Even with his immense self-control, Yang Jing's heart stirred at the thought of a Flood Dragon likely hidden in the spring source.
A Flood Dragon's talent was equivalent to a cultivator's Celestial Spirit Root. They also had long lifespans. As long as they didn't die prematurely, they could reach the Golden Core Realm just by lying around, with a sixty to seventy percent chance of advancing to the Nascent Soul stage.
The Flood Dragon Division had fallen into decline because Flood Dragons had extreme difficulty reproducing. Many Demon Countries they ruled had dissolved after their lines died out or their descendants' bloodlines weakened.
The few mixed-blood Flood Dragon Species even had difficulty breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage.
The Crown Prince of the Qi Kingdom, sought after by many major powers for his pure bloodline, had been refined into a Blood Flood Dragon by the Biyuan Ancestor. Afterward, he had made an illustrious name for himself on the Western Continent.
Yang Jing calmed himself. 'Getting flustered over something I haven't even obtained yet isn't the way of the wise.' If the Crown Prince of Qi was truly beneath the spring source, he would need a Fish Pole Spiritual Artifact to fish him out.
Fish Pole Spiritual Artifacts weren't cheap, so he still needed to save up Spirit Stones.
His eyes narrowed. He needed to buy time. 'If I really believe the spring source won't be exposed for another six years and let my guard down, I'd just be ceding control and leaving my life entirely to luck.'
Yang Jing stroked Iron Head's head.
"Iron Head, during this time, I want you to keep a close eye on Zhang Rongxing's movements. I need to know his patterns."
After cultivating the True Yang Body, Iron Head could alter its physique by stretching its tendons and shrinking its bones. It could also use its Bright Qi Talent to track targets from a great distance, making it the perfect choice for following Zhang Rongxing.
Yang Jing returned to his routine of setting up a stall in the Marketplace. This time, however, he only sold Lower Grade spiritual pills like the Blood Circulation Pill and the Water Cloud Pill.
This time, he didn't hide his face with a veiled hat, instead openly revealing his identity as an Alchemist.
An Alchemist's identity was sensitive. After a few days, the more attentive people in the Huangyuan Marketplace had already uncovered Yang Jing's identity.
But Water Cloud Pills and Blood Circulation Pills only earned him some hard-earned cash. An Alchemist who could only refine Tier One Lower Grade Pills could only cause so much of a stir. After politely declining invitations from a few Qi Cultivation Minor Clans, Yang Jing once again faded into obscurity.
However, his steady supply of Water Cloud Pills did attract the frequent patronage of cultivators in the Marketplace who specialized in Water Element Techniques.
「Fifteen days later.」
Zhang Rongxing was several miles outside San Yuanli, using a Compass to survey the underground Spirit Veins and Qi Acupoints, trying to locate the exit of the subterranean water vein.
This was not an easy step. The Grand Array of Huangyuan Marketplace and the many smaller arrays set up outside the Cave Mansions all interfered with his Compass, slowing his progress considerably. However, his clan had sent him to San Yuanli under an alias without setting a deadline for his mission. Their only requirement was that he act covertly and not arouse any suspicion.
So, Zhang Rongxing was extremely cautious, only using his Compass to investigate the Spirit Veins outside the Cave Mansions and the residential area.
He had all his attention focused on the Compass when he suddenly felt a deathly chill, as if some ferocious beast had its eyes on him.
A cultivator's intuition was usually very accurate. Zhang Rongxing hastily pulled out a Golden Light Talisman, intending to activate it for protection.
But it was too late. A vicious gust of wind howled behind him as a fist-sized black shadow grew in the wind, transforming into a massive, tiger-sized beast that slammed a paw into him.
Zhang Rongxing was no Body Cultivator. How could he withstand such a blow? His body was smashed to a pulp.
Iron Head shrank back to its smaller size. After looking at the pile of gore on the ground and dry-heaving for a moment, it tore open a Red Fire Talisman. In an instant, the whistling Red Fire incinerated Zhang Rongxing's corpse, leaving only the specially-made Magic Robe, Storage Bag, and Compass on the ground.
Iron Head picked up the items in its mouth and tossed them into a deep ravine in the Huangyuan Mountain Range. It took only the Spirit Stones from the Storage Bag, leaving nothing else behind.
The Law Enforcement Team arrived in San Yuanli that very day. Their leader was a powerfully built middle-aged cultivator with a square face. His Magical Power was sharp, and he possessed a Late Stage Qi Cultivation.
All the residents of San Yuanli were summoned and gathered together.
"My name is Wu Jingteng. I have come today regarding the death of Zhang Rongxing. I hope you will all speak freely and hold nothing back."
The cultivators present were no fools. When the Qian Xian couple had been exterminated, the Law Enforcement Team had only come by to ask a few cursory questions before leaving. Yet Zhang Rongxing had only been missing for a day, and it had prompted such a large response. His identity was clearly not simple.
None of the Independent Cultivators present were flowers raised in a greenhouse. They wouldn't be frightened into a panic and spill everything they knew after just a few words, especially since Zhang Rongxing's death truly had nothing to do with them.
The Law Enforcement Team carefully interrogated everyone. Yang Jing was no exception. A cultivator holding a Magical Artifact scanned him thoroughly, checking for any residual traces of Zhang Rongxing's Magical Power on his body.
This Magical Artifact, called a Void Mirror, was extremely sensitive. Even if one had blocked one of Zhang Rongxing's Magic Techniques with a Protective Spiritual Artifact or a Defensive Talisman, the mirror would easily detect it.
However, the one who had acted was Iron Head. Naturally, the Void Mirror found nothing on Yang Jing.
Unable to find any clues, the Law Enforcement Team grew exasperated and furious.
"Brother Zhang was quite lavish with his spending. Perhaps word of his wealth reached the ears of a Tribulation Cultivator, bringing about his demise."
Li Yuanqing stepped forward and said.
Wu Jingteng shot him a sideways glance. He swept his eyes over all the cultivators of San Yuanli, let out a cold snort, and then left with the Law Enforcement Team.
"Sigh, what a troubled time. Two cultivators from San Yuanli have met with disaster in a row. The last time this happened was during the autumn defense three years ago."
That year, a Late Stage Qi Cultivation Demon Snake had snuck into the county the cultivators of San Yuanli were assigned to. They had suffered considerable losses, and it was only after Li Yuanqing used a precious Talisman that it was slain.
Li Yuanqing's expression was troubled. As a veteran cultivator who had weathered many storms, he instinctively sensed danger in the recent series of events.
'What is the Wu Family planning? The infighting between these Cultivation Clans is far more dangerous than facing a Demon head-on.' Yang Jing watched the back of the departing Law Enforcement Team, his face betraying no emotion.
The Wu Family didn't yet have the power to just flip the table. Even if a core member was killed, they couldn't openly vent their anger by slaughtering Independent Cultivators for no reason. The Six Great Sects, in order to maintain the Chen Kingdom's strength, would never allow them to do so.
They could only act in the shadows.
Array Masters were not so easily trained; finding one who was both skilled enough and trustworthy was difficult. Furthermore, the forces within the Huangyuan Marketplace's Law Enforcement Team were complex. Wu Jingteng's actions today had likely already drawn the attention of other Cultivation Clans. As long as the Wu Family's leader had any sense, they would surely choose to lie dormant for a while.
Yang Jing took a deep breath. The death of Zhang Rongxing had bought him more time.
Over the next few days, Yang Jing made no unusual moves. He continued to go to the Marketplace on schedule like any ordinary Alchemist, selling Low-Tier Elixirs.
After three more days of this, he stepped into the Celestial Treasure Tower. Because he now had the status of an Alchemist, his treatment in the Celestial Treasure Tower had improved significantly. He was immediately led into a private tea room, where a Maid served him Spirit Tea.
A moment later, Wang Tong walked into the private room with a hearty laugh. He gestured for the Maid to leave and activated the Restriction in the room.
"Brother Yang, you've come today! Does this mean you've successfully refined the Bone Marrow Transformation Pill?"
Yang Jing shook his head with a look of shame:
"I've been neglecting food and sleep these past days. I started ten batches, but not a single one was successful."