Chapter 5997
Kai nodded, his gaze falling on the token and jade slip on the bamboo table: “They couldn’t find any trace. Next, the target is Fei Qing.”
Lianxing’s heart tightened: “Fei Qing?”
“Senior, Fei Qing is different from the Tu brothers. He holds the position of Grand Steward of the Inner Palace, residing year-round in the core area of the City Lord’s Mansion, heavily guarded.” ”
His own cultivation has reached the fifth rank of the Upper Immortal Realm, and he is proficient in formations and restrictions. He is cunning and suspicious, extremely difficult to deal with. To replicate this method, I’m afraid…”
“Precisely because he is proficient in formations, he may know more.”
Kai interrupted her, his eyes deep, “He may know the exact cause of the deaths of Senior Mu Sha and his wife, and what secrets the Jade Immortal Mansion and the Divine Clan are hiding. Capturing him and getting the truth out of him is more important than killing him.”
Capture?
Lianxing and the others were shocked again. Capture the Grand Steward of the Inner Palace in the core area of the Jade Immortal Mansion?
This is more than ten times more difficult than assassinating an executioner!
“Mr. Chen, this matter is of utmost importance and requires careful consideration,”
Ming Li advised. “We need to thoroughly investigate Fei Qing’s whereabouts, habits, and the strength of his guards.”
“Moreover, once we take action, regardless of success or failure, it will inevitably alarm Yu Wuji and the entire Jade Immortal Mansion, and may even attract the direct attention of the Divine Race.”
Kai understood the risks involved.
However, his anger and obsession with uncovering the truth made him unwilling to wait any longer.
Every moment he waited meant that the souls of Senior Mu Sha and his wife would suffer more within the Soul Refining Array, and the enemy might also realize that the deaths of the Tu brothers were not accidental.
“Fellow Daoist Lianxing, you have been operating here for many years and have the deepest understanding of the Jade Immortal Mansion,”
Kai said, looking at Lianxing. “I need to know the time and place where Fei Qing is most likely to leave the core area of the City Lord’s Mansion within the next three days, as well as the usual guard configuration around him. The more detailed the better.”
Seeing that Kai had made up his mind, Lianxing knew that persuasion was useless, and the strength Kai had displayed gave her a glimmer of hope.
She pondered for a moment, then said, “Fei Qing is an extremely cautious man. He rarely leaves the inner palace except for necessary official business.”
“However, he has a habit: every five days, at midnight, he goes to the ‘Spirit Gathering Pool,’ located at the border of the inner and outer palaces, to cultivate alone for an hour.”
“It is said that there is a cold spring at the bottom of the Spirit Gathering Pool, which is greatly beneficial to his cultivation of the ‘Profound Yin Ice Condensation Technique.’ This matter is extremely secretive; we only discovered it by chance after sacrificing one of our brothers. His next cultivation session will be tomorrow night at midnight.”
“Spirit Gathering Pool? Where is it? How is it guarded?” Kai’s eyes flashed.
“The Spirit Gathering Pool is located deep within the Hundred Gardens of the Inner Palace, in a secluded spot, but it’s shrouded by an array.”
“Each time Fei Qing goes there, he only brings two personal guards, both trusted assassins of the fourth rank of the Upper Immortal Realm.”
“When he cultivates, the guards stand watch outside the array at the pool’s edge,”
Lianxing quickly explained. “This is the only known opportunity for Fei Qing to regularly leave the core area. But even so, the Spirit Gathering Pool is still within the Inner Palace’s territory; if something happens, the Inner Palace’s experts will arrive instantly.”
Tomorrow at midnight… the Spirit Gathering Pool…
Kai quickly weighed the options in his mind.
This was indeed an opportunity, although extremely risky.
Making a move in an environment the opponent was familiar with and prepared for would involve too many variables. ”Besides this, does he have any other weaknesses? For example, his family, hobbies, or… any conflicts with Yu Wuji or other forces?”
Kai pressed, searching for a possible breakthrough in his psychological defenses.
Lianxing pondered, “Fei Qing was promoted by Yu Wuji from humble beginnings and is extremely loyal to him. It is said that he has no family. This man is greedy and extremely obsessed with improving his cultivation, which is why he goes to the Spirit Gathering Pool regularly.”
“As for his relationships with others… the Jade Immortal Mansion is not a monolithic entity. Fei Qing, relying on Yu Wuji’s favor, controls internal affairs and has offended many people, especially some elders and stewards in the outer mansion. But we cannot delve into the specifics of these conflicts.”
Greedy, obsessed with cultivation…
thoughts raced through Kai’s mind.
Perhaps, a two-pronged approach could be taken.
“Fellow Daoist Lianxing, could you find a way to convey the news that the Tu brothers are dead, and that it might be revenge from enemies, to Fei Qing in a way that won’t directly implicate you?”
“Ideally, it should make him feel uneasy, even suspecting that someone within the mansion who has a grudge against him is behind it all,” Kai said slowly.
Lianxing’s eyes lit up: “Senior, are you trying to disturb his mind, make him suspicious, and perhaps cause him to do something irrational, or… strengthen the defenses around him?”
“Strengthening defenses is inevitable. But once suspicion arises, he might rely more on the power he trusts most, or… want to go to a place he considers safe to confirm some things.”
Kai’s gaze was profound. “For example, to check if the Soul Refining Crystals he’s in charge of are safe.”
Lianxing and the others were shocked upon hearing this.
Soul Refining Crystals!
Those are the core items involved in the Soul Refining Array at Fallen Soul Slope!
“Mr. Chen wants to…” Mingli seemed to understand Kai’s plan.
“If he goes to check the location of the Soul Refining Crystals himself because of his suspicion… that might be a better opportunity for us.”
Kai’s voice turned cold. “Compared to taking action in his cultivation lair, a temporary place, perhaps less heavily guarded, is more suitable for a proper talk with him.”
Lianxing felt a chill run down her spine.
This Senior Chen was not only terrifyingly strong, but his mind was also frighteningly meticulous and profound.
He was trying to lure the enemy out, and he was going to strike at their most vulnerable and vulnerable point!
“I understand,”
Lianxing nodded solemnly. “We will try to spread the news through several unreliable channels to create some chaos and speculation.”
“But Fei Qing is naturally suspicious, so it’s still uncertain whether we can provoke him.”
“Just do our best.” After Kai finished speaking, he looked at Mingli and said, “Mingli, you assist Fellow Daoist Lianxing. Monkey, Leopard, you two strengthen the observation of the outer perimeter of Jade Immortal Mansion, especially the places where important supplies might be stored.”
“I need to know all of Fei Qing’s unusual movements during the day tomorrow.”
“Yes!” Everyone responded in unison, and without realizing it, they had completely submitted to Kai as their leader.