Chapter 179: The Old Turtle of the Yin Sea

Zhang Yi smiled meaningfully, "Your Majesty, perhaps those two wouldn't, but as for the people under them, that is hard to say."

The Demon Emperor suddenly realized, "Brother Zhang means that it might be the subordinates of Black Dragon or Flood Dragon who stole the spirit fruit and then framed outsiders?"

"Exactly!"

Zhang Yi nodded with confidence.

"Your Majesty, think about it: those low-level sea creatures have a heavy fishy smell on them."

"If they had stolen the spirit fruit, the spirit fruit would inevitably be tainted with this smell."

"While the subordinates of Black Dragon and Flood Dragon are also sea creatures, because their status is higher, they are exposed to high-grade incense and perfumes daily."

"The fishy smell on their bodies is naturally much fainter."

"If they stole the spirit fruit and then framed the low-level sea creatures, it would not arouse suspicion."

The more the Yao Di thought about it, the more he felt Zhang Yi's analysis made sense.

He stood up excitedly and paced back and forth.

"Brother Zhang, you truly are my lucky star! In that case, as long as we investigate the subordinates of Black Dragon and Flood Dragon, we can find the real thief!"

Zhang Yi, however, shook his head.

"Your Majesty, this matter still requires careful consideration. We cannot alert the enemy."

"If we investigate directly, it is very likely to make them alert and destroy the evidence."

"How about this..."

Zhang Yi leaned into the Yao Di's ear and whispered his plan.

After listening, the Yao Di's eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly, "Brilliant plan! Brilliant plan! Brother Zhang is indeed resourceful!"

That night.

Inside Yao Di Fu, the lights were bright, and a grand banquet was being held.

The Yao Di sat in the main seat, raised his wine cup, and said loudly, "My dear ministers, today's banquet is held firstly to celebrate the recovery of the lost spirit fruit, and secondly to reward everyone for your hard work during this period."

The demons raised their cups in agreement, making for a lively scene.

Black Dragon and Flood Dragon were also among them; both wore hypocritical smiles on their faces, while harboring ulterior motives in their hearts.

After three rounds of drinks, the Yao Di suddenly put down his wine cup.

His expression darkened, "Everyone, I have one more thing to announce."

His gaze swept over the crowd and finally landed on Black Dragon and Flood Dragon, "I have received secret intelligence that the thief is hiding among us!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole hall was in an uproar.

The expressions of Black Dragon and Flood Dragon changed drastically, and they inwardly cried out that it was bad.

The Yao Di continued, "In order to find the thief, I have specially invited an expert who possesses a special technique that can discern who is tainted with the aura of the spirit fruit."

No sooner had he finished speaking.

An old man wearing a Daoist robe walked out from behind a screen; it was Zhang Yi in disguise.

He held a horsetail whisk and pretended to chant a few spells.

Then he walked up to Heilong and took a deep breath, "Hmm? You have a fishy smell on you!"

Heilong squinted at Zhang Yi.

A puff of white air sprayed from his nostrils, reeking of fish.

"Playing god and acting like a ghost! This General has been through a hundred battles; what great storms have I not seen? You want to fool me with these little tricks?"

Flood Dragon also chimed in, "Exactly! We are loyal to His Majesty, and the sun and moon can bear witness! How could we commit such petty theft?"

Zhang Yi stroked his beard with an air of profundity, shaking his head as he said, "The two Generals need not be anxious; this technique of mine is no ordinary technique."

"It can distinguish the intensity of the fishy smell, as well as the various scents of incense contained within it."

"Although the two Generals are of high status and power, it is not surprising that a faint fishy smell remains on your bodies."

"It is just that..."

He paused deliberately, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the two, "It is just that within this fishy smell, there seems to be a trace of... the faint fragrance of the spirit fruit."

The expressions of Black Dragon and Flood Dragon changed suddenly, and they subconsciously took a step back.

"Nonsense!"

Heilong feigned composure, "You are slandering us! You are making false accusations!"

Flood Dragon also shouted, "Right! We never touched the spirit fruit at all! You are framing us!"

Zhang Yi sneered, "The two Generals need not be nervous; I only need to use a small trick to prove whether the two Generals are innocent."

He took an exquisite small bottle from his sleeve, pulled out the stopper, and a strange fragrance permeated the air.

"This is 'Spirit-Revealing Incense'; as long as one has been tainted by the aura of the spirit fruit, it will react with this fragrance and emit a dazzling light."

Saying this, he sprinkled the incense powder from the small bottle toward Black Dragon and Flood Dragon.

The two were unable to dodge in time and were tainted by the incense powder.

The next moment, a miraculous thing happened.

A faint golden light actually radiated from the bodies of Heilong and Jiaolong!

The whole hall was in an uproar.

The demons whispered among themselves, their gazes toward Heilong and Jiaolong filled with suspicion.

The Demon Emperor's face turned livid, and he roared, "Heilong! Jiaolong! What else do you have to say for yourselves?"

Heilong and Jiaolong were ashen-faced, knowing they had been exposed.

"Your Majesty, spare us! We were just confused for a moment..." Heilong knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly.

Jiaolong also knelt down, bowing his head to the ground and begging for mercy, "Your Majesty, we know we were wrong! Please show mercy!"

The Demon Emperor was furious and was about to order the two to be executed, but Zhang Yi suddenly spoke up.

"Your Majesty, wait!"

He walked before the Demon Emperor and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, I fear there is more to this matter than meets the eye."

The Demon Emperor was stunned, "What do you mean?"

Zhang Yi explained, "Although these two fellows stole the spirit fruit, as Your Majesty said, they do not lack spirit fruit, so why would they steal it? I fear there must be a mastermind behind them!"

The Demon Emperor suddenly realized, "Brother Zhang means that someone instigated them to do this?"

"Exactly!"

Zhang Yi nodded with confidence, "And this mastermind must be of high status and great power, deeply trusted by Your Majesty!"

The Demon Emperor's expression turned gloomy, and he fell into deep thought.

He looked around, his gaze sweeping over the various demons one by one.

Suddenly, his gaze stopped in an inconspicuous corner.

Sitting there was a hunched old man, who was none other than Gui Chengxiang.

Gui Chengxiang kept his head lowered, appearing as if he were dozing off, but in reality, he was already panicked and at his wit's end.

The Demon Emperor's heart stirred, and a sense of foreboding welled up in his mind.

"Gui Chengxiang!"

The Demon Emperor spoke suddenly, his tone icy.

Gui Chengxiang trembled all over, slowly raised his head, and feigned a look of confusion.

"What are Your Majesty's instructions?"

"Why were you smiling?"

The Demon Emperor's gaze was like a torch, staring fixedly at Gui Chengxiang.

Gui Chengxiang's expression changed slightly, and he forced a smile, "This old subject was just thinking of some happy matters."

"Oh? What happy matters? Tell me about them." The Demon Emperor pressed him step by step.

Gui Chengxiang stammered, unable to come up with a coherent explanation for a long time.

Seeing this, Zhang Yi sneered in his heart.

He walked up to Gui Chengxiang and said mysteriously, "Prime Minister, are you happy because you have finally gotten rid of Heilong and the flood dragon, those two thorns in your side?"

Gui Chengxiang's expression changed drastically; he stood up abruptly, pointed at Zhang Yi, and shouted angrily, "You... you are spouting nonsense!"

Zhang Yi let out a cold laugh.

"Whether it is nonsense or not, Prime Minister, you know clearly in your heart. How about this, let us also treat you to some 'Spirit-Revealing Incense', how about that?"

As he spoke, he made a gesture as if to sprinkle the incense powder toward Gui Chengxiang.