Spiritual energy converged from all directions, eventually pouring into a porcelain bowl on the ground.
This spiritual energy, transformed from the golden bodies of the City God and the five spiritual officials, carried an extremely strong incense-burning wish power and the divinity nurtured by these deities for two to three hundred years.
Now, imbued with incense-burning wish power and divinity, it could no longer be considered ordinary spiritual energy. To cultivators, it was exceptionally precious, greatly beneficial to both mages and martial artists.
All the spiritual energy in the world had been completely absorbed by the porcelain bowl. It was so dense that it had formed a lake, with rays of light and mist rising from its rim.
Xu Lin, a blade-wielder of the Mingjian Division, squatted beside the bowl. After a brief assessment, he lifted it into his palm.
Though seemingly ordinary, the porcelain bowl weighed two to three hundred catties. If Xu Lin had not reached the mid-stage of the Muscular and Bone realm, he would not have been able to lift it from the ground.
After all, it contained the incense-burning wish power and vast spiritual energy accumulated by six deities over two to three centuries.
Xu Lin even had to use his own protective aura to hold the bowl steadily in his palm.
“Even without mentioning the spiritual energy within, or the incense-burning wish power and divinity, the porcelain bowl itself is already priceless,” Ji Yuan remarked, as he walked over leaning on someone for support, after glancing at the bowl.
Capable of collecting so much spiritual energy and withstanding hundreds of catties of weight without breaking, the porcelain bowl itself was already a mid-to-upper grade magic artifact. If converted to silver, it could be sold for at least thirty thousand taels.
Xu Lin remained noncommittal. After examining it several times, a hint of joy appeared in his eyes.
The blade-wielders of the Mingjian Division, while enjoying abundant resources, did not receive particularly high official salaries. To accumulate wealth, they relied on various unexpected windfalls.
For instance, seizing the possessions of defeated enemies during missions was the quickest way for them to build their fortune.
At this time, the Mingjian Division and the Great Yu Dynasty did not interfere, allowing the blade-wielders to claim the enemies’ assets, as long as they did not go too far, such as preying on the populace or extorting the common people.
In fact, even if a blade-wielder managed to extort money from an immortal sect, the court would consider it a personal achievement, neither intervening nor forcing them to return the ill-gotten gains upon receiving complaints.
“Share for those who see?”
Glancing at the young Daoist beside him, Xu Lin pondered for a moment before asking with a hint of reluctance.
If it were anyone else, he would never have uttered such a sentence. However, the aura emanating from the other party in that instant had sent a shiver down his spine, making him feel as if a single mistake could lead to eternal damnation.
Thus, even though Xu Lin felt a pang of stinginess, he didn't mind asking. Perhaps, he could forge a connection.
The blade-wielders of the Great Yu Mingjian Division, though their title sounded imposing, could almost walk unhindered within the borders of their own dynasty, let alone in the martial and cultivation world of other nations.
Not only were they powerful in combat, but their backing was even more formidable.
However, even as blade-wielders, they needed to cultivate their network of connections. Otherwise, during missions, they might encounter sabotage from adversaries.
Furthermore, blade-wielders inherently faced numerous dangers, often venturing into perilous places. Having an extra friend was always beneficial and never a bad thing; it might even save one’s life at a critical juncture.
Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan’s eyes lit up. What was merely a polite offer from Xu Lin, he took seriously. He quickly nodded and repeatedly said, "Good."
His greedy expression gave Xu Lin a headache, and he slightly regretted speaking.
He shouldn't have asked that question!
“After this matter is concluded, I shall find time to visit the county town and then seek my friend for a share of the spoils, and perhaps some tea,” Ji Yuan said with a grin, showing no reserve.
However, upon hearing the implication in his words, Xu Lin chuckled heartily, implicitly agreeing.
How could this person not understand that Ji Yuan’s words meant he wanted to be friends? And he didn't mind having one more friend who could pose a threat to him.
“We can discuss the division of spoils later. You will definitely get your share.”
Xu Lin chuckled a few times, then composed himself and said, “Let’s first resolve the calamity here.”
As he spoke, he turned to look at the seven-story demonic pagoda in the distance. Most of this magic artifact was already buried by the ruins, with only a small portion exposed to the air.
But neither Xu Lin, nor Ji Yuan, Song He, or Zhao Yuansong made any move to claim this invaluable magic artifact.
It wasn't that its value was not enticing, but rather that this magic artifact was a possession with an owner.
And the owner of the seven-story demonic pagoda was likely the culprit behind the calamity in Qianyu City, the one orchestrating events from the shadows.
“There are no suspicious presences nearby.”
At this moment, Zhao Yuansong and the others had approached, relaying their findings.
As for Huixin, Xu Liuqing, and the others, they were being attended to by members of the Three Blades Society, resting in a corner against the ruins of civilian houses.
“Hmph, once we’ve uprooted the five array eyes in the city one by one, I refuse to believe he can remain calm!”
Xu Lin said with a cold smile, not believing that the other party could possess such composure as to watch his grand scheme crumble.
Once the city-wide sealing formation was broken, the Great Yu Dynasty would sense it and dispatch the nearest experts via secret methods.
Typically, those responding to such a summons would have a cultivation of at least the third realm, and it was even possible that a powerful cultivator capable of overseeing an entire region might arrive.
By then, no matter how extraordinary the hidden schemer’s methods, they would absolutely be unable to escape the pursuit of the imperial court’s experts.
“Do you understand formations?”
However, upon hearing his plan, Ji Yuan looked over curiously.
In an instant, Xu Lin’s face flushed slightly, and he somewhat unnaturally shifted his gaze elsewhere, pretending not to have heard the question.
Ji Yuan was unfazed. He had already anticipated this. After all, even Song He, who was skilled in formations, was helpless against this sealing formation.
It was worth noting that Song He was renowned for his expertise in formations and various obscure arts over three hundred years ago in Qianyu City.
And at that time, Qianyu City could be considered the center of Luoxia County, not only surpassing the county seat but also capturing most of the Great Yu Dynasty’s attention.
“Then, how do you think we should flush that person out?”
Seeing Ji Yuan looking at him with a half-smile, Xu Lin snorted twice and retorted.
Upon hearing this, the smile on Ji Yuan’s face suddenly vanished, replaced by a complex expression, with various emotions flickering in his eyes.
After a long moment, Ji Yuan finally sighed, “Actually, we don't need to search. We just need to wait here, and that person will reveal themselves.”
As everyone looked at him, bewildered by his words, they saw him looking with a complex expression at Su Hongzhu, who stood at the edge of the crowd.
The woman, whose true form was a Scarlet Skeleton, seemed to be affected by the surge of immense memories. Her brows were furrowed, her allure somewhat diminished, replaced by a hint of pure serenity.
Su Hongzhu, suddenly seeing everyone looking at her, was taken aback. She inadvertently glanced in a certain direction, but her movement was subtle enough that no one noticed.
“Why are you all looking at me? Do you intend to have some fun before the great enemy is defeated?”
A moment later, Su Hongzhu smiled gently, seemingly having regained the innate seductiveness of a Scarlet Skeleton and the grace of a top courtesan from the Hundred Flower Tower.
With just a smile, it was as if a hundred flowers bloomed, conjuring images of romance and beauty in everyone's minds.
Ji Yuan, uncharacteristically, did not scold her. He merely knitted his brows tighter.
He thought for a moment, then tentatively asked, “Su Hongzhu, in what year were you born?”
This question not only startled Su Hongzhu but also the people around them, who did not understand why he would ask this.
After pondering for a long time, she replied with a hint of dejection, “Born in the 473rd year of the Great Yu Tianwu calendar.”
“And in what year did you pass away?”
“Died of melancholy in the 494th year of the Tianwu calendar.”
This exchange of questions and answers lasted only a moment, after which both fell into silence.
According to Su Hongzhu, the woman had lived only twenty-one years before her death. She eventually became a Scarlet Skeleton after a long time in a mass grave.
The 494th year of the Tianwu calendar was exactly three hundred years ago. It was now the 794th year of the Tianwu calendar, with autumn just beginning to turn.
“You don't possibly suspect that the person orchestrating this scheme from the shadows three hundred years ago, and that Su Hongzhu was merely a pawn in his hands?” Zhao Yuansong frowned, finding this somewhat beyond reason.
Even a third-realm cultivator’s lifespan was barely three hundred years. Subtracting the years spent on cultivation, even for someone with exceptional talent, living an additional two hundred years would be considered extremely difficult.
It was impossible for the hidden schemer to be a Golden Core stage cultivator, wasn’t it?
If that were the case, why would they go through such trouble? After sealing Qianyu City, they could have simply acted to eliminate all changes.
However, he suddenly remembered something Song He had said earlier, and fell into deep thought.
“If she were just a pawn, then it would indeed be beyond reason. But what if Su Hongzhu is not a pawn?”
Ji Yuan’s expression was somewhat bitter, “What if everything that is happening now, all these schemes, are for her alone?”
Before his words had even fully registered, they struck everyone’s hearts like a massive stone, causing intense ripples that refused to subside for a long time.
The group exchanged glances, finding it difficult to accept such a hypothesis in a short period, as it far exceeded their initial imaginations.
“You mean that if we kill this ghastly creature, the person orchestrating this will reveal themselves from the shadows?”
Xu Lin’s gaze, directed at Su Hongzhu, was filled with a hint of eagerness, his hand already resting on the hilt of his saber.
As a martial artist in the mid-stage of the Muscular and Bone realm, he could naturally see through Su Hongzhu’s illusion and discern her true nature. If not for the fact that she was standing with Ji Yuan, he would have already drawn his saber and executed the demon right here.
As his words were spoken, everyone’s gaze towards Su Hongzhu shifted. If killing this ghastly creature could lure out the hidden schemer, it was not an entirely unacceptable proposition.
Although they had fought side-by-side earlier, it was merely out of the necessity for survival and mutual benefit. Moreover, Su Hongzhu was inherently a ghoul, carrying a heavy burden of sin. Even killing her would not pose any problem.
However, Ji Yuan shook his head, “Whether she is killed or not makes little difference, because the person orchestrating this scheme has already revealed themselves.”
“Or rather, he has never been hidden and has always been in plain sight.”
“In fact, this person is standing among us.”
He sighed softly and turned around with a complex expression, his gaze finally falling upon a figure within the crowd.
The person, upon seeing this, wore a wry smile. Feeling the gazes of everyone, they did not deny it outright. After a moment of hesitation, they nodded generously, thus confirming everything Ji Yuan had previously stated.