Li Yan walked at the very back of the crowd. He quietly released his Divine Sense to feel the surroundings. A moment later, his expression remained unchanged as he withdrew his Divine Sense. On his way over, he had already sensed something different about the surroundings. A sweep of his Divine Sense confirmed that the restrictive formations here had been activated, trapping them within.
Li Yan's Divine Sense far surpassed that of a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, reaching about seven hundred li. But Li Yan knew before coming that a mid-Golden Core Ancestor was presiding over Xuanqing Temple, so he didn't dare to act recklessly. He had always maintained a cautious attitude, never releasing his Divine Sense to scan the entire Xuanqing Temple over a large area. Now, feeling uneasy, he had no choice but to release his Divine Sense slightly for a close-range inspection.
Li Yan was the last to step into the courtyard. His gaze first swept around the courtyard. He found that this courtyard was less than half the size of the first one they had stayed in, with only three houses. Li Yan had already noticed this when passing by the gates of the four middle courtyards, judging by the distance between the gates.
At this moment, four people in Daoist attire were standing in the courtyard. One of them, a man of about forty with a medium build, thick eyebrows, a square face, and a complexion as red as a jujube, looked extremely majestic. He was currently looking at Li Yan's approaching group. He spoke faintly, "I am Gong Chuiluo. Outsiders also call me Daoist Gong, the Sect Master of Xuanqing Temple. Today, an unexpected disaster has struck the temple, and I must trouble all of you fellow Daoists. Fortunately, there are acquaintances among you, which will save some trouble in conversation." As he spoke, his gaze swept over the scholar surnamed Lin, the Bloodhand Flying Sickle; Sect Master Yue of the Qinggu Sect; and the red-robed fatty. As Daoist Gong's gaze passed over them, these individuals all nodded in acknowledgment.
Finally, Daoist Gong's gaze lingered on the two black-robed figures and the hunchbacked elder. "There are a few other fellow Daoists here whom I am not familiar with. I apologize for any offense this matter may cause. Please forgive me." As he said this, the two black-robed figures remained silent, but their hoods bobbed slightly, as if they were nodding.
The hunchbacked elder, however, seemed not to have heard, his expression somewhat slow. Daoist Gong didn't mind this. He would have to investigate everyone present later. As for Li Yan and the few other Qi Condensation cultivators in his eyes, his gaze merely swept past them without further questioning.
The three people behind Daoist Gong were also staring at Li Yan's group. Li Yan didn't recognize these three, but they were none other than Luo Sanpang, Song Bo, and Qin Chengyi, three of the four who had returned from the Trading City this morning.
Li Yan mentally counted. Of the four people in this courtyard, three were Foundation Establishment cultivators, and one was a Qi Condensation cultivator. However, that Qi Condensation cultivator had reached the great circle of the tenth layer of Qi Condensation and was only a thread of fate away from Foundation Establishment. Including the four Daoists and the Daoist nun who had followed them, this temple actually had a total of seven Foundation Establishment cultivators. For a second-rate sect, this was already extremely formidable. Especially this Daoist Gong, whose aura was extremely stable, giving off a sense of perfection and fluidity. Li Yan had only ever seen this kind of feeling from his Eldest Senior Brother Li Wuyi and a few others in Baili Yuan. Although this person's aura was introverted, and his cultivation could not be discerned without a detailed Divine Sense probe, Li Yan had already guessed that this person was not far from condensing a Golden Core—the Pseudo-Core Realm.
Seeing that everyone had entered the courtyard, Daoist Gong raised a hand and pointed to a side room with an open door. "My junior brother, Liu, met with an accident in there. However, I will first explain what happened to all of you fellow Daoists to clarify the reason."
Then he turned around and spoke to the fatty among the three standing behind him, "Junior Brother Luo, you will explain what happened here."
Luo Sanpang had been standing at the back, feeling apprehensive. After hearing the middle-aged Daoist's words, the fat on his body couldn't help but tremble. He took a deep breath and then took a step forward. "This morning, Third Mast—... oh, no, I, along with Senior Brother Liu, Junior Brother Song, and Junior Brother Qin, returned from the Trading City and went to pay our respects to the Sect Master Senior Brother. Because of yesterday's incident, we violated the sect rules. In the end, the Sect Master Senior Brother ordered the four of us to be on duty for half a month and to have our Spirit Stone stipend for next month halved. Since the temple grounds are very large, it's a rush for even one person to lead a patrol for a day. Therefore, the four of us privately formed groups afterwards. This way, one person would be on duty for half a day. Thr—... oh, I was in a group with Senior Brother Liu. Because we had been in charge of the 'Daojing Hall' in the rear hall together for many years, we had a certain rapport and formed a team. Junior Brother Song and Junior Brother Qin were in a group for their duty. According to the Sect Master Senior Brother's order, Senior Brother Liu and I were to start our continuous duty after noon today. Just before noon, I came to find Senior Brother Liu to go to the front hall together, gather the disciples, and then take over the patrol from Senior Brother Kong.
On the way, I ran into Junior Brother Qin. Because of yesterday's incident, I simply pulled him along with me, so I could explain on the way that yesterday's violation of the sect rules was not entirely my fault and Junior Brother Song's, to prevent him and his senior brother from being punished and gossiped about. While talking, we arrived here at Senior Brother Liu's place. I sent a voice transmission in but received no reply after several attempts, not knowing what Senior Brother Liu was doing inside. Our respective courtyards are usually protected by formations to prevent others from disturbing our cultivation, so I couldn't enter. At that time, I thought Senior Brother Liu was trying to be lazy and deliberately pretending not to hear. I resented him for breaking his promise, thinking that I would have to lead the disciples on patrol alone in the afternoon. I thought that no matter what, Third Ma—... oh, I would have to settle the score with him at night. Then I said goodbye to Junior Brother Qin and was about to head to the front hall alone." At this point, he turned his head and glanced at the Qi Condensation stage young Daoist beside him. The person he looked at was Qin Chengyi.
Seeing Luo Sanpang's glance, Qin Chengyi knew what he meant and nodded quickly. "What Senior Brother Luo said is true. The two of us did indeed meet on the road, and while talking, we came to this courtyard. Senior Brother Luo sent several voice transmissions, and Senior Brother Liu did not respond."
Hearing Qin Chengyi's words, Luo Sanpang couldn't help but feel relieved. He continued, "Just as Junior Brother Qin and I were about to leave, we unexpectedly heard Senior Brother Liu's extremely faint voice, 'Junior... Junior... Junior Brother, save... save me.' I was startled when I heard this, not knowing what had happened. Just then, the restrictive formation enveloping Senior Brother Liu's courtyard fluctuated. It seemed he was about to remove the formation, but after just a few fluctuations, there was no more sound. It only weakened the protective formation by a few degrees. Seeing this, Junior Brother Qin and I sent several more voice transmissions, but there was no sound from within.
Anxiety grew in our hearts. After a brief discussion, we both concluded that Senior Brother Liu must have had a mishap in his cultivation. Otherwise, how could he have lost even the magical power to remove the protective formation just now? There was no time to inform the Sect Master Senior Brother. So, the two of us gritted our teeth and simultaneously unleashed our magical power, directly blasting it. Fortunately, the restrictive protective formation had already been weakened a lot. After several combined attacks, we managed to blast it open.
As soon as we broke through the formation, the two of us rushed in. But when we rushed into the courtyard, we saw that the door to Senior Brother Liu's cultivation room was open. We felt something was strange. After carefully entering, we saw Senior Brother Liu lying on the ground with a ferocious expression, already dead. I hurriedly cast a soul-summoning spell, but Senior Brother Liu's soul had already dispersed and could not be gathered." Reading Bar
"Seeing this, I shouted out. Because the sound of us blasting Senior Brother Liu's courtyard protective formation had already alerted others, the Sect Master Senior Brother and the rest of you arrived here quickly." At this point, Luo Sanpang looked at Daoist Gong.
The Soul-Summoning Art he spoke of was a common technique used by cultivators. All cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage and above could use it. After a person dies, their soul leaves the body and enters the cycle of reincarnation to be reborn. However, if it is the wronged soul of someone who died unjustly, due to the presence of resentment, it will linger near the deceased for a long time, unwilling to leave, though mortals cannot see it. A cultivator's soul is stronger and more solid. After reaching Foundation Establishment, if the physical body is severely damaged, a Foundation Establishment cultivator can have their soul possess another's body for rebirth. However, the conditions for possession are harsh, requiring compatibility in physical body, soul fluctuations, and so on. A cultivator can only possess another body once in their lifetime. Otherwise, if cultivators could just possess another body whenever their physical body aged and decayed, wouldn't they be able to live forever?
"Yes, what Junior Brother Luo said, I have also separately questioned Junior Brother Qin before. There are no major discrepancies in their accounts. However, I would first like to invite all of you fellow Daoists to have a look inside the room before we continue. Junior Brother Liu has just been murdered, and you shouldn't be made to look, but a life is at stake. I also performed the Soul-Summoning Art earlier, but unfortunately, Junior Brother Liu's soul has completely dissipated and cannot be gathered. I believe it was either taken by the murderer or directly scattered, so I don't know what really happened. Later, I may have to ask for your insights, lest you fellow Daoists, being unaware, go out and say our temple is being one-sided. So I ask all of you fellow Daoists to be truthful."
As he said this, a torrential aura suddenly surged from Daoist Gong, and the pressure of the Pseudo-Core Realm descended. Just as everyone felt it difficult to breathe, even the scholar surnamed Lin, the Bloodhand Flying Sickle, had his expression change several times. Although he was not afraid of Daoist Gong, that was outside. With the several secret techniques he possessed, although he couldn't defeat Daoist Gong, he could escape. But now, on someone else's territory, and with Xuanqing Temple's formations being so troublesome, it would be extremely difficult to escape.
This overwhelming pressure came and went quickly. Daoist Gong's aura was released and retracted with ease, without any stagnation. But in just that moment, it felt like a heavy mountain pressing down on Li Yan and the others. The few Foundation Establishment cultivators were better off, but the remaining few Qi Condensation cultivators were pale and trembling with fear on their faces. Li Yan also turned pale, but of course, he did this intentionally. But the other Daoists, including Qin Chengyi, had normal expressions. It was clear that Daoist Gong's control of his magical power just now was exquisite, only enveloping the dozen or so people including Li Yan, without affecting anyone around him in the slightest.
The room where the incident occurred was the cultivation room on the right of the three rooms. The doors and windows of the other two rooms were all closed. Next, Li Yan and the dozen or so people entered the room. They saw that the furnishings inside were extremely simple. There was only a prayer mat on the floor, and a wooden shelf against the wall, on which were some books and a dozen or so porcelain bottles of medicinal pills. A person in Xuanqing Temple Daoist robes lay face up on the floor. The Daoist was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with a hooked nose and a pained and ferocious expression. In one hand, he held a token, while the other hand was clawing at the ground, his fingernails dug deep into the bluestone floor. One leg was extended, the other bent. It was none other than Senior Brother Liu, one of the four who had returned from outside the mountain gate in the morning.
Several people next to Li Yan, with grave expressions, had already extended their Divine Sense toward the ground. Li Yan did not immediately investigate but looked around the room. This room had two windows facing the courtyard, one on each side of the door. At this time, both windows were tightly shut. On the wall opposite the door was a large double-paned window with carved railings, almost the size of the other two windows combined. It was also tightly shut. Li Yan judged its position; outside this window should be the lotus pond.
Finally, Li Yan's gaze fell on the door, which had several cracks, clearly having been forced open by magical power.
Li Yan's eyes flickered a few times before his gaze fell on the Daoist on the floor. The Daoist's robes were still relatively neat, with no signs of a struggle.
Li Yan's Divine Sense directly probed the Daoist's body. After a sweep, his mind was filled with even more doubts. There were truly no signs of a struggle on the deceased Daoist's body. Judging by his pained expression, it seemed he had died from poison, but there were no signs of poisoning on his body. Li Yan couldn't help but carefully scan the Daoist's body with his Divine Sense again. He was instantly horrified. There were several extremely fine cracks on the Daoist's heart. Without close inspection, one would think they were the meridians laid upon it. But under careful observation with Divine Sense, he found they were indeed fine cracks. The inside of the heart had been shattered, leaving only an empty shell, and there were still faint spiritual power fluctuations on the wounds of those fine cracks.
'His heart was directly shattered by magical power. According to that Luo Sanpang, he let out a cry for help and tried to release the protective formation. This should have been a fatal blow. It seems this Daoist had some skill, managing to protect his heart meridians and make a final call for help.' Li Yan looked at the token in the deceased Daoist's hand. That should be what the Daoist was trying to use to open the courtyard's protective formation before he died.
Li Yan then quietly moved to the back of the crowd. He didn't want to attract attention. The few Foundation Establishment cultivators were already looking at Daoist Gong. They had also finished their observations. The remaining few Qi Condensation cultivators, though also surprised, did not dare to speak, especially the middle-aged Qi Condensation couple traveling alone, who had a timid expression on their faces.
"Fellow Daoist Gong, your junior brother was clearly killed by having his heart directly shattered. Are there any clues?" The scholar-dressed Bloodhand Flying Sickle was the first to speak. As he spoke, the red-robed fatty and Sect Master Yue also nodded slightly. This was also what they had discerned.
The two black-robed figures also raised their heads at this moment and looked at Daoist Gong. Since entering the room, the two of them had been standing motionless in the corner of the door, only releasing their Divine Sense to scan the area. Now, as they raised their heads, two pale faces were revealed under the shadow of their hoods. They were actually a pair of twin brothers.
Li Yan stood behind the crowd, acting somewhat timid, and was closer to the middle-aged couple. Like them, the master and servant pair, an old man and a young man, also seemed not to want to get involved, quietly watching the conversation between the few Foundation Establishment cultivators and Daoist Gong in front.
Although Li Yan looked somewhat timid and scared, he had long since quietly spread his Divine Sense. He was confident that even that Daoist Gong couldn't necessarily detect his Divine Sense. This kind of situation, where one moment there was peace and the next a sudden murder, was not uncommon among cultivators. He naturally had to be on full alert. Just as the Bloodhand Flying Sickle finished speaking, in Li Yan's Divine Sense, the purple-robed youth of the master-servant pair at the side curled his lip, but it immediately returned to normal.