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Chapter 96: Surveillance
Meng Zhang began cultivating the innate secret arts from the "Sun-Moon Wheel Turning Sutra" after advancing to the seventh level of Refining Qi in his cultivation base.
Previously, he prioritized practicing the Earth Escape Spell and didn't have time for these matters.
During his stay in Singing Sand City, he started practicing these secret arts.
His first choice was to refine the Solar True Flame and condense the Lunar True Water.
During the scorching noon, he endured the intense heat of the sun, absorbing the most violent Yang energy. Afterward, he refined it through secret methods.
It took him a full ten days to extract a wisp of Solar True Flame.
At night, under the bright moon, he absorbed the bone-chilling Yin energy and then refined it through secret methods.
It took another ten nights to condense a drop of Lunar True Water.
The Solar True Flame and Lunar True Water not only possessed great power on their own but also played important roles in various areas, including artifact forging and alchemy.
While Meng Zhang was secluded in cultivation, there was no news from Li Shengqi. Li Xuan, who had returned to Taiyi Sect earlier, now came to visit.
Originally, Meng Zhang was worried that involving Li Xuan in their plan to deal with Li Shengqi might cause difficulties for him, so he intentionally didn't invite him.
After Li Xuan met Meng Zhang and heard the whole story, he didn't hesitate and volunteered to gather information.
A month passed quickly, but the three people surveilling Li Shengqi had not received any information. Even Li Xuan's own sources yielded no useful information.
Just as Meng Zhang thought this operation might be fruitless, a turning point occurred quietly.
During his stay in Singing Sand City, Li Shengqi resided in a grocery store owned by the Li family.
Recently, the Li family fell into ruin, and during the chaos, the store was looted by the remaining members of the Li family.
Now Li Shengqi guarded this empty store, without capital or intention to conduct any business.
As a vassal force of Twin Success Valley, the store in Singing Sand City was required to pay taxes every year, even if they closed down. The taxes would only be transferred to the new owner if the store changed hands.
During this time, many people came to persuade Li Shengqi to sell the store, but he refused them all, even when faced with threats from the Zhao Family cultivators.
Every day, Li Shengqi stayed inside the store, rarely venturing outside except to buy some daily necessities.
This made the covert surveillance on him much easier.
Recently, besides those who came to persuade him to sell the store, only a certain person named Li Nu visited him daily, showing a very respectful attitude.
Li Shengqi responded to Li Nu's politeness with indifference, offering only a few meaningless words without divulging any useful information.
The Zhao Family cultivators secretly monitoring him were becoming impatient. They felt like they were wasting their time since nothing was progressing.
However, despite his seemingly leisurely days, Li Shengqi encountered trouble.
Li Zhan, whom Li Shengqi had placed high hopes on to revive the Li family, sent him a secret message through a covert channel.
In the letter, Li Zhan asked Li Shengqi to spare no effort in purchasing defensive and summoning talismans and find a way to secretly deliver them to him.
Receiving this message, Li Shengqi became annoyed. Li Zhan's current actions were crucial to the future of the Li family and its chance of rebuilding.
Li Shengqi had willingly taken the Locking Heart Pill and stayed in Singing Sand City to attract attention, especially from the Zhao Family, so that Li Zhan's plan could proceed smoothly.
Now, with this message from Li Zhan, there was a risk of exposure, even though it came through a secret channel.
If Li Zhan's situation were revealed, the Li family would lose all hope. All the sacrifices Li Shengqi made would be meaningless.
Despite his annoyance, Li Shengqi knew he had to fulfill Li Zhan's request as much as possible. He figured that if Li Zhan had no other choice, he wouldn't risk sending the message to him.
Li Shengqi spent a long time contemplating the situation in the store before formulating a plan.
The next day, when Li Nu came to pay his respects, Li Shengqi surprised him by asking him to bring a group of people to the store early the next morning. He had something to instruct them.
Once Li Nu left, Li Shengqi promptly informed the Zhao Family about this development.
Following that, Li Shengqi went to the Flying Swan Building.
He emptied his last spiritual stone and even mortgaged the Li family's store to barely complete all his plans.
On the third morning, Li Nu arrived at the store with his followers.
Without much ado, Li Shengqi handed him a box slightly larger than a palm and also gave him a map, instructing him to deliver the box to a designated location.
This box was a common item used in the Cultivation World to secretly transfer items. It was sealed with talismans, and if not opened properly, the box and its contents would be destroyed automatically.
Shortly after Li Nu left, Li Shengqi headed to the Four Seas Building and hired a group of cultivators. Disguised, he left Singing Sand City secretly.
As Li Shengqi left on his front foot, all his actions were observed by the Zhao Family.
Around the same time, Meng Zhang received a communication talisman from the Black Horse trio. They met in a predetermined teahouse.
Indeed, the Black Horse trio was skilled; not only did they know every move made by Li Shengqi, but they also managed to keep an eye on the Zhao Family cultivators who were secretly watching Li Shengqi.
After hearing their account, Meng Zhang fell into contemplation.
"Li Shengqi cannot trust Li Nu; what he instructed Li Nu to do should be a diversion to distract the Zhao Family's attention," Li Xuan was the first to give his analysis.
"Should we continue monitoring Li Shengqi?" Black Horse asked.
"With Li Shengqi's cunning, he should know that no matter how much he disguises himself, he cannot evade the eyes of his watchers. His actions seem somewhat deliberate," Li Xuan continued.
Li Xuan was familiar with the situation of the Li family and understood Li Shengqi well, so his words held significant value.
"For the past few days, Li Shengqi only visited the Flying Swan Building and the Four Seas Building; he didn't go anywhere else."
"It seems the key lies in what he did at the Flying Swan Building," Meng Zhang pointed out.
Flying Swan Building belonged to Flying Swan Sect, a dominating power in the surrounding area.
Even the reckless Black Horse trio, who often engaged in dark activities, dared not offend the might of Flying Swan Sect easily.
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