Chapter 491 - 250: Heaven-Caging Pillar Suppresses the Golden Core

Autumn Equinox has arrived, and the Profound Lake outside the Purple Curtain Cave Residence has been brushed with an extraordinary hue by the autumn air.

Looking out from the cave residence, the lake water of the Profound Lake ripples gently under the caress of the autumn breeze. Sunlight scatters across the lake surface, reflecting a kaleidoscope of colors.

The water is crystal clear, with aquatic plants gently swaying along the water’s flow at the bottom. Fish swim in schools, sometimes leaping out of the water, sometimes diving to the bottom, creating a series of sparkling splashes.

Bang! The cave residence that Liou Yuan had kept shut for several days opened with a rumbling sound.

Clad in the moon-white robe of an Inner Sect Disciple, Liou Yuan strode out of the cave residence.

Today was the day Lao Xiuyuan had told him to report to the Criminal Investigation Department at the Inner Sect Disciplinary Hall.

The time was exactly at mao hour, and he stepped out, pinpointing the time perfectly.

He glanced up at the tranquil scenery of the Profound Lake, made no stop, and transformed into a streak of light racing towards the Inner Sect Disciplinary Hall.

The Inner Sect’s Criminal Investigation Department is somewhat akin to the Outer Sect’s Wind Chasing Division.

It is a department mainly established for capturing Foundation Establishment criminals from the Jin Dynasty and Jiuli State, naturally off-limits to outsiders.

Relying on the duty token hanging at his waist, Liou Yuan entered the Criminal Investigation Department without any hindrance.

Rumble! As Liou Yuan pushed open the double doors forged of dark iron at the Criminal Investigation Department, a chilling and intense aura surged towards him.

His gaze turned towards the interior of the Criminal Investigation Department.

Thirty-six dragon-coiling pillars were arranged in two rows, each inscribed with array patterns, with thick spiritual qi flowing along the patterns, casting shadows around the hall.

In the center hovered a three-zhang tall Bronze Soul Inspection Platform, its surface covered with numerous grooves, with more than a dozen Life Mirrors inserted within.

These were the Life Mirrors of the department’s inner disciples, each representing the proof that a member of the Criminal Investigation Department was still alive.

Now that Liou Yuan was also part of the Criminal Investigation Department, his Life Mirror was naturally on that Soul Inspection Platform as well.

"Seventeen people!" Liou Yuan counted the Life Mirrors on the Soul Inspection Platform with an accurate tally.

This represented that including him, Liou Yuan, there were a total of seventeen Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Criminal Investigation Department.

"To be precise, seventeen are still alive." Liou Yuan’s eyes swept over the empty grooves on the Soul Inspection Platform, evidence that they once held Life Mirrors.

Five Extremes Mountain has had five thousand years for establishing their sect, experiencing countless battles, so naturally, some have perished.

According to Ya Kuan, in any battle, the cultivators of the Disciplinary Hall are always the vanguard, charging into danger.

Therefore, it’s mostly those from the Disciplinary Hall who die, and these empty grooves belonged to those who have fallen in the Criminal Investigation Department.

Liou Yuan was not intimidated by the Soul Inspection Platform and grinned, thinking mockingly, "Placing these Life Mirrors in the center, is it meant to intimidate newcomers like me?"

Liou Yuan’s gaze shifted to the right side of the hall.

Ten racks of glass torture instruments were arranged in sequence, with various instruments capable of harming Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators glinting with a cold, eerie light, many with dark red bloodstains remaining.

The Criminal Investigation Department not only hunts criminals but sometimes also has tasks to capture them alive.

Evidently, the bloodstains on these torture instruments were left by those criminals.

However, as Liou Yuan’s gaze swept across the Criminal Investigation Department, he didn’t see many figures.

"Wasn’t it said to report at mao hour? Could it be that I’m the only one in the Criminal Investigation Department?" While Liou Yuan was puzzled.

"You’re not the only one, of course."

A lazy voice came from behind.

The doors of the Criminal Investigation Department opened once again with a rumbling sound, and Lao Xiuyuan walked in wearing black tight-fitting attire.

"Brother Xiuyuan." Liou Yuan greeted Lao Xiuyuan with a smile.

Before he could exchange pleasantries, his gaze suddenly paused, moving past Lao Xiuyuan.

Behind Lao Xiuyuan, a woman in Inner Sect disciple attire followed him into the Criminal Investigation Department.

She had a graceful figure, and the beauty mark at the corner of her mouth added more allure to her already mature charm.

The moon-white robe of an Inner Sect disciple couldn’t fully conceal her exquisite figure, and every move exuded temptation.

"Miss Wei!" Liou Yuan called to her.

This female disciple was quite familiar to Liou Yuan, none other than Qiu Ming’s lover, Wei Miaomeng, a disciple serving at the Fifth Peak Shoushan Tower.

As for why she appeared here, seeing her in moon-white robes, Liou Yuan had already figured out a little.

"She’s also broken through to Foundation Establishment." Wei Miaomeng had already been at Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer nearly a year before Liou Yuan, and after acquiring the Yin Yang Crossing Skill, she immediately went into closed-door cultivation to break through to Foundation Establishment.

It was only natural that she and Liou Yuan broke through to Foundation Establishment one after another.

"Mr. Liou seems very surprised."

After her Foundation Establishment breakthrough, Wei Miaomeng’s skin became even fairer and smoother, her gaze seductive.

Though she wasn’t deliberately emanating the Yin Yang Crossing Skill, she inherently possessed great allure.

"Not surprised, with Miss Wei’s aptitude, breaking through to Foundation Establishment was just a matter of time." Liou Yuan shook his head, having grown accustomed to Wei Miaomeng’s charm, his gaze held no other emotion.

Although Wei Miaomeng’s reputation in the Outer Sect was poor, it did not mean her aptitude was in question.

As he spoke, Liou Yuan activated his Evil Eyes and scanned her.

Her Qi Mansion was likewise observed by Liou Yuan.

"A Sixth-Grade Qi Mansion."

The Yin Yang Crossing Skill is only a D-grade Foundation Establishment cultivation technique, at most allowing cultivation to a Sixth-Grade Qi Mansion.

Wei Miaomeng was indeed talented, managing to elevate her Qi Mansion to the highest quality possible with her cultivation technique.

But Liou Yuan did not see a Disciplinary Hall token at Wei Miaomeng’s waist.

This proved she was not yet a disciple of the Disciplinary Hall, so her presence in the Criminal Investigation Department was rather intriguing.