Novel Full Chapter 68: Probing, Returning to the Sect, Tallying the Harvest
Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Probing, Returning to the Sect, Tallying the Harvest
"Senior Brother Zhang, be careful. I heard the younger members of the Xie Family and Song Yan were all killed by Demon Beasts. The seniors are looking for you, and it must be about this."
"We know this has nothing to do with you. But you need to watch out for Xie Yu. He’s in a bad mood and will likely take his anger out on you."
Qin Susu and the others were alarmed and immediately sent him a warning via voice transmission.
"I see. Thank you."
Zhang Chi had already anticipated this, but he appreciated that Qin Susu and the others meant well.
"Senior Brother, I’m Zhang Chi!"
"Come with me!"
"Alright."
He then followed the disciple who had come looking for him to a top-class cabin on the Flying Boat.
"Zhang Chi, will you confess your crimes?"
The moment he entered the room, Zhang Chi saw seven Foundation Establishment cultivators.
The great fire in the gorge had been burning for a while, so they had long since returned.
At the same time, Zhang Chi heard a cold shout and felt a powerful, almost tangible pressure.
This pressure and cold shout came from none other than Xie Yu.
In addition, there were dozens of other Outer Disciples in the cabin.
All of them stood to one side, their heads bowed.
A few of them looked familiar to Zhang Chi; they were the same disciples who had discovered the remains of the Xie Family’s younger members inside the giant python.
The rest of the Outer Disciples were all from factions within the Sect that had feuded with the Xie and Song Families.
Some Outer Disciples who held personal grudges against Song Yan and his group were also here and had already been questioned.
"I do not know what you mean, Senior Master. I ask that you speak plainly."
Faced with the pressure from a Foundation Establishment expert, an ordinary disciple would be under immense strain. They might even be injured or forced to their knees.
But Zhang Chi had the Jade Pendant to help him, his Divine Thought was powerful, and he had already anticipated this, so he felt no pressure whatsoever.
Of course, he still put on a performance, pretending to be under great strain.
"Still trying to argue? Your murder of Xie Jingyan, Song Yan, and the others has been exposed! Kneel and confess now!" Xie Yu’s expression was cold and harsh as he continued to bellow.
"I don’t understand what you’re talking about, Senior Master! I only just heard the news of their deaths myself. And if you’re going to suspect me like this, can you produce any evidence?"
Zhang Chi smirked inwardly, but on the surface he responded defiantly, as if he had been grievously wronged.
"You..."
Hearing this, Xie Yu flew into a rage but was left speechless.
After all, he had only been trying to bluff Zhang Chi.
Even he himself didn’t truly believe Zhang Chi was capable of killing the younger members of the Xie Family and Song Yan.
It was just that with the Xie Family juniors and Song Yan dead, Zhang Chi, as the person the Xies had been planning to hunt, was a natural suspect to investigate.
Moreover, the fact that they were dead while Zhang Chi was still alive was, in itself, enough to displease him.
If he could successfully frame him, he wouldn’t hesitate to take the opportunity to kill Zhang Chi just to vent his frustration.
"Junior Brother Xie, that’s enough. You wanted to probe him, and you’ve done so. It’s time to withdraw your pressure."
"Indeed. We know you’re upset, but don’t take it too far. It would be a problem if you were to damage a junior’s foundation."
Xie Yu wanted to try other methods, but the other Foundation Establishment cultivators spoke up.
As fellow Foundation Establishment cultivators, they had to give Xie Yu some face, but they couldn’t let him continue to act so recklessly toward a disciple of their own Sect.
’Worthy of being first in the Heart test!’
At this moment, Zhang Chi’s ability to remain on his feet and respond rationally to the shouts and pressure of a Foundation Establishment Powerhouse made them see him in a new, more impressed light.
"Fine. But he’s still a suspect. I must be allowed to search his person and inspect his Storage Bag. If there are no suspicious items, then he’ll be cleared!"
Xie Yu withdrew his pressure, but he wasn’t ready to let the matter go.
As he spoke, he moved to step forward.
"Junior Brother Xie, be patient."
But Senior Brother Lü, who was beside him, raised a hand to stop him.
"Zhang Chi, what is your decision? If you are unwilling, we will protect you. However, I suggest you cooperate. Although it will invade your privacy and you will be wronged, it is the only way to truly clear yourself of suspicion. In the end, it’s the better choice for you."
"Furthermore, we can guarantee that no one will trouble you over this again. We’ll also give you one hundred Contribution Points as compensation," the Foundation Establishment cultivator surnamed Lü said as he looked at Zhang Chi.
"Thank you for the advice, Senior Master. I am willing to be inspected. But there’s no need to make it so complicated. I’ll show you myself!"
Zhang Chi nodded.
However, he had no intention of letting Xie Yu be the one to search him.
What if the man had a way to plant a suspicious item in his Storage Bag?
Or what if he tried a sneak attack during the search, leading to the discovery of his Body Cultivation? That would surely be a huge hassle.
Thus, he immediately took off his Storage Bag and—CRASH!—dumped all of its contents out in front of the crowd.
As it turned out, there wasn’t a single suspicious item among them.
He then stripped off his Magic Robe on the spot, revealing a perfectly sculpted, statuesque physique. He stopped only when he was down to his underpants, even giving a full spin for the crowd.
He had already stowed the Flood Dragon Snake Armor in his hairband, and he had even given the Spirit Beast Bag to Lan Xuan to take away for him back in the gorge. With the help of his Divine Concealment Technique, Elemental Transformation Technique, and powerful Divine Thought to hide everything, he showed no openings, even when facing a group of Foundation Establishment experts.
"That’s enough. You are indeed innocent!"
Senior Brother Lü and the others nodded in approval. Only then did Zhang Chi get dressed again and gather his things.
"Damn it!"
Xie Yu, however, was deeply disappointed and seethed with hidden anger.
He had wanted to use the opportunity to pull a fast one, but after Zhang Chi’s stunt, that was clearly off the table.
"Junior Brother Xie, what do you think?" Senior Brother Lü pressed.
"I’ll defer to Senior Brother. Zhang Chi, you’re off the hook this time. But I hope you’ll watch your step in the future. After all, if you hadn’t initially framed my Xie Family for trying to set you up, I wouldn’t have suspected you today."
Xie Yu had no choice but to let Zhang Chi go, though not before throwing a final, malicious jab at him.
"Thank you, Senior Masters. I’ll take my leave now."
Zhang Chi paid him no mind. He collected his hundred Contribution Points in compensation and left.
’Xie Yu, just you wait. Your arrogance won’t last for many more years!’
But once he was a safe distance away, the smile vanished from his face, and his gaze turned icy.
’This time went smoothly, but if it weren’t for the protection of my Jade Pendant, Xie Yu’s spiritual pressure alone would have injured me.’
’Without my storage hairband, Divine Concealment Technique, and other methods, both my Cultivation and my wealth would have been exposed.’
* * *
The next few days passed without incident.
However, out of caution, Zhang Chi didn’t take stock of his spoils while on the boat.
He only began to relax once the Floating Airship docked at the main plaza of the Cangwu Sect’s Outer Sect.
And just as Qin Susu and the others had said, the Sect had indeed made some adjustments.
This time, all disciples who returned alive were considered to have passed the assessment directly.
The Sect also gave each person one hundred Contribution Points as compensation and provided reparations to the friends and family of the deceased.
Furthermore, Demon Pills could still be handed in to calculate rankings and be exchanged for Contribution Points.
The Sect was even accepting Demonized Beast Materials.
However, Zhang Chi only turned in a single Tier One Early Stage Demon Pill.
The Demon Pill earned him ten Contribution Points and improved his ranking. Taking into account his performance during the cultivation test, he received another thirty bonus Contribution Points. It was better than nothing.
With that, the assessment was finally, truly over.
Zhang Chi returned to the Earth Fire Hall and waited several days before setting up his personal array within his cave residence. Only then did he take out all his spoils to carefully take stock of them.