When Stone asked about this, Qu Jianlei also felt a bit helpless, so he recounted the events again.

He didn't mention Luo Hanshuang's name, as it seemed that the struggle for the opportunities in the Mist Mansion wasn't uncommon.

Sure enough, Stone understood upon hearing and nodded in sudden realization, "The Farmer indeed intends to ascend to the Supreme."

But the Farmer... would he actually chase to the Celestial Hook?

However, considering his temperament, Stone didn't find it surprising, as there were hardly any mentally stable individuals among the Celestial Sorrowers.

Qu Jianlei snorted coldly, "I didn't bother with him at the time, tried to trouble him later but couldn't find him. Didn't expect him to deliver himself to my door."

Stone nodded at these words, feeling a bit emotional: doing unreasonable things too often will eventually lead to disaster.

His mood lightened a bit, "That being the case, it's easier to explain to the Iron Blood Brotherhood."

"Explain?" Qu Jianlei gave him a speechless look, shouldn't they be the ones explaining to me?

But since he was passively involved in this matter, he didn't want to say much, "I am not afraid of them."

"Mmm, mmm," Stone kept nodding, yes, you are certainly not afraid, but the problem is I am.

After he left, Qu Jianlei began to inventory the night's gains.

In the Storage Talisman from Heart Erosion, there was an A-level standard resource, with slightly over three million in Silver Notes.

Besides that, there were several storage units, mainly related to his research on poison.

Qu Jianlei did not dwell on this, as he had already started to "correct course" and wouldn't consider researching similar matters in the short term.

The Farmer's two Storage Talismans contained many good things like a large amount of crystals, exotic beast meat, and Qi Recovery Pills.

Silver Notes weren't plentiful, only a little over a million, but importantly he had records on arrays like Qi Gathering.

Supposedly, he is just A-level and isn't part of the military sequence, essentially having no chance to engage with Qi Gathering Arrays.

However, the fact that he possessed this kind of information showed that the person was not only unscrupulous but also obsessed with advancing to the Supreme.

What surprised Qu Jianlei even more was how deeply the Farmer studied the Celestial Hook Enigma Mansion.

This person even knew that if all treasures in a room were taken, the outer door would disappear, but the inner door could be opened.

Exiting through the inner door could lead to the true hub of the Mist Mansion.

He wasn't very sure what the hub would contain, but the Farmer speculated that it might be possible to refine the entire Mist Mansion.

And this speculation wasn't his personal deduction but derived from other records.

Unfortunately, the Farmer did not specify what those "other records" were.

Yet, it was normal—the things he recorded were for his own reference, not for outsiders to analyze.

Qu Jianlei guessed the guy must have entered the Mist Mansion multiple times and likely obtained information from some academy inheritances.

As for obtaining inheritances through killing... given the Farmer's ways, it's almost a certainty.

The academy's retribution might be strong, but since they call themselves Celestial Sorrowers, would they care?

Qu Jianlei had to admit he was very tempted by the Refining Secret Realm, however, at the moment he could only set this thought aside.

Many supremes couldn't solve the matter, and he was merely an A-level right now.

One can have dreams, but shouldn't daydream.

Moreover, at the Mist Mansion, there were not only supreme guardians but also the settlement military planting superpower rice inside.

Even if he were lucky enough to refine the Mist Mansion, how to deal with these ensuing troubles was also a big issue.

However, speaking of planting superpower rice, one of the Farmer's guesses caught Qu Jianlei's attention.

That is, he believed the settlement military's mass planting of superpower rice and other plants inside the Mist Mansion was to lower the "alien energy" of the mansion.

Indeed, the Farmer also realized that the energy within the Mist Mansion differed somewhat from the elemental power of superpower warriors.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be eyeing the advancement to the Supreme, as it indeed was related to all his cultivation levels aligning, just one step away.

Regarding the purpose of reducing those alien energies, it was evidently to make the Mist Mansion more conducive to Awakened cultivation.

Wait a moment, there's another possibility!

After lowering the Spiritual Qi of the mansion, it might become easier to refine it?

Qu Jianlei thought his speculation was very likely true.

It's a painstaking task, but without other routes, one can only choose the foolish method.

No wonder when Luo Hanshuang and other students were sacrificing, the academy instructed not to use Energy Blocks—that was charging the mansion!

This connection suddenly tied all the clues together, and the logic fit coherently.

Regrettably, students had their own thoughts; opportunities are hard to come by, but Energy Blocks are easy to obtain.

So this turns out a bit comedic, but it can be confirmed that the massive opportunities students brought out also indirectly carried away some Spiritual Qi.

The Empire surely understands the principle of energy conservation, thus the Spiritual Qi of the mist mansion should still be gradually declining.

Otherwise, the academy should impose stricter restrictions on students.

Prohibiting students from bringing large amounts of Energy Blocks into the Mist Mansion... is that difficult? Clearly not.

Hence, the Empire's operations indicate they adopt a "take it slow" attitude, after all, they can afford to wait.

Qu Jianlei followed this line of thought and let out a sigh of relief. "Taking it slowly is good, saves me from getting impatient."

These pieces of information were not known to Luo Hanshuang, but that's perfectly normal; what would students need to know so much for?

Interestingly, even Xiao Bai Tian also concealed their true experiences from the academy.

One can only say that the adult world... is indeed a bit complicated, not as one-sided as it seems.

After Qu Jianlei sorted out his thoughts, he asked Xiao Hu to analyze it, to see if this was really the case.

Xiao Hu calculated and responded, "Logically it holds up objectively, but as for human nature, I can't really consider it."

With the impending confrontation with the Iron Blood Brotherhood, Qu Jianlei didn't continue to focus on deducing the Cultivation Technique.

He activated his Defense Array, seizing the opportunity to rest and recuperate.

The next day, when the sky turned dark, the rain stopped, and Shi Tou returned to the small courtyard.

He brought four hundred thousand in Silver Notes, the bounty for Farmer and Heart Erosion.

He stated that the actual bounty for the two was six hundred thousand, but someone was short on Silver Coins and would settle the balance within three days.

The balance surely wouldn't be an issue; if one couldn't handle those two A-level forces, how could they dare to provoke the one who killed them?

Qu Jianlei tossed ten thousand to Shi Tou, indicating that after receiving the balance, he would give him another ten thousand.

Shi Tou repeatedly said it was too much, exclaiming that such money from fierce people really isn't to be taken heedlessly.

Qu Jianlei seemed indifferent, saying, "If you hadn't told me they were worth this much, I would have missed out on this money."

Shi Tou sensed the man's principles and couldn't help but say, "I just relayed the information to the Brotherhood."

He was quite methodical, first claiming the bounty, then loitering for half a day before finally finding the Iron Blood Brotherhood by evening.

He sought out two C-level Warriors; since it concerned the Awakened, presumably, the information would be fairly valued.

He didn't mention the fate of the Water Monkey; in his view, that was the employer's concern.

However, feeling the employer was sincere, he voluntarily disclosed it.

Qu Jianlei did not blame him, merely asking, "Do you still intend to leave?"

"No," Shi Tou replied without hesitation. In fact, he had already figured it out.

"If Farmer and Heart Erosion could find this place, then it's already no secret. I can't escape, so might as well fight together."

"Your main task is to protect the children," Qu Jianlei casually responded. "You won't have any part in my battles."

That's the honest truth, and he believed the other party understood that.

Yet, there was still one problem: "Since you don't plan to go out, how should we obtain the next piece of information?"

Shi Tou had thought it through, "I can find two friends to help gather intel for us, but..."

"I don't want to get my friends in trouble, so the information might have some delay."

"Alright then," Qu Jianlei nodded, frowning gloomily, "the feeling of waiting around... isn't very pleasant."

Shi Tou's lips twitched.

The opposition knows you took out Farmer and Heart Erosion, yet without confirmation of the Water Monkey's death, they might not attack immediately.

Nevertheless, he didn't voice this concern. If his remarks caused a misjudgment from the employer, it could be disastrous.

Surprisingly, to Qu Jianlei's astonishment, the next two days passed with no reaction from the Iron Blood Brotherhood.

The third day was the same, until late at night, still no response.

Without Qu Jianlei needing to speak, Shi Tou couldn't sit still. "Should I go and gauge the situation?"

"Let's wait another two days," Qu Jianlei shook his head. He was quite helpless with his physique, refusing to drag uninvolved people into this.

"If they insist on not coming, then you can spread the word for me. I will give them a final deadline."

He didn't want to make the first move, but if the other side pretended as if nothing happened, he couldn't tolerate that either.

If the mountain doesn't come to me, then I will go to the mountain; events that have already transpired can't be treated as non-existent.

If he also turned a blind eye, he could very well be underestimated by the opponents.

Yet, on the next evening, the people from the Iron Blood Brotherhood actually showed up.

They were two A-levels and two B-levels, all men.

They didn't knock on the door directly but instead blared the horn outside the courtyard gates, incessantly pressing it without letting go.

Soon after, Shi Tou's face appeared on the screen by the gate. He spoke impatiently, "Who are you?"

One B-level Warrior spoke up, "Iron Blood Brotherhood, Willits, open the door!"

Shi Tou was slightly taken aback and spoke up, "If that's your attitude, I suggest you don't come in; you might not be able to get out."

The B-level Warrior was furious, "What do you mean by that?"

"Just what the words mean," Shi Tou responded expressionlessly.

He was quite afraid of Qu Jianlei, but that wasn't cowardice—he understood well the vast differences between them.

Against regular B-level or even A-level, he was still full of fight.

"My employer has a bad temper; with your attitude, if you dare to come in, killing you would be justifiable defense!"