Chapter 277: Seizing Soul, Concealing Light
Ning Jiufan exhausted all his strength and rushed over.
Seeing that Ning Zhuo’s limbs were intact, he finally let out a heavy sigh of relief.
Ning Zhuo hurriedly ran in front of Ning Jiufan, his face still pale. “Ancestor, Yang Chanyu attacked us! Fortunately, with the Oil-Slick Talisman, I narrowly escaped. But... but Zheng Jian, he...”
Just as he said this, another Golden Core cultivator descended from the sky.
“Zheng Jian!” the cultivator called out in a deep voice, filled with immense sorrow.
It was Zheng Jianlian, one of the two elders of the Zheng family.
His spiritual sense scanned Zheng Jian’s entire body, confirming that the latter was truly dead beyond any hope of revival. His sorrowful expression was instantly replaced by anger and hatred.
“Who? Who killed the genius of my clan?!” he roared, glaring fiercely at Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo quickly shrank behind Ning Jiufan, leaving only his head exposed as he stammered, “It... it was Yang Chanyu of the No-Void Sect!”
Ning Jiufan snorted coldly, taking a step forward to shield Ning Zhuo from Zheng Jianlian’s overwhelming pressure. “Brother Zheng, the most urgent task is to find the killer and take revenge. You are a dignified Golden Core cultivator, an elder of a great family. How can you trouble a mere Qi Refining junior?”
Zheng Jianlian gritted his teeth, the veins on his forehead bulging as a surge of murderous intent rose in his heart.
At that moment, Zheng Shuanggou also flew to the crime scene.
He landed directly on the ground, crouched down, and began examining Zheng Jian’s body carefully.
“His soul is gone, leaving only the physical body.”
“The body... the heart is shattered, and all signs of life are gone!”
Zheng Shuanggou shook his head slightly and sighed deeply.
Zheng Jianlian barked, “Ning Zhuo, tell me exactly what happened! Don’t leave out a single detail, or I will hold you accountable!”
Ning Jiufan’s mana surged as he spoke, “Brother Zheng, I understand your grief.”
“But didn’t our Ning Xiaohui also perish recently?”
“Both of our families are in the same situation!”
“Ning Zhuo is not the culprit. He only survived this time thanks to the talisman I gave him.”
Zheng Shuanggou interrupted, addressing Zheng Jianlian, “Brother, restrain your thunderous fury for now. Our Zheng family and the Ning family are allies, not enemies.”
Zheng Jianlian’s heavy breathing gradually slowed, and his bloodshot eyes finally calmed, though his anger was barely suppressed.
Only then did Ning Jiufan slightly step aside and turn gently toward Ning Zhuo. “Go ahead, Zhuo, don’t leave out any details,” he said softly.
“Yes, Ancestor.” Ning Zhuo quickly recounted the events of that time.
Zheng Jianlian frowned deeply, while Zheng Shuanggou remained expressionless.
As Ning Zhuo neared the end of his account, a beam of rainbow light flew from the distance, landing at the scene. It transformed into a Golden Core cultivator—Zhu Xuanji.
“Lord Zhu, you’ve finally arrived!” Zheng Jianlian had already sent a flying message earlier.
Zheng Shuanggou added, “Detective Lord, a genius of our family has fallen. We need your help to bring the real culprit to justice!”
Zhu Xuanji quickly scanned the scene, glanced briefly at Zheng Jianlian, and then turned to Zheng Shuanggou. “I was just at another crime scene.”
“The Zhou family has also encountered trouble.”
“Sun Lingtong suddenly appeared and attacked Zhou Zhu and Zhou Zhenshen.”
Zheng Shuanggou raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
Zheng Jianlian asked, “Did the Zhou family’s two geniuses also perish?”
Zhu Xuanji shook his head. “It should be said that the Lava Immortal Palace saved them. Although Sun Lingtong is in the Foundation Establishment stage, he was suppressed by the palace’s environment. Zhou Zhenshen was lightly injured, and Zhou Zhu was gravely wounded, on the verge of death. The situation at the time was dire.”
Zheng Jianlian snorted coldly. “No one from the Zhou family died, yet our Zheng family has lost a genius!”
Zhu Xuanji slightly frowned but attributed Zheng Jianlian’s sharp tone to his grief. He ignored him and instead surveyed the surroundings. Taking several steps, he activated the "Trace Back Art," his eyes emitting golden light.
In an instant, he witnessed the scene where Zheng Jian’s heart was pierced.
That bloodstained blade became a prominent focus in Zhu Xuanji’s vision.
Zhu Xuanji sighed. “This should be Yang Chanyu’s weapon—the Seizing Soul, Concealing Light Blade.”
“When this blade is used, its aura is extremely restrained, and its power can accumulate continuously. Combined with Yang Chanyu’s Old Cicada Technique, once fully charged, its power is immense!”
“Anyone struck by this blade often has part of their soul torn away and absorbed by the blade, which is incredibly sinister.”
“Zheng Jian was merely in the Qi Refining stage. After being struck, his entire soul was taken.”
After this analysis, Zheng Jianlian roared in fury, “Yang Chanyu! You, a dignified Golden Core cultivator, ambushed a mere Qi Refining junior—shameless! I will kill you, kill you!”
“Lord Zhu, hurry and track her down! Find the murderer and let me quench my blade with our enemy’s blood!”
Zhu Xuanji, however, shook his head. “The No-Void Sect’s methods are extraordinary. Like Sun Lingtong, Yang Chanyu struck swiftly and decisively. Once the time limit was up, regardless of the situation, she retreated without leaving any trace. How can I possibly track her?”
“Ah!” Zheng Jianlian roared in frustration.
Zheng Shuanggou frowned deeply, sensing that Zheng Jianlian’s emotions were out of control. He quickly approached and tried to calm him down. “Brother, you must remain calm!”
“Even if Lord Zhu finds a clue, it could be a trap left by the enemy to lure us into it.”
“The No-Void Sect is still a great demonic sect and has been lurking in our Huoshi Immortal City for many years. We must not underestimate them.”
Speaking of this, Zheng Shuanggou secretly transmitted a message. “Brother, if we confront Yang Chanyu, our Zheng family will simultaneously provoke two major sects.”
“You must stay calm, calm!”
Zheng Shuanggou’s earnest persuasion finally cooled Zheng Jianlian’s anger.
Zheng Jianlian then turned to Zhu Xuanji and asked through clenched teeth, “Lord Zhu, with the situation as it is, will the royal family still not act?”
“I believe that ever since our Zheng family allied with them, we have followed their lead and obeyed their orders.”
“Before, we accidentally killed a Golden Core true disciple of the Taiqing Palace. Now, our family’s genius has been murdered by the No-Void Sect...”
“Now that I think about it, those shadow demon cultivators must also have been from the No-Void Sect!”
“How long will our Southern Dou royal family continue to tolerate such evil and vicious criminals?”
“If they won’t send aid, our family might as well turn to Meng Kui and see how he handles this as the city lord!”
Zhu Xuanji’s brow immediately furrowed, and his expression became icy.
“Brother!!” Zheng Shuanggou shouted, glaring angrily at Zheng Jianlian.
Then, he quickly saluted Zhu Xuanji, apologizing for Zheng Jianlian’s outburst and asking for forgiveness, attributing it to grief clouding his words.
After venting his frustration, Zheng Jianlian realized his mistake, broke out in a cold sweat, and said nothing more.
Though he fell silent, Ning Zhuo spoke up.
Ning Zhuo looked toward Zhu Xuanji. “Lord Zhu, I beg you to intervene.”
“The No-Void Sect is truly ruthless and insidious!”
"Young master, this time, I relied on the Oil-Slick Talisman from the Ancestor to narrowly escape with my life."
"But this information has already been leaked."
"The No-Void Sect has the Seizing Treasure Technique. Next time they strike, they will likely take the talisman first and then claim my life!"
"Even if they don’t come after me, they could target other members of the modification team, and they would be easy prey!"
"In this situation, how can we take active measures to obtain positions within the Immortal Palace?"
"I believe the No-Void Sect has taken action because they’ve noticed our efforts and don’t want us to obtain positions within the Lava Immortal Palace. Doing so would undoubtedly weaken their control over it!"
Ning Zhuo’s words caused the four Golden Core cultivators present to show troubled expressions simultaneously.
From their perspective: City Lord Meng Kui had launched an open strategy, promising generous rewards with unchanged positions.
Under this strategy, the cultivators had no choice but to strive for these positions, gaining control of the Immortal Palace, which would benefit the larger plan. Moreover, this plan killed two birds with one stone by dividing the three-family alliance.
Previously, the conflict between Zheng Jian and Ning Zhuo, the tension between the Zheng and Ning families, was a direct result of this open strategy.
However, the No-Void Sect was clearly unwilling for the Southern Dou faction to control the positions within the Immortal Palace, so they took immediate countermeasures.
Their method of counteraction was simple: assassinate the members of the modification team.
The modification team members, all having the status of trial disciples, were competing for positions within the Immortal Palace and enjoying bonuses. Yet, this group was only at the Qi Refining stage, with weak combat capabilities, making them easy targets.
The Golden Core cultivators were troubled because they were in too passive a position.
If they protected the modification team, it would drain their energy and attention.
Even if they used the team as bait, if the No-Void Sect didn’t come to attack, they would still be tied up in terms of manpower and resources.
Yet, if they let things be, how could the Golden Core cultivators explain themselves to their family members?
After all, they were supposed to be righteous cultivators.
While the Golden Core cultivators wrestled with their dilemma, Zheng Jian's body was being prepared for burial.
Not long after.
Zheng Hua, the elder of the Zheng family, personally came forward to take charge and stabilize the situation.
His first action was to hold a simple memorial for Zheng Jian.
All members of the Zheng family’s modification team attended the memorial.
"Boss!"
"Leader!!"
Many people, looking at Zheng Jian's body, had reddened eyes, crying out in sorrow, as if doing so could bring Zheng Jian back to life.
"Ugh…" Some wanted to weep but gritted their teeth, forcing themselves to hold back the tears.
Zheng Hua stood by the coffin, his expression dark.
It was too painful.
This loss for the Zheng family was a heavy blow to Zheng Hua!
Zheng Jian…
This outstanding young member of the family didn’t just possess great talent, but even more valuable were his character, his leadership abilities, and his understanding of the larger picture.
He was highly regarded, and in the eyes of the Zheng family’s main branch, Zheng Jian’s future was at least that of an elder in power!
But now, he had fallen.
He would never grow into his potential!
The immense regret and pain filled Zheng Hua’s heart.
As a senior family member, he had always held high expectations for Zheng Jian, hoping for his bright future.
But now, the Zheng Jian lying in the coffin had no future left!
Suddenly, a Zheng family cultivator stepped into the hall and reported to Zheng Hua, “My lord, Ning Zhuo from the Ning family has come to pay his respects. He said he also wants to mourn the passing of Leader Zheng Jian.”
Hearing this, the members of the modification team immediately burst into an uproar.
“He has the nerve to come?! If it weren’t for his negotiations, how could Leader Zheng Jian have gone out?”
“Why did that wretched Yang Chanyu only kill the leader and not him!”
“That guy used to collude with the No-Void Sect, but now he’s gained Zhu Xuanji’s forgiveness and successfully come ashore. Turning from darkness to light? Hmph, he’s probably still scheming with the No-Void Sect. This time, it was likely a conspiracy to kill our brother Zheng Jian!”
(End of the chapter)