Wait a minute, where is my master?

"So now we're at present, and that Third Young Master Song still hasn't come out,"

Xu Qian spread his hands, helplessly saying to Jin Xu.

Indeed, the items his father sent were really ineffective, the young Taoist thought to himself.

"Then why aren't you going in to rescue him instead of standing here doing nothing?"

"We dare not."

Xu Qian stated confidently.

He had just collected a body yesterday at the hour of Yin, and hadn't rested long after returning to the watchman's station.

Li Mi then called him over again.

Pointing to a beautifully weeping lady in front of him, he said,

"This lady is from Magistrate Song's family, his third son has had an incident. You take two brothers and go see,"

Upon learning that the incident had occurred at the Zheng family's old mansion on East Market Street, Xu Qian was reluctant.

At that time, in order to accumulate Merit Points quickly, he had reviewed the records and paid attention to this place. There wasn't much useful information in the records, so he specifically asked two seniors and visited Yingxiang Building a few times.

That's how he gleaned a bit of news.

The Zheng family's case had been investigated before. Initially, they sent a sixth-grade constable with two seventh-grade officers. The three of them entered the Zheng residence but didn't turn up anything.

Seeing this, the superior then sent a fifth-grade constable to investigate.

You should know, generally, to rise to fifth-grade, besides accumulating enough merit, one must also reach the Nascent Soul Realm.

In the end, this great master of the Nascent Soul Realm entered and vanished without a trace, all contact lost.

After losing a Nascent Soul, a Golden Core, and two Foundation Establishment constituents, the constables' superior couldn't sit still any longer.

He decided to personally take a look.

Unexpectedly, he received an order that very day: to cease all inquiries into the Zheng family's affairs.

"Burp~ I heard it's... from... the 'higher-ups'." That senior, burping from alcohol, pointed upwards and then slipped under the table.

From then on, the Zheng family's old mansion gradually became a forbidden place in the city, one that ordinary people would not approach lightly.

Decades passed, and there hadn't been any more significant incidents.

As for why it was so dangerous, Xu Qian still showed up.

Cough cough, that beautiful lady, clutching his arm and calling him Lord Xu, was crying so pitifully, it was heart-rending.

Confused, Xu Qian just brought people here.

Now he regretted it, having hesitated for a long time without daring to enter.

He was a rash man, but he also feared death, especially for a young prodigal, it wasn't worth it.

Although his mother was indeed quite impressive.

After thinking it over, Xu Qian could only instruct the two subordinates he brought to wait here.

He said he was going to buy an orange, no, he was going to Little Platform Mountain to request the presence of Jin Xu.

Only when he arrived at Little Platform Mountain, Jin Xu was at the Zhao family enjoying a feast.

Fortunately, heaven was on his side, he actually ran into the young Taoist on the street.

After Xu Qian finished describing what had happened and clarified the situation,

Jin Xu understood it was just a rich family's young master trying to prove to his friends that his father cared about him by using his life as a stake.

"Little White, do you smell anything unusual in this mansion?"

After hearing the story, the young Taoist bit into his candied hawthorn and spoke to Little White on the side.

On hearing this, Little White sniffed the air, his expression strange.

"Temple Master, I can't smell anything from this mansion in front of us. If I close my eyes and rely solely on the sense of smell, it's as if this mansion doesn't exist."

Hearing this, the young Taoist frowned slightly, and then spoke to Yu Yaoer.

"Little Yu, can you try using your spiritual sense to probe?"

"My lord, I tried earlier. My spiritual sense can't penetrate it. It's as if there's a thick fog covering this mansion,"

Little Fish Demon, feeling a bit sorry for not being able to help her master, said.

Seeing that both major means of investigation had failed, Jin Xu's right hand began to gather "Hand Palm Thunder"

When in doubt, strike, it's bound to be effective.

No, there are still people inside! With this thought, the young Taoist stopped the golden spiritual power gathering in his right hand.

Xu Qian stood aside, and for a moment, thought he sensed a terrifying presence, but it was so fleeting he doubted if he had misunderstood.

"Jin Xu, this mansion is quite strange. No means of detection work, I'm afraid we have no choice but to go in,"

Hiss, it seems that earning these ten thousand taels of gold and three thousand high-grade spirit stones isn't going to be easy.

Jin Xu reinserted the sugar-glazed haws stick he was holding back into the pile, and Little White handed the stick of sugar-glazed haws to the constable who had just driven her away.

Yu Yaoer straightened her chest.

Then, a group of three people, plus Xu Qian and one of his subordinates.

A total of five people.

Pushed the door and entered the old mansion of the Zheng family.

...

Outside of Gusu City, within an obscure small sect, Hall Master Zou, who was "recruiting" disciples, paused.

"What happened?"

Noticing his unusual reaction, Hall Master Xia, dressed in a purple gown, asked.

"It's nothing, a few little insects have entered the Zheng family mansion again."

Hall Master Zou, pressing a young woman's head, replied.

"After so many years of peace, why have so many people come as soon as we showed up? Could it be that news of our whereabouts has leaked?"

Hall Master Xia sounded somewhat worried, and her voice became more serious.

The old Zheng family mansion is an important base of the Demon Sect in Gusu City, meticulously cultivated over many years.

Over these past decades, they had collected the resentment of numerous beings using the Transformation Fruit, all sealed in the Transformation Pond in the basement.

"No worries, the Divine Array of Seven Emotions and Seven Evils Refining God Formation set up by the Third Elder is within the mansion. Not to mention a few cultivators who are at most in the Nascent Soul Realm, even those in the Void Refinement Realm wouldn't be able to escape."

Hall Master Zou exerted pressure with his hand, speaking calmly.

Thinking of the formation set by the Third Elder, Hall Master Xia's voice regained its sweetness.

"True, then let's quickly 'recruit' a few more disciples so we can rush back~"

Yesterday, after a lengthy discussion in the basement, Hall Master Zou awkwardly realized he had no one available for use.

So the two of them went out overnight to "recruit" some disciples.

Hall Master Xia, dressed in a purple gown, drew close to a young cultivator and whispered into his ear, "Brother, I advise you to submit quickly~ Otherwise, your little lover might not survive."

Saying so, she pinched the young cultivator's chin with her slender fingers, turning his gaze towards the woman whose head was being held by Hall Master Zou.

"Yuner!"

"Brother Lin, don't agree to them, I'd rather die!"

"I agree to your terms, but you must assure me that you won't harm Yuner!"

The young cultivator couldn't bear to see his beloved suffer and agreed.

Seeing the man relent, a seductive smile appeared on Hall Master Xia's face.

"When I cast the spell later, make sure you don't resist at all. Otherwise, not only will your little lover's life be in danger, but you probably won't survive either~"

Though Hall Master Xia's words were gentle, her actions were merciless.

Spiritual power surged within her, and her eyes turned a light purple as a wave of Spiritual Power entered the young cultivator's eyes.

This was a fragment of a spell passed down by the Third Elder of the Demon Sect, an Ancient Pupil Skill. Those affected by the Pupil Skill have their Sea of Consciousness branded, becoming utterly loyal to the other party. Since it's only a fragment, its drawback is that those affected by the Pupil Skill cannot resist; otherwise, it would fail, and furthermore, their cultivation would be limited after being affected.

Seeing it this way, this spell seems quite limited.

But who are they? They are the Demon Sect.

Making the other party not resist is simple—threats, intimidation, temptation. With these tactics, the other party would quickly submit.

However, this spell is only suitable for emergencies. If there is time, it is better to gradually develop disciples.

Because those affected by the Pupil Skill, although loyal, become rigid.

Plainly put, it might mean their brains don't work quite well.

Seeing the successful application of the Pupil Skill, Hall Master Zou casually crushed the woman's head.

The young cultivator made no response and stood quietly in place.

Hall Master Xia transferred the control of the Sea of Consciousness branding to Hall Master Zou.

By now, with this young cultivator, the two had "recruited" three disciples.

"Let's find two more minor sects to make up five, and then we'll head back to Gusu City. Even though there is a formation in the mansion, I'm still a bit uneasy. Why don't we let Hall Master Huang go back first to keep an eye on things?" Hall Master Xia's sweet voice asked.

"Hmph, that old ox, he said he found someone who's been plucking Transformation Fruits and is now chasing them." Hearing this, Hall Master Xia ceased speaking further, and the two disappeared from the spot.

Leaving only a ground scattered with mutilated corpses.