The Soul-Transferring Curse was a renowned divine ability of the Ghost King Sect.
This curse could exchange two people's souls, or temporarily seize another's soul and occupy their body.
The inner sect disciple's expression darkened slightly as he glanced at Fang Hong. "Junior Brother, have you offended a Ghost King Sect true disciple before?"
A divine ability like the Soul-Transferring Curse required at least Foundation Establishment-level divine sense and magical power to cast.
Fang Hong's expression was equally grave, and he slowly shook his head.
The inner sect disciple declared, "Then one of your elders or your lineage must have offended a Ghost King Sect cultivator."
Fang Hong frowned. "That's unlikely too. As far as I know, my lineage has had almost no dealings with the Ghost King Sect."
"Having none before doesn't mean having none now. In any case, take care, and avoid leaving the sect unless you have business outside."
The inner sect disciple gave him a meaningful look. "Ghost King Sect cultivators sacrifice living souls to the Yama Heavenly Son to obtain myriad ghostly and divine talismans and spells. Their divine abilities are strange and ever-changing. They're no easy opponents."
Remembering the Human-Skin Ghost Face secret art of the Ghost King Sect cultivator he had encountered earlier, Fang Hong wholeheartedly agreed.
"Thank you for telling me, Senior Brother." He cupped his hands in thanks.
The two inner sect disciples wasted no further words. After collecting the maid's mutilated remains, they left Fengle Tower's courtyard.
By then, Xiao Yuansha had also told Fengle Tower's proprietor what had just happened, and the latter apologized repeatedly to Fang Hong.
Out of consideration for Xiao Yuansha, Fang Hong said little. "This person came for me. It has nothing to do with the Xiao Household, so there's no need to dwell on it, Proprietor."
Then he turned to Chai Hongzhou. "Junior Brother Chai, who else knew about our gathering here?"
Cold sweat beaded on Chai Hongzhou's forehead. Everyone knew he had come from the Ghost King Sect, and it was difficult to say that this incident had nothing to do with him.
Chai Hongzhou said solemnly, "Senior Brother Fang, with everyone here today, I, Chai Hongzhou, swear a great heart-demon oath: I have never breathed a word of this gathering to anyone beyond those present, nor have I ever harbored any intention of harming Senior Brother Fang."
With that, he recited the incantation for the great heart-demon oath and swore before them all.
He said bitterly, "This was either pure coincidence, or, as Junior Brother Gu said, a Foundation Establishment true disciple of the Ghost King Sect is among the Xun Household's enemies and used this to bring trouble upon them."
Xiao Yuansha spoke up then. "I have a True-Word Treasure Mirror that can discern truth from falsehood in people's words. Junior Brother, would you repeat what you just said before the mirror?"
As he spoke, he summoned a treasure mirror shimmering with spiritual light and suspended it over their heads. Its light enveloped them, producing a peculiar response in everyone's sea of consciousness.
Chai Hongzhou was unperturbed. "Of course."
He immediately repeated what he had just said.
Light flowed within the True-Word Treasure Mirror, but it gave no response.
Xiao Yuansha told Fang Hong, "Senior Brother, this mirror is a magic artifact unique to the Xiandu Sect. An elder personally bestowed it on me when I took first place in the sect's minor tournament. There can be no mistake."
"Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Junior Brother."
Fang Hong had read records concerning the Xiandu Sect in the Donglai Gazetteer. Just as Xiao Yuansha had said, this True-Word Mirror was listed among the Xiandu Seven Treasures.
The treasure mirror in his hands was probably a replica of that third-tier True-Word Treasure Mirror.
The enforcement bodies of many aristocratic clans and sects favored purchasing Dharma Treasures of this kind.
Everyone present was perceptive. How could they fail to see that Xiao Yuansha was clearing Chai Hongzhou of suspicion?
After all, Chai Hongzhou had become Dao companions with a younger female cousin of his clan, making him halfway a member of the Xiao Household.
Still, with both the great heart-demon oath and the True-Word Treasure Mirror verifying his words, they could essentially rule out Chai Hongzhou having plotted against Fang Hong.
Chai Hongzhou's Dao companion, Xiao Xiaoxiao, could not bear to see her own companion put on the spot before everyone. She spoke up. "Since we all came to the gathering, we're all suspects in leaking Senior Brother Fang's whereabouts. Why don't we all take the test?"
With that, she voluntarily addressed the True-Word Mirror. "I, Xiao Xiaoxiao, have not leaked the slightest information about this gathering."
She had been quiet and reserved throughout the gathering, yet now she took the initiative to defend Chai Hongzhou.
Seeing this, Gu Hongchen, Xiao Yuechai, and the others stepped forward in turn to have their words verified.
Sure enough, those present had all entered the inner sect and were mature people, cautious in speech and conduct. None had publicized today's gathering.
"Thank you, junior brothers and sisters."
Fang Hong cupped his hands in thanks.
Since everyone here was above suspicion, only one possibility remained: someone had been secretly watching and following him.
He pondered this, silently recalling everything he had experienced since arriving at the market.
Suddenly, inspiration flashed through his mind, as though he had seized upon some pivotal clue. The Fate Mirror in his sea of consciousness quivered slightly, and the honest, good-natured face of the Golden Sandalwood Pavilion's elderly proprietor flashed before his eyes.
It was him?
Fang Hong was startled. In that fleeting instant, he had inadvertently used a secret art from the Three Fates Compendium.
-Touching the Mechanism!
"Touching" meant triggering, sensing.
"Mechanism" referred to heaven's workings, the subtlest signs, the first stirrings of change.
The Three Fates Compendium emphasized "responding upon touching the mechanism" and "the spirit knowing when the moment arrives."
But this secret art came and went without a trace. It was difficult to fathom and even harder to invoke deliberately, relying entirely on a moment's coincidence and inspiration.
Was that elderly proprietor a Ghost King Sect disciple?
He didn't look like one. Could he be a pawn of a Ghost King Sect cultivator?
Whether he is or not, I absolutely cannot leave such a great hidden danger unchecked.
Thinking of the Ultimate Bliss Powder that had nearly ensnared him, Fang Hong hardened his heart and formed a plan.
At this point, today's gathering could no longer continue.
Fang Hong declined the suggestion to return to the sect with Xiao Yuansha and the others, and went back to Yunchuan Studio alone.
In Yunchuan Studio's rear courtyard.
Fang Hong recounted today's events to Steward Mu, then said, "Uncle Mu, help me keep a close watch on that elderly proprietor of the Golden Sandalwood Pavilion. Once he leaves the market, find an opportunity to subdue him immediately."
"Young Master Hong, you suspect he informed the Ghost King Sect cultivator behind this? Do you have any evidence?"
Steward Mu's brows were tightly furrowed; this matter was giving him a headache as well.
Fang Hong smiled faintly and said casually, "Since arriving at the market, I've spent the most time dealing with him, so he's the most suspicious. But this is only a suspicion based on my sixth sense. Let's give it a try. Perhaps it really was him?"
Steward Mu said seriously, "All right, I'll see to it now. I happen to have a few hidden pawns in the market. I'll see whether we can lure him out."
Fang Hong nodded, took a second-tier Immobilization Talisman from his storage pouch, and handed it to Steward Mu. "Keep this talisman for now. It might prove useful. If there's danger, don't force a confrontation."
"Thank you, Young Master." Steward Mu did not refuse. He accepted the talisman and carefully put it away.
He was at the peak of Qi Refining and had been stuck at that bottleneck for years, unable to reach Foundation Establishment. That was why he had turned to working wholeheartedly for the Fang Household's External Affairs Hall, striving to nurture his descendants.
After all, the target might be a pawn planted in the market by a Ghost King Sect cultivator. With this second-tier Immobilization Talisman, he felt somewhat more confident.
Steward Mu promptly rose and left the little courtyard.
Fang Hong quietly cultivated in Yunchuan Studio and waited.
The elderly proprietor of the Golden Sandalwood Pavilion had the three great baleful stars-Robbery Fiend, Death Spirit, and Yang Blade-in his fate, presaging plunder, murder, bloodshed, and depletion.
Combined with the sensing of Touching the Mechanism from the Three Fates Compendium, this made him highly suspect in the plot at Fengle Tower.
That evening, Fang Hong emerged from meditation and turned his hand over. An exquisite jade talisman appeared in his palm.
The light on the jade talisman was flickering bright and dim, clearly indicating that Steward Mu had obtained a result.
He touched the jade talisman with his divine sense, and Steward Mu's voice immediately sounded in his ears.
"Young Master Hong, I've subdued him. I'm on a deserted island three hundred li northwest of Five Dragon Island."
Fang Hong consulted the Fate Mirror for good or ill fortune and found its candle flame burning steadily. Everything was normal.
He replied gravely, "Good. Wait there. I'll be right over."
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