A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

Chapter 63: Chapter 62: Analysis

After much thought, Lü Zhong concluded that his only option was to gather more intelligence.

Considering his opponent would be tracking him, he figured that by backtracking through the relevant scenes, he might discover something useful and find a way to break the stalemate.

He got right to it. Pretending to be completely unaware of what was happening outside, he continued to sit cross-legged in his Quiet Chamber.

Simultaneously, he entered the Gray Mist Space and began backtracking and analyzing every time he had gone out over the past half-month.

He started his backtracking from the most recent events: selling Talismans at his stall two days ago, then going to buy daily necessities three days prior. He meticulously analyzed every scene of him leaving his home.

After several days of this, he actually made a discovery.

Through backtracking, Lü Zhong determined the exact day he had been targeted: sixty-seven days ago.

It was a day he had set up his stall, and thanks to a good flow of customers, he sold a total of seventeen Evil Exorcism Talismans. After deducting the cost of the Talisman Paper and Talisman Ink, his gross profit was a full Ten Spirit Stones.

Perhaps for this very reason, a young man dressed like a scholar had started targeting him.

The man was remarkably cautious. At first, he only staked out the stall area in the Sixth Ring. Slowly, he began tracking Lü Zhong back to his small courtyard in the bamboo forest. Only when he was certain his target was completely oblivious did he venture near the residence.

But even then, he still used some sort of Disguise, possibly the Bone Shrinking Skill, to avoid revealing his identity.

In the backtracked scene, Lü Zhong tried using his Qi Observation Skill, but he couldn’t determine the man’s specific cultivation level.

Clearly, the man had either used the Breath Concealing Skill or was carrying an item with a similar effect.

Lü Zhong also discovered something else about the man’s Disguise. It only changed his body shape and facial features. The skin not covered by clothing would change to appear old and wrinkled or young and smooth, but certain spots and scars on the surface remained unchanged.

In some scenes where the man was following more closely, Lü Zhong could see calluses that were inadvertently exposed on his left hand.

The calluses were on the left side of the second knuckle of his index finger and in the web of his hand between the thumb and forefinger.

From this, he could determine that the man was likely skilled with a sword.

In other scenes, the thickness of the man’s arms was disproportionate to the rest of his body. Lü Zhong guessed he was a left-handed Sword Skill master with incredible explosive power.

Furthermore, based on the fact that the man was always alone and in Disguise when tracking him, Lü Zhong concluded he was likely a lone wolf without accomplices. He would probably be alone when he made his move as well.

This was all the intelligence Lü Zhong had managed to gather through his scene backtracking.

Next, he analyzed his own situation.

’If nothing unexpected happens, he should already know my exact cultivation level.’ Lü Zhong sat calmly at his Talisman-Making Table, listing points one by one on a sheet of paper. The Qi Observation Skill could only perceive the flow of Spiritual Qi; it wasn’t X-ray vision. As long as he used ordinary ink, he had no reason to fear the prying eyes of the man outside.

’As for the two Attack Magic skills I’ve learned, he might know about them as well, especially the Late Sun Sword Skill. Considering he’s a Sword Skill expert, I absolutely must not engage him in close combat unless I have no other choice.’

Thinking about it, he realized he hadn’t been cautious enough.

The Qingyang Fire Rain Technique was one thing, but to casually use a trump card like the Late Sun Sword Skill without any concealment... from that perspective, he had been far too careless.

But realizing it now didn’t change anything. He’d just have to be more mindful in the future. There was no point dwelling on it now.

’That means my only trump cards he doesn’t know about are the two Golden Light Talismans I have, one Fireball Talisman I got from that Qingyang Sect disciple’s Storage Bag, and my rarely used Sword Aura.’

Even after switching his cultivation to the Four Spirits Technique, Lü Zhong could still use the Sword Aura from his old Water and Wood Sword Mantra.

After all, Sword Aura was, in essence, just a special way of applying Spiritual Power.

He had almost never used his Sword Aura, but now, unexpectedly, it had become a trump card.

The Sword Aura was so sharp that while it couldn’t pierce a Golden Light Talisman’s shield in one go, it could inflict immense damage to a physical body. A strike to a vital point could be a one-hit kill.

The only thing to consider was whether the other party had a Defensive Magical Artifact.

If he did, the effectiveness of the Sword Aura would be drastically reduced.

’He probably doesn’t have one. After all, Defensive Magical Artifacts are extremely expensive, usually costing two to three times as much as Attack Magical Artifacts. Aside from Sect Disciples and Family Cultivators, most Loose Cultivators can’t afford them.’

Lü Zhong thought for a moment, then decided to err on the side of caution.

’I’ll just assume he has one. After all, you can’t go wrong by being cautious.’

After careful analysis, he came to a preliminary conclusion.

His opponent was most likely a Mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator, at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer at most. Otherwise, with the power of a Late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, he could have just launched a surprise attack and caught him completely off guard. There would be no need to spend so much time observing.

The longer one observes, after all, the greater the risk of being exposed.

That was precisely how Lü Zhong had discovered someone outside was plotting against him in the first place.

Furthermore, some of the man’s recent actions seemed a bit careless compared to his initial caution. Considering the man was a cautious person, there could only be one reason for this carelessness: he felt he had gathered enough information. Any continued observation was likely just for the sake of extra prudence, but he would probably make his move very soon.

Making a move during the day was obviously out of the question; the risk was too great.

’Given how cautious this person is, he’ll definitely choose to strike late at night, just before dawn. People’s guard is lowest at that time, and the Law Enforcement Team’s patrol intervals are longer, making it the most convenient time to act.’ Lü Zhong considered the Law Enforcement Team unreliable; they might not even bother to check the vicinity. ’I also have to consider the possibility that he’ll sneak in to attack right after the Law Enforcement Team leaves, or just before they’re scheduled to arrive.’

’That’s everything. Looking at it carefully, I’m not without a chance to turn the tables and kill him...’

Lü Zhong crumpled the sheet of paper, now filled with his writing, into a ball. As he looked out the window, his gaze held a newfound flicker of confidence.

...

The feeling of being secretly watched continued for three more days.

On the fourth day, Lü Zhong noticed the man didn’t appear.

’Did he go back to rest and gather his strength, preparing to strike tonight?’

A cold smile touched the corners of his lips, and a look of anticipation crossed his face.

’This guy probably never imagined that his intended target already knows his whole plan, has he? I’d really love to see the look of utter shock on his face when he finds out...’

Another ordinary day passed, spent maintaining his facade.

As night deepened toward the fifth watch, the man appeared, just as Lü Zhong had predicted.

Lying in bed, he used his Qi Observation Skill to watch. He found that the man’s infiltration technique was truly silent.

If he hadn’t known in advance, he probably wouldn’t have noticed him, even if he had been staring right out the window.

’Too bad for him now... heheh...’

After a nearly inaudible sound of landing, the man had already slipped into the bedroom.

But what greeted him was the sudden flare of a Sword Light.

SWOOSH! A cyan sword shadow streaked through the air.