"Thirdly, the current City Lord of Persimmon Fire City, Meng Kui, has a divine skill called 'Mountain Gaze' which is extremely formidable."
"Among the four great generals of the Meng Family, Meng Kui is the only one with strategic intelligence. He has been managing Fire Persimmon Immortal City for many years, making governance smooth and the people harmonious."
"You possess Golden Core cultivation, have innate talent with Golden Eyes, and are protected by national treasury treasures, making your battle strength outstanding."
"However, once Meng Kui uses 'Mountain Gaze,' it creates a shift in the fortune field, causing the fate of all beings in the area to drastically change."
"There are very few treasures that can suppress fate. Without a precious artifact to protect you, it will be hard to stabilize your own fortune, and you will be interfered with."
"I will grant you a Wind Alarm Bell to use as a warning."
"This subject thanks Your Majesty for your grace," Zhu Xuanji knelt on one knee again.
Finally, the Nandou King waved his hand, "The related intelligence and secrets of the Magma Fairy Palace are documented in the royal secret realm. Before you set off, go take a look; it will help you complete this mission. Remember, all secrets must not be leaked."
"This subject obeys!" Zhu Xuanji accepted the order and withdrew.
Zhu Xuanji left the capital.
Alone, he concealed his identity, traveling a long distance until he reached Fire Persimmon Mountain.
"The Meng Family..." Zhu Xuanji's expression was solemn. In the Nandou Kingdom, the Su Family and the Meng Family were equally famous and powerful.
Zhu Xuanji stealthily reached the mountaintop but was discovered.
He used his innate Golden Eyes to observe the Magma Fairy Palace from a distance, seeing it with his own eyes for the first time.
He took Chi Dun with him and visited the Zheng Family to gather intelligence on the Black Shadow Demon Cultivator.
He delved into the Flame Demon Melting Cave, using the Trace Origin Technique to discover that Fire Essence and the Mechanical Explosive Flame Monkeys were the true culprits behind the palace explosion.
Then, the investigation met resistance.
Whether it was the Mechanical Explosive Flame Monkeys or the Fire Essence, both clues were deliberately designed by someone and had very little value.
At the Fire Persimmon Festival, Zhu Xuanji monitored the entire event but found no trace of the Black Shadow Demon Cultivator.
Yuan Dasheng's behavior made him sympathetic, but Yuan Er left him disappointed and annoyed.
From the fragments of the Mechanical Explosive Flame Monkeys, he gathered countless clues once again.
He decisively abandoned them, concluding that they were feints by the enemy, intended to distract and waste his time and energy.
He speculated that the Black Shadow Demon Cultivator was likely collaborating with a faction within the city. The adversary had long been prepared for the Trace Origin Technique, hiding very deeply, being a formidable opponent.
Zhu Xuanji decided to put in the hard work.
He requested all records from the Four Directions Powers to construct a list of suspects.
He deliberately published the list, hoping to startle the enemy into revealing themselves.
Zhu Xuanji acted high-profile on purpose, beginning his investigation with Li Leifeng.
He ended up being plotted against.
Li Leifeng died of natural causes, and Zhu Xuanji secretly verified it to confirm the truth.
Subsequently, he devoted all his time and efforts to examining past performances of officials and staff in Fire Persimmon Immortal City but found no suitable candidates.
He wrote a formal memorial to the Royal Family, honestly detailing the situation and suggesting that a Zhu Family member should be sent to take on the role of director.
Zhu Xuanji continued his investigation.
When a demon cultivator resisted, he killed Zhao Die.
Then he killed Liu Ying, confirming that none of them had mastered the life-hanging divine ability.
He loudly and publicly conducted his affairs, causing a series of reactions.
Within Fire Persimmon Immortal City, the demon cultivators and loose cultivators either fled, grouped together, or aligned themselves with factions.
This did not deter Zhu Xuanji.
The investigation continued to progress step by step.
During this period, the Qi Refinement talents from the Four Directions Powers were attacked and assassinated simultaneously.
Zhu Xuanji immediately took action to investigate.
He found many clues, but the critical points were all severed, most indications still pointing to Fei Si.
Zhu Xuanji understood this well, suppressing his findings for now.
He felt disappointed, realizing this wasn't the true culprit he sought but a covert clash among the Four Directions Powers.
The three major families wanted to use him as a tool against the City Lord's Mansion to benefit themselves.
Zhu Xuanji understood and withdrew in time.
A few days ago, he went to the Zhou Family to question Chu Xiyao.
During the interrogation, the Zhou Family specifically sent an elder to accompany Chu Xiyao and support him.
Zhu Xuanji found no evidence of Chu Xiyao lying and left the Zhou Family expressionlessly.
"Interesting," he looked up at the sky.
Despite the commotion, disturbing many, the true culprit remained elusive.
"The mastermind is hiding very deeply."
Zhu Xuanji examined the suspect list again.
He divided his list into three segments.
The first segment consisted of cultivators confirmed to have entered the Magma Fairy Palace, including two Golden Core Cultivators from the Zheng Family, a Golden Pill Ancestor from the Zhou Family, Li Leifeng, Zhao Die, Liu Ying, Chu Xiyao, and others.
The second segment included cultivators with considerable mechanical techniques skills, meeting the palace entry standards, but not recorded by any of the Four Directions Powers. Among them was the Youthful Guest!
The third segment included those with mechanical techniques skills, who had once entered the palace, or with no related records but were generally believed to be deceased.
He had already investigated the first segment and was now on to the second.
After examining two people, it was the Youthful Guest's turn.
The Youthful Guest was very mysterious but had sold numerous mechanical artifacts in the black market multiple times. The last appearance was when he and Han Ming teamed up to raid the Ziyang Courtyard, coordinating with a mysterious third party, successfully stealing a large amount of elixirs.
Oddly, these elixirs appeared in the Fire Persimmon Forest and then mysteriously vanished.
Zhu Xuanji had long known about this clue, but after some thought, he believed the Youthful Guest and the Black Shadow Demon Cultivator were not strongly connected.
Sun Lie had tampered with the elixirs to guard against Han Ming. The Youthful Guest's group likely figured out the trick and deemed the elixirs unusable, so they abandoned them.
To vent their frustration or perhaps to throw suspicion elsewhere, they directly threw the elixirs into the Fire Persimmon Forest, framing the Black Shadow Demon Cultivator.
If the City Lord's Mansion and the Black Shadow Demon Cultivator clashed, the Fire Persimmon Forest would inevitably suffer, causing significant losses to the City Lord's Mansion. At that time, these demon cultivators would watch from the sidelines, gloating over the misfortune.
Zhu Xuanji acknowledged Fei Si's handling of the situation in the Fire Persimmon Forest.
Fei Si acted in his official capacity, genuinely protecting the immense wealth of the Fire Persimmon Forest. This was for the benefit of both the City Lord's Mansion and the Nandou Kingdom.
Zhu Xuanji's deduction about the Youthful Guest and the Black Shadow Demon Cultivator was straightforward: if the Youthful Guest and others were truly connected with the Black Shadow Demon Cultivator, why wouldn't they secretly deliver the elixirs? Why make such a public spectacle and let everyone know?
Even so, Zhu Xuanji's investigation led him back to the Youthful Guest.
"The Black Market Master is named Sun Lingtong, at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, an outer disciple of the Bukong Sect. He must know something."
With this in mind, Zhu Xuanji sought him out.
"Youthful Guest, huh..." Sun Lingtong's big eyes rolled as he grinned, "What does Lord Zhu want with him?"
Zhu Xuanji remained impassive, "You only need to cooperate and provide the details. My reasons for seeking him don't concern you."
Sun Lingtong scratched his head, "Ah, in front of Lord Zhu, I can't really lie."
Zhu Xuanji nodded slightly, "Sun Lingtong, I've investigated you. Though you are the Black Market Master, you are not a completely evil person. These years, you have brought order to the black market and adhered to the rules you set yourself, which has, to some extent, prevented much bloodshed and conflict."
"Just tell the truth, I won't make it difficult for you."
Sun Lingtong spread his hands, "So, I'll say it. I know the whereabouts of the Youthful Guest. But if you want to know, you'll need this."
As he spoke, Sun Lingtong extended his delicate hand and rubbed his fingers together in front of Zhu Xuanji.
"You want money? Ha ha ha." Zhu Xuanji chuckled angrily, "Since I've been handling cases, I've never paid for information. You're really pushing your luck, daring beyond measure."
"Hmm?" Suddenly, a golden light flashed in Zhu Xuanji's eyes.
His expression changed, "No, you're lying!"
"Even if I paid, you wouldn't reveal the truth."
This time, it was Sun Lingtong's turn to change color.
"Interesting." Zhu Xuanji stared at Sun Lingtong, his eyes glowing with golden light, "You're defending the Youthful Guest so much, it seems you were involved in the Ziyang Courtyard case too, weren't you?"
Sun Lingtong shouted, "Lord Zhu, what nonsense are you saying?"
"You're framing me!"
"I, I, I'm just a child, and you, an adult, are framing and bullying me?"
"Someone, come quickly, look, Lord Zhu is bullying someone!"
Sun Lingtong sat on the ground, beating his chest and stamping his feet, crying loudly, "This is too much bullying! No kindness at all, a member of the Royal Family bullying a child!"
"Boo hoo hoo!"
"I don't want to live anymore; I can't live like this."
"I'm being wronged, framed by someone from the Zhu Family. A dignified Divine Hunter accusing without evidence!"
"How am I supposed to live after this?"
"My reputation!"
"What will people think of me; oh heavens."
"I might as well die; boo hoo hoo, poor me."
"Quick, record this scene with a jade slip, I'll use it to redress my grievances later."
"Come, look, the Zhu Family's Royal Family is bullying civilians!!!"
Sun Lingtong wailed, rolling on the ground, his small legs and arms flailing wildly.
Zhu Xuanji: ...
The small vendor just kicked by Sun Lingtong to the ground: ...
However, Sun Lingtong's burly guards remained silent, as if used to it. One of them even took out a jade slip and started recording the scene.
Zhu Xuanji laughed in exasperation, "Do you think that by making such a scene, you can escape my investigation?"
"Sun Lingtong, stand up, don't make me look down on you."
Sun Lingtong cried, "No, I won't. Come and look, someone's bullying a child."
He cried while crawling towards Zhu Xuanji.
Zhu Xuanji subconsciously stepped back a few paces but was still hugged by Sun Lingtong, who clung to his leg.
Zhu Xuanji was furious, shaking his leg while shouting, "Sun Lingtong! You manage the black market, a prominent figure, yet now you're no different from a three-year-old child?"
Sun Lingtong whined, "I don't care, you're bullying people. If you have evidence, show it."
"Boo hoo hoo, my sect's seniors aren't here, you're just picking on a child. Are you even human?!"
This commotion attracted numerous onlookers.
Zhu Xuanji's face turned pale with anger, furiously shaking his leg.
Sun Lingtong clung tightly, not letting go, like a sticky plaster.
He even rubbed his face against Zhu Xuanji's pants, smearing snot and tears all over them.
Zhu Xuanji roared, "Sun Lingtong, you've gone too far!"
Sun Lingtong cried out, "Kill me then, Lord Zhu, just kill a child. You, the great Detective of Hidden Affairs, can do no wrong, right?!"
Zhu Xuanji was so enraged that he felt a surge of killing intent. Just then, a tingling sound rang out in his Divine Sea above his dantian.
It was the Wind Alarm Bell!