Sacrificial Artifact System: From Bell-ringer to the Ancestral Patriarch of the Sect-Chapter 16 Trouble

Li Qian hurriedly gathered all his belongings and started to dispose of the body.

More than an hour later.

He had buried Manager Zhao's body behind the mountain.

The bloodstains in the room had been cleaned up as well.

It's just that a faint scent of blood still lingered.

But it didn't matter, time would make it fade away.

Moreover, he would clean up more meticulously the next day, leaving no trace whatsoever.

Despite being at the bottom of the hierarchy, Manager Zhao was still essentially a servant disciple and not ranked among the official disciples, but he was, after all, a manager in the Chores Hall and held a status of some importance among the servant disciples.

The disappearance of a manager would definitely prompt an investigation by the Chores Hall.

Lying on another wooden bed, Li Qian flipped through the booklet in the light of the oil lamp.

Mingyu Palm.

A more profound palm technique.

Much more advanced than Sword Stabbing Fist.

Sword Stabbing Fist is the most basic fist technique that only has the effect of Breathing Refining. As for Qi Cultivation... it is negligible.

It's only because he practiced Sword Stabbing Fist to perfection that it had the effect of Qi Cultivation.

Compared to the real Internal Cultivation Methods, there's still a huge gap.

The Qi Cultivation effect of Mingyu Palm is much stronger than Sword Stabbing Fist, and it also contains martial arts characteristics.

It is considered a comprehensive martial skill.

However, the cultivation of Mingyu Palm is demanding... It requires a special ointment - Golden Jade Ointment to go along with it, or else the progress would be very slow.

Once Mingyu Palm is practiced to a certain degree, one can make their palms as hard as gold and stone, indestructible.

"Needing an ointment to accompany the cultivation is quite troublesome."

Li Qian shook his head.

Never mind the cost of Golden Jade Ointment, or how to buy it... This Mingyu Palm belonged to Manager Zhao. If he were to practice it, it would create a trail leading to him, increasing the risk of exposing the fact that he killed Manager Zhao.

Therefore, he decided not to practice Mingyu Palm.

It's a bit of a pity in his heart, but compared with his own safety, the benefits brought by Mingyu Palm didn't seem to matter anymore.

The next day, Li Qian once again cleaned the inside and outside of the bell tower thoroughly.

After committing the contents of the Mingyu Palm booklet to memory, he also destroyed it completely as kindling.

The other belongings of Manager Zhao, he chose to temporarily bury them in the ground and did not plan to use them.

....

Ever since killing Manager Zhao, Li Qian had become even more cautious and low-profile in his actions.

Silently striking the bell, practicing martial arts, raising chickens and ducks, planting vegetables, and occasionally chatting with Chen Yong who came up the mountain to train.

If not for the daily sounds of the bell, he would almost have no presence within the Divine Sword Sect.

Just like that, half a month went by before the Chores Hall sent someone up to inquire about the situation, as the disappearance of Manager Zhao had finally been discovered.

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Li Qian responded calmly.

Of course, the people from the Chores Hall did not suspect Li Qian.

A servant disciple who had only joined a little over two years, probably hadn't even achieved Inner Strength yet, how could he possibly be related to the disappearance of Manager Zhao?

"If the Chores Hall doesn't have a second person who knows about the treasure map, maybe this will be the end of the matter."

Li Qian thought to himself.

Unexpectedly, a few days later, a man in his thirties suddenly came to the bell tower.

"May I ask what brings Senior Brother here?"

Li Qian asked curiously.

"My name is Yi Zhong, you must have heard of me."

The man said indifferently.

Yi Zhong?

Li Qian had certainly heard of him; he was ranked number one on the recently concluded Combat Power Ranking.

As for the previous number one, Zhang Mingcan, he was narrowly defeated by Yi Zhong and was placed second on the Combat Power Ranking. He did not continue the three-year streak of being number one, thus missing the rank of Official Disciple.

Moreover, Li Qian had learned from Chen Yong that Song Yingying had become very close to Yi Zhong.

Now that this man was looking for him, could it be related to Song Yingying?

Suddenly, a sense of caution surged in his heart.

Because there was a very high chance that Song Yingying knew about the hidden treasure map... after all, that letter was given to him by Song Yingying.

Although he believed that Song Yingying probably wouldn't be so foolish as to expose her own identity, putting herself in danger.

Sometimes, women are easily deceived.

After all, Yi Zhong was the type to be fickle in love.

Yi Zhong was indeed handsome and had a tall stature, no wonder he was popular with the ladies.

"Of course I've heard of it, may I know what business Senior Brother Yi has?"

Li Qian nodded and said.

"Chu Yingying is your cousin?"

Yi Zhong asked.

"Yes."

Li Qian nodded.

When Song Yingying registered at the Chores Hall, she used the name Chu Yingying.

Even the original identity information used was the name Chu Yingying.

"You seem not to be particularly close."

Yi Zhong said with a light chuckle.

"We seldom get in touch."

Li Qian said.

"I think not?"

Yi Zhong changed his tone, smiling: "You come from Baibi City in Zhanghe County, born into the prominent Li Family... it seems that among the relatives of the Li Family, there isn't any with the surname Chu..."

Li Qian's heart sank. Had Yi Zhong investigated his background?

No, that couldn't be right. Yi Zhong was merely a servant disciple, not even an Official Disciple, so how could he have the means to investigate?

Could it be that there was someone in a higher position in the Chores Hall investigating him from behind?

In that case, like Manager Zhao, Yi Zhong must also be driven by someone, most likely for that hidden treasure map.

Wait...

He suddenly thought of another possibility. Song Yingying, a servant disciple who had just joined the Divine Sword Sect, how could she be so quickly involved with Yi Zhong, an experienced servant disciple?

Could it be that Yi Zhong had been purposeful from the beginning?

"Senior Brother Yi, why are you investigating my background?"

Li Qian asked with a look of surprise.

"Do you know Chu Yingying's true identity?"

Yi Zhong asked with a slight smile.

"Senior Brother Yi, she genuinely is my cousin..."

Li Qian said.

"Junior Brother Li, there's no need to cover for her anymore... Yingying already told me, her relationship with you as cousins is fake."

Yi Zhong shook his head and said: "Furthermore, she also told me... about the opportunity left by her grandfather, I wonder if Junior Brother Li has gained anything?"

Li Qian felt a sudden heaviness in his heart. Was Song Yingying really so foolish?

She even carelessly revealed her own identity to others?

"Senior Brother Yi, I don't understand what you mean?"

Li Qian said: "Moreover, I am going to strike the bell now."

Saying so, he turned and walked towards the bell tower.

Yi Zhong did not stop him but just watched.

Following several tolls of the bell, Li Qian put down the rammer and did not practice the Sword Stabbing Fist as usual.

After all, Yi Zhong was watching from below.

At this moment, Yi Zhong walked up, "Senior Brother Li, Yingying and I are deeply in love, and in a sense, I'm already half a grandson-in-law to Old Master Song. The path of Martial Arts Cultivation is tough, both of us struggle amongst these servant disciples, not knowing when we can escape this cage. Why not join hands to discover this opportunity, maybe in the future we may have a chance to become Official Disciples."

He spoke with sincerity, no wonder he could deceive that naive and sweet Song Yingying.

Li Qian did not doubt for a second that Yi Zhong had someone backing him.

This so-called discovering the opportunity together was merely a way to lower Li Qian's guard and reveal a vulnerability.