Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Heartless Iron Face

Night falls.

All is silent.

The long-bearded Inspector, who was reviewing the latest findings from the Inspection Hall and the Night Patrol Department, suddenly heard footsteps coming from the corridor outside the window.

But since the death of Ji Qiubai, he had already ordered a complete lockdown of the Main Peak by the Inspection Hall, forbidding anyone except the three Inspectors from entering freely.

Yet at this moment, someone was walking outside in the corridor.

The footsteps were subtle.

But extremely steady.

Moreover, when he swept his Divine Sense outside, he could not sense anyone in the corridor.

The old man with the long beard was shocked and quickly formed a spell and pinched a talisman, speaking coldly, "Friend, since you’re here, why not show yourself?"

"Which friend of yours am I?" The person outside in the corridor spoke calmly, his voice steady and familiar.

The face of the old man with the long beard grew tense, and amidst his panic, he quickly put away the talisman, stood up, opened the door, and greeted with a bow.

"Welcome, Elder Ye!"

Outside the window in the corridor.

An elderly man in black with red hair stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes as calm as ancient wells, sweeping indifferently over the entire Feixian Peak. However, upon closer inspection, one would notice the fierce hostility within his eyes.

This man was none other than Ye Chen, the Main Peak Elder of the Inspection Hall, one of the Late Stage of Qi Cultivation cultivators from the Deadman Peak, known as Heartless Iron Face.

Ye Chen didn’t turn around, but coldly asked, "Were you able to identify the person who killed my unfortunate disciple?"

"Preliminary judgment suggests it was Bai Changxin, the current Pavilion Master of the Blood Robe Tower, but Bai Changxin’s early stage Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer capability is insufficient to kill the Peak Master Ji." The old man with the long beard spoke respectfully, his heart beating nervously.

Ye Chen’s reputation as Heartless Iron Face was not mere fame. As a member of the Inspection Hall, he deeply understood the ruthlessness beneath Ye Chen’s calm facade and knew well how many Heterodox Dao, Evil Cultivators, and Tribulation Cultivators he had slain.

Ye Chen still didn’t turn, "How’s the investigation on the people of Feixian Peak going?"

"Reporting to the elder, the investigation is mostly complete, and currently no suspicious findings have been discovered." The old man with the long beard answered truthfully.

Ye Chen asked again, "I heard Elder Gong Chi of the Night Patrol Department at Feixian Peak is quite decent, did you thoroughly check him?"

"Elder Gong is known to be quite decent, responsible, and conducts himself impartially and selflessly, effectively getting along with none of the other Feixian Peak Elders. Since the passing of Peak Master Ji, he’s been in seclusion, healing, and cultivating, not only refraining from disputes but also actively deploying trusted aides to assist our Inspection Hall in finding the real culprit."

As he spoke, the old man with the long beard expressed satisfaction towards Elder Gong Chi, as such people are scarce nowadays.

And indeed very scarce.

Take the recent apprenticeship disciple test for example, Elder Gong Chi was the only one not arranging people to exploit loopholes.

This demonstrates his character.

But upon hearing this, Ye Chen was quite displeased, and he turned to cast a cold, bone-chilling glance at Feng Xuan, making him tremble all over, "Feng Xuan, is this how you conduct business, letting your emotions interfere with the pursuit of the culprit?"

Judging people based on preference.

This is a major taboo!

"The subordinate admits the mistake!"

Feng Xuan quickly dropped to one knee.

Not daring to raise his head.

Ye Chen said nothing but coldly stared at him for a few breaths, a few breaths that felt like an eternity for Feng Xuan.

Until Ye Chen spoke again, he then felt relieved.

"Send people quietly to investigate Blood Demon Abyss’s situation, lately the Blood Robe Tower’s people have been causing quite a stir at Blood Demon Abyss... As for you, remain at Feixian Peak for further investigation, focusing on Gong Chi, I do not believe there exists such a person in the world."

"Yes!" Feng Xuan promptly nodded, then instinctively asked, "What do you plan to do next?"

Upon this statement.

Feng Xuan immediately realized he did not foresee well.

Indeed.

A quick glance up met Ye Chen’s icy eyes.

Feng Xuan hurriedly sealed his lips, not daring to speak further.

...

Ten days passed quickly.

As the examination day drew nearer, Feixian Peak gradually eased from Ji Qiubai’s demise.

Within the sect, discussions were predominantly on the examination matter, some even openly set up betting venues speculating on which twenty would proceed to the Main Peak for training. Wen Jiu curiously checked his own odds.

One to one.

Same odds as Du Feng and currently the Deputy Peak Master, who is also the little granddaughter of the Elder of the Spiritual Agriculture Department.

The former has a Top-Grade Single-Attribute Spirit Root.

The latter, though only possesses a Middle-Grade Spirit Root, has also reached Qi Cultivation Second Layer.

There are Apprentice Disciples and official disciples who could compete with the three, but none among those newly admitted.

Of course.

Li Ye’s disappearance naturally attracted some attention.

Si Kongbai also ordered to trace Li Ye’s whereabouts, but to no avail.

Beyond Wen Jiu’s expectations, Li Ye didn’t inform anyone besides Mu Ye about his actions.

Even the disciple who initially summoned him to the Night Patrol Department only knew Mu Ye was taking Wen Jiu to Lianwu Mountain to seek the Yin Soul merely to target Wen Jiu, without any other intent.

No one connected Li Ye’s disappearance to Wen Jiu, not even his neighbor Wang Nian.

Because Wen Jiu is openly only at Qi Cultivation Second Layer.

But Li Ye was an experienced Qi Cultivation Third Layer cultivator.

Thus even using basic logic, Li Ye’s disappearance couldn’t be linked to Wen Jiu.

Regarding this.

Wen Jiu was quite satisfied with his previous decision.

That was to not immediately break through to Qi Cultivation Third Layer.

"Wait until the Main Peak Elder appears, break through then." At that point, even if Elder Gong Chi is interested or suspicious, it won’t matter.

As he is about to head to the Main Peak.

Elder Gong Chi’s influence doesn’t extend to the Main Peak.

...

Several more days passed.

Wen Jiu conducted his cultivation in a step-by-step manner, nurturing corpses, nourishing souls, attracting souls, and conveniently joined his sister Wen Ya in dining at Wang Nian’s family.

Once he heads to the Main Peak, his sister Wen Ya can only remain at Feixian Peak, so the closer his sister Wen Ya’s ties with Wang Nian’s family, the better, plus his identity as a Main Peak disciple will ensure his sister Wen Ya can live steadily at Feixian Peak.

As for taking his sister to the Main Peak.

Wen Jiu never considered it.

Nor dared to contemplate it.

Because cultivation isn’t child’s play, and his strength doesn’t allow him to drag family members along.

Just this day, a person controlling the sword fell at the foot of Feixian Peak, immediately causing a stir across the entire Feixian Peak.

That person was Liu Xiao.

Upon hearing the news, Wen Jiu rushed to the Spiritual Agriculture Department, as it comprises not only spirit farmers but also physicians.

However, when Wen Jiu arrived at the Spiritual Agriculture Department, he was informed that Liu Xiao’s life was now in critical condition.

His left arm torn, his Dantian shattered, and chest severely injured, surviving to reach Feixian Peak was already a miracle.

Given such serious injuries, who could have inflicted them, and how, Wen Jiu didn’t find out, for the medical hall was already sealed by the Inspection Hall, but the first act of the Inspector upon emerging was to ring the bell.

Once again, ringing the bell.

This time, it actually was to summon all cultivators above Qi Cultivation Third Layer, while simultaneously activating the Peak Protection Array at Feixian Peak.

After the Inspection Hall members and elders hurriedly left the sect, Wen Jiu stayed outside the medical hall waiting for Liu Xiao to awaken.

Considering he had benefited from Liu Xiao’s kindness, if not for possessing the Corpse Eye, he wouldn’t have been able to obtain so much blood essence at the Chen Clan Territory.

Shortly, Liu Xiao’s family rushed over, his wife and two children, their eyes glistening with tears, waited alongside Wen Jiu outside. Wen Jiu noticed that Liu Xiao’s youngest daughter was still in her swaddling clothes, just learning to call her father.

The eldest was only thirteen or fourteen years old.

Witnessing this, Wen Jiu felt a mix of emotions.