Chapter 324: Soul Search! The Truth!

The voice was gentle, carrying a hint of solemn balance.

Chen Mu casually tossed Cao Liangxing onto the mirror-smooth floor, etched with star patterns, returned the bow, then got straight to the point—his deliberately altered, gravelly voice echoing through the vast hall.

"May I ask, Star Lord, which Star Lord specializes in the Soul-Search technique?"

Through the Star Token's resonance, Chen Mu already knew this figure before him was the "Star of Tian Tong."

"Oh? The Soul-Search technique?"

Upon hearing this, the Star Lord of Tian Tong's tone shifted with a hint of curiosity; he glanced at Cao Liangxing, immobilized on the ground, his eyes darting with venomous hatred, "I happen to have a passing familiarity with it. Star Lord, are you seeking to…?"

"This man has deep ties to the 'Beast God' organization!"

Chen Mu pointed at Cao Liangxing and said gravely, "Wu Qu seeks a Star Lord skilled in Soul-Search to extract intelligence on the 'Beast God' organization from him."

Killing Cao Liangxing outright and relying on the 'Acquire' ability to obtain memory cards had too low a probability.

The Soul-Search technique, however, could directly and maximally read his soul's memories—though it might inflict irreversible damage or even shatter his soul, for members of the dangerous 'Beast God' organization, Chen Mu felt no pity.

Yet such an advanced technique, touching the soul's origin, was beyond Chen Mu's own mastery.

But he believed the Star Palace teemed with hidden dragons and tigers, its Tiangong realm masters numerous—someone must surely know this art.

That was why he had brought Cao Liangxing straight to the Star Palace seeking aid.

Unexpectedly, fortune came knocking—he had barely entered the Starlit Hall when he encountered the departing Star of Tian Tong.

And he, coincidentally, knew the Soul-Search technique!

"A 'Beast God' member?"

Upon hearing this, the Star Lord of Tian Tong's tone sharply changed—his gentleness gave way to solemnity and coldness; his gaze returned to Cao Liangxing, scrutinizing him closely.

"Precisely."

Chen Mu nodded, "This man just now attempted suicide to conceal secrets—I stopped him. What conditions, Star Lord of Tian Tong, must be met for you to assist Wu Qu in performing Soul-Search on this fiend?"

"Anything tied to the 'Beast God' requires no transaction."

Upon hearing this, the Star Lord of Tian Tong's gentle tone instantly turned solemn; he waved his hand, his voice firm, "The 'Beast God' organization operates with treachery and poses grave danger—it is the common enemy of us all 'Star Gods.' Star Lord, capturing one of its lackeys is already a meritorious deed."

So easygoing?

Chen Mu blinked slightly—he realized the 'Star Gods' organization's vigilance and hostility toward the 'Beast God' ran deeper than he'd imagined.

He said no more, solemnly bowed with clasped fists, "Then, thank you, Star Lord, for your aid!"

"It is my duty." The Star Lord of Tian Tong waved again, signaling no further formalities.

Immediately, his gaze turned to Cao Liangxing, collapsed on the ground, trembling uncontrollably from pain and terror.

He did not approach—only stood in place, his right hand reaching out into empty air.

A soft yet irresistible invisible force instantly enveloped Cao Liangxing's broken body, lifting him into the air and suspending him three feet before the Star Lord of Tian Tong.

The Star Lord of Tian Tong stood motionless; his mask revealed only a pair of eyes—like two bottomless, icy stars—sharp and focused, their gaze piercing directly into the depths of Cao Liangxing's scattered eyes, clouded by agony and despair.

Suddenly—

Hum!

A strange, mysterious purple-gold light erupted from deep within the Star Lord of Tian Tong's eyes.

The light was not blinding, yet it seemed to carry the power to penetrate the soul's origin, forming two slender beams that struck with perfect precision into Cao Liangxing's pupils!

"Ugh… Aaah—!!!"

Cao Liangxing's body snapped rigid, as if struck by invisible thunder.

His remaining intact head jerked violently backward, his throat erupting in a scream utterly inhuman.

The scream brimmed with the ultimate pain of the soul being torn, rifled through, violently invaded!

Every muscle in his body spasmed uncontrollably, convulsing violently enough to nearly shake his shattered frame apart.

Blood oozed like serpents from all seven orifices—eyes, nostrils, ears, corners of the mouth—all stained crimson.

A foul stench spread through the air; his lower body lost control, excrement and urine gushing forth, staining the starlit floor beneath him.

The Soul-Search technique was brutal and ferocious, striking directly at the soul's origin—the suffering endured by the subject far exceeded that of fleshly dismemberment!

Chen Mu watched silently beside him, his masked eyes showing no flicker of emotion.

For members of the 'Beast God' organization—especially one like Cao Liangxing, who likely participated in the Liang Fu massacre and regarded common folk as grass—Chen Mu felt not a shred of pity.

Time passed slowly; roughly three minutes elapsed.

Cao Liangxing's piercing screams gradually faded, devolving into unconscious, idiotic muttering and ragged, gasping breaths.

The light in his eyes vanished entirely, replaced by emptiness and vacancy; his bones and sinews seemed drained, collapsing like mud, leaving only a faint breath to prove he had not yet died—but his soul had been grievously wounded, rendered a Bai Chi.

The purple-gold light in the Star Lord of Tian Tong's eyes slowly receded, returning to normal.

He closed his eyes briefly; his aura rippled momentarily, as if digesting and organizing the chaotic, overwhelming fragments of memory forcibly extracted.

After a moment, he exhaled a slow, turbid breath, his voice carrying a chill.

"Found it. This man is indeed a peripheral member of the 'Beast God' organization, subordinate to 'Jiu Ying,' one of his many 'Beast Servants.'"

"Which forces in Weizhou was he allied with?" Chen Mu immediately pressed—this was the key.

"Many," the Star Lord of Tian Tong said gravely. "Seven local families and sects in Weizhou had clear financial ties. Additionally…"

He paused slightly, looking at Chen Mu. "There is also the Chief Clerk of the Zhenwu Bureau."

"The Chief Clerk of the Zhenwu Bureau?"

Chen Mu's eyes flared with icy light; his tone turned sharply cold. "Who?"

"Tang Ji, Du Yuansheng, He Xiaoming," the Star Lord of Tian Tong stated clearly, naming three names.

Chen Mu fell silent.

Though he had suspected it, confirmation now sent a surge of fury through him.

Three core high-ranking officials of a province's Zhenwu Bureau—all corrupted, turned into dogs of the 'Beast God' organization!

The Star Lord of Tian Tong continued, "This Cao Liangxing attained his position as head of the Weizhou Canal Guild branch through the 'Beast God' organization's behind-the-scenes maneuvering and massive bribes."

"His Earth Altar Realm Three Flowers Converging at the Crown cultivation was also forcibly boosted by consuming large quantities of pills and relying on treasures — his foundation is hollow, his combat power mediocre, far inferior to those of the same rank."

"These people have been operating in Weizhou for many years and have already formed a community of shared interests, deeply entrenched. Even within the Jiuxuan Sect and the Divine Eagle Gate, there are people they have secretly pulled in and corrupted."

At this point, Celestial Lord Tiantong's tone grew even more Solemn.

"Their biggest recent scheme is colluding with the overseas 'Snake King Isle,' preparing to transport one hundred 'Giant Snake King Eggs' into Weizhou ten days from now through a hidden waterway controlled by the Canal Gang!"