"Are you sure there's nothing missed in the investigation?"

Back at the City Guard's inner court, Lou Xiu immediately summoned his subordinate, Tu Bicheng, for questioning.

Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang were surprisingly absent from Zhu Lang Pavilion. Neither the people outside saw them leave, nor did the insiders, which was already suspicious.

The two secretly leaving Zhu Lang Pavilion can't be just to hide in another place within the city; there's a good chance they've left the city.

And with controls at the four city gates already ordered, the possibility of those two escaping unnoticed was slim, hence the questioning.

Tu Bicheng said, "Captain, our own people are stationed at all four gates. They understand the importance, and while the City Guard might be careless, our own men are vigilant. You can trust them; there shouldn't be any oversight."

Lou Xiu said, "I don't want 'shouldn't,' I want a definite answer. Was there a mistake or not? Go ask immediately!"

"Yes." Tu Bicheng, though reluctant inside, outwardly accepted the order and left swiftly.

He wasn't gone for long. About half a two-hour period later, he hurried back, looking hesitant as he spoke, "Captain, upon detailed inquiry, there was indeed a miss. Before dawn, a carriage left the city, a City Lord Mansion carriage that the gate guards weren't qualified to check, so it was let through."

Lou Xiu was taken aback, then pressed on, "Why would a City Lord Mansion carriage leave the city before dawn?"

Tu Bicheng smiled wryly, "Captain, matters of the City Lord Mansion are not something a humble person like me can inquire about."

Lou Xiu fell silent. Though he wished to investigate, having just taken office, his resources, both openly and covertly, were not yet complete. Investigating the City Lord Mansion was indeed inappropriate, and neither was it suitable to report directly to the City Lord. Bringing it up would surely lead the City Lord to question why he's so eager over their trivial matters.

After much thought, he dismissed Tu Bicheng and then left the city himself, heading straight for the Divine Mountain.

After entering the mountain gate, he headed straight to Beishan Central and met with North Mountain Order Master Huang Ye on the second floor.

After reporting the relevant situation, Lou Xiu voiced his suspicion, "I suspect Shi Chun and his companion used the City Lord Mansion's carriage to slip out. Perhaps Yin Xu from Zhu Lang Pavilion used her channels to assist them. However, the Order Master previously mentioned that the Extreme Fire Sect had already used connections to halt such transactions from Zhu Lang Pavilion's side. To get to the bottom of it, we might need to start by tracing that carriage from the City Lord Mansion."

He came to seek support here; otherwise, he couldn't rashly inquire at the City Lord Mansion, overstepping his bounds.

Huang Ye stood by the window, listening quietly to his report. After a long pause, he let out a muffled voice, "Yin Xu, that woman, was once a maid of Qingqiu Ancestor…"

Lou Xiu was stunned, having spoken for so long, yet this was what concerned him most. Is this really the priority right now? Shouldn't they first find the whereabouts of those two people? But he had to follow up with a response, "I suspect it's false. How could Qingqiu Ancestor's maid be easily exiled and end up as the West Emperor's lover? It's likely a temporary measure to save her own life."

Huang Ye slightly turned his head to glance at him, "Yin Xu has been welcoming and seeing off people for many years, she's not someone who would speak irresponsibly. How could she make such reckless claims? If she were bluffing, using Qingqiu Ancestor's name to trick, would Qingqiu let her off? By then, even the West Emperor would be unable to protect her. Would Shi Chun's two companions be worth such a cost for her?"

Lou Xiu hesitated for a moment, then probed, "Is her life or death important?"

The implication being, let's just mind our own business.

Huang Ye slightly shook his head, "Things aren't as simple as you think. If she truly is Qingqiu Ancestor's maid, the current situation might become very troublesome. If she really intends to help Shi Chun, we might find it difficult to act rashly."

Lou Xiu hesitated, "Sir, it can't be that serious. If she insists on meddling in others' affairs, what are others to do? Qingqiu Ancestor can't possibly be unreasonable, can she? This world hasn't reached a point where Qingqiu Ancestor calls the shots."

Huang Ye snorted, "Do you know who's behind Qingqiu Ancestor?"

Lou Xiu was taken aback, surprised and uncertain, "I've heard that old demon is defiant, bloodthirsty, and capricious. Could he possibly be ordered around?"

Huang Ye looked into the distance, speaking slowly, "The one from the Land of Exile."

Lou Xiu was shocked, "The prison master?"

Huang Ye walked away from the window, pacing inside the room, "He's known as the Domain Master overseeing all domains. It sounds similar, easily confused, so people mockingly nicknamed him 'Prison Chief.' Do you think it's a coincidence that Qingqiu Ancestor slumbers untouched in the Divine Tomb and the prison chief confines himself in Life Prison? In short, it's the result of compromises reached when the world was in chaos and various forces agreed to cease hostilities."

Turning back, he gazed at Lou Xiu, "If that old demon from Qingqiu were really provoked and it stirred each party to sit down and talk, who knows how many would be dead by then. She has a powerful patron; what difference does it make if she's right or wrong?"

Lou Xiu was rendered speechless, realizing the implications, hesitating, "Could this just be left alone then?"

Huang Ye continued to pace, "We don't need to investigate ourselves. Let Yin Xu prove her innocence."

Lou Xiu clasped his hands, "Please instruct me further, sir."

Huang Ye: "Regardless of whether it was Yin Xu who helped send them out, dump the dirty water on her head, and leak the news to the Extreme Fire Sect, saying that it was Yin Xu who sent the two people out. In this matter, the West Emperor had made a promise to the Extreme Fire Sect. Once they learn of it, they will surely seek the West Emperor, who will then need to clarify the situation to give the Extreme Fire Sect an explanation. And regarding the matter of the Qingqiu Ancestor's maid, the West Emperor will have to question Yin Xu. We can just sit back and wait for the results."

Lou Xiu's eyes lit up, and he flattered again, "Master, you are wise."

After lowering his hands, he asked, "What's the situation over there in Dazhi City?"

Huang Ye: "It was still the work of the Extreme Fire Sect. The Extreme Fire Sect discovered three subordinates of Shi Chun from the Mingshan Sect in Dazhi City. That huge commotion likely occurred during their pursuit, resulting in conflict. The specifics are unknown; all the people pursuing and fleeing from the Extreme Fire Sect have disappeared, and it seems they are all done.

The shattered fifth-grade Magical Treasure of the Extreme Fire Sect has indeed been lost, meaning that an opponent of the Heavenly Immortal Realm has taken action. Currently, it is unknown whether a third-party force has intervened or if it is Shi Chun's help. There is suspicion that the Bai Family might be involved, but the Bai Family has only one expert in the Heavenly Immortal Realm, and at the time of the incident, that person was on the mountain."

An expert in the Heavenly Immortal Realm? The thought of it made Lou Xiu's heart race, but he also raised some doubts, "Does Shi Chun still have people in Dazhi City? Master, could the one creating trouble behind Huang Yingying's affair in Dazhi City be Shi Chun and his group?"

Huang Ye: "That's not important anymore. The most crucial thing is whether Shi Chun and his group managed to leave before the exit from Juku State was sealed. However, considering the timing, his three subordinates probably didn't have time to escape. The current situation is somewhat confusing, and it has directly escalated to the level of experts in the Heavenly Immortal Realm engaging in clashes. The directive from above is to act cautiously."

Meanwhile, Wu Jinliang on the Divine Mountain was fairly at ease. Though he hid away in the "deep chambers," hesitant to meet outsiders, he still had a degree of freedom.

He had no awareness of being under house arrest; instead, he claimed his passion was about sparring in cultivation, pestering Granny Qi for a duel.

With Granny Qi's status and position, there was no way she would agree to fight with him.

Yet, Giant Wu was persistent, acting as if he would starve from lack of combat if she didn't indulge him.

Reluctantly, Granny Qi had her clansmen accompany him for training.

Chu Jingtang, Lao Changtai, and Xiao Sheng sat bored in the corner of the cultivation room, watching Wu Jinliang engage in his antics.

They had long noticed Wu Jinliang's peculiar penchant for challenging people to spar; every member of the Mingshan Sect had humorously complied with him.

Anyway, they couldn't leave or escape; with nothing better to do, they watched idly from the side.

With a bang, Wu Jinliang, knocked to the ground, flipped back up, and suddenly waved his hand, "No more, no more, I need a break."

The man from the Bai Family, who had been sparring with him, looked at Wu Jinliang with a curious expression. He discovered Wu Jinliang was quite resilient. By right, any blow he delivered, targeting someone of the High Martial realm, should have been enough to injure, yet this fellow repeatedly got up as if nothing had happened.

Could someone so tall also develop such thick skin?

Moreover, he had an absurd request, asking him to hit him with various different techniques.

Such an outrageous request was a first for him; he had some suspicion whether Wu Jinliang was a masochist.

Wu Jinliang, who had requested a pause, didn't shy away from others. He took out the Mother-child Talisman and stepped aside to check; it was a message from Shi Chun.

After reading the message, Wu Jinliang grinned and shouted, "I want to see your Granny."

At this moment, Granny Qi was entertaining, though calling them guests was a stretch; it was none other than Bai Qiru, who had been expelled from the family.

With such a large commotion outside Dazhi City, two of her associates declared they wouldn't be returning to the rice shop, and people had already been rescued. She guessed that her grandmother had personally intervened.

This made her realize something was amiss; the situation didn't seem to be as her grandmother had described. She came today to demand an explanation.

She dedicated her life to repay a debt of gratitude, yet the truth seemed different.

She once had someone she loved, whom she gave up for the sake of repaying the clan. How could she not seek an explanation?

Looking at her stubborn granddaughter kneeling in front, Granny Qi remained silent for a long time. Finally, she walked to the door, instructed the people outside to leave, and not allow anyone near.

Once the place was cleared, she sat down in front of Bai Qiru and gently asked, "Girl, have you heard of 'Wuyang Palace'?"

Bai Qiru, kneeling with her head bowed, was slightly taken aback and slowly looked up, trying to reply, "Is it that mysterious place where the Empress originated?"

"Stand up and speak," Granny Qi raised her hand slightly, looking somewhat helpless. She said, "'Wuyang Palace' was initially discovered by a group of people. Inside 'Wuyang Palace' are six strange books, or rather, six books of the Six Realms. That group of people entered, and six of them received fortunes, among them was Jin Zhan, Huang Yingying's ancestor. He obtained the Demon Book from the Six Books, known as the Beidou Demon Book. There was also the one who later became the Demon Ancestor and killed Jin Zhan. He obtained the Demon Book."

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