Chapter 727: Seem to Have Known Each Other

Translator: Timothy_ Editor: GlobeGlotter

After hearing his words, everyone was shocked. If Elder Zhang's statement was true, someone was definitely setting them up. No wonder Qi Youxin could resist the pain of losing his son without attacking Xia Chongyan.

“He managed to injure Vice Sect Leader Xia, kill Elder Ming, and frame the wrong person. Then, he took Wei Wu to Hang Shui City and left casually. This person—this person—” an elder said in shock.

Everyone understood; he was implying the perpetrator possessed incredible strength, a feat achievable only by masters above the Great Heaven Middle Stage. Furthermore, the efficiency with which this person left misleading clues suggested he hadn’t suffered significant injuries.

“And,” Ling Wushui said slowly, “I found another suspicious point confirming his involvement in Elder Ming’s death. This clue suggests he might have come from the outside world!”

“What!???” The collective gasp was near-universal. They understood the implication: the magical continent was supposedly a world separated from the main earth by beings of unimaginable power. But that was legend.

Countless years had passed, limiting the cultivation world to ancient martial arts. Even so, achieving mastery in ancient martial arts was astonishing. Only those from smaller worlds could leave; outsiders couldn't enter. Ling Wushui's statement implied outsiders could now enter and kill Great Heaven masters.

“Elder Ling, we don't doubt you, but this is too shocking,” another middle-aged man said, rising to his feet.

To them, the implications were significant. Outside technology was supposedly advanced—a single bomb could level a city. Their ancient martial arts were no match for such weaponry.

Ling Wushui waved his hand. “That's just my guess. When Elder Ming died, he left the message ‘Forgery.’ The killer left this to shift suspicion to the Forgery Hall. However, he didn't know that in the magical continent, the character ‘Forgery’ has two extra dots—dots he omitted.

In the outside world, specifically China, those two dots are often omitted. Thus, I suspect he's from outside. Of course, someone here might be accustomed to that writing style, but it's unlikely. Regardless, Elder Ming wouldn't have written it that way.”

Qi Youxin, noticing everyone looking at him, nodded. “That's right. I only discovered that a few days ago; the word was blurry. I told Elder Ling yesterday, but even so, Xia Chongyan remains a suspect. He could have done this deliberately.”

Qi Youxin’s response was more reasonable; he seemed to understand this likely had nothing to do with the Forgery Hall. However, lacking a target for revenge, he clung to Xia Chongyan.

“That big-bearded man's gold checks all came from the Magical Merchant Association, so we asked Zihua Goddess. Apparently, he traded a large stack of gold bricks for those checks. But where did he get so many gold bricks? And how did he bring them into Hang Shui City?” Zhang Changwen asked.

“Didn't the Magical Merchant Association investigate?”

“The Magical Merchant Association only conducts business; they don't investigate customers. I've already asked Zihua Goddess,” Zhang Changwen replied immediately.

Xia Chongyan remained silent, but Wan Houde spoke. “This person injured our Vice Sect Leader and killed Wei Wu. Regardless of his identity or origin, we won't let him go.”

A middle-aged woman from Du Tian Sect sneered. “So what if you won't? Do you even know who he is? He killed a Great Heaven master, meaning he's also a Great Heaven master. Even if you encountered him, what could you do? And a Great Heaven master at such a young age is formidable.”

Seeing Wan Houde’s anger rising, Ling Wushui waved his hand. “Besides Du Qianbei of All Heaven Sect, who reached Great Heaven at 45, no one on the magical continent has reached Great Heaven before that age. I'm unsure if this person is a Great Heaven master; Elder Ming died from a sneak attack. Therefore, if he is a Great Heaven master, he's at most as strong as Elder Ming.”

TL Note: Du Tian: All Heaven

Ling Wushui implied that if the culprit was only at Elder Ming's level, he had no concerns.

“Elder Jie Xian, has Elder Jie Xun returned?” Ling Wushui abruptly changed the subject.

Jie Xian shook her head. “Not only has Jie Xun not returned, but a core disciple is also missing.”

“Martial Sister Jie Xian, I have news that someone from your sect used your sect's hidden sect order to capture a young man named Ye Mo in the mortal realm. First, she tried identifying him, unsuccessfully, then she drew an image. I have an image of Ye Mo; everyone can take one,” Zhang Changwen said.

He continued, “Perhaps when Martial Sister Jie Xian returns to your sect, Daoist Jie Xun will be there too. Jie Xun might know why Kun Qian Sect's core disciple, Qi Yulin, disappeared. If Jie Xun returns, please inform me.”

“What?” Jie Xian was clearly shocked. She didn't even know her missing elder had returned, yet someone else did. If Jie Xun had returned, why hadn't she gone back to her sect immediately? Why use a hidden sect order in a mortal city?

“Daoist Jie Xian, have your other two disciples returned?” another Kun Qian Sect elder asked.

Jie Xian's face darkened. They hadn't even informed her of Jie Xun's return, and now they questioned her. She said coldly, “Your Kun Qian Sect elders need not concern themselves with our disciples.”

Zhang Changwen knew this could escalate into a fight. He intended to use this meeting to pressure Jie Xian into revealing why Jie Xun had used the hidden sect order and how she had returned. However, her expression suggested she genuinely didn't know Jie Xun was back.

The meeting ended on a sour note.

…

After Liu Lei won his fight, an elder immediately took him on as a disciple. Inner sect members faced intense cultivation pressure, spending most of their time aboard ship cultivating. He didn't have time to search for Ye Mo, nor did he bother.

Though Ye Mo knew Jie Xun wasn't on the ship, he stayed mostly in his room, maintaining a low profile.

Days passed quickly. Unbeknownst to Ye Mo, his reclusive behavior had saved him considerable trouble.

When the ship reached shore, the disciples rejoiced. No one enjoyed life at sea.

Under the guidance of sect elders, the disciples quickly disembarked. Ye Mo and Mu Xiaoyun left the dock with the Ice Lake people.

Yun Ziyi bid farewell to the sect elders. She had her own affairs and didn't need to return.

“Ziyi, wait,” an elder stopped Yun Ziyi. He handed her an image. “This person is very important. Your merchant association has a wide reach; try to find him.”

“Oh.” Yun Ziyi took the painting and looked at it. Immediately, she recognized someone familiar.