After a person's death, if there is no special magical treasure to preserve the soul, it won't take long for the soul to return to the heavens and dissipate into thin air.

For instance, when Chen Ye previously crafted a corpse puppet, it was because the soul had dispersed, leaving the corpse puppet with only some instinctual intelligence.

"What a pity... the Wei Family is really cautious in their actions." Chen Ye sighed.

He had thought of turning these two people into corpse puppets as evidence.

However, that helplessly instinctual corpse puppet, if someone with intent trained it slightly, could say anything and thus could not be trusted by the sect.

"Qi Kingdom?"

Mao Qingzhu was slightly stunned upon hearing this.

Seeing this, Chen Ye's heart stirred, and he quickly asked, "Sister Qingzhu, have you thought of something?"

"Maybe I overthought it... Generally speaking, fugitives wanted by the sect usually flee to Qi Kingdom. The reason is that the Lingyin Sect is near Qi Kingdom, and the sects on the borderlands of Qi Kingdom, like the Duqing Sect, are adversaries of the Lingyin Sect. Once they escape to the territory of the Duqing Sect, the Lingyin Sect can no longer reach them."

Mao Qingzhu, despite often being in closed-door cultivation, held a prestigious status as the eldest daughter of the Mao Family and was once a core disciple of the Lingyin Sect.

The inside information she knew far exceeded that of Duan Ling.

She continued:

"Perhaps you may not know, but within the Duqing Sect's territory, there's no such thing as loose cultivators. The Emotion Crossing Sect uses ruthless methods and high-pressure governance to control all cultivators within their territory, even those who are just beginning their cultivation, and this... is the reason for the frequent defeats of Lingyin Sect in wars against them."

After hearing Mao Qingzhu's words, Chen Ye was taken aback.

Goodness.

There's actually a sect in the cultivation realm where everyone's a soldier?

No wonder Lingyin Sect is at a disadvantage.

In fact, the Lingyin Sect does consider itself a righteous sect, managing its domain well by dispatching outer sect disciples to maintain order and having Foundation Establishment True Men oversee the market.

They also provide space for loose cultivators to advance without over-exploiting them.

Take Chen Ye, for instance; in the past, when he was a loose cultivator, he only had to pay a token dust tax to Lingyin Sect, just an entrance fee to Yunxi District, which was merely five pieces of spiritual sand.

If Chen Ye were in charge, he'd at least impose a transaction tax and so forth...

How could a benevolent sect like this possibly be a match for the Emotion Crossing Sect?

"Sister Qingzhu, do you mean... that the Black Wind Twin Demons have actually been controlled by the Emotion Crossing Sect?"

After his initial shock, Chen Ye quickly realized the point in Mao Qingzhu's words.

"Yes, most likely. The Duqing Sect uses a Demon Path method called the Emotion Crossing Seed, which can be implanted into a cultivator's body to control them. If they came to Yunxi District, it's certainly not privately but rather under the coercion of demon cultivators."

Mao Qingzhu's gaze suddenly fell on Chen Ye,

"Perhaps, these two were actually targeting this batch of spirit plants, or perhaps... they were targeting you, Brother Ye. Collaborating with the Wei Family was merely a stratagem. Of course, that's just a possibility... After all, for someone who can control two Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer cultivators, it's likely a Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivator, and Brother Ye wouldn't likely attract the attention of such a cultivator."

Chen Ye's expression grew solemn.

Talking about Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivators, Chen Ye could never forget the female cultivator who took away Qing Jun.

Moreover, with the recent sudden changes in the Three Thousand Great Mountains, perhaps this female cultivator might take the chance to make a comeback!

If what Mao Qingzhu said is true, then the demon cultivator targeting him might indeed be an old acquaintance.

"I should... go interrogate them again!"

Duan Ling's face changed slightly, as he spoke and rose to head toward the forest where the interrogation had taken place earlier.

Mao Qingzhu sighed, "Most likely, those two have already dissipated..."

Sure enough, when Duan Ling returned, he gravely said:

"The Black Wind Twin Demons have already committed suicide! It seems they mastered some sort of divine soul self-destructive technique. It's just strange that during the interrogation, they didn't choose to end themselves, but it was right after..."

Chen Ye instinctively looked at Mao Qingzhu.

Fortunately, Sister Qingzhu seemed almost omniscient and immediately replied:

"If these two were truly controlled by the Duqing Sect, then the person behind them must have sensed something amiss and activated the Emotion Crossing Seed, thus killing them. Therefore, it appeared as suicide but was actually murder!"

...

After a brief interlude.

Chen Ye and Duan Ling eventually managed to safely deliver that batch of spirit plants to Peach Mountain District.

Upon arrival at Peach Mountain District, the people on the carriage finally relaxed.

No matter how rampant the tribulation cultivator, they wouldn't dare cause chaos in the market.

Besides the Lingyin Sect's industries, Peach Mountain District also housed industries of the Ten Thousand Puppet Sect and Spirit Treasure Sect, with no less than ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators present.

After the previous shared peril, Duan Ling's attitude toward Chen Ye had transitioned from initial courtesy to genuine admiration.

Indeed, it was hard not to admire him.

Being skilled in spirit plant techniques, capable of raising children, and able to unleash Sword Qi Thunder Sound with a single slash.

And in the end, even having a beautiful Foundation Establishment stage sister!

As he watched Chen Ye being coddled by Mao Qingzhu, with her attentively attending to his welfare,

His mind was left with only one thought—

I've got to hold onto this benefactor!

Meanwhile, Chen Ye found it bitter and unspeakable.

This... this big dumpling really got into acting?

Could it be that bonding with the little dumpling last night triggered her maternal instincts?

Or was she grateful because he arranged for her to sleep with Qing Jun, and this was her way of repaying him?

But Mao Qingzhu is actually younger than me.

Being pampered by a girl younger than oneself...

It's not a bad feeling.

"Brother Ye, to avoid any mishaps, it's best to avoid going out much this month. I'll protect you in the valley,"

Mao Qingzhu said, knitting her pretty eyebrows and hesitating,

"Why don't you come with us to the Xu Family? If you dislike the Xu Family, you can stay at the Herb Pavilion in Moon Rhinoceros Lake District. Moon Rhinoceros Lake District is the busiest market nearby, and not even a Golden Core True Man would dare to act recklessly there."

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