Free Web NovelChapter 342: Chapter 71: Aftermath of the Sacrifice Case
"To answer you, Daoist, Guanmao has not appeared again since you went to Shangjing City. We’ve only been able to secretly investigate the Demon Race members associated with him. As of three days ago, we found that three Daoist Temples in Mozhou Road have direct links to them, and that a Patrol Envoy in Hai Zhou Road is one of their people."
Wang Ben answered Wang Ping’s question.
"Very good. Continue your surveillance. Note down every single person who contacts them, especially in Nanlin Road. But unless their plans threaten to destabilize Nanlin Road, do not disturb them for now."
Wang Ping gave his instructions.
"Yes!"
Hu Qianqian and the other two answered in unison.
At that moment, a fish bit the bait. Wang Ping, however, gently shook his rod to release it. He turned to the three, who looked a bit reserved, and his gaze fell on Hu Qianqian. "You just had your promotion. Your body is still in a weakened state, and you overexerted yourself messing around with Yu Lian. Right now, the slightest disturbance could cause the qi and blood in your body to roil. So, for now, just rest here at the Dao Field."
"Yes, thank you for your concern, Master!"
Hu Qianqian’s furry ears twitched unconsciously.
Yu Lian, however, was displeased with Wang Ping’s words. She slapped his back twice with her tail but said nothing.
"Alright, contact me if anything comes up."
After speaking, Wang Ping took Yu Lian and headed toward Qianmu Mountain.
When they arrived at the Mountain Peak Dojo, a Puppet Bird descended from the sky and landed on his shoulder. It was Daoist Zi Luan’s Puppet Bird.
It brought intelligence regarding the previous matter with the Broken Water Sect in Mozhou Road...
This sect had fought its way through many others to occupy White Crane Mountain. The relationships uncovered so far were a bit of a mess. The two people who had been killed were superficially connected to the Earth Cave Sect, but one of them also had a background with the Taiyin Sect.
The fact that they had the paperwork from the Daoist Scripture Hall headquarters to establish a Dao Field on White Crane Mountain made it obvious. Someone was deliberately trying to antagonize Xiao Shan Lord, which only made their background even more complicated.
Zi Luan had already stated that he would personally visit the major branches of the Earth Cave Sect in Mozhou Road and would also write a letter to the Taiyin Sect headquarters to inquire about the situation.
As for the cultivator who escaped, the authorities in Mozhou Road had dispatched two Entering Cultivators and dozens of Foundation Establishment cultivators. They had thoroughly searched the underground water veins but found no trace of them.
In other words, if Wang Ping and Zi Luan had continued the pursuit at the time, they might have truly caught a big fish.
Wang Ping felt no regret as he read this information. If he had to choose again, he would have been just as cautious and stopped.
"Have you noticed? The ones who made a move in Nanlin Road this time are very familiar with you. They even destroyed the sacrificial site, probably because they were afraid you’d see through something."
Yu Lian reminded him after he finished reading the intelligence in his hand.
A sense of alarm rose in Wang Ping’s heart as he recalled all the details of the incident.
He recorded the events as he thought about them. Looking at it carefully now, they had handled the entire matter flawlessly.
"They probably took note of you back when you were investigating the stolen Corpse Soldiers in Mozhou Road. You noticed the marks of an Artifact Cultivator from the damaged parts of the array."
Yu Lian reminded him again.
Wang Ping set down the bamboo slip he was writing on. ’Thinking back, I was a bit too high-profile back in Mozhou Road.’
This time, however, his opponent’s caution made Wang Ping feel wary.
Just then, Zhao Wan appeared at the entrance to the Dao Field. He was accompanied by Li Lin, the current Sect Leader of the Pingdong Sect. Both of them looked slightly reserved, and it wasn’t an act.
Li Lin was here to report the results of the investigation into the sacrificial incident.
"I had my disciples investigate the surrounding counties and find some people with information. According to them, the mob was organized by a Scholar named Ding Fu. Based on our investigation, he himself also died in the sacrificial ritual."
Li Lin quickly reported his findings while Zhao Wan stood respectfully to the side, his eyes lowered.
"We investigated Ding Fu’s background. He was originally a Scholar from Changwen Prefecture in Mozhou Road. After the turmoil broke out in Mozhou Road, he organized villagers to flee to Nanlin Road. He used his connections at the Inspectorate to settle his clan in Ning’an Prefecture, where he bought up a good deal of farmland and manors. It doesn’t seem like he was planning to sacrifice himself."
"Therefore, we suspect there was someone behind him and began investigating everyone connected to him, including his contacts at the Inspectorate. However, it’s very complicated. The Ding Family has many branches, and at least a hundred people are directly associated with him. It will take some time to investigate, so we have no useful intelligence to report for now."
After listening, Wang Ping found it somewhat amusing. "A single Scholar made fools of everyone in Nanlin Road, from top to bottom? What a joke." His gaze fell on Li Lin’s lowered head as he asked, "What about his connections at the Inspectorate?"
Li Lin lowered his head even further and replied, "This information is based on hearsay. It will take some time to verify."
"Truly troubled times. All sorts of ghouls and demons are crawling out of the woodwork."
Wang Ping sighed and waved his hand. "Go on and get busy. Report anything immediately. If something comes up that you don’t have the authority to handle, find Fellow Daoist Zuo Xuan. Also, keep an eye on Wenhai."
"Yes!"
Li Lin bowed deeply, then carefully retreated from the courtyard.
As Li Lin withdrew, Zhao Wan also cupped his fist and said, "This disciple takes his leave!"
After the two had left, Yu Lian said to Wang Ping, "I suspect they won’t find any results this time."
Wang Ping had the same thought. He took out his divination blocks and cast a reading. It was a Yin Trigram. He cast twice more, and both were still Yin Trigrams. Three yin readings meant the matter was unfeasible!
He sat there for a long while before changing his approach and casting another reading. This time, it was a Yang Trigram. He cast twice more, and they were also Yang Trigrams. This indicated that the matter was feasible, but would require his utmost effort.
He had just divined whether he would get results if he used all the resources at his disposal for the investigation.
"It’s not worth it!"
Yu Lian voiced the thought in his mind.
Wang Ping nodded and sighed. "You’re right. Our opponent knows me very well. He’s certain I won’t play all my cards for something like this."
"Don’t overthink it. Right now, we need to focus on self-preservation. I connect to your conscious Spirit Sea every day; my soul will be able to evolve within a hundred years. When that time comes, as long as no Lords appear, no one in this world will be able to do anything to us if we work together."
Yu Lian tilted her head back, looking incredibly smug.
Wang Ping chuckled, reaching out to gently stroke Yu Lian’s small head. He quickly pushed his worries aside and went into his workshop to get busy.
He had many puppets to work on right now. He could leave those messy affairs to his subordinates.
Entering the workshop, his gaze first fell upon Cang’an’s Spirit Body, which was inside a Sealing Array in the corner.
If this Spirit Body could be successfully repaired and then combined with the consciousness of a Third Realm Fire Spirit, Wang Ping was confident he could create a true genius.
But the problem was that a Third Realm True Spirit was hard to find.
The True Spirit that Yue Ziyu had given him was too precious to use for a puppet. The best way would be to find a way to lure a Third Realm Fire Spirit from above the clouds, or perhaps buy one from the True Yang Sect. The ’First Heaven’ and the First Sect were also options, and their prices would likely be more appealing.
