Chapter 722: Interrogation

Winds Rise Across the Nine Provinces

“The three seniors are looking for me because of the captured Blood Race members, aren’t you?” Lu Ye asked.

Huang Liang nodded, his expression grave: “In the past two days, there has been no unusual activity from the Blood Race near the Heavenly Chasm. But the quieter they are, the more uneasy I feel.”

Although it was their first encounter with the Blood Race, an extraterrestrial species, their tendency to invade others' realms clearly indicated they were not benevolent.

After suffering such a significant loss in Medicine Valley, Huang Liang and the others had been concerned about the Blood Race returning. However, two days passed without any movement from the Blood Race.

Unusual quietness often signals trouble, so Huang Liang and the others had been monitoring the Heavenly Chasm's activity for the past few days.

However, simple surveillance yielded little information against such an unfamiliar enemy. The best approach, naturally, was to start with the Blood Race themselves.

The Blood Race members Lu Ye had captured earlier could undoubtedly play a crucial role. If their mouths could be opened, much information about the Blood Race could be obtained.

Since Lu Ye was the one who captured them, it was natural to consult him on the matter.

“Please, seniors, help yourselves. My original intention in capturing them was precisely for this moment.”

“Then thank you, young friend,” Huang Liang said gratefully.

“However, I would also ask the three seniors to allow me to observe,” Lu Ye said. He was very interested in the Blood Race as well; since it was everyone’s first encounter with this species, no one knew more than anyone else.

“Of course!” Huang Liang decided, agreeing to the request.

Moments later, Lu Ye and the three seniors arrived at the confinement array where the captured Blood Race members were held.

Although two days had passed, these Blood Race members remained extremely weak. With Dragon Ascent cultivators guarding nearby, they had no hope of escaping.

Upon seeing Lu Ye and the others, the captured Blood Race members immediately became wary.

For the past two days, they had merely been confined there, ignored by everyone. Now, with people suddenly appearing, it was clear that something was about to happen.

As prisoners, the Blood Race members had already anticipated the worst.

Standing outside the confinement array, Huang Liang’s gaze swept over the Blood Race members as he spoke calmly: “I am Huang Liang, Sect Master of the Imperial Heaven Sect of the Dragon Ascent Realm. I wish to inquire about some matters. Which of you is willing to speak?”

“Pah!” one Blood Race member spat at Huang Liang through the formation, while others sneered coldly. A more hot-tempered one yelled: “You want information about our Blood Race? Delusional! If you have the guts, just kill us!”

Despite their extreme weakness, these Blood Race members displayed extraordinary ferocity and defiance.

Huang Liang was not surprised by this reaction. Without a word, he signaled to the side. Immediately, a Dragon Ascent cultivator guarding the area entered the confinement array and directly dragged out the Blood Race member who had been yelling most fiercely.

Once outside the array, the seemingly weak Blood Race member suddenly lunged, attempting to break free. However, the Dragon Ascent cultivator holding him was also strong and well-prepared, so there was no way he would succeed.

With a few punches and kicks, the Blood Race member was beaten to the ground.

Inside the confinement array, the other Blood Race members watched with furious eyes, yelling incessantly, but they were ignored.

Huang Liang stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at the Blood Race member before him, and calmly asked, “What is your name?”

Although he was not skilled in interrogation or torture, his extensive experience taught him not to rush. Therefore, he didn't immediately inquire about the Blood Race or their realm but instead focused on getting them to speak. Once they started talking, there would be hope for further information.

“Call me grandpa!” The Blood Race member looked up, his eyes filled with bloodlust, glaring fiercely at Huang Liang. Though his aura was weak, his demeanor was incredibly savage.

Huang Liang nodded calmly, wasting no more words. He raised a finger and pointed it towards the Blood Race member’s forehead; a faint flicker of lightning could be seen at the tip.

A hint of apprehension and terror flashed in the fierce Blood Race member’s eyes.

Lightning arts had a strong suppressing effect on the Blood Race, a fact already known to Dragon Ascent cultivators. After all, the previous battle in Medicine Valley had given the Dragon Ascent side some basic understanding of the Blood Race.

As Huang Liang’s finger drew near, the Blood Race member tried to resist, but how could such a weakened body put up any fight?

The fingertip touched the Blood Race member’s forehead. In an instant, lightning surged, engulfing the entire Blood Race member.

Crackling sounds filled the air as lightning serpents writhed erratically around the Blood Race member, who immediately began screaming in agony, as if enduring immense torment.

“Amitabha, Amitabha!” Grand Master Guang Jing lowered his gaze, idly manipulating a string of prayer beads, murmuring unknown scriptures.

The lightning suddenly receded. The tortured Blood Race member seemed to have every bone shattered, collapsing limply to the ground.

“What is your name?” Huang Liang asked calmly again.

“I… am… your… gran… dpa!” The Blood Race member retorted, enunciating each word with gritted teeth.

Huang Liang pointed at him again, and lightning surged once more.

A moment later, he withdrew his hand and asked the same question.

After more than ten repetitions of this, the already weak Blood Race member ceased to breathe, having been tortured to death.

Yet, even in death, he did not yield to Huang Liang’s will. His defiance was beyond imagination.

The Dragon Ascent cultivators guarding the area felt a chill run down their spines, silently wondering if they would possess such fortitude under similar torture, fearing they might confess.

This was not about virtue or fear of death; it was simply that when the torment surpassed one’s physical limits, the will would inevitably break.

Huang Liang paid no mind to the death of the Blood Race member. From beginning to end, his expression remained impassive, giving the Blood Race the impression that “this man is a ruthless killer with a vicious disposition.”

In truth, despite his advanced age, Huang Liang had never done such a thing before.

In the past, even when encountering the most heinous individuals, he would simply kill them, never resorting to torture.

However, the Blood Race matter concerned the future of the Dragon Ascent Realm. Thus, even if he disliked it and had never done it before, he had to adapt and show no weakness on his face.

Only by doing so could he instill fear and apprehension in the Blood Race. When his image transformed in their minds into someone even more formidable and cruel than themselves, their psychological defenses would crumble.

The process of torturing the Blood Race was also a psychological game, and the shrewd and experienced Huang Liang understood this perfectly.

Another Blood Race member was brought out. Though their expression remained fierce, a hint of fear was clearly discernible in their eyes as they looked at Huang Liang.

Their companion had been tortured to death by lightning arts. Even if the Blood Race members were incredibly defiant, they could not remain indifferent.

The same method was applied!

Huang Liang asked a question, then administered another jolt of lightning art to the Blood Race member.

Yet, no matter the torment they endured, those Blood Race members refused to yield. Some furiously cursed Huang Liang, others actively attacked him, seeking a swift death, while some gritted their teeth, remaining silent throughout, even crushing their own teeth...

Half an hour passed, and four more Blood Race corpses lay nearby.

However, no information about the Blood Race was gained, not even the names of these Blood Race members.

Everyone’s expression grew serious.

If one Blood Race member showed such defiance, it might be due to their individual nature. But if every Blood Race member behaved this way, it indicated a racial characteristic.

These extraterrestrial invaders possessed extreme aggression, highly deceptive methods, and incredibly resilient resolve. Facing such enemies was undoubtedly a nightmare.

After the fourth Blood Race member died, Huang Liang looked at the remaining ones, his expression becoming hesitant.

It wasn't a moral burden. As a Dragon Ascent Realm cultivator and Sect Master of the Imperial Heaven Sect, he felt no sympathy for these invaders, understanding that mercy to an enemy was cruelty to one’s own people.

If he could extract information about the Blood Race, it might save the Dragon Ascent Realm from many casualties.

However, he realized that, given the current situation, even if he tortured all the remaining Blood Race members to death, he might not obtain any useful information.

Capturing Blood Race members alive was difficult. Missing this opportunity might mean losing any future means of acquiring information.

The remaining Blood Race members clearly noticed his hesitation and began to provoke him, yelling.

“Ah!” Huang Liang sighed. Momentum, once hesitated, would weaken. His brief hesitation had undoubtedly rendered all his previous efforts useless. He turned to Yuan Changcun and asked, “Does Haoran Academy have anyone skilled in interrogation or torture?”

He didn't ask Grand Master Guang Jing; the grand monks of Vajra Temple were always compassionate and would not possess such methods.

Yuan Changcun slowly replied, “Everyone in the academy is a scholar!”

How could scholars engage in interrogation or torture? That would be an insult to their dignity.

Ultimately, the three dominant sects were all glorious, renowned institutions. No one there was proficient in such “underhanded” methods. When the need arose, they found themselves without anyone capable.

“I heard screams from afar and wondered what you were doing,” a gentle voice suddenly said from behind.

Everyone turned to look and saw the Little Medical Immortal approaching gracefully. She stood next to Lu Ye and asked, “Have you managed to get anything out of them?”

Huang Liang shook his head with a bitter smile. “We couldn’t get anything out of them.”

The Little Medical Immortal’s expression was gentle. “Shall I give it a try?”

Huang Liang was surprised. “Of course you may try, Daoist friend, but these Blood Race members are extremely stubborn.”

The Little Medical Immortal smiled amiably. “There’s no harm in trying. Stubborn mouths… aren’t necessarily impossible to open.”

Lu Ye squinted, instinctively putting a little distance between himself and the Little Medical Immortal.

The Little Medical Immortal noticed and looked at him. “Is something wrong, young friend?”

“Nothing, just reminded me of an old acquaintance.” Lu Ye’s eye twitched slightly.

Being a fellow medical cultivator with a similar face and the same benevolent smile, Lu Ye couldn’t help but recall some less-than-pleasant memories.

“Your acquaintance must be a very interesting person, to be so memorable to you,” the Little Medical Immortal said with a sweet smile. She then looked at the guards: “Please bring them all out.”

The guards looked at Huang Liang, seeking confirmation. Huang Liang pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly.