The Immortal Clan begins with deductive intelligence.

Murder and set fire to the gold belt, repair the bridge and repair the road without corpses.

Since the Zhang family could manipulate the sect's rules and force Xu Changqing to his death, then the shortfall of several thousand spirit stones could only be covered by the Zhang family.

Come and don't come, it's indecent.

Xu Changqing retreated to the quiet room, closed the door, and locked it.

Sitting cross-legged on the meditation cushion, I let my mind sink down and return to the sea of ​​consciousness.

"Based on our calculations, within a month, could the Zhang family of Ling'ao Island possess any assets, hidden vaults, or caravans that could be seized by someone with only a Qi Refining Level 6 cultivation? These assets would be worth at least 3,000 spirit stones, and there would be no trace of them."

[Deduction begins]

[Divination Item: The authenticity of the Zhang family's treasure on Ling'ao Island.]

[Time required: Twelve days.]

"The 12th day of the month..."

Xu Changqing exhaled a long breath and slowly opened his eyes.

The fact that this matter has been investigated for nearly half a month demonstrates how deeply it involves.

However, as long as they can capture it before setting off for Black Wind Pass, there will still be enough time.

……

The river flows on and on, ceaselessly.

The same rising sun shines on Cangwu Island, and also on the majestic immortal mountain thousands of miles away.

Qinghe Sword Sect.

Clouds rise and fall, creating a magnificent and ethereal atmosphere.

The continuous mountain peaks pierce the clouds, and the waterfalls cascade down like ribbons, hanging upside down in front of the river.

Xu Xining changed into a clean blue robe and climbed the stone steps one by one.

Before going to the cliffside cave, he first went to the nearby Sword Forging Peak.

Sword Casting Peak is perpetually ablaze with flames and scorching heat.

Before we even got close, we could hear deafening hammering sounds, clanging and banging, one after another.

In the outer courtyard of the Sword Pavilion, a dozen outer disciples, shirtless and sweating profusely, were wielding hundred-pound iron hammers to temper sword blanks.

Xu Xining spotted Xu Yanfeng in the crowd at a glance.

Xu Yanfeng was a burly man with bulging muscles, which were tanned black and red by the furnace fire. Each time he struck with his hammer, it produced a dull thud.

"Brother Yanfeng!"

Xu Xining stood outside the heatwave and called out loudly.

Hearing the commotion, Xu Yanfeng paused with his hammer, wiped the sweat from his face, and strode over.

"Xi Ning? What brings you to my hellhole?"

Xu Yanfeng casually grabbed a cloth to wipe his chest, grinned, and revealed his snow-white teeth.

"I just went home and came to see you."

Xu Xining frowned slightly as he looked at the few blisters on Xu Yanfeng's shoulder caused by the sparks.

"Why are you working so hard? You're even wasting your days off here in the sword hut."

Xu Yanfeng's smile faded slightly, his eyes dimmed, he sighed, and sat down on the bluestone millstone beside him.

"Can we manage without putting in our best effort?"

He lowered his voice, his tone weak.

"The sect has strict rules. If an outer disciple is over eighteen years old and has not yet broken through to the third level of Qi Refining, he or she will be stripped of his or her outer disciple status and demoted to a miscellaneous disciple."

Xu Xining felt a chill run down his spine.

The title "Miscellaneous Disciple" sounds respectable, but in reality, it means a lifetime of hard labor on this sacred mountain.

Even if one endures for decades and becomes a menial servant or steward, in the eyes of the inner sect's prodigies or the outer sect disciples with slightly better aptitude, one is nothing more than a household slave who can be summoned and dismissed at will.

Not only are they deprived of access to the sect's advanced cultivation techniques, but their monthly allowance of spirit stones is also pitifully small.

"You are still young, you have plenty of time to endure it."

"Me? I'm already sixteen this year, and I'm less than two years away from that milestone."

Xu Yanfeng looked at his calloused hands and gave a wry smile.

"Although I can barely stay at the second level of Qi Refining now, the further I go, the slower my cultivation progresses. Without the help of pills, relying solely on the little bit of fire spirit energy absorbed in this sword hut, it would be as difficult as climbing to heaven to break through."

Xu Xining remained silent.

"Brother Yanfeng, I still have some spirit stones here..."

Xu Xining touched his pocket, about to take out some savings.

"No need."

Xu Yanfeng waved his hand, his expression resolute.

"Keep your spirit stones for yourself to use to smooth things over. I haven't been working for nothing these past few days at the Sword Pavilion. I've been helping the inner sect senior brothers forge sword embryos. As long as the quality is good, I can exchange them for two more bottles of Qi-Nourishing Pills every month."

Having said that, he didn't linger any longer and turned back into the sweltering heat.

"Clang! Clang!"

Xu Xining stood there, gazing at the figure sweating profusely in the firelight for a long time before turning and leaving.

"The path to greatness is arduous; who isn't struggling to survive in the mire?"

Xu Xining descended the mountain, shook his head, and shook off the image of Xu Yanfeng's face, blackened by the furnace fire, from his mind. He quickened his pace and hurried towards Hundred Beast Peak.

As we reached the halfway point up the mountain, the roars of beasts gradually became clearer.

The rhinoceros named "Swallowing Clouds" was ramming against the railing, making a dull, loud noise.

Several red-feathered cranes circled in the clouds, occasionally letting out a few clear calls.

Xu Xining stopped and looked up at the cliff at the top of the mountain, which was shrouded in dark clouds all year round.

That was the location of Xiao Hanyi's cave dwelling.

"call……"

He exhaled a breath of stale air and was about to take another step forward when a figure suddenly emerged from under an old pine tree ahead.

Today, Xiao Hanyi changed into a snow-white, spotless sword-patterned robe, with a jade belt around her waist, outlining her slender figure.

Her long black hair was tied up high, revealing a smooth, jade-like face with a rosy complexion and abundant vitality.

Where was there even a trace of the disheveled state he had been in hiding in the cave a few days ago?

Xu Xining's heart skipped a beat, and his feet instinctively wanted to step back, but he stopped himself.

He glanced at Xiao Hanyi's wrist very quickly out of the corner of his eye.

The area that was originally wrapped with blood-soaked bandages is now covered with frost on her fair wrist, her skin as white as snow. Not to mention the wound, there is not even a trace of red mark to be seen, as if the bloody smell of that day was just an illusion of Xu Xining.

"It's only been a few days? And it's already healed? Or is it just a smokescreen?"

Xu Xining felt uneasy.

"What? You don't even recognize me after a few days?"

Xiao Hanyi's voice was cold, and her brows were slightly furrowed.

Xu Xining shuddered, his face immediately plastered with that nauseatingly obsequious smile, and he rushed forward, bowing deeply in reverence.

"Oh dear! Senior Sister Xiao! What gust of wind blew you here so early in the morning?"

"I just got back to the mountain and was thinking of going to pay my respects to my senior sister, and also to ask if the lion has a good appetite and if it needs any snacks..."

"Alright."

Xiao Hanyi looked down at the prostrate boy, a hint of amusement flashing in his phoenix eyes.

She actually enjoys the feeling of being feared and fawned over.

"Stand up and speak."

"Thank you, Senior Sister!"

Xu Xining quickly got up, patted the mud off his knees, and stood aside with his back bent.

"Have you kept your mouth shut these past few days since you came home?"

Xiao Hanyi asked casually, her fingers gently stroking the tassels on the sword hilt.

"I've got it! I've definitely got it!"

Xu Xining thumped his chest loudly, his face full of confidence.

"Senior sister, you know me. I may not have any great abilities, but I'm very principled. Since I'm doing this for you, then..."

"Alright, you're smart to know what's good for you."

Xiao Hanyi snorted coldly, flipped his wrist, and a jet-black token appeared in his palm, which he casually tossed over.

Xu Xining hurriedly caught it, only to find it icy cold to the touch. The token was engraved with a ferocious beast head, its eyes bloodshot and lifelike.

"Senior sister, what is this treasure...?"