Yan Huai did not have to wait long.
Just as the family competition was about to conclude, he received a call from Li Guoyan.
"Director Li."
Even he, usually so composed, felt a flicker of nervousness.
Li Guoyan's steady tone could not fully conceal his excitement, and his inspiring words fell on Yan Huai's ears: "Just one minute ago, all the evil cultivator dens we had identified were completely raided and cleared out."
"What about Longlin City..."
"Thanks to Master Qi Quan, the damage was minimal," Li Guoyan said with profound admiration. "Yan Huai, you can proceed with the action now."
For once, Yan Huai smiled.
"Good."
He was overjoyed by this victory. His only regret was that he couldn't be there in person, couldn't witness Master Qi Quan's heroic demeanor as he eradicated the evil cultivators.
The butler nearby was quite adept at reading the room.
Seeing the hint of joy on Yan Huai's face, he chimed in at the right moment: "Young Master, they are still waiting at the competition grounds."
Yan Huai put his phone in his pocket, turned, and strode away.
The final match was underway on the competition stage.
This was the battle for the championship.
Both contestants were disciples from branch families. The disciples from the main family had long been eliminated, failing to even make it into the top three.
In the viewing stands, Yan Fengjun's expression was calm.
A branch family head seated to his right said with a chuckle, "The disciples performed remarkably well this year. Several have truly exceptional talent, actually advancing to Level Six just before the competition. If I recall correctly, last time only Yan Huai was at Level Six, wasn't he?"
Another nodded in agreement. "It seems we needn't worry about the upcoming Mystic Sect Grand Competition. With several Level Six cultivators, why fear other sects?"
Yan Fengqing suddenly let out a soft laugh, his tone deliberately slow, as if afraid others couldn't hear clearly. "Does the Family Head share this view?"
The viewing stands fell silent.
The main family hadn't even made the top three this time; their face was thoroughly lost.
Yan Fengqing was deliberately provoking the Family Head.
"As long as they bear the Yan surname and can bring glory to the family, they are all good disciples of our Yan family," Yan Fengjun said with a smile. "The disciples from Fengqing's branch are all prodigies. I'm sure they will shine brightly at next year's Mystic Sect Grand Competition."
Yan Fengqing gave a cold smirk.
He didn't believe Yan Fengjun could be this pleased while being suppressed by the branch families.
At that moment, the match on the stage finally concluded.
The one who clinched the championship was precisely a disciple from Yan Fengqing's branch.
Thunderous applause erupted from the audience seats.
Only the main family's section was enveloped in a somber atmosphere.
One young contestant even covered his face and began to cry.
He was originally the most promising candidate from the main family.
Only nineteen years old, he was already at Level Five, Second Tier, considered a rare genius.
But his peers and opponents had all broken through to Level Six just before the competition. This undoubtedly placed immense pressure on him before he even stepped onto the stage.
During the match, being completely overpowered by his opponent shattered his confidence even further.
Now that the competition was over, not a single main family disciple had qualified for next year's Mystic Sect Grand Competition. They had disgraced the main family; they had failed the careful nurturing of the Family Head and the elders.
While gloom hung over the main family's section, three other branch family sections were beaming with joy. The remaining branch, never particularly strong and always rather laid-back, simply watched the spectacle from the sidelines.
"This year is truly strange. So many genius disciples suddenly emerged, and all from the branch families."
"Look, someone from the main family seems to be crying. It does look pitiful, but to be honest, the main family has really lost face this year."
"What's there to lose face about? Back then, Brother Yan Huai was in a league of his own, far more impressive than these several Level Six cultivators who are now on par with each other?"
"Speaking of Brother Huai, where is he? He was just here."
"Over there! He's coming back!"
All eyes turned.
With the competition concluded, it was time for the closing address. Yan Huai's return was perfectly timed.
He stepped onto the high platform with composure, swept his gaze across the entire arena, and uttered only one sentence.
"Today's competition is invalid."
The entire arena erupted in an uproar.
"Invalid? Did I hear that correctly?"
"Is the main family unable to accept defeat?"
"Yan Huai, and here I thought you were my idol. I was clearly mistaken!"
"Is this the magnanimity of the main family? Truly eye-opening!"
"Brother Huai, blink if you're being held against your will."
Discussions buzzed through the audience sections of the four branch families.
The main family section was completely bewildered.
Although they had indeed suffered a loss of face, surely declaring the competition invalid was going too far?
They could still accept defeat gracefully.
On the viewing platform, including Yan Fengjun, everyone was stunned.
Yan Fengqing scoffed openly. "Family Head, what is the meaning of this?"
The heads of the other two branches who had secured rankings also voiced their questions.
"Family Head, Yan Huai is young and impulsive, but there must be limits to such mischief."
"Family Head, it seems Yan Huai holds us in no regard."
The remaining spectator branch, adhering to principles of fairness, chimed in: "Family Head, this matter is indeed improper."
Yan Fengjun: "..."
He himself was at a loss.
If this kid wanted to stir up trouble, he didn't have to make it this big!
With one sentence, he had offended everyone present.
The atmosphere on the competition grounds grew extremely tense. Everyone was waiting for an apology and explanation from Yan Huai.
Yan Huai moved.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a remote control.
Everyone: ???
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Yan Huai pressed a button.
The audience seating areas underwent a sudden transformation.
All five sections of the audience seating lit up with formation barriers—Level Eight formations at that!
These formations could trap people but would not cause any harm. Those inside could not exit unless they broke the formation.
The formations were contained within talismans—a type of composite talisman that Yan Huai had arranged in advance in the audience seating.
These were drawn by Xie Lanzhou.
The remote control wasn't a normal one; it was programmed so that pressing the button would instantly activate the composite talismans.
This sudden turn of events left everyone dumbfounded.
After a moment of stunned silence, someone slammed the table and stood up, shouting angrily, "Yan Huai! Have you gone mad!"
Yan Huai glanced at him from afar and said, "Be quiet."
Breaking a Level Eight formation was impossible, and there were several powerful figures on the viewing platform. Presumably, Yan Huai wouldn't dare to harm them.
The disciples in the audience seats quieted down.
But the big shots on the viewing platform could not remain calm.
Those with guilty consciences naturally did not want Yan Huai to continue. Disregarding all else, one of them directly shot a sword beam towards Yan Huai.
Yan Huai reacted with astonishing speed. The peach wood sword on his wrist instantly enlarged, blocking the fierce sword beam and shattering it to pieces.
The crowd gasped in surprise.
The head who had attacked was already a Level Seven, First Tier cultivator!
For Yan Huai to block it so effortlessly... something wasn't quite right.
The attacker was momentarily stunned before asking, "You've actually reached Level Seven already?!"
The entire arena was in an uproar.
In the hearts of all the family disciples, Yan Huai was indeed the most dazzling presence.
But they never imagined Yan Huai would advance to Level Seven so quickly!
That was Level Seven—a level qualifying one to become Family Head.
Yan Fengqing's smile turned icy. "The Family Head has truly raised a fine son."
Yan Fengjun feigned composure. "Everyone, calm down. Let's hear what Yan Huai has to say first."
The attacker had no choice but to sit back down.
The first strike could be explained as a moment of impulse. A second attempt would likely not be tolerated by Yan Fengjun.
Without further ado, Yan Huai took out a list and handed it to the butler.
"Read it."
The butler dared not disobey and began reading in a clear, loud voice.
Huh? Why did it sound more and more off as he read?
These were all disciples from three of the branch families, including those who had placed in the top ranks of the competition.
Within the formation barriers enveloping the three factions, many people began to look panicked.
The weakest faction was still watching the spectacle.
"Why are those few trembling?"
"What's the deal with this list? What does it actually mean?"
"I wondered why the seating arrangements changed this year. So this was the reason."
"Right, when I arrived, I thought our main family was snubbing us."
"I have a feeling something major is about to happen."
After the list was finished, the steward looked towards Yan Huai.
Yan Huai's voice was cold and heavy: "All names on the list are connected to demonic cultivators."
Those named were all disciples under Yan Fengqing and the other two branch families.
If the disciples are connected to demonic cultivators, what about the heads in charge?
The competition grounds instantly erupted.
"Demonic cultivators? What demonic cultivators!"
"What proof do you have that we colluded with demonic cultivators? Show the evidence!"
"Yan Huai, if you can't accept defeat, just say so. Don't make up these baseless accusations."
"Bullshit! I'm completely innocent, I've never colluded with demonic cultivators!"
On the viewing platform, Yan Fengqing remained composed and calm, while the other two heads showed shock on their faces.
Yan Fengjun was equally surprised.
He hadn't known that Yan Huai had silently carried out such a major operation.
But as the voices on the field said, where was the evidence?
A mocking smile appeared on Yan Fengqing's face. "The magnanimity and boldness of the main family, I truly understand it today."
"Yan Fengjun, you're not actually so unable to accept defeat that you'd fabricate charges against us just to save your face as the family head, are you?"
Yan Fengjun composed his expression, his eyes dark and heavy as he looked towards the head seated on his right.
The imposing aura of the family head forced the other man to lower his head.
"I, Yan Fengjun, do not enjoy such underhanded tricks," he said, looking at Yan Huai. "I also do not accept making claims without proof. Yan Huai, present the evidence."
Yan Huai said, "The Investigation Department has developed a detection device. Any celestial master who has taken demonic cultivation pills to accelerate their advancement, or any celestial master who has been implanted with a puppet talisman, can be detected by it."
He turned and fixed his gaze on Yan Fengqing on the viewing platform.
"Just moments ago, a steward in the resting room died suddenly. All his vitality and spiritual power vanished in an instant, turning him into a desiccated corpse."
Yan Fengqing's expression changed drastically.
"A desiccated corpse? Why did he suddenly become a desiccated corpse?"
"I said the changes to the competition grounds this year were abnormal. Now something has indeed happened!"
"Yan Huai! Let us out! You can't do this just to save face for the main family!"
The disciples of the three factions within the formation continued to clamor and shout.
Yan Huai said expressionlessly, "Save your words for when you're at the Investigation Department."
Everyone: "..."
Yan Fengqing gripped the armrests of his wheelchair tightly, his expression dark as he said, "Yan Huai, do you know what you're doing? You truly intend to send family members to the Investigation Department for interrogation?"
"Weren't you the first one to enter the Investigation Department for interrogation?" Yan Huai met his gaze, completely unafraid.
Yan Fengqing: "..."
He was now a cripple, possessing only seventh-level cultivation. Due to blocked meridians in his legs, he could hardly use any arts.
He looked towards the other two heads.
The other two heads were originally sixth-level and had only recently broken through to seventh-level. Their foundations were unstable. Earlier, when one of them "impulsively" struck at Yan Huai, the sword light was feeble, not even matching Yan Huai's, let alone Yan Fengjun who was at the third tier of the seventh level.
They dared not confront Yan Fengjun and his son head-on.
The two men guiltily lowered their heads, not daring to say another word.
Yan Fengqing's expression grew increasingly distorted.
He said in a low, hoarse voice, "Yan Fengjun, if you send them to the Investigation Department today, aren't you afraid they won't acknowledge you as family head in the future?"
If the three branches truly united and caused trouble, even the powerful main family would struggle to handle it.
A family might not be perfectly united, but at the very least, it shouldn't engage in internal strife. Otherwise, it would be easy for external forces to take advantage of the chaos and suppress them.
The Yan family was the number one clan in the Mystic Arts world, a position coveted by countless other families.
Even for the sake of family interests, the main family couldn't let outsiders laugh at their discord.
Yan Fengjun looked at Yan Huai.
Father and son exchanged a look across the distance, reaching a silent understanding.
Yan Fengjun declared, "I announce that, from this day forward, the position of Yan Family Head shall be assumed by Yan Huai. I will enter seclusion for quiet cultivation and will no longer involve myself in worldly affairs."
Before the crowd could even express their shock, a team of people entered the competition grounds. They wore Investigation Department uniforms and held small detection devices in their hands.
The faces of Yan Fengqing and the other two heads instantly turned ashen. The disciples of the three factions within the formation all wore expressions of panic and despair.
Simultaneously, Celestial Master Associations across the country were conducting operations to root out hidden agents.
With the assistance of the detection devices, the monitoring teams caught them completely off guard. From association presidents down to low-level staff, there were hidden agents of the demonic cultivation organization.
Those implanted with puppet talismans had already turned into desiccated corpses. Those captured were celestial masters who had only taken the pills.
When arrested, they still shouted about not having done anything wrong. But when the bloody pills were found in their residences, they all fell silent.
The Investigation Department carried out a major purge within the Mystic Arts world.
The speed and thoroughness of their actions sent shockwaves through all the Mystic Arts factions.
After the corrupt elements in the Celestial Master Associations were arrested, the Investigation Department sent messages to all registered celestial masters, notifying them to report to the Investigation Department for testing at designated times. Failure to report voluntarily would result in enforcement and penalties according to relevant regulations.
While some sects and families were still hesitating, the Yan family was the first to step forward and voluntarily undergo testing. They actually did detect individuals who had colluded and interacted with demonic cultivators, and the number was not small.
The Mystic Arts world was in an uproar.
If the number one family was closely following the Investigation Department's lead, what reason did the others have to resist?
If the Yan family's move merely made them compliant, the declaration from the Guiyuan Sect made them completely abandon hope.
All celestial masters of the Guiyuan Sect would undergo testing by the Investigation Department!
Immediately after, the Fu family, Zhou family, Xuanqing Sect, and others all issued announcements, entering a mode of full-member testing.
As for the Hengfeng Sect, ever since Cai Ji's death and the arrest of elders like Yu Lanzhi, it had already been under the supervision of the Investigation Department.
Within the Hengfeng Sect, all elders and disciples were gathered in the sect's main square, queuing up to be tested.
Feng Ke was the first to be tested.
He had not been implanted with a puppet talisman, nor had he taken any pills. He should have been happy, but he couldn't feel any joy at all.
The Hengfeng Sect's leader had participated in a demonic cultivation organization, using the sect's influence to provide cover for them. The Hengfeng Sect's Elder Shi had refined bloody pills for the demonic cultivators, harming countless children, and many righteous celestial masters had even been secretly harmed by them.
Feng Ke's mind was in complete turmoil.
He had entered the sect to cultivate since childhood. His master, Yu Lanzhi, was the person he most revered. The other elders were respected seniors. As the head disciple, he diligently managed sect affairs and taught his junior brothers and sisters cultivation techniques whenever his master and the elders were in seclusion. Yet, it turned out he had never truly understood the sect's true nature.
"Senior Brother, will our Hengfeng Sect be disbanded?" a disciple standing behind him asked quietly.
Feng Ke shook his head, his voice hoarse. "I don't know either."
During the earlier battle, nearly all the sect disciples had witnessed it.
They saw clearly everything: Qi Quan slaying the demonic cultivator, Cai Ji using forbidden arts to turn people into desiccated corpses, the sect leader and elders colluding with demonic cultivators, and them being handcuffed by the Investigation Department.
Feng Ke was momentarily unsure whether he should feel gratitude or resentment towards his master.
His master had taught him the esoteric arts of the Mystic Sect, yet in secret, he had committed heinous acts that harmed innocent lives. Simultaneously, however, neither his master nor the elders had turned the sect's disciples into puppets or forced them to take any pills.
It was truly contradictory and jarring.
The inspections were now complete. Aside from a few elders who had avoided the battle and hidden within the sect being detected, all other disciples were in normal condition.
Feng Ke let out a long sigh of relief.
Steeling himself, he mustered his courage and walked over to the investigator conducting the inspections. He asked politely, "Hello, may I ask if, now that the inspections are finished, we can still remain within the sect?"
The investigator replied, "For now, stay within the sect. Do not leave without permission. Await further notification for specific arrangements."
Inspections were currently underway everywhere, and the data still needed to be reported to the headquarters to await their instructions.
The specific procedures for handling the implicated sects had not yet been finalized.
Feng Ke said, "Alright, thank you."
Longlin City Investigation Division.
Qi Quan sat in the lounge, consolidating her cultivation, while Ling Sheng followed her every step, refusing to leave her side.
Qi Quan had initially tried to persuade him to go out, but no matter what she said, the young man just hung his head and remained motionless, insisting on staying with her.
He was incredibly stubborn.
Helpless, Qi Quan had no choice but to let him stay.
The task of apprehending the suspects was handled by the investigators. She had already completed her mission by eliminating Cai Ji and several ninth-level evil cultivators.
However, Cai Ji's soul still needed to be sent to Longjing City for interrogation.
By the time she finished her meditation, it was already three in the afternoon.
Qi Quan got up and left the lounge, with Ling Sheng following closely behind.
"Senior, have you finished your cultivation?" Shen Hui, who had been waiting outside the lounge, immediately stood up upon seeing her emerge and asked, "Are we returning to Longjing now?"
Qi Quan nodded and asked, "Where's Tang Mian?"
"She broke through during the battle and is currently advancing her cultivation. We can return to Longjing first."
Both he and Tang Mian had participated in the intense battle. While he hadn't broken through, he had gained some insights and wasn't far from a breakthrough himself.
Qi Quan said, "Good, let's return to Longjing."
The car arrived at the Longjing City Investigation Division in the evening.
Li Guoyan personally stood at the entrance to welcome them.
No amount of respect was too great for the one who had contributed the most to the success of this purge operation.
As soon as Qi Quan stepped into the Investigation Division, she was met with thunderous applause. Everyone present was visibly excited, clapping until their palms turned red, cheering wholeheartedly for this victory.
With sharp eyes, she spotted Xie Lanzhou mingling in the crowd, clapping fervently along with everyone else, his face overflowing with excitement.
He was the unsung hero who had silently borne his burden for twenty years.
Li Guoyan followed her gaze and couldn't help but smile.
"Master Xie is also a great contributor. Once the entire case is concluded, the Division will hold an awards ceremony."
Qi Quan nodded and asked, "To the interrogation room?"
"Yes," Li Guoyan replied, his smile fading. "...There may still be undiscovered bases, and that 'ghost,' we haven't managed to trace."
The group entered the interrogation room.
Qi Quan released Cai Ji's soul from the peachwood talisman and bound it to the interrogation chair with spiritual power.
Li Guoyan conducted the interrogation personally, with Qi Quan observing. Ling Sheng, unwilling to leave, took on the role of recorder.
"I regret it," Cai Ji sneered coldly. "I should have killed you at birth."
He had meticulously plotted for so many years, coming so close to success, only to be thwarted by Qi Quan. Now reduced to a mere wisp of a soul, how could he not hate?
He was filled with utter hatred!
Qi Quan said, "You are as timid as a mouse. Even if time reversed and you went back to that moment, you still wouldn't dare kill me."
If he could have killed her, Cai Ji would have done so long ago. How could he have spared her just because she was an infant?
It was simply that he didn't dare risk killing someone with great fortune.
As for previously having people surround and attack her, it was only because her fortune had already returned. She had established her power and possessed self-preservation abilities; the Heavenly Dao wouldn't overly favor her.
If she possessed great fortune but still couldn't survive under Cai Ji's hand, the Heavenly Dao would only be disappointed in her and seek the next person of fortune.
To put it in more straightforward terms, she had a "newbie protection period" at birth. If Cai Ji had killed her then, he would have suffered immense backlash and punishment.
Cai Ji's ordinary face twisted with resentment.
"Why? Why do you all have such great fortune, while I could only be a menial servant, a low-level mystic master for life?"
In the premier major sect, teeming with geniuses, being a lowly, ordinary-talented menial servant could indeed breed immense imbalance.
But that was no excuse for committing evil deeds.
Li Guoyan had already learned about Cai Ji's life story from Yin Yi.
He began, "Forty years ago, after the previous sect leader passed away, you chose to leave Guiyuan Sect. Was it from that time that you established the Tianqi organization using forbidden arts?"
Cai Ji merely sneered coldly, not answering his question.
Qi Quan delivered a sharp blow: "Actually, even without me, you still wouldn't have become a Human Immortal."
"Impossible!" Cai Ji spat hatefully. "If not for your interference, I would have become a Human Immortal today! It's all your fault! You so-called geniuses are always so hypocritical! Disgusting!"
"Your vehement reaction shows you are well aware of this fact," Qi Quan said unhurriedly. "You simply wanted to gamble once. Win the gamble, and you become a Human Immortal. Lose, and you're still the highest-ranked Human Sovereign realm peak cultivator in the Mystic World, beyond anyone's reach."
Cai Ji laughed mockingly at himself. "I expended so much effort, spent so many years, just to reach the Human Sovereign realm peak. And you, barely over twenty, are already... How can I possibly accept this?"
"Being content with an ordinary life can also be a kind of joy," Li Guoyan said. "Life is brief, but doing meaningful things within that limited time can make life feel fuller and more substantial."
Cai Ji said contemptuously, "Words like that can only come from someone like you, with no qualifications whatsoever. You've never tried mystic arts, never experienced their profundity, so naturally, you can't comprehend the great pursuits of a cultivator."
"I truly don't understand, but the previous sect leader of Guiyuan Sect understood better than you," Li Guoyan steered the conversation back. "You were a menial servant by the previous sect leader's side; you must have known of his divine abilities. Back then, he was just one step away from the eighth level, but his lifespan ran out, and he could only pass away with regrets."
Cai Ji snorted coldly. "You think he never considered extending his own life? I learned the forbidden arts from that forbidden arts book in his possession. He hid it from everyone, afraid people would know the thoughts he'd entertained, but I still found out."
"So, you took the forbidden arts book and left Guiyuan Sect?"
"...He died. Was I supposed to stay and watch Yin Yi's inauguration ceremony?"
"Although Yin Yi wasn't the sect leader's direct disciple, he was the sect's chief disciple. His succession was perfectly reasonable. Why did you hold such a deep prejudice against him?"
"Prejudice?" Cai Ji sneered. "I was just a menial servant. How could I possibly hold prejudice against the sect's chief disciple?"
Qi Quan hit the nail on the head: "Many criminal suspects like to lament the injustices and suffering they experienced in the past. You, however, seem purely wicked. Quite different from the rest."
"......"
Cai Ji, who had felt a slight urge to lament his past, now felt none at all.
"Since you don't wish to discuss your past sect life, let's talk about your 'rise to power.' Over these forty years, how many bases did you establish in total?"
Cai Ji snorted with a laugh: "I heard from Yu Lanzhi earlier that someone personally visited Longlin City and Longtang City and was repelled by the ninth-level formations. You don't really only know about those two places, do you?"
He laughed heartily, "Don't worry, even if I die, the people under me will continue this business. As long as they are human, they can't resist the temptation of rapid advancement."
Li Guoyan replied calmly, "Unfortunately for you, just today, we simultaneously raided thirty hideouts, arrested thousands of suspects, and rescued many innocent children."
"Through interrogations conducted by the Investigation Departments across various locations, our department has obtained the entire business network of the ghost marriage case and has already begun to uproot it completely."
Although most of the thousands of suspects had already been turned into desiccated corpses by Cai Ji's forbidden arts, they still managed to extract a lot of information from a few low-level peripheral members.
The operational network of the Tianqi organization included both evil cultivators and ordinary people. Low-level peripheral evil cultivators and ordinary people were not qualified to be implanted with puppet talismans, thus they luckily escaped that fate.
Don't underestimate these peripheral personnel for being low-level; the secrets they knew or observed were not few.
Cai Ji's expression finally changed.
"You're bluffing me!" he blustered, his voice fierce but lacking real strength. "How could you possibly investigate thirty locations in such a short time! It's impossible!"
Li Guoyan met his skeptical gaze, his tone low and measured: "Longlin, Longtang, Longtan, Longxi, Longqu..."
With each place name he recited, Cai Ji's expression twisted further.
But even after the list was finished, Cai Ji still refused to believe it.
"Thirty locations, raided simultaneously in one day? Are you joking with me?" He shook his head. "It's impossible even if you combined the forces of the Investigation Department and the Mystic Arts Sect."
Li Guoyan said, "It seems Yan Fengqing didn't report to you."
"Report what?"
"Composite Sword Talismans," Li Guoyan explained patiently. "By setting up Composite Sword Talismans at the local Investigation Departments, we can destroy the formations simultaneously and catch them all in one net."
Only then did Cai Ji realize what he had overlooked.
Before leaving his cave abode, he was at a critical juncture in his cultivation and didn't pay attention to what was happening outside.
Later, Qi Quan disturbed his advancement, forcing him to flee his cave abode to fight her. He simply had no time to find out how the formations were broken, instinctively assuming it was Qi Quan, a Human Sovereign realm cultivator, who shattered them.
But now, Li Guoyan was talking about some composite talisman?
Although he was just a menial disciple, he had also heard of composite talismans. Weren't those legendary things?
Li Guoyan continued to provoke him: "Chief Consultant Qi created the Composite Sword Talisman, which allows for long-range attacks."
Cai Ji was stunned.
He stared at Qi Quan, muttering, "You really are heaven's favorite. It's unfair, so unfair."
"Did you personally set up those ninth-level formations?" Qi Quan suddenly asked.
Cai Ji: "So what if I did?"
Qi Quan said, "Your talent for formations isn't bad. If you had cultivated seriously, you might have... perhaps become a respected formation master."
"Hah, a formation master? What's the use of having talent for formations if my cultivation level can't improve? I'd never reach a high rank in my lifetime."
Formation levels are restricted by cultivation level.
Li Guoyan said, "If you couldn't set them up yourself, you could have researched the theory and taught others to do it. That would have been equally meaningful."
Cai Ji: "Why should I let others benefit from my own achievements? What if others bullied me for my low cultivation and simply stole them?"
"......"
In truth, the Mystic Arts Sect is not lacking in cultivators who possess talent in specialized fields. Their own cultivation speed might be slow, but they excel in other mystical arts, even authoring books and works passed down through generations.
Otherwise, where did all those Mystic Arts classics come from?
Those truly focused on cultivation and advancement probably don't have much time to research such things.
Qi Quan suddenly said, "Even if you don't confess, the Investigation Department will eventually discover any remaining hideouts. Those hideouts are already insignificant. However..."
"However what?"
"Your Tianqi organization has paved the way for someone else's gain."
Cai Ji didn't understand: "What do you mean, paved the way for someone else's gain?"
"Ghost," Li Guoyan continued. "The network expert you nurtured and valued is also a 'ghost' under someone else's command. Since he could hide from us, naturally he could hide from you too."
Cai Ji's brow twitched, but he feigned calmness. "What are you implying? You didn't catch Ghost, so you want to find him through me? Don't even think about it."
It wasn't that he particularly cared for Ghost; he simply wanted to cause trouble for the Investigation Department.
"Do you know about the Siren groups?" Li Guoyan asked. "Controlling people's minds through talisman patterns and verbal suggestions, making them willingly sacrifice their lives. It's a much more sophisticated method than your slaughtering techniques."
"Sophisticated?" Cai Ji, who was quite competitive, sneered. "What's so sophisticated about that?"
"Willingly sacrificing one's life to empower a Ghost King. But this method is extremely covert. Under the blatant spectacle of your atrocities, it appears almost non-existent." Li Guoyan deliberately provoked him. "In other words, he's hiding behind you, attempting to use your crimes to cover for himself, even using the Ghost you trained."
The theory of a Ghost King was something Li Guoyan hadn't initially considered at all. If Qi Quan hadn't suggested the possibility to him, he would never have imagined such ghostly arts existed in the world.
But who wants to become a Ghost King, and where are they? The Investigation Department currently has no clues and can only investigate along the leads of the Siren groups.
Ghost thus became the key figure.
Cai Ji: "......"
He didn't want to believe what Li Guoyan said, but he couldn't help but doubt.
Qi Quan said softly, "Have you ever truly considered why a menial disciple like you could come into contact with those forbidden art books?"
"I discovered them by accident while cleaning the sect leader's residence. I, I..."
The more Cai Ji tried to explain, the more he fell into self-doubt.
He had been by the sect leader's side for so many years. When had the sect leader ever been careless, let alone leave something as secret as forbidden art books in his residence?
Did the sect leader really not know he had taken the forbidden art books?
Could it be that he himself was also part of someone's scheme?
Cai Ji simply couldn't accept such a premise.
He was a peak Human Sovereign realm cultivator, just one step away from becoming an Earth Immortal, one of the top existences in the Mystic Arts world. How could he possibly be just a pawn?
But the loopholes in his memory that he had deliberately ignored kept reminding him that the reality might not be as he imagined.
Seizing the moment when Cai Ji was on the verge of collapse, Li Guoyan suddenly asked, "Did you once command a ghost servant to deliver a forbidden art book to a Buddhist cultivator named Ding Ji?"
After Qi Quan removed the puppet talisman from Qin Ruo, Qin Ruo revealed that Ding Ji had obtained a forbidden art book from a ghost and subsequently joined the evil cultivator organization.
This point had always been questionable.
Back then, Ding Ji's cultivation was low. That ghost couldn't even defeat him. So how did it come to possess a Mystic Arts forbidden art book?
"What?" Cai Ji looked bewildered.
"Did you command a ghost servant to deliver a forbidden art book to Ding Ji?" Li Guoyan repeated.
Cai Ji: "Who is Ding Ji? Why would I send him a forbidden art book? I've never sent one to anyone."
What he obtained could only be his own.
There was no need for him to lie about this.
Qi Quan suddenly thought of a possibility.
She asked, "Did Fu Jiuge and Xie Lanzhou know each other?"
Cai Ji scoffed, "Why should I know such juniors?"
"But you know me."
Cai Ji's expression froze. "What do you mean?"
"How did you calculate that I am the obstacle on your path to immortality?"
Cai Ji: "Naturally, it was deduced through the principles of metaphysics and fate."
"You left Guiyuan Sect forty years ago, and I was born twenty-two years ago. Did you deduce all this even before I was born?"
Cai Ji said, "What exactly are you trying to say?"
"Based on what did you make your deduction?" Qi Quan asked. "The forbidden arts tome?"
Cai Ji fell silent.
He had no talent and was naturally not skilled in divination. The reason he knew Qi Quan was an obstacle was because it was explicitly mentioned in the forbidden arts tome.
To achieve human immortality through the forbidden arts, one must eliminate in advance a person of a specific fate, as this person would become the greatest obstacle on the cultivation path.
That fate was even precise to the specific location and time of birth.
At the time, he found the book sinister and still had doubts. But when he truly waited for Qi Quan to be born, he began to regard it as an infallible guide.
He ordered someone to use a scheme to swap the child, attempting to alter Qi Quan's destiny.
His dazed and hesitant expression had already revealed everything.
Li Guoyan said, "The former sect leader of Guiyuan Sect was proficient in divination, the foremost master of metaphysical deduction in the Taoist community at that time."
"So what?" Cai Ji stubbornly retorted.
Li Guoyan: "Since you didn't know Fu Jiuge and Xie Lanzhou, why did you send people to ambush and kill them?"
"Ambush and kill?"
"Twenty years ago, they discovered clues to the Longhu City stronghold. They encountered an ambush near that location. Wasn't that a trap you set in advance?"
Although Cai Ji's talent was lacking, his memory was quite sharp.
"I don't recall such an event."
Li Guoyan: "..."
At the same time, news came from the interrogation room where Yan Fengqing was held.
"Chief Li, Yan Fengqing has confessed. He did indeed receive a letter sent by the codename 'Ghost.' The letter mentioned that Xie Lanzhou had found clues and instructed him to eliminate both Xie Lanzhou and Fu Jiuge. He first dispatched personnel to besiege Xie Lanzhou, then used a scheme to lure Fu Jiuge to Longhu City."
Upon receiving the message, Li Guoyan looked at Cai Ji and said, "Twenty years ago, Yan Fengqing received instructions transmitted to him by 'Ghost.'"
"Impossible!" Cai Ji blurted out. "Ghost is only seventeen years old this year!"
How could there have been a Ghost twenty years ago?
After saying it, he suddenly felt a chilling cold in his soul.
The truth of the matter seemed to be drifting further and further from what he had believed.
Li Guoyan was almost certain: "Ghost has existed for a long time. It's just a codename. Anything capable of transmitting information can be called Ghost."
Twenty years ago, electronic products were not yet fully widespread. Ghost transmitted messages using letters. The Ghost of the new era uses network technology.
Cai Ji's expression twisted...
"Twenty years ago, I didn't issue any orders. I didn't know those two people either. I often went into seclusion for cultivation and didn't personally handle many matters."
Qi Quan stated bluntly, "You are the biggest chess piece of all."
"No, I'm not." Something inside Cai Ji began to crumble. "How could I possibly be a chess piece?"
"Since you never gave the forbidden arts tome to anyone, and never issued orders to ambush Xie Lanzhou and Fu Jiuge, why did Ding Ji obtain the forbidden arts tome, and why did Ghost send instructions to Yan Fengqing?" Li Guoyan mercilessly shattered his mental defenses.
"Including the divination about Master Qi in the forbidden arts tome, it was deliberately shown to you."
Cai Ji: "..."
[Master, then why did the person behind all this want to harm Ling Sheng's parents?] The system, hearing this, was very puzzled.
Qi Quan deduced a possibility.
[If he wanted to act against heaven's will, as a master of divination, the first thing he would deduce is whether the path he intends to take is feasible.
He first divined me, and thus began formulating a plan, hinting and luring Cai Ji into the trap.
When his lifespan reached its end, he used some forbidden art to escape reincarnation, hid behind Cai Ji, and secretly accumulated power.
But one day, he divined the emergence of Ling Sheng. A natural spirit body is an uncertain variable. It could become a saint or a demon.
If Ling Sheng were born into the Fu family, with outstanding talent and the love of his parents and clan, he would undoubtedly become a genius revered by all. A smooth life would more likely create a saint.
Such a darling of heaven would be the greatest nemesis for ghosts and monsters.
But if he became a demon, that would be a different ending.]
The system asked with dread: [What ending?]
Qi Quan's gaze turned to Ling Sheng.
He would kill Ding Ji, leave the cave, embark on a path of utterly inhuman slaughter, become the most feared demonic head in the metaphysical community, attracting everyone's attention, buying more ample time for the ghost behind the scenes.
Until... the Ghost King is born.
