Many people knew that Zhang Gaoqiu was the last to leave the ancestral shrine. Yet, Zhang Gaoqiu was invited by the Shen Family to assist in refining this treasure. If after everyone left, Zhang Gaoqiu had the chance to refine the treasure and then took the opportunity to keep it for himself, this explanation makes sense, and the likelihood is considerable.
"I remember when the fire broke out, we were all busy putting it out, only Zhang Gaoqiu remained in the ancestral shrine refining the treasure..."
As that disciple spoke, everyone’s gaze shifted to Zhang Gaoqiu. Zhang Gaoqiu’s face suddenly turned pale, his expression darkened, and facing the elders’ eyes, Zhang Gaoqiu said in a low voice, "What? Do you all suspect that I stole the treasure?"
"You had the ability and opportunity to steal the treasure," the disciple questioned.
At this moment, Shen Zhen sternly scolded the disciple, "Silence! Do not speak nonsense, Nephew Gaoqiu is not the kind to do such disgraceful things!"
Then she turned to Zhang Gaoqiu with a smile, "Nephew Gaoqiu, do not be offended, everyone in our family is in a panic, acting impulsively in this urgent situation."
Zhang Gaoqiu’s face softened slightly upon hearing this, "The loss of a valuable treasure, I understand the anxiety in your hearts, and this brother cannot be blamed."
Shen Zhen nodded at these words and gently asked, "Nephew, you were the last to leave. Did you notice anything unusual?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Gaoqiu’s expression changed, and after taking a deep breath, he said, "Uncle, I know how the treasure was lost, I was even present at the scene. Unfortunately, the thief’s methods were powerful, and I was overpowered and could only watch helplessly as the treasure was taken..."
Zhang Gaoqiu’s words immediately drew the attention of the Shen family’s experts. The Shen family turned their focus to him and Zhang Gaoqiu recounted how he was subdued and blindfolded, and when he regained his freedom, the treasure had vanished without a trace.
Upon hearing this, the Shen family scrutinized Zhang Gaoqiu, their eyes flickering with a mixture of hope and doubt.
"You’re saying that someone froze your body and soul, blindfolded you, and within just a quarter of an hour stole the treasure?" Shen Xu asked.
"Exactly!" Zhang Gaoqiu nodded.
Shen Xu sneered at this, "I don’t believe your words. Even an Eleventh Tier existence would not be able to break the restrictions and steal it in just a quarter of an hour."
Hearing this, Zhang Gaoqiu’s expression darkened, "Uncle, what does this mean?"
"I have another suspicion. Perhaps, after all this time, you’ve already discovered the method to refine the secret treasure and have devised means to control it. You’ve been holding back just to take the treasure for yourself. Now, with our family’s disruption, the ancestor being lured away, and the fire breaking out inexplicably, it all seems suspicious. If someone colluded with you to steal the treasure, it would all make sense. You and your accomplices indeed left nothing to chance," Shen Xu openly expressed his doubts.
Hearing this, Zhang Gaoqiu’s face showed anger, "Uncle, why do you insult me like this? I, Zhang Gaoqiu, act uprightly and would never do such things."
"You certainly have reasons to do such things. Originally, if Zhang Chen had not come, you were likely to become my family’s son-in-law, and the treasure would naturally fall into your hands. But now that Zhang Chen is here, every outcome is uncertain. Driven by greed and resentment, you kept the treasure to yourself—such a possibility cannot be ruled out," Shen Xu said coldly, "You’ve studied the treasure for almost a year. Saying that you had the opportunity to uncover its mystery and control it isn’t unreasonable."
Zhang Chen was observing coldly from the sidelines, not expecting to be dragged into the situation, finding himself implicated.
Watching everything unfold, Zhang Chen noticed that Shen Xu was playing the role of the bad cop, while Shen Zhen was playing the good cop. The Shen family already harbored suspicions about Zhang Gaoqiu.
"Uncle, you are simply distorting the truth. You suspect I had the chance to steal the treasure, but there is another person on site who had an even better opportunity than I to control the treasure. After all, he is the inheritor of it, with my aunt having left her mark on the treasure. As soon as my brother steps in, the treasure will naturally recognize him. His suspiciousness is greater than mine," Zhang Gaoqiu turned to Zhang Chen with a fake smile, "Brother, don’t blame me, I’m only giving an example."
Shen Xu and the rest of the Shen family turned their gaze to Zhang Chen. Beside him, Wang Xifeng said, "So, Zhang Chen is also under considerable suspicion."
Listening to Wang Xifeng, Zhang Chen’s eyes gleamed with a cold light, knowing exactly where the lady’s loyalties lay—towards Zhang Gaoqiu.
"I was in the yard protecting my siblings and had no time to commit a crime. Besides, how could I have the ability to overpower my eldest cousin? If I possessed such skills, why would I endure a life living under someone else’s roof? Why the homeless and wandering lifestyle?" Zhang Chen defended himself, adding a rhetorical question, "Uncle, I second uncle, according to what you say, did the things my mother left me get lost? Stolen by thieves?"
Zhang Chen’s voice held an incredulous tremor, his eyes showing a hint of panic—his acting, one must say, was flawless.
Faced with Zhang Chen’s inquiry, the Shen family looked at each other, unsure of how to respond. Ultimately, Shen Xu stepped forward, "Nephew, don’t panic. Nobody in this world can steal from our Shen family. No matter how clever the thief is, we will retrieve it for you."
At this, Zhang Chen’s face turned angry, "Which thief dared to steal my treasure?"
Then he spoke to Zhang Gaoqiu: "Big brother, I cannot agree with what you said earlier. That treasure is originally mine; I want to take it openly and straightforwardly. Why would I resort to stealing it?"
He turned his head towards the Old Madam, his knees giving way as he knelt to the ground: "Grandmother, you must stand up for me. That treasure is the only memory left to me by my mother. Now that it is lost, how can I face my deceased mother?"
Seeing Zhang Chen with tears in his eyes, the Old Madam had no choice but to step forward to help him up, her gaze gentle: "Good child, do not feel wronged. Grandma will certainly take your side in this matter."
Zhang Chen stood up, tears welling in his eyes, saying nothing as he stood to the side.
Nearby, Chengyu’s large eyes darted around, eyeing Zhang Chen, and recalling Zhang Chen’s sudden departure, she was convinced that the Shen Family’s issues were inevitably connected to him.
"Don’t you dare slander Zhang Chen. Even if someone did lure away the Shen Family’s patriarch, we, as a lone widow and orphan, might have some means but couldn’t possibly command such experts..." Mrs. Zhang remarked.
Upon hearing this, the Shen Family members nodded secretly. It was indeed unlikely that Zhang Chen, a lone widow’s orphan, would know experts to support him. Otherwise, Zhang Chen would have already cleared his wrongful status and wouldn’t have had to come to Jinling to seek refuge with relatives.
So everyone’s gaze once again turned to Zhang Gaoqiu, who laughed angrily: "Are you all still suspecting me?"
"Whether you’re the culprit, let us inspect and find out," Shen Xu said.
Zhang Gaoqiu took a deep breath but responded boldly: "Then go ahead and inspect. If it’s proven that I’m not the culprit, all of you owe me an explanation. The Zhang Family of Kyoto cannot be insulted!"
"If it’s proven that you’re not the culprit, we’ll naturally apologize," Shen Xu played the role of the stern voice, eyes passing over everyone in the Shen Family: "Such a perfect setup by the culprit suggests something. There’s very likely a traitor among us. Not only does Zhang Gaoqiu have to be inspected, but all of you will too. Everyone line up, one by one!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen remained expressionless, silently musing: "If the Shen Family’s Tenth Tier Divine Spirit checks in person, Chengyu, Zhang Fei, and others might be exposed, unable to conceal their cultivation. Luckily, I wield the Power of Reincarnation, which can cloak everything from the Divine Spirits."
Having always been profound, the Power of Reincarnation allowed Zhang Chen to confront Chengyu and the others, saying: "Since the Shen Family wants to inspect everyone, let’s line up for them to check. With clear consciences, what is there to fear from an inspection?"
As he said this, Zhang Chen lined up the three young ones, while subtly employing the Power of Reincarnation, Six-Word Mantra power, and Sealing Rune into their bodies unobtrusively.
The Sealing Rune, already at the Twelfth Tier, was adequate to suppress any mysterious force fluctuations within the three, and Zhang Chen’s Power of Reincarnation, inherently filled with mysteries, masked their Divine Soul Cultivation, masquerading as ordinary souls.
Then, using the Six-Word True Mantra Seal for suppression, all supernatural factors of the three were completely covered up.
And what about Zhang Chen himself?
He had already mastered Human Reincarnation, naturally able to conceal his own aura.
Behold the Shen Family’s Tenth Tier Divine Spirit stepped forth to Zhang Gaoqiu, commencing a thorough inspection of every inch of his flesh and soul.
A moment later, having finished the inspection, the Shen Family’s Tenth Tier Divine Spirit, enveloped in divine light, shook his head, a hint of disappointment in his eyes: "It’s not him!"
"We owe Young Master Zhang an apology. Rest assured, once the situation stabilizes, we will host a banquet to apologize," Shen Zhen remarked.
Upon hearing it, Zhang Gaoqiu snorted coldly, stepping aside and remaining silent. The Shen Family’s Tenth Tier Divine Spirit, with divine power flowing around him, proceeded to inspect each person, eventually reaching Zhang Chen’s family.
Zhang Chen’s family, suffused with the Power of Reincarnation, was adeptly concealed. Despite being a Tenth Tier Divine Spirit, the Shen Family’s patriarch couldn’t pierce through the Twelfth-Tier Sealing Rune and the fragmented Six Paths of Reincarnation.
"It’s not them! Their souls contain no traces," remarked the Shen Family Divine Spirit.
Since the Shen Family Divine Spirit attested, Zhang Chen’s group naturally passed suspicion free.
PS: Adding an extra Chapter for the alliance leader ’Feng Junshi Haoran’, thanking the generous alliance leader for the reward.