Chapter 178: Will You Talk or Not?

He Xu and the others were students, and with graduation fast approaching, they couldn’t stay and watch over Li Ye constantly.

After their meal, they warned Li Ye not to do anything reckless and returned to campus.

Star Power Cultivation Methods were widespread in this world, practically part of a basic education. The internet was flooded with information, including summaries and application guides for Star Power and Star Skills from various Great Gods.

Li Ye did a quick search online and easily grasped the method for Introducing Star Force into the Body. It was far simpler than the cultivation method for Spiritual Power.

The process involved memorizing a Star Map, using Meditation to sense Star Power, finding a star that resonated with you to serve as your Main Star, and then using that Main Star as a foundation to light up the other Life Stars in sequence…

Which Main Star one could light up depended entirely on personal talent or luck.

Then, based on the combination of the Main Star and other Life Stars, you developed Star Skills. And that was all there was to it.

Star Power’s purpose was to temper the body and provide energy for Star Skills.

However, during the day, the Sun Star’s light enveloped the earth and obscured the other stars, making it impossible to absorb Star Power.

That’s where Star Beads came in.

Star Beads contained pure Star Power and could perfectly compensate for the inability to absorb it during the day.

Similarly, the mist in the Ruins completely blocked Star Power, so maintaining one’s fighting ability there also required Star Beads.

Star Beads with different Attributes also had a boosting effect on Star Skills.

For example, a Frost Crocodile’s Star Bead enhanced ice-type Star Skills; Star Beads from a Lightning Leopard or a Gale Fox boosted speed-type Star Skills; and a Shock Explosion Tiger’s Star Bead amplified stun-type Star Skills…

For Star Beads of the same Attribute, the higher the level, the more significant the boost.

Therefore, Star Beads, like Star Coins, were hard currency in this world. With enough money, one could achieve twice, or even three times, the cultivation results of an ordinary person.

…

‘The mist blocks Star Power, yet the Star Beads inside the heads of Mutant Beasts contain pure Star Power…’

‘Interesting!’

Li Ye shook his head, deciding not to dwell on Star Power cultivation for now.

It was daytime, with the Sun Star high overhead. He had no intention of trying to absorb Sun Star Power.

Although Li Ye’s physique was far superior to an ordinary person’s, circulating his Spiritual Power and Divine Power was a slow and arduous process. Even its restorative abilities were limited.

The amount of Demon Qi contained within the Erhu was minuscule, hardly enough to help him recover quickly.

‘If I miscalculated and burned myself to a crisp, it just wouldn’t be worth it.’

‘That’s not a risk worth taking!’

He might as well just absorb Taiyin Star Power step-by-step. Once the Erhu’s Demon Qi had grown strong enough to rapidly heal his body, then maybe he’d try absorbing Sun Star Power.

Due to the Daoist Law, Star Power primarily tempered the physical body.

Li Ye had a hunch that after Introducing Star Force into the Body, he would be able to increase his stagnant Body Attributes once more. After all, he had that cheat skill, ‘Thrash My Teammate’.

…

Those with Demon Qi could sense one another.

He Xu and his friends were counting on luck, but Li Ye didn’t have time to waste.

After memorizing a map of West River City, Li Ye used some of Liu Rongrong’s makeup to slightly alter his features. He put on a pair of sunglasses, casually left the apartment, and headed straight for the Shadow Guild.

Although his sensory range had been compressed to three hundred meters.

A three-hundred-meter radius was more than enough to operate in the human world. With his precise movements, Li Ye could easily slip out of anyone’s line of sight.

He passed through several intersections and a shopping mall, swiping a few articles of clothing along the way. By the time he reached the Shadow Guild, his appearance was completely different.

Two guards were on duty at the entrance to the Shadow Guild.

In the instant the two guards turned past each other, Li Ye slipped through their blind spot and entered.

He reached the office of the Shadow Guild’s chairman without alerting a single person inside.

The chairman of the Shadow Guild was leaning back in his office chair, dozing with his eyes closed. He let out an occasional snort, and a soft rustling sound came from beneath his massive desk.

“Such refined tastes, Chairman Mo.” Li Ye sat down casually on a nearby sofa and clapped softly.

Upon entering the guild, he had easily acquired a list of all its senior members.

The Shadow Guild’s chairman was Mo Zhihong, an eighth-rank master. He ran a Star Bead business and was on intimate terms with the leadership of the Star Map Group’s West River Branch.

BANG!

A loud bang echoed through the room.

Mo Zhihong’s eyes shot open. He tried to stand, but his knees slammed hard against the desk.

The next moment, his body went rigid.

Li Ye, who had been on the sofa an instant before, was now standing behind him, a dagger pressed to his throat. A moment ago, that dagger had been in *his* hand…

GULP!

Mo Zhihong’s pupils shrank. “Don’t be rash,” he said, his voice tense. “We can talk about this.”

Li Ye glanced under the desk, his eyes meeting a pair of panicked ones looking up from where a woman knelt on the floor.

She was a pretty professional in a trim black business suit, likely Mo Zhihong’s secretary. A trickle of blood ran from the corner of her mouth; clearly, Mo Zhihong had hurt her when he shot up from his chair…

Li Ye chuckled, then flashed back to the sofa. “Shall we talk?”

“Fine. Let’s talk.” Mo Zhihong watched Li Ye, his expression wavering, but he eventually sat back down. He straightened his clothes and tapped the desk lightly. “Li, come out and get some tea for our guest.”

The young secretary crawled out looking disheveled. She glanced at Li Ye, her face flushed, wiped the blood from her mouth, and gave a faint smile before moving to get tea from a cabinet. Her composure was surprisingly steady; perhaps she was used to this sort of thing.

“No need for that. Let’s get down to business,” Li Ye said with a slight frown, stopping her.

The secretary obediently stood to one side, her gaze lowered, still as a statue.

“I don’t believe we’ve met, Your Excellency. What business might you have with me?” Mo Zhihong forced a smile. “There can’t be many problems a ninth-rank master is unable to solve.”

“Qiu Feipeng is dead,” Li Ye stated.

Mo Zhihong froze.

“I killed him,” Li Ye added.

“If he offended you, sir, then he was courting death.” The corner of Mo Zhihong’s eye twitched. “Later, I will present you with compensation to atone for Qiu Feipeng’s transgression.”

“You’re quick to wash your hands of this, Chairman Mo.” Li Ye smiled at Mo Zhihong. He picked up the dagger again, gave it an expert twirl, and then flicked it. The blade shot past the secretary, pinning her sleeve to the wall behind her.

CLICK!

A shattered panic button fell from her sleeve and clattered to the floor. Her hand, now free, trembled slightly.

Blood dripped from her fingertips onto the floor. DRIP. DRIP.

The secretary’s face was ashen as she stared at Li Ye, completely at a loss.

“You foolish girl!” Mo Zhihong’s expression changed, and he snapped, “Who told you to press the alarm? Are you trying to get me killed?”

“Chairman, I…” the secretary stammered, trying to explain.

“Sir, my secretary doesn’t know any better!” Mo Zhihong said, forcing a placating smile as he apologized to Li Ye.

“Enough with the act,” Li Ye snorted, looking at Mo Zhihong. “Out with it. Who put you up to this?”

Mo Zhihong was utterly bewildered. “Sir, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Li Ye regarded him with a smirk that wasn’t quite a smile.

Mo Zhihong cursed Qiu Feipeng and all his ancestors. ‘This is absurd.’ He pursed his lips. “Young Master, could there be some misunderstanding between us?”

“Qiu Feipeng already confessed,” Li Ye said with a slight frown, his voice laced with menace. “Do you really think you’re strong enough to take the fall for this, Chairman Mo?”

“Young Master, I truly have no idea what this is about!” Mo Zhihong was on the verge of tears. “Sir, please, just tell me what’s going on so I don’t die in ignorance!”

“Shi Yao!” Li Ye stared at Mo Zhihong and spoke two words.

Mo Zhihong looked even more lost. He stammered, “Are… are you talking about the Shiyao Group?”

“Who else?” Li Ye shot back. “Do you think I’m an idiot? That I came all the way out to this backwater to find you for no reason?”

“But I really didn’t do anything!” Mo Zhihong’s face darkened. “Young Master, that bastard Qiu Feipeng must have done something behind my back. I have some connections with Manager Zhu at Star Map Group, and I use that to get a few perks. But I have absolutely nothing to do with the Shiyao Group! I swear it…”

If this was truly about something he’d done, Mo Zhihong would have taken his lumps. But he genuinely knew nothing about Qiu Feipeng’s schemes.

He wasn’t about to be framed for something he didn’t do.

“Sir, give me a few days. I will get you an explanation,” Mo Zhihong said.

“Give you a few days? So you can tip off your real master?” Li Ye stared at him coldly. “Since you’re unwilling to talk, then don’t bother.”

With a flicker of movement, he was up, the dagger back in his hand. “Let me remind you, Chairman Mo. Once you’re dead, you’ve got nothing left.”

“I…” Mo Zhihong felt he was about to die from this injustice. Tiny beads of sweat broke out on his forehead. “Sir, what Qiu Feipeng did truly has nothing to do with me! Even if you kill me, I have nothing to confess!”

“I’m surprised. You’re tougher than you look, Chairman Mo,” Li Ye sneered.

“My bank records, my personal communications, the properties in my name—you can check all of it,” Mo Zhihong said, a desperate idea striking him. “If someone was really pulling my strings, there would have to be evidence of a transaction. You can look into everything I have.

“That bastard Qiu Feipeng framed me. If you fall for his trick, the trail will go cold for good. You showed up so suddenly, even if there were clues, I wouldn’t have had time to erase them…”

Li Ye stared at Mo Zhihong, seeming to weigh the truth of his words.

“Sir, I swear on my life, every word is the truth. If I’ve lied to you in any way, may lightning strike me down and may I die without a grave,” Mo Zhihong vowed.

“Show me your transaction history,” Li Ye ordered.

“Of course.” Mo Zhihong swallowed hard, entered his account number, and logged into his personal terminal. He then turned the monitor toward Li Ye. “Sir, these are all my accounts, along with my contact list.”

Li Ye zipped in front of the monitor, his fingers flying across the screen. He didn’t just review Mo Zhihong’s financial history in record time; he also manually restored several deleted records.

This was some hacking knowledge he had just picked up online.

Watching the data scroll by at an impossible speed, Mo Zhihong kept wiping sweat from his brow. “Sir, a clear conscience fears no accusation. I truly had no idea what Qiu Feipeng was up to…”