Chapter 1421: Chapter 1422: The high-end hunters often use their prey…
Early the next morning.
Several earth-shattering rumors exploded throughout the city, pressing down on people like a hurricane, leaving them breathless.
“Shocking! Over 150 kidnapped cultivators found within the Baihe Family’s estate in Cangtian City!”
“Mysterious cultivators outside the city abduct nurous young disciples; Baihe Clan suspected!”
“Could it be true? Rumors implicate the Baihe Family in collusion with assassins targeting the Pure Land! Is this human corruption or moral decay?”
“…”
In just one night, the news spread like a torrential downpour, raining upon all the cultivators in the city.
The rumor that the Baihe Family had conspired with external cultivators to kidnap and extort key families within the city spread like wildfire. So even claid that the Baihe Family themselves were behind the assassinations in the Pure Land, intending to monopolize resources and dominate all of Cangtian City.
News traveled faster than any plague these days. Within just a day, it had already beco the hottest topic among cultivators during their idle conversations.
To clarify the situation wasn’t too difficult—if the Baihe Family’s higher-ups were to co forward and make a simple statent, then open their doors to host a banquet to prove their innocence. Yet, to everyone’s surprise, they hadn’t done so, which in itself raised a few eyebrows.
The key to the situation was known only to Li Xiaobai and Nangong nglu’s group. The Baihe Family likely refrained from stepping forward because they had already discovered the stash of over 150 “cargo” stored in their warehouse.
The revelation had drawn the attention of spies from various factions, who were now watching the Baihe Family’s every move, scrutinizing the words and actions of their cultivators in hopes of uncovering evidence to support the rumors. This ant the Baihe Family had no way of getting rid of the 150 young talents anyti soon. That hot potato was now firmly in their hands, leaving them with no good options.
If they chose to hold their ground and do nothing, the Baihe Family would inevitably be thrust into the center of the storm. However, if they hurriedly tried to dispose of the hot potato, they’d leave themselves vulnerable, giving others leverage against them. Truly, they were caught between a rock and a hard place. Their silence only served to fuel the rumors, pushing the topic to its peak.
But what no one knew was that the mastermind behind everything, the one adding fuel to the fire, was currently strolling leisurely through the bustling streets.
Li Xiaobai, fully disguised in appearance and aura, had transford completely. There was no chance anyone could recognize him.
Taking advantage of his assud identity as a Heavenly God Academy evaluator, he intended to extract as many benefits as possible in the city. After all, before even entering the city, he had essentially offended everyone there and had no intention or reason to stay permanently.
“Pulling off this kind of elaborate con doesn’t rely on just ; it’s mainly about how others set up the scene.”
Li Xiaobai muttered to himself as he glanced around. Seeing that no one was paying him any attention, he casually tossed his cane aside, then flopped down onto the ground, casting a pitiful gaze at every passing stranger.
This classic test of a cultivator’s character might’ve been cliché, but it was effective. With so many cultivators passing by on the crowded street, how could he not snag at least one or two fools?
After a few minutes.
A young woman ca jogging over, her face glistening with sweat.
“Sir, are you alright?”
She spoke with a touch of concern in her voice, just the right amount of urgency. The flush on her cheeks, paired with the rise and fall of her chest, accentuated her curvaceous figure to perfection.
Li Xiaobai took one look and imdiately saw through her act. Everyone here was a cultivator; how could running a few steps leave soone out of breath, let alone drenched in sweat? Even low-level cultivators could regulate their energy to recover instantly. She was clearly pretending!
“Heh, I’m fine, I’m fine. Miss, you’re really kind. So many cultivators passing by, but you’re the only one who dared to help an old man like !”
A cunning glint flashed in Li Xiaobai’s eyes, though his face remained warm and benevolent with a kindly smile.
“Sir, please get up. Where do you live? I’ll take you ho!”
The young woman’s gaze was filled with genuine concern as she reached out to help Li Xiaobai up. But the old arm she grasped felt like iron—completely immovable.
She froze, her expression shifting several tis in just an instant. However, in that fleeting mont, Li Xiaobai caught a trace of joy in her eyes. No doubt about it, she was taking a gamble—helping every person in distress in the city, trying to present herself as virtuous and attract the attention of the Heavenly God Academy Elders.
Such tricks were trivial before high-level cultivators, but for now, they gave Li Xiaobai an opportunity to play along.
“Please get up, sir,” she urged once more.
“Miss, you bumped into . I don’t bla you, but my leg… it’s not what it used to be. It seems I twisted it. Could you spare so silver coins for to see a doctor in the city?”
Li Xiaobai smiled cheerfully, speaking in a slow and asured tone.
“This…” The woman hesitated.
“It’s no big deal. Here, take this, elder!”
She produced a storage bag, pulled out a few silver coins—clearly the currency used in the Mortal World—and handed them over. Rolling his inner eyes, Li Xiaobai thought to himself how thorough this woman was with her act, even preparing props like this.
“Ahem, what’s this? I don’t recognize it. The doctors in the city are quite unscrupulous, you know…”
Feigning ignorance, Li Xiaobai shook his head with a dismissive air.
Though being pressured to give more, the woman didn’t show any anger. Turning her wrist, she retrieved a piece of rare earth and handed it over. “Sir, this piece of rare earth should suffice!”
“Ahem, this is good stuff, but the city’s doctors are quite heartless—they’ll eat you alive without leaving a bone behind…”
Li Xiaobai calmly pocketed the rare earth and continued shaking his head.
Oh, no doubt about it—he wanted more!
The young woman’s gaze flickered with calculation. In her eyes, this was no ordinary old man. Soone who recognized rare earth and even found the amount insufficient was definitely not average. He had to have so status. Even if he wasn’t from the Heavenly God Academy, he was a worldly elder worth investing in.
With a wave of her hand over her storage bag, several more pieces of rare earth appeared. The pain in her heart was evident—spending her private stash on an elder she’d just t was no trivial expense. At this rate, she risked going broke.
“Good girl, good girl. The Heavenly God will surely bless you.”
Li Xiaobai bead as he stashed away the resources, his tone deliberately casual.
But to her, his offhand blessing sounded like thunder. Heavenly God… wasn’t that a reference to the Heavenly God Academy?
Was he hinting at sothing?
“Where would you like to go, sir? I’ll take you there!”
She pressed eagerly, as if afraid he might slip away.
“At my age, I enjoy mingling with the young. Where do you think I should go?”
“Minor Tribulation Peak. Recently, many young talents have been gathering there. But not just anyone can get in… Sir, you…”
“Lead the way!”
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