Chapter 195: Chapter 144: Lianxing’s Array Discussion

Only by bearing an Immortal Seed would the two of them have a chance to improve their standing.

Unfortunately, even after trying out hundreds of positions, there was still no sign of life in the sisters’ bellies. Instead, because they ate and lived so well, their figures were starting to fill out, much to their secret dismay.

Li Hejun accepted the Pill with delight. As was her habit, she began to discuss the farm’s affairs, saying with a troubled expression, "Sir, the amount of Spirit Rice missing from the ledgers has increased significantly lately. The steward in charge of the granary, in particular, seems to have let nearly a thousand jin of Golden Threaded Spirit Rice just... vanish. What are your thoughts?"

Thanks to the bookkeeping methods Lü Zhong had taught her, along with some scattered knowledge of auditing, rooting out the embezzlers on the farm who were still using simple chronological ledgers was a piece of cake.

"I understand. I’ll keep an eye on them." Lü Zhong mulled over why his subordinates would do such a thing.

’Perhaps with the Lantern Festival approaching, they need to spend more Spirit Stones?’

After a moment’s thought, he decided it was best to investigate thoroughly. He didn’t want the farm to suffer a massive deficit only for him to be blamed for it, which would delay his acquisition of the Flying Talisman crafting method.

In the dead of night, once everyone had fallen asleep.

Lü Zhong slipped silently to the farm’s granary. All of Liuyun Mountain Farm’s Spirit Rice was kept here. Aside from the delivery that occurred once a decade, the granary was typically filled to the brim.

He didn’t even need to enter. Standing outside, he used his Scene Reversal ability to investigate.

Just as he’d suspected, a large amount of Spirit Rice was missing.

What made him frown was that, aside from the Spirit Rice that had simply vanished, there was also evidence of new rice being swapped with old.

Just like Mortal Rice, the value of Spirit Rice plummeted if stored for too long. For instance, Cyan Bud Spirit Rice, normally worth one Spirit Stone per jin, would lose so much of its Spiritual Qi that its price would drop to a mere few talismanic coins per jin.

Comparing this to the data from his secret inspection at the beginning of the month, at least three thousand Spirit Stones’ worth of Spirit Rice had disappeared from the granary.

’I’d like to see just who has the gall to do this!’

Lü Zhong immediately activated Scene Reversal, tracing events back in time.

Before long, he had identified the culprit.

"Huh? It’s actually Tan Yunde?" he exclaimed in surprise.

’Heh. And here I thought you, with your honest face, were a decent, law-abiding man. I never expected you to be lining your own pockets like this.’

’Stealing is one thing, but to steal this much in one go!’

Following the trail out of Liuyun Mountain Farm, Lü Zhong decided to track the man down. He wanted to see what Tan Yunde, with all his audacity, was really up to.

His pursuit eventually led him into Mingyang Mountain.

The wilderness at night was fraught with danger; it was when Demon Beasts were most active.

Confident in his Foundation Establishment cultivation, Lü Zhong entered without a shred of fear.

Bolstered by the Flying Star Qi Introduction Skill, the effectiveness of both his Qi Observation Skill and his Concealing Breath and Concealing Trace Techniques were enhanced to different degrees.

As a result, he had a firm grasp of his surroundings.

He also extended his Divine Sense ten zhang around him. This allowed him to guard against potential threats without alerting other beings who also possessed Divine Sense, thus avoiding the risk of tipping off his quarry with a large-scale probe.

Both bold and meticulous, he soon tracked his target to the front of a mountain cave.

But just as he prepared to use Scene Reversal to investigate the cave’s interior, he took a step and triggered a Prohibition.

BOOM!

A jet of flame erupted toward the sky.

A Flame Prohibition!

’There’s an Array Master inside!’

The thought flashed through Lü Zhong’s mind, but his hands moved without the slightest delay. Before the shield from his Qingyang Body Protection Secret Talisman had even faded, he had already enveloped himself in a new Water Pattern Shield.

As the Ink Crystal Shield whirled around him, he raised his hands, shooting out two sword shadows—one gold, one red—to his sides.

CLANG! CLANG! The sword shadows perfectly intercepted two incoming silver needles, knocking them from the air.

A figure burst from the cave—a female cultivator from the Jade Flower Sect, her beautiful face flushed. Upon seeing Lü Zhong, not only did she show no sign of stopping, but she gritted her teeth and pressed her attack, firing off a volley of barely visible silver needles.

Her aggressive stance erased any hesitation Lü Zhong might have had, steeling his resolve.

He raised a hand, brandishing an Eight Trigrams Treasure Mirror—the Qingyang Mirror.

A beam of Mirror Light shot out, freezing the incoming needles in mid-air.

Immediately after, more beams of Mirror Light erupted from the mirror’s surface. Along with the flying gold and red sword shadows, they converged on the female cultivator from the Jade Flower Sect. She was forced to dodge desperately, her body dissolving into a shower of petals time and again. Despite this, she was repeatedly struck by the sword shadows. Her Dharma Robe was torn to tatters, revealing the skin beneath.

Lü Zhong paid it no mind, quickening the pace of his hand seals.

"AARGH!" The female cultivator was finally immobilized by the Mirror Light. Despite her desperate struggles, she couldn’t escape her fate. The two swords pierced through her body, and she let out a pained scream as blood poured from her mouth.

THUD! She collapsed to the ground.

With a shift of his hand seals, Lü Zhong had both the Shuo Jin and Golden Devourer swords pressed against the woman’s neck.

The slightest move from her would result in decapitation.

BLECH!

The female cultivator spat out a mouthful of dark blood. She looked up at Lü Zhong, her gaze venomous. "You’re not Lü Zhong. Who are you?"

Ignoring her, Lü Zhong asked his own question. "Talk. What was your deal with Tan Yunde?"

"If I tell you, will you let me go?" the female cultivator gasped, sprawled on the ground.

She had used the Secret Technique of Shifting Flowers and Changing Shadows repeatedly just now, nearly exhausting her energy. The moment she stopped, she was drenched in sweat. Between her injuries and the after-effects of the Secret Skill, her face grew paler with each passing breath.

"At least you’ll have a swift death," Lü Zhong said, his voice cold.

Out here in the wilderness, he had no reason to be wary, even if she was a cultivator from the Jade Flower Sect.