Chapter 69: Zhima Beasts, and All I Get Is a Cover?

Words : 1585 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

The Cao family did have an old master, but he had been in seclusion for years, trying to break through to the Divine Palace Realm. Everyone knew this. He only came out once a year for his birthday or during major Cao family events. As for where he was in seclusion, no one knew. Some said he was still in the Cao family estate, while others believed he had hidden away in the deep mountains. Lu Ding, not yet satisfied, searched the entire place for a while, but he didn't find a single person—not even a bird flew out. "Forget it. Next time, I'll find a tougher monster to test it on." Just as he turned to leave, deep within the Cao family estate, an old man sitting in a rattan chair let out a long breath of relief. In his hand, he held a pigeon that was ready to take flight. These young people nowadays—each one more terrifying than the last. His old bones couldn't take this kind of torment. As for losing two sons and a grandson? Was that really such a big deal?! People were acting as if he had no other sons or grandsons. A rotten seed should be discarded. If he were just an ordinary Cultivator of Qi, an old man with only those two sons, he definitely would have rushed out and fought Lu Ding to the death. At his age, what did he have to lose? But he wasn’t just anyone—he was the old master holding down the Caojia Alley. There were so many people in the Cao family, so many descendants. If he died, and with no real powerhouse to take the helm, the Cao family would be swallowed up by outsiders, leaving nothing but bones. So, losing two sons wasn’t a big deal. Losing a grandson wasn’t a big deal either. Besides, hadn’t Cao Ying returned? Compared to Cao Yuan, he preferred Cao Ying anyway. Now that Cao Yuan was dead, the position of the heir was empty... At this thought, the old master of the Cao family suddenly paused. "Ah, I'm getting old, getting old... Heir? With Yutang dead, the head of the family’s position is open—why not just let Cao Ying take over as the head directly? Hahahahahaha!" Outside the Cao family estate, Lu Ding stepped out and waved his hand, signaling the people outside to move in. A group of fully armed Security Officers stormed in instantly. Gao Zhengliang twisted open a bottle of mineral water and handed it over. "Hard work, Investigator Lu. How’s the situation inside?" Lu Ding took a sip. "Of course, just like I promised you—everything's taken care of. They wouldn’t dare resist. Just arrest them." "But there’s one thing—I only left you one of the three main culprits." "Which one?" Gao Zhengliang asked curiously. "I only left Cao Jianshu. Cao Yuan was killed by his uncle, and Cao Yutang… well, there's half of him left." "Half? You cut him in half?" Lu Ding nearly choked on his water. "Not exactly, but it was kinda my fault. I just wanted to test a new spell, but he couldn’t handle it. I actually planned to leave him a whole corpse, but who knew he was that useless?" Gao Zhengliang opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say. Lu Ding was good—really good. His work efficiency was insane. Ever since he arrived in Bao Fan District, he had been handling both humans and ghosts, single-handedly subduing all three major local Cultivator of Qi factions. And he did it cleanly, without causing any mess. This made Gao Zhengliang’s future work much easier. Now, if the Public Security Bureau ever needed cooperation from those three factions, they'd probably comply just for Lu Ding’s sake. Unlike before, when cultivators would brush off security officers with, ‘You guys don’t control us. It’s our own business. Depends on my mood if I help.’ But there was one small downside—Lu Ding was too ruthless. Gao Zhengliang had barely seen any of his targets left in one piece. Sometimes, just thinking about it made him glad—glad that he was just an ordinary person who stayed out of Cultivator of Qi affairs. Because if he ever found himself on the wrong side of someone like Lu Ding… well, that would be one hell of a misfortune. One by one, the accomplices on the wanted list were brought out. Gao Zhengliang’s grin stretched to his ears. This was a real case. Tens of billions involved. Cultivators of Qi entangled in the crime. It even counted as a joint operation with the 749 Bureau. And Lu Ding had let him take most of the credit. Sure, at his age, he wasn’t climbing the ranks much further, but any Security Officer would want to leave behind a few big solved cases in their career. Lu Ding walked to a nearby trash can, lit a cigarette, and checked his phone. There was a message. [Yan Feifan: Lu Bro, Bai Hemen just arrived at the docks looking for you. He said HQ sent him to assist. He couldn’t find you at Xingteng Capital, so I stalled him for a bit. Do you want to let him know where you are?] Bai Hemen... The Bai Hemen who had been through hell and back? Lu Ding replied: [No need. Let’s just meet at HQ. I’m about done here.] He flicked the cigarette out and crushed it with his fingers before tossing it in the trash can. This time, he didn’t fly back. It was broad daylight, after all. Didn’t want to cause a scene. So, he borrowed a car from Gao Zhengliang, picked up Jia Yuanfang, and headed for the Bureau. Morning. On the national highway leading into Yunhai, a three-wheeled motorcycle roared down the road at 80 mph. Cao Ying sat in the cargo bed, shoving a corpse off him. He spat and coughed up half an ear. Blood covered his entire mouth and dripped down his chest. "Hahahahahaha! Compete with me?! You think you're worthy?! Hahahahahaha!" Laughing wildly, he pulled something out of his clothes. A small figurine, riding a carriage. Dark light flowed over it, with a canopy on top. This was a Zhima Beast. A legendary Lingzhi Immortal Herb. The myths claimed that eating it would grant immortality and let one ascend to the heavens. Of course, that was just a myth. In reality, the Zhima Beast could help break through cultivation bottlenecks, extend lifespan, and deepen one's understanding of the world. If someone had great fortune, they might even achieve Oneness with Heaven and Man through it. The old master of the Cao family had been stuck at the ninth layer of the Linghai Realm, unable to break into the Divine Palace Realm. Now that Cao Ying was back, if he wanted to challenge Cao Yuan for the heir position, he needed the old master’s approval. Normally, that would be impossible. Once a position was decided, it was final. There was no going back. But with the Zhima Beast... That changed everything. The little brother driving the motorcycle laughed manically along with Cao Ying. They howled "Oh-ho!" and "Oh-ho!" all the way back to Caojia Alley. But the moment they arrived— Cao Ying was dumbfounded. Several Public Security Bureau vehicles were parked outside the Cao family estate. Through the iron bars, Cao Ying could see that the cars were filled with members of the second branch of the family, all sitting there with their heads down, looking as lifeless as frostbitten eggplants. Wait... what the hell was this? Cao Ying glanced at his little brother beside him, only to find the same dumbfounded expression staring back at him. Just as he was about to step forward and ask someone what was going on, a voice suddenly rang in his ear—it was the old master of the Cao family, summoning him to the back courtyard. With confusion weighing on his mind, Cao Ying made his way to the back. The old master reclined in his chair, speaking in an unhurried tone as he explained the situation from beginning to end. "That’s why, in life, you should only earn what’s within your own ability. You must recognize your limits and never be too greedy. Don’t you agree, Niu Niu?" Calling out Cao Ying’s childhood nickname, he waited for a response. Hearing nothing, he turned his head—only to find Cao Ying staring off into space, his hand fumbling inside his robe. "Ah, yes, yes, exactly! I always said Cao Yuan was a terrible choice for the heir. Look at him now—turns out I was right!" The old master chuckled. "So, tell me then, if not Cao Yuan, who should take his place?" "Of course, it should be me!" As he spoke, Cao Ying pulled out a small object from his robe—a piece he had just snapped off the top of the Zhima Beast’s carriage. It was the canopy. He respectfully held it out with both hands. "Grandfather, I haven't been by your side all these years. I’ve missed many holidays and haven’t been able to show you my filial respect. This is a Zhima Beast I just seized today. I heard you’re on the verge of breaking into the Divine Palace Realm—this should be of great help to you." The old master reached out and took the piece, staring at it with a strange expression. "...You’re just giving me the cover?"

Chapter 69: Zhima Beasts, and All I Get Is a Cover?

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