Chapter 3882: Accused Without Investigation

The question lingered as everything about Taegong’s behavior suggested unusual confidence. He openly argued with a High Elder, then imprisoned the same Elder using treasury formations. He acted as though there would be little consequence afterward.

Confidence like that rarely came without support.

Lin Mu continued quietly analyzing.

Taegong barely seemed to leave the treasury. His complete familiarity with the formation arrays made that much obvious. Every seal, barrier and restriction were activated instinctively. Almost as though they were extensions of his own body.

The treasury itself answered his commands without hesitation.

Lin Mu glanced toward the surrounding walls. The formations hidden inside them were terrifying. He had already sensed their complexity earlier. After witnessing them restrain High Elder Shatter Peak, he appreciated them even more.

’With the treasury operating at full strength...’ Lin Mu estimated their capabilities. ’Restraining a Peak Immortal would probably be possible.’

Perhaps they could not permanently imprison someone of that level. But Holding them temporarily? That seemed entirely achievable.

It explained Taegong’s confidence as within the treasury the formations fought beside him.

Lin Mu understood that much. Even so, something still felt strange.

’If he can control the formations this completely...’ He frowned. ’Why attack me?’

The answer should have been obvious. The moment Taegong identified an unauthorized individual inside the treasury he could simply activate the restraining arrays. He could question the suspect afterward and investigate calmly.

That would have been efficient and reasonable. A perfectly acceptable situation that even Lin Mu would not have objected to. Instead, Taegong attacked first and that too repeatedly. He only resorted to the treasury formations much later.

The sequence itself seemed odd, almost impulsive.

’Or...’ Lin Mu considered another possibility. ’Perhaps those arrays are reserved for confirmed suspects.’

That explanation failed to satisfy him as the man’s willingness to escalate toward lethal force still appeared excessive.

The thoughts continued flowing.

’Maybe...’ Lin Mu suddenly remembered something from a sect he had learned about many years ago. That sect had possessed special elders entirely separate from every cultivation division who belonged directly to the central authority.

Their sole purpose involved guarding important resources like Treasuries, Scripture repositories, Restricted prisons and Secret inheritances. They answered only to the highest governing body.

Even Peak Masters possessed limited authority over them.

’Some sects maintain guardian elder councils.’ Lin Mu quietly recalled. ’Could Taegong belong to something similar?’

The more he considered it... The more plausible the idea became.

The Heavenly Stream Guardian Sect possessed countless divisions spread across multiple continents. The amount of accumulated wealth alone would be unimaginable. Managing hundreds or perhaps thousands of vaults required dedicated personnel.

Allowing every Peak to independently oversee enormous treasuries would create endless complications.

A centralized system sounded much more practical.

’If that’s true...’ Lin Mu finally understood why High Elder Shatter Peak and Taegong seemed to stand on relatively equal footing.

Their responsibilities originated from different branches of authority and neither truly commanded the other. Unfortunately that remained speculation as Lin Mu simply lacked enough information.

Even Lady Kang’s intelligence had never mentioned such an organization.

’Then again...’ He immediately understood why.

Organizations responsible for guarding sect treasuries rarely advertised themselves and even members within the sect often knew little about them. Secrecy formed part of their purpose.

The illusionary chains continued dragging Lin Mu deeper beneath the mountain.

Eventually the treasury gave way to another passage. This corridor lacked the refined appearance of the storage areas as the walls became rougher, the atmosphere colder and the formation arrays grew even denser.

Several heavy stone doors appeared one after another and each contained layers upon layers of sealing formations.

’Prison.’ Lin Mu immediately recognized the purpose.

About ten minutes later Taegong finally stopped as a thick stone cell stood before them. The bars appeared metallic, though countless formation runes covered every inch of their surface.

Several independent sealing arrays overlapped one another while the surrounding walls contained even more restrictions. This place clearly existed to imprison cultivators.

Taegong casually waved one hand.

CLANG

The cell door opened and the illusionary chains immediately yanked Little Bull forward.

THUD

Then without ceremony, Taegong flung him inside.

Little Bull stumbled several steps before regaining his balance. The door immediately closed behind him while runes illuminated the entire cell and the illusionary chains dissolved. Taegong looked at Little Bull through the reinforced barrier.

His expression remained cold. "I’ll soon discover exactly how many crimes rest upon your head."

Little Bull blinked. "Crimes?"

Taegong ignored the question but Lin Mu quietly frowned inwardly. ’He’s moving rather quickly.’

The statement bothered him. Taegong had not said he would investigate whether Little Bull committed crimes. He had spoken as though guilt already existed. The only remaining task involved counting the offenses.

’He’s already decided the outcome.’ Lin Mu found that difficult to reconcile with the ideals of a righteous sect.

Every sect possessed flaws. He understood that better than most. Still, presuming guilt before conducting any investigation remained unusual. Especially after High Elder Shatter Peak personally vouched for him.

Taegong turned around and his footsteps gradually faded into the corridor. Several moments later silence returned as Lin Mu remained standing within the prison cell. He slowly examined his surroundings.

The room itself measured only a few meters across. There was no furniture, bed or table. There was nothing except smooth stone. The neighboring cells stood empty and one door after another remained sealed.

No voices echoed through the prison and no prisoners stirred. The entire area appeared abandoned. Lin Mu quietly extended a strand of Immortal Sense.

SHUA

The result came immediately as his perception struck an invisible boundary. The prison cell completely contained it and no matter which direction he attempted, the same result occurred.

His Immortal Sense simply refused to pass beyond the walls.

Lin Mu nodded slowly. ’It certainly deserves to be called a prison.’

The formations impressed him.

Against ordinary Immortals escape would be nearly impossible. The arrays’ isolated perception, restricted movement, sealed cultivation and even communication likely remained impossible.

Lin Mu calmly walked toward the cell door and stopped directly before the barrier before his hand rested against the invisible formation.

He quietly smiled.

’Unfortunately...’ He lowered his voice. ’It isn’t enough to stop me.’

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