Chapter 400: I know where that person is now

"Tian Shu Ji Pan, what is that thing?"

Xu Xiaoshou watched everyone hurry away and asked directly.

Fu Zhi knew he had messed up and even trapped someone's junior sister inside, so he didn't dare waste any time.

"Tian Shu Ji Pan" was an important secret to others, but if he still planned to study the "Tian Ji Shu" with Xu Xiaoshou, he had to reveal everything.

"Tian Shu Ji Pan is actually a mechanism array created by the 'Tian Ji Shu'."

"The profound principles within are extremely deep. I, Fu Zhi, have only observed it for a few years and managed to comprehend the technique of nested spirit arrays directly."

"However, what I grasped was merely the basics."

Xu Xiaoshou said nothing and waited for more.

Sure enough, Fu Zhi changed the subject and said gravely, "But that's not the main point. If it were just the 'Tian Ji Shu', there would be very few on this continent who dare to covet it or even have the capability to touch it."

"Their target is probably not just the 'Tian Shu Ji Pan'."

Xu Xiaoshou nodded in understanding.

"So, there's something sealed inside?"

If they weren't after the outer shell, they must be eyeing something else.

Since "Tian Shu Ji Pan" could seal Mu Zixi inside, there must be other things in it.

"Yes."

Fu Zhi nodded. "'Tian Shu Ji Pan' suppresses the 'Shi Jie Yuan Dian' of Bai Ku!"

A look of confusion flashed in Xu Xiaoshou's eyes.

"Shi Jie Yuan Dian?"

Though he was hearing the term for the first time, it sounded far from simple.

Fu Zhi smiled bitterly. "Shi Jie Yuan Dian concerns the very foundation of Bai Ku..."

"In simple terms, if you get it, you might be able to unravel the secrets of Bai Ku's extradimensional space."

"Or, obtain the strongest power inside."

"At the very least, you could follow the guidance to gain the greatest benefits!"

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned and couldn't believe that the "Tian Shu Ji Pan" Fu Zhi had been talking about was such a terrifying object.

Did this guy not know the principle of not flaunting one's wealth?

Fu Zhi knew what he was thinking and said, "I obtained this thing earlier, and it's already the talk of the surrounding prefectures, so there's no point in hiding it."

"Besides, the 'Shi Jie Yuan Dian' isn't what I want. My goal is only the Tian Ji Shu!"

"From the 'textile technique' you displayed earlier, I realized that without your help, even another ten years might not be enough for me to crack it."

"Let alone get the real treasure inside!"

Xu Xiaoshou's face darkened. "If you couldn't crack it, how did you manage to trap someone inside?"

"Hehe."

Fu Zhi chuckled awkwardly. "I might not understand the tool's construction, but after four years of tinkering, at least I know how to use it..."

Xu Xiaoshou: "..."

"So, you can trap people inside and release them too?"

"This..."

Fu Zhi's eyes flickered, and he said firmly, "Yes!"

Xu Xiaoshou nearly exploded with anger.

I don't believe you for a second!

If you could release them, why think about it for so long?

Seeing his expression, Fu Zhi quickly added, "It's not possible right now, but I have a lead. As long as I study it for a bit longer, I definitely can!"

Xu Xiaoshou took a deep breath to calm his frustration.

This wasn't the time to dwell on that.

After all, back then, he had indeed trespassed into the flower sea, and to Fu Zhi, he was an intruder.

Not killing him on the spot was already lucky.

But the outcome...

It was just too frustrating!

Pure misfortune wrapped in a sliver of luck!

"Tian Shu Ji Pan..."

Xu Xiaoshou murmured, his face full of bitterness.

This sudden twist had completely thrown his plans into chaos.

And Mu Zixi was gone too...

That poor girl had it rough.

If she'd held on a few more minutes, maybe Fu Zhi would have gained an extra aunt.

But life never goes exactly as you want.

"Who could it be?"

Xu Xiaoshou wondered.

Forget the people he'd seen in the banquet hall—in the flower sea, he hadn't noticed any thieves at all.

If he hadn't spotted them, that was one thing.

But even the system didn't alert him...

How could a thief pull off a theft without caring about the fights going on?

Was that even human?

It went completely against normal behavior!

At the very least, there should have been some sign of being watched...

Wait!

Thinking of "being watched," Xu Xiaoshou suddenly had a realization.

The system was flawless, but tonight in the city lord's mansion, there was indeed someone who seemed to evade detection.

Xu Xiaoji?

That guy had entered the city lord's mansion with some purpose too, right?

Xu Xiaoshou's expression turned odd.

Could it be...

"For the thief, Fu Zhi, do you have any leads?"

Xu Xiaoshou asked, scanning the surroundings again with his perception.

Still no one.

Fu Zhi sighed and shook his head.

"Too many people covet the 'Tian Shu Ji Pan'—it's a real mess, no clear direction."

"But one thing's for sure: that guy hasn't left the city lord's mansion yet!"

"I didn't detect any cultivation fluctuations; he's on foot, and even after an hour, he couldn't get out of here."

Xu Xiaoshou thought to himself, that's true.

Your place is enormous—an ordinary thief might not escape even with broken legs.

He agreed with that.

"But what if he used a teleportation array?" Xu Xiaoshou pressed.

Fu Zhi's face showed a confident smile, and he said dismissively, "Try using an array in front of me—even if it's beyond the Grandmaster level, I wouldn't miss a single fluctuation."

"That guy can't get far!"

"When Liu Jing seals the arrays, he'll be trapped no matter what!"

Xu Xiaoshou raised an eyebrow; no wonder Fu Zhi wasn't panicking after the theft.

This confident middle-aged man was quite charismatic!

"Maybe he's just a speed expert who grabbed the 'Tian Shu Ji Pan' and vanished in a flash?" He countered once more.

Fu Zhi looked at Xu Xiaoshou and said resolutely, "With that kind of speed and strength, why bother hiding in the shadows?"

A big weight lifted from Xu Xiaoshou's heart.

His guess aligned with Fu Zhi's.

"In that case, I think I know where that person is." Xu Xiaoshou's lips curled into a smile.

In an instant, the vague image of the thief in his mind sharpened into Xu Xiaoji's form.

Not very powerful, but with top-notch stealth, entering the city lord's mansion with a clear agenda, yet not for the Bai Ku quota...

Who else could it be besides Xu Xiaoji?

The city lord's mansion only had one main gate for guests, meaning the other areas had ultra-strong defenses.

That might stop world-class intruders, but with no anomalies elsewhere, the person had to have come through the main gate.

Among those with ulterior motives who entered through the main gate, besides these two with the surname Xu, who else?

"Who?"

Fu Zhi was baffled.

I just bragged a little, and you found the person? This...

Who would believe it?!

Probably not even the thief here would.

Received suspicion, passive value, +2.