Immortal of the Nine Realms

Chapter 343: Scheming

Fang Mosheng was livid. "Family Head, someone has targeted the young lady! There are cultivators in the capital plotting against our family!"

The surrounding Foundation Building Realm experts of the Fang Family looked solemn. This was no longer a personal matter related to Fang Lingxing; it concerned the entire Fang Family!

The family head glanced at Fang Lingxing and asked, "How are your injuries?"

Fang Lingxing had collected herself a little by now. Her face was pale as she opened her palm, revealing several fragments. "Family Head, I merely suffered some internal injuries. Thankfully I had a protective treasure. It was shattered by the culprit who attacked me...”

"It's the True Fire Hairpin."

The Fang Family's Foundation Building Realm experts recognized the treasure. It was a mid-grade, yellow-rank protective treasure with thirty-one Soul Imprints.

During the Major Competition of the Fang Family a few years ago, Fang Lingxing won first place, and the True Fire Hairpin was one of the prizes.

Protective treasures were already rare, let alone a mid-grade, yellow-rank protective treasure, which was worth one-third more than offensive treasures of the same rank.

Moreover, the True Fire Hairpin had been crafted by an Artifact Master from a fourth-tier empire, which made it so that even Qi Refining Realm cultivators could easily activate it.

However, it could only be used three times; after that, it would break and turn useless.

This wasn't a disadvantage but rather an advantage of the True Fire Hairpin. If it appeared on the market, it would surely be fought over madly.

The fact that Fang Lingxing's True Fire Hairpin had shattered meant that the assailant had launched three fatal attacks in succession.

"Do you remember how your assailant looked?" asked the head of the Fang Family in a deep voice.

Fang Lingxing furrowed her brow slightly. "He... seemed to be hiding within a shadow. I couldn’t see his face."

Why would a Foundation Building Realm expert target her? Were they targeting the Fang Family, or just her?

Just then, a group of Grand Qian Guards approached.

"Looks like the Grand Qian Guards are here. There will be unrest in the coming days within the inner city, it seems."

"Do you think it was the Jue Family who targeted the Fang Family's genius?"

"We better not speculate randomly, don’t want to get dragged into trouble."

Everyone passing by whispered to themselves.

The head of the Fang Family explained the situation to the leader of the Grand Qian Guards, who nodded slowly with a solemn expression before leading his soldiers away.

"The Grand Qian Guard will be handling this matter. The assailant probably still hasn't escaped the inner city yet. I want to see who it was that dared to make a move against our Fang Family," said the head of the as his gaze turned dark. He glanced at the surrounding crowd one last time and then walked away.

"You go back and rest too. Don't go out for a while," said Fang Mosheng to Fang Lingxing, then glanced at Fang Chen in the crowd out of the corner of his eye.

"Dad, I want to go see Brother Jue," whispered Fang Lingxing.

Fang Mosheng furrowed his brow slightly, remained silent for a moment, then nodded. "I'll take you there myself."

After the father and daughter left, members of the Fang Family came out to repair the damaged main gate, and the Foundation Building Realm experts of the Fang Family left one after another.

Xia Ji suddenly said, "Fang Da, I'm going to see someone. You better focus on your cultivation these days to prepare for what will happen.”

Fang Chen nodded gently and watched Xia Ji leave before turning back and taking Li Cang back to the secluded courtyard.

"No visitors today," instructed Fang Chen before heading to the meditation room.

***

At Lord Tiger's residence.

Xia Ji looked at Lord Tiger with a deep frown on his face. "Were you the one who arranged that attack?"

"Ah, Xia Ji,” sighed Lord Tiger. “As I’ve told you, these attacks don’t always succeed.”

"Fang Lingxing was only slightly startled," growled Xia Ji.

Lord Tiger sighed helplessly. "She had a True Fire Hairpin on her that hadn’t been used before! The expert I sent made three consecutive attempts but still failed to assassinate her in the end. If he had stayed any longer, he’d have left traces that the Fang Family could’ve used to trace the attack back to us.”

At this point, Lord Tiger suddenly probed, "Actually, you don't need to worry about Fang Lingxing's matter anymore. Your friend...."

Xia Ji's face showed a bitter smile. "....Did Fang Chen visit you?"

Lord Tiger nodded quickly and said with a wry smile, "He's extraordinary. He came to me and warned me not to deceive you—not that I intended to, anyway."

"I didn't want him involved in this matter." Xia Ji muttered to himself softly, then glanced at Lord Tiger. "Let's end this matter here. I will handle Fang Lingxing myself. I hope you can find Senior Liu's body as soon as possible. I don't want Senior Liu to die without closure."

"This is a new deal.” Lord Tiger smiled. “How many spirit stones are you planning to offer?”

Xia Ji didn't say anything and simply dropped a hundred low-grade spirit stones before turning to leave.

Fang Chen was watching everything that was happening with his divine soul, and he heaved a sigh of relief.

As long as Xia Ji no longer involved himself, there's no need to worry about him being discovered by the Fang Family's Golden Core Realm experts.

The next moment, Fang Chen’s divine soul left and appeared in another room.

Jue Wudi was sitting by himself quietly, seemingly waiting for someone.

It didn’t take long before Fang Lingxing arrived.

Jue Wudi was slightly surprised to see her pale complexion. "Lingxing, what happened?"

Fang Lingxing spoke with a serious expression. "I followed your instructions today and tried to probe Fang Chen.”

"And how did it go?" Jue Wudi smiled faintly and asked, "What's his cultivation level?"

"He's at the 12th stage of the Qi Refining Realm. I'm no match for him," replied Fang Lingxing softly.

"The twelfth stage of Qi Refining Realm? And even you are not his match?" Jue Wudi's expression changed slightly. "Tell me what exactly happened."

Fang Lingxing recounted the details, and Jue Wudi fell silent.

After a while, his expression turned serious. "Such methods can pose a threat to Foundation Building Realm cultivators, but gathering such a large amount of metal energy must consume a lot of his energy. He won’t be able to sustain the technique for a long time....” Pausing for a moment, he continued, "You'd better have someone investigate his background. Find out which sect he joined before coming to the Fang Family."

"Big Brother Jue, even if this person's methods are extraordinary, is it necessary for you to pay so much attention to him? You're already at the Foundation Building Realm. He’s far inferior to you... He’s not even worthy of being your servant!" yelled Fang Lingxing. She seemed a little confused.

Jue Wudi pondered for a moment, then said, "Being cautious never hurts. I'm afraid he might join hands with Xia Ji to deal with you."

Fang Lingxing’s eyes constricted. "Why would they target me...?"

Jue Wudi laughed. "Lingxing, isn't Liu Chendong already dead?"

Fang Lingxing's expression changed slightly. "Why do you say that, Big Brother Jue?"

"Don't worry, although I don't agree with how you do things, you did it all for me. I won't disclose this matter to anyone else, so I hope you'll be more careful from now on. If Xia Ji finds out, who knows what he'll do?" said Jue Wudi softly.

Fang Lingxing’s expression changed slightly and she muttered, “When I left the Fang Family today, I was ambushed by an expert in the Foundation Building Realm. If not for the True Fire Hairpin that blocked the attack, I wouldn’t have been able to see you again...”

“You were ambushed by a Foundation Building Realm expert?” Jue Wudi was slightly taken aback. His expression sank and he slowly became serious. “Could it be Master Chanyuan?”

“Master Chanyuan was watching the competition in the third branch. It can’t have been him!” Fang Lingxing shook her head and sighed. “Moreover, Xia Ji doesn’t know that Liu Chendong is already dead.”

“Let’s do this instead. It doesn’t matter if this has anything to do with Xia Ji. I’ll get the Lin Family from District Eighteen to ask him for an explanation in the Profound Void Temple,” said Jue Wudi in a low voice.

Fang Lingxing was moved as she understood what Jue Wudi wanted to show with his actions. However, she quickly revealed her concerns. “With Master Chanyuan in the Profound Void Temple, I’m afraid of the head of the Lin Family...”

“Master Chanyuan will be staying in the inner city tonight,” muttered Jue Wudi as the corners of his lips curled upwards.