Chapter 72: The Rambling Ancestor

The night sky was clear, the moonlight bright, and a few idle clouds drifted by.

Yet outside the cave dwelling on the Sixth Peak, the ancestor of the Diamond Sect, standing with his back to the moonlight, looked somewhat gloomy.

In this dim light, the sorrow on his face seemed to deepen.

In truth, he did not feel much heartache over the lost wealth; the reason he had vomited blood back then was the fury of having his sect gate destroyed.

As for those spirit stones, they were merely what he had placed on display.

What he truly worried about was that his enemy would grow stronger and stronger within the Seven Blood Eyes.

At this moment, anxious at heart, he looked up at the cave dwelling ahead; it was silent, with no response.

It was not until half an incense stick of time had passed that a sigh finally drifted out from within the cave.

"You Lingzi, long time no see."

The Diamond Sect ancestor’s Daoist name was You Lingzi, but for these many years, in the region where he resided—both inside and outside the sect—others mostly addressed him as "Ancestor," so he had not heard his own Daoist name from another’s lips for a long time.

Hearing it now, the Diamond Sect ancestor felt a touch of nostalgia in his expression and sighed softly.

"Long time no see."

As the words echoed, the closed stone door slowly rose amidst a rumbling sound, revealing the pitch-black interior, and from that darkness, a figure slowly walked out.

This figure’s gait was somewhat strange, each step appearing rigid and precise. Once he had fully emerged, under the moonlight, one could see he was an old man wearing a deep blue Daoist robe. Beneath his graying hair was a face that looked stern and rigid.

He walked to the front of the Diamond Sect ancestor and stopped. Just then, a mountain breeze blew, lifting a corner of his robe and revealing what was inside: legs that were not made of flesh and blood...

Those legs were clearly crafted from artifact-refining materials, emitting a blue glow that added a sense of chill under the moonlight.

"Since it has been a long time, then why have you come here today... for what purpose?" The blue-robed old man looked up at the clouds in the night sky and spoke indifferently.

Even though he and the Diamond Sect ancestor were standing together, the impression given was that the Diamond Sect ancestor was a head shorter than him.

The Diamond Sect ancestor’s expression was somewhat miserable. After a long silence, he still spoke about the matter regarding Xu Qing.

"My family has suffered a catastrophe... before that little thief left, he viciously snatched my sect’s resources and then maliciously set a fire, burning my Diamond Sect to the ground."

"If this child were merely an ordinary person, that would be one thing, and I wouldn't take it to heart. But after I spent a great sum to investigate and found he had joined the Seven Blood Eyes and seemed to be gradually establishing himself there, it has left me in a state of constant anxiety, frequently recalling the ancient texts I have read over the years."

"Based on the experience I’ve gained from reading countless ancient texts, I compared them and discovered that people like this usually possess an unstoppable great destiny. I was muddled at the time; I shouldn't have just had myself and two sect Elders take action. I should have exhausted the entire strength of the sect, sparing no cost to annihilate him, or perhaps turned hostility into friendship by offering compensation..."

"Sigh, it is a pity that the opportunity was missed. According to my analysis, if he cannot be suppressed before he fully matures... then in the future, I will surely die!"

"I have a strong premonition that once this person rises, he will inevitably bring a bloodbath to your Seven Blood Eyes, causing your sect to face the danger of annihilation. That is what the ancient texts say. By then, I fear that with a single casual word from this person, my Diamond Sect will be reduced to dust."

After the Diamond Sect ancestor finished speaking, he lowered his head bitterly.

The blue-robed ancestor standing before him wore a gradually strange expression. He looked at the Diamond Sect ancestor and, after a long while, shook his head.

"You Lingzi, so many years have passed, and you... how are you still so superstitious and rambling? A small character, and in your eyes, he has become someone with great destiny who can bring a bloodbath to the Seven Blood Eyes and cause the danger of sect annihilation? A single word could destroy your Diamond Sect? You can even fantasize about such things..."

"You don't understand, I trust my feelings..." The Diamond Sect ancestor sighed again.

Seeing the Diamond Sect ancestor like this, the blue-robed old man shook his head slightly. He did not have a deep friendship with the other party, having only had a few dealings many years ago, and at this moment, he felt somewhat dismissive.

"Which peak did this child join?"

"The Seventh Peak... according to my expensive investigation, his name is Xu Qing, and he entered the Criminal Investigation Department." The Diamond Sect ancestor knew he could not hide it and spoke in a low voice.

"Whatever department it is doesn't matter. They are just disciples under our sect's mountain. Although it is like raising Gu, letting them kill each other and survive like wolf cubs, there are some rules in the sect that cannot be broken..."

Speaking to this point, the blue-robed old man saw the Diamond Sect ancestor’s gloomy expression and sighed.

"Fine, at most I will help you knock this child down a peg, make him spit out what he took from your Diamond Sect. If that is not enough, I will make him use everything he has to offset it."

After speaking, he took out a jade slip, sent a voice transmission to give instructions, and then pointed at the Diamond Sect ancestor.

"That’s it, it has been arranged. But you, you should spend your time cultivating properly. After all these years, you are still at the early stage of Foundation Establishment with no progress. Stop reading those messy ancient texts all the time; you are rambling every day. If you keep reading, I worry you will develop a heart demon."

The Diamond Sect ancestor wanted to say more but stopped. This was not quite the result he wanted, but seeing the other party’s resolute tone, he sighed in his heart and finally cupped his fists in a bow.

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, Xu Qing opened his eyes from his cross-legged position and looked down at the leather bag beside him.

This was what Huang Yan had gifted him last night, containing three pieces of exotic beast materials.

Two diamond-shaped bones and one feather.

Red light shimmered on them, and they seemed to be of the same origin, with quite extraordinary auras. The only pity was that they had nothing to do with sturdiness, serving more as enhancements for techniques and speed.

"I wonder how many spirit stones I can get if I sell them."

"And my White Pills, I've accumulated nearly a thousand more..." Xu Qing took stock of his assets, walked out of the Dharma boat, and arrived at the breakfast stall he visited every day.

The owner of the stall was a middle-aged man with no cultivation base, an ordinary resident of the main city. He had a simple and honest appearance, and seeing Xu Qing, he grinned.

He had a deep impression of this handsome youth from the Criminal Investigation Department. The other party lacked the ferocity of a Seven Blood Eyes disciple and was very polite, so without Xu Qing needing to order, the owner quickly served a few steamed buns and steamed eggs, and even gave him a plate of side dishes.

Xu Qing thanked him, sat down, picked up his chopsticks, and ate slowly. Nowadays, he was already used to using chopsticks. Until he had finished everything cleanly, he placed a spirit coin on the table, then stood up and walked to the Criminal Investigation Department.

The roll call at the Criminal Investigation Department was simple; one only needed to touch their identity token against the bluestone in the Xuan Department’s main courtyard.

Xu Qing, who was familiar with all of this, finished the roll call and, taking advantage of his patrol duty, walked along the street under the morning sun.

Along the way, he met some disciples of the Criminal Investigation Department, most of whom greeted him politely. After the battle of the Night Dove, Xu Qing already had a certain reputation within the Criminal Investigation Department.

As he walked along the street, Xu Qing bought a few pears and, while eating, headed toward the apothecary. He planned to sell the White Pills first, then go see how much he would still be short of to exchange for the required Giant Whale skull after selling the materials Huang Yan had gifted him yesterday.

Before long, the apothecary came into Xu Qing’s view. It was the same one where he bought and sold herbs and elixirs, and it was very lively with people coming and going.

Xu Qing was considered a regular here. His appearance was immediately noticed by the busy shopkeeper, whose eyes lit up as he walked out from behind the counter and spoke with a smile.

"I haven't seen you for a while. Are you buying herbs or selling elixirs this time?"

"Selling elixirs."

Hearing Xu Qing’s words, the shopkeeper’s enthusiasm grew even higher. Regarding the elixirs Xu Qing produced, he only took a quick glance before readily offering twenty spirit stones.

"Not going to check them?" Xu Qing looked at the shopkeeper.

"Your elixirs, no need to check." The shopkeeper waved his hand with a smile.

Xu Qing nodded. He was confident that every one of his elixirs was of top quality, so after cupping his fists, he walked out of the shop.

Seeing Xu Qing leave, the apothecary shopkeeper hurriedly took out a jade slip, sent a voice transmission to the proprietor, and then called an assistant to place Xu Qing’s elixirs in a box, telling the assistant to deliver them to the Second Peak immediately.

The assistant was very sharp and knew the proprietor seemed to value these elixirs highly, so after leaving the shop, he ran quickly, taking a shortcut to the Second Peak.

Not long after, the box was delivered to a cave dwelling on the Second Peak and placed before a young girl.

The girl looked to be about sixteen or seventeen, dressed in a pale orange Daoist robe, sitting there with a plain, clean face. She raised her hand, took an elixir from the box, and held it before her eyes to observe.

Under the sunlight, her skin was fairer than snow, her eyes like a pool of clear water. Her black hair was tied in a princess bun, adorned with a beaded hairpin from which tassels hung, revealing a sense of liveliness.

This girl was the proprietor of the apothecary, and also the person Xu Qing had met at the door of the apothecary that day.

While examining it, the girl gave a soft "eh," her delicate eyebrows slightly raised, and surprise appeared in her eyes.

"The purity is even higher?"

She had previously studied Xu Qing’s elixirs and discovered that although she could also achieve that level, she could not do it every single time, so a sense of competitiveness could not help but arise in her heart.

"If a Seventh Peak disciple can do it, as an alchemy cultivator, there is no reason I cannot!"

The girl waved her fair hand, and herbs flew over from all around. With a serious expression, she began to refine.

While she was preparing to compete with Xu Qing in alchemy, Xu Qing was currently walking along the street, looking at the artifact-refining workshops of the Sixth Peak disciples around him. He frowned imperceptibly, a trace of doubt flashing in his eyes.

He didn't know if it was his imagination, but today, as he passed these shops, the Sixth Peak shopkeepers in a few of them seemed to be sweeping their gazes over him intentionally or unintentionally, as if confirming something.

In the past, it was not like this.

"Are they observing me?" Xu Qing narrowed his eyes. This abnormal scene made him even more vigilant, so he gave up on all the Sixth Peak shops.

He did not enter any of them to sell materials but returned to the berth at Port 79, cultivating with deep wariness.

Several days passed, and no ripples occurred. Xu Qing was hesitant in his heart but remained cautious, passing by the Sixth Peak shops every day under the guise of his patrol duty, secretly observing them many times.

That behavior of observing him never appeared again, but Xu Qing still did not feel at ease. He simply waited a few more days, and after confirming multiple times that things were normal, he found a shop that had never observed him from the start and prepared to go there.

It was just that if he wanted to upgrade his Dharma boat, he would eventually have to go to the Sixth Peak shops to buy and sell materials, and almost all the Sixth Peak shops related to Dharma boats were in the port area, as if monopolized. Sixth Peak shops in other areas mostly did not deal in Dharma boat materials.

Therefore, even if there was a trace of instability, Xu Qing was still prepared to give it a try.

Afterward, Xu Qing walked along the street with vigilance, his pace quick. But just as he was about to reach the chosen shop, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Xu Qing."

Xu Qing turned his head and saw the figure of the little fatty Huang Yan not far behind him.

Huang Yan had seen Xu Qing from afar and was now waving enthusiastically, running a few steps, his flesh jiggling with the movement. Until he reached him, he spoke triumphantly.

"Xu Qing, do you know? My Senior Sister replied to my message again, haha, come, come, come, I’m happy today, I’ll treat you to some eggs."

After speaking, he was about to pull Xu Qing away. Xu Qing stepped back to avoid him, but thinking of the strangeness of the eggs, and the fact that the other party had gifted him materials a few days ago, he hesitated for a moment.

"I need to go sell materials."

"Sell materials? What do you need? I’ll give it to you," Huang Yan said generously.

Xu Qing shook his head.

"Alright then, I’ll accompany you to sell the materials, and then you accompany me to eat eggs. It’s settled." Huang Yan looked happy, clearly eager to share with someone. After speaking, he looked around and pointed to the shop next to them.

"Let’s just go to this one. I’ve been here a few times, it’s not bad."

Xu Qing turned to look at the shop Huang Yan pointed to. This shop was also his destination for this trip. There were many disciples buying and selling inside. Xu Qing’s gaze swept over and he saw an acquaintance, none other than Zhang San.

He was also buying materials, and noticing Xu Qing outside the door, he greeted him with a smile.

"Let’s go, let’s finish selling quickly, eating eggs is the most important thing," Huang Yan said, looking at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing’s gaze swept over the shopkeeper inside, and no longer hesitating, he walked straight in.

This shop was very large, with two floors, and various exotic beast materials were hung inside, each of great value. As he approached, the shopkeeper by the counter raised his head.

This shopkeeper was middle-aged, with a handlebar mustache, looking quite shrewd. He looked at Xu Qing and spoke with a smile.

"Two fellow disciples, what would you like to buy?"

"Selling materials."

Xu Qing spoke calmly, walked to the counter, and under the shopkeeper’s gaze, took out the materials from his leather bag—not only the items gifted by Huang Yan but also some of the spoils from killing wanted criminals.

The Shopkeeper looked at Xu Qing, then scanned the materials laid out on the counter, pondered for a moment, picked up a few pieces, examined them carefully, and then looked up, casting a meaningful glance at Xu Qing.

Afterward, his expression gradually turned gloomy, and the light in his eyes sharpened.

"Young friend, these items of yours are somewhat problematic."

"A few days ago, the Jin Gang Sect reported to our Sixth Peak that their sect had been burglarized and a large amount of resources had been lost. These items of yours... are all recorded in the case file as the items lost by the Jin Gang Sect. Young friend, what is your intention in bringing stolen goods here to sell to us?"

"Could it be that the Jin Gang Sect's burglary case has something to do with you?"

"As a disciple of the dignified Seventh Peak of the Seven Blood Eyes, could it be that you went to steal from the Jin Gang Sect?"

The Shopkeeper was clearly doing this on purpose; his voice grew louder as he spoke, spreading throughout the entire shop. In an instant, the disciples from various peaks inside the shop fell silent and all looked toward this spot.

Xu Qing was not surprised, only sighing inwardly. He felt he had been cautious enough, yet he still hadn't avoided this. However, he also realized it was related to the Jin Gang Sect ancestor. A murderous intent suddenly emerged in his heart, and his sense of crisis was very strong. He saw that whoever was helping the Jin Gang Sect ancestor must be some big figure from the Sixth Peak.

Thus, he scanned the Shopkeeper's neck and the various materials placed on the shelves around him, then looked toward the direction of the sea. A cold intent began to brew in his eyes as he weighed in his heart whether to pull off one last job and leave, or to argue his case.

But just as Xu Qing was weighing his options, the little fatty Huang Yan at his side had his eyes widen, his body even jumped up, and he slammed his hand onto the counter, producing a loud bang.

"Stolen goods? This is also a stolen good?"

The little fatty picked up the exotic beast bone that had been gifted to Xu Qing, his eyes filled with unprecedented rage, as if he himself had suffered a great humiliation, and he roared.

"This damn thing is Laozi's property! You dare to say Laozi's property is stolen goods?"

The little fatty was furious and threw the bone in his hand at the Shopkeeper's face.

This chapter is 4500 words~~ The second update will be a little later.