Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan Chapter 1859: 1398: Interrogation (Part 2)

“Hmph! Don’t think that having Loose Immortal Grade cultivation makes you all that impressive. In Daqian territory, the Human Dao Hundred Schools hold the reins! You have no right to meddle!”

Li Zhirui felt deep curiosity about the events unfolding in the Daqian Dynasty, which had sparked such a massive divide and fierce clashes between cultivators and the Hundred Schools disciples.

The tension had grown so intense that even lowly officials and guards automatically turned against cultivators.

Once the official departed, he headed back to the stall, planning to pick up a couple of the items he had eyed. He inquired, “What’s the price?”

“One hundred silver coins!” The stall owner’s gaze gleamed with raw avarice, completely ignoring any potential fallout.

“I’ll pass!”

Li Zhirui spun around and walked away without a second thought. Did they honestly see him as an idiot or a pushover? A simple mortal actually trying to take advantage of him, assuming he was a soft target?

“Hold on, hold on! Fifty coins, or even thirty—take the whole lot!” The stall owner snapped back to reality as if splashed with ice water and began shouting desperately.

Yet, despite his frantic calls, Li Zhirui kept moving forward without pause. Plenty of other options existed for those minor baubles. No point in throwing away silver coins for poor service. Why invite unnecessary hassle?

After strolling aimlessly for a bit, he slipped into a tight alleyway, scanned his surroundings with care, and rapped on the gate of what looked like a plain courtyard.

Instantly, the gate swung open on its own, allowing him entry.

This unassuming courtyard served as a hidden outpost for an intelligence network called Wenfeng Building.

Li Zhirui had learned about Wenfeng Building and located it thanks to data gathered and bought from the Dayan Dynasty.

The doors to the hall in the courtyard stood ajar, revealing a frail-looking man who handled the operations.

“Greetings, honored visitor! I’m Shen Zaikong. What sort of details are you seeking? If there’s a demand, Wenfeng Building will launch inquiries right away! In just three days, the intel will be yours.”

“Tell me what’s really going on in Daqian. Why the huge animosity between cultivators and Hundred Schools disciples? They clearly can’t stand one another.” Li Zhirui fired off all his burning questions at once.

“Hmm…”

Shen Zaikong glanced at him with mild astonishment, apparently caught off guard by someone wanting this particular intel.

Still, with a customer making a request, he was determined to meet their needs completely.

After taking Li Zhirui’s payment, he flashed a wide grin and explained, “Tensions between the two groups simmered for ages, but they didn’t explode into the open until a single event ignited everything!”

Shen Zaikong’s flair for the dramatic made him a natural at spinning tales.

“Oh?” Li Zhirui found himself hooked by the man’s account.

“The former Human Emperor, in his declining years, acted like many despots and craved immortality. The Hundred Schools offered no path to extended life, but the Immortal Tao mastered the secrets of longevity. So, he redirected countless Spiritual Objects toward the Immortal Tao, aiming for eternal rule and total control over the dynasty!”

“That’s it?” He responded with skepticism after hearing the explanation.

“Exactly that!”

Shen Zaikong affirmed with a nod and a grin, “During the old emperor’s last days, he pushed the Immortal Tao to hurry with new Methods, granting heaps of Spiritual Objects—meant for the Human Dao Hundred Schools—to the Immortal Tao, and this happened repeatedly.”

“In the end, the Pills crafted by the Immortal Tao didn’t prolong the old emperor’s life at all; instead, they hastened his demise!”

“When the present emperor took the throne, he pinned the old one’s death on the Immortal Tao and drastically curbed the Immortal Dao’s influence.”

“After that, support for the Immortal Tao vanished, and the Human Dao Hundred Schools seized the chance. They banded together to crush the Immortal Tao while spreading bad rumors about it among the common folk, leading many to discourage their children or kin from pursuing the Immortal Tao.”

Having heard the full story, Li Zhirui gave a nod. His spending hadn’t been in vain.

“So, if the visitor doesn’t hide their cultivator status, traveling through Daqian lands could prove troublesome,” Shen Zaikong cautioned.

“Got it, thanks for the details.”

“Pleasing the visitor is my top duty.”

Li Zhirui offered a smile but said nothing more as he rose to depart.

“I’ve got fresh intel on the Immortal Tao. Interested, visitor?” Shen Zaikong piped up out of the blue, pitching it eagerly.

“Oh?”

After a brief pause, he offered a Human Immortal Rank Spiritual Object.

“This intel isn’t all that valuable; it’ll come out publicly soon enough. A Loose Immortal Grade Spiritual Object should cover it.”

Li Zhirui’s brow twitched faintly, suggesting the info wasn’t crucial, or Wenfeng Building wouldn’t hold back from upselling.

“Word from the court says they’re done suppressing the Immortal Tao and will start nurturing cultivators instead!”

“Why the change?” He couldn’t grasp the motive right away and blurted out the question.

“No one knows the cause yet.”

“Fine, appreciate it.”

This update would surely aid Li Zhirui’s future cultivation path, sparing him the suffocating pressure he’d felt that day, when even a minor official had the nerve to lord over him!

Still, getting this policy to take root and sway Daqian’s people would demand ages to overturn their deep-seated views.

The surprising revelation eased his spirits a touch.

“I need a thorough map of the Daqian Dynasty. Got one available?”

Under normal circumstances, peddling such detailed maps for a Human Dao realm like Daqian counted as forbidden!

But operating in shady territories, did they truly mind breaking laws? If massive gains were on the table, repercussions meant little.

Following the third transaction, Li Zhirui at last exited the Wenfeng Building outpost.

He then secured a room in the city, aiming to scout the surrounding regions more and grasp the Daqian Dynasty’s lay before pressing on with his journey.

…

As dusk fell, the moon and stars dotted the heavens one by one, casting a gentle glow over the shadowed evening.

At the same time, in a courtyard within Bianshan City, Wang Jianyi—the petty official who had earlier shamed Li Zhirui—was imbibing beneath the moonlight.

But in an instant, his extended arm went rigid, and he toppled over flat.

A heavy thump kicked up dirt.

Living by himself, no one noticed his state until the following morning when he missed his shift, prompting folks to discover he had perished overnight!

Several experienced examiners arrived to inspect the body and ruled it a sudden collapse from overexcitement, unlikely to be foul play.

Even so, this abrupt passing drew sharp scrutiny from the local powers, who strongly suspected a cultivator’s involvement in causing a robust man to drop dead in the dark!

Their probe soon zeroed in on Li Zhirui and fellow cultivators who had clashed with Wang Jianyi, with Li Zhirui topping the list of suspects.

Bang!

The Shock Court Wood crashed down forcefully, and the presiding official bellowed, “Confess! Did you have anything to do with Wang Jianyi’s death?”

“Witnesses saw you two quarreling that day, and you held a grudge, so you struck at night to kill him, then made it look like a natural end.”

“Ha!”

Li Zhirui let out a mocking snort, unable to hold it back, “You’ve already convicted me in your mind? What else is there to admit?”

“I may be a cultivator, but I know a bit about Hundred Schools principles. Since when do the Legalists base verdicts on guesses instead of solid proof and testimonies?”

Bang!

The official’s face twisted in shock and fury at these words, and he pounded the Shock Court Wood again, “You won’t divert this official’s attention with such nonsense!”