Chapter 3367 — Wei Zhao's Weakness

"Let him go," Wei Zhao said after a moment's thought. Even though he now had Energy Gathering Pills of his own, he still intended to send Kang Jingming back; when it came to Energy Gathering Pills, one could never have too many — and even if Wei Zhao no longer needed them, there were still Han Jingyi and the others.

"Oh... all right." Tuo'er Riyue was puzzled as to why Wei Zhao wanted to release Kang Jingming, but since Wei Zhao had decided, he asked no further questions. He instructed Tuo'ertu to fetch Wei Zhao some Energy Gathering Pills and Tuo'ershan to release Kang Jingming, while he and Tuo'ertu Long sat in Wei Zhao's room and chatted with him.

"As for the energy stones, I'm afraid I can't take them all back this time — my car won't hold them," Wei Zhao said. "Leave them here for now. I'll come back for them when I have time."

"Ah — Mr. Lin, you're leaving?" Tuo'er Riyue was startled the moment he heard this.

"Yes. There's still a great deal waiting for me at home. I've accomplished what I came here for, so I must be going back," Wei Zhao said. "If anything comes up, you can call me, or come find me."

"Thank you, Mr. Lin..." Tuo'er Riyue was deeply moved. Those words of Wei Zhao's amounted to a promise: should anyone of the Pali clan ever again suffer severed meridians, Wei Zhao would presumably not stand idly by.

Perhaps it was Tuo'ertu Long's attitude that had won Wei Zhao over — at any rate, Wei Zhao had forged a bond of goodwill.

Kang Jingming was set free, his car returned to him and even filled with gas, which left him somewhat baffled; he had no idea what the Pali clan was up to.

"Old Patriarch, what exactly is the meaning of this? You killed my senior brother — do you no longer wish to cooperate with our Five Luminaries Sect?" In truth, Kang Jingming had already vaguely guessed the gist of things. The Pali clan had likely thrown in their lot with Wei Zhao — hadn't Tuo'er Riyue and Tuo'ertu both recovered from their injuries? Even Tuo'ertu Long, whom Little One had crippled at the end, now looked as fit as ever. If Kang Jingming still couldn't figure it out, he'd be a genuine fool!

He was no longer the Kang Jingming who once ate dog shit. He had grown during this time, and that was precisely why he wondered: why had Wei Zhao let him off again? Why had he let him go?

Tuo'er Riyue said nothing, only stepped to one side. Kang Jingming was about to speak again when a familiar voice rang out — it belonged to none other than Wei Zhao: "Kang Jingming, you and I are old acquaintances, and one might even say fellow disciples of a sort. So this time I'll spare you. I hope you'll refine those Energy Gathering Pills for me as soon as possible."

"Ah... Leader Wei Zhao, thank you so much..." Kang Jingming said the words, but in his heart he loathed Wei Zhao to death. Refine Energy Gathering Pills for you? I'll refine you an ultimate Energy Gathering Pill — and may it be the death of you!

"I won't see you out. Give my regards to Patriarch Xuanchen. Take Little One's corpse back with you. Frankly, I find him rather revolting. If you'd come alone, perhaps no one would have had to die." With that, Wei Zhao turned and left.

Kang Jingming knew of the grudge between Wei Zhao and Little One. Little One had once beaten Wei Zhao so badly he couldn't fight back, limp as a dead dog; that Wei Zhao would seek a chance to kill Little One was only reasonable.

Still, since Wei Zhao had released him, there was no reason for Kang Jingming to linger. He got into his car and sped away from the place...

The Five Luminaries Sect.

These past days, good news had come to Patriarch Xuanchen in steady succession. Word arrived from Kang Jingming's side that Wei Zhao had been imprisoned; and from Dr. Benjamin II came good news as well — the technical difficulties of the second-grade automatic pill cauldron had been overcome, a replica had now been produced, and it could be put into mass production.

Just then, Kang Jingming's call came through. Patriarch Xuanchen picked up: "Zhaoming! I was just about to look for you — I have good news to tell you!"

"Father-in-law, I'm afraid I have bad news for you..." Kang Jingming said, in great grief and indignation.

"Bad news?" Patriarch Xuanchen was taken aback; his fine mood plunged instantly to the bottom: "Then tell me first..."

"The Pali clan turned coat at the last moment — they've actually thrown in with Wei Zhao, and they killed our senior brother!" Kang Jingming said with a bitter face. "If Wei Zhao weren't counting on me to refine Energy Gathering Pills for him, I'd probably be stuck there too!"

"What? The Pali clan doesn't want the fourth-grade pinnacle Great Restoration Pill anymore?" Patriarch Xuanchen cried in alarm.

"Wei Zhao healed both Tuo'er Riyue's and Tuo'ertu's injuries! That brat Wei Zhao has this miraculous ability — we knew about that before. Who'd have thought the Pali clan would learn of it, and then..." Kang Jingming recounted with a bitter smile.

"Then I understand..." Patriarch Xuanchen sighed after hearing it out. He had a vague awareness of Wei Zhao's ability, but had never looked into it deeply — after all, the heart-methods and incantations one person could cultivate were limited, and studying someone else's was of no use. Besides, even if Wei Zhao could cultivate it, the men of his Five Luminaries Sect might not be able to; otherwise there would have been no need for Tagan Long. "Come back at once. It's enough that you're all right — otherwise Little Eleven would be a widow, and her whole life would be bitter."

"I'm on my way back now. By the way, Father-in-law, what was the good news you mentioned earlier?" Kang Jingming suddenly recalled that Patriarch Xuanchen had spoken of some good news.

"The good news... ah, I'm not in much of a mood to talk about it now. It's like this," Patriarch Xuanchen said. "Over at Dr. Benjamin II's side, they've cracked Wei Zhao's second-grade automatic pill cauldron. It can be mass-produced now."

"Excellent! Since we can't kill Wei Zhao for the time being, striking at him from this angle will do just as well!" Kang Jingming's fighting spirit was instantly restored.

"Mm, that's my thinking too. For now, this is all we can do..." Patriarch Xuanchen said helplessly.

"By the way, Father-in-law, actually, Little One's death may not be such a bad thing!" Kang Jingming said suddenly.

"Oh? How do you mean?" Patriarch Xuanchen was somewhat taken aback. "You mean, because of Little Eleven?"

Little One had also been fond of Little Eleven before, which was why Patriarch Xuanchen made that guess — after all, if one looked closely, the two could be counted as rivals in love.

"Ah? Father-in-law, what are you imagining? What does she have to do with it?" Kang Jingming shook his head hastily and explained: "It's like this. Earlier, when Wei Zhao fought Tuo'ertu, he failed to kill Tuo'ertu and instead fell into a trap. That shows Wei Zhao may not have the strength to slay Tuo'ertu — though of course, one can't be a hundred percent certain, since Tuo'ertu sprang the trap and caught Wei Zhao off guard! But after that, Wei Zhao didn't show himself; instead he had the Pali clan kill Little One. That proves it: Wei Zhao lacks the ability to kill a late Heaven-rank pinnacle grand-perfection expert. Otherwise he wouldn't have needed the Pali clan to act — a favor-owing business like that is something Wei Zhao shouldn't want to do. Besides, Wei Zhao and Little One had a grudge; wouldn't striking the blow himself have brought greater satisfaction in revenge?"