Chapter 9: Discovering Clues

Ma Lianhao hurriedly drove the car, taking Jiang Feng to the racecourse. 

The racecourse was near the Huatian Club, just a two or three-minute drive away. 

After parking, Jiang Feng headed straight toward the stables.

Ma Lianhao followed closely behind, his expression growing increasingly gloomy. 

Why did Young Master Jiang seem so unfamiliar today? It was one thing that his clothing style had changed, but even his tone of voice was vastly different from before. And now he could even diagnose illnesses? Could it really be because of his studies?

No matter how much he racked his brain, Ma Lianhao couldn’t figure it out. He could only trail behind as Jiang Feng walked ahead. At that moment, he asked, “Young Master, are you here to ride horses?”

Jiang Feng shook his head and strode forward alone. Upon reaching the stables, he immediately spotted the white horse and walked over to it, reaching out to gently stroke its head.

The white horse was unusually docile, its brows slightly furrowed. 

Jiang Feng stepped into the stall.

“Young Master, it’s dirty!” Ma Lianhao hurriedly warned.

Jiang Feng didn’t respond. He ran a hand slowly over the horse’s body. 

These horses had been imported from abroad, each worth over a million, and the racecourse staff tended to them meticulously. They were cleaned daily, their coats spotless and odor-free.

As Jiang Feng’s hand moved over the horse, his nose twitched slightly. He even checked the horse’s hooves—nothing unusual. But when his hand reached the white horse’s eyes, a subtle realization stirred within him.

He gently scraped something from the corner of the horse’s eye with his finger, holding the residue in his palm and examining it for a moment before turning to Ma Lianhao. “Is there a way to analyze the components of this substance?”

“Of course there is, but what’s this for?” Ma Lianhao asked, puzzled.

“Don’t ask questions. Just get it tested for me. You have one day,” Jiang Feng said directly.

Ma Lianhao gave a wry smile, feeling like Young Master Jiang was driving him to the brink of exhaustion.

“Well, well, isn’t this the famous Young Master Jiang? What, here to play around?” A mocking, nasal voice rang out nearby.

Ma Lianhao turned to see the newcomer and forced a laugh, quickly stepping forward with an outstretched hand. “Young Master Li, what a rare guest!”

“Get your hand away. What right do you have to shake mine?” the newcomer snapped rudely.

The group of young men trailing behind him burst into unrestrained laughter. 

Ma Lianhao’s face flickered through several shades of embarrassment as he awkwardly withdrew his hand, wiping it on his clothes. “Young Master Li looks so pleased—something good must have happened, right? Care to share?”

“Something good has indeed happened, but what right do you have to speak to me?” Young Master Li snorted coldly, shoving him aside. “Move out of my way.”

Ma Lianhao’s expression darkened further, but he knew he couldn’t afford to offend Young Master Li. He stepped aside awkwardly. 

Li Yuanjue approached Jiang Feng and sneered, “Young Master Jiang, you’re getting quite full of yourself. What, didn’t you hear me?”

“Get lost!” Jiang Feng replied.

Li Yuanjue’s face twisted. Though the Li family ranked at the bottom of Yanjing’s seven great families, slightly below the sixth-ranked Jiang family, they had long collaborated with the third-ranked Chen family. Recently, this partnership had borne fruit, giving the Li family a faint edge over the Jiangs. This had boosted Li Yuanjue’s confidence considerably.

He’d come to the Huatian Racecourse with friends to have some fun, never expecting to run into Jiang Feng. The memory of Jiang Feng chasing Ye Qingxuan at this very racecourse gnawed at him uncomfortably.

Li Yuanjue was also one of Ye Qingxuan’s suitors. Like Jiang Feng, he’d faced repeated rejections, but deep down, he considered her his personal possession—untouchable by other men, especially a “good-for-nothing” like Jiang Feng. That’s why he’d come over to taunt him.

He hadn’t expected Jiang Feng to tell him to get lost right off the bat. Unable to swallow the insult, his face turned ugly as he shrieked, “Jiang Feng, do you really think you’re still the great Young Master Jiang? Telling me to get lost? Who do you think you are?”

The young men behind him chimed in with jeers and sarcastic remarks, creating a lively uproar.

“Get lost!” Jiang Feng repeated, his impression of Li Yuanjue as poor as ever.

“Say that again if you dare!” Li Yuanjue roared furiously.

Slap! 

Jiang Feng struck without hesitation, delivering a crisp slap across Li Yuanjue’s face. Expressionless, he said, “If your head’s not clear, I’ll help you wake up.”

“You—” Li Yuanjue froze, stunned. He never imagined Jiang Feng would dare lay a hand on him. Was this still the same useless fool who chased women and let others walk all over him? Rage erupted within him as he bellowed, “What are you all standing there for? Get him! Beat him to death—any consequences are on me!”

The group behind him, already itching for a fight, charged forward at his command. 

Jiang Feng didn’t even glance at them. With a few casual kicks, he sent them all sprawling to the ground. Then, with another swift kick to Li Yuanjue’s knee, he forced him to kneel. Calmly, he said, “I gave you a chance, but you didn’t take it.”

Li Yuanjue hadn’t anticipated Jiang Feng’s combat prowess. His once-decent face now resembled a painter’s palette, splashed with colors of shock and fury. He glared at Jiang Feng, shouting, “Jiang Feng, you dare treat me like this? I’ll kill you!”

“Idiot,” Jiang Feng said coldly, delivering slap after slap. 

Li Yuanjue couldn’t dodge, and after more than a dozen strikes, his face swelled up like a pig’s head.

Ma Lianhao, equally shocked by Jiang Feng’s display, feared he might go too far and cause trouble. He rushed forward to hold him back, forcing a wry smile. “Young Master, that’s enough. Let it go.”

Jiang Feng shot Li Yuanjue a sidelong glance and said coldly, “Remember today. Don’t ever show your face in front of me again, or I’ll beat you every time I see you.”

Ma Lianhao had originally planned to invite Jiang Feng for drinks, but after this incident, he was in no mood. He drove Jiang Feng back instead. 

Jiang Feng didn’t mind and had Ma Lianhao stop by a bank first. Since his own bank cards had been frozen by his grandfather, he couldn’t open an account. Using Ma Lianhao’s name, he opened a cash savings card instead.

Ma Lianhao was insanely jealous of how effortlessly Jiang Feng had earned five million. While that sum was astronomical to an ordinary person, to him, it was merely two or three months’ expenses, so he didn’t dwell on it.

For Jiang Feng, the most pressing matter was to improve his strength as quickly as possible. However, his current body was too weak to meet his needs. In a week, he’d barely reached the first level of Body Refinement. Without external aid, this was the limit of what he could achieve at this stage.

Fortunately, he had vast experience in this area, with dozens of body-refining techniques stored in his mind. But those methods were either too domineering or too slow to suit his needs. The best solution was to use natural treasures as supplements.

This world, however, was vastly different from the cultivation realm he came from. Whether such treasures existed here was uncertain—at least, his memories held no trace of them. 

Ordinary medicinal herbs would have to do, though their effects were far weaker. He’d need much larger quantities and dosages, which would cost an astronomical amount. 

That’s why he’d accepted the five million from Sister Hua.

He considered asking Ma Lianhao to take him to a pharmacy to look for the herbs he needed but ultimately decided against it. 

Though life on Earth wasn’t as brutal as in the cultivation realm, texts like the Esoteric Scripture of the Yellow Emperor and the The Classic of the Way—considered treasures even in the cultivation world—existed here. He couldn’t afford to be careless.

Perhaps, he thought, this world held things beyond common understanding that he simply hadn’t encountered yet. For now, he didn’t want his secrets exposed—not even to Ma Lianhao.

The Lamborghini roared down the road, turning heads wherever it went. Ma Lianhao’s expression gradually softened into a smug grin, amusing Jiang Feng.

Suddenly, Jiang Feng’s face shifted slightly. He signaled Ma Lianhao to stop the car. Focusing intently, he sensed fluctuations of spiritual energy from heaven and earth. Surprised, he asked, “What is this place?”

“Young Master, don’t tell me you’re so confused you don’t even know Liulichang?” Ma Lianhao said, astonished. (G: Liulichang is a street in the capital that is known for a series of traditional Chinese stone dwellings selling various craftwork, artistry, and antiques.)

“Liulichang? This is Liulichang?” Jiang Feng asked.

Ma Lianhao chuckled. “Young Master, you’ve never been interested in antiques. What, want to take a look? But I’ll warn you—Liulichang isn’t what it used to be. It’s full of fakes now. Neither of us knows a thing about antiques, so maybe we should bring someone along next time.”

Jiang Feng shook his head. It wasn’t antiques that intrigued him but the spiritual energy he’d sensed. Though faint and nearly useless for cultivation, its mere presence thrilled him.

It proved this world was capable of cultivation.

“Let’s go take a look,” Jiang Feng said, pushing open the car door and stepping out.

Ma Lianhao assumed Jiang Feng had developed an interest in antiques. Though that interest might end up costing him a hefty “tuition fee,” he didn’t mind. As the son of a nouveau riche, money was the least of his concerns.

After getting out, Jiang Feng confirmed that the spiritual energy here was indeed denser, validating his suspicions. Without hesitation, he strode forward.

Compared to the chaotic, shady bustle of Panjiayuan, Liulichang felt more orderly and cultured. Shops selling antiques, calligraphy, and paintings lined the streets, dazzling the eye with their variety.

Their lavish attire drew attention as they walked. 

Brokers approached them one after another, peddling wares, but Jiang Feng showed no interest. He led Ma Lianhao in and out of shops, examining hundreds of antiques.

Some were genuine, others fake. His method of discernment was simple: items with faint spiritual energy were real. But even the authentic ones had energy too weak to be of use to him.

Somewhat disappointed, Jiang Feng was about to call Ma Lianhao to leave when, out of the corner of his eye, something caught his attention.