This line of reasoning actually reduces Hu Ji Peak's suspicion in the case.
After all, breaking into Han Ming Peak's Heavenly Prison to free someone not only requires overcoming seven layers of restrictions but also entails violating Sect rules. Even if the Peak Lord were to do it personally, he would not escape a hundred years of imprisonment or even the annulment of his cultivation.
If it was merely to take his life, the cost would be too high. A more reasonable approach would be to target his Master.
Thinking this way, Ma Bingyun might have another mysterious force behind her, making the investigation much more difficult.
Just as Qing Feng was planning his next moves, he suddenly saw sword qi crisscrossing the sky, and cold light poured down like a waterfall.
The Law Enforcement Hall's enforcement team has finally taken action?
But to what extent can they investigate?
Even if they find something, by the rules, it wouldn't be his place to know...
Wait, who said he had to follow the rules?
Qing Feng pushed the freshly brewed spiritual tea across the table: "Shibo, Senior Sister Ma has been gone for over seven days. Are there any clues?"
Wisps of cold mist emanated from Dao Lord Zisu's robes, and frost instantly formed on the rim of the celadon cup: "The seven lineages jointly set up a net, but this person seems to have vanished into the void. From Han Ming Peak's dungeon to Chen Ming Peak, not a single clue has been found."
The young man's knuckles lightly tapped the tea table, startling three or two points of spiritual light: "It's strange. When the Law Enforcement Hall Disciple came to investigate Chen Ming Peak the day before yesterday, he clearly said that residual aura was traced to Luofeng Cliff. But if she escaped from Han Ming Peak, going through Yurou Peak would be the closest route."
A Sect map drawn with spiritual power suddenly unfolded in mid-air. Dao Lord Zisu's fingertips traced over the illusory figures of three spiritual peaks: "Unless she deliberately took a detour to confuse us. The territories of Biluo, Shanyao, and Tianhe Peaks might be hiding something more important than revenge."
"These three places..." Qing Feng gazed at the flowing light patterns on the map, "Are they all under the jurisdiction of Biming Peak?"
Her cloud-patterned wide sleeves brushed across the tea table, and ice crystals spread across the map in a spiderweb-like pattern: "Yuan Qing has already found some interesting things. Before Ma Bingyun escaped, there were demonic markings on the restrictions in Han Ming Hall."
The tea cup in Qing Feng's hand tilted slightly, and spiritual tea seeped into a dark stain on the table: "Could it be related to Elder Mo Tong's matter..."
"The Demon Sect's infiltration runs deeper than imagined," Dao Lord Zisu cupped her hand, and the map instantly shattered into countless ice crystals. "It's interesting. Two generations of Demon Sect spies have fallen into your hands. I wonder if it's their bad luck, or your fate..."
Light spots refracted by the ice crystals danced across Qing Feng's brows, making his peach blossom eyes appear even deeper.
Dao Lord Zisu's fingertips lightly tapped the table, producing a crisp sound from the jade surface: "The remnants of the Demon Sect have been dormant for ten thousand years, but recently there have been unusual movements. The Immortal Alliance conference next month needs to discuss this matter."
Her wide sleeves moved without wind, and sword intent flowed through the hall like deep water in a Cold Pond. "Since the Beast Taming Sect is among the Five Venerables, it will not tolerate demonic seeds growing within its gates."
Qing Feng bowed in agreement, secretly alarmed.
To be able to place two Elders in the Beast Taming Sect, with Ma Bingyun even at the Spirit Transformation peak, such a force is far beyond what Qing Feng can contend with.
The safest plan now is to go into seclusion and cultivate diligently.
When his Millennium Sword Cultivation is complete, no matter how monstrous the demonic flames, Qing Feng will cut them down with a single sword.
"Don't worry," Dao Lord saw Qing Feng's silence, mistaking it for worry, and a green light flew from her sleeve into his palm. "This jade talisman contains my sword intent and can cut through the Cave Profound realm. Do not use it lightly unless it's a matter of life or death."
A sharp sword qi was hidden within the warm touch, and Qing Feng felt a slight numbness in his palm.
"Shibo's great kindness, this Disciple will surely cultivate diligently to repay it." Qing Feng suppressed the upward curve of his lips. If he hadn't been picked up by his Master and brought back to the Sect from a young age, if his Senior Sister's eyes weren't as bright as stars... cough, a sword cultivator should maintain a righteous heart.
Dao Lord gave Qing Feng a half-smile: "If you're worried about your Senior Sister's safety, you don't have to be. Her Battle Saint Body has just formed, and there are protectors in the shadows."
Qing Feng's ears felt slightly warm, but then the tea cup on the table suddenly rippled, and a phantom of Senior Sister Qin Yue breaking through a formation with her sword appeared in the misty water vapor. The sword light was like a rainbow, stinging one's eyes.
"It's you who should consider the Purple Rock inheritance," Dao Lord tapped her finger, dispersing the illusion. "Enter the Sword Mound in three days. Don't let this opportunity go to waste."
Outside the hall, a crane cry suddenly pierced the clouds. Qing Feng looked at the gradually dispersing sword marks in the sky, vaguely seeing turbulent waves rising in the long river of fate.
"Thank you for your guidance, Shibo."
The back mountain of Ziyan Peak was shrouded in a thin mist. Third Elder Yuan, dressed in a sky-blue Daoist robe, stood on the mountain path, with faint spiritual energy fluctuations lingering around him.
Behind this cultivator, who had presided over Ziyan Peak for a hundred years, eleven young Disciples held their breath, waiting for the crucial moment to open the True Legacy Secret Cave.
A few newly admitted Disciples at the end of the line were whispering to each other using sound transmission, their gazes frequently falling on the two core Disciples at the front of the line: Lan Lie of Ziyan Peak and Mo Ziyi of Sword Sharpening Peak.
As Nascent Soul cultivators who had previously entered the Secret Cave, they were patiently answering questions at this moment.
"After the Secret Cave opens, many legacy light clusters will emerge," Lan Lie's fingertips lightly tapped the void, condensing a few pulsating spiritual lights. "Remember to calmly sense them and let the cultivation techniques actively choose their master for proper compatibility."
This cultivator, who was likely to succeed as Chief, had gentle eyes and brows. His gaze swept over the team, lingering specifically on Qin Yue and Qing Feng.
Qin Yue, positioned in the middle of the team, nodded slightly. A faint glow emanated from the jade pendant at the girl's waist, revealing the unique aura of her extreme cold spiritual root.
As the youngest True Legacy Disciple of this generation, she knew that this inheritance would determine her future cultivation direction.
Lan Lie specifically reminded: "Senior Sister Qin has extraordinary talent. At that time, there might be multiple inheritances resonating. You need to calm your mind and carefully discern."
Upon hearing this, Qing Feng held the jade slip in his sleeve, the unique green bamboo pattern of Chen Ming Peak faintly visible in his palm.
This usually low-key Disciple, although he had long known the mysteries of the Secret Cave from Qin Heng, still solemnly thanked Lan Lie.
Lan Lie's gaze swept over the eleven Disciples, taking in the forces of each Peak: Ziyan Peak had four seats, Sword Sharpening Peak had three, Jingyang Peak had two, and Chen Ming Peak only had Qing Feng.
The mountain wind brushed the copper bells on the eaves of the Sword Pavilion, and the crisp sound contained hidden mysteries.
Lan Lie gazed at the winding stone steps, secretly pondering: Ziyan Peak, with its deep foundation, attracts talents year after year; Sword Sharpening Peak forms its own system with its pure sword Dao; and Chen Ming Peak... his gaze swept over the green bamboo pendant at Qing Feng's waist, that shade of green becoming even clearer in the morning mist.
The team reached the cliff edge, and Third Elder Yuan lightly raised his wide sleeves. Star-chart-like light patterns suddenly appeared on the mountain wall.
Lan Lie withdrew his thoughts, and his fingertips condensed the unique crimson-gold spiritual power of Ziyan Peak. Eleven talismans entered the Disciples' brows one by one.
When the last mark landed on Qin Yue's forehead, the entire mountain wall suddenly rippled, and the entrance to the Secret Cave shimmered in the morning light.
Among the seven great sword lineages' inheritance rankings, Jingyang and Yinxu were vastly inferior to Ziyan. As for Bingyang and Yuanming, which were at the bottom, they didn't even qualify for comparison.
The past Seven Lineages Sword Debate was originally set up to contend for the main Peak's authority, with the winner presiding over the Sect for a hundred years.
But since the Ziyan Lineage consecutively held the top position with an absolute advantage three hundred years ago, this competition has evolved into a mere inheritance ceremony.
When Third Elder Yuan led everyone down into the misty, secluded valley, the entire mountain rock suddenly glowed with a green light.
This usually uninhibited elder straightened his robes and solemnly bowed towards the void: "Witnessed by the successive ancestors of Purple Rock, I now bring the younger generation to open the True Legacy Mystic Realm, and humbly request the blessing of the ancestral spirits."