Chapter Fifteen: Investigation, Thorough Investigation! (Please continue reading)

“Yi’er, hold on!”

Chen Taihang’s forehead was slick with sweat as he carefully guided his true essence through Chen Yi’s meridians, urging him to endure. Having experienced foundation establishment and meridian opening himself, he knew well the searing pain that came with a martial cultivator’s true essence expanding the meridians.

Yet this was a necessary beginning for foundation establishment, the optimal method refined by the Wei dynasty’s nobles over thousands of years. Only by broadening the twelve main meridians within the body, supplemented by medicinal elixirs to temper the body—strengthening muscles, bones, skin, and even the internal organs from the outside in—could one’s cultivation progress rival that of demons.

As for the final assessment of the foundation establishment—excellent, good, average, or poor—it corresponded roughly to the classifications of demonic bloodlines: Sacred, Absolute, Heavenly, Earthly. Though this evaluation of martial potential was not perfectly precise, it provided a reasonable gauge of a child’s aptitude to allocate resources accordingly.

“Hiss!” Chen Yi gritted his teeth, enduring the excruciating pain. He could feel a current of energy coursing from the crown of his head down his spine, then radiating through his limbs. At every point it passed, a stabbing, needle-like pain jolted him, causing his body to tremble.

No wonder the eldest brother had sounded like a pig about to be slaughtered—it truly was agonizing!

To distract himself, Chen Yi summoned a luminous screen panel, repeatedly scanning the prompts displayed. Especially the counterattack points, which he counted from five all the way to ten thousand.

Eventually, the pain dulled into numbness.

Pain and numbness!

Only when he heard Chen Taihang utter the word “finished” did Chen Yi’s eyes roll back and he fainted.

“Yi’er? Yi’er!” Chen Taihang stared at the unconscious boy in alarm, then dashed outside, shouting: “Quick, summon Apothecary Li immediately!”

Outside the Blossom Garden, Xia Wanwan, anxiously awaiting the outcome, turned pale at the sound.

“Yi’er…” Zhou Wanyi’s face also darkened as she abruptly rose, scolding sharply, “Hurry inside and find out what happened!”

Chaos erupted among those gathered outside the garden.

By afternoon, everyone had assembled in the central courtyard’s main hall.

At this moment, Madam Chen no longer bore her earlier kindly expression; her aged face was deeply furrowed with worry.

Xia Wanwan and Zhou Wanyi sat side by side, their complexions somewhat improved but tinged with anger.

The other elders maintained neutral expressions, though many wore confused looks.

Only Chen Taihang knelt silently in the center of the hall, head bowed.

After a long pause, Madam Chen spoke slowly: “The apothecary has just confirmed that Yi’er’s meridians are damaged and he must rest for two days before continuing the body-tempering elixirs.”

“Though Yi’er is not gravely ill, the suspicious circumstances surrounding this matter greatly concern me!”

Her face turned icy as she finished.

“Taihang, do you have anything to say?”

“Grandmother, I…” Chen Taihang said bitterly, “I do not know why that Meridian Nourishing Pill failed.”

“If I had known, I would never have let Yi’er ingest it, causing him meridian damage.”

“Is that what I asked you?” the grandmother’s eyes snapped open.

Chen Lixin, standing nearby, interjected: “Taihang, Mother wants to know the origin of that pill.”

“The pill,” Chen Taihang suddenly realized, “was given to me by a guard in the residence.”

“Who?”

“Zhao Xing. Zhao Xing retrieved the Meridian Nourishing Pill from the storage.”

“Bring him here!”

“I’ll go,” Chen Lixin stood and left with several guards.

Madam Chen said nothing, her expression still cold as she surveyed those present.

“Since the founding of the Chen family under the Wei dynasty, never before has a scion suffered sabotage during foundation establishment.”

“Well, well, excellent…” someone coughed nervously.

“Grandmother, please calm yourself. Your health is paramount.”

Chen Taihang took a few steps kneeling, his rugged face full of guilt: “I promise you, I will find the culprit who harmed Yi’er.”

Madam Chen coughed to steady herself, looking weary as she waved her hand.

“What of Yuan’er? How is his condition? Has he also suffered meridian damage?”

“Reporting to the grandmother, Young Master Yuan’s condition is better than Young Master Yi’s, but he has two meridian injuries,” Apothecary Li responded from a corner.

Zhou Wanyi’s expression shifted slightly as she tightened her grip on Xia Wanwan’s hand.

Xia Wanwan quickly whispered comfort to prevent any agitation.

At that moment, Chen Lixin returned hastily, his face grim.

“Zhao Xing is dead!”

A hush fell over the hall. After a long moment, Madam Chen’s voice thundered like lightning:

“Investigate thoroughly! Fully investigate!”

…

When Chen Yi awoke, it was night.

He blinked drowsily, taking in his surroundings—it was still his chamber.

Eldest brother Chen Yuan lay on a nearby bed.

Beside them, Xia Wanwan and the nurse Luoluo sat silently with their backs to him.

Chen Yi closed his eyes again.

“What happened? Wasn’t I foundation establishing?”

After a moment, he recalled faintly that he had lost consciousness after the meridian opening.

Now he felt a faint ache in his body.

“Am I injured?”

“Is this still considered a successful foundation establishment…?”

It seemed the Meridian Nourishing Pill was necessary; even though he avoided the poison of the Meridian Shattering Pill, his meridians were still damaged during the opening.

Thinking this, Chen Yi opened his eyes once more.

“Mother.”

“Yi’er?”

Xia Wanwan rushed over, embracing him as tears fell. “You’re awake! You scared me to death.”

“Mother, what happened? Did I succeed in foundation establishment?”

Xia Wanwan hesitated before replying, “The foundation establishment went fairly smoothly, but you injured your meridians and need two days’ rest.”

Chen Yi breathed a sigh of relief. At least his foundation wasn’t ruined.

Then he looked toward Chen Yuan.

“Where is eldest brother?”

“Yuan’er, like you, also needs to rest.”

“Eldest brother’s meridians are damaged too?” Chen Yi faltered.

“Yes, but his condition is better than yours.”

Seeing his spirits were intact, Xia Wanwan wiped away her tears and forced a smile.

“Thank the heavens, both you brothers succeeded in foundation establishment.”

“That’s good…”

Not good at all!

Chen Yi knew well he had ingested the Meridian Shattering Pill, not the nourishing one.

If not for the interface panel absorbing the poison for him, his body would now be crippled!

Chen Yuan injured too?

A chill ran through Chen Yi’s heart.

Clearly, either both pills were faulty, or his second uncle Chen Taihang was involved.

He leaned toward the former.

Meaning that woman had poisoned both him and Chen Yuan with the Meridian Shattering Pill.

Yet as he pondered further, Chen Yi frowned deeply.

He sensed something strange here.

Especially judging by Xia Wanwan’s reaction, it seemed the Chen family now realized the “Meridian Nourishing Pill” he took was problematic.

Would Zhou Wanyi, who was always cautious, be so blatant in sabotaging his foundation?

Even if his meridians were destroyed, how would they explain Chen Yuan’s condition being fine?

They could hardly pin all the blame on Chen Taihang.

“Yi’er, rest for a while.”

“Okay.”

Once the room quieted, Chen Yi turned the matter over and over without resolution.

For now, he placed the blame tentatively on Zhou Wanyi.

One thing was clear—whoever was behind this did not want Chen Yuan harmed.

Even if it wasn’t Zhou Wanyi herself, it must be connected to her!