295: Baibaoge

Mu Chen's eyes were icy, and treating the Seven-Star Dou Huang Elder like a chick ready for slaughter, he moved him to the other side of the valley and set up a sound-isolating barrier.

He needed to interrogate them separately to ensure the authenticity of the information.

That Seven-Star Dou Huang had long been mentally broken by the torment of the Life-Devouring Parasitic Vine. Facing Mu Chen's emotionless gaze, he dared not conceal anything and immediately spoke, spilling everything like beans from a bamboo tube.

"Senior! Your Excellency! I'll talk, I'll tell you everything! I only beg you to give me a quick death!"

He gasped for breath, his face contorted by pain and terror, and spoke at an extremely fast pace.

"I believe Your Excellency is not a native expert of the Northern Region of Central State, are you?"

"Otherwise, with your cultivation as a Dou Zong, you should have heard some things about our Xuanming Sect."

He cautiously observed Mu Chen's expression, and only seeing that the other party showed no reaction, did he continue in a trembling voice.

"Actually, it wasn't the Hong Family stealing a sect treasure at all! That was just an external excuse!"

"The real reason is that our Xuanming Sect possesses an evil secret technique involving yin-harvesting and yang-supplementing. Our Young Sect Leader heard from somewhere that the Hong Family's most talented woman, Red Silk, at the Jia Nan Academy... seemed to have gotten involved with someone else..."

Upon saying this, his voice dropped even lower, filled with terror.

"The Young Sect Leader felt this was a great humiliation, that the woman he had set his sights on was taken by someone else first. Enraged, he ordered the extermination of the Hong Family to vent his anger and maintain his prestige."

Mu Chen's heart churned with fury upon hearing these words, but his expression remained unchanged.

To wipe out an entire family for such an absurd and ridiculous reason?

The malice in the actions of the Xuanming Sect Young Sect Leader and the entire sect was simply appalling!

Forcing down his murderous intent, he carried the Elder back to the original spot, removed the sound barrier, and listened as the other Six-Star Dou Huang, under the torment of the parasitic vine, gave information that was largely the same, confirming its authenticity.

Mu Chen fell silent for a moment, then asked the most crucial question.

"So, where are the Hong Family survivors now? Especially the woman named Red Silk—is she alive or dead?"

Hearing this, both Elders showed confusion and deeper fear on their faces, shaking their heads frantically.

"We don't know! Senior, we truly don't know!"

"We are only peripheral, nominal Elders of the sect, usually responsible for miscellaneous duties and guarding territory that has been seized!"

"Such core secrets, especially regarding the pursuit and handling of survivors, could only be known by the core Elders within the sect who have truly reached the Dou Zong realm, or the Young Sect Leader's confidantes, to have accurate information!"

"We honestly only know this much! We beg you, please give us a quick death!"

Seeing the genuine terror on their faces, Mu Chen's heart sank slightly.

Sure enough, the trail ended here.

These two fellows were still too low-level.

"Which means you are useless now."

Mu Chen's voice was frigid, devoid of any warmth.

Hearing this, the pupils of both Elders contracted sharply, and their faces were instantly shrouded in boundless despair!

"No—!!"

They had just opened their mouths, their pleas for mercy unsaid, when Mu Chen's mind stirred, completely releasing the suppression on the Life-Devouring Parasitic Vine!

"Pfft! Pfft!"

Teeth-grating sounds densely erupted from within their bodies!

The parasitic vine seemed to have been injected with violent energy, growing and devouring at an unprecedented speed!

Amidst their ultimate, mournful screams, their bodies visibly withered, their vitality and flesh greedily sucked dry. In just a few breaths, they turned into two ghastly mummies wrapped in tattered robes!

Even their souls seemed to have been swallowed by the bizarre vine.

Mu Chen expressionlessly watched the two mummies on the ground, casually flicking out two sparks of fire, burning them into ash.

Silence returned to the valley, but Mu Chen's heart could not calm down.

The truth behind the Hong Family's destruction was unexpectedly absurd and cruel.

Red Silk's whereabouts remained a mystery, but at least there was a clearer direction for the investigation: the core Dou Zong level figures of the Xuanming Sect, or that culprit, the Young Sect Leader!

"Xuanming Sect... Young Sect Leader..."

A cold light flickered in Mu Chen's eyes.

"It seems that if I want to find Red Silk, I can't avoid dealing thoroughly with your so-called first-rate power in the Northern Region."

Having finished the cleanup, Mu Chen headed to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion to seek intelligence.

Looking at the two piles of ash on the ground, Mu Chen rubbed his temples, feeling a slight headache.

Although he had obtained crucial information, the subsequent action would be extremely difficult.

Capturing a Dou Zong of the same rank alive to force information out of him?

This was not an easy task; if the opponent fought desperately or self-destructed, he might gain nothing and would certainly alert the enemy.

"Forget it. I'll take it one step at a time. I should gather more intelligence first."

He suppressed his frustration and waved his hand, drawing the storage rings left behind by the two Elders into his grasp.

His Soul Power forcibly broke through the faint spiritual imprints on them and probed inside.

"Oh?"

Mu Chen raised an eyebrow, showing a hint of surprise.

"These two nominal Elders actually have quite substantial assets!"

Inside the storage ring space, gold coins were piled up like mountains, roughly estimated to be tens of millions.

Besides that, there were quite a few scrolls of cultivation methods and Dou Techniques of decent rank, various pills, rare ores and medicinal herbs, and even several weapons and armor pieces shining with rare treasure light.

Clearly, with the Xuanming Sect acting tyrannically in the Northern Region, these Elders had certainly skimmed off a lot of profit.

"Perfect. That saves me a lot of trouble."

Mu Chen unceremoniously transferred everything of value into his own storage ring, directly destroying the items bearing the Xuanming Sect's insignia.

This windfall was enough to cover his expenses for a period, especially since purchasing intelligence would undoubtedly cost a sky-high price.

Having tidied up, Mu Chen left the valley, altering his appearance and aura once more to become much more ordinary, and headed toward the most prosperous and best-informed place in the city: the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.

The Hundred Treasures Pavilion, a mercantile power, had a reputation that echoed throughout the entire Central State.

It was said that its business network spread across every corner of the Central State, even extending to other continents.

Its immense wealth and complex network of relationships made it a behemoth. Furthermore, rumors claimed that the President of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion was a terrifying existence whose strength had reached the peak of the Dou Zun realm!

Thus, even a first-rate power like the Xuanming Sect would not easily cause trouble on the Hundred Treasures Pavilion's territory.

Walking into the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, an aura of luxury and bustle immediately rushed forth.

The hall was extremely spacious and gorgeously decorated. People came and went, and various exotic rare treasures sparkled with tempting light inside the counters.

A beautiful and well-trained maid immediately came forward, her face bearing a professional, sweet smile.

"Welcome to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. May I ask what the customer requires?"

Her gaze swept over Mu Chen's seemingly young and ordinary face, yet she did not show any hint of disdain.

Working at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, discerning judgment was a basic skill.

Mu Chen didn't say much. With a flick of his finger, a card shimmering with soft silver light appeared on his fingertip.

Seeing this silver card, the maid's smile instantly became more sincere and enthusiastic, even carrying a hint of awe!

She recognized it—this was a VIP card issued by the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, a Silver Card!

Usually, only those at Peak Dou Huang or Dou Zong, or individuals of extremely noble status, were qualified to hold one!

Since the customer before her was so young, she naturally assumed he possessed techniques to maintain his appearance. To hold a Silver Card, his true strength or background must be unfathomable!

He was most likely a Dou Zong Senior!

"So it is a distinguished Silver Card VIP! My apologies for my lack of respect!"

The maid quickly bowed, her tone becoming even more respectful.

"Senior, please follow me. There are private rooms upstairs that are more suitable for discussion."

She was secretly delighted; assisting a Silver Card VIP meant her commission would be quite substantial!

Mu Chen nodded faintly, put away the Silver Card, and followed the maid through the noisy hall, walking up the carpeted stairs toward the quieter, more luxurious VIP area upstairs.

He knew that ordinary channels would be useless for obtaining intelligence about the Xuanming Sect's core secrets. Only a behemoth like the Hundred Treasures Pavilion could possibly provide it.

Of course, the price would certainly be astronomical. But to fulfill his promise to Jiang Donghua and find Red Silk, he was willing to pay any cost.