A Showdown

"Dead?"

Chen Yan frowned slightly. This was an outcome he had never expected.

Given the immense vitality of a Qi Sea Realm cultivator like Zhang Xishun, it was not an easy feat to bring about his demise.

Furthermore, Elder Fu Qian had already sealed his meridians, making it impossible for him to self-destruct his Qi Sea and meridians to die.

"He was already poisoned with a Gu worm long ago. His internal organs were dissolved into blood, and even an immortal couldn't save him."

Chu Xiyao said, "I think that even if we capture someone in the future, it might be difficult to get any information out of them."

This was because it was highly likely that those individuals had been implanted with Gu worms.

The clue had once again hit a dead end.

"We also investigated Zhang Xishun's background,"

Chu Xiyao continued.

"He joined the Outer Court of the Empty Mountain Sect twenty years ago as a rogue cultivator. At that time, his cultivation was already at the middle stage of the Body Tempering Realm.

"He had a few close friends among the Outer Court Disciples. Upon observation, it seems they genuinely knew nothing about Zhang Xishun's affairs. Moreover, his friends were also very perplexed by Zhang Xishun's sudden decision to participate in the Outer Court Grand Competition.

"In the eyes of the disciples close to Zhang Xishun, he was the type of person with almost no cultivation talent. It was sheer luck that he managed to join the Empty Mountain Sect, and it was doubtful he would ever break through to the Qi Condensation Realm in his lifetime.

"However, in reality, Zhang Xishun had quietly broken through to the Qi Sea Realm at some unknown point and had been consistently taking 'Boundary Suppressing Pills' of unknown origin to restrict his cultivation to the Body Tempering Realm."

Chen Yan's expression grew solemn. There were too many suspicious points, making one's mind reel.

What was their ultimate goal?

What could make a Qi Sea Realm cultivator willingly remain an Outer Court Disciple for decades?

"We don't know how many people like Zhang Xishun are lurking within the Outer Court, or even in the various peaks,"

Chu Xiyao's expression was grave.

The Empty Mountain Sect, a behemoth situated in the northern part of the Chenping Continent.

It was hailed as one of the five great sects, with tens of thousands of years of heritage. It had once produced several Great Ascension stage cultivators, and even now, it still had cultivators at the Spiritual Power stage and even the Hedao stage.

While the Empty Mountain Sect appeared strong and unyielding on this land, it was, in fact, already hollow on the inside.

The sect was rife with internal strife among its various peaks and factions. These were minor issues, as they were common ailments of super sects.

The real threat to the sect lay in the hidden maggots and conspirators deep within its foundations.

Perhaps the Empty Mountain Sect could continue to linger on for several thousand more years, but it would only be a precarious existence.

"Any leads on the list?"

Chen Yan asked.

"None."

Chu Xiyao shook her head.

"No one knows where Song Mingde hid the list."

It was certain that no one had found Song Mingde's list to this day.

Otherwise, Zhang Xishun wouldn't have come to find him.

If the list couldn't be found, another approach could be considered.

For example, what did Song Mingde discover in the letters and documents he handled in the Shang Gong Hall, and how did he compile that list?

He was merely an Outer Court Steward without any background, yet he was able to grasp the lifelines of those hiding in the shadows.

This was a question worth pondering.

Just then, footsteps echoed from another side of the Detention Center.

A disciple of the Law Enforcement Hall, wearing an Outer Court Daoist Robe, appeared before Chen Yan's cell. He bowed successively towards Chu Xiyao and Chen Yan.

"Senior Sister Chu, Senior Brother Chen."

Over the past half-month, Chen Yan had become quite familiar with this disciple.

Most of his meals and other necessities were delivered by him.

"What is it?"

Chu Xiyao asked the disciple.

"Elder Yuechi of the Pill Hall on Kongyuan Mountain wishes to see Senior Brother Chen. Please excuse yourself for a moment, Senior Sister Chu."

The Law Enforcement Hall disciple said.

Elder Yuechi?

Chen Yan naturally knew who he was – Lin Qifeng's senior brother, his own second martial uncle.

When he had gone to Kongyuan Mountain as a messenger, it was to Elder Yuechi that he had delivered the message.

"I understand."

Chu Xiyao said softly, then glanced at Chen Yan again before walking out of the Detention Center.

Half an hour later, the old man in white appeared before Chen Yan's Cell. He looked meaningfully at Chen Yan, who was confined within.

He said nothing.

"...Second Martial Uncle."

It was Chen Yan who finally broke the silence.

"You can still call me Martial Uncle?"

The old man in white said, sounding amused and perhaps a little helpless, "Your scoundrel of a Master doesn't even treat me as his senior brother. He's practically... practically treating me like a demonic cultivator!"

Chen Yan was bewildered, not understanding Elder Yuechi's meaning.

"He said the pills were given to you by me."

Yuechi's expression turned grim.

"..."

This time, Chen Yan understood.

Lin Qifeng was indeed using his senior brother as a scapegoat, treating him like a demonic cultivator.

But judging by Elder Yuechi's words, he seemed to have accepted the blame that Lin Qifeng had pinned on him.

Chen Yan couldn't figure out the relationship between Lin Qifeng and Yuechi, but he assumed the relationship between these two martial brothers was definitely not ordinary.

After all, not just anyone could take on such a burden.

"Do you know what happened after the Outer Court Grand Competition?" Yuechi continued to ask.

"This disciple has heard some things."

Although Qi Yadong had died, Chen Yan was imprisoned, and Lin Qifeng and Song Wencheng's situation caused a commotion on the Training Ground.

But soon, under the direction of Xue Xiu, the Steward of the Outer Court, the Qi Condensation Realm Outer Court Grand Competition continued.

During this time, several outstanding disciples from the Outer Court attempted to challenge the inner sect gatekeepers, but all of them were defeated.

However, the most attention-grabbing individual was Xu Aotian.

After Xu Aotian achieved seven consecutive victories in the opening matches, he ultimately defeated the champion of this year's competition with ease, earning the title of Outer Court champion.

Of course, in any previous Outer Court Grand Competition, the emergence of an Outer Court champion, a rare prodigy appearing once a century, would naturally garner the vast majority of attention.

But not this year.

Because everyone's attention was focused on the fraud incident involving Outer Court Elder Lin Qifeng and his disciple Chen Yan.

Whether it was the Outer Court Grand Competition or the Sect Grand Competition, fraud occurred almost every year.

But an Outer Court Elder colluding in fraud? This was the first time in the history of the Empty Mountain Sect.

"Qifeng had no choice, because this was the only way to protect you."

Yuechi said, "Do you know what you would have faced if your Master hadn't protected you in this manner?"

"Being labeled the Calamity Cause," Chen Yan replied calmly.

Yuechi narrowed his eyes slightly, then fell silent for a moment. "You seem to know everything. Then why did you do it?"

"Rather than asking me these questions, I'd rather know why you and Master wanted to protect me so much," Chen Yan retorted.

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