"He is innocent."
The gentle and ethereal voice echoed among the mountains and forests, and anyone could hear the confidence behind these words.
The forest was completely silent. The man in white clothes and black hair seemed to be unaware. "Fellow Daoist, why don't you take a look at the corpse that just spontaneously combusted? Only ghost cultivators can activate the Yellow Springs Karma Fire. As for the method of identifying ghost cultivators, your sect must be familiar with it."
If it were anyone else, the law enforcement elder would probably just sneer twice, wave his hand mercilessly, and signal the disciples to take Zong Ci back without showing any mercy.
You know, the Law Enforcement Hall is an organization directly under the head and the elders. Normally, individual elders do not have the power to directly inquire about the affairs of the Law Enforcement Hall. Especially in the current situation where the problem has been solved and basic evidence has been destroyed or incomplete, there is absolutely no reason to release the person.
But... ... the one speaking now is the leader of the Tianji Sect!
There is no need to elaborate on this mysterious organization which holds a transcendent status in the world of cultivation.
To be honest, the world of cultivation still respects strength. For example, the peak masters of the Mahayana and Tribulation Stages are no longer bound by any rules, let alone an organization as powerful and unfathomable as the Tianji Sect.
The Taiyan Sect had issued an order long ago that no matter what, since the Tianji Sect Leader had chosen to stay at the Taiyan Sect this time, they must not become enemies with him. If they could go along with the other party, they must go along with him and establish a good relationship with him at all costs.
After receiving the hint from the law enforcement elder, the disciples standing behind him hurriedly stepped forward again and crushed a few talismans in the air.
The few ghost fires that floated out from the talisman fell on the surface of the corpse on the ground, and some scattered sparks fell on the surrounding trees that were infected by ghost energy, and not a single spark fell on the black-clothed disciple standing in the middle of the open space.
This also proves that what the leader of Tianji Sect said is true.
In fact, all the law enforcement elders were aware of this, but they did not verify it on the spot. First, they were afraid that this outer disciple, although not a ghost cultivator, might be a spy planted by the ghost cultivator; second, they were afraid that if such a big thing happened, they would not be able to give an explanation to the sect.
But since the leader of the Tianji Sect has come out to testify, there is naturally no basis for this accusation.
"This... the master is very observant, knows everything, has insight into the secrets of heaven, and is impartial and selfless."
Facing a powerful person at the peak of the Tribulation Crossing Stage, the Law Enforcement Elder stuttered, "Since, since Your Excellency has said so, it must be a misunderstanding."
"Um."
Qian Yuexi nodded slightly and no longer paid attention to the people from the Law Enforcement Hall. Instead, he turned around, got out of the wheelchair, and turned back to the young man standing in the open space.
He seemed to be nonchalant, and even his tone was the same as usual, but the five fingers tucked under his wide sleeves couldn't help but curl up nervously.
"Since we are all going back to the main peak, why don't you join me?"
Zong Ci did not pay too much attention to this sentence. He was still thinking about why Qian Yuexi suddenly appeared. He even began to think divergently, wondering if it was because Ling Chou sacrificed Liu Yuan and released countless ghost auras, which attracted the leader of Tianji Sect.
Everyone knows that the Tianji Sect never interferes with the secular world at will. But if they do, it means something big is bound to happen. For example, this time when the leader of the Tianji Sect came out to preach, the whole cultivation world was full of different opinions and all kinds of speculations.
After all, the timing of Tianji Sect's entry into the world was too coincidental. The cultivation world had been stagnant for so many years, and it was only when the Lord of the Ghost Realm attacked the demon clan half a year ago that a wave of disturbances was set off. No one would believe that Tianji Sect did not come here to start a war.
... ... Another possibility is that he came here especially for him.
But this guess was too absurd, so absurd that Zong Ci didn't even think about it and just passed it over hastily. Because no matter in this life or in the previous life, he was not familiar with this sect leader, and even when they met, it was only a one-time encounter.
Because he was distracted, Zong Ci only realized something was wrong when everyone present turned their eyes to him.
In order to cover it up, he quickly lowered his head, covered his mouth and nose with his sleeves, coughed twice, and whispered back: "Okay."
The young man took two steps forward, then turned back as if remembering something, and bowed to the elders of the Law Enforcement Hall, "I am the inner sect disciple Zong Ci. If you have any questions after you go back and check, you can always come to the sect to find me."
The law enforcement elder said awkwardly: "We naturally trust the decision of the sect master."
The Tianji Sect’s divination is unique in the world, and the Tianji Sect all say that they are not guilty. Who dares to say that it is wrong
Seeing the usually arrogant Law Enforcement Hall being so humble and submissive, Zong Ci suddenly felt like laughing.
Originally, when he saw the torn fragments of space, Zong Ci thought that Qingxuzi had sensed Ling Chou's approaching aura. This would not only put his identity in danger of being exposed, but would also cause a lot of unnecessary trouble.
Unexpectedly, the person who came was the leader of Tianji Sect.
But no matter why the leader of Tianji Sect came, Zong Ci had to thank him for helping him out, otherwise, with his temper, he would probably hold his breath and refuse to show the main peak disciple card, and would go to the Law Enforcement Hall.
Thinking of this, Zong Ci turned his head away.
The leader of the Tianji Sect was still sitting in the wheelchair, looking good from head to toe, as if he had merged into the moonlight and fireflies behind him.
Although his eyes were still closed, for some reason, Zong Ci always felt that his consciousness had never left him.
The young man was stunned for a moment, and almost in panic he dispersed the ridiculous thought that had resurfaced in his mind. He smiled at the man and walked over quickly.
The tightly clenched palms of his hands suddenly loosened at his cuffs, revealing a sense of awkwardness that was unknown to others.
It was as if I was dazzled by the smile that was as white as the snow-white pear blossoms in Shengyiting.
####
Tonight is destined to be a sleepless night.
A big event also happened in the demon clan's Chixiao Palace.
As the night deepened, fewer people were seen moving around in and around the palace.
The demon race does not follow the ways of the mortal world. Those who can become the Demon King must have strength of the spiritual realm or above. There is no need to send out royal guards to garrison in the palace like the emperors of the mortal world. Once the spiritual sense covers the palace, it is more effective than anything else.
From the first half of the night to the second half of the night, a light suddenly lit up deep in the palace.
This lamp was lit by the chief demon servant. The demons had strong night vision and there was no need to light lamps. However, this lamp was shaking all the way from the deep palace to the back hall.
"What is it?"
Rong Lian, who was reviewing memorials, did not even raise his head. The candlelight danced on his eyelids, which was more thrilling than the fire of the mermaid lamp.
"Reply...Reply to Your Majesty."
The butler was dragging a bloodstained servant behind him, kneeling on the steps and shaking like a sieve. "The Demon Tower... The Underground Demon Tower has been lost!"
“Bang—”
The desk, which had been standing there just a moment ago, was suddenly overturned, and the inkstone on top of it, mixed with ink, rolled down, leaving difficult-to-clean mottled marks on several memorials.
Rong Lian's face was terribly gloomy, and the red on his body was brighter than a candle, as if it was about to burn on the spot, which made his eyes even more vicious. A nine-tailed phantom suddenly appeared behind him, rolling inch by inch, covering the sky and the sun.
The demon servant was shocked and frightened, and quietly raised his eyes to look, only to see that the man in the hall had complicated demon patterns on his face and forehead, and his pupils had turned into cold dark gold vertical pupils, and he was already in a half-demon state.
Few people know that a thousand years ago, the demon race was not as weak as it is now. At that time, the demon race was able to fight even against the righteous.
However, after the previous emperor met with an accident, the princes of the four great families and the various princes began to compete for the position of the Demon King. In the end, Rong Lian, the prince of the Qingqiu clan, ascended to the throne. The former ministers who were once powerful and prestigious in the world of cultivation were all imprisoned in the underground demon tower.
No one knows why Rong Lian wants to send this core force of the demon clan into the Demon Tower, but the demon clan’s concept of respecting the strong is more rigid than that of the cultivation world. They know better than anyone else the principle that the winner is the king and the loser is the bandit.
Now, not far away, the blockade of the underground demon tower was about to be broken. Thousands of ferocious beasts that had transformed into their original forms were ramming the stone door engraved with seals. They would surely break out of their cages soon to settle accounts with Rong Lian, the culprit who had imprisoned them.
The worst thing is that the Soul-Locking Lamp is not in the demon clan.
The underground demon tower can only be opened with the Soul-Locking Lamp. Now that the Soul-Locking Lamp has been taken away, Rong Lian can no longer suppress them.
But unless someone tampered with the Soul-Locking Lamp, otherwise... ... there would never be such a mistake as the seal of the Underground Demon Tower loosening.
However, only the Demon Kings of all generations know the exact method of using the Soul-Locking Lamp. Even if the holy object is abducted, how can the Lord of the Ghost Realm use it
"Walk."
Rong Lian waved his long sleeves and his voice was as cold as ice.
####
On the other side, after experiencing a major event, Zong Ci finally returned to Taiyan Sect in the late night.
The mountains of Taiyan Sect were still hidden in the shadows of the night, and only sparse shadows of trees could be seen.
There was no moon tonight, and even no stars. The sky and the earth were as dark as the beginning of the universe. Faintly, one could hear the howling of birds and beasts in the woods.
The young man in black stepped out from the other side of the space crack and watched the elders and disciples of the Law Enforcement Hall leave one after another. Only two people were left on the main peak again.
At this time, Zong Ci realized that Qian Yuexi was alone. Without the children who would respectfully wait by his side when he traveled in the past, he was not even wearing his usual snow-white crane cloak. Instead, he looked like he had just hastily pulled on an inner garment, but it did not diminish his elegance in the slightest.
Zong Ci said very little, no, it should be that he had never met such a person who could only be described as "bright and clear". He did not have the innate arrogance of the strong. On the surface, he was cold and distant, but in his heart he was elegant and gentle.
Even Zong Ci himself, who practiced the ruthless way in his previous life and became an immortal, did not have such a magnanimous demeanor.
It is no wonder that when they first met, Zong Ci thought Qian Yuexi was an immortal.
Such people were born to be high in the sky and should not come down to this earthly world.
"Thank you for your help tonight." He came back to his senses from his trance and bowed.
Qian Yuexi paused for a moment and said, "You're welcome. It's just a piece of cake."
The two exchanged a few more pleasantries, and Zong Ci looked up at the dark night and said, "Master, you are too polite. If there is nothing else, I will go back first."
The moment he turned his head, he caught a glimpse of the man's slender jade-like hand resting on the wooden wheel, and suddenly remembered the prescription from a few days ago.
Things were urgent. Although he had found all the herbs for the prescription Qian Yuexi gave him last time, he had not had time to find someone to grind them.
Looking at the young man's back as he turned around so quickly, Qian Yuexi's long eyelashes trembled slightly without being noticed.
He already knew who the person in front of him was.
At the third level of Qi Refining Stage, with such a weak body, over a thousand years, no one knows what happened in the past. But it is clear that it will not be a good life.
For a moment, Qian Yuexi wanted to chase after him, wanted to make the boy turn around, wanted to say a lot of things, but when the words came to her lips, she didn't know how to start.
Qian Yuexi knew the fate of Lingyun Sword Master since his birth, and knew about the death calamity that fell quietly on the hexagram plate, but he could not change anything.
From the moment he took over as the leader of Tianji Sect, he knew better than anyone that he could only be an observer, not the controller of destiny.
When Ling Yun died, he couldn't intervene. When Ling Yun was misunderstood by the world, he couldn't say anything. Now that Ling Yun has reincarnated, he has nothing to say.
Why don't the Tianji Sect easily enter the world? Because their every move can affect fate.
Qian Yuexi's understanding of this sentence could not be deeper.
He was the one who personally delivered the Heavenly Question Sword, the most precious treasure of destiny. In the final analysis, if one must trace the root of the problem, he was the culprit that caused Ling Yun's death.
He was the one who caused everything.
To Qian Yuexi, Ling Yun is the person who has traveled thousands of miles, overcome many hardships over the years, and is someone he never forgets and someone who is difficult to resonate with.
Qian Yuexi was just a complete stranger to Lingyun.
What can he say, what should he say, how should he say it
It is said that they have known each other for a long time, and have been silently calculating and observing on the Tianshan Mountains, observing everything that has already been written on the horoscope
He said that he had been waiting for a thousand years, bringing a piece of clothing to Dragon Bone Abyss every year during the Cold Clothes Festival, and lighting a soul-soothing lamp every year during the Lantern Festival
He still couldn't do anything, he still couldn't say anything.
For Qian Yuexi, as long as Ling Yun is still alive, as long as he is alive, his soul will not be scattered, and he will not be reincarnated forever.
This was the best news he had known in thousands of years, no, in this lifetime.
Just being alive is enough.
When Qian Yuexi frowned slightly, Zong Ci suddenly turned around, his brows relaxed, and he smiled faintly again.
"Come to think of it, I just said goodbye to the Sect Master yesterday, but I didn't expect to meet him again today. Maybe this is fate."
The Tianji Sect leader's fingers tightened again.
Such an action was already intense enough for Qian Yuexi's usually calm state of mind.
After a long while, he finally said, "... Perhaps I will have to trouble you for a while longer."
They were quite far away, so Zong Ci didn't notice that anything was wrong with him.
For some reason, after hearing these words, he felt inexplicably excited.
"In a few days it will be the Lantern Festival. Being neighbors with the famous Tianji Sect Master, lighting lanterns at that time will bring more blessings."
This is how the cultivation world views Tianji Sect: a walking lucky star.
Many small sects will also set up special temples of Tianji for worship, which can also demonstrate their far-reaching influence on the entire cultivation world.
Zong Ci said this in a joking way. Lantern Festival is a festival that requires the lighting of lanterns. It is all about fate. Who would dare to take advantage of the good fortune of the Tianji Sect Master
After he finished speaking, Zong Ci finally realized what extraordinary thing he had just said.
He was about to open his mouth to explain when he suddenly heard a word coming from afar in the silent night sky.
"good."