In the northeastern corner of Central Capital, the majority of residents in this area were merchants.

    In Great Xia, the status of merchants wasn''t high, so even if they built their homes extravagantly, they dared not deviate even slightly from the standard design for doors and interiors.

    On a dark and windy night, a Qi Refining Third Level cultivator was writing something within a courtyard.

    Behind him, a shadow appeared.

    Despite the close proximity, the Qi Refining Third Level cultivator didn''t sense anything as the shadow extended its hands and embraced him.

    The next morning, Gu Jia arrived at the scene of the incident.

    It was with his consent that the Loose Cultivators entered Central Capital, and so far, these Loose Cultivators had abided by the agreement, not causing any trouble within the city.

    All the Loose Cultivators were concentrated in this area of the northeastern part of the city, where the Imperial Family had intervened to have merchants accommodate the cultivators.

    Initially, this decision had no issues, but everything changed in August.

    One after another, people were murdered; it started with commoners, but now a Loose Cultivator had fallen victim.

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    Along with Gu Jia, Mr. Liu, the clan leader, had arrived, and the area was cordoned off by the Ministry of Justice.

    "Such a strong aura of yin coldness!" As soon as Gu Jia arrived outside the door where the incident took place, he couldn''t help but frown and comment.

    "Mr. Gu, was it done by an Evil Cultivator?" Mr. Liu asked with a grim face.

    "It''s Corpse Refining, can''t be certain if it''s an Evil Cultivator, but the method is too sinister; it''s definitely not something good!" Gu Jia entered and saw the fallen Loose Cultivator on the ground, furrowing his brow as he spoke.

    Corpse Refining techniques could be found in almost every sect, so one couldn''t claim that Corpse Refining was inherently evil.

    However, Corpse Refining that involved draining a cultivator''s essence and blood crossed the line for most sects.

    The Loose Cultivator on the ground had been completely drained of blood, leaving behind only an empty husk which looked exceedingly eerie.

    "Mr. Gu, this is a challenge to the Sky Sea Sect, please take charge of this matter for us!" Mr. Liu said, bowing deeply.

    Gu Jia nodded, regardless, this incident had occurred in Central Capital.

    "Mr. Liu, I need to report this matter to my sect. Additionally, let the Loose Cultivators take action. If any cultivator can find the tracks of this person, they may apply to the sect for a reward of five hundred Spirit Stones!" Gu Jia considered for a moment, then looked at Mr. Liu and said.

    Upon hearing this, Mr. Liu''s eyes initially lit up, but he quickly grasped the implications.

    "I will spread the news!" Since Gu Jia could offer such a big incentive, the issue clearly was not simple, and Mr. Liu readily agreed.

    "I hope I''m just overthinking it!" Gu Jia felt a heavy sense of concern, thinking to himself.

    Li Shiming had taken an official position, a loose official rank of regular seventh grade, without an actual appointment.

    Typically, the third-place ''Advanced Scholar'' is expected to enter the Hanlin Academy to become an editor of regular seventh grade, a critical channel for the nurturing of the nation''s top talents.

    However, no one thought that the Emperor was suppressing him because he received several times more rewards than the top scorer and was even granted a large mansion.

    Moreover, a plaque from the palace inscribed with ''Advanced Scholar'' was also sent to the mansion, showing the depth of the Emperor''s favor.

    Yet, Li Shiming did not move into the big mansion; he just let Mo Yan receive it on his behalf.

    With only a few servants in his family at present and the mansion being more than ten times larger than his current residence, he was going to leave this place soon; there was no need for further complications.

    Li Shiming was dining, holding a bowl of Spirit Rice in his hands, with a dish in front of him.

    The dish was stir-fried spirit bamboo shoots, which grew from Spirit Bamboo.

    There was no helping it; the Spirit Bamboo had been growing well over the past half year and now had a main stem reaching over three meters tall, nearly touching the top of the chamber space.

    The chamber space had no extra room for the Spirit Bamboo to grow unrestrained, so the newly sprouted bamboo shoots became part of his Spirit Food.

    This also solved the problem of limited variety in his Spirit Food, providing a rare combination of a dish and rice.

    Spirit bamboo shoots contain much more Spiritual Energy than Spirit Rice does. With the rate at which the spirit bamboo shoots emerged, he could harvest one every month.

    One spirit bamboo shoot was enough for him to eat for five days, mainly because, with his Qi Refining Second Level cultivation, the spirit bamboo shoots were somewhat overly nutritious.

    In fact, in other places, no cultivator would consider spirit bamboo shoots as Spirit Food because the value of matured spirit bamboo is much greater.

    Li Shiming also discovered that as long as he prevented the Spirit Bamboo from growing a second main stem normally and ensured sufficient Spiritual Energy and nutrient solution, the spirit bamboo shoots would continue to sprout incessantly.

    Since he had nowhere to plant the Spirit Bamboo, the spirit bamboo shoots became a regular spirit vegetable on his table.