Chapter 543: Investigation

Tong Li.

Fifty-three years old.

A native of Yongzhou Hui Mansion.

Intelligent since childhood, he studied under a Cultivator from the Zhao Mansion.

Later, the Zhao Family was exterminated for offending a Sect Disciple, forcing him to leave Hui Mansion and wander the lands.

Two years ago, he appeared near Taiyuan Prefecture, severely injured for unknown reasons. He was saved by the Celestial Eagle Thieves, but because of his Cultivation, they imprisoned him, only letting him out when they needed him.

The Celestial Eagle Thieves were utterly ruthless.

To prevent his escape, they broke both of Tong Li’s legs and used a spell to seal his Cultivation.

They would only lift the seal when they required his services.

TAP!

TAP…

Zhu Ju lightly tapped the armrest, looking at the file in his hand.

These were the clues investigated by the Zhou Mansion. Elder Tong hadn’t tried to hide anything, revealing every detail.

But,

Something was wrong!

Under the illumination of the Formless Divine Light, many secrets would be revealed.

‘How could a Seventh-Grade Mage possibly make a Sixth-Grade Peak Martial Artist acknowledge him as master?’

‘And besides…’

Zhu Ju narrowed his eyes.

‘This Elder Tong’s Physical Body is as withered as firewood, yet his Divine Soul burns like a flame. He’s clearly burning his own flesh and blood to nourish his Primordial Spirit. Doing so is no different from seeking his own death.’

That’s right.

Elder Tong’s bodyguard, Mok Ying, possessed a Sixth-Grade Peak Cultivation.

He was even stronger than Woo Tou, the leader from the Island of Continuous Mountains who had tried to assassinate Zhu Ju some time ago.

Across all of Taiyuan Prefecture, aside from two old monsters whose life-or-death status was unknown, no one was confident they could defeat him.

A man like that…

‘Why would he become a servant to ‘Elder Tong’? Why didn’t he rescue him from the Celestial Eagle Thieves?’

Aside from the investigation into Tong Li’s identity and origins, the file also contained evaluations of him from the people of the Zhu Mansion.

Over the past year.

Tong Li had acted on several occasions, helping Zhu’s Cloth Workshop solve some major problems and earning everyone’s respect.

The man was witty and well-traveled, possessing a wealth of knowledge. The younger generation, like Zhu Ying, especially loved going to his small courtyard to hear stories and ask about their studies, treating him almost like a tenured member of the Zhu Mansion.

He was also skilled in Alchemy.

When the guards of the Nursing Home were injured, they all applied Elder Tong’s Golden Sore Medicine.

Even the two mistresses had obtained a beauty recipe from him, and the results were nothing short of astonishing.

No wonder the two mistresses’ skin and spirits were so good.

“Heh…”

Zhu Ju put down the file and shook his head, murmuring softly,

“To win the hearts of everyone in the Zhou Mansion in just one year… his methods are truly impressive.”

“But…”

“He seems to have forgotten that he is merely a guest of the Zhu Mansion. At times, he’s been suspected of overstepping his authority.”

Overall.

Tong Li seemed to be no problem. He treated the Zhu Mansion as his saviors and was kind to everyone in it.

It was as if he planned to live out his twilight years here.

Even if he was a bit meddlesome, it could be explained by the absence of the Patriarch, Zhu Ju, making it necessary for someone to establish authority and keep order.

“Young Master.”

Qian Shiyao’s voice came from outside the door.

“Master Ming has arrived.”

“Oh!”

Zhu Ju looked up.

“Please show her in.”

*

*

*

Dressed in a simple white Magical Robe and holding a Jade Ruyi, Ming Nianwei pushed open the door and slowly walked into the room.

“Greetings—”

PENG!

She curtsied in greeting but suddenly felt a sharp pain in the back of her neck. Her eyes rolled back, and she passed out instantly.

An unknown amount of time passed.

When she awoke, she shot to her feet and looked down at her clothes, her face turning ashen.

Although she didn’t feel anything wrong with her body, her clothes were in disarray, clearly having been touched by someone.

“You’re awake.”

Zhu Ju stood nearby with his hands behind his back, gesturing with one hand.

“Sit down. Let’s talk.”

“Zhu Ju!” Ming Nianwei clenched her Silver Fang, her face flushing with shame and anger. She swung the Jade Ruyi in her hand, and a storm of Wind Blades, sharp enough to cut through metal and stone, surged forward.

Thousand-Ren Wind!

The Jade Ruyi in her hand was a Magical Artifact containing three hundred Talismans, each capable of unleashing a Wind Blade.

When activated with full power.

Unleashing three hundred Wind Blades at once, even a Seventh-Grade Expert might not be able to defend against the attack.

“VMMMM…”

Zhu Ju trembled All Over the Body. As his Qi Blood surged, a suit of gleaming armor materialized around him.

The Bright Armor released an invisible Qi Force, forming a protective barrier like an inverted bell that enveloped him completely.

“CLING CLANG…”

The numerous Wind Blades struck it, creating a series of crisp chimes, but they failed to make it waver in the slightest.

“A Qi Blood Divine Weapon!”

Ming Nianwei’s beautiful eyes constricted, her face filled with terror.

Qi Blood Divine Weapons were not uncommon to her, but the one on Zhu Ju was clearly extraordinary.

It was most likely Sixth Grade, or perhaps even Fifth Grade.

‘How could a mere cloth merchant afford such a treasure?’

‘And…’

Zhu Ju’s strength also far exceeded her expectations.

“Master Ming.”

“If you don’t want to end up on the floor again, you’ll obediently stop. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being merciless.”

“…” Ming Nianwei subconsciously retreated, her expression wary.

“What are you planning to do?”

“I have already taken Elder Tong as my master. Even if I’m no match for you, I still have my master.”

“Master?” Zhu Ju chuckled lightly.

“Do you really understand this ‘master’ you speak of?”

“You…” Ming Nianwei said angrily,

“Young Master Zhu, don’t think I’m afraid of you just because you have a few tricks! How can a revered master be subjected to such insults?”

“What a loyal disciple, so protective of her master.” Zhu Ju smiled and pulled over a chair to sit down.

“A pity…”

“The revered master you’re protecting actually wants to take your life.”

“Nonsense!” Ming Nianwei’s face filled with contempt, and she turned to leave.

“The Soul has Seven Acupoints, born of a clear heart,” Zhu Ju said.

“You’ve heard that phrase before, haven’t you? It describes the Furnace Tripod that Cultivators prepare for a person they intend to possess.”

?

Ming Nianwei froze in her tracks.

“It can’t be.”

She shook her head gently, murmuring,

“The art of possession and inhabitation can only be performed by existences at Fifth Grade or higher. Moreover, the target of the possession should ideally be foolish and witless, or even severely injured and near death. Only then is there a chance of success.”

Even so.

The chances of success are not high.

Furthermore, once possession occurs, it means the Cultivation from one’s previous life vanishes completely, and everything must start from scratch.

What’s more, because the Physical Body and Soul are difficult to integrate, it’s hard to regain one’s original Cultivation, even with the experience of a past life.

That is why, although methods of possession have been passed down through the world, very few have ever truly witnessed it.

Simple ‘attachment’, on the other hand, was occasionally heard of.

“Ignorant.”

Zhu Ju shook his head.

“It is indeed troublesome if the person being possessed does not cooperate. But it’s a different story if they do.”

“For example…”

“You see him as a revered master, but he sees you as a meal on a plate.”

As he spoke.

Zhu Ju flicked his finger. Spiritual Light surged at his fingertip, and a round mirror materialized in the air between them.

Round Mirror Technique!

The surface of the mirror rippled like water, revealing the image of an unconscious Ming Nianwei lying on a soft couch.

And on her forehead, wrists, and over her heart, faint halos of light were flickering, merging to form a bizarre rune.

“If I’m not mistaken, you’ve switched to a different Basic Cultivation Technique. This method seems like it will cause your Cultivation to soar, allowing you to advance to Seventh Grade in no time.”

Zhu Ju continued in a low voice,

“In reality, it is refining your Physical Body into a Furnace Tripod for another’s possession, laying a solid foundation for the next step.”

“Ming Nianwei…”

“If you think about it carefully, you should be able to sense that something is wrong.”