Chapter 2296

"This Tang Jingye is not appearing for the first time." He Lingchuan's eyes flickered slightly. "Zhu Xiuer captured the Tianwu several days ago in Tongyue Town, interrogated it, and then sent people to arrest its accomplice Tang Jingye. The result was that we were a step too late—no one was there, but there were fresh bloodstains on the ground. The Giant of Mao Ridge judged that the injured party was most likely already dead."

Dong Rui exclaimed: "You suspect Tang Jingye has been dead all along? The one who returned to the sect afterward—was it already someone else?"

He Lingchuan said slowly: "At least from the scene traces, there was a third party involved in the killing."

The bloodstains and minced heart flesh outside Tongyue Town...

Tang Jingye returned to the sect unharmed and proposed to Yuan Xilin the use of the Golden Core to cut off the water...

Xu Laozu was ambushed and killed; the most important cause of death was not the siege by Cangyan, but the sugar water brought back by Tang Jingye.

The sugar water contained a strange yao puppet.

He Lingchuan's eyes flashed, and he asked Liu Qingdao again:

"These disciples of Xu Laozu didn't leave the inn—how can you be sure Tang Jingye was killed by you?"

"It was the disciple Liaohan, who went out with Tang Jingye, who saw it with his own eyes and reported it upon returning." Liu Qingdao said word by word, "And after the battle at Yuefu Inn, Liaohan disappeared. We sealed the inn and surrounding streets, but still couldn't find this person."

"Hmm, interesting!" He Lingchuan's eyes flickered slightly. "First Tang Jingye, now this witness is also missing."

Then he said a very strange sentence:

"Those who shouldn't be alive are still alive; those who shouldn't be dead are now dead."

Dong Rui didn't quite understand: "What do you mean?"

"Whether it's Tang Jingye or Liaohan, we can't find these two people." He Lingchuan frowned tightly. "These two are most likely already gone."

"From that whistling arrow, someone is secretly scheming against us. Will these few tokens lead us into a trap?" Liu Qingdao whispered a warning, "Your Majesty, be careful of deceit."

What kind of temperament does the Nine Abysses Great Emperor have? Only in recent years has he come to understand it somewhat, hence this concern.

"It's not a trap—it's a script he preset for us. As soon as Xu Laozu dies, Qixia Sect will be enraged." The Nine Abysses Great Emperor set the tone, "Cangyan cannot stand by while Qixia Sect runs amok; this great war will be hard to avoid."

Lingguang also grew angry: "This script is truly vicious."

Liu Qingdao immediately said: "The City Patrol Army and the Dragon God Army have already been mobilized."

Dong Rui also said: "Hey, how do you know it's not someone trying to use Qixia Sect's hand to scheme against you?"

"Scheme against me?" He Lingchuan pointed at himself and laughed, "When this person set up the trap, how could they have predicted I would come in person? Is he capable of divination and calculation?"

Dong Rui was left speechless.

Yes, the current He Lingchuan is no longer what he once was—he is now the true Nine-Five Supremacy, residing deep in the Chixiao Golden Hall, managing myriad affairs daily.

All matters of the world are reported to him; he then dispatches people to handle them one by one—where would he need to go out himself?

How could someone behind the scenes predict that He Lingchuan would suddenly feel impulsive and run to Weian City?

If he wasn't targeting the Nine Abysses Great Emperor, then scheming against any Cangyan official would be meaningless. But his actions must have a clear objective.

Therefore, He Lingchuan's prediction remains most likely: this person intends to use Cangyan's power to deal with Qixia Sect.

"This is also easy to understand—Qixia Sect not only has an immortal presiding over it, but also the Zongzhen Treasure of Yuanshan and the powerful virtual spirits from ancient ruins. Within the minor cave heaven, it also has geographical advantage. If this behind-the-scenes person attacks head-on, they may not gain much; it's better to employ the strategy of driving the tiger to devour the wolf."

Dong Rui snorted: "Why does he want to deal with Qixia Sect? Are we just going to let him use us like this?"

"If not for revenge, then Qixia Sect must have something he wants." He Lingchuan further analyzed, "When Qixia Sect emerged from seclusion, we as the local hosts didn't even know—where did this behind-the-scenes person get the information? His intelligence sources are quite reliable."

He paused:

"Look, Xu Angqian was just ambushed earlier, and you arrived right after. The behind-the-scenes planner seized this junction with perfect timing."

Liu Qingdao felt ashamed: "Was I negligent, or did I fall into this person's trap?"

That command arrow came suspiciously; although he was on guard in his heart, he didn't expect the opponent's trick to be hidden in Xu Laozu's possession.

He Lingchuan waved his hand: "Your vigilance is useless—this move was calculated against Xu Angqian."

Liu Qingdao was also being used as a pawn by someone—the opponent's target was actually Xu Angqian, "and at the same time, they wanted to pin the blame for killing Xu Laozu onto Cangyan."

He sighed: "Originally, Qixia Sect only wanted to find a foothold for itself, then seek some offerings and dividends—no intention to form a deadly feud with Cangyan."

Even if Qixia Sect grew powerful, it cannot ignore the fact that it resides within Cangyan's territory. Without reason, would it seek an endless war with a great empire?

"Before Xu Laozu was seriously injured, they had adopted a conservative strategy, holding fast to the minor cave heaven without showing their heads." He Lingchuan's brows slightly furrowed, "But now..."

Now they probably can't communicate properly anymore.

Liu Qingdao said: "Fortunately, those few captives also confessed—the ancient virtual spirits within the sect are still dormant; awakening them takes time."

He Lingchuan knew these captives were not lying—the stronger the virtual spirit or summoning, the longer it takes to awaken from deep slumber—this is a law.

Therefore, our side still has a slight time advantage.

Liu Qingdao immediately said: "Why not send a few strong warriors, holding the tokens, to storm into Qixia Sect's cave dwelling, seize the opportunity to open the cave gate, and welcome the army in?"

Cangyan is strong, and the Yuan Si now also has many strong warriors—there are immortals and great demons.

Finding two brave generals is not difficult.

Lingguang interjected, voice dry and flat: "Elder Liu, I'm afraid this comes too late."

"..." Liu Qingdao could only ask: "How much time does Xu Angqian still have?"

Once Xu Angqian dies, Qixia Sect will likely immediately abandon the minor cave heaven. Right now, what method can we use to stabilize them?

"I've exhausted all means, but... at most less than two quarters of an hour." Even Lingguang, such a skilled physician, is now helpless.

This amount of time is simply insufficient to mobilize personnel.

"But two quarters of an hour are enough for us to reach Xunyang Mountain." He Lingchuan's eyes flickered slightly, suddenly bringing up an unrelated topic: "Why couldn't the marshes and wetlands of Weian City detect the entrance to Qixia Sect's minor cave heaven?"

He reached out and pressed the soul-capturing mirror hidden against his chest, and in a flash of thought, he devised a plan.

Liu Qingdao was startled, but immediately replied:

"It also wanted to pay attention, but Qixia Sect had set up a barrier at some unknown time, enveloping the northern mountain ranges—including Guye Mountain, Jun Mountain, and the main body of Xunyang Mountain. Therefore, the marshes and wetlands of Weian City cannot use their power to monitor the wind and grass on Xunyang Mountain."

Although the marshes and wetlands have the ability to manage land, Xunyang Mountain range is vast and wild, so they do not conduct regular patrols.

Even the Dao has loopholes; the land god's management naturally has blind spots—it's impossible to be flawless.