Chapter 281

"These characters... why are they so small?"

Zhu Xuanji frowned deeply.

He tried his best, but his vision remained a blur. After all, at the time, the flames had been raging, obscuring much, and his line of sight had been severely distorted.

Since Ning Xiaohui's handwriting was so tiny and located in the inner layer of the ice block, it was perfectly normal that he couldn't see it clearly.

This was a difficult situation.

For Zhu Xuanji, if the physical object were right before his eyes, he could simply sweep it with his spiritual sense and easily obtain the truth.

But everything he saw was the result of his innate talent and spells combined.

He could not do any better!

"Couldn't she have written them a bit larger?"

"Ning Xiaohui knew she was doomed, so before she died, she used all her strength to create the ice brick, attempting to leave it behind."

"That is indeed possible."

"After all, the Ice Fat Jade Hand is best at finding a way to survive in a desperate situation."

"But in the end, the ice brick was not left behind."

"Innate talent is not a divine ability, after all..."

Thinking of this, a flash of brilliance crossed Zhu Xuanji's eyes.

"Ning Xiaohui seems to have been a bit too cautious."

"Also, since she wanted to leave a clue, why didn't she just state the truth when facing Zheng Shuang's magic power clone earlier?"

"There is a possibility that Ning Xiaohui only discovered certain keys, or suddenly realized something, after parting ways with Zheng Shuang's magic power clone."

"There is also another possibility: that before she died, Ning Xiaohui's mind was twisted by a desire for revenge, and she wanted to frame her enemies so they wouldn't get off easily."

"And there is one more possibility..."

"In Ning Xiaohui's view, Zheng Shuang was not worth trusting!"

"Or, she preferred to report it to me directly rather than informing some Jin Dan cultivator first."

Zhu Xuanji's thoughts moved like lightning, with various ideas surfacing one after another.

There were too many possibilities; after thinking for a while, he put away his cluttered thoughts.

"It is certain that Sun Lingtong is the murderer of Ning Xiaohui."

"Furthermore, he also possesses the Fire Burial Prajna Spirit-Resolving Scripture!"

What Zhu Xuanji saw in the second scene was exactly this.

"Fire Burial Prajna Spirit-Resolving Scripture! It is indeed as recorded in the royal secrets; this kind of Buddhist scripture can be used to liberate life and extract spirit."

"Sun Lingtong mastering this Buddhist scripture is the perfect proof that the Kong Sect has deeply infiltrated the Lava Xian Gong!"

"Kong Sect..."

Zhu Xuanji gritted his teeth secretly; because of today's encounter, he felt an unprecedented hatred for the Kong Sect.

"Calm down, calm down."

"Anger is useless; the wisest decision right now is to go find Meng Kui!"

Zhu Xuanji barely steadied his mind, waved his arm, and collected all the silver furnace fragments in the area.

Although he couldn't see Ning Xiaohui's dying testimony clearly, it didn't matter; he had other ways!

"You all clean up the battlefield and try your best to collect clues."

"I am going out of the palace to have a talk with Meng Kui!"

Before leaving, Zhu Xuanji saw Unlike Ning Zhuo looking at him expectantly: "Oh, right. Protect him well!"

"He was a pawn arranged by the Kong Sect, but now he has repented and turned over a new leaf."

The three Jin Dan ancestors:?!

Zhu Xuanji: "Unlike Ning Zhuo is a very important witness; you must protect his life at all costs, no mistakes allowed!"

The three Jin Dan cultivators nodded hurriedly, indicating they understood.

The next moment, Zhu Xuanji soared into the sky and left.

Leaving Unlike Ning Zhuo alone to face the intense stares of the Jin Dan cultivators.

Unlike Ning Zhuo was also clever; he immediately ran to Ning Jiufan's side: "Ancestor, Ancestor!"

Ning Jiufan snorted coldly: "Tell us everything you know."

Although his expression was stern, he still reached out his arm and pulled Unlike Ning Zhuo to his side.

Unlike Ning Zhuo had long prepared his story; he had meticulously crafted this explanation, originally intended for the second line of defense.

Now, he slightly changed the content to tell the three Jin Dan cultivators.

The Jin Dan ancestors all pricked up their ears, listening with rapt attention.

Zhu Xuanji hadn't heard it yet, but they already knew.

Let us say that Zhu Xuanji flew all the way, leaving the Xian Gong once again.

Outside the Xian Gong, the red-flame spirit beasts were boiling, their offensive becoming increasingly frantic, but with Meng Kui's help, Zhu Xuanji left smoothly.

Zhu Xuanji flew straight toward Meng Kui's location.

"City Lord Meng Kui, regarding this change in the Lava Xian Gong, I have important intelligence to inform you of," Zhu Xuanji said bluntly.

Meng Kui: "Lord Zhu, please enlighten me."

Although he was a Nascent Soul level figure, Zhu Xuanji represented the royal family, so they communicated as peers.

Zhu Xuanji then informed Meng Kui about how Unlike Ning Zhuo confessed and the speculation that the Kong Sect was the mastermind behind the scenes.

Meng Kui's heart was shaken; he was silent for a long time before saying: "A fine Kong Sect! Infiltrating the Lava Xian Gong right under my nose, harboring ulterior motives, and inciting a Jin Dan melee. Now, killing Ning Xiaohui and destroying the History Pavilion is just to eliminate the evidence of their crimes."

"Since they were able to shell the History Pavilion, I'm afraid the Five Elements Cannon Tower's inexplicable assault on Fire Persimmon Mountain, which triggered the spirit beast tide, was also their handiwork!"

"To disregard the lives of thousands in the entire city like this, they are indeed evil sect demonic cultivators!"

Zhu Xuanji: "This is just my speculation; there is no concrete evidence."

"I naturally trust Lord Zhu's deduction," Meng Kui smiled.

Zhu Xuanji took a deep look at Meng Kui and stated his purpose: "Since that Kong Sect is the third-party force behind the scenes and has acted so outrageously, our two sides should cooperate fully to eliminate them from the game first!"

Meng Kui nodded: "That should be the case. Lord Zhu, what is your plan?"

Zhu Xuanji spoke eloquently.

Meng Kui smiled: "What Lord Zhu says makes sense."

"If we really let the Kong Sect steal the position of Palace Master, neither the royal family nor my Meng family would have any face left."

"I will also state my sincerity again—I am willing to promise that regardless of whether our two sides or the other three families end up as Palace Master, all of our existing positions in the Lava Xian Gong will remain unchanged! After the affairs of the Lava Xian Gong are settled, although all positions may change, they will all be based on the rules of the imperial court. What do you think?"

Zhu Xuanji's pupils shrank, and his heart was shocked!

"A fine Meng Kui! This is a naked open conspiracy."

"No, perhaps someone among the three families has already secretly contacted Meng Kui..."

Zhu Xuanji could poach people and win over the Zhou, Zheng, and Ning families. As City Lord, Meng Kui, backed by the Meng family, naturally had such means as well.

It was just a case of you doing the first, and me doing the fifteenth.

In the current situation, Zhu Xuanji could only accept it and go with the flow.

Soon, they reached a cooperation agreement.

Whether it was Zhu Xuanji or Meng Kui, both belonged to the Nandou Kingdom and were part of the same force.

Previously, although both sides regarded each other as their main opponent, they maintained the intensity of competition and always kept a state of fighting without breaking.

Therefore, joining forces at this moment was also without obstacles.

Zhu Xuanji and Meng Kui both hoped to eliminate the Kong Sect as a third party and let the position of Palace Master be decided between the two of them.

If the Kong Sect really succeeded, then the Zhu family of the Nandou Kingdom royal family and the Meng family of high officials would both become laughingstocks and thus be humiliated...

This was something neither of them could accept!

After signing the contract, Zhu Xuanji took out a jade slip and handed it to Meng Kui.

The content in the jade slip was exactly the various evidence, clues, and conjectures he had collected.

The most critical part was the three scenes Zhu Xuanji "saw" on the ruins of the silver furnace.

Meng Kui held the jade slip, slowly closed his eyes, and his Nascent Soul level aura suddenly expanded as he began to exert his calculation method with all his might.

For a time, profound mysteries overflowed, and clouds and mist rolled.

A few strands of Meng Kui's hair turned frosty white instantly; he opened his eyes, unable to hide his look of exhaustion.

Calculation often consumes one of the most precious resources in the world—lifespan.

This time, Meng Kui's calculation was no exception.

However, Zhu Xuanji had already promised that the lifespan Meng Kui consumed in this calculation would be compensated for by the life-supplementing lingzhi in the royal treasury.

Zhu Xuanji: "Did you gain anything?"

Meng Kui nodded slightly: "I obtained four clues. They are: Unlike Ning Zhuo, Sun Lingtong, Zheng Danlian, and the Gold Furnace."

For a time, Zhu Xuanji's brows furrowed tightly.

He could fully understand the appearance of Unlike Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong.

But why was there Zheng Danlian?

And why was there a Gold Furnace?

Zheng Danlian was one of the two Jin Dan cultivators of the Zheng family, while the Gold Furnace was the highest-grade refining furnace in the Lava Xian Gong.

"Why would these two clues be mentioned by Ning Xiaohui before she died?"

Meng Kui interrupted Zhu Xuanji's thoughts: "Among the four clues, Unlike Ning Zhuo is the easiest object to investigate. In my opinion, take him down directly and perform soul searching!"

Unlike Ning Zhuo was only at the Qi Condensation stage and easy to handle. The only trouble was the thoughts of Ning Jiufan of the Ning family.

Zhu Xuanji did not hesitate and shook his head directly: "Inappropriate."

"Unlike Ning Zhuo indeed has ties to the Kong Sect; I have already made him voluntarily confess and submit to the law."

"He is my man and will be of great use in the future."

Meng Kui smiled slightly; he was not annoyed at being refused: "Lord Zhu is a renowned divine catcher; naturally, you are more adept at solving cases and chasing criminals than I am. I will just wait and see here."

Zhu Xuanji and Meng Kui parted ways.

Looking at Zhu Xuanji's departing back, Meng Kui's gaze turned cold.

"Zhu Xuanji seems to have not yet realized that the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit has already developed ulterior motives."

"However, looking at it like this, it won't be long!"

"Kong Sect? Hmph!"

Meng Kui did not attach too much importance to it.

After all, the Kong Sect only dispatched one Jin Dan true disciple and one Qi Condensation stage outer sect disciple.

If a Nascent Soul level cultivator from the Kong Sect appeared, that would be a completely different matter.

Therefore, although Meng Kui discovered that the Kong Sect was a third-party force that had been lurking until now, he was still not in a hurry to take action himself.

"Just keep it calm."

"Let Zhu Xuanji investigate that Kong Sect. It's good to involve some of his time and energy."

Thinking of this, Meng Kui sent a message down, ordering his own cultivators in the Xian Gong to go all out and try to win as many key positions as possible.

At the same time, he ordered his confidants to try their best to contact the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit!

Zhu Xuanji flew back to the Lava Xian Gong.

Along the way, his brows were locked, and his gaze was deep.

If Unlike Ning Zhuo hadn't voluntarily confessed, then in the current situation, he would be thinking and hesitating—whether to perform soul searching on Unlike Ning Zhuo.

But now that Unlike Ning Zhuo had just turned over a new leaf, would he be soul-searched the next moment?

The consequences of soul searching are severe; light cases lead to amnesia, and heavy cases lead to dementia.

Anyone with a bit of political sense wouldn't do such a stupid thing. Let alone Zhu Xuanji.

"Now, I have formed an alliance with the three families and have already developed a rift with the Zheng family. If I perform soul searching on Unlike Ning Zhuo, I will be at odds with the Ning family."

"Meng Kui asked me to perform soul searching on Unlike Ning Zhuo... he is just a small Qi Condensation stage cultivator, just a peripheral pawn won over by the Kong Sect, what could he possibly know?"

"What's more, Meng Kui is also strange!"

Zhu Xuanji calculated the time.

When the hole appeared in the Lava Xian Gong, Meng Kui did not take action in time.

The three Jin Dan cultivators all sent emergency letters, but without Meng Kui's protection, the letters would be attacked and destroyed by the ubiquitous red-flame spirit beasts as soon as they flew out of the Lava Xian Gong.

"So, Meng Kui also deliberately suppressed the spread of the letters and did not receive or escort them in the first instance, which is why I received them so late."

"The Meng family's desire to seize the Lava Xian Gong is too strong."