"Is this all the evidence?" Zhu Xuanji arrived at the Zhou Family.
The Zhou Family Clan Leader personally attended to him.
Zhu Xuanji got straight to the point, saying he had rushed over as soon as he heard about the attack.
"This might be the work of the Black Shadow Demon Cultivator! According to our previous guess, someone secretly released him."
"This is an evil force lurking in the shadows!"
"Had we not discovered it in time, the two Qi Refinement talents of my Zhou Family might have perished."
The Zhou Family Clan Leader's expression was heavy.
Zhu Xuanji held a dead ant in his hand, his eyes emitting a golden glow as he activated the Trace Origin Technique.
He remained silent.
The Zhou Family Clan Leader's face showed a hopeful look, asking if he had discovered anything.
Zhu Xuanji shook his head.
"The evidence alone from your family is not enough. I'll go check with the other families." Zhu Xuanji took his leave from the Zhou Family Clan Leader.
He then visited the City Lord's Mansion, the Zheng Family, and Ning Zhuo's small courtyard.
The investigation results were as he had expected.
There were clues, and plenty of them.
The problem was there were "too many" clues!
The Trace Origin Technique could detect closely related items, but this close relation could be in multiple aspects.
For example, from the poison residue that harmed Ning Xiaohui, Zhu Xuanji found related materials, a potion boy, and a delivery maid among others.
Could he judge that the potion boy or the delivery maid were the culprits just based on this?
No.
Because, they were closely related to the poison as they prepared and delivered the medicine.
But could he be certain they were not the culprits?
No.
Because they might have secretly poisoned the medicine while preparing or delivering it.
The Trace Origin Technique only discovered clues.
A thorough investigation depended on Zhu Xuanji's various interrogation methods.
But Zhu Xuanji planned to stop.
Too many clues meant an overwhelming amount of effort and time to investigate.
Zhu Xuanji suspected that this was intentionally set up by the perpetrators to delay his investigation!
Like during the previous Fire Persimmon Festival, when mechanical monkeys went rogue and attacked Yuan Er.
Afterwards, Zhu Xuanji found many clues from the remains of those mechanical Explosive Flame Monkeys.
Were those clues useful?
They had little value.
Zhu Xuanji preferred to see just a few lines of clues under the Trace Origin Technique. The fewer clues, the more valuable the investigation!
But now, each piece of evidence had so many clues.
Thus, the perpetrator's intent to counter the Trace Origin Technique was very clear!
Nevertheless, this did not surprise Zhu Xuanji.
As the reputation of the Trace Origin Technique spread, many powerful individuals or forces would consciously prepare defenses against it.
All cultivation techniques in this world were tools to help cultivators better achieve certain visions.
If they were tools, they could be countered.
The hardest to be countered were always the strongest individuals, not the excellent tools.
There were no invincible techniques, only invincible cultivators.
"Hoping that the culprit would reveal a flaw was wishful thinking on my part."
Zhu Xuanji left the Four Directions Powers, deciding to proceed with his previous investigation plan.
"Perhaps, my methodical investigation has already put pressure on the culprit. That might be why these attacks occurred, to draw my attention!"
Zhu Xuanji's brows remained furrowed.
After his round of investigation, he felt something was not quite right, something strange.
But when he thought about it in detail, he found nothing. Moreover, the previous strange feeling had also dissipated.
Zhu Xuanji's subsequent actions left the three family clan leaders disappointed.
The three clan leaders met secretly to discuss their plans.
"Zhu Divine Hunter is truly disappointing."
"Perhaps, he has already found out which force is behind this. But because of his identity, he cannot reveal it to the public."
"You mean?"
The three clan leaders fell silent.
Though not explicitly stated, they all knew it was referring to the City Lord's Mansion!
In both the previous and current attacks, the City Lord's Mansion had suffered the least loss.
No, more accurately, they had benefited from the misfortune.
Meng Chong's reputation had risen significantly from eliminating assassins twice, overshadowing the Qi Refinement talents of the other three families.
"Since Meng Kui took office, he has maintained good relations with our three families. This time, it may not be his doing. After all, Meng Chong has always been leading in the exploration of the Immortal Palace." The Zheng Family Clan Leader said.
The Ning Family Clan Leader also analyzed, "In the last attack, I did suspect the City Lord's Mansion. But this time, the lethality of the assassination attempt aimed to wipe out the Qi Refinement talents of our three families. There might indeed be a hidden force plotting against us."
The Zhou Family Clan Leader shook his head and sneered, "Haven't our talented young ones from the three families survived?"
"Even if they had died, could we trace it back to the City Lord's Mansion?"
The Zhou Family Clan Leader sighed deeply, "The Meng Family is a large and influential family in our Southern Bean Immortal Kingdom."
"When Meng Family cultivators act, they're often impulsive and dominant by nature."
"Especially the four generals of the Meng Family, all of whom have significant battle achievements and countless kills. The other three are not worth mentioning, but Meng Kui is one of the four generals. Although he appears amicable and approachable, it's all a façade."
"Consider this, since he took office, have our three families been living well?"
"Isn't it more oppressive than under previous City Lords?"
"If the two of you have investigated Meng Kui's battle reports, you would know he is even better than our Zhou Family at setting traps, earning him the nickname 'Mountain Top Chancellor.'
"Would someone like him be easy to deal with?"
The Ning Family Clan Leader was thoughtful, "Since you mention it, I actually have similar thoughts."
"The discovery of the Magma Fairy Palace was first made by the City Lord's Mansion."
"Then it was the Zhou and Zheng Families."
"According to our family's intelligence, we learned that your two families had jointly bribed Meng Kui heavily to prevent him from reporting to the court."
"But think about it, if Meng Kui had reported it immediately upon discovery, what would mean for us?"
"On the surface, the Zhou and Zheng Families seem to seek cooperation from him, but is this part of his plan?"
The Zheng Family Clan Leader snorted, "Very likely!"
"Meng Kui is even more difficult to deal with than other members of the Meng Family because he is more insidious."
"Using the Magma Fairy Palace, he has made our three families actively cooperate with him, allowing him to govern the Immortal City with smooth and harmonious leadership."
"Previously, he intentionally released information and relaxed surveillance, attracting numerous loose and demon cultivators to explore the Flame Demon Melting Cave."
"Throughout the years, many lives have been lost. These people risk their lives, killing countless Red Flame Demon Beasts, thus reducing the palace's pressure and gradually providing the City Lord's Mansion with detailed intelligence about the palace and the cave."
"If the City Lord's Mansion had acted alone, by now, the entire City Guard Army might have been wiped out."
The Zhou Family Clan Leader added, "Since the emergence of the Magma Fairy Palace, Meng Kui has personally overseen it, suppressing the palace and forbidding anyone from approaching."
"Hmph!"
"His excuse is impeccable, utterly dignified."
"In reality, his actions completely prevent our three families' cultivators from entering the palace to explore its treasures."
Previously, the Zhou and Zheng Family cultivators had a hard time getting into the Immortal Palace.
They had to climb to the top of the volcano, enter the Flame Demon Melting Cave, and choose the correct path to access the palace inside the mountain.
During this process, they had to face the Red Flame Demon Beasts along the way.
Ultimately, they could reach the palace but could not break through. Only those with pre-existing recognition from the Palace Spirit could enter the palace.
Initially, with the revelation of the palace, the three families' cultivators could frequently and conveniently enter and exit.
But Meng Kui's direct suppression made it impossible for the three families to access the palace.
Although the City Lord's Mansion had no cultivators entering the palace either, they all knew that, in this aspect, the City Lord's Mansion had much less competitiveness compared to the Qi Refinement Realm.
In the Qi Refinement competition, Meng Chong's superior talent was a significant advantage!
The Zhou Family Clan Leader earnestly said, "At this point, finding the true culprit is not the priority. What matters is the Magma Fairy Palace!"
The other two clan leaders nodded in agreement.
The Zhou Family Clan Leader seized the opportunity, "Only by uniting more closely and cooperating can we contend with the City Lord's Mansion."
"To show my sincerity, I am willing to fully open the Gathering and Dispersing As Desired Spirit Tide Array to your families."
The Ning and Zheng Family Clan Leaders were surprised.
The opening of the Gathering and Dispersing As Desired Spirit Tide Array had been a point of contention in previous negotiations that the Zhou Family Clan Leader had refused to concede.
Unexpectedly, this time, after the severe assassination attempt that injured two of their geniuses, the Zhou Family Clan Leader decided to offer the array.
"Alright." The Zheng Family Clan Leader clapped, "In that case, I'll take out our family's treasure—the Sharp Advance Needle."
The Ning Family Clan Leader nodded, "Then my Ning Family will bring out the Ice Light Strong Pulse Talisman."
The Gathering and Dispersing As Desired Spirit Tide Array could help cultivators to intake and store mana more quickly.
The Sharp Advance Needle could open up the qi meridians within a cultivator during the Qi Refinement Realm, saving them the arduous effort.
The Ice Light Strong Pulse Talisman could cover the qi meridians inside and out with a layer of ice light. With this protection, a cultivator could intake mana at a speed 30% higher than their limit without worrying about the qi meridians collapsing from the mana rush.
The three families' talented cultivators were injured in succession and needed recuperation.
They urgently needed other team members to improve their cultivation levels.
These assassination attempts made the three family clan leaders realize the ferocity of the competition and their formidable, domineering opponent.
They set aside their pride and more actively engaged in cooperation.
Ning Ze's residence.
Dining room.
"Mother, how long do we have to wait?" Ning Ji had just extended his chopsticks to grab a dish, only to have them smacked away by his mother Wang Lan.
Ning Ji winced in pain and quickly withdrew his hand.
Wang Lan glared at her beloved son, "What's wrong with waiting for a bit?"
"Your father is still in private confinement, how can you eat your meal so comfortably?"
Ning Ji nursed his hand, "But there's no need to wait for Ning Zhuo to join us. We never had this rule before, didn't we always start eating first?"
Wang Lan snorted, "How can now compare to the past?"
"Ning Zhuo is highly valued by the Young Clan Leader. As long as he puts in a good word for your father with the Young Clan Leader, your father can be released!"