After Zhang Yong was arrested, the news spread like wildfire within the sect.
"Have you heard the news? Inner Disciple Zhang Yong has been arrested for serial murder!"
"Wait,do you mean he's behind all those recent killings?"
"Thinking about it,hasn't he been causing trouble lately? He insulted the elders and was accused of killing another inner disciple before."
"I can't believe this!I never imagined he would do something so heinous!" one person said angrily.
In the sect's halls and facilities, disciples gossiped in their spare time, discussing the hot news. The news of Zhang Yong's arrest made many secretly happy; they couldn't stand his arrogant behavior. On the other hand, now that word spread that the killer had been caught, a sense of relief was instilled in their hearts.
"That Zhang Yong was a troublemaker. I never liked him from the start. I hope he gets executed," a man spoke angrily.
"Have you forgotten?The penalty for causing the death of a disciple is execution. It doesn't matter if you're an inner disciple or an elder; this law applies to everyone," someone else clarified.
"He was so handsome,what a disappointment," a girl said with a disappointed expression.
This incident created a huge uproar. If everything was looked at truthfully, Zhang Yong was a troublemaker. Ever since his first appearance, the sect had not been peaceful in one way or another.
Inside the Punishment Hall, Zhang Yong stood with shackles around his wrists, appearing before the Sect Leader and the elders. However, his master, Elder Gu, was not present.
The Punishment Hall Elder spoke in a stern voice, "Inner Disciple Zhang Yong, do you know the consequences of what you have done?"
Zhang Yong calmly looked at them. It was no use trying to act arrogantly now; the matter had reached a critical point. "I have committed no murders, and therefore I do not know the consequences."
Immediately, the Lightning Peak Elder pointed his finger at Zhang Yong. "You still dare to deny it! You have killed many, and you were even caught red-handed. Confess at once!"
Zhang Yong immediately frowned, and the gears in his mind started turning. 'Is it possible the elders did this? No, I rule that out. Or is it....' Zhang Yong's gaze wandered over the crowd.
The closest possibility was Chen Biao. No, he wasn't sure, and he couldn't accuse anyone recklessly.
Zhang Yong sighed. "I didn't kill anyone in the sect. I found the body discarded on the ground, and I happened to be discovered."
The Sword Peak Elder spoke angrily, "Lies! Clearly, you are the culprit. The disciples who were killed were specifically from the Lightning and Sword Peaks! Furthermore, the residual sword energy traces on the corpses match the one you use."
Zhang Yong's eyes widened visibly. He did not possess sword energy. The only thing that could be similar was Death Qi!
It wasn't even appropriate for Zhang Yong to protest, because if he said he didn't use sword energy, it could only mean he used Death Qi. And that, as previously explained, is something demonic cultivators can use due to its source. This would plunge him into far greater trouble than just murder.
Zhang Yong looked sharply and protested, "Anyone can say that. I want to see the evidence!"
"If so, I'll show you the evidence we need. Bring out the corpse!" the Sword Peak Elder shouted harshly.
Immediately, a group of disciples came out carrying a stretcher, on which a mutilated body was placed. They set it on the ground in front of Zhang Yong.
Zhang Yong was shocked, and his expression grew more somber. Without a doubt, what emanated from it was Death Qi.
The Lightning Peak Elder smiled sarcastically. "What? Feeling guilty now?"
The Sword Peak Elder walked over and bowed before the Sect Leader. "As you see, Sect Leader, this corpse was found by the Punishment Hall. All of them carried traces of dark sword force, and undoubtedly, everyone testifies that this is what this disciple Zhang Yong uses. The evidence is before you, Sect Leader. I ask the Sect Leader to be fair."
The Sect Leader looked with an unreadable expression and held his forehead. He was no fool. 'Clearly, those elders were the ones planning this. Do they think I'm blind? The penalty for murder is execution. But with the evidence, Zhang Yong could be executed immediately. However, the problem is, what if after his execution, the serial killings continue? But if I don't execute Zhang Yong, I'll appear biased and lose my authority and the others' trust in me.'
The Sword and Lightning Peak Elders smiled secretly. 'Everything is going according to our plan. We didn't plan to frame him so soon, but the situation is still in our favor.'
Zhang Yong gritted his teeth. The other elders seemed to agree with executing Zhang Yong, while the Frost Peak Elder remained expressionless. But then a female voice sounded.
"I object!" It was a voice familiar to Zhang Yong and the Frost Peak Elder—her disciple, Wu Ruoxian.
The Sword Peak Elder frowned. "A disciple has no right to interfere in an elders' trial."
Wu Ruoxian stepped forward with steady steps toward the center of the hall. Her expression was cold, as if she had anticipated this.
"According to sect laws, a person cannot be executed or punished without confirmation. There are many forms of sword energy; none are exactly alike. As the Sword Peak Elder, you should know this. How can you act so recklessly?"
The Sword Peak Elder looked at Wu Ruoxian with an angry gaze and shouted, "Are you questioning my judgment as the Sword Peak Elder? The sword energy used in the crimes is clear—it's the same energy this arrogant disciple uses! Or perhaps the Frost Peak planned this?"
His gaze turned toward the Frost Peak Elder. Her voice was calm but icy. "Do you want to start a fight among the elders?"
The Sword Peak Elder smiled coldly. "I dare not question Sister Han's intentions."
Wu Ruoxian then spoke. "How about this: Zhang Yong will be placed under strict guard in the sect prison. If the killings stop, it means he's the killer. But if they continue, then Zhang Yong is innocent. How does this solution sound to the elders?"
The hall fell silent for a moment after Wu Ruoxian's proposal. The elders exchanged glances among themselves. The proposal was reasonable, but it also put them in a predicament if the crimes continued after Zhang Yong's imprisonment.
The Sect Leader looked toward the elders and spoke loudly. "If so, for the next three days, Inner Disciple Zhang Yong will be detained for a more precise investigation."
The Sword and Lightning Peak Elders frowned, as the proposal foiled their plan to carry out Zhang Yong's immediate execution. However, they couldn't object openly without arousing suspicion.
"As the Sect Leader commands," all the elders said with a slight bow, but the Sword Peak Elder's eyes showed a dark glint.
Zhang Yong remained shackled as he was led to the sect prison under the guard of a number of sect guards.
Zhang Yong was imprisoned in the sect prison, fortified with layers of defensive formations to prevent any escape attempts.
When they reached the cell, the head guard spoke in a stern tone. "The place is built from Primordial Yellow Clay, so even your inhuman strength is useless here."
Zhang Yong snorted coldly. "As if I would escape. Honestly, I'm not that stupid."
The guards looked at him coldly and threw him into the middle of the cell. Straw mats were placed on the cold, gray stone floor, while the only entrance was through a black iron-barred gate.
The iron gate closed with a sharp metallic sound, echoing in the dark cell. The guards stood for moments, watching Zhang Yong with suspicious eyes before leaving without a word.
A heavy silence settled over the place.
On the ground, worn-out straw mats were piled randomly on the cold stones, barely providing insulation from the cold. The ceiling was relatively low, with some cracks revealing spiderwebs hanging here and there. The walls were carved with some marks and scratches left by previous prisoners, perhaps trying to count the days or leave a mark of their existence.
Zhang Yong leaned his back against the wall and sighed, his eyes staring into the dark void. "Hah, I can't believe I was framed so easily and simply. When did I become this foolish? No, I've always been foolish."
Unconsciously, he clutched his chest and quietly sensed the Death Qi within it. 'No one could do this without knowing I can use Death Qi , i was going berserk in the Douluo World because of it but I started controlling it better after obtaining the Life and Death physique , and it became easy to control as I wished. So, I assume there's a connection between them. Therefore, it must be someone who knows about my body , Among all the people who know, there's my master. There's also the possibility that the two elders know, since they examined my body during the internal sect competition, but that's a weak possibility.'
Zhang Yong arranged his thoughts calmly and smoothly. If the two elders had known back then, they could only have accused him of being a demonic cultivator and subjected him to inspection, in which case he would have certainly been killed.
He stretched his legs on the cold floor and closed his eyes for a moment. The gears in his mind started turning. 'Is there someone else who knows about it...It can't be Su ming Wait, Wu Ruoxian! The reason for her getting close to me was to obtain the physique , With her three hundred years of experience, it's very likely she knows about this. No, that's also impossible. I didn't sense her presence on the peak, so it can't be her. But her intervention in the trial makes her even more suspicious.'
"Zhang Yong!" a familiar voice suddenly said, making Zhang Yong slowly open his eyes.
Su Ming stood in front of the bars, with Liu Yan standing beside him, their expressions showing worry.
Zhang Yong snorted and chuckled lightly. "Oh, you came too? Unfortunately, I can't entertain you." His tone carried some sarcasm.
Su Ming narrowed his eyes. "Even at a time like this, you want to joke? Your life is in danger, you idiot!"
Zhang Yong looked at Su Ming with an empty expression and waved his hand indifferently. The sound of the shackles on his wrists rang out in the process. "And what do you want me to do? Become depressed and fall into despair? I'd rather die with a smile. I'll be dead anyway."
Liu Yan bowed slightly in front of the bars quietly. "It's certain that the Sword and Lightning Peak Elders are behind this. It's impossible for Zhang Yong to kill blindly. This can be solved if we catch the real culprit."
Zhang Yong looked at Liu Yan with narrowed eyes. "Catch the real culprit? It sounds simple when you say it. Well, you might find it. Let me help you. It seems like dark sword energy, but it's not. Su Ming, you're from the sword path and should realize the difference closely."
Seriousness appeared on Su Ming's face as he heard Zhang Yong's words. He leaned slightly toward the iron bars and whispered in a low voice, "Seems? I know there are different types of dark sword energy, but what is it if not that?"
Zhang Yong replied, "It's Death Qi."
"Death Qi-!" Before Su Ming could express his shock, Liu Yan immediately covered his mouth. "Zhang Yong, to know about this matter, could it be that you..."
Liu Yan didn't want to finish, but her meaning was completely clear.
Zhang Yong shook his head in denial. "No, don't worry. I know about it because of my physique , nothing more, nothing less. It seems like dark sword energy, but it's not."
Both Liu Yan and Su Ming shook their heads. Liu Yan replied, "Then we have no time to waste. We'll start searching immediately."
As Su Ming and Liu Yan left the place with quick steps, Su Ming's face carried a mix of worry and anger, while Liu Yan maintained a calm expression but was thinking deeply.
The prison atmosphere was immersed in silence. The faint light emanating from the torches fixed on the walls was barely enough to illuminate the cell, while Zhang Yong continued to think quietly.
At this time, Ling Xi appeared beside him. "How can you stay so calm like this?"
Zhang Yong shook his hands helplessly. "And what do you want me to do?"
Immediately, Ling Xi shook her hands angrily and childishly. "This is no time to sit! You're going to die here. Listen to me, you'll die. You can burn the cell and escape, but you decide to sit here and wait for your death."
Zhang Yong looked indifferently at Ling Xi and asked 'How much gauge is left?'
(Gauge: 40%)
'That's enough for two attempts.'
"Illusory Embodiment."
(Illusory Embodiment activated. 20% of gauge used.)
(Gauge:20%)
Immediately, when Zhang Yong opened his eyes again, he was floating in the air, and his body was transparent. He descended a little and looked around until his gaze fell on his body. "Good. I'll go wander a bit. The distance and duration of my stay in this state should have increased after the changes I went through."
"Oh wow, I didn't know you could do this," Ling Xi's voice sounded from the side.
Zhang Yong looked at her in surprise. "You can see me?"
"Why wouldn't I see you? I'm surprised you can enter this state. I think my ability to see you is related to the contract between us," Ling Xi spoke with a curious expression.
"Whatever." Zhang Yong immediately flew out of the cell and began looking around the sect.
"Let's go spy on the elders' peaks."
Zhang Yong advanced and flew high toward the peaks while Ling Xi followed.
'Found you!' A loud voice sounded in the minds of both of them, and they were pulled downward, piercing through layers of earth deep below.