One Stone Three Birds

As expected, the disciple distributing food discovered the three corpses in the Stone House Area. Once he reported it, it immediately caused a huge uproar.

Law Enforcement Disciples marched into the Stone House Area in formation. Morning lessons were canceled, and all Spirit Slaves were placed under strict guard. The three stewards arrived together, and thus began a grand spectacle.

Steward Liu, who had been riding high these past days, stood at the very front with his hands behind his back. His face was livid as he looked at the three Spirit Slave corpses, which seemed as though ten thousand swords had pierced through them.

His eyes narrowed as he keenly sensed a chilling aura from them.

"Ice Sword Technique..."

He could not help turning to look at Steward Duan beside him, whose face was utterly unconcerned, and said coldly, "Fatty Duan, did you do this?"

Steward Duan froze, then frowned in reply.

"What does this have to do with me?"

Steward Liu immediately burst into curses.

"You fat bastard, do you take me for blind? You're the only one who knows the Ice Sword Technique. If those icy traces in the wounds weren't left by you, then who else could it have been?"

The quarrel between the two fell into Steward Liu Clan's eyes. He remained silent, quietly retreating several steps with the appearance of someone unwilling to involve himself in the dispute.

Fatty Duan snorted coldly and shoved Steward Liu aside. After carefully examining the corpses, his expression changed instantly. Cold sweat trickled down from his forehead as his eyes darted about.

"I'm not the only one in the Stone House Area who knows the Ice Sword Technique."

"You mean that Spirit Slave? Heh—"

Though the two sides already had a grudge, and Wang Yu was also one of Steward Duan's people who had learned the Ice Sword Technique, Steward Liu did not believe that explanation.

The last time he had seen Wang Yu, his Ice Sword Technique had not even reached minor mastery. The ice swords he condensed were thick and large, and the cross-sections of the wounds they caused were far from smooth.

As for these three corpses today, the Ice Sword Technique would have to be cultivated to perfection to create such tiny wounds from blades piercing through the body. And that sort of devastating killing power was something only Fatty Duan could achieve.

A mere Spirit Slave at the Qi Refining Second Layer still had to painstakingly condense Spirit Sand. It was impossible for him to possess such attainments in a technique.

"Won't admit it, huh? Then come with me and bring that brat in for questioning."

At those words, Steward Duan was momentarily speechless. Just now, he had only been thinking of clearing himself of suspicion and had forgotten the task True Inheritor Su had assigned him. If he wanted to win over the hearts of his subordinates, Wang Yu was the best example.

Now that trouble had come knocking again, it truly left him in a difficult position.

Besides, in his eyes, Wang Yu had done this. There was no second possibility.

His heart hardened. He could not take the blame for this.

"Then bring him here and confront him. Who's afraid of whom!"

"He's your man. Of course you're not afraid of a confrontation."

Steward Liu sneered repeatedly, ordering someone to carry the corpses as he took the lead toward Stone House No. 83, where Wang Yu lived. Before long, they arrived at the door.

His eyes were sharp, and at a glance he spotted signs that the iron door had been damaged. His heart gave a jolt.

"Could it be... Fatty Duan has already prepared a countermeasure? Is he deliberately trying to crush my prestige?"

At this moment, Steward Liu was not the only one thinking so. The third steward, surnamed Liu Clan, who had been watching from the sidelines, thought the same.

"Wang Yu, get the hell out here."

Fatty Duan could not be bothered with any of that. After roaring out, Wang Yu cautiously edged his way outside. Before the three men could speak, his knees went weak and he collapsed to the ground.

"I killed them. I submit myself to the punishment of the esteemed stewards."

Steward Liu's heart tightened. Just as he thought!

Though he held no favorable opinion of Wang Yu, that beast surnamed Duan was actually so despicable that he would even use a tactic that harmed himself eight hundred just to damage Steward Liu's prestige.

That made it all the more impossible to let him succeed. After pondering for a moment, he finally spoke.

"Wang Yu, is it? Do you know the punishment for killing a Spirit Slave and damaging Cold Blood Peak's property?"

Wang Yu deliberately glanced at Steward Duan, then shook his head without speaking.

He did not know?

Steward Liu's confidence grew by several degrees as he explained harshly.

"The Inverse Spirit Blood Sect has nine great tortures—lingchi, Copper Bull, oil pot, insect devouring, five senses, Sky Lantern, soul extraction, roasting, and Yang Ding.

"If you confess, you must suffer at least three punishments. First, you'll be thrown into the oil pot and endure the agony of being fried alive. After Miraculous Hands Bring Spring restores you, you'll suffer the pain of being steamed in the Copper Bull. Finally, your soul will be extracted and your spirit refined, turning you into a Ghost Slave of the Seventh Peak—forever a slave and servant, never again able to reincarnate!"

It truly was Wang Yu's first time hearing these punishment rules. There was no need to pretend; shock and disbelief naturally appeared on his face as he stared blankly at Steward Duan.

It was as though he were waiting for an explanation.

Fatty Duan was not especially clever, but neither was he stupid. He immediately realized what Wang Yu was planning and could not help speaking up.

"Why are you looking at me? Don't make wild accusations. Don't you know disaster comes from the mouth..."

"What imposing official authority you have, Steward Duan!"

Steward Liu cut him off, fully unleashing the aura of Qi Refining Great Perfection.

"Before us stewards, you still dare spout nonsense and threaten a Spirit Slave into taking the blame for you. You're simply lawless!"

"That's not—"

Fatty Duan looked like he wanted to cry but had no tears, utterly aggrieved in his heart.

His shifty gaze suddenly caught sight of the damaged Iron Fence at Stone House No. 83. As though he had discovered a loophole, he said in a shrill voice.

"This fence must bear the traces of Wang Yu secretly coming and going at night. He definitely killed those three!"

Steward Liu's gaze turned even colder.

"So you mean the Law Enforcement Disciples on night watch neglected their duties and couldn't even keep watch over a mere Spirit Slave? Do you believe that?"

The Law Enforcement Disciples standing in formation nearby had no desire to take the blame.

"We are all at least at the Qi Refining Mid Stage. Our Divine Sense can leave the body and extend outward. I dare guarantee that Spirit Slave Wang Yu remained inside the stone house all night."

See? This was the trend of the times. No one was willing to shoulder this blame; they only needed to cooperate with Steward Liu.

Just then, the Food Distribution Disciple who had discovered the bodies stepped forward of his own accord.

"This matter was this disciple's fault. When I distributed food this morning, that Spirit Slave was sleeping soundly in bed. Seeing that he was not diligently refining Spirit Sand, I kicked one corner of the Iron Fence. That damage was caused by this disciple."

Steward Duan: "...Huh?"

How many Spirit Stones had they paid him to make him so cooperative?

In his eyes, this was a frame-up—one targeted strike Wang Yu had launched together with Steward Liu. It was betrayal!

Right now, he could do nothing to Wang Yu. So long as True Inheritor Su said the word, he could forget about ever advancing to the Outer Sect and becoming an official disciple of the Inverse Spirit Blood Sect in this lifetime.

"Heh~"

"Birds of a feather flock together.

"Wang Yu, don't forget what you got from True Inheritor Su. What did that Liu fellow give you, that you'd rather help him plot against me?"

Steward Liu's eyes widened.

"You still dare to bite back and slander others? Men, seize this fatty."

Just as he was about to order Steward Duan escorted to the Law Enforcement Hall on Cold Blood Peak, a Law Enforcement Disciple hurried over, handed a cloth bag to Steward Liu, and whispered something in his ear.

In an instant, as if struck by a bolt from the blue, he froze completely. The hand holding the cloth bag began to tremble uncontrollably.

Inside was nothing else—it was Spirit Sand.

The Spirit Slaves of the Stone House Area submitted their monthly Spirit Sand according to a quota of one tael per person. Everyone knew perfectly well who this excess was meant for.

Now that the matter had blown up and so many disciples from the Law Enforcement Hall had arrived, it was already too late to silence them.