Chapter 97: Tracking, the Real and Fake Ruan Qingzhu

Cao family.

The head of the family, Cao Hao, was indeed injured half a month ago during the Evil Cultivator's massive assault, but his wounds were far less severe than publicly claimed; after taking a healing Pill and resting for a few days, he fully recovered.

Originally, Cao Hao also intended to appear at Xiao Zhangqing's Foundation Establishment celebration to offer a blessing.

It was meant to give Xiao Zhangqing face.

After all, he lacks the arrogance and unapproachability of the Cao family's senior elder; although his mind is weighty, he has always outwardly been accustomed to being friendly and easy to talk to.

Now, Xiao Zhangqing and the Cao family are showing a subtle antagonistic trend; currently in Nanshan Fang, only Xiao Zhangqing dares to oppose the Cao family, which has caused many members of the Cao clan to be dissatisfied with him and harbor grievances.

Nevertheless, Cao Hao restrained his clan members, ordering them not to engage in overt conflict with Xiao Zhangqing.

The Cao family should also avoid provoking Xiao Zhangqing's two concubines, the Baibao Lou enterprise, and the Mu family that stands as his protector.

Because Cao Hao sees clearly that Nanshan Fang now depends on Xiao Zhangqing's second‑tier Symbol techniques, requiring Xiao Zhangqing to continuously supply second‑tier Talisman Scripts for the war.

After the war ends, how the Cao family and Xiao Zhangqing will get along is another matter, but for now they must tolerate Xiao Zhangqing.

However.

Tolerance remains tolerance.

Cao Hao is not without preparation; in his mind he has already been scheming to probe Xiao Zhangqing's background.

Xiao Zhangqing in the Qi Refining Realm does not intimidate him much, but after reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm, Xiao Zhangqing's threat level rises sharply, requiring careful and serious attention.

Only Cao Hao has not yet found a way to test Xiao Zhangqing's strength, when he accidentally discovered an opportunity that might not require his own intervention.

The Evil Cultivator seems to have already become impatient…

…

Since the Evil Cultivator last tore a huge breach in Nanshan Fang's Mountain‑Guarding Array and launched a large‑scale assault, Cao Hao has become wary, believing the Mountain‑Guarding Array may no longer be particularly effective.

One of the Evil Cultivator camp's second‑tier array masters, though limited in skill and unable to directly breach the Mountain‑Guarding Array that has already reached late second‑tier by drawing spiritual vein power, might take an unconventional approach to more easily open small fissures.

If a large fissure were opened, allowing a swarm of Evil Cultivators to pour in, he could easily detect the movement and immediately mobilize troops to encircle them.

But with a small crack, the Evil Cultivators would send few, perhaps only one or two, making the disturbance minimal and hard to notice.

Just yesterday, Cao Hao actually sensed a subtle disturbance in the Mountain‑Guarding Array: an Evil Cultivator had silently entered Nanshan Fang.

Had he not been specifically watching this matter, he could not have discovered any trace.

With his mid‑Foundation Establishment cultivation and the aid of the Mountain‑Guarding Array, Cao Hao did not act overtly, avoiding startling the enemy, hoping to discern the infiltrator's purpose; the sneaking Evil Cultivator did not realize he had been discovered.

Through Cao Hao's covert surveillance, he quickly guessed a few aspects of the Evil Cultivator's scheme.

Because after sneaking into Nanshan Fang, this Evil Cultivator did not launch a massacre, nor brutally slaughter the senior cultivators of Nanshan Fang's Yi‑letter cave, nor harbor any intent toward the Cao clan members, him, or the senior elder.

His sole focus was one place: the Jia‑one cave.

Naturally, the resident of Jia‑one cave is Xiao Zhangqing.

"It seems the Evil Cultivator suffered a heavy loss on the second‑tier Talisman Script last time and now seeks a once‑and‑for‑all solution to the source of Nanshan Fang's second‑tier Talisman Scripts by assassinating Xiao Zhangqing."

Cao Hao thought this to himself.

He certainly would not allow Xiao Zhangqing to be slain by the Evil Cultivator.

The Evil Cultivator's desire for Xiao Zhangqing's death is matched by his desire for Xiao Zhangqing's survival.

This infiltrating Evil Cultivator, once it acts and threatens Xiao Zhangqing's life, Cao Hao would inevitably intervene to rescue him.

Thus Cao Hao did not attend Xiao Zhangqing's Foundation Establishment celebration; he only sent gifts and blessings, because he has been continuously monitoring the Evil Cultivator's movements to ensure he can intervene promptly when the latter makes a move.

"He really knows how to pick the right moment."

After Xiao Zhangqing's Foundation Establishment celebration concluded, the guests had already departed.

The Evil Cultivator, having investigated covertly for two days, finally prepared to act.

After the revelry, when vigilance is at its lowest, choosing to strike then indeed makes assassination most likely to succeed.

Moreover, Cao Hao discovered a scene that greatly surprised him.

This Evil Cultivator's exact cards were unknown; he was entrusted with high hopes to assassinate Xiao Zhangqing, yet Cao Hao first realized that this Evil Cultivator was extremely adept at disguise.

In a dim corner, after a slight fluctuation of the Evil Cultivator's magical aura, the next moment he reappeared completely transformed.

No longer the previously gaunt man, he had become a voluptuous, enchanting woman, identical in appearance to the Baibao Lou shopkeeper Ruan Qingzhu! Not only her figure, looks, and temperament, but even her breath and magical aura were indistinguishable! At least in Cao Hao's perception, he detected no clue! Had he not essentially witnessed it with his own eyes, he might have thought the "Ruan shopkeeper" was the Evil Cultivator in disguise, not the real person! "What a brilliant disguise. With my mid‑Foundation Establishment cultivation, I cannot discern it at all!"

"Is it some secret technique, or perhaps the effect of a special artifact?"

Cao Hao's expression was solemn; an enemy hidden in the shadows like this is indeed frightening and hard to guard against.

If not discovered in advance, consider the situation from the other side.

This Evil Cultivator, disguised as a senior elder of the Cao family, could approach him openly and strike when he was unguarded; could he react in time and resist? He would likely face a life‑threatening danger. Originally, Cao Hao had a relaxed mindset, hoping to use the Evil Cultivator's hand to probe Xiao Zhangqing's background and have a clearer picture. Now he must carefully contemplate whether to allow the opponent to assassinate Xiao Zhangqing as a test.

If Xiao Zhangqing were that weak and fell in a single strike, Cao Hao would regret it too late! …

…

"Ruan the shopkeeper? Let her in."

Hearing this, Xiao Zhangqing was puzzled why Ruan Qingzhu left and returned, but he didn't think much and had Lin Ziyu escort her inside.

Ruan Qingzhu showed no difference from when she attended the banquet earlier; not only her attire and makeup but also her temperament were the same—her demeanor was dignified and proud, yet her mature allure hinted at a subtle sensuality.

"Senior Xiao, I have something very important to tell you. This matter is of great significance and must not be known to a third person…"

Ruan Qingzhu's expression was respectful as she walked toward Xiao Zhangqing, saying.

Xiao Zhangqing's face suddenly turned strange upon hearing this.

Senior Xiao? A cultivator in the Qi Refining Realm facing a cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Realm, regardless of age, it is indeed correct to address him as 'senior'.

Just as at today's Foundation Establishment celebration, many guests dared not overstep and addressed Xiao Zhangqing as Senior Xiao.

Only three days ago Xiao Zhangqing visited Baibao Lou, met Ruan Qingzhu, and told her she need not be formal and could still call him Xiao Symbol Master.

In that case…

"Alright. Ziyu, Zixi, you two may go down first."

Xiao Zhangqing said calmly to the Lin sisters.

"Yes, Lord."

The Lin sisters felt a bit curious, especially Lin Zixi, who before leaving stole several glances at Ruan Qingzhu, wondering what important matter this Shopkeeper Ruan had that required a private audience with the Lord to report?

Surely there's no unspeakable secret? But earlier my sister warned me that as a concubine I must not be jealous, nor meddle in whom the Lord likes or how many women he has! That's all.

The Lord is now a Foundation Establishment cultivator, with a lifespan of 180 years, while the two sisters' hope of establishing a foundation is faint, almost impossible.

Even if the sisters later take the Youth‑Preserving Pill, guaranteeing they won't age, they can at most accompany the Lord for just over half his time.

When they eventually turn to a handful of yellow earth, the Lord still can't be without a woman by his side, right?

So Lin Zixi muttered inwardly, yet showed nothing, and obediently left together with her sister.

"Shopkeeper Ruan, just tell me what's the matter."

At this moment, Xiao Zhangqing's Divine Perception silently extended outward, simultaneously employing the Prison Dragon Bracelet's Soul Transformation enhancement, doubling its effect.

In other words, his Soul Transformation strength now reaches an outward distance of eighty‑four zhang, comparable to some weaker Core Formation cultivators!

Of course, an eighty‑four‑zhang range may still be far shorter than what the eyes can see in most cases, but in discerning truth from falsehood and piercing illusions, its effect is remarkable.

The stronger the Divine Perception, the harder it is to be fooled by disguised illusions.

"The Cao family patriarch? How is he outside my Cave Residence?"

"And he's so timid, hiding his head and tail. Could it be that..."

When Xiao Zhangqing's Divine Perception expanded, the vast Cave Residence Jia Yi, occupying a huge area, fell largely within his perception range.

He did not immediately sense any abnormality on Ruan Qingzhu, but instead discovered the Cao family patriarch hidden outside the Cave Residence.

Today, during his small Foundation Establishment celebration, a Cao family envoy said the patriarch was avoiding light to heal, so he could not attend the ceremony, yet secretly arrived at Cave Residence Jia Yi at this time.

This forced Xiao Zhangqing to suspect that the Cao family had gone mad, intending to strike at him.

"This matter is too important; we must worry about walls having ears," Ruan Qingzhu's pretty face turned solemn, revealing no clue, calmly approaching Xiao Zhangqing as if to whisper to him.

At this moment, Xiao Zhangqing still could not discern any clue from Ruan Qingzhu.

His spiritual perception reached out; Ruan Qingzhu's aura, magical power, and even Soul Transformation were normal, yet the core of her Soul Transformation seemed faintly shrouded in mist, preventing him from seeing truth or falsehood, and from detecting any other aura on her.

But everything being overly normal is itself an abnormal situation.

Because Ruan Qingzhu is merely an ordinary Ninth Layer Refining Qi practitioner with a great perfection, under Xiao Zhangqing's Divine Perception comparable to a Core Formation Realist, he cannot see her completely.

Either Ruan Qingzhu harbors a massive secret, or this person is not Ruan Qingzhu! And Ruan Qingzhu has been stuck at the Ninth Layer Refining Qi for such a long time, dispatched by Baihua Valley to Nanshan Fang, daring not even to attempt Foundation Establishment, clearly unlike Xiao Zhangqing, who bears a great secret.

So…

"I'd like to see what tricks your Cao family is actually planning."

A cold smile flickered on Xiao Zhangqing's face.

Without stopping Ruan Qingzhu's approach, a thought sparked, and the Divine Perception secret technique 'Nightmare Technique' already enveloped Ruan Qingzhu.

(End of Chapter)