Chapter 533: Yang Sixuan's Helplessness

Duan Rong and Yang Yi arrived at the mountain peak where the Ruling Sect Justice Division was located, chatting as they walked.

The two of them could be considered old acquaintances; they had started dealing with each other back when Duan Rong was still a Registered Disciple, and later, due to various matters, they were always bumping into each other.

To tell the truth, the two of them were quite compatible in temperament, and the walk over had been very pleasant.

Upon reaching a fork in the mountain path, Duan Rong's gaze shifted, and he asked, "Sigh, Brother Yang, are we not going to the Dungeon or the main hall for the interrogation? Where does this small path lead?"

Yang Yi made a turn at that fork, suddenly walking along a small path that seemed to lead into a mountain hollow.

Yang Yi smiled and said, "Department Head Yang lives in the bamboo building in that hollow; he wants to take your statement personally."

Duan Rong glanced at the shaded mountain hollow and said, "This mountain peak is so large, why did Department Head Yang choose such a cold and remote place to live?"

Yang Yi said, "The Department Head likes quiet."

Duan Rong followed Yang Yi along the small path and turned into the hollow.

In that hollow, there was indeed a patch of slender bamboo planted, along with quite a few pines and cypresses, and a two-story bamboo building stood there prominently, quite eye-catching.

Yang Yi led Duan Rong, stepping on the creaking wooden stairs, and arrived at the entrance of the bamboo building.

Yang Yi stood at the entrance, cupped his hands respectfully, and said, "Department Head, Duan Rong has been brought here."

Inside the room, Yang Sixuan, who was sitting in front of a small desk, raised his eyelids and said, "Let him in."

Yang Yi looked at Duan Rong and said, "Brother Duan, go in yourself."

Duan Rong nodded and slowly stepped into the bamboo house, while Yang Yi cupped his hands and took his leave.

Yang Sixuan was sitting in front of the desk, flipping through case files. After returning to the Ruling Sect Justice Division from Wuliang Cliff, he had re-summarized and reviewed the information on the Xiao Qiwu case, and all the suspicious points had once again converged on Duan Rong.

Yang Sixuan put down the newly bound case file in his hand, looked up at Duan Rong, and said, "Junior Nephew Duan, this Xiao Qiwu case is quite critical and concerns the whereabouts of our Sect's sacred object, the God-Striking Whip, so I must trouble you to make another trip!"

Duan Rong said, "Department Head Yang, there is no need for such formalities. If you have any questions, just ask; I will certainly tell you everything I know."

"That is good." Yang Sixuan smiled, gestured toward Duan Rong with his hand, and said, "Junior Nephew Duan, you may sit and talk; I may have quite a few questions."

"Very well." As Duan Rong spoke, he had already taken a seat on a chair not far from Yang Sixuan.

"Junior Nephew Duan, you stayed in Wanxiang Cave for a full five days. During these five days, did truly no one enter Wanxiang Cave?" As soon as Duan Rong sat down, Yang Sixuan asked point-blank.

Duan Rong said, "No one entered!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Sixuan stared at Duan Rong with flickering eyes, and after a while, he asked in a deep voice, "Is that so?"

Duan Rong smiled faintly and said, "Why? Does Department Head Yang have other clues indicating that someone entered Wanxiang Cave during the five days I was locked up?"

Yang Sixuan's expression remained unchanged, and he did not answer Duan Rong's question. A single piece of evidence was insufficient; the gray hair found inside the cave was not yet enough to serve as proof.

Seeing that Yang Sixuan had not spoken for a long time, Duan Rong suddenly said, "Department Head Yang, didn't you say you would have quite a few questions? It seems you have only asked me one question just now?"

As Duan Rong spoke, he looked at Yang Sixuan with an innocent smile, implying that if you don't ask again, I am going to leave.

Yang Sixuan said, "Of course! It is just that asking in this way, I feel I won't get anything out of it. Why don't we try a different method?"

"A different method?!" Duan Rong's heart tightened.

Just at this moment, ripples in space appeared faintly above Yang Sixuan's head, and almost simultaneously, the chair Yang Sixuan was sitting on flashed before Duan Rong's eyes like a ghost.

The moment Yang Sixuan appeared, his right hand pressed down directly onto the top of Duan Rong's head.

As Yang Sixuan's right hand pressed down on Duan Rong's head, a giant palm suddenly appeared above the Cangqiong within Duan Rong's Spirit Sea.

That palm, like a black cloud, pressed down toward the Clear Glass Body sitting cross-legged in the center of the Cangqiong...

Yang Sixuan looked at Duan Rong with an expressionless face.

He had used the Yin Cold Hand and the God-Illumination Seal on Duan Rong.

He knew that Duan Rong's identity was sensitive, but the various clues of the Xiao Qiwu case were all more or less related to Duan Rong; to unravel the mystery of this case, Duan Rong was clearly the breakthrough point.

The God-Illumination Seal would also cause slight damage to the Divine Soul, but it was much lighter than the God-Striking Whip. Duan Rong had taken three strikes of the God-Striking Whip without issue, so it was clear that this God-Illumination Seal would not truly harm him.

Yang Sixuan's expression suddenly twitched.

Inside the Spirit Sea, that black cloud-like palm was about to press onto the head of the Clear Glass Body, but the Clear Glass Body suddenly had five-colored light spots flickering all over its body.

That flashing, flowing light actually blocked the black cloud-like palm, preventing it from striking down.

And just at this juncture, three pitch-black shuttles suddenly spun, crossed, and shot toward the black cloud-like palm, then collided and exploded, blasting a large hole in the palm of that black cloud-like palm...

"Soul Piercing Needle!? Three of them!"

Yang Sixuan's expression was one of astonishment. "You have been a personal disciple for less than a year; how could you possibly condense a Soul Piercing Needle of this level?!"

Yang Sixuan was shocked, not just because Duan Rong had broken his God-Illumination Seal. The power exploded by the collision of those three Soul Piercing Needles was at least the tenth level or higher of the Womb Treasury Sutra!

This kid was only twenty-something years old; even if he had started practicing from his mother's womb, it would be impossible to achieve the tenth level or higher of the Womb Treasury Sutra. Furthermore, where did he get his cultivation technique?

"Where did you get the Womb Treasury Sutra technique?"

Duan Rong, however, sneered and stood up on his own amidst Yang Sixuan's astonished gaze.

"Department Head Yang, I only agreed to cooperate with your investigation of the Xiao Qiwu case. As for the matter of the Womb Treasury Sutra, I have nothing to say!"

After Duan Rong finished speaking, he was about to walk out of the bamboo house.

Yang Sixuan's face was a mix of uncertainty, and suddenly his gaze turned cold as he shouted, "Junior Nephew Duan, the Womb Treasury Sutra concerns the secrets of our Sect; if you do not explain this matter clearly, I am afraid you will find it difficult to walk out of my Ruling Sect Justice Division!"

In front of Duan Rong, an invisible ripple suddenly flickered like water and then vanished on its own.

Duan Rong's gaze shifted, and he stopped there; he knew he had been surrounded by a Space Wall.

Afterward, Yang Sixuan locked Duan Rong in the Dungeon of the Ruling Sect Justice Division. Then, he immediately went to pay a visit to the Sect Master, Chu Qiushan, regarding this matter.

Within the deep valley where the Sect Ancestor Lv Yinlin lived in seclusion.

Chu Wushang walked into the deep valley and went straight into Lv Yinlin's Cave Abode.

Lv Yinlin was flipping through an ancient book of chess endgame puzzles; upon hearing Chu Wushang's words, he suddenly knitted his brows and said, "Yang Sixuan used the God-Illumination Seal on Duan Rong?"

Chu Wushang said, "Yes."

Lv Yinlin asked, "When did this happen?"

Chu Wushang said, "Just a short while ago. It is said he asked Duan Rong to go to the Ruling Sect Justice Division to give a statement on the Xiao Qiwu case. In the bamboo building where Yang Sixuan lives in seclusion, he used the God-Illumination Seal on Duan Rong. But it was broken by Duan Rong using a Soul Piercing Needle."

A flash of anger crossed Lv Yinlin's face; he suddenly looked at Chu Wushang and instructed, "Chu Wushang, I am now giving you an order; listen well!"

Seeing that Lv Yinlin spoke with such gravity, Chu Wushang immediately cupped his hands and said, "This old servant accepts the order!"

Lv Yinlin said, "Take good care of Duan Rong for me; do not let anyone harm him."

Upon hearing this, Chu Wushang's expression froze slightly.

Lv Yinlin had always been indifferent to human sentiment, and for a moment, Chu Wushang did not understand why he cared so deeply for Duan Rong.

"If anything happens to him, you need not come to see me again," Lv Yinlin's voice rang out eerily.

Chu Wushang's heart gave a slight tug, and a cold glint flickered in his eyes. When the Ancestor said he need not come to see him, it meant he should end his own life.

Chu Wushang's voice trembled slightly as he said, "The Ancestor may rest assured!"

He was not afraid; he was shocked by the position Duan Rong held in the Ancestor's heart.

After finishing his words, Chu Wushang cupped his hands slightly and turned to leave the Cave Abode.

Regardless of why Lv Yinlin had asked him to protect Duan Rong, the expression and tone Lv Yinlin had just used were already imprinted in Chu Wushang's mind.

If he failed to protect Duan Rong, he would have to end his own life—this was absolutely no empty threat!

Yang Sixuan had just returned from Chu Qiushan's place when he saw a figure standing in front of his bamboo building.

Yang Sixuan's gaze shifted; no one in the Ruling Sect Justice Division dared to trespass here without reason, and this person was standing before his bamboo building with his hands behind his back.

Yang Sixuan transformed into a streak of black light, landed in front of the bamboo building, and asked coldly, "Who is it?"

The man stood with his hands behind his back in front of a bamboo grove, watching the bamboo shadows rustling in the breeze; he turned around upon hearing the voice.

Yang Sixuan's face showed shock. "Mr. Chu!?"

He truly had not expected that Chu Wushang would come directly to the Ruling Sect Justice Division.

Chu Wushang represented the Sect Ancestor Lv Yinlin, and Lv Yinlin had ignored the mundane affairs of the Sect for many years, rarely inquiring about the matters of the Ruling Sect Justice Division; even if there were issues, it was usually Chu Qiushan who went to report to Lv Yinlin.

This sudden visit from Chu Wushang could be called rare!

Chu Wushang looked at Yang Sixuan and asked, "Is Duan Rong locked in the Dungeon of the Ruling Sect Justice Division?"

Yang Sixuan's gaze tightened, and he said, "Yes!"

Chu Wushang said coldly, "Release him."

Yang Sixuan said, "This child is suspected of stealing the Womb Treasury Sutra, the supreme technique of our sect..."

"It has nothing to do with you!" Before Yang Sixuan could finish, he was interrupted by Chu Wushang.

Chu Wushang looked at him expressionlessly and said, "Also, Division Head Yang! From now on, if you wish to interrogate Duan Rong again, ask me first. Do you understand?"

Yang Sixuan stood there, stunned, looking at Chu Wushang.

For a moment, his heart surged with turmoil. Chu Wushang would not interfere with the cases of the Ruling Sect Justice Division without cause; behind this, I fear...

Yang Sixuan suddenly cupped his hands respectfully and said, "This Yang understands!"

Seeing that Yang Sixuan had spoken, Chu Wushang said nothing more and departed as a streak of black light.

Yang Sixuan stood before the rustling bamboo grove, watching the place where Chu Wushang's figure had disappeared, his gaze flickering.

Duan Rong had only been locked in the Dungeon of the Ruling Sect Justice Division for half an hour, and before his seat was even warm, Yang Yi had brought him out with a smiling face.

Duan Rong stepped out of the Dungeon, looked at Yang Yi, and joked with a smile, "Brother Yang, I've been to this Dungeon twice in one month; surely I count as a regular guest by now, right?"

Yang Yi said, "Brother Duan, in my opinion, it is better to visit such a place as little as possible!"

"Is that so?" Duan Rong said, "I think this place is not bad; they provide food and lodging, and it's quite secluded. It's not bad for secluded cultivation. If I were locked in here for a year or so, perhaps my realm would break through."

Yang Yi said, "Brother Duan is joking. Who does secluded cultivation in a dungeon?"

Duan Rong laughed, "Hahaha... where there's a will, there's a way."

Yang Yi escorted Duan Rong all the way out of the Ruling Sect Justice Division; watching Duan Rong ride the wind and soar into the clouds, a complex look emerged in Yang Yi's eyes.

Not long ago, his second uncle, Yang Sixuan, had just called him over, not only telling him to release Duan Rong but also informing him that all investigations related to Duan Rong were to be terminated.

He did not ask Yang Sixuan why.

Because if he needed to know why, Yang Sixuan would tell him; if he wasn't told, it meant he did not need to know.

But having followed Yang Sixuan for many years, he had already seen many things from Yang Sixuan's expression just now.

The Xiao Qiwu case had fallen into a stalemate due to Duan Rong's removal and Shentu Ying's lack of cooperation.

Later, the case was simply left hanging, with no one pushing it forward.

Yang Yi knew that Yang Sixuan's attitude meant he was preparing to submit a file in a month and close the case hastily as an unsolved mystery.

After Duan Rong left the Dungeon of the Ruling Sect Justice Division and returned to the mountain peak of Shang Xiangyu, he had dinner with Xiao Yu and the others that night, and instead of returning to the deep valley, he stayed on the mountain. That night, in the cave, Duan Rong and Xiao Yu were quite intimate.

"What kind of madness are you having today?!" Xiao Yu pulled the animal skin blanket over herself and glared at Duan Rong in the darkness.

Duan Rong rested his right hand behind his head, remaining silent.

He was going over the day's events in his mind.

Yang Sixuan had only locked him in the Dungeon for half an hour before releasing him.

This was definitely not his style; someone must have pressured him.

Who could it be?

Zhu He?

Impossible! He had only been locked up for half an hour; even if Zhu He could get the news that quickly, he could not possibly suppress Yang Sixuan.

Yang Sixuan only listened to Chu Qiushan.

As for who could suppress Yang Sixuan, besides Chu Qiushan...

A name was on the verge of appearing in Duan Rong's mind!?

This matter was likely the result of the Ancestor Lv Yinlin intervening!

He suddenly remembered that night in the deep valley, after he had practiced, Lv Yinlin's words: "With this intensive practice, within three years, you will certainly enter the Dongming Realm!"

In truth, Duan Rong did not yet know what entering the Dongming Realm within three years actually meant.

Previously, he felt that within the Taiyi Sect, there were countless cultivators in the Dongming Realm, so entering the Dongming Realm within three years was nothing special.

But looking at it now, that is not the case; Lv Yinlin is truly cultivating him as a promising talent.

Several days later, Shen Mizhi brought Zhu Xiaoqi back to the Sect.

Once Zhu Xiaoqi arrived at the mountaintop and saw Xiao Yu, she was naturally filled with joy. Duan Rong was there at the time, and after her initial joy, Zhu Xiaoqi immediately pouted and began to complain to Xiao Yu about Duan Rong's faults.

"Miss, look at him. He left me all alone at Shenyun Prefecture for over two months without even asking about me once. Even a cat or a dog wouldn't be treated with such neglect..."

As Zhu Xiaoqi spoke, she actually began to cry, filled with grievances.

While wiping away Zhu Xiaoqi's tears, Xiao Yu comforted her, saying, "He had his own difficulties; didn't he come to fetch you as soon as the matter was settled?"

Zhu Xiaoqi pursed her lips and said, "Miss, you are always taking his side."

As she spoke, Zhu Xiaoqi gave Duan Rong a resentful glare.

Duan Rong laughed and said, "Xiao Qi, this was my fault, and I let you suffer a grievance. But there was a reason for it; once you are settled in, I will have Xiao Yu explain it all to you properly."

After Duan Rong sent Shen Mizhi to Shenyun Prefecture to fetch Zhu Xiaoqi, he had recounted the entire sequence of events regarding Zhu Xiaoqi and Yang Zhen to Xiao Yu, so Xiao Yu naturally understood the full story.

After getting Zhu Xiaoqi settled, that evening Xiao Yu told her about how Duan Rong had abducted her from the Tower Forest, violated the Sect Iron Law, and had been struck three times by the God-Striking Whip at Wuliang Cliff until he fainted.

Upon hearing that Duan Rong had suffered so much hardship to save Xiao Yu, Zhu Xiaoqi completely forgave Duan Rong for his neglect of her.

Wiping away her tears, Zhu Xiaoqi murmured, "Our master-in-law is a man of conscience after all."

After arriving at the mountaintop, Zhu Xiaoqi took charge of everyone's meals, and from then on, Duan Rong often came to the mountaintop to drink a bowl of the fresh soup Zhu Xiaoqi cooked. Zhu Xiaoqi naturally served him with all her heart, which goes without saying.

(End of this chapter)