Chapter 991: Interrogation

Fayin Vajra rode a seven-petal golden lotus forward. His brilliant Buddhist light immediately forced the billowing smoke and dust back into the underground palace.

"Everyone, what happened?" he asked. "Is that woman alright?"

Bai Xin wiped the black mist from her face and calmly said, "This woman's soul carries a forbidden curse; she cannot be touched. She's fine, but our people are injured."

Fayin Vajra breathed a slight sigh of relief. He looked down to see a young man in a white robe on the verge of death, with a severe penetrating wound on his chest.

He immediately stepped forward, chanting Buddhist mantras and casting a spell. Streaks of golden light entered the man's body.

Back when the Azure Sky Demon Emperor was near death, Fayin Vajra had healed him with Buddhist light from across the vast ocean. Now that he was personally acting, how could he not bring about an instant cure?

The result, however, was unexpected. The golden light that had poured in flowed out unchanged.

Fayin Vajra gazed intently. Within the penetrating wound, a wisp of gray-black power subtly lingered, refusing to dissipate. It repelled all the Buddhist light. This was precisely the Asura power that Buddhist teachings found difficult to approach.

"Buddhist dharma is ineffective," Fayin Vajra said, shaking his head slightly, indicating he was powerless to help. "Everyone can only try with the power of elixirs."

The faces of several members of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau changed. They all pulled out precious healing elixirs, trying to save him at any cost. However, it had no effect. That Asura power was extremely stubborn; even Buddhist light struggled to penetrate it, so how could ordinary elixirs be sufficient?

Watching his rapidly weakening heartbeat, everyone understood. He couldn't be saved.

"Yun Tao!" cried a middle-aged man with a "Qianhu Tong Fei" plaque hanging from his waist, his face etched with sorrow.

Yang Yun Tao was his subordinate Baihu, having recently been promoted to the Nascent Soul realm. For this, he had specifically invited him and several familiar Qianhu to celebrate and thank them for their usual care. In the blink of an eye, it was a parting of life and death.

"Bai Xin! It's all your fault!" Tong Fei looked up and shouted coldly, "He wasn't supposed to be on duty today! If you hadn't made him come, how would he have touched the forbidden curse in that soul?"

A female Baihu standing behind Bai Xin retorted angrily, "Master Tong, what you're saying is ridiculous. It was you who were eager for merit and insisted that Yang Yun Tao perform soul secret arts without authorization, forcing a soul search that triggered the forbidden curse! My Master Bai tried to stop you, saying that this woman's identity was strange and her soul should not be searched rashly. You didn't listen to advice, and even reprimanded my Master, telling us not to hinder your pursuit of merit. Now, someone's dead, and you want to push the blame onto my Master?"

Conflict is inevitable everywhere, and the Imperial Astronomical Bureau was no different. Bai Xin waved her hand, stopping her subordinate. "Huang Ying, don't speak," she said. "As long as our conscience is clear, it's enough. As for right and wrong, achievements and faults, the Grand Libationer will judge fairly."

Huang Ying felt deeply wronged. Every time Bai Xin was targeted, she acted this way, always stopping her own people from escalating the conflict. But the Grand Libationer was not a deity, so it was impossible for him to discern right from wrong every time. Bai Xin had been wronged several times already, yet she still acted this way. As a result, those associated with her felt stifled, and several capable individuals had left because of this, joining other factions. If this continued, even she would not be able to bear it and would have to switch allegiances.

Tong Fei snorted heavily. "Anyway, you can't escape responsibility for Yang Yun Tao's death! Just wait until I get back and file a report against you! Let's go!"

"Wait!"

Just as they were about to leave, Jiang Fan came towards them.

Tong Fei's gaze swept over Jiang Fan, noticing he was a Two-Aperture Nascent Soul cultivator, and his expression softened slightly. "What can I do for you, esteemed sir?"

Without a word, Jiang Fan took out a Rejuvenation Elixir and gave it to Yang Yun Tao to swallow. So he was there to save someone.

Tong Fei shook his head. "It's useless," he said. "Thank you for your kind intentions."

Jiang Fan raised his palm and pressed it onto Yang Yun Tao's chest. From his palm, streaks of Asura Karmic Fire emerged. If anything could counter the Asura power, which even Buddhist dharma found difficult to handle, it was, without a doubt, Asura Karmic Fire, also from the underworld. Fighting poison with poison!

Indeed! That stubborn Asura power immediately evaporated into wisps of black smoke and dispersed under the Asura Karmic Fire. Without the obstruction of Asura power, the efficacy of various elixirs began to take effect, and the almost-stopped heart gradually regained vitality.

Tong Fei's expression changed to one of surprise. "You've actually mastered the power of the netherworld?" he exclaimed. "What a talent! A true genius!"

His eyes darted around. "Are you interested in joining my Imperial Astronomical Bureau?" he asked. "I can give you the status of a provisional Imperial Guardian. As long as you perform meritorious deeds, I will personally recommend you to the Grand Libationer to become an official Imperial Guardian."

Such unique talents might rarely be needed, but they cost nothing, requiring only a temporary status. When they were needed, they could be of great use. This was a common tactic used by many Qianhu to recruit talent, and Jiang Fan, standing before him, was a person with significant utility.

Jiang Fan cupped his hands and said expressionlessly, "Thank you for your kind offer, Qianhu, but I already have the status of a provisional Imperial Guardian. Please forgive me."

Even if he didn't have the Imperial Guardian status, he wouldn't want to follow this person. He acted recklessly, disregarded the lives of his subordinates, and shirked responsibility when things went wrong.

He turned and came before Bai Xin, smiling slightly. "Your subordinate Jiang Fan greets Qianhu Bai."

Bai Xin was slightly startled. Then she remembered. "You're that Jiang Fan from the mainland!" she exclaimed. "You've already undergone tribulation, formed a Nascent Soul, and even reached the Two-Aperture stage? That's incredibly fast."

"Thanks to your great fortune, Qianhu Bai," Jiang Fan replied.

Whether it was regarding the Seven-Star Treasure Sword or successfully entering the Ancient Road to Heaven with his provisional Imperial Guardian status, he owed Bai Xin many favors. Now that she was in trouble, Jiang Fan naturally couldn't stand by.

Bai Xin waved her hand. "Your cultivation has nothing to do with me; no need to thank me," she said. "Furthermore, you are not an official Imperial Guardian, so there's no need to refer to yourself as my subordinate. Also, thank you for your assistance just now, fellow Daoist."

Her words were indeed as emotionless as ever, always in a businesslike tone.

Jiang Fan chuckled softly. "Qianhu Bai," he said, "I have some experience with interrogating for information. May I give it a try?"

The Imperial Astronomical Bureau was at a loss. It was clear that Jiang Fan would have to personally confront that woman. As it concerned the ancient giants, he couldn't remain uninvolved.

"You?" Tong Fei's eyes slightly chilled. "Are you proficient in soul secret arts, or what? We in the Imperial Astronomical Bureau couldn't do anything; what are you trying to show off?"

Upon learning that Jiang Fan was actually Bai Xin's person, Qianhu Tong changed his demeanor faster than flipping a book page. His attitude immediately became rude.

In private matters, Bai Xin didn't bother arguing with others. In official matters, however, she was decisive and swift. With a palm strike, she opened the collapsed entrance to the underground palace and said to Jiang Fan, "Go ahead and try; I'm here." She completely disregarded Tong Fei's opposition, shielding Jiang Fan as he descended into the underground palace.

Tong Fei was slightly annoyed. "Let's go down and see together," he said.

The Grand Libationer cared greatly about the woman who fell from the Sky-Connecting Black Pillar and had promised rewards to both him and Bai Xin for this mission. Whoever brought back the information would be given custody of the Body-Fixing Bell, one of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau's three divine artifacts for defeating enemies. He had longed for this bell for a long time, which was why he had eagerly urged Yang Yun Tao to search the soul. He hadn't expected that it would cause such trouble. Now, this Jiang Fan, knowing the danger, had actually volunteered to conduct the interrogation? This made him somewhat worried.