They merely stared at one another without saying a word.

  Well, this much had been expected.

  "Seems you have no intention of talking? Well, there is no need for me to dig it out myself. I was the one struck by sudden misfortune. My spirit stones have run dry as well—perhaps it would be better to report this to the Discipline Hall and receive compensation.”

  The 18th Pavilion Master’s eyes widened.

  It seemed he had never even considered that I would do such a thing.

  "W-What did you say? If you go to the Discipline Hall, you too will..."

  He halted mid-threat.

  He must have discovered the contradiction in his own words.

  I let out a faint chuckle.

  “Why? What about me? I stand to lose nothing at all, Pavilion Master. You were the ones who trespassed. I merely stopped the intruders."

  The 18th Pavilion Master’s pupils trembled.

  Cold sweat broke out across his face as he avoided my gaze.

  As expected.

  Unlike me, a mere Qi Refinement cultivator conducting nothing more than a false investigation, the Discipline Hall of Qingliu City was skilled in torture and interrogation.

  They were capable of stripping even the soul bare.

  Rather than being handed over to them and reduced to a state where even one’s spirit might not remain intact, it would be better to die by my hand and enter reincarnation.

  I continued my subtle persuasion.

  "The Formation Plate you set up—wasn’t it something you obtained through a fortuitous encounter? So what of it?"

  The 18th Pavilion Master struggled desperately to find fault with me.

  “H-However, the spirit stones in your possession make no sense—”

  "Why do they make no sense? May a Qi Refinement cultivator not possess spirit stones? Is inheriting a great fortune a crime?"

  His eyes shook more violently.

  Just a little more pressure and he would break.

  “For someone with such wealth, why would you live like this—”

  "Is it a crime to live diligently? If one has spirit stones, may he not work? You know as well as I do what becomes of someone who has spirit stones but no strength.”

  Of course, it was all lies.

  If I brought these men to the Discipline Hall, I too would face trouble.

  But they did not know that.

  The 18th Pavilion Master’s face grew paler by the moment.

  It was obvious what would happen if he were taken to the Discipline Hall.

  Not only physical torment, but his soul would be extracted and subjected to eternal suffering.

  It would be fortunate if it ended there.

  The thought of his soul being shattered to pieces, unable even to enter reincarnation, was utterly horrifying.

  As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he understood well what reincarnation meant—and what it meant to lose that opportunity.

  “Do not take me to the Discipline Hall. Do not reveal my identity there. Just kill me cleanly. If you swear to that, I will do anything.”

  There was not the slightest hesitation on his face as he spoke.

  Indeed, the weakness of cultivators in the Qingxiu True Realm lay in their belief in reincarnation.

  No—was it belief, or tangible reality?

  I swore at once.

  "Very well. I, Xuanyuan, swear to the Heavenly Dao. I will absolutely not hand the two of you over to the Discipline Hall!"

  I had said I would not hand them over.

  I had not said I would refrain from stripping their souls.

  The eyes of the cultivator surnamed Ha, bound beside him, turned bloodshot.

  “I—I do not wish to die. Father! Why do you give up so quickly?”

  Hm? What kind of tangled family tree was this?

  Before I could fully process the unexpected declaration of kinship, the 18th Pavilion Master shouted at him.

  "Silence, you fool! Do you think either of us has a path to survival? If we die after our souls are stripped, we cannot reincarnate. Please, listen to me.”

  Did they truly believe that those who trespassed, murdered, and committed arson as easily as eating a meal would be reborn into a favorable life?

  If one believed in reincarnation, should one not live more virtuously?

  Well, it was none of my concern.

  My only goal was survival.

  Thus, I was more interested in immediate gains than information.

  Information would naturally follow once profit was secured.

  "Very well, then. Let us speak one by one. From what I see, you appear to be a spy sent by the Demonic Path. In that case, you must know at least one Ghost Dao cultivation method, yes?"

  The 18th Pavilion Master’s expression stiffened.

  Why would I ask such a thing in this situation—that was the look on his face.

  What? Was academic enthusiasm a crime?

  “…Of course I know some. But is that truly what you are most curious about?”

  “I am curious about other things as well. But that comes first.”

  To live smoothly within the cultivation world, one must know at least one Ghost Dao cultivation method.

  Interrogation through the soul was the true form of interrogation.

  The righteous path possessed methods to handle souls as well, but one had to be at least Foundation Establishment to learn them.

  Naturally so.

  No one outside the Demonic Path would provide soul-manipulating techniques to a mere Qi Refinement cultivator.

  I had tried through the Qing Script Pavilion, but there had been no way.

  The more I inquired, the stranger the librarian’s gaze became, so I left.

  After hesitating briefly, the 18th Pavilion Master began to speak.

  “I left that side at a young age. The techniques I know are few.”

  “It does not matter. So long as I can handle souls.”

  A flicker of vigilance crossed his eyes.

  He must have feared that I would learn the technique and strip his soul.

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  But his expression soon relaxed.

  Did he think I could not master it so quickly?

  Ordinarily, it took several days to even begin a cultivation method or Dao Art.

  In that regard, such a judgment was natural.

  My case, however, was somewhat different.

  I feigned ignorance as best I could.

  After rolling his eyes in thought for a while, he began speaking fluently.

  “There are related jade slips in my storage pouch.”

  As expected.

  I lifted the storage pouch I had taken from him.

  His mark had not yet been erased.

  Naturally so.

  The gap between Foundation Establishment and Qi Refinement was immense.

  I did not yet possess the ability to break open a Foundation Establishment cultivator’s storage pouch on my own.

  Even killing him would not necessarily allow me to open it.

  That was why I had captured and interrogated him in this manner.

  “You know I cannot open this. Remove your mark.”

  “…Bring it here.”

  Without concealing his vigilance, I held the pouch to his hand.

  He cooperated calmly in opening it.

  The storage pouch that had refused to open no matter what I tried opened with absurd ease.

  Even after it fell into my hands, the 18th Pavilion Master’s expression remained composed.

  A stark contrast to the son struggling beside him.

  Was it because he knew death was inevitable?

  Unlikely.

  There was surely still something he trusted.

  In that case, it was time to shatter that hope.

  “Are you perhaps relying on the tracking incense your spirit beast scattered?”

  With a faint smile, I reached into the pouch he had opened.

  I could check the son’s pouch later at leisure.

  Struck at the core, he jolted in shock.

  “H-How do you know that—”

  “You are not the only one with a spirit beast.”

  Behind me, Baizi revealed himself.

  — !!

  He bared his small claws and threatened the father and son with remarkable ferocity.

  A fluttering butterfly was caught in his mouth.

  "First time seeing one? This is a Spirit Mouse. It is extremely sensitive to spiritual energy. Why else would it be called a treasure-hunting mouse?"

  Hope drained from the 18th Pavilion Master’s face.

  He had sent a spirit butterfly to seek help—only to have it exposed.

  He began shouting in desperation.

  “It is already too late! The tracking incense upon your body will follow you forever. My companions and family will surely—”

  "Unfortunately, I have my own methods.”

  I answered indifferently while rummaging through the pouch.

  I had already made a trip to the Subspace Ring.

  Through Baizi, I had learned something strange was attached to my body.

  After several tests, I was certain.

  Once one entered the Subspace Ring, no trace remained.

  Another ability gained for survival.

  Naturally, I would make full use of it.

  Neither his companions nor anyone else would ever know I had been involved.

  There was no connection between us.

  They would not have gone about declaring that they were going to kill and rob someone.

  As for what followed…

  Let them think what they wished.

  It was common enough for someone to go digging for spiritual herbs and vanish.

  I laid out the items taken from the pouch.

  As expected of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, the harvest was substantial.

  It was regrettable that most of the superior magical artifacts were damaged.

  Still, throwing them into the Subspace Ring would at least expand its domain.

  Most importantly, the Ghost Refining Banner was intact!

  If I placed it within the Subspace Ring, the domain would expand further—and the number of souls I could command would increase.

  There were even two mid-grade magical artifacts.

  I could not use them openly now, but later would be another matter.

  There were pills effective for Foundation Establishment cultivators, spiritual herbs, and various cultivation resources.

  And then, I found the item I had long sought.

  A jade slip.

  The entire act of binding and interrogating them had been for this.

  To obtain a Ghost Dao cultivation method.

  There would be many more heartless cultivators like these in the future.

  Modern interrogation methods were useless here.

  It was time I grew accustomed to the world of cultivation.

  Seven jade slips emerged from the 18th Pavilion Master’s pouch.

  As expected of a long-standing spy, he possessed numerous techniques and cultivation methods.

  I pressed a jade slip to my forehead.

  System notifications rang out in succession.

  [You have learned Soul Search Art.]

  [You have learned Soul Devouring Return Origin Art.]

  [You have learned Ghost Binding Knot.]

  [You have learned Soul Severing Knot.]

  [You have learned Ghost Chariot Absorption Killing Method.]

  [You have learned Yin Spirit Soul Healing Art.]

  As befitted Demonic Path techniques, each name was vicious.

  A total of 10 points were used. Three points for Soul Devouring Return Origin Art, two for Soul Search Art, and one each for the rest.

  I then invested 18 additional points to raise Soul Search Art to Level 9.

  At this level, even the soul of a Foundation Establishment cultivator could be handled.

  After all, Soul Search Art ordinarily required divine sense at least at Foundation Establishment to learn.

  As for me, my divine sense rivaled Core Formation.

  I removed the jade slip and immediately formed hand seals before the two of them.

  The 18th Pavilion Master snorted.

  “Hmph! If merely reading a jade slip allowed one to use a Dao Art at once, then who would— no… you… just what are you…?”

  Watching his expression change by the second was quite entertaining.

  I would have enjoyed it longer, but half his soul had already been extracted.

  The son, pale as paper beside him, fared no better.

  Soon the two would continue their affectionate family life in the netherworld.

  Provided their souls remained intact.

  I began searching their souls with Soul Search Art.

  [Why did you try to kill me?]

  [Because we coveted your cultivation secret.]

  [How many have you killed this way?]

  [Twelve in total.]

  [Was there one named Xue Baixuan among them?]

  [I did not personally kill that one.]

  I stopped searching the Pavilion Master’s soul and turned to the son.

  [Then was it your doing?]

  The son answered in a trembling voice.

  [Yes… I killed the son of the pill workshop, stole the formula, and went to find Father.]

  [What did you do with the remaining people of the pill workshop?]

  This time, the 18th Pavilion Master answered.

  The father and son had divided the labor well.

  [I handled them all. With the help of Demonic Path cultivators, we framed the pill workshop as Demonic spies.]

  [Where did you discard the bodies?]

  [Outside the city…]

  I uncovered where Baixuan and his family were buried.

  With this, the matter Baixuan had earnestly requested was resolved.

  [You are a Demonic spy, correct? Since when?]

  [I am originally from Ghost Music Pavilion, a Demonic sect. I was raised there from childhood. Through various operations, I later entered the Heavenly Palace as a steward.]

  [Did you covet others’ secret methods from that time?]

  [Not at first. I never imagined the abandoned illegitimate child would bring back a new pill formula. After profiting from it…]

  Very well. His origins were as such, so be it.

  But this son—who had eaten and slept in Baixuan’s home, who had been his friend—what had he been thinking?

  [I only wished to be acknowledged by Father.]

  The son answered tearfully.

  I still could not understand.

  [What excuse did you prepare on your way here? You did not tell anyone you were coming to kill me, surely?]

  [We said we were going to gather spiritual herbs. I ordered my subordinates to leave traces.]

  That was fortunate.

  If I cleaned up properly, there would be no trouble.

  Just one more question remained.

  [Then how did you intend to cover up my death?]

  [There is to be a Demonic invasion at dawn today. This place falls within the attack range. We thought it would resolve itself naturally.]

  […A Demonic invasion? Are you certain?]

  [Yes. The day before yesterday, the righteous path destroyed an old Demonic sect. This is retaliation. It may have already begun.]

  The righteous path struck first???

  And this was the counterattack?

  Startled by the sudden revelation, I rose to my feet.

  Now that I thought of it, the Plum Blossom Elder of Huami Inn had mentioned something similar.

  Rather than an all-out war, there would be minor clashes.

  They would prod at one another until, at some point, it erupted.

  Fortunately, after capturing them, I had restored the Protective Formation to its original state.

  I hurriedly struck the crowns of their heads, stuffed the corpses into the Subspace Ring, and used Lightning Net to erase their souls.

  After wiping away all traces, I entered and exited the Subspace Ring once more.

  That should suffice.

  Should I hurry to inform the city of the coming attack?

  I was but a minor cultivator.

  I had no desire to be dragged to the Discipline Hall and forced to drink soup through my nose.

  At that moment, a pitiful scream rang out from outside.

  Could it have begun already?

  Taking Baizi with me, I leapt onto the rooftop.

  In the distance, flames soared near Qingliu Pavilion.

  …It seemed I had best flee at once.

  The rising flames were drawing closer to the street where I lived.