< Chapter 60: Too Many Clues >
So, letting Ning Zhuo recruit Yuan Dasheng? The success rate was almost zero.
The Four Great Powers could use their influence to pressure others, but Ning Zhuo couldn’t. He was only at the third layer of Qi Refining, an insignificant figure within the Ning family. The Monkey Head Gang had nearly ten Foundation Establishment stage cultivators, along with the formidable presence of Yuan Dasheng. Why would they be recruited by Ning Zhuo?
Cooperate?
The same principle applied. What qualifications did someone as insignificant as Ning Zhuo have to negotiate cooperation with the Monkey Head Gang and Yuan Dasheng?
Expose the Buddha Heart Demon Seal to show his true advantage?
In Ning Zhuo’s view: that would be an incredibly foolish move!
Once he did that, he would be gambling his life on the goodness of others. Were the Monkey Head Gang and Yuan Dasheng kind-hearted? A gang that prioritized profit, and an ape who had fought his way up from nothing—kind-hearted?
All kinds of information were in Ning Zhuo’s hands. One could say that Yuan Yi and Yuan Dasheng’s experiences were very inspirational, but that didn’t mean they were kind! In fact, it was quite the opposite.
The situation for Ning Zhuo was extremely dangerous. He was acutely aware that he was walking on the edge of a cliff, and the next step could send him plummeting into the abyss of failure.
“I must secretly eliminate Yuan Dasheng!”
This was the only solution Ning Zhuo could think of.
But how to kill him?
The Zheng family.
Two Golden Core members of the Zheng family appeared simultaneously to entertain Zhu Xuanji. Chi Dun was accompanying them. Zhu Xuanji was studying the medicine bottle in his hand. The bottle was almost completely transparent, allowing the black smoke inside to be seen from the outside.
Zhu Xuanji’s eyes gleamed with golden light for a moment. “This is made from fire poison.”
In the battle between Zheng Shuanggou and the shadow demon cultivator, although the latter escaped, some things were collected. For example, this peculiar black smoke that could seal spiritual senses during combat, causing significant trouble for Zheng Shuanggou.
Zheng Shuanggou absorbed some and stored it away to study and break it down, preparing for the next encounter. When Zhu Xuanji arrived, Zheng Shuanggou dared not hide anything and handed it over directly.
Zheng Shuanggou said, “To be precise, it is Heartburn Fire Poison.”
“Five years ago, a Golden Core cultivator from the Saint Ape Sect came to Huoshi Immortal City. During his stay, he went berserk, and his soul fused with his spirit pet, the Furious Heart Monkey.”
“We joined forces and killed him in the Red Flame Demon Molten Cave. However, before the Furious Heart Monkey died, it caused great havoc on Mount Huoshi.”
“Many demonic beasts, spirit plants, geothermal heat, earth flames, fire poison, and evil energy were contaminated with its fury, resulting in varying degrees of mutation.”
Zhu Xuanji nodded slightly and set down the medicine bottle. He had observed many items since arriving but had not found any useful clues.
“It seems I must venture into Mount Huoshi,” Zhu Xuanji said. “Daoist Zheng Shuanggou, please take me to the previous battle site.”
Zheng Shuanggou looked troubled. “This… Detective Zhu, is it really necessary?”
“The Lava Immortal Palace has already emerged, and the former Red Flame Demon Molten Cave is destroyed. Although it will regenerate, the newly formed tunnels and caves are very unstable.”
“Especially since the Lava Immortal Palace occasionally erupts. Every eruption causes the mountain to shake, magma to roll, and destroys most of the new tunnels.”
“If we want to go there, we have to dig our own tunnels. We also have to face endless geothermal heat, ground flames, and magma. What’s more troublesome is that some native monsters won’t let us pass.”
Zhu Xuanji said, “No matter how difficult it is, we have to take a look. Daoist Chi Dun will come to help me.”
Chi Dun frowned slightly but nodded his head.
Zheng Shuanggou sighed. As one of the parties involved, he couldn’t shirk the responsibility and had to agree reluctantly, “Alright, I will accompany Detective Zhu on this journey.”
Ning Zhuo came to see Sun Lingtong.
“This is the latest information about the Monkey Head Gang and Yuan Dasheng that you wanted to buy before.” Sun Lingtong tossed a jade slip to the young puppet master Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo’s voice was hoarse, “Thank you.”
“I still want monkeys. On one hand, buy more wild monkeys! On the other hand, continue hiring people. The more of the Monkey Head Gang’s spirit pets they kill, the more bounty I will give.” Ning Zhuo tossed out a storage bag filled with spirit stones.
“Understood,” Sun Lingtong laughed. “Brother, well done!”
“Now, the entire Monkey Head Gang is already in a state of panic.”
“The business of picking Huoshi is extremely profitable. Replacing the Monkey Head Gang, you can earn a fortune every year.”
“Striking first is the best strategy. This style of action suits me perfectly. You are really suited to join our No-Void Sect.”
Ning Zhuo shook his head slightly, without a hint of happiness, “As long as Yuan Dasheng remains, the Monkey Head Gang cannot be underestimated.”
Sun Lingtong’s chubby face showed a hint of ruthlessness. He extended his hand and made a slicing motion, “I say, why don’t we hire some demon cultivators to help us? We’ll find an opportunity when Yuan Dasheng is alone and take him out!”
“This matter needs careful planning!” Ning Zhuo immediately shook his head. “Yuan Dasheng has been through countless battles and is not simple. Various clues indicate he has a powerful hidden card.”
Sun Lingtong raised his chin and said nonchalantly, “How do we know if we don’t try? We can hire some demon cultivators as cannon fodder. Even if it doesn’t work, we can probe his hidden card.”
Ning Zhuo frowned deeply. Sun Lingtong’s attitude made him uneasy. “If it were so easy to force out his hidden card, why hasn’t anyone succeeded all these years?”
“Let me tell you a reliable piece of information.”
“On the surface, Yuan Dasheng has no cultivation, but in reality, he has practiced demonic arts and his cultivation level is definitely not low!”
Sun Lingtong was immediately moved.
Yuan Dasheng was a Fire Fusion Demon Ape, known for his formidable close combat skills. If he revealed his demonic arts, his combat power might increase tenfold.
“The Monkey Head Gang has also received Fei Si’s permission to participate in the Huoshi Festival. If we make too big a move, the City Lord’s Mansion will be the first to deal with us,” Ning Zhuo added.
Sun Lingtong smacked his lips and waved his hand, “Then forget it.”
Unexpectedly, Ning Zhuo said, “We won’t target Yuan Dasheng, but we can assassinate Yuan Er. Before the assassination, send him a warning letter. The assassination must fail; it cannot succeed.”
Sun Lingtong rolled his eyes, “Brother, what are you planning?”
Mount Huoshi.
“Hurry, I can’t hold on much longer!” Zheng Shuanggou used all his strength to maintain the temporary passage.
Chi Dun was bleeding profusely, silently fending off several ferocious beasts.
“Hold on a little longer, we’re almost there,” Zhu Xuanji said, his eyes glowing with golden light as he continuously formed hand seals.
Hearing this, Zheng Shuanggou almost coughed up blood, as Zhu Xuanji had said the same thing half an incense stick ago.
Chi Dun, however, really did spit out a mouthful of blood, revealing a weakness.
A Fire Serpent saw this and immediately charged with its horn.
This Fire Serpent was practically a fire dragon, with a horn growing on its head. If it struck Chi Dun, he would be severely injured, or even killed.
But in the next moment, Zhu Xuanji truly finished his work. He activated a talisman, taking the two Golden Core stage cultivators with him, and transformed into a rainbow to escape.
Within a few breaths, the three had fled the volcano.
“We’re safe!” Zheng Shuanggou exhaled a breath of relief.
Chi Dun began silently healing his wounds.
Zheng Shuanggou looked at Zhu Xuanji, “Detective Zhu, did you find anything?”
Zhu Xuanji smiled, “A significant discovery. Using the Trace Back Art, I saw that the one bombing the Immortal Palace was a Thousand-Pound Fire Essence. The one deploying the Fire Essence was a mechanical monkey.”
“When I return to Huoshi Immortal City and use the Trace Back Art again, I will definitely find the relevant people and objects. Capturing the culprit is within reach.”
Zheng Shuanggou and Chi Dun looked at him in amazement.
Zhu Xuanji looked up at the sky, “Under my golden eyes, the true culprit has nowhere to hide!”
Moments later.
Zhu Xuanji activated the Trace Back Art and used his celestial golden eyes, staring intently at the special vision showing the red-glowing mechanical monkeys scattered throughout the city.
“Detective Zhu, why aren’t we leaving?” Zheng Shuanggou asked, puzzled.
Zhu Xuanji: “…”