Chapter 75

Chapter 75: Double-Edged Strategy

Killing Lin Xianlong was like a gamble to Zhou Luo.

Because he wasn’t sure if that could gain the main family’s trust and make the other party not attempt to kill him.

This was already the limit of what he could do.

At present, the key was still to resolve this poisoning incident.

As for what punishment he might face for allegedly poisoning the family’s formation master, Zhou Luo couldn’t worry about that for now.

Inside the alchemy room.

The three Pill Masters watched Zhou Luo’s skilled technique and were greatly astonished.

They had stayed at the middle first-level for decades and weren’t far from the advanced level; they believed they could achieve Zhou Luo’s level too.

But it seemed he had just entered the middle first-level.

How could his technique be like a master who had practiced for over ten years—clean and sharp, and his control over the fire and medicinal liquid was truly superb.

Moreover, the pill-melting method was so meticulous that the three present couldn’t match it; it was too mentally draining.

But after the pill was formed, not a trace of fatigue could be seen on him.

No wonder the Sixth Elder chose him as his disciple.

His talent was truly terrifying.

Zhou Luo’s performance once again renewed the three Pill Masters’ understanding of him.

After the pill was formed, Zhou Luo handed that antidote to Lin Kai’s subordinate and told him to administer it to the poisoned person.

During this time, he explained the principle of this antidote to the three Pill Masters and what was unique about Lin Xianlong’s body earlier.

Why did he wait till now to say it?

Because back then, he hadn’t fabricated his reason yet.

During the alchemizing process, he had prepared his explanation, so now, speaking it out was naturally very smooth.

After hearing it, the three were greatly shocked inwardly.

They didn’t expect Zhou Luo to have such an exceptionally high level of understanding in the path of potions.

Truly worthy of being called an alchemy genius.

The three were utterly convinced and completely respectful.

Just then, Lin Kai’s subordinate brought in a report.

After taking the antidote, the poisoned individual had indeed returned to normal.

Thus, the three Pill Masters also joined in the pill refinement process.

Meanwhile, the two elders also learned the news that Zhou Luo had successfully refined the antidote.

"You think—what if all this was done by Zhou Luo himself?" Lin Tianfang sat in his grand chair and asked lightly.

Beside him to the left, Lin Xuanfeng remained cloaked in his dark robe, his gloomy expression unreadable. He stated evenly, "Then he indeed possesses some skill."

Even for these two elders, a mere son-in-law managing to stir up such significant waves would earn him a measure of respect.

Unfortunately, that’s all it earned him. Given his low cultivation level, he remained entirely beneath their notice.

"Take this letter and deliver it to the family head when the time comes." Lin Tianfang’s index finger twitched slightly, and a golden envelope floated up from the table, landing gently before Lin Xuanfeng.

Lin Xuanfeng pocketed it and gave the other man a deep look before remarking, "This seems like the first time we’re collaborating. And all because of a son-in-law."

The collaboration he spoke of naturally pertained to their subsequent plans.

As the spiritual mine overseer, Lin Tianfang’s task was to monitor Zhou Luo, probing to see if the man truly knew the secret of the spiritual mine.

Meanwhile, Lin Xuanfeng’s role was to sow discord between Zhou Luo and the Great Elder, creating a rift.

Striking both ways was the safest approach.

Laughing softly at this, Lin Tianfang added, "Don’t forget, he’s also the Sixth Elder’s eldest disciple."

Though an outsider, Zhou Luo held a remarkably high status.

Both the Great Elder and the Sixth Elder favored him greatly, and precisely because of this, the main family wouldn’t easily kill him off.

Had it been anyone else, they likely would have ended up dead under some unknown pretense on their very first day at the spiritual mine.

…

By dinnertime, the three Pill Masters had left. Zhou Luo held Little White in his lap, stroking its smooth fur, contemplating his next steps.

Considering Lin Xuanfeng’s earlier attitude and the calm of the afternoon, it appeared his choice had been correct.

Yet, he felt once more as if he stood at the center of the storm.

Luckily, during the day, Lin Xianlong had provided him with key details about the spiritual mine.

This included the layout of the guards, the internal structure of the mine, and so forth.

According to Lin Xianlong’s account, the entire spiritual mine had three guard contingents, respectively led by Lin Kai, Lin Hui, and Lin Chi.

Lin Kai oversaw the first and second levels.

Lin Hui managed daily assignments and the safety of the tower.

As for Lin Chi, he guarded exclusively the third and fourth levels, tasked with preventing anyone from uncovering the secret.

Additionally, both the second and third levels had another entrance.

This was also why Zhou Luo hadn’t seen anyone delivering supplies to these lower levels while he was on the first level.

The fourth level connected solely to the third and had only one, extremely secluded, entrance, making entry incredibly difficult.

Lin Xianlong’s explanation went further: if the main family intended to act against Zhou Luo, they would undoubtedly reassign him to the third level starting tomorrow.

From the third level onward, every individual present was among the main family’s most fiercely loyal offspring. Only in such an environment could they stage a ‘collapse’, silencing Zhou Luo forever.

Therefore, Zhou Luo only needed to remain among the crowds and chaos of the first level. They wouldn’t make a move there.

Furthermore, Lin Xianlong specifically instructed him on how to contact allies on the first level, emphasizing this as his only true means of preserving his life.

While this information wasn’t overwhelmingly helpful to Zhou Luo right now, it at least gave him direction instead of wandering blindly in the dark.

Reflecting deeply, the moves of both the main family and the Great Elder were dreadfully hard to predict, leading him unknowingly into this lethal trap.

It was then that Zhou Luo recalled Lin Xianlong’s earlier words: "No wonder the Great Elder sent you," followed later by the question, "You weren’t sent by the Great Elder?"

These two simple sentences made Zhou Luo see the kindly visaged Great Elder in a distinctly different light.

His gaze fell upon the Red Phoenix Sword resting near his bed. Zhou Luo murmured to himself, "Could it have all been arranged by the Great Elder?"

But how could he possibly foresee that Zhou Luo would go to such lengths to enter the second level?

Zhou Luo couldn’t figure it out. Yet he understood this: had the Great Elder initially disclosed all this to him, Zhou Luo’s cautious nature would never have recklessly undertaken such perilous acts.

The realization washed over Zhou Luo, and his eyes darkened.

It was precisely because the Great Elder knew Zhou Luo wouldn’t volunteer for the task, he reasoned, that he chose to compromise with the main family—offering Zhou Luo as the sacrifice. And that’s also why he concealed the truth.

Once Zhou Luo learned the secret of the spiritual mine, retreat became impossible.

No wonder Lin Xianlong had also revealed the specifics of the mine’s situation and urged Zhou Luo to connect with the Great Elder’s contacts.

Perhaps his life or death had ceased to matter once Zhou Luo held the secret itself.

An icy chill settled in Zhou Luo’s gaze.

He’d assumed conflicts within the family would be comparatively civil. Now, it was clear both sides were cunning old foxes—readily sacrificing pawns to achieve their ends.

Finding himself as the pawn, resentment flared within Zhou Luo.

But he also acknowledged the bitter truth: it was entirely due to his own lack of strength.

Had he possessed enough power, how could he ever be cornered like this?