"Then let's investigate."
Zhou Ruiyu decisively gave the command and promptly utilized the resources of the Zhou Clan to delve into Lin Feng's background.
The body in the valley crevice was also scrutinized by a skilled coroner dispatched to the scene.
Simultaneously, Qiu Liaoxi and Ning Xian's perception of Jiang Chen grew increasingly positive.
They were astonished that Jiang Chen was willing to shoulder the secret of Lin Feng's restored dantian all by himself.
This not only spared Lin Feng from a plethora of complications,
But it also enabled them to persist in their scheme to exact revenge on behalf of the Ning Clan.
At this moment,
Two system prompts reverberated in Jiang Chen's mind.
[Ding! Ning Xian's affection for you has increased, and Lin Feng's Heavenly Fate Value has decreased by 200 points!]
[Ding! You have gained 300 points of Villain Value!]
Upon hearing this,
Jiang Chen's heart swelled with elation.
However,
"Ning Xian,"
"It's impossible for Lin Feng to have done this. Let's message him and ask him to come and cooperate with the investigation."
Jiang Chen pivoted, wearing a comforting smile, and addressed Ning Xian.
His words were not concealed in the slightest; in fact, they were intentionally spoken for the Zhou Clan members to overhear.
As anticipated,
Upon hearing this, the Zhou Clan members felt somewhat more reassured, and their suspicion towards Lin Feng diminished even further.
"Alright."
Ning Xian nodded and then turned to Qiu Liaoxi, "Master, let's send the message together!"
Qiu Liaoxi concurred.
Without delay,
The pair jointly transmitted a message to Lin Feng.
In an exceptionally secluded location on a remote mountainside,
Lin Feng sat cross-legged in a dim and damp fissure among the rocks, diligently cultivating and rejuvenating his energy.
"It was only by chance that I stumbled upon this place."
"Moreover, it's concealed within the mountain slope; even an expert at the Mysterious Platform realm would struggle to locate it directly."
"Regrettably, I can't return to Autumn Glory City now that I've slain members of the Zhou Clan. Ning Xian, Master, I will undoubtedly come back to find you,"
Lin Feng murmured softly, then gazed at the few storage rings and bracelets with a gleeful expression.
These were the spoils he acquired from plundering the corpses of those he had vanquished.
Two at the Spiritual Awakening realm, five at the Soul Refining realm, and six at the Elemental Movement realm!
One of them was even Zhou Yihe, the second young master of the Zhou Clan.
The treasures inside,
These were sufficient to amass him a small fortune.
The crucial aspect was that there were already prepared spiritual plants within these storage artifacts!
These spiritual plants could be employed directly to rejuvenate the Burning World Red Lotus, thereby facilitating his rapid cultivation progress!
Just at that instant,
His transmission jade token suddenly quivered.
"This is... Ning Xian and Master!"
Lin Feng's transmission jade token was acquired later on, with only Ning Xian and Qiu Liaoxi registered as contacts.
He picked up the transmission jade token and perused the message on it using his divine sense.
"My disciple Lin Feng!"
"Where are you now?"
"Zhou Yihe has been killed, and someone has framed you!"
"Initially, the Zhou Clan intended to hunt you down directly, but fortunately, Jiang Chen intervened on your behalf. He even enlisted the assistance of Patriarch Jiang and President Du to deter the Zhou Clan!"
"Jiang Chen has convinced the Zhou Clan, and they now comprehend that you were framed. Nevertheless, they still need to carry out a final investigation."
"They will scrutinize your background, cultivation, and corroborate Jiang Chen's claims, but he has assumed responsibility for the confidential matter regarding your dantian, so don't fret about it!"
"Now come over here and cooperate with the investigation!"
"..."
Lin Feng gazed at the message in the transmission jade token, feeling somewhat bewildered.
Qiu Liaoxi and Ning Xian's messages conveyed the same intent.
They stated that Jiang Chen had nearly helped him dispel the suspicion and had shouldered the secret of his dantian himself.
In summary,
Jiang Chen had assisted him immensely!
Subsequently, they requested that he emerge and cooperate with the investigation.
"Jiang Chen... you went to such lengths for me!? It's too much."
"Is it because you possess keen judgment and discerned my potential, so you had to recruit me as your subordinate?"
"Or is it that you are coveting the secret of my dantian recovery, and thus you aided me in concealing it?"
"Either way, it won't work!"
"Today, I will utilize your help to escape trouble initially. If you don't cause me any issues in the future, then it's fine. But if you do, hmph..."
Lin Feng stowed away the transmission jade token and snorted disdainfully.
Lin Feng harbored an uneasy feeling about Jiang Chen, who had also provoked frustration and fury within him to the verge of eruption on multiple occasions.
Furthermore,
Even without Jiang Chen's assistance,
Following this incident, Lin Feng possessed the confidence to confront the Zhou Clan and gradually grow stronger, ultimately vanquishing the Zhou Clan.
Hence,
Although Jiang Chen contributed significantly to this matter, he didn't feel particularly grateful and even questioned Jiang Chen's motives.
"Regrettably, I can't utilize these spiritual plants for now..."
"If I consume them, I'm certain I could break through to the Spiritual Awakening Realm."
"But then, I wouldn't be able to exonerate myself from the suspicion of murdering Zhou Yihe."
Lin Feng glanced at the loot in his hand with a hint of remorse.
Moreover,
Retaining these items while cooperating with the investigation would be akin to courting disaster.
He could only temporarily find a location to stash them.
Consequently,
He searched for a sizable rock nearby.
He excavated a deep cavity in it and placed the storage rings and bracelets inside, then sealed it with debris and soil.
Ultimately, he hurled it into a deep river.
Immediately after,
Lin Feng donned a fresh set of clothes and disposed of his old ones.
He meticulously cleansed himself and reapplied dirt to eliminate any lingering traces.
Shortly thereafter,
He retrieved his transmission jade token and dispatched a message to Ning Xian.
Following that, he neatened himself up once more and verified that there were no inconsistencies before hastening towards the previous battleground.
Simultaneously,
[Ding! You have successfully altered the plot. Lin Feng's Heavenly Fate Value has decreased by 300 points!]
[Ding! You have gained 500 points of Villain Value!]
Two system prompts resounded in Jiang Chen's mind.
'Hehe, the plot has shifted!'
'And Lin Feng consented to return for the investigation.'
'This also signifies that he has confidence in himself. Well done, Lin Feng, you didn't let me down.'
Jiang Chen mused to himself, his lips curling gently upwards with an enigmatic savoring.
At this moment,
"Patriarch Zhou!"
"Lin Feng has agreed and is already en route here!"
Qiu Liaoxi exclaimed to Zhou Ruiyu with some excitement.
"Good!"
Zhou Ruiyu nodded. "If he has no issues, I will not make things difficult for him."
Now that he had investigated Lin Feng's background and verified that Jiang Chen had spoken the truth,
Lin Feng was indeed merely a Soul Refining realm cultivator who had once damaged his own dantian, leading to his expulsion from the Starry Abyss Sect!
And the examination of the bodies also corroborated this.
The cause of death for Zhou Yihe and the others seemed to have been inflicted by a sharp weapon.
In reality, including the Entwined Silk Vajra Python, the true cause of death was an extremely terrifying flame.
This was entirely different from the cultivation methods practiced by the inner disciples of the Starry Abyss Sect.
At this time, Lin Feng was willing to return and undergo the investigation.
As a result, Zhou Ruiyu had essentially ruled out Lin Feng as a suspect in his mind and started to consider which of his adversaries could have been responsible for the assault.
At this moment,
Pairs of cultivators carried all the bodies out from the crevices of the mountain ravine.
Even though the bodies were wrapped in thick cloth, the potent scent of blood could still be discerned.
'Flames...'
'Is Lin Feng's ultimate move a fire-based technique?'
'It seems that we need to make some preparations to handle this!'
Jiang Chen glanced at the bodies and silently pondered in his mind.
Time passed unhurriedly.
Before long,
Lin Feng's silhouette emerged in the distance, advancing at the typical pace of a Soul Refining realm cultivator.
"Lin Feng!"
Upon catching sight of him, Qiu Liaoxi's aged visage broke into a warm smile as she called out.
"Master!"
Lin Feng reciprocated Qiu Liaoxi's greeting, then shifted his attention to Ning Xian and Jiang Chen.
Observing their close proximity, he felt a surge of displeasure.
However, he couldn't genuinely express his irritation.
After all, Jiang Chen had recently provided him with significant assistance.
This was no secret!
Whoosh.
As Lin Feng's robes billowed, he alighted before Qiu Liaoxi and respectfully saluted her, Jiang Xingtai, and Du Bailei in succession.
Next, he acknowledged Ning Xian and Jiang Chen with a nod.
At last,
Lin Feng pivoted and extended a respectful bow to Zhou Ruiyu, addressing him, "Patriarch Zhou!"
"Then let's investigate."
Zhou Ruiyu decisively gave the command and promptly utilized the resources of the Zhou Clan to delve into Lin Feng's background.
The body in the valley crevice was also scrutinized by a skilled coroner dispatched to the scene.
Simultaneously, Qiu Liaoxi and Ning Xian's perception of Jiang Chen grew increasingly positive.
They were astonished that Jiang Chen was willing to shoulder the secret of Lin Feng's restored dantian all by himself.
This not only spared Lin Feng from a plethora of complications,
But it also enabled them to persist in their scheme to exact revenge on behalf of the Ning Clan.
At this moment,
Two system prompts reverberated in Jiang Chen's mind.
[Ding! Ning Xian's affection for you has increased, and Lin Feng's Heavenly Fate Value has decreased by 200 points!]
[Ding! You have gained 300 points of Villain Value!]
Upon hearing this,
Jiang Chen's heart swelled with elation.
However,
"Ning Xian,"
"It's impossible for Lin Feng to have done this. Let's message him and ask him to come and cooperate with the investigation."
Jiang Chen pivoted, wearing a comforting smile, and addressed Ning Xian.
His words were not concealed in the slightest; in fact, they were intentionally spoken for the Zhou Clan members to overhear.
As anticipated,
Upon hearing this, the Zhou Clan members felt somewhat more reassured, and their suspicion towards Lin Feng diminished even further.
"Alright."
Ning Xian nodded and then turned to Qiu Liaoxi, "Master, let's send the message together!"
Qiu Liaoxi concurred.
Without delay,
The pair jointly transmitted a message to Lin Feng.
In an exceptionally secluded location on a remote mountainside,
Lin Feng sat cross-legged in a dim and damp fissure among the rocks, diligently cultivating and rejuvenating his energy.
"It was only by chance that I stumbled upon this place."
"Moreover, it's concealed within the mountain slope; even an expert at the Mysterious Platform realm would struggle to locate it directly."
"Regrettably, I can't return to Autumn Glory City now that I've slain members of the Zhou Clan. Ning Xian, Master, I will undoubtedly come back to find you,"
Lin Feng murmured softly, then gazed at the few storage rings and bracelets with a gleeful expression.
These were the spoils he acquired from plundering the corpses of those he had vanquished.
Two at the Spiritual Awakening realm, five at the Soul Refining realm, and six at the Elemental Movement realm!
One of them was even Zhou Yihe, the second young master of the Zhou Clan.
The treasures inside,
These were sufficient to amass him a small fortune.
The crucial aspect was that there were already prepared spiritual plants within these storage artifacts!
These spiritual plants could be employed directly to rejuvenate the Burning World Red Lotus, thereby facilitating his rapid cultivation progress!
Just at that instant,
His transmission jade token suddenly quivered.
"This is... Ning Xian and Master!"
Lin Feng's transmission jade token was acquired later on, with only Ning Xian and Qiu Liaoxi registered as contacts.
He picked up the transmission jade token and perused the message on it using his divine sense.
"My disciple Lin Feng!"
"Where are you now?"
"Zhou Yihe has been killed, and someone has framed you!"
"Initially, the Zhou Clan intended to hunt you down directly, but fortunately, Jiang Chen intervened on your behalf. He even enlisted the assistance of Patriarch Jiang and President Du to deter the Zhou Clan!"
"Jiang Chen has convinced the Zhou Clan, and they now comprehend that you were framed. Nevertheless, they still need to carry out a final investigation."
"They will scrutinize your background, cultivation, and corroborate Jiang Chen's claims, but he has assumed responsibility for the confidential matter regarding your dantian, so don't fret about it!"
"Now come over here and cooperate with the investigation!"
"..."
Lin Feng gazed at the message in the transmission jade token, feeling somewhat bewildered.
Qiu Liaoxi and Ning Xian's messages conveyed the same intent.
They stated that Jiang Chen had nearly helped him dispel the suspicion and had shouldered the secret of his dantian himself.
In summary,
Jiang Chen had assisted him immensely!
Subsequently, they requested that he emerge and cooperate with the investigation.
"Jiang Chen... you went to such lengths for me!? It's too much."
"Is it because you possess keen judgment and discerned my potential, so you had to recruit me as your subordinate?"
"Or is it that you are coveting the secret of my dantian recovery, and thus you aided me in concealing it?"
"Either way, it won't work!"
"Today, I will utilize your help to escape trouble initially. If you don't cause me any issues in the future, then it's fine. But if you do, hmph..."
Lin Feng stowed away the transmission jade token and snorted disdainfully.
Lin Feng harbored an uneasy feeling about Jiang Chen, who had also provoked frustration and fury within him to the verge of eruption on multiple occasions.
Furthermore,
Even without Jiang Chen's assistance,
Following this incident, Lin Feng possessed the confidence to confront the Zhou Clan and gradually grow stronger, ultimately vanquishing the Zhou Clan.
Hence,
Although Jiang Chen contributed significantly to this matter, he didn't feel particularly grateful and even questioned Jiang Chen's motives.
"Regrettably, I can't utilize these spiritual plants for now..."
"If I consume them, I'm certain I could break through to the Spiritual Awakening Realm."
"But then, I wouldn't be able to exonerate myself from the suspicion of murdering Zhou Yihe."
Lin Feng glanced at the loot in his hand with a hint of remorse.
Moreover,
Retaining these items while cooperating with the investigation would be akin to courting disaster.
He could only temporarily find a location to stash them.
Consequently,
He searched for a sizable rock nearby.
He excavated a deep cavity in it and placed the storage rings and bracelets inside, then sealed it with debris and soil.
Ultimately, he hurled it into a deep river.
Immediately after,
Lin Feng donned a fresh set of clothes and disposed of his old ones.
He meticulously cleansed himself and reapplied dirt to eliminate any lingering traces.
Shortly thereafter,
He retrieved his transmission jade token and dispatched a message to Ning Xian.
Following that, he neatened himself up once more and verified that there were no inconsistencies before hastening towards the previous battleground.
Simultaneously,
[Ding! You have successfully altered the plot. Lin Feng's Heavenly Fate Value has decreased by 300 points!]
[Ding! You have gained 500 points of Villain Value!]
Two system prompts resounded in Jiang Chen's mind.
'Hehe, the plot has shifted!'
'And Lin Feng consented to return for the investigation.'
'This also signifies that he has confidence in himself. Well done, Lin Feng, you didn't let me down.'
Jiang Chen mused to himself, his lips curling gently upwards with an enigmatic savoring.
At this moment,
"Patriarch Zhou!"
"Lin Feng has agreed and is already en route here!"
Qiu Liaoxi exclaimed to Zhou Ruiyu with some excitement.
"Good!"
Zhou Ruiyu nodded. "If he has no issues, I will not make things difficult for him."
Now that he had investigated Lin Feng's background and verified that Jiang Chen had spoken the truth,
Lin Feng was indeed merely a Soul Refining realm cultivator who had once damaged his own dantian, leading to his expulsion from the Starry Abyss Sect!
And the examination of the bodies also corroborated this.
The cause of death for Zhou Yihe and the others seemed to have been inflicted by a sharp weapon.
In reality, including the Entwined Silk Vajra Python, the true cause of death was an extremely terrifying flame.
This was entirely different from the cultivation methods practiced by the inner disciples of the Starry Abyss Sect.
At this time, Lin Feng was willing to return and undergo the investigation.
As a result, Zhou Ruiyu had essentially ruled out Lin Feng as a suspect in his mind and started to consider which of his adversaries could have been responsible for the assault.
At this moment,
Pairs of cultivators carried all the bodies out from the crevices of the mountain ravine.
Even though the bodies were wrapped in thick cloth, the potent scent of blood could still be discerned.
'Flames...'
'Is Lin Feng's ultimate move a fire-based technique?'
'It seems that we need to make some preparations to handle this!'
Jiang Chen glanced at the bodies and silently pondered in his mind.
Time passed unhurriedly.
Before long,
Lin Feng's silhouette emerged in the distance, advancing at the typical pace of a Soul Refining realm cultivator.
"Lin Feng!"
Upon catching sight of him, Qiu Liaoxi's aged visage broke into a warm smile as she called out.
"Master!"
Lin Feng reciprocated Qiu Liaoxi's greeting, then shifted his attention to Ning Xian and Jiang Chen.
Observing their close proximity, he felt a surge of displeasure.
However, he couldn't genuinely express his irritation.
After all, Jiang Chen had recently provided him with significant assistance.
This was no secret!
Whoosh.
As Lin Feng's robes billowed, he alighted before Qiu Liaoxi and respectfully saluted her, Jiang Xingtai, and Du Bailei in succession.
Next, he acknowledged Ning Xian and Jiang Chen with a nod.
At last,
Lin Feng pivoted and extended a respectful bow to Zhou Ruiyu, addressing him, "Patriarch Zhou!"
