NOVEL NEXT Chapter 86: Eyewitness
“Young master, this is a spirit spring,” Abbess Clearlotus remarked in surprise. “Frequently drinking from this spring water can strengthen the bodies of mortals and hasten a cultivator's cultivation speed.”
This was perplexing. Great Xia was so lacking in spirit ki that no cultivators were born here. Such a place shouldn’t have had a spirit spring.
Yet, not only did a cultivator like Fang Chen appear here, but there was also a spirit spring. Spirit springs, spirit mountains, spirit trees, and such things were the foundation required to establish a sect. Should a cultivator stumble upon this spirit spring, they would either establish a sect here or create their own cavern.
“Clearlotus, what’s a spirit spring? Can the water preserve one’s beauty?” Jade Fairy asked out of curiosity.
“To mortals, yes. Martial artists will benefit from it too,” Abbess Clearlotus replied with a nod.
Mortals and martial artists, who didn’t have immortal veins, couldn’t reap the full benefits of the spring water.
“Have you encountered other spirit springs before?” Fang Chen asked.
Abbess Clearlotus nodded. “My master founded her cavern near a spirit spring, but it’s only big enough to provide for my master’s own cultivation. This spirit spring here is at least enough for a hundred cultivators…”
“This is some good stuff…” Fang Chen stared at the spirit spring in a daze.
Mortals were unable to siphon the spirit ki contained within ki stones, but they were able to drink and absorb the spirit ki inside spirit springs, albeit in a less effective manner. .
“If I could move this spirit spring to the Fang Manor…” Fang Chen murmured.
“Young master, it’s nigh impossible to move a spirit spring. Spirit springs are born from nature. There’s no way to move spirit springs without impairing its foundation. My master told me that Foundation Establishment and even Golden Core cultivators won’t be able to pull it off,” Abbess Clearlotus said.
Jade Fairy was intrigued. She already knew that Abbess Clearlotus and Fang Chen were walking down the same path.
“I guess it’s fate,” Fang Chen remarked.
“It might be possible to transport the spring water without impairing its spirit ki with the help of a storage ring, but such artifacts are rare to find,” Abbess Clearlotus added.
Fang Chen was about to leave when he heard those words. He squatted down beside the spirit spring and waved his hand in it. A moment later, he stood up and beckoned Abbess Clearlotus and Jade Fairy to leave.
He had filled his storage ring full of the spirit spring water. It was stored separately from the ki stones, the golden alms bowl, the Moonsunk Gold Truncheon, and the Greenwood Puppet, as if there was a barrier that prevented them from interfering with one another.
That’s a square meter of spring water. It should be enough for now. Fang Chen smiled.
He was going to distribute it to his father, mother, Second Uncle, and Fang Zhixue. He would treat whatever illnesses they were suffering from and strengthen their bodies.
When Fang Chen returned to the group, Yuan Zhuang quickly informed him about the matter concerning Chen Da.
“What is it that you would like to report to me?” Fang Chen asked Chen Da.
Chen Da clenched his fists in agitation. He half-kneeled and bowed, “Chen Da humbly pays respect to War God Fang.”
“Remove his ropes,” Fang Chen ordered.
Yuan Zhuang and the others quickly untied Chen Da, but the latter remained in a half-kneeling position. “War God Fang, I passed by the Heavensword Mountain Villa a few days ago and saw something…”
Huangfu Jie and the others were taken aback. Could Chen Da have seen the culprit who massacred the Heavensword Mountain Villa?
“Continue,” Fang Chen instructed.
Chen Da clenched his jaws. “I saw something I shouldn’t have, so I was planning to escape from the southern region and seek refuge in the north. I didn’t expect you to personally come down here to investigate the case. Now that you are here, I have nothing to fear.
“That day, when I was passing by the Heavensword Mountain Villa, I saw someone massacring their disciples. With just a single strike, the culprit was able to absorb a person’s blood essence and reduce them to a withered corpse…”
Chen Da shuddered as he recounted the matter. Never in his life had he seen such a sinister martial art.
“Did you see the culprit’s appearance?” Fang Chen asked.
Huangfu Jie and the others stared at Chen Da. It would be much easier to solve the Heavensword Mountain Villa’s massacre case if the latter could provide them with a lead.
“I-I couldn’t get a clear look. I was hiding far away, so I could only see the outline. The culprit appeared to be rather young, and he was dressed in a white robe. He doesn’t look like the type to be capable of committing such atrocities,” Chen Da nervously replied.
“You couldn’t get a clear look…” Huangfu Jie and the others were disappointed.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like you to join us in investigating this case. If we find the culprit, you won’t have to travel elsewhere to avert this calamity,” Fang Chen said.
Chen Da hesitated for a few seconds before nodding. “I’d like to join you!”
“Let’s first head to the Heavensword Mountain Villa to take a look. Chiliarch Jue might have found some clues there,” Fang Chen said with a smile.
The group got on their steeds and began heading toward the Heavensword Mountain Villa.
Fang Chen had intended to first make a stop at the Profound Saber Sect, but since they chanced upon Chiliarch Jue, he decided to take a look at the crime scene first.
The Heavensword Mountain Villa was the first to be massacred. If the culprit had left any clues behind, it was more likely for them to have slipped up there.
Two hours later, a tall, verdant mountain appeared before the group’s eyes. This was where the Heavensword Mountain Villa’s Qian Clan resided, and they were the strongest clan in the area.
There were many small towns in the vicinity, and they were related to the Qian Clan in one way or another. In fact, eight out of ten of those living in this area had the family name of ‘Qian’.
When the group passed through these towns, the townsfolk looked at them with vigilant eyes. These were the people who were hit the hardest by the massacre of the Heavensword Mountain Villa’s massacre, and they had lost their backing.
Many of the Qian Clan’s enemies had come knocking on their doors upon hearing about the tragedy that had befallen the Heavensword Mountain Villa, and they went after the townsfolk after confirming that the main lineage had indeed died out.
Fortunately, these townsfolk were not pushovers either. They united together to fend off those who tried to take advantage of them during this moment of weakness.
“Old Eighth Qian, you refused to return my 3000 silver taels back then because you had the backing of the Heavensword Mountain Villa. Now that the Heavensword Mountain Villa is gone, let’s see how you intend to shirk on your debt!”
“Return our 3000 silver taels right now, or else we’ll burn down your house and have you and your family live on the streets!”
A group of menacing people bellowed from the entrance of a manor.
This commotion drew many onlookers over.
Inside the manor was a group of old and young people. Their leader appeared to be around forty years of age, and he looked angered by the other party’s words. “I only borrowed 300 silver taels from you, and I have returned 600 silver taels. How in the world do I owe you 3000 silver taels? You people from the Ghost Tiger Sect are going too far!”