The pilot research, under Li Fan's meticulous planning and Wang TieZhu's efficient execution, had been silently advancing for more than ten days.
Li Fan knew the risks of disrupting the existing power structure, so his initial strategy was extremely cautious. The anonymous feedback forms he designed, disseminated through Wang TieZhu's reliable network, smoothly flowed into the hands of the grassroots disciples. The questions directly targeted core pain points: Contribution Point distribution, resource quotas, and grievance channels.
At the same time, he personally carried the System, disguised as an ordinary disciple, lingering near the Materiel Hall and Mission Hall. The System's powerful perception accurately recorded the processing efficiency of each window, peak foot traffic, and even subtle, unspoken anomalous interactions between Deacon Disciples and specific individuals.
［Data Log: Materiel Hall Window C, Deacon Disciple Zhang Yuan, transaction time with a specific trio is abnormally long, spiritual energy fluctuation is anomalous.］
［Anonymous Feedback Summary (300 forms): Over 80% of respondents report encountering unfair treatment; 95% are desperate about the grievance channels.］
［Cross-Analysis Prompt: Task backlog rate is highly positively correlated with areas under the jurisdiction of specific Deacons; resource shortage complaints are concentrated within the sphere of influence centered around Deacon Zhao Ming.］
The cold data and the correlation map initially sketched by the System revealed that the Outer Sect's resource flow was not simply inefficient, but plagued by a systemic network of exploitation with factional overtones. An invisible web of vested interests had surfaced, and Li Fan's research was becoming a needle probing into that web.
Li Fan and Wang TieZhu's increasingly frequent activities eventually alerted the"spiders" within the web.
This day, just as Wang TieZhu was retrieving a batch of feedback forms from a secluded corner, he was intercepted by five people on the forest path leading to the Hall of One Hundred Arts.
The leader was Zhao Hu. Though he hadn't been seen for days, his complexion was somewhat sallow, and the viciousness in his eyes was even stronger than before. Clearly, Li Fan's previous prophecy of a"bloody disaster," though not immediately fulfilled, had festered in his mind like a thorn. The four disciples accompanying him exuded a tough aura; one of them wore the probationary jade token of the Discipline Office on his waist, looking arrogant.
"Wang TieZhu!" Zhao Hu's voice was hoarse, carrying suppressed fury."You jump around with that Li Er Gou (Li Two Dog), do you really think you've latched onto a powerful backer? Speak! What are you sneaking around investigating all day?!"
Wang TieZhu kept Li Fan's instructions in mind and muttered,"Senior Brother Zhao, I don't know what you're talking about." He pushed the forms he was carrying deeper into his robes.
The probationary Deacon sneered, his gaze sharp:"Don't know? Then what are you hiding in your robes that can't see the light of day? Hand it over!" He stepped forward, reaching out with an aggressive stance.
"This is important stuff for Senior Brother Li, you can't have it!" Wang TieZhu dodged sideways, refusing in a muffled voice.
"Senior Brother Li? Bah!" Zhao Hu spat, his face a mix of malice and an almost imperceptible dread."A guy who relies on trickery to get by! My Uncle said for you to stop immediately. It's not your place to break the rules of the Outer Sect!" The"Uncle" he referred to was precisely Deacon Zhao Ming, who was hostile toward Li Fan.
"Why waste words with him! Take him down!" the probationary Deacon shouted, and he and the other three simultaneously unleashed their spiritual energy, rushing at Wang TieZhu. Their goal was clear: seize the evidence and impose a physical deterrent.
Wang TieZhu roared, his body-cultivator advantage bursting forth. He took several attacks head-on, his feet rooted to the ground, fiercely protecting the documents in his arms. But two fists couldn't beat four, especially since the probationary Deacon had reached the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining, with potent spiritual energy. A palm strike slammed into Wang TieZhu's shoulder, making his blood surge and forcing him to stagger back several steps.
Just as Wang TieZhu was in a precarious situation, Li Fan's figure appeared like a phantom at the end of the path. His expression was calm, his eyes sweeping past the others and locking onto Zhao Hu.
"Senior Brother Zhao, after all this time, the gloominess on your Yin Tang (between the eyebrows) has not only failed to dissipate but has deepened into your musculature. It seems my words that day were not baseless." Li Fan's voice wasn't loud, but it had a strange penetrative quality."Your old injury in the right shoulder flares up painfully every day at the Zi and Wu hours. When circulating the third level of the Body Strengthening Formula, the spiritual energy's passage through the Jianliao and Jugu acupoints feels increasingly sluggish. Is that correct?"
Zhao Hu's face instantly paled! What Li Fan said was exactly what he had been feeling recently! That prophecy, like a nightmare, had haunted him for days. Now, being so precisely called out by Li Fan, fear instantly seized his heart.
"You... you stop spreading your heresy!" Zhao Hu's voice trembled, putting on a brave but weak front.
Li Fan ignored him, continuing in a cold, almost pronouncement-like tone:"You are impatient and overly ambitious, and you must have forcibly assaulted acupoints recently, worsening your old injury. Right now, your vital energy is turbulent and your spiritual energy is shallow on the surface. If you dare to fight further, especially if you exert a full-force strike with your right arm, it will surely trigger a complete flare-up of the old injury! At that point, your meridians will tear, and spiritual energy will backflow into your Dantian, potentially resulting in the complete destruction of your cultivation!"
This speech was the final straw that broke Zhao Hu's mental defenses. He felt the familiar dull ache in his right shoulder intensify, and the surging spiritual energy in his body seemed to grow restless.
"Shut up!" Seeing Zhao Hu's mind momentarily lost, the probationary Deacon roared, his spiritual energy surging wildly. A fierce palm strike aimed directly at Li Fan's face."I'll cripple this soul-bewitching menace first!"
Zhao Hu was jolted awake by his companion's roar. Seeing Li Fan about to be injured, a mix of humiliation from being completely seen through, long-suppressed panic, and ferocity suddenly erupted!
"Agh—!" He screamed, heedlessly pouring all his spiritual energy into his right arm. The thick arm instantly bulged with veins, carrying a tragic force, and punched toward Li Fan, coordinating with the probationary Deacon's attack! He had to break this curse with his own hands!
The fist wind howled, and spiritual energy surged.
However, just as his fist was about to make contact with Li Fan—
Crack!
A bone-chilling, subtle yet clear sound of cracking bone came from inside his right shoulder!
Immediately following, an indescribable, volcanic eruption of pain burst from his Jianjing acupoint, instantly sweeping through his body! The previously surging spiritual energy lost control like a breached dam, violently crashing through his meridians!
Pfft—!
Zhao Hu's charging figure froze abruptly. He spat out a mouthful of bright red blood and collapsed rigidly forward like a broken puppet. His right arm hung limply, his face instantly turning the color of gold leaf, and his aura rapidly diminished.
Spiritual energy counter-flow, old injury eruption! The long-delayed"bloody disaster," finally, under the catalyst of his mental collapse and forced exertion, arrived in the most devastating way!
The scene fell into a dead silence.
The probationary Deacon's palm strike froze mid-air. Looking at the unconscious Zhao Hu, whose cultivation was clearly severely damaged, his face was filled with shock and bewilderment. The other few followers were terrified out of their wits.
Li Fan stood in place, slowly withdrawing the fingers that had been secretly forming a seal—he hadn't been entirely passive. The System had precisely calculated Zhao Hu's physical state, and at the tipping point of his old injury's flare-up, Li Fan had used a wisp of extremely subtle spiritual energy for"precision acceleration," manifesting the inevitable outcome.
His gaze calmly swept over the stunned figures, finally settling on the probationary Deacon's pale face:"Now, can we properly discuss your public assault on a fellow disciple, your intent to seize important Sect documents, and... the matter of your backer?"
The probationary Deacon trembled all over. He looked at the fallen Zhao Hu, then at the indifferent Li Fan. A bone-deep chill shot from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. He knew the situation was completely ruined! With evidence and witnesses present, and Zhao Hu severely injured, their actions of intercepting the investigation and assaulting people were undeniable!
He glared venomously at Li Fan, not daring to say more. He clumsily signaled his subordinates to lift the unconscious Zhao Hu and fled in panic like a stray dog.
Wang TieZhu wiped the blood from his mouth, shaken but full of admiration:"Senior Brother Li, your words... they're truly blessed!"
Li Fan shook his head, bending down to pick up the scattered forms. He murmured,"It is not prophecy, but chronic illness. He had a deep-seated ailment and a corrupted mind, and was exploited by others. The source of the disaster was already planted; the explosion was only a matter of time."
He looked in the direction the group had fled, his eyes sharp:"TieZhu, do you see? What we've touched is not just the interests of a few Deacons, but a deeply entrenched network. Zhao Hu was merely a disposable pawn in that web."
Wang TieZhu nodded heavily.
［Ding! Successfully resolved the armed obstruction by hostile forces, validating that the research has touched core issues. Reward: 15 Research Points! Current point balance: 58 points!］
That night, as Li Fan was organizing the day's data under the lamp, a small, tightly folded note slipped out of one of the feedback forms.
Unfolding it, he saw only a single line of messy script:"The Xu hour (7-9 PM), third alley east of the Abandoned Pills Hall. If you want to know about Zhao Ming, do not be late."
The handwriting was rushed, betraying tension and resolution.
Li Fan stared at the line, his eyes flickering. Was this a trap, or... a crack appearing from within the web?