Chapter 343 - 315: The Demon-Seeking Compass

Chapter 343: Chapter 315: The Demon-Seeking Compass

「Ten days later.」

「The Chu Capital Law Enforcement Hall.」

Chu Mu, the heretical cultivator wanted by the Longevity Sect, was now sitting openly in the main hall.

Not many cultivators were seated in the hall. Besides Xu Changqing, three other Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Longevity Sect were present.

Array Prohibitions sealed the room. Projected images floated in the air as everyone discussed the matter at hand—the Demon Cultivator still hiding in the Chu Capital.

The Inner City was a Cultivation Immortal Marketplace, filled with countless Array Prohibitions. Without causing a major disturbance, any one of these sealing arrays could easily conceal a person’s figure and aura.

The investigation was proving to be quite difficult.

After ten days, they had next to nothing to show for their efforts.

Although they had located a few Demon Cultivators, they were all merely at the Qi Cultivation Realm—clearly insignificant pawns.

"Judging by the tracks of these few Demon Cultivators, they’re likely decoys meant to draw our attention."

"Our investigation has probably already alerted the Demon Cultivators."

"While we’re distracted by these decoys, their real scheme has likely been underway for a long time."

"The situation at the front lines is tense right now. We cannot allow any turmoil in the rear. I propose we activate the Grand Array immediately, lock down the Chu Capital, and conduct a thorough search!"

As they spoke, a middle-aged, long-bearded man suddenly interjected.

As soon as he said this, the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the room all turned to look at the seated Xu Changqing.

Clearly, he wasn’t the only one who felt this way.

Chu Mu glanced at the long-bearded man. ’He has a point,’ he thought, somewhat agreeing with him.

For ten days, he had scoured nearly the entire city.

He had his Supreme Yang and Firmness perception of Demonic Qi and evil forces, further aided by the Chu Capital’s surveillance system.

It should have made him unstoppable, but the results were minimal.

The few Qi Cultivation Realm Demon Cultivators they did find were just wandering around the Chu Capital, seemingly without purpose.

There were no contacts, and certainly no mastermind to be found.

This was clearly not normal.

It was impossible for a Demon Cultivator presence to consist of only a few Qi Cultivation grunts.

The theory that they were decoys meant to attract attention was very plausible.

As everyone watched, Xu Changqing remained silent for a moment before speaking slowly, "Regarding this matter, I, as a True Inheritor, will request instructions from a Perfected Master. We will act according to their guidance."

At these words, the long-bearded man, who had seemed ready to say more, immediately shut his mouth and fell silent.

The others in the hall also knew better than to press the issue.

And so, the meeting ended unceremoniously.

After the Foundation Establishment Cultivators had left and only the two of them remained, Xu Changqing looked at Chu Mu. "Fellow Daoist, do you also think we should lock down the city and conduct a thorough search?"

Chu Mu shook his head and asked in return, "Fellow Daoist, what are your plans?"

"I just have a feeling that something is wrong."

Xu Changqing’s expression was grave. "But I can’t quite put my finger on what it is."

Chu Mu frowned. "When did you start feeling this way?"

"It’s just a feeling. Inexplicable."

Xu Changqing shook his head.

Chu Mu fell silent. He’d had premonitions like this before, and they were often... extremely accurate.

’I just wonder what exactly Xu Changqing has a premonition about.’

"Forget it. I will go and request instructions from the Perfected Master. We’ll follow their arrangements."

In the end, Xu Changqing just sighed. Without another word, he turned and left.

Chu Mu rubbed his nose, lost in thought. A moment later, he also stood up and walked out of the Law Enforcement Hall.

The streets outside were as bustling as ever, with no sign of anything unusual.

"Hm?"

He had only taken a few steps when he suddenly stopped, a look of confusion on his face.

’The Spiritual Qi... it seems a lot purer?’

Somewhat puzzled, he extended his Divine Sense. Compared to when he first arrived, the purity of the Spiritual Qi in the Chu Capital had indeed increased significantly.

He took out a Sound Transmission Order to ask Xu Changqing about it. Then, with a wave of his hand, a compass-like artifact materialized, hovering over his palm.

The Compass was very special.

One of a kind, in fact!

He had personally refined it. He had ostensibly asked Xu Changqing for a wisp of Demonic Qi, but in reality, he had used a strand of True Demon Qi that he had prepared himself as its core.

The root of all Demon Cultivators lies in the Demon Seeds condensed from True Demon Qi.

Using the True Demon Qi as a catalyst, the Tracking Technique as a framework, and the Supreme Yang and Firm Sensation as a sensor, he had fused all three with his Artifact Refining Skill to conceive and create the Compass before him.

All four elements were indispensable.

And the Compass’s one and only purpose was... to track Demon Cultivators!

As long as a Demon Cultivator wasn’t using some extremely special means of concealment or had a cultivation level that was too high, their presence within a thousand-meter radius would definitely be revealed by the Compass.

Even common Concealing Secret Techniques and ordinary sealing Array Prohibitions couldn’t block the Compass’s detection.

In fact, the few Demon Cultivators they had found so far were basically thanks to this Compass.

At this very moment, three black dots had appeared on the Compass.

Chu Mu took out a Token. With a slight thought, an image was projected directly into his Divine Sense Perception.

The Token was connected to the Chu Capital’s central surveillance hub, allowing him to access its visual recording system from anywhere within Chu Capital City.

And the few Demon Cultivators he had discovered were under the constant surveillance of the Chu Capital’s visual recording system.

The images flickered, showing the monitored Demon Cultivators one by one.

Finally, the images vanished. Chu Mu’s brow twitched, a hint of suspicion in his eyes.

’A new one appeared...’

Chu Mu pursed his lips, his gaze fixed on a black dot in the upper-right corner of the Compass.

To the Northwest, a Demon Cultivator that had never appeared before...

After sending a sound transmission, Chu Mu didn’t hesitate. He took a step, weaving through the street, and in just a few breaths, he arrived at the location indicated by the Compass.

But by then, the flashing black dot on the Compass had already vanished.

He scanned his surroundings, scrutinizing the passing Cultivators.

This place was a public square. Though not large, it was currently noon, and an endless stream of Cultivators was coming and going.

As he was observing, the vanished black dot reappeared on the Compass, flashing once more.

And this time, the direction...

’He’s trying to leave the city!’

’He’s trying to escape!’

Sending another sound transmission, Chu Mu took off in a sprint, closely following the flashing black dot.

Within his field of view, he could already see the back of a figure just a few steps away from the city gate.

"Stop him!"

"He’s a wanted fugitive!"

Chu Mu roared.

At the city gate, the few Longevity Sect disciples on duty were instinctively alerted, but in just an instant, the figure had already passed through the Inner City gate and rushed into the outer city.

Chu Mu leaped up onto the city wall, his gaze instantly locking onto the figure still darting through the mundane streets below.

The person was still fleeing toward a city gate.

Sending several more sound transmissions, Chu Mu leaped down from the city wall. In the time it took for one to chase and the other to flee, they were already outside Chu Capital City.

As for the outer city gate... it offered no resistance at all.

The outer city was for mortals; the Inner City was the Cultivation Immortal Realm. The City Defense Array clearly had nothing to do with the outer city.

Although a few Longevity Sect disciples were stationed there, it was purely for show...

...