Chapter 27: Exposing the Enemy

The so-called Soul-Search Technique is a strange art that controls the subject’s spiritual consciousness, rendering their soul defenseless, so that they answer any question asked of them.

Few people know this art, but Xu Saifeng, as a sixty-year-old veteran Spirit Hunter, possessing odd and esoteric techniques is not surprising.

But this proposal was immediately opposed by the vast majority.

“Inspector Xu, you should understand the drawbacks of the Soul-Search Technique—we cannot accept this proposal.”

The Soul-Search Technique is indeed effective for interrogation, but its side effects are obvious: it damages the subject’s spiritual core.

Spiritual damage can be minor or severe.

For martial cultivators, spiritual injury may impair intellect, but their martial power remains intact.

But for Spirit Hunters, it is different.

Spirit Hunters must not only strengthen their blood and qi, but also nurture yin energy and learn arcane arts.

The spiritual core determines one’s talent for learning arcane arts.

Take Li Lin—he has only just begun, learned only the Yin-Nourishing Heart Scripture, and has not yet reached the stage of learning arcane arts; if his spiritual core is damaged, he will find it nearly impossible to learn them later.

He can only “switch paths” to become a martial cultivator.

Seeing everyone oppose him, Xu Saifeng sighed helplessly: “But clearly, one among us is a traitor. If we don’t find him, none of us will sleep or eat in peace, fearing death at any moment.”

Everyone fell silent; after all, Xu Saifeng spoke sense.

Xu Saifeng continued: “My Soul-Search Technique has reached the Great Completion realm. With care, it will not harm anyone’s spiritual core.”

Everyone listened in silence.

At this moment, a Spirit Hunter of similar age to Xu Saifeng stepped forward: “Old Xu, I trust you—use it on me first.”

“Hah! Old Ji, thank you.” Xu Saifeng smiled broadly, pleased to have support.

“Old Ji” walked up to Xu Saifeng, his expression calm and relaxed: “Begin.”

Xu Saifeng raised his right hand, his index fingertip pinching a black mass the size of an egg, slowly moving it toward the man’s third eye.

Li Lin watched curiously, wanting to see how the technique truly worked.

But at that moment, he suddenly noticed a line of “text” flash in the lower-right corner of his vision.

【Mystic Fetus Hidden Treasury +1】

Li Lin’s eyes widened slightly.

Wait… the Mystic Fetus Hidden Treasury—that’s the Wangling Embryo Secret Rite!

How does Xu Saifeng know this demonic art?

And he’s using it on a man!

In that instant, a storm of thoughts erupted in Li Lin’s mind.

In less than a breath, he understood everything.

He gripped his spear, swung it hard across the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Simultaneously, Li Lin leapt backward and shouted: “That’s not the Soul-Search Technique—Xu Saifeng is not what he seems!”

To have shouted that much was already more than his duty required.

How many survive now depends on their own fate.

He dared not stay; after shouting that, he became the prime suspect. If he didn’t run, he’d be the first to die—he couldn’t explain how he knew Xu Saifeng was suspicious. If he couldn’t explain it, then he himself was the problem.

Landing, Li Lin turned and sprinted full speed, instantly breaking through the formation.

The white jade tablet at his waist blazed crimson, and the eerie whispering voice filled his ears.

He saw a large tree ahead, its canopy thick.

He threw his spear upward—it pierced the canopy—then scrambled up with hands and feet, reaching the top in less than two breaths, retrieving his spear, and crouching on a sturdy branch.

He draped the Deception Cloak over himself.

The crimson glow of the jade tablet vanished instantly.

These actions took no more than four breaths.

Inside the formation, Xu Saifeng and the others swept their sleeves, dispersing the dust—only to find Li Lin gone.

Everyone now stood farther apart from each other.

Xu Saifeng’s face turned grim: “Absurd. I have no intention of harming anyone.”

But no one fully believed him now.

Even “Old Ji” had stepped back several paces.

The atmosphere grew heavy with silence.

After a long pause, Xu Saifeng sighed softly: “I don’t understand—I’ve stayed longest in Yulin County, worked alongside you all for years, never had a dispute—why do you believe a youth who’s been in the field less than half a year, and not me?”

The scene remained silent.

Bai Liewei glanced left and right, instinctively stepping behind his uncle.

Hearing this, everyone’s suspicion toward Xu Saifeng deepened.

Bai Liwei said: “If Inspector Li had stood here and accused you, we’d dismiss it as nonsense. But he saw your technique, turned pale, and fled immediately—then warned us. That changes everything.”

Xu Saifeng frowned: “Is that how you see it?”

“Besides, Inspector Li has only been in the field half a year,” Bai Liwei snorted. “He has no backing, no influence, his conduct is clean. He’s never even been to Bobai Town—he couldn’t possibly have killed soldiers of a military garrison. But you… Inspector Xu, you know too many strange arts. You chose this location. Setting up traps is easy for you.”

As he spoke, the ten surrounding Spirit Hunters had closed in, surrounding Xu Saifeng.

“I never expected my plan would be foiled twice by a mere boy,” Xu Saifeng said, dropping his pretense with a smile. “Otherwise, you’d all be lying dead in the garrison, turned to bone—instead of standing here barking at me.”

Bai Liwei frowned: “Why?”

“Don’t worry—I’ll tell you all the reasons. After I’ve subdued you.”

Bai Liwei was baffled: “Inspector Xu, you’re alone. We’re twelve. How do you win?”

“If I were still an Eighth-Rank Spirit Hunter, I couldn’t defeat you,” Xu Saifeng smiled. “But now, I’m Seventh-Rank.”

As he spoke, his robes stirred without wind—as if an invisible current emanated from within him.

Yet Bai Liwei and the others showed no fear: “Hiding one’s true realm is common enough. Who doesn’t keep a trick up their sleeve?”

Saying this, Bai Liwei and the others continued tightening the circle.

Xu Saifeng smirked: “And who told you I’m alone?”

Bai Liwei and the others froze.

At that moment, atop a tree not far from the cave, Li Lin crouched, watching a group of black-clad figures pass below.

Leading them was a fat man waving a paper fan.

Each of them wore a white jade tablet at their waist, glowing crimson.

Bringing up the rear was Old Hou.

Things had grown even more complicated.

Li Lin raised a hand to cover his nose, suppressing even the faintest sound—not even his breath.

After a while, the sound of battle erupted, and several familiar figures burst out of the formation.

Their white jade tablets blazed crimson.

A few more followed after them.

Li Lin waited until they were far away, then leapt down from the tree and crept forward on his haunches.

Soon, he reached the cave’s perimeter and heard voices speaking.

“Inspector Li will return to the county seat and report to the Prefect. When the imperial court sends experts down, you’ll have nowhere to run.”

“That boy Li Lin won’t escape,” Xu Saifeng’s voice carried a smug chuckle. “I still have the Six Ren Directional Banner. Within a hundred li, finding him is effortless. Once the technique enters his body, it generates yin energy corruption. A Spirit Hunter with only half a year’s experience won’t withstand it—he’ll succumb to yin energy piercing his heart, his blood freezing solid within the span of an incense stick. Hahahaha!”

(End of Chapter)