Ghost Corpse Sect

A quarter of an hour later.

Wei Qing returned to the inn and went straight to the secret chamber.

Inside the secret chamber.

"Lord Wei."

Upon seeing Wei Qing arrive, Zhang Zhidong immediately rose and bowed.

"Brother Zhang, there's no need to be so formal between us." Wei Qing raised his hand to stop him. "First, tell me about the information you've gathered."

"Yes."

After sitting down, Zhang Zhidong did not relax as he had said, maintaining a posture of respect.

Seeing this, Wei Qing said nothing more.

"After the Night Owl Guard investigated for a day and a night, they indeed found something unusual about Qingcheng, but..."

Seeing his hesitant expression, Wei Qing guessed some of it. "Go on, which family is it?"

"The Yan family."

"One of the Night Owl Guard brothers said that two days before the Fang family's incident was exposed, he accidentally saw a person in black robes enter the Yan family. He didn't pay much attention at the time."

"He only reported it to me yesterday after I issued my orders."

"After that, I dispatched the brothers with the best movement techniques in the Night Owl Guard to infiltrate the Yan family."

"In the well in the backyard of the Yan family, a large number of skeletons of young men and women were discovered."

"Moreover, the Yan family's recent movements have become increasingly secretive, and they have gradually faded from the sight of the people of Qingcheng."

The Yan family was the foremost of Qingcheng's three great families.

The old patriarch of the Yan family had been one of the mentors of the Jizhou Prefecture Governor. With this connection, no one could shake the Yan family's position as the number one family in Qingcheng.

No wonder Zhang Zhidong had spoken hesitantly.

If it were just a prefect, the Night Owl Guard wouldn't have hesitated.

The key was that the Jizhou Prefecture Governor had a sister who was a highly esteemed consort.

Consort Xia, as one of Emperor Mingxing's favorite consorts, the Xia family had also received imperial favor, and their family's influence had expanded rapidly, leaping from a third-rate aristocratic family to a first-rate family in the imperial city.

"So what if it's the Xia family?"

"If they are colluding with demons, the first person who wouldn't let the Xia family off is His Majesty the Emperor."

The previous emperor of Great Zhou, Emperor Jinkang, had died in a great battle against demons.

Emperor Mingxing took the throne in a time of crisis and forcefully steered Great Zhou back from the brink of disintegration.

The reborn Great Zhou not only showed no signs of decline but, under Emperor Mingxing's wise governance, had reached new heights.

As for the demons that killed the old emperor, they had become the targets of his fervent crackdown.

However, few people knew the true reason for the old emperor's death.

The reason Wei Qing knew was that his father, Wei Yuan, was one of the participants in Emperor Mingxing's "war of revenge."

"Are there any other families or powers that are acting unusually?"

"Nothing has been discovered yet."

Seeing that Wei Qing's words did not seem to be false, Zhang Zhidong's hidden apprehension towards the Xia family unconsciously lessened.

"Continue monitoring the Yan family."

"Has the identity of the person in black robes been ascertained?"

"Judging by the state of the deceased, the method strongly resembles the Corpse Refining Technique of the Ghost Corpse Sect."

When the name "Ghost Corpse Sect" was mentioned, a flicker of fear flashed in Zhang Zhidong's eyes.

The Ghost Corpse Sect was an evil sect within Great Zhou that specialized in stealing corpses and cultivating powerful corpse puppets.

Later, it incurred the wrath of many and was jointly annihilated by righteous sects, disappearing twenty years ago.

However, the power and terror of the corpse puppets had left many with lingering shadows.

"As expected."

Wei Qing's heart sank. The sliver of suspicion in his mind was now confirmed.

The eighteen missing corpses that Zhu Huan had mentioned were likely stolen by people from the Ghost Corpse Sect.

"?"

Zhang Zhidong frowned slightly, not understanding what he meant.

"Brother Zhang, you must have heard about the eighteen missing corpses from the Mourning Hall. I suspect they were stolen by people from the Ghost Corpse Sect."

"I've heard..."

No.

Zhang Zhidong seemed to have thought of something terrifying. He suddenly stood up and hurriedly asked, "Lord Wei, have you checked the birth years of the missing corpses?"

Wei Qing nodded, "It seems you've thought of it too. That's right, they are all Pure Yang individuals born in a Yang year, Yang month, Yang day, and Yang hour."

"Is the Ghost Corpse Sect planning to refine 'Yang Kui'?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhidong gasped.

Yang Kui were among the most difficult and powerful corpse puppets to refine in the Ghost Corpse Sect.

The corpses had to be from males born in a Yang year, Yang month, Yang day, and Yang hour. After special medicinal treatment, they would become "quasi-Yang Kui."

Then, these quasi-Yang Kui would be made to fight and devour each other, with the strongest corpse puppet being selected.

A corpse puppet born from such a battle would have a starting strength of the Seventh Rank Realm.

"According to the existing intelligence, that is the case," Wei Qing nodded slightly, then changed the subject, "Moreover, don't you think it's strange that so many people fitting the criteria for refining Yang Kui have appeared in one place all at once?"

"From the Nineteenth Year of Kaiyuan to the Third Year of Jingkang, eighteen Pure Yang individuals were born in four years."

"So many coincidences happening together can't just be coincidences."

At this, Zhang Zhidong's pupils contracted sharply, and he exclaimed, "The Ghost Corpse Sect has turned Qingcheng into a corpse farm."

"They gathered so many Pure Yang individuals, and after they reach adulthood, they will all be killed and refined into corpse puppets."

"The Spirit Stream Demonic Cat feeds on spiritual power, and the spiritual power of Pure Yang individuals is purer than that of ordinary people."

"By cooperating with the Ghost Corpse Sect, they can not only gain benefits but also perfectly conceal their tracks, leading the 'murderer's' trail towards the demons."

"In that case, Fang Xiang is also one of their pawns."

"Mm," Wei Qing nodded slightly, "Fang Xiang is like the bait floating on the surface of this corpse farming scheme."

Zhang Zhidong said grimly, "If that's the case, Qingcheng's current strength might not be enough to deal with the backlash from the Yan Family, the Ghost Corpse Sect, and the demons."

From the moment the Spirit Stream Demonic Cat died.

This killing game had already begun!

"You must immediately transmit this intelligence back to the Heavenly Realm Division in the Imperial City at the fastest speed, and also request reinforcements from the Jizhou Heavenly Realm Division."

"I hope there's still time."

"Yes."

Zhang Zhidong also realized the seriousness of the situation and, without daring to delay, hurried off to make arrangements.

Meanwhile, in a secret chamber of the Yan Family.

Yan Qingshan, the head of the Yan Family, knelt respectfully before a mysterious figure clad in black robes. "Master, the last batch of blood food required has arrived."

"Very good," a slightly hoarse voice came from within the black robes. "At midnight tonight, bring them to the old place west of the city."

"Yes," Yan Qingshan replied respectfully.

"Next, your Yan Family should immediately arrange to relocate to Jizhou City. This place will likely be exposed before long."

"The Heavenly Realm Division's hounds have very keen noses."

"Yes, I will arrange for my son to lead some clansmen to Jizhou City today."

"After tonight, there will be no one from the Yan Family left in Qingcheng."

The mysterious figure continued, "Are there any new messages from that Spirit Rhinoceros Demonic Cat in Yandang Mountain?"

Since contact was suddenly broken two days ago, he had felt a trace of unease.

He had even personally visited Yandang Mountain but found no trace of the other party.

This further amplified the suspicion in his heart.