Why is my Hundred Lifetimes Book different?

"My lord, I have arrived in Illusionary Light City, gone to the Baili family, and obtained the on-site portrait..."

Upon leaving, Ren Qingshan first reported to Jin Wujiu using his waist token, patiently recounting all the details.

Finally, he asked, "Does Your Excellency have any interest in that Ice Dragon Carp King? If this demon is not eliminated, it will only cause trouble in the end. If so, I will go and see if there is an opportunity."

In a short while.

Jin Wujiu replied: "You have full authority to handle this."

Ren Qingshan immediately understood what he meant.

—If you can get it back, I'll give you credit; if you can't, then forget it, don't blame me if you die.

A trusted confidant is someone who can carry out their superior's unseemly ideas in a dignified manner.

……

He carefully put away his waist token, stood in the city, and let Ren Qingshan take a look around.

The streets in the city were almost deserted, with very few pedestrians, a stark contrast to the bustling atmosphere in Baili Village.

The guardian of the Immortal Master's Mansion was also shrouded in an array.

Of course, it was much more shabby than the Baili family's.

Ren Qingshan activated the array, sending in a divine thought: "Ren Qingshan, a traveler of the Immortal Sect, has come to investigate the case!"

The formation was activated quickly.

A female nun dressed entirely in white mourning clothes stood behind the door, her head wrapped in a white cloth, her posture sorrowful: "Your Excellency, please come in."

One layer of Qi Refining...

Ren Qingshan discerned her cultivation level and his gaze fell upon her. She possessed a beauty that could topple kingdoms, adding a touch of brightness to the icy and snowy landscape.

After a slight hesitation, Ren Qingshan strode in.

"So you are Jiang Youwei's Daoist partner?"

"Yes."

"Tell me everything you know about your past with Jiang Youwei and about your connection to this case."

As Ren Qingshan approached, he smelled a faint fragrance emanating from her, like orchids and musk, refreshing and delightful.

He immediately became wary.

In addition to the two possibilities of being killed by a demon or by a hundred-mile force, a crime of passion has been added.

It should be known that gambling is akin to theft, and adultery is akin to murder.

Such an appearance is extremely prone to causing trouble.

Moreover, the more beautiful a woman is, the more likely she is to lie.

"Your Excellency, I am Bai Xiaoyu. I was originally a fisherwoman in this city. When my husband first came here, a young master from the Baili family took a liking to me and tried to forcibly take me as his wife. My husband stopped him, saved me, and married me. As a result, I offended the Baili family."

"Although the situation eased somewhat afterward, the resentment remained."

"My master must have been murdered by the Baili family. It was my fault... If it weren't for me, this wouldn't have happened."

As she spoke, she began to cry.

Tears streamed down her face, like pear blossoms in the rain, a sight that evoked pity.

Ren Qingshan couldn't help but feel a bit annoyed.

"Don't cry!"

"Did Jiang Youwei say anything to you before he left home? What happened that day?"

She frantically wiped away her tears, her brows furrowed, and sobbed as she recounted her story.

"That day, Baili Xiu from the Baili family came to drink with my husband. His branch of the family is usually at odds with the eldest grandson, so he is actually closer to my husband."

"After drinking, the two talked about the Ice Dragon Carp. This creature is extremely rare. The Immortal Dynasty has to offer ten every year, but this year, from the beginning to the end of the year, only six were caught. Two months ago, it was to be offered as tribute. After much pleading, it was handed over, and for this, 40,000 spirit stones were spent. My family contributed 10%, and the Baili family contributed 90%."

"I casually remarked that I had never tasted an ice dragon carp in my entire life. When Baili Xiu heard this, he said he would try his luck and catch one for me to eat. Anyway, the tribute had already been paid, and we could deal with the formalities next year. My husband also dotes on me, so the two of us went out in high spirits."

"And then... he never came back."

Ren Qingshan frowned slightly.

Two more possibilities emerged.

First, exorbitant taxes drive people to their deaths.

Second, beauty is a curse; to satisfy her, the two perished in the jaws of the Ice Dragon Carp King.

Why are you so certain that the murderer is from the Baili family?

Ren Qingshan continued to press for answers.

"The Immortal Master who guards Huanguang County has been the Baili family's possession for many years. However, the Baili family has failed to offer enough Ice Dragon Carp every year. Eventually, the higher-ups lost patience and sent my husband from Tiandu to take on this responsibility more than a decade ago."

"The Baili family is naturally not pleased."

"It's just that the land is barren, and the tribute of ice dragon carp is incomplete every year, so they endure it and let my husband take the blame."

"But since last year, the Earth's mechanism has begun to recover, and the Guardian Immortal Masters have gained three more Qi Refining Talismans every year. The Ice Dragon Carp Swarm is also about to recover, and there will definitely be more in the next few years. My husband has blocked their benefits, so he will surely suffer their dirty tricks..."

Ren Qingshan quickly analyzed the key points:

Exorbitant taxes?

A conflict of interests?

An accident caused by a beautiful but troublesome woman?

Or is it a combination of all three?

It's all possible.

"Do you have two more Qi Refining cultivators in your household?"

Ren Qingshan asked from a different angle.

"Yes, they are both at the first level of Qi Refining. One is my eldest son, who entered the Immortal Path seven years ago. He has already refined the spiritual seed and nurtured the spiritual root, but he has not yet advanced to the second level of Qi Refining."

"The other one is my daughter, who just joined last year."

"Previously, Illusionary Light City issued Qi Refining Talismans every seven years, totaling two. My husband and the Baili family agreed that they would receive one Qi Refining Talisman, but the Baili family would provide the majority of the spirit stones needed to make up for any shortfall in the annual tribute."

"It wasn't until last year that the Immortal Sect started supplying five Qi Refining Talismans annually. My husband then negotiated with them, and the Baili family received three talismans, while my family received two."

"But this has only been for a year... it has only allowed my daughter and me to embark on the path to immortality."

As she spoke, her face flushed slightly, as if she were thinking of something.

Ren Qingshan noticed this detail and immediately seized upon it: "Why are you blushing?"

"I……"

Bai Xiaoyu stammered, as if she had something difficult to say.

"explain!"

"My husband originally wanted to sell both of these Qi Refining Talismans and go to Tiandu City to practice a visualization technique, but I...I...I want to cultivate immortality. I pestered him and served him well for many days, which finally made him change his mind. He said that my daughter and I would use them first, and we would make plans to practice the visualization technique when the new Qi Refining Talismans are issued next year."

Ren Qingshan glanced at her and then fell silent.

The vast expanse of mortal energy within his body swayed gently.

From the moment the woman began to speak, Ren Qingshan was constantly aware of her emotions, which did not seem like she was lying.

"Do you know anything about the Baili family? What is the cultivation level of the Baili family patriarch?"

Changing the subject, Ren Qingshan continued his questioning.

"I heard my husband say that the patriarch of the Baili family was at the fourth level of Qi Refining, but it seems that he doesn't have much time left."

"The Baili family also has a Qi Refining Level 3 cultivator named Baili Peng, who is over eighty years old. I don't know what kind of visualization method he practices. He is often not in the city, as if he has some business in Tiandu City."

"His family has been deeply rooted in Huanguang County for nearly a century, with countless riches. It is said that one of their ancestors was a great cultivator at the fifth level of Qi Refining... but he has already passed away."

Bai Xiaoyu speaks frankly and without reservation.

"Reaching the fifth level of Qi Refining, is that considered a major overhaul?"

But on second thought, it does count.

Especially in remote and impoverished areas, one could probably take charge of a county and establish a family and clan by refining one's Qi to the fourth level.

"Think about it, is there anything else you'd like to add?"

Having asked almost everything that needed to be asked, Ren Qingshan prepared to leave.

Bai Xiaoyu suddenly knelt down, crying out pitifully, "My lord, I beg you, you must avenge my husband!"

"If, if there is no hope of revenge, I wonder if you could arrange a way for us, mother and three, to survive?"

"Now that my husband is dead, that old bastard from the Baili family will surely take me for himself and play with me as he pleases..."

Ren Qingshan gave her a deep look.

She does know how to climb up the pole.

"Bring your son and daughter out."

After a moment's thought, Ren Qingshan said in a deep voice.

Since Jin Wujiu has entrusted me with this matter, I must also take these minor details into account.

Overjoyed, Bai Xiaoyu immediately called out towards the door.

A handsome young man in his early teens and a young girl walked out hand in hand, looking at Ren Qingshan with a nervous yet ingratiating expression.

"What's your name?"

Ren Qingshan looked at the boy.

"My lord, my name is Jiang Xingye. I beg you to do justice for my father!"

He knelt down with a thud and kowtowed heavily.

"What kind of spiritual root should you cultivate?"

"I have a furnace fire spiritual root. My father hopes that I will become an alchemist in the future, so that I will never lack food no matter where I go."

Ren Qingshan's heart stirred slightly.

The Furnace Fire Spirit Root is for those who follow a pure cultivation path, so it can be useful.

At this moment, Ren Qingshan vaguely sensed the mindset that Jin Wujiu had when he interviewed and assessed him.

—If you pick something into the basket, it's a vegetable. Collect it first, and then let it do its own thing.

Those who perform well will be given resources and nurtured.

If you don't perform well, just let yourself fend for yourself.

"Come with me."

Ren Qingshan turned and went out, saying to him.

Jiang Xingye glanced at his mother and sister, gritted his teeth, immediately got up, and quickly followed them.

……

……