"What are you doing?! Who the hell are you people?!"
Inside the Waste Elixir Chamber, the lights abruptly flared to life, mingling with the dancing flames in the incinerator and illuminating the entire room as bright as day.
Shen Fan was sleeping groggily when several Law Enforcement disciples suddenly yanked him roughly from his bed.
Then, an irresistible force pressed him to the ground and forced him to kneel.
"What exactly do you want?! I'm warning you, this is the Heavenly Xuan Sect! You can't run wild here!"
Shen Fan was beside himself with panic. Terror filled his eyes as he looked at the fierce-looking Law Enforcement disciples before him, his voice trembling.
Just then, a towering black shadow fell over Shen Fan. He looked up to see someone gazing down at him from above, his eyes as sharp as an eagle's.
"I am Mu Xingtian, an elder of the Outer Sect Law Enforcement Hall. From now on, you will answer whatever I ask. Do not conceal even the slightest thing!"
Mu Xingtian's voice was deep and imposing.
"Law... Law Enforcement Hall?"
Shen Fan looked utterly bewildered, seemingly not yet recovered from his fright. He swallowed with difficulty.
Then he knocked his head against the ground and repeatedly begged for mercy. "Spare me, Elder! This disciple has always fulfilled his duties faithfully. I have never done anything wicked or cruel in the Waste Elixir Chamber!"
Mu Xingtian's gaze was like blazing torches as his sharp eyes swept over Shen Fan, trying to see through the disguise in his heart.
Yet under his divine sense, Shen Fan's third-layer Qi Refining Stage cultivation was laid bare, with nothing concealed.
"Do not be afraid. Just answer whatever I ask truthfully."
Mu Xingtian's tone softened somewhat, though his authority remained undiminished.
"Yes, yes, yes! This disciple will tell all he knows and hold nothing back, fully cooperating with the Elder's enforcement!"
Shen Fan nodded repeatedly, his eyes filled with fear and unease.
"I heard you were previously on duty at the Spirit Field. Why have you ended up in the Waste Elixir Chamber?" Mu Xingtian asked.
At those words, a flash of anger surfaced on Shen Fan's face. Then, as though he had finally found someone to pour his grievances out to, he began complaining without end:
"Elder, this matter began with the Outer Sect competition some time ago.
Lu Qingzhu was a snob. I accepted that.
She got together with Li Qingshan. I accepted that too. It was all because I lacked strength.
But Li Qingshan simply is not human!
I am only a Miscellaneous Disciple. How could I possibly threaten him?
Why did he still want to put me to death and incite Zhao Erhu to make things difficult for me?
At the Spirit Field, he made me cultivate fifteen spirit fields. I worked from dawn to dusk and did not even have time to cultivate.
Even after I was sent to this Waste Elixir Chamber, I accepted it. But Old Man Duan took pity on me and brought me along to earn Contribution Points. What right did Zhao Erhu have to withhold them? Next year is my last chance. If I cannot enter the Outer Sect, I will have to leave the Heavenly Xuan Sect. I do not want to leave!"
By this point, Shen Fan's voice had begun to choke up, tears glimmering in his eyes.
Mu Xingtian narrowed his eyes. "So it seems your relationship with that Old Man Duan is quite good?"
Shen Fan wiped away his tears and said, "When we were at the Spirit Field, we were neighbors. He was often away, so he had me help watch over his spirit fields. Over time, we naturally grew close."
Shen Fan knew full well that he could not hide his relationship with Old Man Duan.
The Law Enforcement Hall only needed to investigate a little to uncover the clues.
Therefore, only by telling the truth could he protect himself.
"With such a towering hatred between you, if you were given a chance to kill Zhao Erhu, would you do it?"
Mu Xingtian's gaze was piercing as he stared fixedly into Shen Fan's eyes.
"I'd fucking kill him!"
Shen Fan clenched his fists and said angrily.
But immediately afterward, he pretended to realize what he had said and hastily explained, "Elder, that is not what I meant..."
By then, the other Law Enforcement disciples had turned the Waste Elixir Chamber upside down, not even sparing the storage room.
Yet Shen Fan had already cleaned up everything from before until not a trace remained.
The cultivation method and spells had originally been given to him by Old Man Duan anyway. Shen Fan had put them all into the Universe Pouch and returned them to Old Man Duan, since he had already learned them.
Even the forty Fire Poison Demon Cores he had brought with him before leaving had been partly absorbed. He had thrown all the rest into the incinerator.
The reason he had absorbed several of them was to conceal the signs of Fire Poison erosion he had suffered here over the past few days.
"Elder, we found nothing suspicious!" A Law Enforcement disciple stepped forward to report.
Mu Xingtian nodded slightly. Then he grabbed Shen Fan's wrist and examined him. When he sensed the Fire Poison within Shen Fan's body, disappointment could not help appearing on his face.
With Fire Poison invading his body, if he was not forcibly removed within half a year, he likely would not have long to live.
With such strength and foundation, how could he have killed three Outer Sect Disciples?
"Elder, Li Qingshan has arrived!" At that moment, the Law Enforcement disciple standing guard outside called out.
"Let him in!" Mu Xingtian said coldly.
Soon after, Li Qingshan, clad in a green robe, walked straight in. Upon seeing Mu Xingtian, he immediately cupped his hands in salute. "Outer Sect Disciple Li Qingshan greets Elder!"
"Was it you who incited Zhao Erhu to bully him?" Mu Xingtian asked coldly.
"Huh?"
Li Qingshan turned to look at Shen Fan. Then, with a thud, he dropped straight to his knees. "Spare me, Elder! I did not know he was connected to you! If I had known, even if you gave me ten thousand times the courage, I would not have dared!"
Mu Xingtian waved his hand. "My Heavenly Xuan Sect is a sacred land of immortals, a righteous immortal sect. If disciples oppress their fellow disciples like this, would we not become the laughingstock of the world?"
"This disciple will never dare again!!" Li Qingshan repeatedly kowtowed on the ground, each impact echoing with a bang.
"Enough. Get up!" Mu Xingtian said coldly. "It is late. Go rest!"
After saying that, he turned and led the Law Enforcement disciples out of the Waste Elixir Chamber.
A Law Enforcement disciple could not help asking, "Elder, why not arrest him for interrogation? Or directly use the Soul Searching Technique to investigate him?"
Mu Xingtian said disdainfully, "Look at that useless wretch. Does he look like someone capable of doing such a thing?"
The Law Enforcement disciple frowned. "But even if he did not do it, perhaps he knows where that old bastard is!"
Mu Xingtian glared at him. "Are you teaching me how to do my job?"
The Law Enforcement disciple abruptly dropped to his knees. "This disciple would not dare!"
Mu Xingtian flicked his sleeve and snorted coldly:
"Do you not know the cost of the Soul Searching Technique?
If you turn this kid into an idiot, who will guard the Waste Elixir Chamber?
The Waste Elixir Chamber requires compulsory duty. This kid has a fifth-grade Five Elements spirit root, making him the best choice.
Besides, if the Sect Master learns that our Law Enforcement Hall freely uses the Soul Searching Technique, do you know what the consequences will be?"
The Law Enforcement disciple trembled. "This disciple was foolish! Please forgive me, Elder!"
Mu Xingtian snorted and walked away. "Learn from this. Use your brains before doing anything. Besides, before that old thing acted, would he specifically come down from the Spirit Field to tell this kid?"
The Law Enforcement disciples suddenly understood, and their gazes toward Mu Xingtian gained a few more traces of reverence.
The sea of learning knew no shore. Following the Elder truly let them learn quite a few things!
Sword Qi crisscrossed through the air.
Mu Xingtian pondered to himself, "Yes! Perhaps that kid does know where he is? Why should I worry so much over a mere Miscellaneous Disciple?"
"The hearts of those brats behind me are far too vicious. They immediately wanted to use the Soul Searching Technique—they are even more ruthless than I was back then!"
"But... come to think of it, my reasoning is not without merit!"
"That kid definitely does not know where he is!"
Before you continue