Chapter 226: Arrogant and Overbearing

The Department of Investigation also compiled Sima Ling's information and sent it to Xu Qing. Sima Ling is a prodigious talent from the Hunt Anomalies Sect.

Xu Qing remained calm as he glanced through the details.

"Sima Ling, the current prodigious talent of the Hunt Anomalies Sect. His cultivation is at the peak of Foundation Establishment's Four Fires realm. He doesn't possess a 'Life Lamp' and hasn't mastered any imperial-level cultivation techniques. The art he practices is called 'Sealed Nether Anomalies Record'."

"This individual is cruel and violent. He has sealed multiple anomalies within his body, making him incredibly powerful. During his challenge to the Third Peak, he brutally injured three of the Third Peak's princes, showing extreme malice. A few days ago, he fought the Third Peak's eldest prince to a draw and agreed to a rematch tomorrow morning."

Investigations revealed that Sima Ling was one of the main clients the Night Ravens had gathered at Seven Blood Eyes to conduct a transaction with.

"Sir, how should we handle this matter?"

Xu Qing's eyes narrowed, and he replied calmly via telepathic communication: "Arrest them. If they resist, capture them all, regardless of life or death!"

"Understood, Your Honor!"

At Xu Qing's command, thousands of disciples from the seven Investigation Departments of Seven Blood Eyes immediately mobilized. Under the cover of night, they headed directly for Port 79.

Additionally, the directors of two other Investigation Departments, from the First Peak and the Third Peak respectively, led their own teams. It was clear that the director of the Third Peak's Investigation Department harbored considerable resentment towards this prodigious talent from the Hunt Anomalies Sect.

After issuing his orders, Xu Qing rose from the boat cabin, retracted his magic vessel, and stepped into the air, flying straight towards Port 79.

At this moment, a bright moon hung high in the sky. Although the sky was dark, the moonlight illuminated Port 79. By a berth near the shore, a massive boat lay docked.

This vessel, a thousand feet in length, appeared as a colossal entity in the night. Carriages were being transported onto it.

On the shore, a young man in luxurious robes stood with his hands behind his back, casting a cold gaze at the boat.

The youth, appearing to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, had eyes like stars. His entire body emanated an eerie aura, and the surrounding area where he stood was noticeably thick with anomalous energy. Notably, his eyes were not of the same color. His left eye was red, and his right eye was deep blue.

These distinct eye colors made him appear extraordinary. Upon closer inspection, it seemed as though two infernos burned within his eyes, fueled by red and blue flames. Within these flames, a vast amount of bizarre mist was being incinerated, emitting silent, mournful cries. This sound was inaudible to the physical ear, but anyone approaching him would have their mind affected, becoming ensnared by countless piercing wails.

The young man's demeanor was clearly arrogant and aloof. He stood there without even bothering to conceal his face, seemingly unafraid of being seen, confident that even if he were noticed, it wouldn't matter. This individual was indeed Sima Ling, the prodigious talent of the Hunt Anomalies Sect.

In front of him stood over a dozen figures in black, all Night Raven members. Each possessed considerable cultivation, yet they were visibly on high alert, scanning their surroundings while urging the carriages to expedite their loading.

Furthermore, on a distant building, an elder in luxurious robes stood under the moonlight, gazing at the scene, his Golden Core cultivation spreading outwards. His gaze was fixed solely on Sima Ling, disregarding everything else. This elder was Sima Ling's guardian, accompanying him to Seven Blood Eyes for this venture.

As the night wind blew, it tousled Sima Ling's hair. In his hand, held behind his back, he was turning a string of black beads, a hint of dissatisfaction on his face.

"Is this all? The goods you Night Ravens have delivered this time are far too few."

"Prince Sima, we couldn't help it. You insisted on trading here at Seven Blood Eyes, and Seven Blood Eyes holds great hostility towards our Night Ravens. A few years ago, there was an extremely brutal suppression."

"Actually, we brought more goods this time, but at least thirty percent of them were discovered by Seven Blood Eyes. Their Department of Investigation is very troublesome," one of the black-clad figures in front of Sima Ling said with a wry smile.

"The Department of Investigation?" Sima Ling sneered, feeling a trace of displeasure. As a prodigious talent of the Hunt Anomalies Sect and a cultivator from the Grand Ancient Continent, he naturally looked down upon Seven Blood Eyes as a minor faction. Especially after consecutively challenging the Third Peak's princes, he found them all to be quite weak.

As for the Department of Investigation, he had heard about it recently, knowing that this department had been very active in capturing Night Ravens. This also filled him with an inner sense of aversion.

"Prince Sima, I advise you... it would be best to conceal yourself. The Department of Investigation of Seven Blood Eyes, especially the one from the Seventh Peak, has become incredibly ruthless and audacious in its methods since Xu Qing became its new director..."

"Xu Qing is just a minor figure; there's no need for that. If they don't come, so be it. But if they dare to, I'd like to see if a bunch of branch sect disciples are rebelling, daring to interfere with the main sect's affairs without any rules. Let alone this Xu Qing from the Seventh Peak, who isn't even a prince, even Huang Yikun of their main sect, the Xuanzhao Sect, wouldn't dare to meddle in my business!" Sima Ling spoke indifferently.

The black-clad figure in front of him hesitated, about to speak further, but just then, a whooshing sound suddenly came from a distance. A signal shot into the sky and exploded mid-air, forming a large character for "Fiend"! Simultaneously, figures whistled in from all directions, and a chilling voice echoed across the area.

"By order of the Department of Investigation, we are arresting the thousand-strong Night Ravens and their accomplices. Bystanders, step aside!"

All the black-clad figures immediately changed their expressions and retreated. Disciples of the Department of Investigation rushed towards them, but at that moment, Sima Ling sneered and stepped forward.

"Presumptuous!"

As his foot landed, the four 'Life Flames' within him ignited instantly. A terrifying aura, capable of shaking the heavens and altering the very colors of the sky, erupted from his body with a thunderous roar. As these flames burned, it was as if an entire world was being refined within him, generating a tangible pressure. With his single step forward, the surroundings rumbled. The Investigation Department disciples charging from a distance all coughed up blood and were sent reeling backward.

A storm, centered on Sima Ling, swept across the shore in all directions.

"Continue loading the boat." Sima Ling swept his gaze over the Investigation Department disciples whose expressions had drastically changed and who dared not approach. A hint of disdain appeared in his eyes, as he noted that there were indeed Foundation Establishment cultivators among them. There were even two passable individuals: one exuded the aura of the Soaring Cloud Sword Sect, and the other had the eerie fluctuations of the Hunt Anomalies Sect. These two were precisely the directors of the First Peak and Third Peak's Investigation Departments, neither of whom had approached, seemingly waiting for something.

"The cultivation techniques practiced by the seven peaks of Seven Blood Eyes are essentially the seven sect techniques, but clearly on a lower level. I don't understand what the sect is worried about; they're just a rabble." Sima Ling's character had always been extremely arrogant, even within his own sect, and this became even more pronounced after arriving at Seven Blood Eyes.

The Night Ravens surrounding them were also deeply shaken. They had been terrified of Seven Blood Eyes' Department of Investigation, so seeing the department intimidated now, they all breathed a sigh of relief. Most also felt that the Department of Investigation was not particularly formidable and would still have to bow down to their main sect.

They began to move, sending more carriages onto the boat, but just as they intensified their efforts, a black light arrived silently from a distance, moving with the speed of a black lightning bolt. In fact, it *was* a bolt of lightning. It instantly drew near, piercing through the neck of one of the black-clad Night Ravens. Before a scream could even escape, the black lightning bolt swiftly moved, flying past the necks of seven or eight more black-clad figures in the blink of an eye. Then, with a flicker, the lightning transformed into a black iron skewer. The numerous lightning talismans on it fully erupted, forming a net of lightning that surged in all directions with remarkable power. Only then did screams finally erupt, echoing everywhere and causing the expressions of even more Night Ravens to change drastically.

Sima Ling raised an eyebrow, not paying attention to the black iron skewer, but instead looking up into the distance. In the direction of his gaze, a person was approaching over the sea, treading upon a colossal dragon. Under the moonlight, the figure standing atop the dragon's head wore a purple daoist robe. Long hair swayed, revealing a fair, peerlessly handsome face that compelled silent admiration and drew all eyes. His cold, aloof eyes seemed unfocused, yet their profound depths were filled with an unnerving calm as he steadily drew nearer. The night wind blew, scattering his dark hair around his ears, some strands swaying as if dancing, making him appear like an immortal.

As he arrived, a chilling, bone-chilling aura of malevolence and a terrifying pressure emanated from him. The composure evident in his tranquil eyes became even more distinct. It was as if he could suppress everything, crushing all in his path. Sima Ling's eyes narrowed slightly.

At the same time, the Investigation Department members from both the Seventh Peak and other peaks, who had previously been suppressed and dared not approach, all knelt down and spoke in unison.

"Greetings, Director!"

Their voices thundered, spreading in all directions. Especially the Seventh Peak members, whose eyes burned with fanaticism, roared with all their might, creating a booming sound that shook the minds of all Night Raven cultivators present. Even the directors of the First Peak and Third Peak sighed in relief and bowed with clasped fists.

"A word of advice: don't meddle in my affairs," Sima Ling said slowly, a hostile glint in his eyes.

Xu Qing did not look at him. Instead, he returned the salute to the directors of the First and Third Peaks, then spoke calmly: "Department of Investigation, aren't you going to make arrests?"

"Understood, Your Honor!" Instantly, the surrounding Investigation Department members surged out, charging towards the Night Raven cultivators. Some also boarded the massive boat nearby, and soon, fierce fighting erupted.

The Night Raven members present were all shaken. The moment they saw Xu Qing appear, they secretly groaned in despair. Several Night Raven members, already terrified from previous pursuits, did not hesitate to flee, but the surrounding area had long been sealed off by the Department of Investigation. In the blink of an eye, shouts of battle filled the air.

"Xu Qing, you're looking for death!" Seeing Xu Qing ignore him, Sima Ling's eyes gleamed with intense killing intent. His entire body rumbled as his cultivation exploded, transforming him into a lightning bolt that shot directly towards Xu Qing. His right hand formed a claw, striking fiercely at Xu Qing's eyes.