Living steadily in the world of gods and mystery

Chen Li carefully examined the jade slip.

On the back of the jade slip, intricate cloud patterns were engraved, along with the four characters "Zhou Tian Gang Jing".

"Could it be... the Transmission Jade Slip!?"

He had only read about similar objects in various travelogues of Loose Cultivators; this was his first time actually seeing one. They were used by large sects to transmit power or convey secret messages, and could only be inspected with spiritual sense.

Chen Li pressed the jade slip to his forehead, concentrated his mind, and projected into it.

Indeed, a barrage of information burst forth in his mind.

The jade slip contained not much information, just over a thousand characters. Chen Li read for a few minutes then withdrew.

It was a secret technique used by Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Once mastered, one could instantly condense strong Protective Gang Qi around oneself, which could be used for defense or for offense.

Once cultivated, even a cultivator at the first layer of Foundation Establishment would have a defense comparable to a Body Protection Skill of the First Order Seventh Grade, and the power of a mere palm strike would rival that of a superior Magic Artifact.

And at the third layer of Foundation Establishment, it would be equivalent to constantly activating the Golden Light Body Protection Skill of the First Order Ninth Grade.

"No wonder he didn’t use any spells or talismans for defense; his defense was so strong. It’s a pity that I have to wait until Foundation Establishment to use this secret technique."

Chen Li felt somewhat regretful as he set the jade slip aside and continued the inventory. Almost all the talismans were of the first order, with only two that seemed to be of the second order. Chen Li gave them a glance but paid no more attention. Such items were dangerous and unfamiliar to him.

Before he completely understood them, he dared not try them rashly.

There were three types of elixirs in the storage bag.

They were the Gathering Qi Elixir, the Fasting Pill, and the Muscle Regeneration and Bone Continuation Pill.

Unfortunately, except for some understanding of the Fasting Pill, he knew nothing about the rest.

"But this Muscle Regeneration and Bone Continuation Pill, from the name, it sounds like an elixir for healing wounds..." Chen Li thought to himself.

Outside, noise and commotion began to rise, with a cacophony of voices. He quickly reached out and wiped, putting all the items back into the storage bag.

The itch from his wound had gradually subsided. Chen Li used his consciousness to sense the area and found the broken bones had completely healed without much trace. He moved his right hand, and apart from slight stiffness,

there were no serious problems.

"With normal recuperation in the coming days, it should return to normal."

Chen Li quickly changed out of his blood-stained clothes, cast the Cleaning Skill on himself, and then walked out the door nonchalantly.

"My God, the Zhou Family’s Foundation Establishment ancestor was killed?"

"Right at the city gates, his head was even blasted open. The blood was all over the ground, and bits of brain were splattered several meters away. If you had seen it, you would understand, it was grisly, just too grisly to behold!"

"Wait, I want to see this!"

"You’re too late, it’s already been sealed off. Three elders of the Changsheng Sect and the Sect Master have all rushed over, and even the Foundation Establishment ancestors from other families are there."

The crowd was buzzing with discussion,

their eyes filled with fear, panic, and a mix of curiosity and excitement.

In the eyes of Loose Cultivators, Foundation Establishment cultivators were like high mountains, unreachable beings with long lifespans and terrifying strength, royals compared to common folk—truly on another level.

But now, one had been killed.

Not just killed.

His head had been burst open!

"Do you think this means there’s going to be another war?"

"It’s hard to say! Alas, there haven’t been peaceful times in years."

...

"Fellow Daoist Chen, what happened?" Zhang Yan came out to see what the fuss was about and approached Chen, seeing him there, to inquire about the news.

"I’m as puzzled as you are. From what they’re saying, Zhou Family’s ancestor got killed at the city gates!" Chen said with a grave expression.

"Hiss!" Zhang Yan gasped in shock, his face paling: "This is... He was a Foundation Establishment cultivator."

"Sigh, do you think this will implicate us from the Green River District again? The last death of a Zhou Family member was already suspected to be our doing," Chen pretended to worry, "and now this."

"That shouldn’t be the case, hasn’t it already passed?" Zhang Yan felt a bit uncertain, glanced around furtively, and whispered, "We of the Green River District, a bunch of Qi Cultivation Loose Cultivators, how could we have the capacity to carry out such a heinous act!"

He felt a sense of injustice in his heart.

Heaven knows, involving them in the death of a Zhou Family member was one thing,

but carrying the blame for a Foundation Establishment death, that was a burden too heavy for them,

they were at their wits’ end.

This could get someone killed.

"Let’s hope it’s as you say! Alas, in this world, it’s always us honest folk who quietly go about our lives that end up suffering," Chen sighed.

Zhang Yan looked at Chen with a slightly strange expression.

He acknowledged himself to be an honest man,

but whether Chen was, that was debatable.

Chen didn’t notice Zhang Yan’s gaze, his mind busy making calculations.

With the Changsheng Sect and its six affiliate families, there were a total of only ten Foundation Establishment cultivators. One’s death was a major incident, clearly not something that would just be brushed aside. Zhou Xutang might be dead, but there were still some loose ends to be tied up.

Gu Mengqing... of course, shouldn’t be repaid with ingratitude.

In a way, he had saved his life this time.

If it were not for his rush from afar to warn him, whether he would have been able to safely get through this calamity was questionable, at least he wouldn’t be standing here so composedly now.

But the people in Lancheng who were involved in this matter, they had to be thoroughly dealt with.

And this could not drag on for too long.

The sooner, the better!

Delays could lead to discrepancies!

After watching the excitement for a while and exchanging a few words, Chen bid farewell to Zhang Yan.

He closed the courtyard door, and while employing his Traction Skill, he headed straight for the bedroom. He moved aside the cabinet and stone slab blocking the passage, swiftly jumped down, used the Traction Skill again to restore everything on the outside as they were, and then quickly made his way through the tunnel toward the outside world.