Inspector

Night had fallen low, and the lights within the Constabulary Camp illuminated the training ground in the courtyard.

Chu Ning walked slowly into the camp, the robes on his body still carrying the sulfurous scent of Blazing Flame Valley.

Although he had slain Wang Li, obtained the Nine Revolutions Profound Sun Fruit, and unexpectedly acquired the Azure-Eyed Snow Fox on this trip, the threat behind the Wang family kept him from relaxing much.

The moment he stepped into the Constabulary Camp, Li Jing'an emerged from the side hall with his hands behind his back. His sharp gaze swept over Chu Ning, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

"How did it go? Did you catch the Azure-Eyed Snow Fox?"

Chu Ning paused, his expression unchanged as he casually replied, "No. The Wang family's people failed in their encirclement, and the demon beast escaped."

Li Jing'an raised his brows and was just about to speak when suddenly—

"Squeak—"

The front of Chu Ning's robe moved slightly, and a tiny white head poked out from his chest.

Li Jing'an blinked.

A fluffy Little White Fox was lazily sprawled in Chu Ning's arms. Its little head rubbed against his robe, making it look both adorably innocent and cute.

The air fell silent for a moment.

"..."

Li Jing'an looked at Chu Ning with an amused expression and said with a half-smile, "I never would've guessed. You even keep such a cute little pet?"

The corner of Chu Ning's mouth twitched slightly. He lowered his head to look at the completely unsuspecting Little White Fox, feeling helpless.

"She's just... an ordinary fox. I saw that she was injured, so I rescued her."

"Oh?" Li Jing'an gave a snort of laughter and walked forward, looking the Little White Fox over.

"I have to admit, she really is cute, all pink and tender."

He reached out, wanting to stroke the little creature's smooth white fur.

However, the instant his hand drew near, the Little White Fox's azure pupils suddenly contracted.

"Swish!"

She opened her mouth and bit down hard on Li Jing'an's finger.

"Hiss—"

Li Jing'an sucked in a breath of cold air, the smile on his face instantly freezing.

He had thought this fox was merely an ordinary spirit pet. Who could have expected her to be so savage, going straight for a bite?

"Damn little thing!"

Li Jing'an's eyes widened as he tried to shake her off.

However, the Little White Fox clamped down tight and showed no intention of letting go.

Chu Ning drew on Thunderous Force and hurriedly reached out to pull the Little White Fox back.

"That's enough. Let go."

He patted the Little White Fox on the head.

The Little White Fox glared fiercely at Li Jing'an, apparently deciding that this fellow had "ulterior motives." Only then did she reluctantly release his finger.

Li Jing'an shook his hand and looked at the clear tooth marks on his fingertip, instantly rendered speechless.

"Your fox bites hard. Could she have taken after her master?"

Chu Ning coughed lightly and took the opportunity to tuck the Little White Fox into his arms.

"By the way, how is the investigation into the extermination of the grain merchant's family in the West Market?" Chu Ning's smile faded as he asked seriously.

Li Jing'an rubbed his bitten hand, his brows furrowing slightly. "Something's off... At the scene, we found traces of the Blood Refining Hall. Crimson Blood Sand had been mixed into the grain warehouse, which suggested that certain special forces might be involved. But strangely, the method used to wipe out the family didn't resemble the Blood Refining Hall's usual methods. It was more like... some kind of targeted revenge."

"Targeted revenge?"

Chu Ning lowered his head in thought.

The Blood Refining Hall was renowned for its ruthless methods and usually paid no heed to technique. If this incident did not resemble their usual style, then the true mastermind was someone else.

"Someone wants to use the Blood Refining Hall's name as cover?"

Li Jing'an nodded. "That's only my guess. But this case runs too deep, and we haven't found any conclusive evidence yet."

Chu Ning considered this and nodded lightly.

"But you..."

Li Jing'an suddenly fixed his eyes on Chu Ning, looking him up and down before sniffing the air.

"The stench of blood and sulfur on you is so strong. I'd say you've gotten yourself into no small amount of trouble, haven't you?"

Chu Ning touched his nose, lowered his voice, and leaned close to Li Jing'an's ear to whisper, "I killed the Wang family's hunting squad. All of them."

"..."

The smile on Li Jing'an's face instantly froze.

He whipped his head around and stared at Chu Ning with wide, disbelieving eyes.

"What did you say?"

Chu Ning spread his hands, looking completely innocent. "The Wang family's hunting squad was wiped out."

The corner of Li Jing'an's mouth twitched slightly. He knew that Chu Ning possessed astonishing combat strength, but...

The hunting squad had several Ranked Martial Artists, and even Wang Li had been in command. How could Chu Ning have wiped them all out alone?

"You brat, you're only a mid-level Tenth Grade cultivator, yet you actually managed to do something like this?"

Li Jing'an felt his scalp prickle. The more he looked at Chu Ning, the more he felt that he was not a normal person.

"What about Wang Li?"

Chu Ning smiled faintly and slowly raised a hand, making a gentle throat-slitting gesture.

The air instantly fell silent.

Li Jing'an stared deeply at Chu Ning, as though he were looking at some kind of monster.

After a moment, he suddenly pinched the bridge of his nose and said with a bitter smile, "I knew it. The Wang family's old ancestor is probably about to come out of seclusion."

"He'll definitely come looking for you."

Chu Ning shrugged, completely unconcerned. "Perfect. I never planned to let him off either."

Upon hearing this, Li Jing'an gave Chu Ning a deep look.

"You have no idea how formidable the Wang family's old ancestor is. Even I have to yield three points when I see him."

Chu Ning narrowed his eyes. "Even you are afraid? Aren't you a First Grade Martial Artist?"

"First Grade?" Li Jing'an's expression stiffened. He snorted coldly. "What if I told you that only the original owner of this bell deserved to be called First Grade?"

He flicked the black bell at his waist with his fingertip, producing a crisp sound like cracking bones.

"Our Hall Master Lei said you were a First Grade Martial Artist," Chu Ning said matter-of-factly.

Li Jing'an sneered. "What does Lei Wanjun know? Not every martial artist from the First Grade Pavilion is a First Grade Martial Artist. I'm merely an inspector... If I were truly a First Grade Martial Artist, would I have come to investigate cases in a backwater like this?"

Chu Ning's brows furrowed slightly, curiosity showing in his eyes.

"An inspector? Then what grade are you, exactly?"

Li Jing'an did not answer. He merely smiled calmly before slowly removing a small black bell from his waist and holding it out to Chu Ning.

"Take it. Feel it again."

The instant Chu Ning took the little bell—

Boom!

An endless pressure erupted like a mountain flood, instantly sweeping through Chu Ning's entire body.

His expression changed dramatically. It was as if he had been submerged beneath the sea, and a force he could not resist instantly locked his body rigid.

"This... the pressure of a Fifth Grade Martial Artist?!"

Chu Ning's pupils contracted violently, and a storm surged through his heart.

His breathing abruptly halted, and even his fingers trembled faintly. The pressure of a Fifth Grade Martial Artist far exceeded his imagination, as though the air currents between heaven and earth had frozen solid at that moment.

But in the next instant, that pressure suddenly vanished like the tide receding, leaving everything calm and still.

Chu Ning gasped for breath and steadied himself. Only then did he realize that he was still standing firmly where he had been, the bell in his hand silent and still, as though everything that had just happened had merely been an illusion.

Li Jing'an looked at him with a faint smile at the corners of his mouth, as if he had anticipated Chu Ning's reaction.

"This thing is called the Void Spirit Bell. It can conceal one's aura and cultivation." Li Jing'an's tone was calm, but his eyes held a trace of deeper meaning.

Chu Ning lowered his head to examine the small, ancient-looking bell in his hand. It was pitch-black all over, with intricate and profound patterns engraved across its surface, radiating a faint, eerie chill.

He gently brushed his fingertip over the bell and vaguely sensed an unusual energy fluctuation, as if some invisible force enveloped it.

However, when his fingertip touched the bell, his heart suddenly jolted.

This material...

"Could it actually be somewhat similar to the Chaos Divine Order?"