Chapter 38: Hidden Truths

On that day, Hu Wanzhi returned to the inner sect with Zhao Chun.

The matter of Xu Kuangrui presented both easy and difficult aspects to handle; the crux remained his reliance—Xu Feng.

Zhao Chun intended to pay a visit, but upon sending a formal request, she learned that Xu Feng had traveled to a small world and would not return for some time.

Consequently, she had no choice but to let Hu Wanzhi stay at her place for a few more days until the matter was concluded.

It was only during a detailed conversation with Hu Wanzhi that the underlying truth came to light. The position Hu Wanzhi held was in the sect's Spirit Plant Garden, which differed from the Luhe Medicinal Herb Garden; the latter focused on medicinal herbs and was far more meticulous. The Spirit Plant Garden primarily grew spirit rice and spiritual fruits and vegetables for the daily consumption of sect disciples, so it covered a vast area and typically only required casual oversight and periodic watering.

Hu Wanzhi was responsible for fine glutinous spirit rice, which ripened every seven days, with a normal yield of six hundred catties per mu. Xu Kuangrui had targeted her precisely because spirit rice was less precious than medicinal herbs, meaning that if he were truly caught, the punishment would not be severe.

He did not attempt to take Hu Wanzhi's life; he merely bribed others to add substances to the soil that would reduce the yield. As for poisoning, he did not dare.

Even so, it had caused Hu Wanzhi immense headaches. The spirit rice yields dropped crop after crop, never reaching six hundred catties, and sometimes even falling below four hundred. This resulted in her being scolded by the deacon every time, with no way to defend herself.

Later, it was only after Cui Lan'e requested someone to investigate that they discovered someone was tampering with the crops. From there, the investigation naturally led to Xu Kuangrui, revealing that his methods were not particularly sophisticated.

Interestingly, Zhao Chun actually knew the person Cui Lan'e had hired—it was Cao Wenguan, the reception deacon of the Flying Gourd Small World. The two were actually long-time acquaintances and quite familiar with one another.

After understanding the situation, Zhao Chun asked Hu Wanzhi if any incriminating evidence had been left behind.

Hu Wanzhi let out a light laugh. It turned out that Xu Kuangrui had acted sloppily; not only had the substances used to reduce the yield been found, but the bribed handyman disciples had also been caught in the net.

"That makes things even easier. Lay all the evidence out for Xu Feng to see. If he intends to shield him, let him deal with the law enforcement disciples himself!" Zhao Chun instructed her to keep the items safe, as they would be useful later.

As time passed, Xu Feng remained absent, but the matter regarding the Renyang Sect reached a conclusion.

Ling Zhen indeed placed great importance on this matter. Immediately, a purge was conducted on the subordinate cultivation families of the Hidden Valley, and to their surprise, two families were actually caught. Orders were then issued prohibiting old families from migrating in again, aiming to eliminate future troubles.

Hearing this news, Zhao Chun lamented the ruthlessness of great sects. However, considering that the sect had suffered significant decline due to the Renyang Sect, she understood their extreme wariness to some extent.

The Tu family had both merits and faults in this matter, but ultimately, their merits outweighed their faults. They had slain the rebels and exchanged tokens of friendship; although they had not been granted entry into the Hidden Valley, they were sent wealth and treasures, and their thirty-year tribute was waived to assist in their recovery.

With Zhao Chun's reputation and the support of Ling Zhen, the Tu family could at least hold on for one generation; what happened after that would depend on the talent of their descendants.

Zhao Chun herself was reported for her merits. Having fought against the rebels and assisted in their slaying, she once again made an appearance before the Sect Leader. The sect was not stingy with rewards; she received a large assortment of various medicinal pills and even ten whole pieces of spirit jade. Most precious of all, she was granted a manual for a peak-grade Mortal-rank technique, which showed the magnitude of her contribution.

She was delighted and went to the Wancang Pavilion the following day.

Previously, her visits had always been to the East Building, but now she entered the West Building. It was still a three-story enclosed structure, open in the center and straight on the outside, but the decorations and arrangements were far more luxurious than those in the East Building. Those patrolling and guarding were all individuals of profound cultivation.

Zhao Chun headed straight for the section containing peak-grade Mortal-rank techniques. She had learned from her time in the Hengyun World that while Mortal-rank techniques were used during the Qi Refining stage, one could only catch a glimpse of Yellow-rank techniques once reaching the Foundation Establishment stage.

However, once pills, weapons, or techniques reached the Yellow rank, they completely shed their mortal essence, and the grading became much stricter. High-grade and peak-grade items were things that even those in the Essence Condensation and Profound Division stages coveted.

The four grades of the Mortal rank were merely a rough classification, and the differences between them were not vast. But for Zhao Chun, obtaining a peak-grade Mortal technique during the Qi Refining stage was already extremely rare.

At least as far as she knew, many cultivators in the late stages of Qi Refining had never even learned such a technique.