Cultivation is just so scientific!

Chapter 58 The Case Occurred

In the northeastern corner of Central Capital, the majority of residents in this area were merchants.

In Great Xia, the status of merchants wasnʼt high, so even if they built their homes extravagantly, they dared not deviate even slightly from the standard design for doors and interiors.

On a dark and windy night, a Qi Refining Third Level cultivator was writing something within a courtyard.

Behind him, a shadow appeared.

Despite the close proximity, the Qi Refining Third Level cultivator didnʼt sense anything as the shadow extended its hands and embraced him.

The next morning, Gu Jia arrived at the scene of the incident.

It was with his consent that the Loose Cultivators entered Central Capital, and so far, these Loose Cultivators had abided by the agreement, not causing any trouble within the city.

All the Loose Cultivators were concentrated in this area of the northeastern part of the city, where the Imperial Family had intervened to have merchants accommodate the cultivators.

Initially, this decision had no issues, but everything changed in August.

One after another, people were murdered; it started with commoners, but now a Loose Cultivator had fallen victim.

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Along with Gu Jia, Mr. Liu, the clan leader, had arrived, and the area was cordoned off by the Ministry of Justice.

”Such a strong aura of yin coldness!” As soon as Gu Jia arrived outside the door where the incident took place, he couldnʼt help but frown and comment.

”Mr. Gu, was it done by an Evil Cultivator?” Mr. Liu asked with a grim face.

”Itʼs Corpse Refining, canʼt be certain if itʼs an Evil Cultivator, but the method is too sinister; itʼs definitely not something good!” Gu Jia entered and saw the fallen Loose Cultivator on the ground, furrowing his brow as he spoke.

Corpse Refining techniques could be found in almost every sect, so one couldnʼt claim that Corpse Refining was inherently evil.

However, Corpse Refining that involved draining a cultivatorʼs essence and blood crossed the line for most sects.

The Loose Cultivator on the ground had been completely drained of blood, leaving behind only an empty husk which looked exceedingly eerie.

”Mr. Gu, this is a challenge to the Sky Sea Sect, please take charge of this matter for us!” Mr. Liu said, bowing deeply.

Gu Jia nodded, regardless, this incident had occurred in Central Capital.

Even though the entire Great Xia was under the influence of the Sky Sea Sect, as long as cultivators didnʼt create trouble within the city, the Sky Sea Sect typically didnʼt concern themselves.

But this was different, not only had it happened in the city, but it had also occurred in Central Capital, where cultivators of the Sky Sea Sect were stationed, and not just commoners but cultivators had been harmed.

”Wait until I find this cultivator!” Gu Jia said in a deep voice.

He reached into his storage bag and pulled out an ʼIntermediate Tracking Talismanʼ. Activating the talisman with Spiritual Power, it transformed into a stream of light, following his will to lock onto the yin cold aura.

The ʼIntermediate Tracking Talismanʼ could last for six hours, during which the targetʼs movements would be sensed by the user.

”Follow me!” Gu Jia said to Mr. Liu.

Mr. Liu hesitated for a moment, then followed him out of the room.

Gu Jia, without using the Light Body Technique and relying only on his Qi Refining Seventh Level physique, lightly touched the wall and leaped over the high enclosing wall.

Mr. Liu, lacking his strength, activated a ʼBasic Light Body Talismanʼ before finally jumping over the wall.

Gu Jia was fast, and if it werenʼt for the need to follow the trail sensed by the ʼIntermediate Tracking Talismanʼ, he could move even faster.

He came to a halt near the city wall.

”Mr. Gu, whatʼs the situation?” Mr. Liu, the clan leader, hurriedly asked as he saw him stop.

”Thereʼs trouble. That cultivator used a refined zombie to commit his crimes and packed it away upon reaching this spot. The tracking talisman has lost its target!” Gu Jia said, shaking his head in frustration.

At the same time, his mind was filled with even more considerations. Compared to these Loose Cultivators, he had a deeper understanding of Corpse Refining.

A refined zombie capable of independent action that also managed to kill a Qi Refining Third Level cultivator without detection must be at least at the level of a copper corpse.

In the realm of Corpse Refining, a copper corpse is a matured refined zombie, its strength equivalent to that of a cultivator in the Qi Refinement Realm.

Copper corpses are divided into early, middle, and late stages, but once it reaches the level of a copper corpse, it possesses formidable defensive power, capable of resisting the Spiritual Power attacks from Qi Refining Cultivators to some extent.

Moreover, a copper corpse also comes with immense strength, which even cultivators of the same level dare not confront directly, and its attacks contain Corpse Poison.

The Corpse Poison of a copper corpse can cause a Qi Refining Cultivatorʼs body to become stiff. If not promptly dealt with, large areas of the body may necrotize.

Based on the appearance of this copper corpse, the ease with which it killed a Qi Refining Third Level indicates its strength is at least that of the middle stage, or possibly even higher.

Coupled with the timing of the Ascension Conference, Gu Jia had many more suspicions.

”Mr. Liu, I need to report this matter to my sect. Additionally, let the Loose Cultivators take action. If any cultivator can find the tracks of this person, they may apply to the sect for a reward of five hundred Spirit Stones!” Gu Jia considered for a moment, then looked at Mr. Liu and said.

Upon hearing this, Mr. Liuʼs eyes initially lit up, but he quickly grasped the implications.

”I will spread the news!” Since Gu Jia could offer such a big incentive, the issue clearly was not simple, and Mr. Liu readily agreed.

”I hope Iʼm just overthinking it!” Gu Jia felt a heavy sense of concern, thinking to himself.

Li Shiming had taken an official position, a loose official rank of regular seventh grade, without an actual appointment.

Typically, the third-place ʼAdvanced Scholarʼ is expected to enter the Hanlin Academy to become an editor of regular seventh grade, a critical channel for the nurturing of the nationʼs top talents.

However, no one thought that the Emperor was suppressing him because he received several times more rewards than the top scorer and was even granted a large mansion.

Moreover, a plaque from the palace inscribed with ʼAdvanced Scholarʼ was also sent to the mansion, showing the depth of the Emperorʼs favor.

Yet, Li Shiming did not move into the big mansion; he just let Mo Yan receive it on his behalf.

With only a few servants in his family at present and the mansion being more than ten times larger than his current residence, he was going to leave this place soon; there was no need for further complications.

Li Shiming was dining, holding a bowl of Spirit Rice in his hands, with a dish in front of him.

The dish was stir-fried spirit bamboo shoots, which grew from Spirit Bamboo.

There was no helping it; the Spirit Bamboo had been growing well over the past half year and now had a main stem reaching over three meters tall, nearly touching the top of the chamber space.

The chamber space had no extra room for the Spirit Bamboo to grow unrestrained, so the newly sprouted bamboo shoots became part of his Spirit Food.

This also solved the problem of limited variety in his Spirit Food, providing a rare combination of a dish and rice.

Spirit bamboo shoots contain much more Spiritual Energy than Spirit Rice does. With the rate at which the spirit bamboo shoots emerged, he could harvest one every month.

One spirit bamboo shoot was enough for him to eat for five days, mainly because, with his Qi Refining Second Level cultivation, the spirit bamboo shoots were somewhat overly nutritious.

In fact, in other places, no cultivator would consider spirit bamboo shoots as Spirit Food because the value of matured spirit bamboo is much greater.

Li Shiming also discovered that as long as he prevented the Spirit Bamboo from growing a second main stem normally and ensured sufficient Spiritual Energy and nutrient solution, the spirit bamboo shoots would continue to sprout incessantly.

Since he had nowhere to plant the Spirit Bamboo, the spirit bamboo shoots became a regular spirit vegetable on his table.