In front of the resurrected corpse, the elder personally investigated, confirmed it was the kind of resurrection akin to zombies, then sniffed the air around him. He turned and summoned a palace maid to inquire, "Is this scent commonly used in the lady's residence?"

The palace maid shook her head decisively and said, "No, I've never smelled this fragrance before."

The elder's gaze again fell on the struggling corpse being held down, and he came to a direct judgment, muttering, "Death Refusing Incense..."

He turned back and said to someone beside him, "Go find a pharmacist to confirm the scent."

Afterward, he sought out the black-clad figure he had brought earlier to ask about the situation with the Soul Capturing Bags. The black-clad figure informed him that the bags contained souls, and this time they weren't dogs but were all human souls.

The elder asked him, "Are you sure that the previous bag contained a dog's soul?"

The black-clad figure hurriedly said, "Not necessarily a dog, but it was definitely something dog-like in form."

The elder's gaze slanted again toward that resurrected corpse, once more mumbling to himself, "Could it be that they originally intended to resurrect a human, not knowing that captured souls were nearby, unknowingly drawing me in, and because of my sudden intervention, this place couldn't be tidied up in time?"

He also didn't know the specific principle behind the resurrection by Death Refusing Incense, just speculated in this direction.

The black-clad figure beside him heard this and quickly responded, "Right Saint, your insight is indeed possible."

The elder gave him a sidelong glance. If it hadn't been exposed and could be cleaned up without a trace, then was the strange situation in the Queen's room truly occasional? Had no one ever noticed any abnormality before? He dared not delve into this line of thought too deeply.

Therefore, still according to the Queen's instructions to investigate, let's check the situation first.

Soon afterward, two people cloaked in black arrived; such people who could use the Demon Eye and had cultivated Demon Skills were not to be openly summoned. The elder ordered everyone away and turned their backs, forbidding them to look back.

The two who performed the Demon Eye began a detailed investigation of the house inside and out. Before they knew it, their heads were spinning.

This kind of tracked energy was not in varied forms. In the vision of the Demon Eye, it was actually a kind of gaseous form, and most people's energy characteristics were not very different unless they were of a different species.

If there was a path to follow, it would be easy to lock onto the characteristics for tracking.

But there was no consistent energy pattern on site; in such a small area, the mingling of people coming and going had already blended together, and no one could discern whose was whose.

Inside was chaotic, and the energy outside was even more entwined and confused, leaving the Demon Eye dazzled.

What to do? Just have to admit defeat.

After hearing the two men's report, the elder hesitated and said, "The energy inside the house, can't it be compared and eliminated against the people outside?"

A cloaked figure said, "Right Saint, it's already mixed. If when the incident happened, those present hadn't mingled inside, and let us come to check first, it would have been easy to lock onto the characteristics."

The elder looked at him sideways, thinking, isn't this obvious? Discover something abnormal, of course, you search; without searching, who knows what happened.

The other cloaked person chimed in, "Now it's no different than asking us to retrieve water stirred into porridge, truly impossible. However, there's something I don't know if I should say."

The elder said, "Your opinions are important, say it without hesitation."

The cloaked person pondered, "There's another way to compare. If the perpetrator is no longer here, having already left the scene, we can compare against those present, perhaps finding out who left within the relative time frame. Of course, this doesn't prove the one who left is the perpetrator."

The first cloaked person added, "If we are to compare, it must be done quickly. If too much time passes, the energy fades, and it's impossible to compare."

The elder's gaze flickered as he said, "So if, other than the energies present, no other departure is detected, the perpetrator is still on-site, hidden among these people?"

Neither cloaked person responded; they didn't want to speak about internal traitors. Anyway, it was evident, wasn't it? If not an insider, who could infiltrate here? The Royal Court is guarded by extraordinary formations; even masters who could shatter the void couldn't ignore the formations' presence.

The elder thought for a moment and decisively said, "Then follow your idea of comparison, investigate!"

In a forest within the East Victory Royal City, Shi Chun had already emerged from the interdimensional passage. Seeing the distant silhouette of the Heavenly Court in the sky, he breathed a sigh of relief, then turned back to call out Wu Jinliang.

Wu Jinliang, referencing the landmarks of the Royal City, roughly gauged his position and also breathed a sigh of relief, saying, "We shouldn't be too far from home. See that lake? Over a few mountains, we should be home. Thankfully, we don't have to test those Soul Capturing Bags of the Royal Court again. Seems the one sent to Shen Moming wasn't discovered."

Shi Chun sneered, "If the one sent to Young Master Nan could be discovered, it's strange if the one to Shen Moming wasn't, unless Young Master Nan betrayed us."

Wu Jinliang thought it over and agreed.

Shi Chun said, "We can't stay in the Royal City for long, change our looks, disguise ourselves, and leave directly through the Xun Gate."

"Alas," Wu Jinliang sighed. The two had initially wanted to return openly, sit at home a bit, get intimate with Duan Xiangmei, meet up with Young Master Nan to see if there were any new oirans. Who knew they'd get mixed up in the Royal Court's affair.

After disguising themselves, they left the mountain, caught a ride separately, and didn't dare to sit in the same car. Acting separately, they staggered their arrivals at the Xun Gate hub of the Royal City.

After observing from the shadows and seeing no anomalies around Xun Gate, they successively paid the toll, separating as they arrived in Julu State.

The reason for acting separately was also because Wu Jinliang's height was quite conspicuous.

And the reason for coming to Northern Continent was because the Refining Heaven Sect was within the Northern territories, and Dong Liangyi's apprenticeship was something the two still had to pursue according to the original plan.

Just that now, with a change in plans, they didn't dare to approach the mountain blatantly.

The reasoning was simple; if the secret sent to Young Master Nan could be discovered, perhaps everyone associated with Shi Chun was being monitored, after all, there weren't many associated with him.

After appearing directly in Beijulu Royal City through Xun Gate, without pausing to appreciate the city's splendor, the two turned Xun Gate again, arriving at Yan State, the location of the Sect headquarters of Refining Heaven Sect.

The two emerged from Xun Gate and found a corner. Shi Chun took out the Mother-child Talisman, sending messages to Situ Gu while muttering, "Don't worry about Situ Gu's Mother-child Talisman falling into others' hands; there aren't many who dare mess with that old guy."

Wu Jinliang teased, "You're about to meet Zhener who goes chomp chomp on you; are you quite happy?"

Shi Chun sneered, "You think I'm like you? I haven't planned to meet her; if I do, I fear I can't escape. Just meeting Situ Gu will do."

"Hey," Wu Jinliang said, rubbing his chin, "She's quite pretty, clinging to you rather than me; it's really strange…"

The two waited and waited, but still didn't receive a reply from Situ Gu, which they found odd. If the Mother-child Talisman fell into someone else's hands, it wouldn't necessarily be a lack of response—it might be that Situ Gu was busy and didn't notice it.

Thus, Shi Chun sent a message every once in a while.

Yet, there was no response.

Wu Jinliang expressed skepticism, "Chun Tian, could it be that your level is too low, and they just threw away your Mother-child Talisman?"

Shi Chun hesitated, "Perhaps he's not in Yan State. Let's go and check the situation at Refining Heaven Sect."

The two then sought out the Xun Gate for another transition.

Refining Heaven Sect is different from ordinary sects; right at the foot of the sect's mountain, there is a direct Xun Gate, leading straight into Refining Heaven City controlled by Refining Heaven Sect.

With the backing of the Cultivation World's top Artifact Refining Sect, the city's prosperity goes without saying.

Wu Jinliang, looking around, suddenly remarked, "I wonder what Wukang Mountain has turned into now."

This reminder caused Shi Chun to recall that over at Wukang Mountain, he had personally helped earn that Xun Gate, which should have been completed long ago. They hadn't returned to witness it yet.

The terrain of Refining Heaven Sect is unlike other famed mountains and rivers that soar high; it's relatively low, so one can't see the sect's location when inside the city.

After inquiring, the two took a boat out of the city.

This area is rich in waterways; there's a waterway within the city that allows tourists to view the sights both inside and outside. The outskirts of Refining Heaven Sect also permit tourists to look around.

Clear water with grasses, the scenery makes one feel within a painting. The boatman, with a snake-like body following human form, sat at the stern and propelled the boat with his tail, controlled by the passengers, while conversing with the tourists.

Shi Chun and his companion intended to chat and gather information about Refining Heaven Sect, but before they started themselves, the boatman swaying his black tail in the water unexpectedly spoke first: "You may not know, but the Heavenly Palace is to be renovated. Word from Refining Heaven Sect has spread that the Heavenly Palace is to be renovated, inviting experts from the Artifact Refining World's Ten Great Sects for a banquet to collectively discuss renovation plans. It seems the higher-ups of Refining Heaven Sect have mostly gone."

Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang exchanged glances, and the latter asked, "Did the world's top artifact refiner go?"

The boatman replied with a laugh, "How could we know such specifics? But for such a major event as renovating the Heavenly Palace, he might have no choice but to go, right?"

Wu Jinliang said, "Renovating the Heavenly Palace is a big deal; if he went, it might not be easy to return?"

The boatman replied, "The renovation hasn't started yet; they say they're only starting to discuss it. Who knows the specifics when small figures like us can't know such things? It's almost dusk now, would you prefer to retire to a place inside the city, or stay at an inn on the island outside?"

Wu Jinliang didn't decide himself and turned to Shi Chun.

Shi Chun observed the scenery of Refining Heaven Sect to the side, "Let's find an inn on the island to view the nightscape; we don't like noise, lead us to a secluded inn."

In actuality, it was to avoid exposure, preferring not to stay in a place with prying eyes.

After the delivery to Young Master Nan was exposed, fearing someone from Situ Gu's side might also be watching.

"Alright, I know a secluded inn with rather good conditions," the boatman promptly replied, swaying his tail more vigorously in the water.

The boat sped along, cutting through the waves, noticeably accelerating.

After traversing through intertwined waterways, they arrived at a water island graced with flower fields, docking near the pier as the island's tranquil inn slowly emitted curling cooking smoke under the sunset.

Everything was quiet.

The boatman disembarked, revealing bare human feet as he led the way. Before entering the inn, he called aloud, "Old Jin, brought guests for you; come and receive them."

The inn's signboard displayed the characters "Qingbo."

As the group of three reached the entrance, the inn's shopkeeper emerged, a middle-aged man.

Upon seeing the visitors, the shopkeeper smiled ruefully, greeting them with clasped hands and apologizing, "Old Hei, today's unlucky; our little place is full."

He sidled aside, extending his hand to indicate the interior, allowing them to see for themselves.

The hall was indeed filled with various guests.

The boatman was taken aback, having sought out a secluded place, yet finding it fully occupied—what an unusual situation.

Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang instinctively exchanged glances, both sensing something amiss. It wasn't the matter of the inn being full—their unfamiliarity with the place meant they didn't know if it's usually crowded—but rather whether this full inn was just too quiet?

Shi Chun immediately activated his right eye superpower to observe the situation in the inn. Once he caught sight of the group of guests inside, he couldn't help his eyelids from twitching. He unexpectedly discovered several guests possessing Demon Essence.

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