Checking In for Sixty Years, From Puppet Emperor to Heavenly Emperor – Chapter 60

Ch 60: The Only Clue

Inside the Ethereal Abode Study, Zhou An entered, and the four women stopped what they were doing, stood up, and greeted him, saying, “Master.”

“No need to stand on ceremony. I have an important matter that I need you to help me analyze.” Zhou An sat down in the middle and told everyone about all the recent events, asking them to help him brainstorm.

“Based on the current situation, there must be a connection between the Western Sorcery Poison and the Righteous-Demonic War. Someone wants to spread the Witchcraft Poison into the Qianyuan Empire, but Immortal Cultivators certainly wouldn’t dare to get involved with such great karma, so the person behind it can only let those Houtian Martial Artists who have learned magic participate.”

“Analyzing from this point, foreign forces other than the countries in the Western Regions are all possible masterminds. But adding the instigation of the Righteous-Demonic War within the Qianyuan Empire, that’s not something other countries can do. Immortal Cultivators must be involved, otherwise it would be impossible to involve so many Great Powers.”

“Looking at it this way, it actually rules out the other countries, because once the Witchcraft Poison spreads to an uncontrollable situation, it would be a disaster for the entire continent. Moreover, if the Righteous Path weakens and the Demonic Path prevails, what follows is unbridled slaughter. No country would dare to face this situation,” Qin Yu said.

Qi Hui continued, “The last time the Black-Robed Man came to give us information, it was just to drag us into this fight between the Righteous and Demonic paths. Moreover, the other party displayed Black Flame Demonic Sha, a very powerful force. Without a High-Grade Defensive Spiritual Treasure, contact means death.”

“Everything he’s doing benefits no one. It can be said to be a suicidal approach. Combining this information, it’s basically certain that the person behind this must already be a Demonic Cultivator and good at scheming. Considering all these factors, there shouldn’t be many people who fit the criteria.”

“The most suitable candidate I know is Tian Chanzi, Sect Leader of the Heavenly Path Sect.”

Zhou An nodded. The destruction of Heavenly Path Peak was too sudden, and Tian Chanzi’s disappearance was already very suspicious. He thought of something and questioned, “Divine Beggar once said that Tian Chanzi had already passed the Sixth Heavenly Tribulation. Judging from the time, it’s impossible for him to prepare for the Ninth Heavenly Tribulation so quickly, so he’s still alive and definitely hasn’t entered the Demon path.”

Qi Hui immediately said, “There may be more than one person behind the scenes.”

Zhou An frowned and nodded, saying, “Regardless of whether it’s Tian Chanzi or not, the biggest clue now is the corpse of the clone left by the Black-Robed Man. I’ve already asked the Brocade Guard to investigate, and there should be new clues soon.”

Xing Yan said, “No matter who it is, someone who can manipulate all of this behind the scenes has considerable energy in the Immortal Cultivation world. I’m afraid the current Brocade Guard doesn’t have the ability to investigate.”

“Well, during this time, I still need you to guide the newly joined disciples of the Ethereal Abode so that they can improve quickly,” Zhou An said.

“Don’t worry, Master. These Purple Guard are all carefully selected people, trained from a young age. Their talent and Jianghu experience are outstanding, and their foundation is much better than ordinary people.”

“Plus the Elixir provided by the Hundred Flowers Palace disciples, it will definitely make them rising stars in a short time,” Shu Yao said.

After leaving the Ethereal Abode, Zhou An found Zhou Ling Sha in the Qianyang Palace hall.

As soon as this girl came in, the first thing she did was ask for something delicious. Zhou An had already prepared it, pointing to three pastries and a bottle of drink on the table.

She ran over happily, picked them up and started eating, revealing a satisfied expression.

“How’s the investigation of that corpse going?” Zhou An asked.

“It’s been found. He’s from Panyang Town, a Wandering Hero. Not many locals know him, and his specific origin is unknown. All that’s known is that his name is Zhao Ji, and he’s a Houtian Seventh Level.”

“The last place he disappeared was East Sun Mountain. I’ve already sent a team of Brocade Guard to investigate there.” Zhou Ling Sha said vaguely, her mouth stuffed full, relying on the drink to wash down the food.

Zhou An frowned and said, “There may be Heretical Path Cultivators. You immediately take people to support them. If you encounter danger, immediately notify me with a Communication Talisman. Be careful in everything.”

“Got it.” Zhou Ling Sha finished the drink in one gulp, packed up all the remaining snacks, and left quickly without saying goodbye.

Zhou An shook his head and smiled, taking out the Heavenly Path Sect book from the System Space to read.

On East Sun Mountain, east of Panyang Town, a team of Brocade Guard searched the mountain according to the clues they had investigated. Because too much time had passed, the traces were long gone, so they could only search the area thoroughly.

These people were all professional scouts, and their search was strategic. First, they searched the areas suitable for hiding.

As a result, when three of them entered a deep valley, they discovered a very hidden mountain village.

Just as they were about to go over to investigate, suddenly a mound of earth exploded beside them, and seven people rushed out. Their faces were gray and white like dead people, their eyes were pale and lifeless, and they pounced over like beasts.

The three drew their blades and with just one move, the seven were beheaded and fell.

But they quickly got up again. Then, similar people emerged from other mounds around them, both men and women.

“Corpses! This should be it. Send the signal, we’re killing our way in.” One of them said and charged towards the group of dead people, waving his saber. The saber energy was horizontal and vertical, easily severing the corpses’ hands and feet.

Another took out a signal flare and shot a crimson spark into the sky. Then, the three of them charged towards the mountain village together.

Even if these corpses were as strong as oxen, they were still being cut off at the hands and feet by the three Brocade Guard, losing their mobility.

When they rushed into the front yard of the mountain village, a group of people was already lined up waiting. A tall, thin man stood at the door of the main room, clapping his hands and sneering, “The Brocade Guard’s ability to seek death is really amazing. It just so happens that we’re short of corpses of Jianghu experts.”

The three Brocade Guard looked at each other and nodded. At the same time, they separated and used the same saber technique, splitting out dozens of saber energies to slash at the surrounding people.

Those people were also Jianghu experts, most of them above Houtian Fifth Level, but when faced with the Brocade Guard’s saber energy, their weapons were directly cut off. There was no match for them.

They saw the three people’s movements were strange, shuttling through the crowd. With each wave of their blades, people inside the mountain village fell one after another.

It wasn’t until all these people were killed that the three Brocade Guard flew and landed around the tall, thin man, surrounding him.

The man remained unmoved, laughing loudly, “Good, very good. I’ll accept your bodies.”

Two Brocade Guard rushed up and slashed down with both hands holding their sabers. The tall, thin man didn’t dodge or avoid, letting their sabers strike his shoulders and head.

It should be known that the average strength of the current Brocade Guard is Houtian Eighth Level, and the sabers in their hands are considered rare and high-quality in the Jianghu.

But when the blades struck the tall, thin man’s body, they actually made a sound of metal clashing.

The man was extremely fast, slapping the chests of the two people with both hands. The Brocade Guard on both sides didn’t have time to react at all. His fingers pierced through their armor, and then he slapped them away. After falling to the ground, they vomited several mouthfuls of blood, and they couldn’t get up with just one blow.

The third Brocade Guard stabbed at the back of the man’s head from behind. As a result, the man turned around, reached out and grabbed the blade, twisted his hand, and the saber made of fine steel was directly twisted into a twist.

The Brocade Guard was shocked and used his lightness skill to retreat, but just as he jumped up, the tall, thin man rushed in front of him at an even faster speed, grabbed his forehead, opened his mouth, and bit his neck.

The Brocade Guard slapped the man’s head with his palm. The Houtian Eighth Level Internal Force slapped the man’s head. The palm power, which was enough to split monuments and crack rocks, couldn’t hurt him at all.

After struggling for a few seconds, the Brocade Guard’s face turned blue. Soon, his hands and feet stopped moving, his hands drooped down, and his body became shriveled.

The tall, thin man threw the corpse aside, walked towards the seriously injured two Brocade Guard, licked the corner of his mouth, and showed his fangs, grinning, “The Brocade Guard are different. The taste of this blood is also the best among people, haha. How can those hillbillies compare with you? I can’t help but get addicted. I’m going to your Brocade Guard headquarters and have a good time.”

“Arrogant Demon.”

A man’s angry shout came from outside. Then, more than a dozen Brocade Guard flew in and surrounded the man. A Commander flew and landed in front of the man, carrying an ink-blue saber behind him.