Within Ten Zhangs

When Zhao Gongming proposed using his blood essence to locate Sky-Howling Dog, Yang Jian didn't immediately admit that he had none left.

He wanted to see how Nine Heavens Profound Maiden and Nine Nether Pure Maiden would react.

If the two female cultivators made one excuse after another and flatly refused to conduct another test somewhere private, then they could more or less be considered deeply suspicious.

Unexpectedly, they agreed to this seemingly unreasonable request. They only asked for one condition in return.

At this point, Yang Jian knew he couldn't agree to their terms, then wait until the crucial moment to throw up his hands and say, "I can't test it. The test kit's gone—no, I mean, the blood essence is gone."

He could tell that Nine Heavens Profound Maiden and Nine Nether Pure Maiden were both people of considerable standing. He hadn't asked who their masters were because if he learned their backgrounds, some things might be harder to say, and he wouldn't be able to pressure them too much.

That would make people think that even after learning who they were, he had still pushed them relentlessly, showing no regard for their sects. The consequences would be endless.

So he'd pretended not to know and avoided asking.

Even so, Zhao Gongming shot Yang Jian a displeased look.

The Three Ladies of the Auspicious Clouds looked distinctly disappointed, while Nine Heavens Profound Maiden and Nine Nether Pure Maiden sneered at Yang Jian, their expressions hostile.

Yang Jian rubbed his forehead. For a moment, the scene grew awkward.

Only Di Xin secretly let out a long breath. It was good that there was no blood essence. What a blessing—he'd taken another big step toward safety.

After a brief silence, Lady Yunxiao spoke again. "Regardless, Sky-Howling Dog is within ten zhang. I suggest we find all the Daoist Sect members in that area, then figure out how to recover the treasures."

As she spoke, she looked at Nine Heavens Profound Maiden and Nine Nether Pure Maiden. "You two fellow Daoists can't leave for now. This isn't directed at you alone. You understand the seriousness of the situation..."

The Nine Heavens Profound Maiden sisters had come to investigate the whereabouts of the Monster Summoning Banner. Seeing so many fellow cultivators suffer one mishap after another had struck them as deeply suspicious. Both had realized that their master's banner and these people's treasures might all have fallen into the same person's hands.

Ultimately, their goals were the same.

The two women exchanged a glance, then both nodded in agreement.

Seeing that the Nine Heavens Profound Maiden sisters no longer objected, Lady Yunxiao pointed into the crowd. "Fellow Daoist, please step forward."

When she pointed, Di Xin was startled.

Lady Yunxiao was pointing in his direction.

He hadn't used any Magic Power. Could she still tell that he was a cultivator?

That was unbelievable!

Fortunately, his cultivation was low. They wouldn't suspect he had the ability to steal their treasures without anyone noticing. Perhaps he could bluff his way through.

Wait!

As the thought crossed his mind, Di Xin realized that although Lady Yunxiao had pointed toward where he stood, her gaze wasn't fixed on him.

You could tell when someone was looking at you. You could feel it.

Besides, Lady Yunxiao's finger was pointing a little higher.

Di Xin suddenly understood. He followed the direction of her finger and looked behind him, where a beautiful woman in a red Daoist robe stood among the crowd.

Hu Ximei!

Di Xin recognized her at once. She must have arrived a little later than he had and ended up behind him, where he hadn't noticed her.

Hu Ximei didn't move. She was a demon, while Zhao Gongming and the others standing before her were members of the Daoist Sect. Many Daoists claimed to punish evil, uphold justice, and drive out demons. They often attacked demons on sight.

For a moment, she had no idea how to respond.

Especially after arriving and figuring out what had happened. This involved the loss of their precious treasures. Who would dare get mixed up in it?

"Fellow Daoist, do you have a guilty conscience? Are you afraid to come forward?"

When Hu Ximei didn't move, Lady Yunxiao's expression darkened.

"Little sister, there's no harm in coming out. Today, we're only investigating the missing treasures; nothing else matters. If anyone has ulterior motives, I'll protect you."

As Hu Ximei hesitated, Nine Heavens Profound Maiden spoke up at just the right moment.

When Goddess Nuwa had met Hu Ximei, Nine Heavens Profound Maiden and Nine Nether Pure Maiden had been concealed in the clouds above. They knew she was a little demon sent by their master, but Hu Ximei didn't recognize either of them.

Hu Ximei knew she couldn't avoid this forever. Since Nine Heavens Profound Maiden had just promised to protect her, she went along with it and stepped forward.

Lady Yunxiao had singled out Hu Ximei because, after the four of them arrived, they had seen her come over from a distance to watch, using some Magic Power along the way.

But based on common sense, Yunxiao didn't think Hu Ximei was suspicious.

If she had stolen all those precious treasures, she would never have walked right into a trap by coming over to watch.

So she didn't question Hu Ximei. Instead, she continued searching through the crowd within ten zhang.

There were two or three hundred people in that area, packed shoulder to shoulder.

Lady Bixiao, Lady Qiongxiao, Zhao Gongming, Yang Jian, and the Nine Heavens Profound Maiden sisters searched the crowd as well. After all, they shared the same goal: finding the stolen treasures.

But after searching, they hadn't found anyone with Magic Power besides Hu Ximei.

If the red- and white-robed Qi Cultivators weren't the thieves, then the real culprits had to be in the crowd.

Yang Jian, Zhao Gongming, and the others had already reached a conclusion. The thieves simply weren't showing any Magic Power, so they couldn't identify them.

Nine Heavens Profound Maiden and Nine Nether Pure Maiden, however, were quite sure. They had already concluded that the thieves were in the crowd. After all, they knew perfectly well that they hadn't stolen anything themselves.

So the two of them watched closely, searching with great care.

"Hmph, why bother searching? I'll capture them all and refine them to ashes. The magic treasures will reveal themselves soon enough."

Just then, Lady Bixiao, whose features were dignified, suddenly snorted impatiently. With a motion of her hand, a magic treasure appeared in her palm. It gave off a hazy green glow, and its four sides curled outward like a miniature incense burner.

"No! You'll hurt innocent people!" Lady Qiongxiao hurriedly reached out to stop her, her face suddenly changing.

But Lady Bixiao snorted again. "There's no other way. If they have anyone to blame, let them blame the thief!"

As she spoke, she channeled Magic Power into the miniature incense burner. The green light on it gradually intensified.

Gasps rose from the crowd, and a wave of panic swept through them.

Di Xin was startled too. He wondered if he should flee, but at that moment, two options suddenly appeared before his eyes.

[Option One: Flee immediately. Quest reward: Immortal Beast Azure Ox.]

[Option Two: Stay where you are, give up resisting, and do not use Magic Power. Quest reward: Qi Cultivation Sacred Book Immortal Yuan Records]

With the system's prompt, he immediately understood what to do. Though he looked panicked, he stayed put and watched the magic treasure's green light grow brighter. Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind.

He thought of a treasure nearly as famous as the Golden Flood Dragon Scissors. He just wasn't sure if this little incense burner giving off a green glow was that very treasure.