Chapter 190: Self-Directed Self-Acted

As if reading Jiang Changkong’s thoughts, Xu Xinghe continued, “They’re there to sharpen others’ blades…”

Sharpening blades aside, these geniuses who kill criminals also get to keep the Star Stones they obtain!

No wonder even major factions would get involved.

A group of criminals, trapped in a place teeming with endless Star Demons, needing Star Stones but unable to use them—how many would they hoard?

For that tenfold goal, the hope of leaving the isolated island, they’d probably hoard desperately, right?

If Jiang Changkong were in their place, he’d also gamble for that sliver of hope.

After all, the Federation wouldn’t kill them. They’d just pit them against these geniuses. Win, and you’d get a chance to start anew.

Lose, and well, too bad—your life is gone, and all the Star Stones you worked so hard for are gone too.

Now he understood why Yao Meng had said that even geniuses from the Major Provinces could fall.

Going to the Sin Domain and facing those fugitives, it wasn’t impossible for even the little freaks to die there.

If Jiang Changkong were to go now, he wouldn’t be confident he could survive either.

“Where did you get this information?” Jiang Changkong asked after listening.

Xu Xinghe fell silent for a moment before replying, “Yuntian Mountain.”

Jiang Changkong’s expression darkened. “Yuntian Mountain? You should know how he died.”

“My relationship with Yuntian Mountain wasn’t particularly close. It was just because we both had relatives in the Sin Domain that he sought me out.

He hoped I could join forces with him, work for someone, and in return, my father would be kept safe.”

Xu Xinghe explained, “I was still considering it when he was killed by Jiang Changyue.”

“Work for whom?” Jiang Changkong pressed.

“I don’t know. Yuntian Mountain didn’t reveal it to me. Afterward, I investigated and found someone you’re also looking for,” Xu Xinghe said.

“Someone I’m looking for… Chu Yunlong from the Chu family?” Jiang Changkong’s expression shifted.

He had been looking for Chu Yunlong, but Tang Ruoxi hadn’t provided any updates.

“Yes, him. The three families seeking revenge against you were also instigated by him,” Xu Xinghe said.

“Hah, a little mudfish that slipped through the net, and with such capabilities at that. Not bad,” Jiang Changkong chuckled lightly.

“But now it seems he’s no little mudfish. The people behind him even sent Star Spirit late-stage and peak experts, and they all died at your hands,” Xu Xinghe said.

“Then why didn’t you seek help from Xueyue?” Jiang Changkong asked.

“President Jiang, you jest. I can still see clearly what kind of person Anding Bang is now,” Xu Xinghe said with a bitter smile.

Anding Bang—after all his efforts to curry favor, did the other party ever take him seriously?

Not at all!

Since that was impossible, he could only turn to Jiang Changkong.

Jiang Changkong thought for a moment before asking, “How many Star Stones can you offer? Don’t tell me you have none. After all these years, I doubt you have no savings.”

“You’re willing to help?” Xu Xinghe asked, delighted.

“I can only promise that if I’m invited to the Sin Domain and get to see Xu Hengzhi, I’ll do my best to protect him.

Of course, that’s on the condition that what you said is true—that your brother was murdered,

and Xu Hengzhi only killed out of grief for losing his son, not because he’s some vicious criminal.”

Jiang Changkong said calmly.

The pain of losing a child—that was something he could understand. Saving such a person wouldn’t be an issue.

But if Xu Hengzhi died before he could get there, then there was nothing he could do.

“Absolutely true. My younger brother really was murdered,”

Xu Xinghe hurriedly said. “My father isn’t that kind of vicious person. Back then, he was just overwhelmed by the pain of losing his son.”

“Then let’s talk price,” Jiang Changkong said with a curl of his lip. It was time to discuss the terms of the deal.

“At the moment, I can only come up with sixteen hundred Fifth Rank High-Grade and two thousand Fifth Rank Mid-Grade Star Stones.”

After speaking, Xu Xinghe asked anxiously, “Do you think it’s enough?”

Essence: 88,000.

Combined with what he had before, it was enough to advance both of his martial arts to the Minor Achievement stage.

Jiang Changkong pondered for a moment before replying, “It will do.”

Seeing this, Xu Xinghe added, “How about I try to pull some strings and get you more Star Stones?”

“You have a way?” Jiang Changkong looked at him with surprise.

“I can only try to find out. I’m not sure if it will work,” Xu Xinghe said thoughtfully.

“As long as it doesn’t involve anything immoral or harmful. By the way, do you know where Chu Yunlong is now?” Jiang Changkong asked.

“I’m not sure. Ever since Yuntian Mountain, Chu Yunlong seems to have vanished without a trace. There’s been no news of him at all.”

Xu Xinghe shook his head.

Jiang Changkong nodded and said, “Give me the Star Stones. I’ll keep my promise.”

“They’re all here.” Xu Xinghe directly took out a pile of Star Stones from his Hidden Star Ring.

After accepting them, Jiang Changkong said, “Recently, something happened to Xueyue, and someone is trying to frame me. For now, don’t reveal that you’re familiar with me, to avoid getting implicated.”

“Understood.” Xu Xinghe nodded, then added, “Right now, my uncle is in charge of the Xu family. If anything comes up, contact me by phone.”

Jiang Changkong sighed softly, “Actually, even with all your efforts, Xu Hengzhi won’t be able to come out.”

Xu Xinghe trembled slightly, “As a son, how could I stand by and watch my father be killed?”

Jiang Changkong fell silent. Having a son like Xu Xinghe was a stroke of luck for Xu Hengzhi.

The two parted ways. After Xu Xinghe left, Jiang Changkong immediately enhanced his Indestructible Vajra Body and Mystical Tai Chi Art, advancing both martial arts to the Minor Achievement stage.

He himself also reached the Mid Star Spirit stage, his strength climbing once again.

After stabilizing his cultivation, he returned alone to the research institute.

At the institute, Jiang Changkong handed the monitor to Professor Yun, “Professor, what was the meaning behind giving me this earlier?”

“Seeing you return safely has made me even more certain of my suspicions.”

Professor Yun lightly tapped on the device, and a virtual screen appeared, displaying footage of his meeting with Yongxing and his conversation with Yao Meng earlier that day.

As for his talk with Xu Xinghe, since Jiang Changkong had blocked the monitoring, it wasn’t recorded.

“After that one palm strike, De never troubled you again. These geniuses almost always have a Star Spirit Peak expert by their side.”

Professor Yun said with a meaningful look, “With the young lady of the family in trouble, wouldn’t these major forces want to curry favor by helping to capture you?”

“You mean they know something about what happened to Xueyue?” Jiang Changkong narrowed his eyes.

“Not necessarily, but De definitely knows. Of course, they might also be wary of Jiang Changyue.

But if they capture you, wouldn’t Jiang Changyue come out?”

Professor Yun said calmly, “Have you been to the Taiyin Cold Pool?”

“Changyue checked it out. The Taiyin Lake inside is in turmoil, and the Star Demons are restless. It’s difficult to go down there again.”

Jiang Changkong frowned, “Can you elaborate on your thoughts?”

“Xueyue might be fine. Mentioning Jiang Changyue might just be a casual remark or a way to divert attention.”

Professor Yun lowered her voice, “As for the young lady of the family, she’s either inside the Taiyin Cold Pool or has already gone into hiding.”

“But the Taiyin Cold Pool is already in turmoil,” Jiang Changkong frowned.

“Xueyue is a Taiyin prodigy, and with the Moon Stone you gave her back then…”

“It seems he has already acquired some characteristics of the Taiyin Stellar Body. In that Lunar Lake, he must be like a fish returning to the sea.”

Professor Yun said softly.

“Then what is their purpose?” Jiang Changkong felt his mind was a bit muddled. “And what about the incident where Xueyue was being hunted back then?”

“Isn’t being hunted simple enough? Not to mention impersonation, some special methods could also achieve it.

As for the purpose of doing this, it might be that someone wanted to take action, staged it themselves, and seized the opportunity to escape.”

Professor Yun said calmly, “Have Jiang Changyue go down into the Taiyin Cold Pool again and see if there are any gains. Then we’ll know.”

Jiang Changkong frowned deeply, thought for a moment, and cupped his hands in respect. “If things are truly as you say, then I must thank you, Professor Yun.”

“Thank Ruoxi. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t bother helping you.”

Professor Yun waved her hand dismissively.

Jiang Changkong expressed his gratitude again, and Tang Ruoxi glared at him. “Why be so polite with me? Hurry up and go.”

Jiang Changkong asked them to help investigate Xu Hengzhi’s matter further before leaving.