Chapter 1103: Ye Mo is Dead for Sure

Fang Zhongshi, noticing Ning Qingxue and Huang Qian’s elation, wanted to inquire, but his master abruptly rose, announcing their immediate return to the sect. His master's grim expression indicated the gravity of the situation, leaving Fang Zhongshi no choice but to depart with him.

Immediately following their departure, Ning Qingxue's master, Zheng Heyin, her face darkened, fixed a cold gaze upon Ning Qingxue. "Qingxue," she said icily, "I refrained from commenting in their presence, but your behavior was utterly unacceptable. Is the Ethereal Immortal Pond so lacking in decorum?"

Due to Ye Mo's success, Ning Qingxue bowed, replying, "Master, I have a husband; why are you still pressing this matter?"

"How dare you!" Zhen Heyin slammed the table. "From this moment forward, if you even mention having a husband, I will strip you of your authority! Our Ethereal Immortal Pond is not short of prodigious disciples—and you hardly qualify. You will accept Fang Zhongshi, regardless."

Ning Qingxue was stunned. Her master had always been strict, but never this unreasonable. While Fang Zhongshi was indeed a prodigy, the Ethereal Immortal Pond was an 8-star sect; was this blatant obsequiousness truly necessary? Did their own disciple's happiness matter so little?

"What's the meaning of this?" Several other elders of the Ethereal Immortal Pond, noticing the commotion, inquired disapprovingly.

Calming herself, Ning Qingxue bowed to her master and the elders. "I have a husband. Even if you kill me, I will not go to the Lightning Cloud Sect. After the Pill King Tournament, I will leave the Ethereal Immortal Pond with my husband."

The elders scoffed, and Ning Qingxue abruptly fell silent. Blood trickled from her mouth; the sneers had internally wounded her. Huang Qian rushed to support her, anxiously regarding the elders and her master.

Just as Zheng Heyin was about to act, the sect leader intervened coldly, "This is the Pill King Tournament in Pill City. Any further discussion will be held back at the sect."

"Yes," Zheng Heyin and the elders bowed.

The vice sect leader glanced at Ning Qingxue before stating, "The sect has provided you with the finest cultivation resources and protection. When the sect requires your service, we expect your cooperation. Furthermore, Young Master Fang is an exceptional individual. Let us not dwell on this now; there is no urgency."

Huang Qian breathed a sigh of relief; Qingxue seemed safe. She considered revealing Luo Xiaomo's true identity as Ning Qingxue's husband, but the elders' grim expressions deterred her.

…

Fang Zhongshi and his master quickly returned to their sect, encountering several elders and a peak Disaster Transformation state grand elder, their faces grave.

"What's happened?" Fang Zhongshi instinctively asked.

"We've identified Tian Aofeng's killer, but we're unable to act against him yet…" a Cauldron Filling state elder stated.

Fang Zhongshi immediately retorted, "If we've found him, why the hesitation? Is he a core disciple of a 9-star sect? Even then, he must pay with his life for killing our core disciple!"

The elders remained silent, their faces grim. Fang Zhongshi’s confusion deepened. Whoever killed Tian Aofeng in South Peace State had to die, regardless of their parentage, even if their father was a Truth Realization state cultivator.

"The killer is likely Luo Xiaomo," a Hollow Spirit state cultivator revealed. "If it is indeed him, given City Lord Yue Qichao's disposition, we cannot touch him."

"What?" Fang Zhongshi and his master, Lei Luo, exclaimed in unison.

The Hollow Spirit state cultivator explained, "Elder Tian, Aofeng's master, has learned that Luo Xiaomo's real name is Ye Mo, hailing from North Far State…"

Fang Zhongshi’s face paled. He understood Ning Qingxue's earlier attempts to dissuade him. Recalling Ning Qingxue's fervent excitement during the tournament, her hand even bleeding from clenching it so tightly, he fully grasped that Luo Xiaomo was indeed Ye Mo.

The realization of Ye Mo's power and talent even eclipsed the weight of Tian Aofeng's death in his mind. The elders, misinterpreting his pale face as grief for Tian Aofeng, offered condolences.

Recognizing his reaction's abnormality, Fang Zhongshi quickly inquired, "How did we ascertain that Luo Xiaomo killed Martial Brother Tian Aofeng?"

The Hollow Spirit state cultivator continued, "Ye Mo's arrival from North Far State coincided with Tian Aofeng's murder. Originating from Mo Hai City, he would have traversed the Heartless Sea to reach South Peace City, likely by ship as there's no record of him using the teleportation formation. Upon arriving in Mo Hai, he departed with three tertiary Golden Core state cultivators. He was also at Golden Core state then, but afterward, those three cultivators vanished—likely killed by Ye Mo."

"He's that powerful?" Fang Zhongshi asked, subconsciously recognizing a peer in strength.

Another elder sneered, "If he weren't, he wouldn't have killed Aofeng."

The Hollow Spirit state cultivator nodded. "When boarding the ship, his name was Mo Ying. He initially arrived in South Peace State unaware of our sect, thus killing Tian Aofeng." He paused, then continued, "In South Peace State, he purchased armor and the spirit artifact Stealth Sand from the Youdao magic artifact shop and generously gifted spirit stones to a female cultivator. He then visited the trial tablet square, yet even with his strength, left no trace. That night, during our city-wide search, he likely fled using the Stealth Sand."

Even Ye Mo himself would have admired the accuracy of this analysis; while not perfect, it was at least 90% correct.

"But Ye Mo's reputation is established; killing him won't be easy," Lei Luo frowned.

A grey-robed elder rose, cursing, "Regardless of who he is, even if he's the City Lord of Pill City, I will kill him for killing Aofeng!"

This was Tian Ji, Tian Aofeng's master.

A middle-aged cultivator rose, saying, "Martial Brother Tian, Ye Mo killed our core disciple and must pay with his life. But as Martial Brother Lei stated, his reputation is established. Eliminating him will not be easy, and Pill City is beyond our sect's current capabilities. He cannot remain in Pill City forever; there will be an opportunity. We have people tracking his movements; as soon as he leaves, we strike."

This was the vice sect leader, Jiang Jianou. Even Tian Ji had to restrain his rage.

After a time, a messenger flying sword arrived in the middle-aged man's hand. He opened it and sneered. "That Ye Mo is dead for sure."