247: Chapter 246 Investigation!

Red Fire Peak, Lihuo Hall.

When Jiang Hanzhou brought the three assassins tied up into the hall, Master Xue Mu was standing with his hands behind his back by the window, looking at the rolling sea of clouds in the distance. His silhouette appeared somewhat lonely in the twilight, but in those deep eyes, a certain indescribable light flickered.

"Master." Jiang Hanzhou knelt on one knee, "This Disciple encountered an ambush on the outskirts of Star Continent Anchorage. Three Loose Cultivator assassins have all been captured alive."

He raised his hand and waved; three figures were dragged in from outside the hall by water chains formed from Tidal True Intent, crashing heavily onto the white jade floor.

Those three had pale faces and vacant eyes—the side effects of having their memories erased were still present, but the injuries on their bodies and the Blood Shark Token at their waists were enough to prove their identity.

Master Xue Mu turned around, his gaze sweeping over the three assassins before finally landing on Jiang Hanzhou.

"Rise." His voice was calm, revealing no emotion.

Jiang Hanzhou stood up and presented the Jade Slip found on the assassins with both hands: "This is their testimony. Bloodfang Old Monster has placed a bounty of one hundred thousand Spirit Stones, setting up hidden wires in three locations: Star Continent Anchorage, Bibo Island, and Flying Fish City. This Disciple also learned from that person's mouth that Blood Shark Island and the remnants of the Ten Thousand Gu Sect have reached some sort of agreement. At least six groups of people have accepted the bounty."

Master Xue Mu took the Jade Slip and sent his Divine Sense into it. A moment later, his brow furrowed slightly and then slowly relaxed.

"Well done." He tucked the Jade Slip into his sleeve, "This testimony is enough for the Sect to dispatch troops to purge Blood Shark Island."

He turned and walked toward the outside of the hall: "Come, let's go to Tianji Peak. The Grand Elder is waiting for your news."

Tianji Peak, Council Hall.

When Jiang Hanzhou stepped into the hall, five of the seven peak Elders had already arrived.

Great Elder Xuanjizi sat in the main seat, clutching the Jade Slip, his aged face showing no expression.

To his left was Fierce Sun Master, and to his right was Cold Frost Master.

Bibo Pool Elder, Old Man of Jade Wave, Black Tortoise Peak Elder, Master Qingxuan, and Danxia Peak Elder, Fairy Ziyun, sat on either side. Only the Heavenly Sword Peak's main peak Elder, Chu Jinghong, was missing.

The atmosphere in the hall was heavy, as if the air itself had solidified.

Jiang Hanzhou stood firm in the hall and cupped his fists in a salute: "Disciple Jiang Hanzhou greets the Elders."

Great Elder Xuanjizi nodded slightly and signaled for him to stand aside. Then, he held up the Jade Slip in his hand, his aged voice echoing through the hall:

"Everyone, Jiang Hanzhou encountered an ambush by bounty assassins from Blood Shark Island on the outskirts of Star Continent Anchorage. He has captured three alive and obtained testimony. After Bloodfang Old Monster's Breakthrough to the Dragon Fetus Realm, he joined forces with the remnants of the Ten Thousand Gu Sect to set a dragnet in the Eastern Sea, intending to retaliate against the Disciples of our Dragon Abyss Palace. What are your thoughts on this matter?"

Fierce Sun Master was the first to speak, his voice like a booming bell: "What else is there to see? A bunch of evil cultivators from Blood Shark Island dare to put a bounty on our Dragon Abyss Palace's Inner Sect Disciples—this is a slap in all our faces! I propose we immediately dispatch the elites of the seven peaks and flatten Blood Shark Island in one fell swoop!"

Old Man of Jade Wave stroked his beard and nodded slowly: "Fierce Sun Master is absolutely right. Bloodfang Old Monster broke through to the Dragon Fetus Realm using evil techniques; his Foundation is unstable, and he is currently at his weakest. If left unchecked, he will surely become a major threat in the future."

Master Qingxuan, however, frowned slightly and said in a deep voice: "Sending troops is fine, but we must be cautious. Blood Shark Island has the remnants of the Ten Thousand Gu Sect behind them, and those Gu Cultivators have strange and unpredictable methods. Furthermore—the identity of that Black-Robed Person has not yet been identified. Hastily sending troops might lead us into an ambush."

The three Elders expressed their opinions, and the atmosphere in the hall gradually became heated.

But Jiang Hanzhou noticed that one person had remained silent throughout.

Cold Frost Master.

He sat upright to the right of Great Elder Xuanjizi, his face lean and his eyes slightly closed, as if he were deaf to everything happening in the hall. But the slight twitching of his eyelids and the occasional flash of sharpness in his eyes showed that he had been listening and waiting.

Finally, Great Elder Xuanjizi turned his gaze toward Cold Frost Master: "Elder Cold Frost, what is your opinion?"

Cold Frost Master slowly opened his eyes, his gaze as calm as water.

"Grand Elder." His voice was cold and clear, like a winter wind, "I believe this matter should not be handled rashly."

The hall instantly fell silent.

Fierce Sun Master's face darkened: "Not handled rashly? Cold Frost Master, a Disciple from your Heavenly Sword Peak was hunted by a bounty, and yet you say it shouldn't be handled rashly?"

Cold Frost Master ignored Fierce Sun Master's questioning and simply said calmly: "I am not favoring Blood Shark Island, but rather discussing the matter based on the facts. Everyone, please look—"

He took a Jade Slip from his sleeve and waved his hand. The information within the Jade Slip transformed into a screen of light, slowly unfolding in the center of the hall.

It was a detailed investigation report.

"According to the various investigations by the Heavenly Sword Peak Disciples, these three so-called 'assassins' are merely Loose Cultivators making a living in Star Continent Anchorage. Although they possess Blood Shark Tokens, whether those tokens are real or fake is still unknown." Cold Frost Master's voice was neither hurried nor slow, "More importantly, when these three were brought back, their Divine Souls had already been severely damaged, and their memories were completely lost. How can a 'testimony' without a testimony serve as the basis for sending troops?"

Jiang Hanzhou's brow furrowed slightly.

Cold Frost Master continued: "As for Bloodfang Old Monster's Breakthrough to the Dragon Fetus Realm, Heavenly Sword Peak has also conducted an investigation. According to reliable intelligence, Blood Shark Island is indeed spreading bounty orders, but those bounties are targeted at 'the people who sabotaged the ancient flood dragon remains plan,' not Dragon Abyss Palace. Jiang Hanzhou, Zhou Lie, and Liu Ningshuang participated in the matter of the ancient flood dragon remains in their personal capacities, not by Sect assignment. If we go to war with Blood Shark Island because of this, it would make our Dragon Abyss Palace look like we are using our power to bully others."

Fierce Sun Master was furious: "Bullying others? That Bloodfang Old Monster put a bounty of one hundred thousand Spirit Stones on the life of my Red Fire Peak Disciple, and yet your Heavenly Sword Peak says my Dragon Abyss Palace is bullying others?!"

Cold Frost Master remained unmoved, simply saying calmly: "Calm yourself, Fierce Sun Master. I am not saying Blood Shark Island is innocent, but rather that—the evidence is insufficient. If we rashly send troops based solely on tokens found on a few Loose Cultivators and a testimony with erased memories, how will other forces view our Dragon Abyss Palace?"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone present before finally landing on Jiang Hanzhou.

"Furthermore—" His voice suddenly became meaningful, "Nephew Jiang has caused quite a bit of trouble in the Eastern Sea over the past half year. Killing a Silver Wing Family Disciple outside Bibo City, taking over the Prodigal Society in Star Continent Anchorage, and severely wounding Bloodfang Old Monster in the battle for the ancient flood dragon remains. Each time, it was claimed to be 'self-defense.' It's not that I don't believe it, it's just that—things seem a bit too coincidental."

The atmosphere in the hall instantly dropped to freezing point.

Fierce Sun Master's face was ashen, Old Man of Jade Wave frowned slightly, and Master Qingxuan remained expressionless, his thoughts unreadable.

As for Jiang Hanzhou, he just stood there quietly, without any expression on his face.

He had expected this.

Heavenly Sword Peak would not let this opportunity pass.

Those so-called "investigations" were nothing more than pre-prepared rhetoric.

The fact that the three assassins' Divine Souls had their memories erased had instead become a handle for Heavenly Sword Peak to accuse him of "falsifying testimony."