204 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

Chapter 204: The Trap (Part 2) Huai Ye and Fu Wen Yao's spiritual power simultaneously reached the unfortunate corpse. Fu Wen Yao noticed Lian Long reaching to touch the deceased's dantian, and he quickly stepped forward, pressing his palm against the person's abdomen first. Lian Long, subtly nudged aside by him, wasn't upset. She merely curled her lips into a slight smile and moved aside, casually examining the deceased's head. According to Zhu Yun, the person had been dead for about three days. The corpse, preserved by spiritual power, appeared as though newly dead. Aside from her, almost no one else had moved it. The deceased was just over eighty years old and, as Zhu Yun claimed, had achieved a cultivation level of late Golden Core before death. However, now it was impossible to tell. The person's meridians and dantian were completely destroyed, dried up as if all life had been drained, resembling an ordinary person with utterly depleted vitality. Indeed, it was... the Meridian Severing Manual. Fu Wen Yao's eyes flickered. To avoid discovery in the past, his master had inscribed the Meridian Severing Manual on the walls of the sect leader's quarters, protecting it with a powerful formation. He had thought no one would dare to intrude, so he hadn’t bothered to destroy it. Unexpectedly, someone dared to cause trouble under the very nose of the leading figure in the cultivation world. He had informed Zhu Yun with the excuse that the appearance of meridian exhaustion was due to poison-induced spiritual power loss, deliberately orchestrated by the perpetrator to mislead their investigation in the wrong direction. In this respect, he believed the Zhu family shared the same interests as himself. Zhu Cheng's clandestine creation of Tianlinggen furnaces was a scandal that would ruin the Zhu family's reputation and the entire cultivation world if exposed. He knew that Zhu Yun and her sister wouldn't want their father's efforts for the family to be misunderstood. Despite living for so many years, Fu Wen Yao was unsure if there was really a poison capable of completely draining one's spiritual power. However, the world was vast, and the number of unconventional paths innumerable — if even the ghost cultivators thought to be long vanished still had lineages passed down, what was so strange about bizarre poisons? Moreover, wasn't there still the demon clan? The witchcraft used by the demon clan was beyond ordinary human comprehension, serving as the perfect scapegoat in such situations. Once he addressed the outside issues, he would ponder how to handle the incompetent followers within his sect. Keeping his aura steady, Fu Wen Yao secretly wove his spiritual threads into the person's meridians, subtly repairing and hastily covering up those unclean traces and damage left by foreign spiritual power. As his spiritual energy spread slightly from the dantian, his heart suddenly skipped a beat. There was something inside the dead person's abdomen. He glanced at Lian Long, who was deep in thought nearby. Noticing his gaze, Lian Long raised her head at the appropriate moment: "There are traces of Qingchan Powder around and inside the deceased's mouth." Qingchan Powder... Fu Wen Yao paused momentarily before regaining his composure. He hadn't heard that name in a long time. Most young cultivators in the current cultivation world were not familiar with this substance. After all, there had been a general peace between the two clans for several hundred years. However, back when Lian Long and Fu Wen Yao were young, demon clan assassins were infamous for using this poison that caused the rupturing of meridians and spiritual energy leakage to kill. "A human body is like a water bag. When spiritual energy spills completely, death ensues. The dantian and meridians within a cultivator's body are resilient, filled with spiritual energy, but as a bloated bag is punctured, the water escapes even faster. By infiltrating the meridians and destroying the dantian, Qingchan Powder makes a cultivator's internal spiritual energy trickle out like flowing water until not a drop remains, often leaving the meridians looking as though the person had been dead for a long time," Lian Long explained, a slight frown on her brow. "This method was commonly used by the demon clan in the past." Hearing this, Fu Wen Yao discreetly observed Zhu Yun, whose expression remained unchanged. Qingchan Powder had faded into oblivion for hundreds of years. Even he, who had personally encountered it, had gradually forgotten it, but it served as a perfect excuse now. Zhu Yun's actions were meticulous, and it was plausible that this corpse was indeed a victim of a Taixu Sect disciple, afterward coated with poison in the mouth by her. Yet, whether the young girl was overly diligent or intentional, the deceased's abdomen contained a foreign object, something he somehow hadn't detected at first. Keeping a poker face, he pronounced, "This person’s dantian and meridians are completely destroyed. As Daojun Lian Long said, they died from Qingchan Powder." An immediate silence fell over the audience seated around the Thirteen Seats of the Immortal Gates. Fu Wen Yao knew they were using spiritual communication to buzz amidst themselves. He cast a warning look across each of their faces, conveying silently that regardless of the doubts, no one was to voice them. Yet, someone inevitably resisted. Lian Long, after a breath’s pause, had a smile creeping back onto her face. "There’s no need for panic, everyone. This concoction is a laborious one to produce, and its targets are too conspicuous. In today’s relatively peaceful times between our two clans, it has nearly become obsolete. Few among the demons now know how to craft it. If this attack were orchestrated by a group, it would be too blatant a move to make any real impact." The deceased were merely underdeveloped young cultivators, who bloomed and perished like fresh sprouts each year, not the elite forces of any human sect. Furthermore, their numbers were hardly significant. If the demon clan were plotting war by weakening human cultivators, it wouldn’t be particularly effective. "Hmph." Fu Wen Yao snorted coldly. "So, in the view of Daojun Lian Long, someone intended to frame the demon clan?" Lian Long feigned not to catch the sarcasm in his words and playfully blinked, "If I were the Demon Emperor, I certainly wouldn’t engage in such a breakout and alert the enemy." "Indeed, if you really were the Demon Emperor it would be splendid! Yet, how could we understand the mindset of uncivilized barbarians? Though the war has ceased for many years, the demon clan's ambitions haven’t waned for a day. This matter is clearly a wake-up call; appeasement and conciliation have lost their efficacy. In my view, we should prepare early. What do you all think?" Among the Thirteen Seats of the Immortal Gates, many had been echoing the Taixu Sect’s voice for countless years. Having been subtly coerced previously, and hearing Fu Wen Yao’s inciting remarks now, those unwilling to engage in sect disputes quickly voiced their agreement. For a moment, it seemed even Huai Ye had submitted to the pressure. The stern young woman exchanged a glance with her ancestor, "Sect Leader Fu’s statement has some merit." "Recently, due to the Tianqian, interactions with the demon clan have increased, making the border relations more amicable. We originally thought it was mutually beneficial, yet it unexpectedly brought such a hidden danger," Huai Ye said, her eyes narrowing slightly. "In fact, Yucang Mountain also has other pressing matters to raise this time." Jing Shan, seated diagonally from her as the new head of Tianji Sect, took over the conversation: "Regarding the recent mine collapse, Huai Ye and I have discussed thoroughly. As Sect Leader Fu put it, our clans haven’t reached genuine harmony, and latent dangers are abundant. Incidents threatening the sealing of grievances Gorge might reoccur..." Just moments ago, Yucang Mountain and Tianji Sect were aggressively assertive. Yet now, their collective retreat puzzled the onlookers. As Jing Shan continued, "To prevent future calamity, Tianji Sect is willing to suspend the mining of spirit stones. As for the safer veins at the periphery... our suggestion is to leave such matters to a joint decision by all. What do you think?" The seasoned experts who had been listening to the back-and-forth attentively began sitting up straighter. Huai Ye cleared her throat, "When it comes to prestige, none of us compare to Sect Leader Fu. Surely, having the Taixu Sect manage this would convince everyone here, wouldn't it?" Convince? How could they possibly be convinced! Everyone knew of the Taixu Sect’s domineering ways. It wasn’t just the smaller, obscure sects that suffered; even major families and prominent sects suffered losses against them. They were notorious for hoarding the benefits without sparing a drop for others to enjoy. With the Tianqian veins not equally shared initially, letting the Taixu Sect handle their distribution was unthinkable! One veteran, confident in his deep seniority, immediately voiced, "Since both sects are sincerely adopting this stance, there’s no rush. We can discuss details at a later time." He anticipated Fu Wen Yao's instant refutation and had even prepared to counter it. Yet, contrary to his expectation, there was no rebuttal from the Taixu Sect. On stage, both figures seemed engrossed in the further examination of the corpse, which had already reached a discussion-ending consensus. Fu Wen Yao didn't remain silent out of choice, but because he couldn’t afford to divide his focus at this moment. Lian Long’s spiritual energy had seamlessly traversed the dead person's body, and the woman beside him continued to analyze the corpse with great interest. In Lian Long’s smile was a hint of malice, and Fu Wen Yao recognized the mockery entwined within. He understood the play was one he was bound to act out with her. His gaze briefly lingered menacingly on Zhu Yun, exerting his spiritual energy to block Lian Long's, attempting to give her a taste of her own medicine. However, being on the defensive, he struggled for an advantage in their clandestine clash. Yet Lian Long’s efforts weren’t as easy as she portrayed. In his youth, Fu Wen Yao wasn’t as famous as Lian Long and her ilk. He and his junior disciple were both dual-spirit roots. Their master took Bai Jing Huan as a disciple to draw the Bai family closer and took Fu Wen Yao possibly having seen a reflection of himself in him. Young and unknown, Fu Wen Yao didn’t even have a nickname like Lian Long's. To this day, he had only advanced to the late stage Great Ascension. Beings like Lian Long were rare, and a late-stage Great Ascension level was indeed a commendable accomplishment. Yet, the reality he sensed was starkly different. Lian Long discovered his spiritual power could contend with her own mid-stage Divine Transformation abilities, even slightly overshadowing her, filling her with doubt as she stubbornly engaged him in a battle of wills within the corpse. Their covert contest went unnoticed by others, but soon enough, the disadvantageous Fu Wen Yao ultimately conceded, allowing Lian Long's spiritual tendrils to reach the deceased’s dantian. "Huh?" Lian Long feigned a bewildered sound. "Master, what's the matter?" Daojun Lian Long furrowed her brows once more. "Qingchan Powder is extremely potent. It won't cease until it destroys the meridians and drains all spiritual energy, leading to an excruciating death. I see that although this person has a frightened expression, it’s not contorted. So, I examined the inner structure of his dantian carefully..." As she spoke, Lian Long curled her lips. "Sect Leader Fu, your lack of expertise in poisons might leave you unaware, but someone dying from Qingchan Poison would have severe meridian damage. It's impossible for the meridians to be left so clean and intact." This woman, she was sure he would hastily cover up the traces. How much did she know about the Meridian Severing Manual? Fu Wen Yao swallowed his resentment and played along, asking, "So this person did not die from poison?" "I don't know of anything else that can completely deplete spiritual power from a body. Perhaps, as the head of the Zhu family stated..." Lian Long continued, "it was some sort of unorthodox and devious method." "You shouldn't spread such conjecture without knowing for sure. It would only panic everyone and distract from catching the culprit," Fu Wen Yao warned in a low voice. "And yet, wouldn’t inciting conflict between the clans cause the same panic?" Lian Long retorted with a cold smile. "Sect Leader Fu, you're holding back, aren’t you? There's still something inside this corpse." It was clear that, throughout the ordeal, neither side had truly yielded. The savvy attendees knew that Yucang Mountain and Tianji Sect's earlier retreats and apparent nominations were all strategized for this very moment. Having refrained from provoking the Taixu Sect during the brief truce, the crowd was ready to side against them for the sake of sect interests. Taking this chance to step down from the stage offered by Yucang Mountain, they not only returned the favor to the two sects but also seized the opportunity to curb Taixu Sect's dominance, preventing them from monopolizing the spiritual energy deposits—why wouldn’t they? Fu Wen Yao sighed, as if suddenly realizing something. Zhu Yun maintained an indifferent façade, but as the situation worsened and without even past allies like the Bai family speaking in his favor, he wondered whether he had made the wrong choice months ago at that auction when he extended an olive branch to the Zhu family. This brat, what connection did she have with the intruders at Taixu Sect? "I have nothing to say. Daojun Lian Long, do as you wish!" Fu Wen Yao flicked his sleeve and returned to his seat. Despite the curious and confused gazes of those around him, he offered no response. Lian Long sought Zhu Yun’s permission with a glance. Since the deceased was a guest at her estate, she acted only after receiving Zhu Yun’s consent, skillfully cutting open the abdomen with water turned into a blade. The item hadn't even entered the stomach; the person had died before then. Hence, as they were dying, instead of calling for help, they swallowed the retained item, which became lodged in the esophagus. When Lian Long disregarded the filth and pulled it out, everyone saw it was a small fragment of spiritual clothing. Lian Long slowly unfolded and smoothed it out. On this scrap, not even the size of a handkerchief, was the distinct Taixu Sect emblem, seen in the attire of their elder disciples. The crowd simmered in silent contemplation until Zhu Yun spoke, "A Taixu Sect elder disciple indeed visited Huaihai City not long ago. Both I and the head of the Bai family hosted him, and he stayed at my residence for over three days." Bai Lie interjected, "This item could've been placed after the person died. Also, are we to believe that the head of the Zhu family, with all your cultivation, didn't notice anything strange about the body until you brought it here to—" His words abruptly halted. The ornate attire of Taixu Sect, made from rare aquatic silk, was difficult to detect, possessing multiple functions. It could mask its owner's aura and spiritual power when worn; therefore, hidden within the body, it was even harder to notice. The rarity of aquatic silk and the special pattern of Taixu Sect's emblem only reinforced that this small piece was torn by the victim from the Taixu Sect disciple amidst their struggle, swallowing it as incriminating evidence against the culprit. Zhu Yun acted as if discovering this betrayal by a fellow cultivator had just dawned on her. Her face turned somber, "Whether it was indeed a Taixu Sect disciple remains to be seen. I wonder if Sect Leader Fu is willing to summon the disciple in question for questioning?" Over the years, many had voiced such sentiments in this place, filled with either righteous anger or deep grievance. Fu Wen Yao had observed his master deftly handle and deflect such situations to protect wayward disciples when he was the Taixu Sect leader. He had mimicked those tactics since ascending to leadership, backing countless reckless disciples over the years. But he never anticipated a day when he’d be forced into compromise. Taking too long to respond, Fu Wen Yao found himself the focal point of the crowd's expectant, questioning stares. Huai Ye’s cold, mocking laughter rang through the great hall, "Could it be that this disciple conveniently succumbed to madness?" Author's Note: Thank you to the lovely angels who voted or provided me with nutrient fluids between 2035-02-01 03:00:57 and 2035-02-04 02:45:35~ Thanks for the nutrient fluids: 5 bottles from Big Snowstorm; 5 bottles each from Euy, 38033515. Your support means the world to me, and I'll continue to work hard! 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