"At that time, Fang Leng was accompanied by two Foundation Establishment cultivators, busy with another matter. That gave the Energy Refinement cultivator a chance to launch a sneak attack on Young Master Shawn..."
Before Vincent Qi could finish his explanation, Simon Qi interrupted him, "Let Fang Leng and those two Foundation Establishment stewards be buried with him."
"Yes..." Vincent Qi dared not plead for Fang Leng at this moment. Even though Fang Leng was working for Qi Trading House, he failed to protect Shawn Qi, and now he must pay with his life.
"What about the one who was caught?" Simon Qi took a deep breath, suppressing his killing intent. No matter who killed Shawn Qi, he would make them regret coming into this world — even regret surviving another moment.
Vincent Qi spoke even more fearfully, "The culprit hasn't been caught yet. It’s said he escaped into the Swampsea Forest. Qi Trading House has already issued a mission: three Golden Core cultivators and over a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators have gone to the Swampsea Forest to search for the criminal. Fang Leng and those two Foundation Establishment stewards are also searching in the Swampsea Forest."
"Useless." Simon Qi didn’t even want to say another word.
In his eyes, those sent to Swampsea Forest were nothing but incompetents. How could an Energy Refinement cultivator rob Qi Trading House, kill his grandson Shawn Qi, and then escape?
This was not only his own disgrace, but also the disgrace of Qi Trading House.
Sensing that Simon Qi's fury had subsided, Vincent Qi let out a slight sigh of relief. "There were two people — one named Joe Di, the other Garrett. At the time, they also brought a tree spirit..."
"Tree spirit?" Simon Qi repeated in shock.
He now fully understood the cause of the conflict. Even a tree spirit that hadn’t taken human form yet was of incomparable value to Shawn Qi.
Shawn Qi had always wanted to establish his Foundation without relying on Foundation Pills—he knew very well that if he could obtain a tree spirit, he could form a top-grade foundation. That kind of potential far exceeded most genius disciples.
This only made Simon Qi more determined to capture Joe Di and Garrett, so he could slowly torture them to death. Whether Shawn Qi had tried to seize something that belonged to someone else was irrelevant to him. The Qi family had the right—and the power—to do so.
Shawn Qi could snatch the tree spirit, but no one was allowed to touch a member of the Qi family. This was Simon Qi’s philosophy of the strong. On the Aurora Continent, the strong were rightfully respected.
Vincent Qi replied, "It was indeed a tree spirit—probably a first-grade one, and it seems to have recognized Joe Di as its master. Joe Di’s background is unknown; so far, we haven’t found anything. We only know he stole something from the Zhong Clan of Everresolve Kingdom, was caught by them, and then replaced Zhong Hetian to marry into the Jing Clan, to Sherry Jing. After Sherry Jing brought him to Riverdale City, they separated."
The next day, during the sect’s disciple recruitment, Sherry Jing—with her triple-element spiritual roots—was accepted as an outer disciple by Starstream School. Joe Di and Garrett, due to their poor aptitude, weren’t accepted by any sect. In the end, Elder Yu of Starstream School made an exception and took them in because Joe Di knew Sherry Jing."
"Hmph!" Simon Qi snorted coldly. "Do you really think an old fox like Elder Yu would break the rules for an outer disciple with triple-element roots, just to admit two with poor talent? And yet, one of those supposedly untalented ones killed Shawn Qi just months after joining? It seems those two were already trained rogue cultivators."
Vincent Qi hurriedly said, "Elder Simon, Joe Di and Garrett had only joined the sect for a few days when they went to Swampsea Town. At that time, they stayed at the rogue cultivator inn. When they checked in, Joe Di was at the fourth level of Energy Refinement, and Garrett hadn’t even started cultivating. Five days later, when Young Master Shawn went looking for them, Joe Di had reached the fifth level, and Garrett was at the second level."
Simon Qi became more certain: Joe Di and Garrett were hiding a great secret. He had to capture these two ants and interrogate them thoroughly.
"Continue."
"Understood!" Vincent Qi also suspected Joe Di and Garrett were hiding something, but he didn’t care much—how big a secret could an Energy Refinement cultivator have?
"Garrett comes from a remote mountain village called Rongyi Village. He has a mother, a younger brother, and a younger sister. Everyone in the village calls his mother Madam Qi; his brother is Gavin, and his sister is Gina..."
Simon Qi interrupted, "Are you saying Garrett and his siblings have different surnames?"
Vincent Qi respectfully answered, "Yes. It’s said Garrett and Gavin, Gina are biological siblings. After Garrett left to seek the immortal sect, Madam Qi took Gavin and Gina and left Rongyi Village. Their whereabouts are unknown. Our people have already wiped out Rongyi Village."
When Vincent Qi mentioned wiping out Rongyi Village, he said it as casually as if he’d drunk a glass of water—completely indifferent.
Simon Qi clearly didn’t care either. Instead, he nodded, "How did the Jing Clan handle things?"
He didn’t ask about Starstream School, because he knew a sect like that would require him to go in person.
"Sherry Jing has two elder sisters, Sherry Snow and Sherry Frost. They apprenticed under Master Guo of Half-Sword Peak in Trueblade Sect, so..."
Vincent Qi didn’t finish his sentence, but Simon Qi understood his meaning. He frowned, and after a long pause, said, "I’ll pay a visit to Starstream School."
Trueblade Sect was the top sect in the Northern Domain. Although the Qi family’s strength wasn’t inferior, they couldn’t provoke Trueblade Sect lightly—especially since this matter really had nothing to do with Sherry Jing. Since the Jing Clan was connected to Trueblade Sect, they would be spared for now.
But Starstream School could not be let off—Joe Di and Garrett were disciples of Starstream School, and a disciple of theirs had killed a direct descendant of the Qi family. This matter was far from over.
"We've already arranged for five Golden Core cultivators to accompany Elder Simon to Starstream Sword School."
Simon Qi waved his hand. "No need. Starstream Sword School is nothing to me—I can go alone."
Starstream Sword School was only a second-rate sect. It was said that their top elder had gone into seclusion a hundred years ago to attempt breaking through to Soul Ancestor, but there had been no news since—he was likely dead.
Besides, even if that elder had succeeded in reaching Soul Ancestor, so what? Simon Qi himself was just one step away from the fifth level of Soul Ancestor.
......
Inside Starstream School’s sect meeting hall, at least twenty people were gathered.
Besides Sect Master Timothy Xiang, the masters of Innerpeak and Outerpeak, and several hall masters were all present.
"This time, the incident at the Polar Night Ruins caught us off guard. Our Starstream School lost two Golden Core cultivators, and Elder Yu was gravely injured. Yet in the end, when it came to splitting the spoils, we gained the least. This proves that without a Soul Ancestor, we have no say at all. I’ve decided: no matter the cost, Starstream School must obtain a Soulcore Fruit. Someone from our sect must break through to Soul Ancestor—only then will we have a voice on the Aurora Continent." Timothy Xiang’s tone was heavy.
He had personally led the team at the Polar Night Ruins. Starstream School had paid a heavy price, only to pick over what others had left behind.
No one spoke. Everyone here knew exactly what a Soulcore Fruit was—the main spirit herb for refining Soul Condensation Pills, which Golden Core cultivators need to break through to Soul Ancestor.
"Boom!" Just as Timothy Xiang was about to continue, the sect’s grand formation shook violently.
Timothy Xiang’s expression changed as he suddenly stood up. All the Golden Core cultivators in the hall rose in shock. Someone was attacking the sect’s protective array! That was no small matter—an attack on the sect’s array meant a mortal feud.
"All Golden Core cultivators, follow me to defend the sect." Timothy Xiang’s divine sense identified the attacker—a tall, thin, middle-aged man with a goatee.
From this man, he sensed a threat—one not to himself, but to the entire sect.
In almost no time, all the Golden Core cultivators of Starstream School had gathered at the entrance to the protective array. Even most of the Foundation Establishment cultivators were there.
The sect’s grand formation was under attack—this was a matter of life and death for the sect.
"So it’s Elder Simon. Our Starstream School has always respected Qi Trading House. May I ask why Elder Simon is attacking our protective array without cause?" Timothy Xiang spoke calmly, even giving a respectful cupped-fist salute.
Though his tone was calm, Timothy Xiang’s inner fury was nearly ablaze.
The truth was, Starstream School’s strength was simply too weak. If they had the power, Timothy Xiang wouldn’t hesitate to cut down Simon Qi, regardless of the reason.
As things stood, Qi Trading House was far too powerful. If they wanted to destroy Starstream School, it would take hardly any effort at all.
"Hahaha..." Simon Qi laughed heartily. "Without cause? Your Starstream School’s outer disciples, Joe Di and Garrett, killed my grandson Shawn Qi in Swampsea Town, and even seized our Qi Trading House branch there. Is that what you call 'without cause'?"
(Why have a Nascent Soul stage if no one cultivates Nascent Soul? The Nascent Soul is formed when the Golden Core shatters and transforms. If it becomes a divine soul, it’s called Soul Ancestor. In this novel, the Golden Core shatters but no child is formed, so there is no Nascent Soul stage.)