Wait a minute, where is my master?

Jin Xu pondered.

People used the oil lamp as a symbol of eternal love and fidelity, yet it had killed several who strayed, all the while playing with their lives.

This affair seemed reasonable.

The two constables nearby, upon hearing this, stiffened in their expressions.

Team Leader Li hurriedly spoke up to clarify.

"Young Taoist, you have misunderstood. This oil lamp does not only kill the impure. Before these three, there were several other victims, some of whom were decent and honorable. The places where they were harmed bore no 'words of accusation.' It's more like it kills at random. It just so happened that the circumstances of these three were a bit... a bit more chaotic."

Upon hearing Team Leader Li's words, the young Taoist was confused. "Then how do you know for sure that it was the oil lamp that killed them?"

"Because a ring of black marks was left at every crime scene."

The young constable blurted out.

Jin Xu, hearing this, nodded calmly and then proceeded to ask the two men about the specific circumstances, such as whether there was a pattern to the times of the killings, if the oil lamp had any particular habits when committing the crimes, whether the eyewitnesses had discovered anything, what the victims had in common, and so on.

Yes, he was asking these questions based on detective novels he had read in his past life.

After hearing the young Taoist's questions, Team Leader Li looked embarrassed.

The young constable, however, spoke bluntly.

"Besides gathering the corpses of the victims and that one small ring of black marks, we have no clues whatsoever."

"Cough cough, we are but ordinary folk. This... this evil spirit's crimes are indeed hard to track, and we ask for the young Taoist's understanding," Team Leader Li tried to save face slightly.

"Right, if it weren't for that eyewitness, we wouldn't even know the oil lamp was behind the killings. Eh... Uncle, Team Leader Li, why are you stepping on my foot!"

After listening to the two men's explanations, Jin Xu knew that using scientific means to solve the case was not going to work.

Fortunately, that wasn't what he was best at.

As a Taoist, his forte was metaphysics.

The young Taoist told the men to remain calm and composed before closing his eyes.

Spiritual Sense instantly enveloped Qian Deng Town!

...

...

Inside a cave at Wild Wolf Ridge.

The light was dim, and the air was faintly miasmic.

In the cave, a man with a cyanotic complexion and a seductive woman clad in a thin purple gossamer dress sat beside the Transformation Pond, whispering to each other.

The two were Hall Masters Zou and Xia of the Demon Sect.

"Has the Third Elder sent a message back?"

Asked the woman with a sickly sweet voice.

Hall Master Zou stiffly nodded his head, just about to speak.

At this moment, a middle-aged muscular man entered the cave from outside, interrupting the two.

Under the faint light, with a grim expression on his face, the burly man also carried an old man with a white beard, bloodied and barely alive.

"Thud."

The old man was thrown into a corner of the cave.

The muscular man, with a nonchalant attitude, walked to a spot between the two and sat down.

He started with an accusation.

"Old Wood, what's going on with you? The Zheng family's old house had a formation that stood for decades, and you say it's breached just like that?"

Hearing this, Hall Master Zou's already dark complexion grew even more somber. He was about to retort.

The seductively clad woman beside him, fearing that an argument would break out, opened her mouth to change the topic.

"Brother Huang, where did you capture this old man from?"

"What, you, old yellow bull, trying to change your taste now?"

A cold, rough voice rang out, as Hall Master Zou mocked.

"Hmph, this old guy suddenly appeared out of thin air and joined forces with Li Mi, attempting to kill me. Sadly, both were too weak; I captured this old one and left Li Mi half-dead," the muscular man snorted coldly, his voice laced with disdain.

Hearing this, the expressions of Zou Xia and the other person changed slightly.

Li Mi, a longstanding powerhouse of the Void Refinement Realm, was actually injured severely by this brute, who fought one against two?

"Is this really true?"

Hall Master Zou questioned.

"If you don't believe it, then let's have a sparring match to see whether your Withered Wood Skill stands stronger or my fists are harder!"

Faced with doubt, Master Huang immediately stood up, ready to make a move. Hall Master Zou, not to be outdone, also got up. Seeing the situation, Hall Master Xia quickly intervened, pulling the two apart and after much persuasion, internal strife was averted.

"With a formidable foe ahead, we should prioritize the grand plan of the Divine Sect."

Upon hearing this, the two reluctantly sat down again.

If this brute really had injured Li Mi, then I am indeed no match for him. The man with the dark green complexion sat down and reflected, feeling a surge of fear. After all, his own realm and strength were not as high as that Fourth Grade constable's.

Hall Master Xia then praised with a charming smile.

"Brother Huang, with Li Mi severely injured, the plans of our Divine Sect will face much less resistance."

"Don't change the subject, get to the point already. What exactly is going on with the formation at the old Zheng family mansion?"

The muscular man did not care for the flattery and impatiently asked.

Seeing his attitude, Hall Master Xia also stopped trying to curry favor and explained the situation as he knew it in full detail, adding on at the end.

"This little Taoist has not opposed us for the first time. According to our intelligence, he has uprooted our Transformation Fruit at least twice, so it's safe to say that he is doing this deliberately."

"A suspected high-level Divinity Transformation? Even if we know he's on Little Platform Mountain, who can kill him?"

Master Huang said with a furrowed brow.

On the day the formation was broken, the Taotie Evil Spirit did not clearly see the scene of the Arrogant Evil Spirit being struck down, but deduced from the sensation and the timing that the minimum level of the attacker had to be the Divinity Transformation Realm.

After all, the Arrogant Evil Spirit had disappeared too quickly.

"You don't need to worry about that. The Third Elder has already passed down three formations—Forbidden Spirit, Forbidden Spirit, and Spirit Transformation Array. These will be enough to kill that little Taoist."

A cold and coarse voice rang out, it was Hall Master Zou who spoke.

Master Huang looked at him, signalling for further explanation.

"The way that little Taoist broke the formation, the traces he left... We both secretly went back to inspect the site. The spiritual power was still in chaos even after a long time, a situation that can only be achieved by a high-level cultivator specializing in magic skills with a full-powered strike. Therefore, the Third Elder has bestowed upon us the Forbidden Spirit, Forbidden Spirit, and Spirit Transformation Array based on this characteristic. Once the formation is set, we'll lure the Taoist into it. With our Body Refinement achievements, taking him down will be a piece of cake."

After Hall Master Zou finished talking, the man with the dark green complexion seemed visibly brighter.

The muscular man approved of this plan, having trained in the path of Body Cultivation. Cultivators specializing in magic skills would be in danger if approached too closely by a body cultivator, not to mention trapped by three formations that sapped and dissolved their spiritual power—it would be like a lamb awaiting slaughter.

"Then, the task of luring the little Taoist into the formation will be handled by me."

Hall Master Xia's voice sounded at just the right time, sweet and sticky.

Hall Masters Zou and Huang had no objections.

Suddenly, the man with the dark green complexion looked towards the entrance of the cave. After staring for a while, he turned back.

Observing his action, the other two Hall Masters directed their attention towards him.

"What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, the perimeter's warning formation suddenly detected something. A wild beast must have accidentally trespassed."

After hearing this explanation, the others relaxed a bit.

"I've got other things to take care of, I'll take my leave now. Call me when it's time to carry out the plan."

The muscular man got up and walked towards the cave's exit.

"Hold on, Brother Huang, what about this old man you've captured?"

"Report to the Third Elder, if he's useful, use him as a bargaining chip, if not, dump him in the Transformation Pond."

Without turning back, Master Huang exited the cave.

Upon hearing this, the fallen Xia, lying on the ground, twitched at the corner of his mouth, fearing that his end might be near this time.

And he couldn't help but wonder how the Seventh Princess was faring by now.

Whether she was safe or not.

PS: This is a stick-up, hand over all your recommendation votes and monthly tickets!