Chapter 1272: Investigation Results (Part 1)

Chapter 1272: Chapter 1272: Investigation Results (Part 1)

"Of course, saying they steal everything is a bit exaggerated. People at their Daoist Plane and Asura Dao level, anything worth stealing by these three must be no ordinary item. Anything that can be sold for a good price and is beneficial for cultivation is their target. From rare medicinal herbs, Spirit Stones, and Magical Artifacts to sect treasures, Dao Heart Stone fragments, and sect manuals—for major sects, they’re stealing in secret; for smaller sects, these three simply use force and nearly rob them openly."

Xiang Zixiong spoke with undisguised disdain for these three, while Pei Yan listened with interest, spitting out a chicken wing bone and laughing, "Wow, they indeed count as villains! No wonder these few are wanted by so many sects."

"No, the hatred for them isn’t solely due to their actions." Xiang Zixiong shook his head disdainfully, "Mr. Pei, what they have done, though unsavory, follows the rule of survival of the fittest on our Daoist Plane. If you can steal things from a sect for your own use and escape their pursuit, that shows you have skills and capability! As for grievances, it’s between you and the victim, other sects won’t interfere or take the risk to provoke such powerful and companioned loose cultivators. These three are wanted by all sects because they’ve crossed the line of the Daoist Plane—they are stealing the relics of ancestors!"

"Tomb raiding?" Pei Yan was initially startled by this statement and then incredulously asked, "You mean there’s still someone doing this here?"

"Uh! If you insist on calling it tomb raiding, it’s not wrong, Mr. Pei. On our Daoist Plane, most cultivators don’t get buried after death. Some choose to merge a strand of lingering soul with a newborn’s spirit to reincarnate as a Spirit Child, seeking to rebuild the Dao body and retain some of the previous life’s talent and aptitude. This method is highly risky and restrictive and is only adopted by top experts in major sects or cultivation families. For most sect experts nearing the end, they either choose to disperse their power to their juniors. Although much is lost in the process, it still greatly enhances the juniors’ strength."

"Others choose to find a secluded spot in a place abundant with sect Spiritual Qi and sit in meditation until death. In their last moments, they record insights from their lifetime of cultivation on cliff walls or on paper carried with them, until finally sitting in meditation to disperse their source Qi. After a lifetime of taking from the heavens, they give back to the heavens by nurturing the sect’s Spiritual Qi with their source Qi. Cultivators who choose this are magnanimous and respected by all, regardless of which sect they belong to. Even if two sects go to war, and one is destroyed, the victors might erase their foundation but won’t disturb the remains of the ancestors."

Listening to Xiang Zixiong’s revelations of the Daoist Plane’s secrets, Pei Yan nodded repeatedly, feeling enlightened yet having guessed what those three had done, he tested by asking, "So these three meddled with those relics?"

"Yes! Cultivators who choose to sit in meditation usually take one or two cherished items with them. These things, while not sect treasures, are often the Magical Artifacts they used most in life and carry sentimental value. Out of respect, sects never consider them unless facing extinction crises, when disciples might burn incense and pray for temporary use during such emergencies. But these three had a crooked idea, sneaking into various sects to steal ancestral relics, including cultivation insights left on cliffs, and even taking away the cultivators’ corpses, nearly touching every sect’s reverse scales. Thus, they became mice hunted by everyone across the street." Xiang Zixiong finished speaking and stood up, took the tea cup handed over by Xia Yuduan, thanked her, and sat back to drink tea.

"Hmm, as you said, these three are asking for trouble. But how did they get involved with the White Deer Institute?" By now, Pei Yan finished his meal, wiped his mouth with tissue, and picked up the teacup curiously.

"Since its establishment, the White Deer Institute has been eager to collect sect manuals from all over. Today, the Daoist Plane is relatively stable among sects, making the scattering of manuals due to sect destructions rare. Besides swapping precious resources or exchanging equivalent level Cultivation Techniques, peeking into deceased cultivators’ insights and bodies offers a faster and cheaper shortcut. So..."

"So this Elder Zong accepted what they stole?" Before Xiang Zixiong finished, Pei Yan picked up the thread with a smile, "Ah, this is indeed intriguing!"

Xiang Zixiong also laughed aloud, "Indeed! Mr. Pei, honestly, if this matter spreads, even if not treacherous, the Immortal Palace position of the White Deer Institute might become unstable, and after this war might be removed from its current status, unable to participate in the next Sword Discussion Conference selection."

"Given this, its fear of revealing these three’s identities by searching and risking sending them away makes some sense." After hearing this explanation, Pei Yan mumbled while repeatedly watching the footage recorded from the Ten-Eyed Well, "But I wonder if this is abandoning chess pieces to protect the carriage."

"Mr. Pei, what did you say?" Pei Yan’s voice was too soft; Xiang Zixiong couldn’t help but ask.

"Ah! Nothing! Besides Elder Zong, is there anyone else problematic in the White Deer Institute?" Pei Yan casually diverted the topic.

"We haven’t found anything yet, Mr. Pei. From morning until now, there are too many people needing investigation, and the Divine Martial Guard is helping somewhat. We’re understaffed, so we can only prioritize key suspects for investigation. The White Deer Institute people are still detained without time for interrogation, but they’re cooperating, including that Vice Hill Leader Li. Uh! As I came, Commander-in-Chief Mao specially asked me to get your opinion on whether to use techniques to examine her memory as she claims."

Seek my opinion? Pei Yan chuckled inwardly, fearing offending someone and passing the decision on to him. If it worked, kudos to all; if not, blame and grievances directed at Pei Yan, he would bear the consequences.

Pei Yan had often stood as the scapegoat, but for someone like you, the Embroidered Robe Envoy doesn’t deserve such a service. For this reason, Pei Yan didn’t expose the real intention but only smiled and said, "No need! If they’re willing to let you probe their memory, either there’s truly nothing questionable or they’ve prepared countermeasures. Blindly probing does not guarantee finding anything! Let’s set aside the White Deer Institute matter for now. I’ll meet with your Commander-in-Chief when he finds time."