Chapter 285: The Ghost-Crow Painting

More than ten days later, massive magical vessels descended slowly from the sky and landed on a vast platform atop Tianzhu Mountain.

One by one, disciples of the Four Symbols Sect stepped down from the vessels.

Each bore an air of ease; some impulsive ones even immediately formed hand seals and levitated into the air, ready to leave.

But the next instant, a soft "puff" echoed through the air—thin white threads of light appeared, and every Four Symbols Sect disciple who had risen into the air was instantly thrown back down to the ground.

The platform had activated some grand forbidden array, trapping everyone within.

This sight startled many disciples; some, panicked, began cursing loudly.

After all, they had barely returned from the Jialan Trial, having fought tooth and nail for the sect—only to be treated this way by their own sect. How could any disciple not fly into a rage?

"Silence."

At that moment, a chilling voice rang out from the largest magical vessel.

The voice seemed infused with some secret art, like a bucket of ice water poured over every disciple's head, instantly jolting them into sober awareness.

Then, a man clad in black armor, carrying a massive shield, flew out and hovered midair, expressionless, addressing the disciples below:

"A white bone avatar of a demonic elder has appeared in the Jialan Secret Realm. To prevent our disciples from being secretly marked by demonic arts without knowing, all who return from the secret realm must undergo inspection before returning to their quarters."

"This is a direct order from Master Tianchan. No one is exempt."

After speaking these words, the black-armored man paid no further attention to the disciples below and flew back to the vessel.

Meanwhile, from pavilions surrounding the platform, squads of Enforcement Hall disciples emerged, guiding the disciples toward a row of isolated stone huts nearby.

Above these huts, a dozen Foundation Establishment elders materialized in midair, watching everything below.

Wang Yu, seeing this, showed a flicker of surprise on his face—but made no unusual move. He obediently followed the Enforcement disciple who came to guide him into one of the stone huts.

Inside the hut stood only a table and a chair; the walls were plastered with gray-white talismans, and on the floor beneath the chair was painted a circular spirit-pattern array.

Behind the table stood a middle-aged man with one side of his hair blazing red, dressed in a white robe embroidered with crimson flame patterns on the chest and sleeves.

"Master Gu."

Wang Yu recognized the man's face—he froze for a moment, then quickly bowed respectfully.

The white-robed man was none other than Master Gu, whom he had just spoken of with Li Tianqi not long ago.

"Wang, my junior disciple, it's been only a few years, yet you've already reached the late Qi Refining stage—and made such a name for yourself in the Jialan Secret Realm. I never imagined this." Master Gu's expression was complex; he waved his hand, and the Enforcement disciple who had brought Wang Yu immediately withdrew from the hut.

"This is all thanks to Master Gu's care—without you, I could never have become an inner sect disciple," Wang Yu quickly thanked him, not surprised the man already knew of his deeds in the Jialan Secret Realm.

"Heh, it was the Ancestor's idea to admit you into the inner sect—I dare not take credit. But though you've done great service for the sect this time, the inspection must still be carried out. Sit down." The red-haired man pointed to the chair before him.

Wang Yu bowed respectfully, then sat gently upon the chair.

Master Gu pulled a scroll from his sleeve, flicked his wrist, and the scroll flew upward, slowly unfurling to reveal a massive two-headed monstrous bird.

In the painting, the monstrous bird perched on a thick branch, its entire body covered in crimson feathers, its beak and talons jet-black. One head was adorned with long, elegant plumes, radiating noble grace; the other head was completely bald, grotesquely ugly.

Wang Yu stared at the monstrous bird in the painting, his face filled with astonishment.

Only then did Master Gu calmly explain:

"This is the Twin-Headed Ghost-Faced Crow, the spiritual bird of our mountain's Li Huo Ancestor. Its innate talent excels at countering soul arts. Though this spiritual bird perished in the last great war, the several 'Spirit-Imprint Paintings'—crafted and preserved by secret methods—still retain a fraction of its power."

"I will now ask you several questions. Some may relate to the Jialan Secret Realm. If you lie, or if any abnormal fluctuation arises in your soul during your answers, the Ghost-Faced Crow's imprint will immediately cry out."

"Moreover, the spirit-pattern array beneath your chair is directly linked to our sect's foundational array. If you harbor any secret, don't even think of escaping—even a Foundation Establishment cultivator would be trapped here until death. Are you ready?" Master Gu said solemnly.

Wang Yu was inwardly startled, but his face revealed no trace of it as he replied, "Yes."

Master Gu nodded, formed a hand seal with one hand, and shot a spell toward the floating imprint.

The next instant, a bizarre scene unfolded!

The once lifeless monstrous bird in the painting lifted both heads slightly. The noble head slowly closed its eyes; the bald, grotesque head widened its eyes, fixing them unblinkingly on Wang Yu seated on the chair, its pupils glowing faintly green—as if truly alive.

Wang Yu felt a chill crawl up his spine, as if a monstrous, terrifying entity had locked its gaze upon him.

"Wang, my junior disciple, don't be afraid. Just answer my questions truthfully."

"Wang Yu, do you still remember the first time you met me? Describe it in detail."

"Also, after that first meeting, who did I take you to see? Describe the entire process." Master Gu kept one hand sealed, his voice unyielding.

"When I first passed the examination and entered the sect for evaluation by several elders, the elders I met were…" Wang Yu began his answer.

Throughout this, the Ghost-Faced Crow's imprint merely stared at Wang Yu without any other movement.

Seeing this, Master Gu proceeded to ask several more questions.

Wang Yu answered each one truthfully.

"Good. I have two more questions regarding the Jialan Secret Realm."

"Wang, my junior disciple, did you personally kill three demonic sect true disciples in the Jialan Secret Realm?" Master Gu nodded slightly, then asked suddenly, his eyes fixed intently on Wang Yu's face.

"I personally killed those three demonic true disciples. Not a single word of falsehood." Wang Yu replied without hesitation.

"Good. Your other gains in the Jialan Secret Realm are your private matters—the sect will not inquire. So I ask only one final question: Did you obtain any clues or items in the secret realm related to forming a Nascent Soul?" Master Gu stared at Wang Yu, each word deliberate.