Chapter 137: Interrogation

Under the light of the Kuang Gong Lamp, the vast area beyond the valley lay in ruins.

Hong Zhi and Yun Yan Fairy stood side by side, floating in the air; beneath their feet was a vast expanse of deep blue mist, within which vague human voices could be heard.

"Uncle Hong Zhi, Uncle Yun Yan, what's the situation?" Wei Yuning asked.

"The Qian Yuan Sect cultivators are no better; they couldn't even break through Junior Sister Yun Yan's 'Cold Mist Illusion'!" Hong Zhi twirled his mustache and laughed.

"The Qing Luan Sect's illusion techniques dominate Bisi Island, and Uncle Yun Yan is a rare talent, so this is quite normal! Given that, why not just kill them?" Wei Yuning said.

"Finally, a conversation! How can you say you can't even get through my illusion? Do you think my illusion is that easy to break? If you weren't ice‑aligned, you probably couldn't get out either! Hmph!" Yun Yan Fairy seemed angry on the surface, but looked more like she was being coquettish.

"The Qian Yuan Sect isn't a sect; they were rude from the start, so they deserve death! But as for you, first courtesy then force—since you have the upper hand, I might as well ask clearly before deciding what to do!" Hong Zhi chuckled, ignored Yun Yan, and answered Wei Yuning's question.

"Uncle, you're right; we must win people over with virtue!" Wei Yuning echoed.

Hearing this, Hong Zhi and Yun Yan both laughed.

At this moment, Monk Cheng Xin had already slain all the remaining monsters and rushed over, accompanied by Qing Fu, who had just finished the finishing blow.

Monk Cheng Xin approached Wei Yuning, about to speak but stopped, his expression complicated as he stood aside.

"All right, that's enough! Qing Mo, bind them with vines!" Hong Zhi ordered.

"Yes, Uncle!" Wei Yuning replied.

Those inside the illusion cannot see the outside, trapped in their own world, while those outside find it amusing. A young cultivator and two gray‑haired cultivators inside kept trembling, occasionally flailing their arms toward empty space.

After Wei Yuning bound the three cultivators in succession, Yun Yan Fairy dispelled the illusion array.

The group descended from the air and stood before the cultivators.

The three Qian Yuan Sect cultivators had thought the vines were part of the illusion; after it dissipated, they realized they were already restrained.

They tried to struggle, but a sharp sting spread across their skin, followed by a tingling numbness, and suddenly they could not exert any strength.

The elderly cultivator, with long, auspicious eyebrows and a disgruntled expression, looked down at the vine, and upon seeing the red thorns, couldn't help but exclaim, "Is this Blood Demon Vine?"

"Brother Dao, you have some insight—indeed it's Blood Demon Vine. If you wish to avoid suffering, answer the questions honestly!" Wei Yuning said.

The old cultivator glanced at the spirit‑butterfly emblem on Wei Yuning's clothing, snorted, "So you're a Daoist friend of the Yun Yin Sect, my apologies!" He turned his head toward Hong Zhi and others, "And there are two more from the Yun Yin Sect; this junior sister… is from the Qing Luan Sect! I've met your sect's Moon Radiance friend a few times; I don't know what relationship you have within the Qing Luan Sect! Oh, and there's a senior monk from Black Water Temple, how rare!"

The old cultivator's tone was calm, but even a fool could hear the threat in his words.

Yun Yan's expression changed, she let out a "hmm", and ignored him.

Monk Cheng Xin's expression remained calm, he coughed lightly, looking indifferent.

Wei Yuning glanced at Hong Zhi, who gave him a forceful wink.

"How should we address you, fellow Daoists? What cultivation level? With no grudges, why did you ambush us?" Hong Zhi's face turned cold as he asked ominously.

"Answer one by one, starting with you!" Wei Yuning stepped forward, pointing at the young cultivator.

"I…" the young cultivator began hesitantly, then quickly glanced at the two elderly cultivators beside him, receiving no words or signals.

"Hm?" Seeing no movement from Wei Yuning, a vine suddenly sprang up, its red‑spiked tip reaching toward the young cultivator's eye, almost touching the eyeball.

"I, I, I am a disciple of the Qian Yuan Sect, also a border guard officer of the Black Water Nation, named Hong Lie, in the mid‑stage of the Refining Qi realm!" Hong Lie tried to adopt a few airs, but sitting on the ground he couldn't muster any presence; moreover, he was only a Refining Qi mid‑stage cultivator, while the opponents opposite were all full of Dao resonance, clearly at Foundation Establishment or higher, making him feel a step shorter.

"Uncle Hong Zhi, this is my first time hearing of the Refining Qi stage; I wonder which level it corresponds to within our Yun Yin Sect?" Wei Yuning asked with a smile.

"The Yun Yin Sect has no Refining Qi disciples; those who haven't reached Foundation Establishment are merely laborers!" Hong Zhi said expressionlessly.

Hong Lie's face flushed scarlet, as if he wanted to crawl into a crack in the ground.

"Oh, I see! All right, the next one is you!" Wei Yuning pointed at the elderly cultivator who had remained silent.

The old cultivator wore a sorrowful expression, wrinkles crossing his face. Honestly, Wei Yuning had never before seen a cultivator so aged. Yet, despite his obvious old age, his spirit and vigor were abundant.

"Bao Qi, Opening Light Stage, Xi Nation invades Green Wolf Nation; Green Wolf Nation is a vassal of Black Water Nation, which is protected by the Qian Yuan Sect. Naturally, Qian Yuan Sect cultivators have a duty to uphold justice for Green Wolf Nation. So why the ambush?" the old cultivator said calmly. His words were courteous and measured, his whole being exuded righteous aura.

"Damn your stinky dog! The wolf cavalry of Green Wolf Nation has already reached the capital of Xi Nation, and I haven't seen you come out to uphold justice, full of lies, damn it!" Almost without warning, a green‑blade short sword plunged into the old cultivator's throat, and instantly a spray of arterial blood rose half a meter high; meanwhile, Wei Yuning vanished from his spot, reappearing several meters away, avoiding the blood.

"What nerve, you actually dared…" Old cultivator Shou Mei roared in anger, but just as he was halfway through his curse, he saw Wei Yuning approaching with the short sword, and he immediately shut his mouth.

"The previous answer was wrong; you continue!" Wei Yuning pointed the short sword at Shou Mei's head.

"Bao Shu, Opening Light Stage, I've blinded my dog eyes, unable to recognize true people, and ended up offending several fellow Daoists—truly damned!" Shou Mei said with remorse.

"Two Opening Light Stage cultivators! Uncle, why are they so weak?" Wei Yuning asked in confusion.

Hong Zhi hadn't answered yet when Bao Shu jumped in: "Let me tell everyone, we are alchemy‑room cultivators; we only refine pills, we don't fight. Our cultivation peaks at the Opening Light Stage. This time… we just came out to look around, and who would have thought we'd meet you all? What a fate!"

The several of them stared at each other, none could have imagined that the most arrogant cultivator moments ago would become the most obedient.

"Brother Bao Shu, the monk has a question for you; please answer truthfully: what pill did you feed the black‑backed water buffalo?" Monk Cheng Xin stepped forward, his expression solemn.

Wei Yuning's expression remained unchanged, but he quietly took out the Retaining Image Stone.

"Hehe…" Suddenly, an eerie laugh erupted from Wei Yuning's mouth, clear and melodious, full of affection, like a maiden experiencing first love.

The others all turned their gazes toward Wei Yuning.

"Huh, Junior Brother Qing Mo, why are you crying?" Qing Fu exclaimed in surprise.