Daily Intelligence: From Miner to Dao Ancestor of Alchemy and Talismans

"Good! Good!" Zhang Kui's voice was full of excitement, followed by the sound of rubbing papers, indicating the handover of blueprints. "This is a copy of the array core blueprints. I've already delivered the original to the abandoned cave in the Western Corner Wasteland as agreed. Your people should have received it by now. The spiritual energy of the three array cores is weakest at midnight on the 15th of each month. I've marked them all on the blueprints. At that time, I'll use the pretext of patrolling to divert the guards from the array cores, and you can come in directly without any problems."

"Deputy Captain Zhang is indeed a straightforward man." Manager Liu took the blueprints, flipped through them, and smiled with satisfaction. "Three months from now, at midnight, our men will be waiting outside the West Gate on time. After it's done, you'll be well rewarded."

The conversation should have ended there, with the deal complete and everyone leaving. Xu Yuan was about to withdraw his spiritual power when he heard Zhang Kui suddenly change the subject, his voice filled with undisguised ruthlessness.

"By the way, Manager Liu, there's something I need to tell you."

"Oh? What is it?"

"Our two brothers planted in the market, Black Crow and Black Rat, disappeared last night." Zhang Kui gritted his teeth, his voice becoming even more strained. "I investigated all night, and the last place they were seen was near the courtyard of that rogue cultivator named Xu Yuan in the West Corner area. I suspect that kid sensed something and took action."

Xu Yuan's fingertips paused slightly, and the spiritual energy pressed against the wall stabilized without any fluctuation.

Sure enough, Zhang Kui immediately traced the disappearance of the two spies back to him.

Inside the private room, Manager Liu's voice turned cold: "Xu Yuan? Is that the rogue cultivator who's involved with the eldest daughter of the Zhao family and jumped from the third to the sixth level of Qi Refining in just half a month?"

"It's him!" Zhang Kui's tone was full of malice. "This kid is incredibly strange. Before, when the Black Wind Stronghold brothers ambushed Zhou Chengxian, he avoided them beforehand. Even with a city-wide search, he didn't leave a trace. Now, my men have disappeared near his courtyard, and it's definitely related to him. Keeping this kid around will only cause trouble sooner or later. In a few days, I'll find a pretext to arrest him on the spot and kill him for colluding with Blood Fiend Sect spies, eliminating any future threat."

"Alright," Manager Liu replied casually, his tone full of indifference. "He's just a rogue cultivator at the sixth level of Qi Refining. Don't let him ruin our important plans. Handle it cleanly and don't arouse the Zhao family's suspicion."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

The ensuing conversation was nothing more than agreeing on the code and time for their next meeting; there was nothing particularly important. Not long after, the door to the private room opened and closed, and the sound of their footsteps gradually faded into the distance, disappearing completely into the backyard.

In the storage room, Xu Yuan slowly withdrew the spiritual energy that had been pressed against the wall. There was no anger in his eyes, only a deep and unfathomable calmness.

Zhang Kui's intention to kill him was entirely within his expectations. He just hadn't anticipated that the other party would trace it back to him so quickly and even plan to use the charge of "treason" to eliminate him legitimately.

But he didn't act impulsively, nor did he immediately chase after them and attack.

Zhang Kui, at the eighth level of Qi Refining, along with two Qi Refining seventh-level Tribulation Cultivators, would have no chance of winning in a head-on confrontation.

Moreover, this is the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, a place with many people and eyes. If a fight breaks out, it will inevitably alert the Zhao family guards. Even if he kills someone, he won't be able to escape, which would be exactly what the Blood Fiend Sect wants.

He never acted rashly. He had already figured out Zhang Kui's weaknesses and knew all of his and the Blood Fiend Sect's secret plots. He had plenty of time to slowly lay the groundwork for his doom.

Xu Yuan waited in the storeroom for another half an incense stick's time, making sure the guards near the private rooms had completely withdrawn, the kitchen staff were busy changing shifts, and the courtyard was noisy, before pushing open the storeroom door. Still carrying a bucket and a rag, he lowered his head and mingled with a group of cleaning staff, following the path he had come from, and quietly walked out of the back door of Zuixianlou.

Throughout the entire process, no one gave this disheveled servant a second glance, and no one knew that the core conspiracy between the Blood Fiend Sect and Zhang Kui had been overheard by this inconspicuous servant.

Stepping out of Zuixianlou, the morning mist had mostly dissipated, and the sun had risen, casting its light on the bluestone path. Xu Yuan followed the secluded alleyway toward his small courtyard with its blue-tiled roof. Just as he turned into the alleyway, his steps faltered slightly.

In the alley, a group of Zhao family guards in armor were walking towards them. The leader, a tall, middle-aged man with a sinister face, had a long sword at his waist and was riding a tall horse. It was Zhang Kui.

He had just returned from Zuixianlou and was patrolling with his guards. His gloomy gaze swept across the alleyway and landed on Xu Yuan, who was walking towards him, looking disheveled.

At this moment, Xu Yuan was still dressed as a servant, with a concealment talisman still attached to his body. His aura at the second level of Qi Refining was unremarkable. Zhang Kui glanced at him, assuming he was just some errand boy from the farm, and walked past him without stopping.

In the instant they brushed past each other, Xu Yuan clearly felt Zhang Kui's gaze pass over his shoulder and land on the gate of the small courtyard not far behind him, filled with undisguised murderous intent and coldness.

He has already listed Xu Yuan as a target that must be eliminated.

The small courtyard with its green tiles was bathed in the light of dawn. The spiritual fire in the alchemy furnace burned gently, and the fragrance of medicine mixed with the faint scent of cinnabar filled the air. Xu Yuan held a wolf-hair brush, concentrating on making the final stroke on the talisman paper. Pale golden spiritual light flowed along the tip of the brush, and a fine blade talisman was steadily formed.

He had just placed the talisman brush on the brush holder when a rapid, urgent banging came from outside the courtyard gate. Qian Shi's panicked, distorted voice came through the door: "Brother Xu! Brother Xu! Open the door quickly! Something terrible has happened!"

Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow and got up to open the door.

Qian Shi, sweating profusely and wearing a tattered, coarse cloth shirt, was out of breath as he rushed in. He grabbed Xu Yuan's arm as soon as he entered, his voice trembling, "Brother Xu, you need to find somewhere to hide! It'll be too late if you wait any longer!"

"Don't rush, have some water first, and tell me slowly." Xu Yuan stepped aside to let the person in, closed the door behind him, poured a cup of cooled tea and handed it over, his tone calm and without any ripples.

Qian Shi took the teacup, his hands trembling so much that he spilled most of the tea. He took two gulps to catch his breath and said urgently, "It's Zhou Chengxian! That kid has completely gone mad! Lately, he's been hanging out with Zhang Kui, the deputy captain of the guard team, drinking and gambling every day, and he hasn't even come home!"

Xu Yuan held his teacup, his fingertips lightly touching the rim, but he didn't reply.

He had long anticipated that Zhou Chengxian would take this path. He had lost half of his arm in the Black Wind Stronghold's raid, lost most of his spiritual wine inheritance, and everyone in the market could trample on him. With nowhere else to turn, clinging to Zhang Kui, who held real power, was the only way that such a sycophant could think of to turn his life around.

"That's not all!" Qian Shi said, his voice growing increasingly urgent, his eyes filled with anxiety. "He's spreading rumors all over the market, saying that when he was ambushed and killed by the cultivators at Zuixianlou, it was you who tipped off Black Wind Stronghold! He also said that you were responsible for the missing Blood Fiend Sect spies in the market, that you're the one colluding with the evil cultivators! He's telling everyone he meets that he'll make you pay for your crimes in blood!"