Chapter 86: The Fox Demon Who Came to Deliver a Meal

After Cheng Zhen put down his bowl and chopsticks, he said, “I am full. I was tired after the long day today. You should rest early, Fellow Daoist.” Then, he disappeared as if stepping on wind and fire wheels.

This scene left Chen Xiyi speechless. At that moment, he understood one thing: it was fine to take advantage of someone, but he shouldn’t push it too far.

Cheng Zhen’s reaction was because he had taken things too far.

‘I was too impatient today. I need to take it step by step from now on,’ Chen Xiyi reflected in his heart.

On the other side, Cheng Lusheng, who was still chewing his food, looked scornfully at the departing Cheng Zhen. “He just didn’t want to wash the dishes. Why did he have to make up so many excuses?”

“…” Chen Xiyi stared silently at Cheng Lusheng. Young man, you are treading a dangerous path. If your master heard that, you might get a beating tonight.

After finishing the meal, Chen Xiyi could only return to his room. Now that Cheng Zhen and Cheng Lusheng were back, it wasn’t appropriate for him to go to the study.

Lying on the bed, he thought about one thing: why did that Fox Demon attack these two?

Was the Fox Demon that attacked them related to the one Chen Xiyi had killed earlier?

He couldn’t fall asleep, so he started searching for the Fox Demon’s trail on his Game Map.

‘The name should still be Enlightened Fox.’ Chen Xiyi used the Manor as the center and began searching in all directions…

Well, there was no need to search far. He saw a white dot crouching near the left wall of the Manor. He estimated its location there because his Game Map couldn’t display buildings. He could only judge based on the Manor’s approximate size.

【Enlightened Fox】

Sure enough, it was still that name. It might have just arrived, as he hadn’t seen this white dot when he returned earlier.

Who knew where it had been all afternoon? It only showed up now.

It probably went to set something up; otherwise, it wouldn’t have taken so long.

But clearly, this Fox Demon had miscalculated. If it were outside the Manor, with its preparations, it might have been able to kill Cheng Zhen. But inside the Manor, it was walking right into a trap.

Cheng Zhen wasn’t a Qi Refiner and couldn’t manipulate Qi Mechanisms, but he had professional knowledge. He could use talismans, Ritual Implements, and even Feng Shui to easily kill this Fox Demon.

Watching the white dot representing Cheng Zhen move on the Game Map, it seemed he had already discovered the Fox Demon.

Chen Xiyi shifted his gaze from the Game Map and used his Qi Sensitivity along with his Primordial Spirit to observe his surroundings. He found that all the Qi Mechanisms in the entire Manor had been activated, forming a powerful barrier.

‘A Formation Array?’ Chen Xiyi murmured to himself. He had read about Formation Arrays in books, but this seemed more like Feng Shui, with certain limitations. However, it could leverage natural advantages, and once set up, its power was likely no less than that of a Formation Array.

More importantly, this Feng Shui-type Formation Array had no cost, just like a mountain standing on the earth. No one would say a mountain consumes some kind of Magical Power or energy to stand.

This Feng Shui-type Formation Array essentially used acquired methods to modify natural terrain to achieve the desired effects.

Once fixed, it could be considered a low-grade version of a Paradise Grotto.

Cheng Zhen’s Manor had a long history and had been improved by multiple generations. Its power should not be underestimated.

Therefore, with Chen Xiyi’s current knowledge and experience, he couldn’t grasp the true state of the Manor. He needed to study further. After all, he had only studied for a few days. To expect to crack knowledge accumulated over hundreds of years and multiple generations was something he wouldn’t dare boast about.

‘It looks like Cheng Zhen is going to deal with this Fox Demon. This is a good chance to see what he’s really capable of.’ Chen Xiyi watched as the white dot representing Cheng Zhen on the Game Map moved toward the Fox Demon. From within his hair, an invisible eyeball flew out. This was the Eye of Qi Observation.

The Eye of Qi Observation didn’t fly very fast, only about as fast as an ordinary person walking. It couldn’t compare to Cheng Zhen’s speed.

Chen Xiyi guessed he might have used some talismans to speed up; otherwise, he wouldn’t be so fast.

Unfortunately, the Eye of Qi Observation flew too slowly and couldn’t arrive in time.

By the time the Eye of Qi Observation arrived, Cheng Zhen was already fighting the Fox Demon.

‘As expected, having a heritage makes a difference.’ Chen Xiyi watched as Cheng Zhen, glowing with golden light, beat the Fox Demon and couldn’t help but sigh.

Clearly, this was one of his inherited techniques, not the ordinary methods and secrets kept in the study. It seemed more like a closely guarded oral tradition.

‘A talisman mainly using Yang Qi, which temporarily enhances one’s physical abilities.’

Seeing this, Chen Xiyi’s heart sank. From this perspective, his previous assumption that Qi Refiners lacked direct combat abilities was wrong.

It wasn’t that they didn’t have them; they just didn’t use them.

In just a few moves, Cheng Zhen twisted the Fox Demon’s neck.

From the back-and-forth attacks, Cheng Zhen, enveloped in golden light, was not only incredibly strong but also invulnerable and extremely fast.

The Fox Demon was agile, but even when its attacks landed on Cheng Zhen, they couldn’t break through the golden light.

‘Besides Yang Qi, there was some residual wind energy, likely from the speed-enhancing talisman earlier.’

‘Can Qi Mechanisms really be this amazing?’

Chen Xiyi realized the gap between him and Cheng Zhen was still very large.

The gap was so big that he was still reciting the multiplication table, while Cheng Zhen could already use calculus to buy groceries.

‘He definitely won’t give me his true heritage unless I use other methods. Otherwise, it’s pointless to hope for it. I’ll probably only be able to learn the general or less important knowledge.’

Chen Xiyi wasn’t dissatisfied with this. After all, it was someone else’s heritage.

As for earlier remarks about casually browsing and such, those were just polite words. What tenant could borrow books from their landlord and expect the landlord to share their business secrets?

Although Cheng Zhen’s heritage made him envious, since he couldn’t obtain it, he would have to wait for another opportunity.

But at least he gained a deeper understanding of Qi Refiners: their direct combat abilities were not weak at all.

Even though the Qi Refiners described in these texts seemed more like schemers who only plotted behind the scenes.

If Chen Xiyi were in their place, he would do the same. You might think they were weak in close combat as the books said, but when you charged at them, you’d find they were tough fighters who could stand firm. Wasn’t that also a form of deceit?

After all, the idea that they only used cunning tricks might be a disguise, but the fact that they were old, crafty individuals was undoubtedly true. After all, Qi Refiners were mostly ancient monsters who had lived for who knew how many years through Soul Possession and Revive.