an uproar.

But Li Chang'an felt no surprise whatsoever.

After all, Zheng Jinbao had once colluded with Wei Sen, the Third Chief of Black Wind Mountain.

"Among immortal cultivation families, few are clean," Li Chang'an shook his head slightly.

Black Wind Mountain survived within the sphere of influence of three major Foundation Establishment families, not only without weakening, but becoming increasingly powerful.

That First Chief was indeed as the rumors claimed, just one step away from Foundation Establishment.

It was just that he lacked some treasures to assist in Foundation Establishment, so he dared not attempt it yet.

"If that First Chief successfully establishes his foundation, a Foundation Establishment robber cultivator would definitely cause considerable trouble," Li Chang'an pondered briefly.

"Forget it, this matter has nothing to do with me. Let the Zheng family worry about it."

After the interrogation ended, Li Chang'an struck down with one palm, ending this person's life.

As usual, he activated a talisman, burning the corpse to ash.

Then he opened this person's storage bag.

After a brief examination, a smile immediately appeared on his face.

"Not bad, another treasure worth over two thousand spirit stones."

This trip out today had yielded quite a harvest!

...

At the same time, at the previous battle site, quite a few Zheng family disciples had arrived one after another.

Among them was clearly the figure of Zheng Qingqing.

"The young miss actually came," Li Chang'an glanced over there, immediately startled in his heart.

Because he detected a trace of extremely subtle yet powerful aura in the distance behind Zheng Qingqing.

Could it be that Foundation Establishment ancestor?

"Elder Songshe, how are your injuries?" Zheng Qingqing stepped forward, asking with concern.

Beside her, the still-shaken Zheng Ling'er followed.

"Sigh, I nearly remained here today. Fortunately, this Fellow Daoist intervened," Elder Zheng Songshe sighed with emotion.

Then he told everyone the entire process in complete detail.

After hearing it, the Zheng family members present looked at Li Chang'an with several more degrees of goodwill.

Of course, there was also some confusion.

After all, this matter was really too coincidental.

Did this late-stage Qi Refining expert who suddenly appeared have other purposes?

Could he even be one of Black Wind Mountain's people?

At this moment, Zheng Qingqing suddenly spoke.

"Everyone can rest assured, this Fellow Daoist is trustworthy."

"Young miss, do you know this Fellow Daoist?"

"Mm."

Zheng Qingqing smiled slightly, turning to look at Li Chang'an.

She secretly transmitted her voice, with a trace of surprise in her tone, "Fellow Daoist Li, I didn't expect it would be you. Could this puppet body of yours be Zheng Lingfeng's Shadow Chasing Puppet?"

Hearing this, Li Chang'an was stunned.

He transmitted back, "Young miss, how did you see through it?"

Actually, he hadn't planned to hide this puppet from Zheng Qingqing.

After all, the Zheng family couldn't possibly let an unknown masked person enter the scripture library.

But being suddenly exposed by Zheng Qingqing still surprised him somewhat.

Zheng Qingqing pursed her lips and answered, "I obtained an ancient treasure in the secret realm that can investigate auras."

"I see," Li Chang'an realized.

Quite a few ancient treasures had emerged from the secret realm, and some of these treasures had extremely special abilities.

It seemed that Zheng Qingqing was also someone with opportunities.

"This young miss is most likely hiding very deeply too," Li Chang'an thought silently.

Little did he know that Zheng Qingqing had similar thoughts.

Regarding Li Chang'an, she was already finding him somewhat unfathomable.

Every time they met, Li Chang'an would display abilities beyond her expectations.

"Logically speaking, that Shadow Chasing Puppet could only be used by our Zheng family members. Why can Li Chang'an control it?" Zheng Qingqing fell into contemplation.

Before long, everyone returned to the market.

Zheng Qingqing did not reveal Li Chang'an's true identity to the others.

After all, with so many people around, who knew if there were Black Wind Mountain spies within the Zheng family?

She definitely didn't want Li Chang'an to be targeted by Black Wind Mountain.

"Fellow Daoist, please come with me," Zheng Qingqing said in a gentle tone, calling Li Chang'an aside.

The two came together to her residence.

"Fellow Daoist Li, why can you control the Shadow Chasing Puppet?"

At this time, she voiced the confusion in her heart.

Li Chang'an shook his head in denial.

"Young miss, this puppet is not the Shadow Chasing Puppet, but rather the one I bought at the auction. I had someone repair it."

"Oh? So that's how it is."

Zheng Qingqing didn't ask further.

The puppet auctioned back then was indeed first-tier superior grade.

If one didn't spare spirit stones and hired a superior-grade puppet master, there was indeed hope of repairing it.

It was just that such expenditure was too great, and most cultivators wouldn't do this.

"Young miss, this is that robber cultivator's head," Li Chang'an took out a head from his storage bag.

Zheng Qingqing glanced at it and said, "This person is Black Wind Mountain's Seventh Chief. He killed quite a few of our Zheng family disciples. This time Fellow Daoist Li has helped our Zheng family greatly."

"Young miss, I have a presumptuous request."

"Please speak, Fellow Daoist Li."

Zheng Qingqing had already anticipated this.

Facing two late-stage Qi Refining experts, with Li Chang'an's cautious character, if he hadn't had some scheme, he definitely wouldn't have intervened.

Li Chang'an said straightforwardly, "I want to enter the Zheng family scripture library to choose a better cultivation technique."

"Indeed, just as I thought."

Zheng Qingqing had also guessed this matter.

The corners of her mouth curved up, a pair of beautiful eyes staring at Li Chang'an.

"Fellow Daoist Li, for outsiders to enter our Zheng family scripture library, they must make a trip before our family's ancestor. Are you certain you want to try?"

"This..." Li Chang'an was stunned.

He hadn't expected the Zheng family's rules to be so strict.

He definitely didn't want to face a Foundation Establishment ancestor directly.

If that ancestor saw through his hidden opportunities and wanted to forcibly keep him, that would be troublesome.

Although the possibility wasn't great, he didn't want to gamble.

At this moment, Zheng Qingqing suddenly smiled.

"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Li, you don't need to see the ancestor. I happen to have extra family contribution points and can privately exchange a wood-element cultivation technique for you."

"That would be wonderful, many thanks, young miss!" Li Chang'an breathed a sigh of relief.

He had almost wanted to give up.

Afterward, the two discussed for a moment, finally determining the cultivation technique Li Chang'an needed: the Green Wood Technique!

"This Green Wood Technique is a fine piece among mid-grade techniques. The wood-element magical power cultivated from it is extremely thick and possesses the characteristic of endless regeneration, with extremely fast recovery speed," Zheng Qingqing slowly explained.

This technique was the most suitable for Li Chang'an at his current stage.

...

That very evening, this cultivation technique was delivered into Li Chang'an's hands.

He sat cross-legged, carefully studying it.

The more he read, the more delighted he became.

"This technique is indeed extraordinary!"

The Eternal Spring Technique he had previously cultivated simply couldn't compare with it.

Between the two, there was a world of difference!

Li Chang'an immediately dispersed the foundation of the Eternal Spring Technique and began converting to the Green Wood Technique.

This kind of technique dispersal would only scatter the characteristics of the original technique.

His cultivation level would still exist.

About an hour later, Li Chang'an successfully converted, transforming all his magical power into the thick Green Wood Technique magical power.

At this moment, he clearly felt that his speed of absorbing heaven and earth spiritual energy far exceeded the past.

"From now on, cultivation speed won't be so slow anymore," Li Chang'an silently sensed.

Suddenly, his whole body trembled, and a mysterious aura escaped.

Li Chang'an's face showed joy.

"My cultivation is finally about to break through!"

What double happiness!

He immediately gathered his mind and concentrated on breaking through.

...

This night, it wasn't only Li Chang'an who was breaking through.

At the Foundation Establishment Cao family, quite distant from the market, within the clan grounds, a hearty laugh suddenly rang out from deep within the clan territory.

"Hahaha, after years of cultivation, I've finally advanced to mid-stage Foundation Establishment! Old Ghost Zheng, this old man is coming for you!"

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