Translator: CinderTL
At this moment, in the courtyard, Qin Chuan was conversing with several people around him.
"Although I'm only at the Innate realm now and not yet a cultivator, in the future, breaking through barriers and absorbing Qi into my body will be as easy as breathing! I might even advance further, reaching the fourth or seventh level of Qi Refining. Who knows? I might even have a chance to aspire to the Core Formation realm, achieving longevity, soaring through the skies with my sword, and becoming a true, carefree immortal."
Qin Chuan's voice echoed from the courtyard.
And around him…
Without exception, they were all cultivators.
Mostly Body Refinement Cultivators, with a couple of Qi Refining first-level cultivators mixed in.
Their gazes toward Qin Chuan were filled with admiration.
"Sword Prodigy Li is a true prodigy! Shortly after joining the sect, he had already developed Divine Sense, directly bridging the gap between the Qi Refining realm and the Spirit Refining realm!"
"Divine Sense aside, it's Sword Prodigy Li's strength that's truly remarkable! Not long ago, during a mission, he single-handedly exterminated over a hundred Divine Race Believers! Among them were some who were comparable to ninth-level Qi Refining cultivators! It's truly unbelievable!"
"Over a hundred Divine Race Believers? More like several hundred! I heard he even killed a Core Formation realm cultivator! His reputation is truly awe-inspiring, spreading far and wide! It's said that disciples from the other eight sects now instinctively lower their heads when they see our Taixu Sword Sect disciples."
"Senior Brother Qin, can you really arrange for us to meet Sword Prodigy Li? If we could just meet him once and take a photo with him, it would be a dream come true!"
These people gathered around Qin Chuan, flattering him, seemingly oblivious to the fact that he was merely an Innate Martial Master.
And one who had only recently reached the Innate realm in the past few months, thanks to the rapid boost from pills.
"I've said it before, meeting Li Chunjun is a trivial matter. You should know that back in the day, we were so close that we ate and lived together."
Qin Chuan confidently assured them: "The reason he hasn't come yet is surely because he's in a critical phase of his cultivation and can't be distracted. Otherwise, if he knew I was the one inviting him, how could he not come?"
…
Outside the courtyard.
Li Chunjun watched Qin Chuan, who was constantly boasting about their relationship, and then turned his gaze to Qin Zhou.
Qin Zhou frowned but still said, "Sword Prodigy Li, what do you think…"
"Since when can an Innate Martial Master become a nominal disciple of the Taixu Sword Sect?"
Li Chunjun said, "Moreover… it's only been a few months, and he's already reached the Innate realm? With the resources he's been given, if spread over three to five years, it would be enough to cultivate over a dozen Innate Martial Masters. It's somewhat wasteful."
Qin Zhou was taken aback, quickly realizing something.
These people…
Their relationship with Li Chunjun wasn't as close as he had imagined.
"Let's go."
Li Chunjun said and turned to leave.
"This is my mistake."
Qin Zhou quickly followed and said, "I didn't know…"
"Investigate someone."
Li Chunjun interrupted him.
"Yes."
Qin Zhou immediately complied.
But at this moment, Li Chunjun stopped.
Then he added, "Investigate Qin Chuan and the other two!"
Qin Zhou was stunned.
"I don't know how the Chiyang Sword Sect's information blockade works in Great Li and Great Chu, but in Great Shang, ordinary people have almost no access to any information about Taixu Sword Sect cultivators. At most, they know there's a Taixu Sword Sect."
Li Chunjun said gravely, "Under these circumstances, how did these three know that I had joined the Taixu Sword Sect, and how did they know that I hold a high position within the sect, high enough for them to go to such lengths and move their entire families into Taixu Sword Sect territory?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Zhou quickly realized the issue.
For him, and even for ordinary cultivators, obtaining information about Li Chunjun wasn't difficult.
But for ordinary people…
They and cultivators are almost two different classes!
How could people at this level possibly have access to information about Li Chunjun!?
Even if he's quite famous in the cultivator circles, how could his fame surpass that of the true disciples of the various sects!?
It's like an ordinary person—how could they possibly know about someone in another country's political system who isn't yet at the top but has the potential to become prime minister in the future?
The gap in levels is too vast.
So vast that what seems perfectly reasonable to even an ordinary cultivator becomes completely unreasonable.
Unless…
Someone told them this information and deliberately sent them here!
"I'll investigate immediately!"
Qin Zhou broke out in a cold sweat.
There was actually a conspiracy behind these people!
And the mastermind behind this conspiracy…
It didn't take a genius to guess that it must be the Chiyang Sword Sect.
Fortunately, Qin Chuan had gotten carried away and was caught by them, and Li Chunjun had been alert enough to notice the anomaly immediately. Otherwise…
Who knows what consequences might have followed.
…
Li Chunjun returned to Flaming Phoenix Peak.
As for Qin Zhou…
He worked quickly.
That very night, he brought the gathered information to Li Chunjun's courtyard.
"It's been confirmed. There are three families who have moved here: Qin Chuan, Zhao Bai, and Fang Yushu. Among them, Qin Chuan is actually the least problematic. Fang Yushu's family has some connections and likely came here for research purposes. The key is Zhao Bai."
Qin Zhou looked at him and said gravely, "According to the information we've obtained, Zhao Bai has a sister named Zhao Yu, who he's very close to. However, while his entire family moved here, his sister showed no signs of following…"
He paused, then added, "I suspect that the Chiyang Sword Sect contacted Zhao Bai and used Zhao Yu as leverage to force him to infiltrate the Taixu Sword Sect and act against you."
Li Chunjun remained silent, carefully reviewing the information Qin Zhou had collected.
At this moment, he felt his thoughts were exceptionally clear.
All the information seemed like individual nodes, connected by threads of thought, gradually forming a complete picture of the event.
The elevation of his life level had brought about an all-around enhancement.
This included his logical thinking.
Although the increase wasn't significant each time, it was steadily growing.
This could be seen from the efficiency of his sword practice, which even someone like Jiang Wanyu, a "genius," had praised.
The old him, who had barely passed physical education classes, would never have had such talent in swordsmanship.
Now, using this enhanced logical thinking to piece together the cause and effect of the event, he had already noticed several suspicious points.
Why had Qin Chuan gotten carried away?
Even after Qin Zhou had relayed the message for them to meet, why had he acted so recklessly at this moment?
Perhaps it was the blind confidence of youth, or perhaps…
He had been manipulated!
The purpose of the manipulation…
"Investigate all the disciples Qin Chuan has been in contact with recently, and try to get a record of their words and actions."
Li Chunjun said to Qin Zhou, "Do it discreetly. Can you manage it?"
"Yes!"
Although Qin Zhou didn't understand why Li Chunjun had given this order, he agreed without hesitation, "Within the Taixu Sword Sect, there's nothing the Sword Prodigy wants to investigate that can't be uncovered."
Li Chunjun nodded.
Qin Zhou quickly got busy again.
Li Chunjun took out the list Jiang Yuqiu had given him.
On this list was a person named Jiang Yuxue, skilled in tracking and investigation.
Then he looked at another name, Zhang Weiqian, skilled in interrogation and soul-searching.
These two, he wanted.
A moment later, he found another name.
Zhou Yuechen, skilled in sword control, with the fastest sword speed in the Core Formation realm within the sect.
As part of the future Sword Prodigy's team, Jiang Yuqiu had selected the elite of the elite within the sect.
Perhaps they weren't the most outstanding in direct combat, but each had reached the pinnacle in their respective fields.
With that, he left his residence and found Jiang Renwang.
Not long after, Jiang Yuxue, who was in her mid-twenties and dressed in a neat, practical outfit, arrived outside Li Chunjun's courtyard.
To ensure she wouldn't stand out during tracking and investigation, her appearance was quite ordinary.
But for a Core Formation realm cultivator, looking beautiful wasn't difficult.
Upon seeing Li Chunjun and realizing she might have been chosen, Jiang Yuxue's eyes were filled with anticipation, "Greetings, Sword Prodigy. Whatever you need, just say the word."
"The sect has given me the authority to form my own team. I believe your abilities will be very helpful to me in the future. Are you willing to join?"
Li Chunjun formally asked.
Hearing Li Chunjun's acknowledgment, Jiang Yuxue was thrilled, "It's my lifelong honor to be valued by the Sword Prodigy and to serve you."
Li Chunjun nodded, "Go find Qin Zhou and assist him in investigating some people."
Then he added, "Also, on my behalf, invite Elders Zhang Weiqian and Zhou Yuechen."
"Yes."
Jiang Yuxue responded enthusiastically and quickly flew off on her sword.
The Sword Prodigy wanted to investigate someone!?
She would make sure to investigate these people thoroughly to prove her abilities and secure her place on the Sword Prodigy's rising ship.
…
Not long after, Zhang Weiqian and Zhou Yuechen also arrived at Flaming Phoenix Peak and immediately expressed their willingness to join the team.
Although Li Chunjun wasn't even at the Core Formation realm yet and still faced the major hurdle of refining his sword into a core…
As Core Formation Great Cultivators within the sect, they already knew that Li Chunjun had developed Sword Intent.
Developing Sword Intent at the Qi Refining realm was an achievement that rivaled the previous Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy.
And considering that Sword Prodigy Li had been cultivating for less than half a year…
He was even more outstanding than the previous Sword Prodigy.
It was also fortunate that he was still relatively weak and needed support. Once he reached Core Formation or even Nascent Soul, people like them wouldn't even have the right to stand by his side.
If they didn't seize this opportunity to align themselves with Sword Prodigy Li now, when would they?
…
With the addition of three Core Formation Great Cultivators, Qin Zhou's investigation efficiency increased significantly.
By the next morning, piles of information had been gathered before Li Chunjun.
After a morning of investigation, a truth gradually emerged before Qin Zhou and the others.
Zhao Bai…
Was indeed a hidden pawn of the Chiyang Sword Sect.
As for Qin Chuan and Fang Yushu, they were merely used as cover to prevent Zhao Bai from standing out too much.
Upon reaching this conclusion, Qin Zhou immediately said, "I'll go arrest the entire Zhao family right now!"
Li Chunjun remained silent, his gaze falling on one particular piece of information.
A first-level Qi Refining female cultivator named Yu Xuan.
Over the past few months, she had been very close to Qin Chuan and, upon learning of his relationship with Li Chunjun, had become full of admiration for him.
On paper…
Everything seemed normal.
But with his exceptionally clear logical thinking, Li Chunjun had keenly sensed something unusual about this disciple.
Yu Xuan had played a significant role in Qin Chuan's rapid inflation of ego.
(End of the Chapter)
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