Translator: CinderTL
Song Wen said, "It seems you won't believe me until you see the coffin. Very well, I'll show you the evidence."
With that, Song Wen opened his Sea of Consciousness, allowing Wu Yuan to perceive the outside world.
"Examine my current cultivation level. That should prove the truth of my words."
Wu Yuan followed Song Wen's instructions and sensed his cultivation level. His expression froze in shock.
"How are you at the mid-stage of Divine Transformation?"
During their earlier battle, Wu Yuan had clearly sensed that 'Ye Hua' was only at the early stage of Divine Transformation. Yet in less than half an hour, 'Ye Hua' had advanced to the mid-stage—a feat that completely defied the common sense of the Immortal Cultivation World.
Song Wen replied, "Naturally, by devouring your cultivation."
Wu Yuan exclaimed, "How is that possible? Even if everything you've said is true, why can you devour my cultivation?"
Song Wen explained, "Within the Divine Blood Gate, all those who cultivate the Corpse King Blood Refinement Art are merely medicinal pills. Only those who cultivate the Corpse King's Rebirth Art are true core disciples. I was fortunate enough to obtain the cultivation method for the Corpse King's Rebirth Art."
"Hahahaha..." Wu Yuan threw his head back and laughed wildly, his laughter tinged with despair.
After a moment, his laughter gradually subsided. "Very well, Ye Hua. I'll tell you everything. I hope that one day, you'll slaughter the entire Veiled Moon Hall—and even the entire Divine Blood Gate."
Next, through Wu Yuan's account, Song Wen gained a remarkably detailed understanding of the Veiled Moon Hall's personnel.
The Veiled Moon Hall had a relatively small number of disciples, totaling just over ten thousand.
The vast majority of these were servants and laborers; fewer than a thousand could truly be considered disciples of the Veiled Moon Hall.
Among these thousand disciples, most, like Wu Yuan, had joined the hall in their youth and were all exceptionally rare cultivation prodigies. A smaller number had been recruited later in life.
All those who joined the Veiled Moon Hall in their youth cultivated the Corpse King Blood Refinement Art.
Those who joined mid-career, like Shi Man, either switched to the Corpse King Blood Refinement Art or the Longevity Technique. The remaining disciples possessed exceptional talents in arts such as Pill Refinement, formation mastery, or Talisman crafting.
Within the Veiled Moon Hall, there were twenty-seven Divine Transformation Stage cultivators and four Void Refinement Stage cultivators.
Wu Yuan provided Song Wen with complete details about these thirty-one individuals, including their appearances, names, cultivation levels, and the cultivation techniques they practiced. However, he knew little about their mystic treasures or secret cultivation methods.
After all, even fellow disciples maintained some degree of caution, never fully revealing their secrets to others.
Having obtained the necessary information, Song Wen devoured Wu Yuan's divine soul.
Veiled Moon Hall was situated two hundred miles south of Cloudveil City, nestled beside a grand, winding river. Its territory was modest, covering less than a hundred miles.
At the foot of the mountain with the densest Spiritual Qi within Veiled Moon Hall, lay an inconspicuous cultivation cave.
Shi Man stood outside the cave, her gaze fixed on its tightly sealed gates.
This was Chi Pei's cultivation cave.
While Veiled Moon Hall possessed lavish palaces for receiving distinguished guests, Chi Pei, engrossed in cultivation, had chosen to reside in this cave with the highest concentration of Spiritual Qi.
Since arriving at Veiled Moon Hall, Chi Pei had devoted himself to rigorous cultivation, rarely venturing out of his cave except for matters directly related to his interests or urgent affairs.
To prevent disturbances, he maintained complete solitude within the cave, without any attendants or servants.
Upon returning to Veiled Moon Hall, Shi Man had come to pay her respects to Chi Pei, but she had yet to be granted an audience.
Suddenly, a creaking sound echoed as the cave gates slowly swung open.
Chi Pei's voice drifted out: "Enter."
A smile flickered across Shi Man's face as she hurried into the cave.
The interior was stark and empty, furnished only with a stone table and a few stools.
"Shi Man, have you successfully obtained the Corroding Heart Cold?" Chi Pei asked, his eyes remaining closed as he sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion. His voice was calm and detached.
Shi Man stood two zhang away from Chi Pei, bowing deeply.
"Young Master, this subordinate is incompetent and failed to obtain the Corroding Heart Cold."
Chi Pei's eyes snapped open, a faint chill flickering within them. His voice was as cold as ice.
"Didn't you already find the stall owner? Why did you return empty-handed?"
Shi Man trembled slightly, her head bowing even lower.
"Young Master, please calm your anger. This subordinate truly exerted every effort. The stall owner, named Shi Chang, was killed by Enforcer Wu Yuan. Wu Yuan searched Shi Chang's Storage Ring and performed a soul search, but found nothing related to the Corroding Heart Cold."
"No Corroding Heart Cold?" Chi Pei frowned slightly. "Didn't you swear to this young master that Shi Chang was nearly identical to the stall owner Ye Hua described? Why have you returned empty-handed now? Could it be that, eager for credit, you arbitrarily identified someone as the stall owner?"
Shi Man's legs buckled, and she knelt directly onto the ground.
"Young Master, please see through this subordinate's sincerity. My loyalty to you is unwavering. How would I dare deceive you?"
The chill in Chi Pei's eyes gradually receded. "Tell me everything that happened, from beginning to end," he ordered.
"Yes," Shi Man replied hastily, recounting in detail the entire process of Shi Chang's execution.
A thoughtful expression flickered across Chi Pei's eyes. "You mean you didn't retrieve Shi Chang's Storage Ring?"
"That's correct," Shi Man replied. "Shi Chang's Storage Ring fell into Wu Yuan's hands. He didn't allow me to inspect it."
"Where is Wu Yuan?" Chi Pei demanded. "Didn't he accompany you on this mission? Why hasn't he returned to report?"
"Wu Yuan didn't return to Veiled Moon Hall with me," Shi Man explained. "He went to Cloudveil City."
"What business does he have in Cloudveil City?" Chi Pei pressed.
"I don't know," Shi Man answered.
"Send someone to bring him back immediately. This young master wants to see him at once," Chi Pei ordered.
"Yes!"
Shi Man rose hurriedly and rushed out of the cultivation cave in a panic. But shortly after, she returned.
Seeing Shi Man alone, Chi Pei's face darkened with displeasure. "Why isn't Wu Yuan with you?"
Shi Man's expression stiffened. "Young master, Wu Yuan may have perished. His soul lamp has gone out."
"Dead!" Chi Pei's eyes widened slightly as he stood up. "Didn't he already reach Cloudveil City? Who dares kill a member of Veiled Moon Hall in Cloudveil City?"
"The culprit remains unknown," Shi Man replied. "Elder Rong Zuo has personally launched an investigation. I believe the true killer will be identified soon."
Rong Zuo was one of the four Void Refinement Stage cultivators in Veiled Moon Hall.
"This matter is quite peculiar," Chi Pei said, pacing back and forth with a thoughtful expression.
Shi Man spoke cautiously, "Young Master, I have a theory. Could it be that Shi Chang's Storage Ring contained some great treasure? Wu Yuan, wanting to claim it for himself, concealed the fact that the ring contained Corroding Heart Cold. However, he dared not bring the ring back to Veiled Moon Hall. So, he deliberately evaded me and traveled alone to Cloudveil City, intending to hide or sell the treasure. But during this time, something unexpected occurred. The treasure attracted unforeseen disaster, ultimately leading to his death and the dissipation of his Dao."
Chi Pei replied, "That's not impossible. However, for the killer to dare commit murder in Cloudveil City, they must have some powerful backing. I fear Wu Yuan's death will ultimately become an unsolved mystery. As for whether Shi Chang truly possessed Corroding Heart Cold, we'll never know."
Shi Man lowered her head, offering no further comment.
Her malicious speculation about Wu Yuan was merely an attempt to absolve herself of responsibility.
The truth remaining obscured suited her perfectly.
As for Wu Yuan's death, she couldn't have wished for a better outcome.
(End of the Chapter)
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