Chapter 353 - 305: Wolf or Sheep?

Chapter 353: Chapter 305: Wolf or Sheep?

Jiang Xu concentrated, carefully manipulating his Magical Power to prevent any mishandling from causing a conflict and damaging the knife’s physical structure.

After some time and effort, Jiang Xu finally completed the initial stage of the Spirit Attachment, successfully infusing a portion of his Wood Attribute Magical Power into the Blood-Colored Small Knife.

The Blood-Colored Small Knife now faintly exuded a trace of a Wood Attribute aura in addition to its original Wind Attribute.

Although the effect of the Spirit Attachment wasn’t pronounced, Jiang Xu could still feel it.

While retaining its original advantage in speed, the small knife seemed to have gained a subtle improvement in toughness and durability.

He was secretly pleased.

’It seems that while the Beginner Level Spirit Attachment Technique can’t achieve a major attribute transformation, it is certainly effective for optimizing and strengthening existing Magical Artifacts.’

Jiang Xu put the Blood-Colored Small Knife back into his Storage Bag, his experiment complete. He now had a deeper understanding of how to apply the Spirit Attachment Technique.

He began to ponder how to integrate this Magic with his own Cultivation and combat strategies to create more effective tactics.

A few other ideas were also beginning to form in the back of his mind.

But none of them were particularly important.

But Jiang Xu didn’t get lost in his newly acquired Magic. He knew his main reason for coming to Xiao Jin Island was still unfulfilled.

During his brief exploration, he had already gathered a good deal of intelligence about Xiao Jin Island, gaining a preliminary understanding of the island’s power dynamics and local culture.

Now, it was time to find the person he was looking for.

Jiang Xu again took out the container holding Xiong Liangsheng’s blood. The Power of Life contained within it was the medium required to cast the Seeking Technique.

He took a deep breath, calmed his mind, and focused all his concentration on the drop of blood.

As his Magical Power surged, Jiang Xu began to cast the Seeking Technique, following the remnant Power of Life in Xiong Liangsheng’s blood to pierce through the intervening space and locate his kin.

The Seeking Technique pierced through the layers of Restriction Arrays on Xiao Jin Island, precisely probing for the auras of Xiong Liangsheng’s relatives.

Within Jiang Xu’s perception, countless auras intertwined and collided like a field of stars, but two among them, particularly distinct, gradually began to stand out.

Though they originated from Xiong Liangsheng’s bloodline, they each radiated completely different energy fluctuations and were located in two spots, roughly seven to ten miles apart.

Jiang Xu focused his senses, first examining the aura at the Qi Cultivation First Layer.

This person’s aura, though relatively weak, was pure and unadulterated, revealing the inexperience of a Cultivator just beginning their Immortal Path.

This indicated that the relative had not delved deep into the Path of Cultivation and was still in the foundational stages. Traces of their pace of life, their state of mind, and even the speed of their Cultivation progress could be gleaned from this First-Layer Qi Cultivation aura.

Then, Jiang Xu shifted his attention to the other aura.

It was the aura of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

The Foundation Establishment Realm was a major milestone, marking a Cultivator’s entry into the intermediate echelons—a level far beyond the reach of ordinary people.

This aura was profound and restrained, like a deep, still lake.

The presence of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator on Xiao Jin Island made Jiang Xu’s mind race with possibilities.

If this person was merely visiting the island for pleasure, enjoying its mortal luxuries, then their high Cultivation might simply be incidental, with no direct connection to the island’s affairs.

’In that case, I could just hand over the item, and the exchange would be simple and pleasant for both of us.’

If, however, this Foundation Establishment Cultivator was a resident of the island—or worse, involved in the local fraud business—then the situation would be vastly different.

If it was the latter, Jiang Xu knew exactly what that implied.

A Foundation Establishment Cultivator participating in a scam didn’t just mean their Cultivation was being used for nefarious ends; it likely indicated the existence of a well-organized and powerful criminal syndicate.

Such a syndicate could leverage the Magical Power of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to perpetrate scams that were nearly impossible to guard against, and they likely possessed other, unknown methods and resources.

Furthermore, such Cultivators were often cunning, with a deep understanding of human nature. They excelled at exploiting weaknesses, and their fraudulent schemes were likely to be complex and hard to detect.

Jiang Xu’s brow furrowed, and a shadow of worry, like a dark cloud, settled over his features.

This second possibility weighed on him like a heavy stone, forcing him to re-evaluate the entire situation.

If that Foundation Establishment Cultivator was truly involved in Xiao Jin Island’s fraudulent enterprises as Jiang Xu suspected, then the task of delivering Xiong Liangsheng’s entrusted Golden Core Technique to his relative would suddenly become far more complicated and dangerous.

A Golden Core Technique was no trivial matter.

It was not some common Cultivation Scripture; it was the kind of fundamental inheritance upon which sects and families relied for their very survival and growth.

Jiang Xu knew this from personal experience; the sheer difficulty he’d faced in obtaining a single Golden Core Technique was a testament to its value.

Jiang Xu was deeply hesitant to hand such a precious item to someone who might harbor malicious intent.

If the Golden Core Technique fell into the hands of a greedy individual, they would very likely kill him—the one who knew the secret—to monopolize the priceless treasure and ensure it remained hidden.

They might resort to any means necessary—open conflict or covert schemes—all to eliminate a loose end and keep the Golden Core Technique a secure secret.

The backstabbing and intrigue in the Cultivation Realm were far beyond what an ordinary person could imagine.

This was especially true for those Cultivators who had become obsessed with power and wealth, straying from the true purpose of Cultivation. Their methods were often far more insidious and ruthless.

Once they deemed him a threat, anything from a direct assault to an elaborate trap, or even a web woven from social connections, could silently close in on Jiang Xu.

And against a covert attack from a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, even someone like Jiang Xu couldn’t guarantee his own safety.

Therefore, Jiang Xu understood that he absolutely could not act rashly and directly deliver the Golden Core Technique into the other party’s hands.

He had to be cautious, ensuring he both completed Xiong Liangsheng’s task and guaranteed his own safety.

He needed to gain a thorough understanding of the Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s background, personality, and patterns of activity on Xiao Jin Island to find the most opportune moment and method to make contact.

He also had to anticipate their possible reactions and prepare countermeasures.

Jiang Xu stared at the aura of the Qi Cultivation First Layer, his heart a turmoil of mixed emotions.

Giving the Golden Core Technique directly to this relative of Xiong Liangsheng, whose Cultivation was still low, was undoubtedly the simplest and most direct solution.

That way, he could quickly be released from his Heart Demon Oath and wash his hands of matters on Xiao Jin Island.

But this seemingly easy solution weighed heavily on Jiang Xu’s conscience, like a stone he couldn’t cast aside.

After all, it was a Golden Core Technique, an item of extraordinary value.

’How could a mere First-Layer Qi Cultivation Cultivator possibly protect such a treasure trove?’

A Cultivator who had just entered the Qi Cultivation stage not only lacked the Cultivation necessary to comprehend and practice its mysteries, but they also couldn’t possibly fend off the covetous gazes and greedy clutches of outsiders.

"An innocent man is made guilty by the treasure he carries."

The ancient adage echoed in Jiang Xu’s mind, filling him with profound worry.

Once news leaked that the First-Layer Qi Cultivation relative possessed a Golden Core Technique, they would instantly become a public target, hunted and fought over by countless factions.

In the dog-eat-dog world of the Cultivation Realm, how could a First-Layer Qi Cultivation Cultivator possibly fend off such vicious and cunning enemies?

The consequences would be just as Jiang Xu feared: once discovered, the person would be doomed, likely meeting a tragic end with not even their bones left to be found.

In contrast, giving the Golden Core Technique to the Foundation Establishment Cultivator was, at least on the surface, a much safer option.

A Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s strength, experience, and understanding of the world’s cruelty meant they were far better equipped to handle a crisis.

But that was only true if the Foundation Establishment Cultivator was a person of integrity, worthy of such a trust.

Otherwise, if they were corrupt, the Golden Core Technique would only become a tool to aid their villainy and could even become a threat to Jiang Xu himself.

If the person was indeed connected to Xiao Jin Island’s scam industry, or if their character was simply untrustworthy, then even at great risk to the recipient, Jiang Xu would have no choice but to give the Golden Core Technique to the First-Layer Qi Cultivation relative.

There was, of course, another possibility.

That both of them were bad news.

Giving the technique to either of them would be a terrible prospect for Jiang Xu.

If that really turned out to be the case...

Jiang Xu felt like his head was going to explode.