Chapter 203: Pursuing the Murderer Zi Tu

It was noon, and the sky should have been bright and clear, but to Xu Qing, the light was no longer so brilliant. The 176th Port was bustling with activity, yet in Xu Qing's perception, all sound seemed to have vanished.

That intense sense of unreality made him feel as if it were all a joke. The distant crowds, the birds flying overhead, the sounds of boats from the sea—everything seemed cut off from his awareness.

It was as if the world, in his mind, had split into two layers: one containing everyone and everything, and the other holding only himself.

It was too sudden. Few people could immediately accept such abrupt news, and even fewer could react instantly.

Xu Qing stumbled back a few steps, clutching tightly to the railing of his magic boat.

The sea breeze blew, tousling his hair, but it couldn't dispel the rapidly building suppression in his chest. He wanted to roar, to scream, but no sound escaped him.

Xu Qing valued kindness immensely.

“We will meet again,” Xu Qing murmured in his heart.

He recalled his past search for the Heaven's Mandate Flower in the Scavenger's Camp, Master Bai's profound gaze in the tent, and the scene where he had nervously inquired while holding other herbs.

Finally, before his eyes appeared a series of departing carriages, with Master Bai sitting in one, an old smile on his face, nodding towards him.

Now, it had all vanished.

Captain Lei had given Xu Qing the feeling of family. Master Bai had bestowed upon Xu Qing a kindness as profound as a mountain.

These two elders could be said to have pulled the young man, who had emerged from a city filled with blood rain and corpses—a city resembling purgatory under the gaze of the divine remnant face—back into the human world.

However, heaven and earth were unkind, and the chaotic era was cruel. Life in this world was worthless.

Even after Xu Qing joined the Seven Blood Eyes, much of what he saw and heard was no longer the pervasive desolation of the Scavenger's Camp. Instead, it manifested in his eyes in a different way.

But this didn't mean everything outside was the same. Whether it was cannibalism or cruel slaughter, it was constantly playing out in this world under the gods.

At this moment, a murderous intent continuously erupted in Xu Qing's heart, as if a sharp blade had appeared within him, wildly unleashing overwhelming killing intent. It wanted to break free from his body, to vent itself upon the world.

Xu Qing's body trembled.

For a long, long time, Xu Qing took a deep breath. Looking at the Captain, whose face showed concern, his voice, unconsciously, became a little hoarse as he spoke softly.

“I'm fine.”

As Xu Qing spoke, he lowered his gaze and picked up the red jade slip in his hand. Forcing himself to calm down, he re-examined it.

Grandmaster Seven clearly possessed extremely extensive connections and capabilities. So his jade slip not only informed him of Master Bai's death but also included clues and information about the perpetrator, uncovered by Purple Earth.

The true cause of death was unknown for now. But the jade slip stated that after Master Bai's assassination, nothing was missing from his person or residence, except for the lower scroll of a pill formula called the “Lunar Arrogance Transformation Pill.”

This was an item unearthed from a Wish Box countless years ago. It originated from the previous era and was recorded on unknown beast hide. The pill described within was utterly depraved and vicious to the extreme.

For each Lunar Arrogance Refinement Pill, the main ingredient came from exceptional prodigies. Three individuals formed one ingredient, and six ingredients were needed for the refinement, ultimately forming a blood pill.

Consuming this pill could miraculously transform a commoner into a prodigy.

Master Bai had accidentally acquired the lower scroll and deemed the pill too malevolent. He initially intended to destroy it, but due to its inherent medicinal value, he kept it in his collection, unknown to most outsiders.

Purple Earth was also investigating the specific identity of the culprit. Grandmaster Seven couldn't ascertain more detailed information, but relying on his connections within Purple Earth, he still managed to uncover some clues.

The culprit was not human, but a rare and eerie race from the Forbidden Sea, known as the Ghostly Specter Tribe.

This tribe was known as the Undying Race, not because they couldn't truly die, but because their eerie abilities made it almost impossible for outsiders to truly capture or kill them. Every time they died, they would immediately revive on a previously marked creature.

Although each revival incurred a cost, it wasn't significant.

This caused considerable trouble for Purple Earth's investigation. Purple Earth's situation was complex, with various families vying openly and secretly for power and profit. While Master Bai was alive, his value was immense, and countless people benefited from his generosity.

But he was not a cultivator; he was merely a mortal, an old man nearing the end of his days.

And mortals, no matter how great their contributions, were considered inferior in the eyes of cultivators, especially in the eyes of Purple Earth's rigid and conservative authorities.

Just tools.

Therefore, after Master Bai's death, although Purple Earth was enraged and did investigate, their efforts were noticeably lukewarm. As for those who had received his kindness, none offered much assistance.

When a person leaves, the tea grows cold, especially in this cruel and chaotic era.

But they still sealed off all external teleportation from Purple Earth and notified the Departing Path Sect, the Word of Truth, and the Seven Blood Eyes to similarly block teleportation.

After doing all this, Purple Earth's focus almost entirely shifted to Master Bai's legacy in alchemy. Even the Bai family itself was divided on the matter, with some advocating for revenge and others beginning to divide his assets.

This was Purple Earth. And why, despite being true South Phoenix Continent natives, Purple Earth could now only exist as one of many factions. Their stubbornness and insularity were deeply ingrained.

That's why Grandmaster Seven's red jade slip came into being. He couldn't return himself, so he entrusted the matter to the Captain, because throughout the South Phoenix Continent, only the Seventh Peak of Seven Blood Eyes truly understood the Forbidden Sea.

And only they were most skilled at tracking and investigating foreign races from the Forbidden Sea.

“Typically, for such assassinations, there wouldn't be too many perpetrators. Given the characteristics of the Ghostly Specter Tribe, it's highly probable there was only one, and their cultivation shouldn't be at the Golden Core stage.

“Because Purple Earth's grand array heavily suppresses and restricts external Golden Core cultivators. A foreign Golden Core would have a much higher chance of exposure than a less noticeable Foundation Establishment cultivator.

“Therefore, for the Seven Blood Eyes personnel investigating this time, Purple Earth also has a similar requirement: Golden Core cultivators are not allowed to enter. If I were to go, I would search for unusual substances containing the aura of the Forbidden Sea, using special magical artifacts for identification. This process might take some time. Also, I'm unsure how long Purple Earth's blockade will last.

“After all, Purple Earth has many families; the Bai family is just one of them.”

The Captain looked at Xu Qing and spoke softly. “I'll go,” Xu Qing said, raising his head, his voice calm.

There was no emotional fluctuation in his words, yet the Captain sensed a brewing storm within them, on the verge of eruption.

“Xu Qing, I can create a hidden teleportation portal for you later, to facilitate your return. Once you find the culprit, you can reach that point and teleport back. The focus of hired assassination...”

“The main point is to find the true mastermind.” Xu Qing's body shot into the air, his right hand waving. As the sea roared, his magic boat glowed brightly and was instantly retrieved by Xu Qing. He didn't pause in mid-air, heading straight for the Seven Blood Eyes' teleportation array.

Although everything was sealed, a one-way teleportation was still possible with the jade slip.

At this moment, killing intent and urgency coexisted within Xu Qing's heart, constantly intertwining, creating an even deeper suppression in his chest, which made his speed astonishing.

The whistling sound generated by his burst of speed caused everyone who witnessed it in the main city of Seven Blood Eyes to feel a jolt in their hearts, all startled.

In the next instant, Xu Qing's figure appeared at the location of the Seven Blood Eyes' teleportation array. Without the slightest hesitation, the moment Xu Qing landed, he stood within the array.

“Purple Earth Capital!” Xu Qing said, his face expressionless, his voice low.

The disciple in charge of teleportation recognized Xu Qing and immediately obeyed, beginning to adjust the array. After three breaths’ time, as the teleportation array glowed, Xu Qing's figure instantly vanished within it.

The teleportation ripples spread in all directions, roaring. As Xu Qing vanished, the Captain also arrived, rushing quickly.

Standing outside the teleportation array, he looked into the distance and let out a long sigh.

Regarding Xu Qing and Master Bai's matter, he had only learned about it from the archives after becoming the Head of the Intelligence Department. He also knew that the old man had played a significant role in it.

It was the old man who recommended Xu Qing, and Master Bai had uncharacteristically given his final approval to Xu Qing.

Therefore, the Captain knew it wasn't appropriate for him to get involved.

Because he felt that Xu Qing also didn't want others to participate.

“I once felt something similar back then; I only wanted to be alone,” the Captain said, a hint of recollection in his eyes. A touch of sadness seemed to well up again from deep within his heart, but in the next instant, it was forcefully suppressed.

Then he looked around and said with a smile, “Everyone, this area is being requisitioned by the Intelligence Department.”

As his words spread, the Seven Blood Eyes' teleportation array quickly became empty, taken over by the disciples of the Intelligence Department. Then the Captain took a deep breath and looked up at the sky.

“As the Third Sequence of Seven Blood Eyes, as the Chief Disciple of the Seventh Peak, and as the Head of the Seventh Peak's Intelligence Department, I request the activation of the sect's grand array to close all Seven Blood Eyes teleportation arrays and seal the Seven Blood Eyes port.”

“Preventing all foreign ships traveling to and from Seven Blood Eyes from leaving or entering the port.”

As the Captain's words spread, the entire Seven Blood Eyes formation rumbled. Soon, a divine thought resonated from the Sixth Peak.

The Captain cupped his fist and bowed towards the Sixth Peak, speaking in a low voice. “Sixth Martial Uncle, this disciple has some evidence and suspicions that might uncover the truth behind Senior Brother Chen's demise. I ask Martial Uncle to permit this disciple to seal the sect!”

The Sixth Peak suddenly erupted with overwhelming power, causing the world to change color and wind and clouds to churn. After a moment, a low voice resonated.

“Granted!”

The Captain lowered his head, bowed deeply, and murmured in his heart.

“Little A'Qing, this is all your senior brother can do. I hope you can investigate thoroughly. My first impression of this matter is that it's far from simple.”

“Lunar Arrogance Refinement Pill.”

“Over the years, haven't there been quite a few disappearances at sea?”

The Captain narrowed his eyes, his gaze profound.