I Have Infinite Skill Points-Chapter 653: Sudden Explosion Incident

"Huzhou Province was once the Holy Land of ancient Qi Cultivators; eighty percent of Qi Cultivators in history originated from Huzhou Province. Since ancient times, Qi Cultivators have had their own legends and lineages, giving rise to various rumors of mysterious inheritances in Huzhou Province.

Since the war ended, the state has heavily cracked down on Tomb Raiders, but many Tomb-Raiding Families still flourish. Three years ago, Zhou Shen was caught in this very issue. He used his official position to protect Tomb Raiders as they looted treasures from ancient tombs."

"Protecting Tomb Raiders?" Wang Lan looked at Wu Yao with confusion. Although it was also an illegal act, hearing how everyone in the Huzhou Tianjian Bureau was so guarded about Zhou Shen, one would think he had committed all sorts of heinous crimes, not merely protecting Tomb Raiders.

"Does General Wang not think this is trivial, hardly worth making such a fuss over?"

"Indeed. And for Zhou Shen, as the chief of a city’s Tianjian Bureau, his scope is too small, isn’t it? Protecting Tomb Raiders is hardly a grand ambition."

"General Wang, you might not be aware, but the most important things these Tomb Raiders steal are not valuables. Historically, Huzhou was abundant with ancient Qi Cultivators, and these ancient Qi Refiners marked a transitional phase.

The emergence of Qi Cultivators marked the end of the ancient cultivation civilization and the beginning of the modern Star Martial Era. They are considered the seeds of civilization left by the ancient cultivation era, ushering in the Star Martial Era. The tombs of Huzhou’s Qi Cultivators contain many precious ancient Star Martial Skills.

Although the tombs of ancient Qi Cultivators are now very rare, Tomb Raiders tirelessly steal these precious treasures. These Tomb Raiders only destroy these valuable artifacts. It was because of Zhou Shen’s protection that dozens of ancient Star Martial Skills were destroyed by their hands over the years."

"So, why did Zhou Shen protect the Tomb Raiders?"

"Besides valuables, the main reason was for Star Martial Skills, especially since the tomb of one very important person hasn’t been found."

"Who?"

"The tomb of Zhang Lingxian, the legendary immortal who is said to have ascended two thousand years ago, still hasn’t been found. Legend says Zhang Lingxian possessed a Star Martial Cultivation Technique capable of achieving immortality. Anyone who obtains Zhang Lingxian’s inheritance could become an immortal."

Wu Yao sighed softly. "This is why Director Wen believes Zhou Shen had people backing him. Zhou Shen stole many Star Martial Skills over the years. However, he never disclosed their whereabouts before his death. Possibly, he sent them to the people behind him."

"Do you think Liu Yuxin is suspicious?"

"It’s not just Chief Liu; even Director Wen is a possibility. On the surface, Zhou Shen was part of Chief Liu’s faction, but he also had a close association with Director Wen. It was precisely because Zhou Shen had connections on both sides that he dared to act so recklessly. Who would have thought he’d ultimately fall into Director Wen’s hands?"

Wang Lan rested his hand on his chin, a contemplative light flickering in his eyes.

Just then, Wu Yao’s phone suddenly rang. He took out the phone and answered it. His face abruptly changed, and he sprang to his feet with a WHOOSH.

"Are you sure it’s not a liquefied gas explosion? Alright, I’m on my way."

"What happened? Where’s the trouble?" Wang Lan hurriedly asked.

"An explosion occurred in Sanming Town. The preliminary investigation indicates it’s not a liquefied gas explosion. The actual cause is still under investigation. Greedy Wolf Crown, I need to go to the scene to investigate. Please excuse me."

"Official duties are paramount. How about I go with you to take a look?"

"Alright!"

The three stood up. Wang Lan took out a black card to settle the bill, and then he and Jiang Xinyu got into Wu Yao’s car. They drove for nearly an hour before arriving at the small town where the incident occurred.

When they arrived at the scene, security personnel had already cordoned off the area to maintain order. The scene indicated a powerful explosion. It had originated on a snack street, with a blast radius exceeding twenty meters. All glass within five hundred meters was shattered.

Especially at the epicenter, where a shopfront should have been, lay only ruins. Dozens of security officers were carefully searching through the rubble.

"Inspector Wu."

"Inspector!"

Seeing Wu Yao arrive, several mid-level inspectors quickly came forward to greet him. It was clear their respect for him within the police system was genuine.

"Are there any results from the investigation?"

"We found an intact liquefied gas tank at the scene, and the natural gas pipes were also intact. Therefore, we can confirm it’s not a liquefied gas explosion. As for whether it was a bomb or a Star Martial Skill explosion, we’re not sure yet."

Wang Lan and Jiang Xinyu went to the center of the explosion. Jiang Xinyu closed her eyes, carefully sensing the surrounding Star Energy Fluctuation. After a long moment, she opened her eyes.

"Although it has almost dissipated, lingering remnants of Star Energy Fluctuation were detected. It must have been the work of a Star Martial Warrior."

"A Star Martial Warrior?" Upon hearing Jiang Xinyu’s words, Wu Yao’s expression turned grave. "Check the store owner’s identity. How could they be involved with a Star Martial Warrior?"

"Yes, sir!"

Five minutes later, information about the store was brought over. The shop was originally called ’Xinlan Beef Balls,’ a snack bar run by a middle-aged woman named Yang Xinlan. The woman’s family was from Chaoshan. She had married and moved to Huzhou ten years ago. A few years prior, Yang Xinlan’s husband had died in a car accident, leaving the shop to her and their daughter.

The woman began to make a living selling beef balls. To everyone’s surprise, her beef balls became very popular. However, since she was the only one running the shop, she could only operate at the night market. Her shop was closed during the day, so no one knew what had happened there before the explosion.

The traces were gradually cleared. Wang Lan searched quickly through the ruins. Even if the people in the shop had been blown to pieces, there should still have been some fragments of bodies or blood. However, Wang Lan found no bloodstains after searching the entire site.

"Where’s the shop owner? Did you find out anything?"

"I asked around. Neighbors said that not long before the explosion, the shop owner was still inside, pounding beef for her beef balls. To have enough beef balls for the night market, she had to get up early and spend the entire day pounding beef in the shop."

"It doesn’t make sense. What kind of explosion could leave no trace of bodies or blood?" Wang Lan asked Wu Yao, looking puzzled.

"Perhaps the body wasn’t blown apart but was thrown into a corner somewhere..."

"Inspector," a guard reported, "a body has been discovered in a back alley about seven hundred meters away. Locals have identified her as the owner of the beef ball shop that exploded."

"Take us there," Wang Lan said hurriedly, instructing the reporting guard to lead the way. Wang Lan and Wu Yao quickly arrived at the location where the body was found.

The body was remarkably intact, and she still wore a short-sleeved shirt. The woman had a vertical knife wound in her chest, about three fingers wide. This was likely the cause of her death.

However, someone clearly heard her pounding beef balls in the shop right before the explosion. So how could her body be here? Even if the explosion had thrown her this far, it wouldn’t explain why she had no other injuries and her clothes were intact.

"We can confirm it’s a homicide, likely the work of a Star Martial Warrior. But why would a Star Martial Warrior kill an ordinary person?" Wu Yao said, his face grave.

"In Huzhou Province, do attacks by Star Martial Warriors on ordinary people happen often?"

"Unless their own safety is threatened, even the most desperate Star Martial Warriors wouldn’t attack ordinary people. For a Star Martial Warrior to kill an ordinary person is a capital offense."

"Investigate the owner again, thoroughly. Include her relatives."

"Understood!"

The results of the second investigation came quickly, with new information obtained from a neighbor. About a month ago, ’Xinlan Beef Balls’ had apparently hired someone.

This was a girl who made quite an impression, possessing great strength. Since she started working there, the owner no longer had to pound the beef balls herself; the task was handed over to the new helper. Moreover, the helper, the owner, and her daughter seemed to have a very good relationship; they were often seen chatting and laughing together.

As the guards continued their investigation, fresh intelligence reached Wu Yao’s hands. A few minutes ago, the municipal hospital received an emergency patient who was subsequently transferred to the ICU.

She was a ten-year-old girl with forty percent of her body burned. The hospital didn’t know who had called for emergency services, only that a large sum of money was deposited into their account right after the girl’s treatment plan was established.

The little girl was confirmed through her ID card to be the daughter of Yang Xinlan, the owner of the shop at the center of the explosion.

"It seems we’ll need to start at the hospital to find out the truth. How severe are the girl’s injuries? Is her condition critical?"

"According to the hospital, they’re quite severe—forty percent burns. But if there’s enough money, she can be saved," the guard explained.

"Tell the hospital to make every effort to save the girl. By the way, was the number that called the hospital traced?"

"It was Yang Xinlan’s cell phone. It’s turned off now and can no longer be traced."

"Inspector, here’s the latest data. Please review it."

"The latest data? Whose?"

"It’s data on the employee Yang Xinlan recently hired. There are too many suspicious elements; this incident is likely connected to her."

Wu Yao hurriedly opened the folder and began to read. The more he read, the tighter his brows furrowed. He then handed the file to Wang Lan.

"General Wang, this is likely related to the employee Yang Xinlan recently hired! Yang Xinlan has a clean background; she’s just an ordinary person. But this employee was reportedly taken in by Yang Xinlan out of kindness. She has no ID card, no cell phone, and apparently suffers from amnesia, not even remembering who she is. This has all the hallmarks of an assassin tracking someone down, doesn’t it?"

"If I’m not mistaken, this new employee must be the one who took the child to the hospital and made the call. Her actions suggest her amnesia is fake; she’s likely just trying to evade assassins. However, because of her, Yang Xinlan and her daughter met with this disaster.

This woman bears at least half the responsibility for Yang Xinlan’s death. Let’s go. The assassin hasn’t succeeded yet, so a second attack is possible. Arrange for protection at the hospital. I suspect the assassin will target the child."

"I’ll arrange for our men to handle it immediately."

Since no more clues could be obtained at the scene, Wang Lan and Jiang Xinyu went to the hospital to check on the girl. The little girl’s injuries were severe, and she was comatose. She was only asleep at that moment due to the anesthesia; once it wore off, she would be in excruciating pain.

"Doctor, when might Liu Piaopiao wake up? We need to get some information."

"Probably tonight. I’ll notify you when she wakes up."