The Xu hour bell reverberated slowly among the Azure Cloud Sect mountains. Twilight was settling, draping the Outer Sect in a thin, gray veil.
Li Fan held the hastily written note between his fingers, his gaze calm. The third alley east of the Abandoned Pills Hall—a remote, dilapidated area seldom visited."To know about Zhao Ming..." These five words were like bait, exuding a dangerous yet alluring scent.
"System, scan my current status and simulate the optimal route and potential risks for traveling to the target location," Li Fan murmured mentally.
［Host Status Scan Complete: Peak Layer Two Qi Refining, Spiritual energy abundant, meridians stable. Mastered optimized Water Condensation Spell and Qi Guidance Formula.］
［Environment Simulation In Progress… Based on Sect map data and anonymous feedback mentioning 'Spiritual energy turbulence and occasional strange odors in the Abandoned Pills Hall area at night,' estimated risk level: Medium-High.］
［Potential Risks: 1. Ambush encounter, probability 67%. 2. Falling into a pre-set trap like a confinement array or poison miasma, probability 45%. 3. Information provider is bait, probability 52%. Recommendation: Maintain high vigilance, prepare evacuation plan.］
The conclusion was clear: this was very likely a trap set for him. But "to know about Zhao Ming" felt like the only light in the darkness; he couldn't back down due to risk. The investigation into the Outer Sect's corruption had touched the core. If he could obtain direct evidence against Zhao Ming, he could break the deadlock.
After a brief thought, he called Wang TieZhu over and quietly instructed him:"TieZhu, follow me discreetly, but do not approach the Abandoned Pills Hall. If you hear my long shout as a warning, do not come to rescue me. Immediately go to Senior Sister Su Miaoran and tell her I've been attacked near the Abandoned Pills Hall, and ask her to hurry." Su Miaoran's status was special, and she had interacted with him—the most suitable person to request aid from at this moment.
Though worried, Wang TieZhu saw Li Fan's resolute expression and nodded heavily:"Don't worry, Senior Brother, I remember!"
As the night deepened, Li Fan moved like a shadow, utilizing the cover of buildings, silently making his way toward the Abandoned Pills Hall area. The System continuously scanned the surroundings, feeding back any subtle spiritual energy fluctuations and sounds.
The closer he got to the Hall, the sparser and more mixed the spiritual energy became, carrying a faint, uncomfortable, sour smell. Abandoned pill furnaces and shattered earthenware were scattered everywhere, casting long, eerie shadows under the moonlight.
The third alley on the east side was particularly narrow and dark, framed by high, moss-covered walls, allowing only one person through at a time.
Li Fan paused at the alley entrance, not entering immediately. His fingers moved slightly, and a wisp of vapor, so faint it was barely perceptible, condensed before him. Under his control, it spread along the ground, silently creeping into the alley like a living thing. This was the result of pushing the Water Condensation Spell's manipulation precision to the extreme—using water vapor to scout the path.
Through the extremely subtle differences in tactile sensation relayed by the vapor, the System rapidly constructed a topological model of the alley in his mind.
［Detection: Abnormal spiritual energy patterns on the ground fifteen meters ahead, suspected simple triggered pit trap talisman.］
［Left wall, 3.2 meters high, faint metallic reflection signal detected, possibly a crossbow or similar mechanism.］
［No obvious life signs detected… Wait, behind the corner at the alley's end, two life forms detected with suppressed spiritual energy fluctuations, currently static.］
An ambush, as expected! And mechanisms were set up, clearly intending to drive him into a corner!
Li Fan's eyes grew cold. Taking a deep breath, he chose not to force his way in. Instead, he took out—or rather, retrieved from his System space—one of the lowest-grade "Luminescence Stones" that Wang TieZhu had helped him gather recently. He weighed it in his hand, channeled spiritual energy, and flicked his wrist.
Whoosh!
The Luminescence Stone cut a low, flat arc, precisely avoiding the area the System had marked as the pit trap, and struck the wall below the spot suspected of holding the crossbow mechanism.
Clatter! The slight sound was sharply audible in the silent alley.
Almost instantly after the sound—
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Three short crossbow bolts, flashing with a chilling blue light, shot out from the wall's darkness and fiercely embedded themselves near where the stone landed! Simultaneously, a faint, almost imperceptible spiritual light flashed on the ground ahead, and a section of the floor noticeably softened and sank!
The mechanisms were triggered!
"Move!" A low shout came from the alley corner. The two lurking figures, clearly not getting the expected result of Li Fan stepping into the trap, but witnessing the mechanisms' exposure, could no longer hold back and rushed out with weapons drawn!
However, what they saw when they emerged was an empty alley, only the crossbow bolts stuck in the wall and the subtly sunken trap on the ground.
Where was he?
Just as the two were stunned, a calm voice came from directly above their heads:
"Were you looking for me?"
The two looked up in horror. Li Fan was plastered against the upper edge of the tall right wall, like a gecko! Using water vapor perception and System calculation, he had already charted a route that bypassed all ground traps, utilizing the wall's uneven surface to climb!
Before the two could react, Li Fan waved both hands. Dozens of already-condensed water droplets, the size of dates, shot down like a sudden downpour. They weren't meant to kill, but under the extreme control of the Water Condensation Spell, they were imbued with the ability to disrupt spiritual energy and obscure vision!
"Watch out!"
The two ambushers hastily swung their weapons to block. The water droplets burst upon impact with their weapons or protective spiritual energy, transforming into a thick mist that instantly enveloped the alley's end, blurring their vision.
"System, mark the targets' positions and analyze their spiritual energy weaknesses!" Li Fan urgently commanded mentally.
［Target A, Layer Three Qi Refining, old injury on the left knee, 0.1-second delay in spiritual energy circulation to the Huantiao acupoint.］
［Target B, Layer Three Qi Refining, hidden lung ailment, shallow breathing, weak explosive power and endurance.］
It was like a dimensionality reduction attack! In Li Fan's eyes, the area around the two figures lit up with red markers visible only to him!
He swooped down from the wall like an eagle descending upon a rabbit. The optimized Qi Guidance Formula surged wildly through his body, his spiritual energy erupting. He hadn't learned any offensive spells, but he concentrated his energy at his fingertips, using precise points to pierce surfaces. Combined with the weakness information provided by the System, his moves were simple, ruthless, and precise!
Pfft! A finger jabbed precisely behind Target A's left knee. Spiritual energy penetrated, and the man cried out, falling to one knee.
Bang! A spiritual energy-infused palm strike, delivered precisely to Target B's ribs just as he momentarily paused his breathing due to obstructed vision, made the target's face turn ashen as he stumbled backward.
In a flash, two ambushers with higher cultivation were quickly neutralized by Li Fan in this manner of near "technical knockout" of their fighting capability!
Li Fan subdued the two, ripping off their face-covering black cloth, revealing two unfamiliar, terrified faces.
"Who sent you?" Li Fan's voice was frigid.
The two clenched their jaws, refusing to speak.
Li Fan didn't waste time. He scanned the pair and suddenly said to Target A:"Your left knee pain intensifies in rainy weather, and when cultivating the Wind Movement Formula, you must feel a stinging sensation at the Fengchi acupoint, correct?" He then turned to Target B:"You cough incessantly every Zi hour, and spiritual energy circulation past the Tanzhong acupoint feels subtly blocked, is that not so?"
The two looked as if they had seen a ghost, their faces instantly turning deathly pale! What Li Fan said was precisely their hidden, private ailments!
This fear of being seen through, inside and out, shattered them more effectively than physical pain.
"It... it was Deacon Zhao who sent us!" Target A's psychological defense broke first. He stammered,"He said... said to give you a lesson, to let you know some things you can't touch..."
It was him!
Li Fan understood, and was about to ask more when the corner of his eye caught something dropping from Target B's robes. He bent down to pick it up—a small jade vial, slightly larger than a thumb, with no markings on the body. The System immediately provided an analysis.
［Detection: Unknown powder residue detected. Complex composition, containing faint paralytic toxins and spiritual energy disruption properties. 87% similarity to 'Soft-Tendoned Powder,' described in anonymous feedback as being used by Enforcement Disciples to punish disobedient disciples.］
Physical evidence! Though small, it directly linked to Zhao Ming's known methods!
Just then, the sound of rushing air was heard in the distance, clearly the fight had alarmed the night patrol disciples.
Li Fan did not linger. He pocketed the jade vial and cast a cold look at the two ashen-faced ambushers:"Tell Zhao Ming, I've noted his 'kindness.'"
With that, he swiftly melted into the night, following his planned evacuation route. After meeting up with an anxiously waiting Wang TieZhu, he silently returned to the Hall of One Hundred Arts.
Back at his accommodation, Li Fan's heart was still racing. The night had been fraught with danger, but the gains were immense. Not only did he thwart Zhao Ming's ambush and obtain evidence pointing to him, but more importantly, the information revealed by the collapsing ambushers, along with this vial of "Soft-Tendoned Powder," became powerful leverage to move the immovable rock that was Zhao Ming.
He meticulously recorded the night's events and findings in a new jade slip, carefully storing it along with the "Soft-Tendoned Powder." This was one of his trump cards.
［Ding! Successfully thwarted hostile faction's trap, acquired key physical evidence and confession. Reward: 25 Research Points! Current point balance: 83 points!］
［Outer Sect Resource Efficiency Pilot Research Task Progress Update: Preliminary evidence of core target's direct intervention and unlawful activities has been secured.］
His points were nearing a hundred, and the task had achieved a breakthrough. However, Li Fan showed little joy. He knew that Zhao Ming would not stop after this setback. The next counterattack would be even more intense and covert.
Early the next morning, Li Fan was preparing to start a new day of data organization when a Discipline Office disciple with a blank expression arrived at his door, handing over a jade slip stamped with the Discipline Office seal.
"Li Fan, a message by order of Deacon Zhao Ming. Considering that you have repeatedly caused trouble and engaged in multiple conflicts with fellow disciples during your Outer Sect research, leading to a negative impact, you are hereby ordered to immediately suspend all research activities and be confined to your dwelling for three days to reflect on your mistakes! Execute immediately!"
The message in the jade slip was cold and unyielding.
Confinement? Reflection?
Li Fan held the jade slip, his eyes sharp as knives. Zhao Ming's counter-attack had come faster than he anticipated, and he used a method that seemed perfectly legitimate but effectively cut off his investigative progress.
He was trapped. And the turmoil outside would certainly not cease because of his confinement.