113: Chapter 114 Yaojin's Demise

The moment the Sun Gold Detail Order descended from mid-air, the Outer God fine bone inside the sealing grey casket actually let out a soft sound.

The sound was extremely faint, as if someone had carelessly tapped the bone with their knuckles at the bottom of the casket, or perhaps as if some creature that had slept for a long time had turned over in the dark.

Grey Pupil's staff fell a step ahead, and the Sacrificial Fire coiled around the outer edge of the grey casket like a spirit snake; it did not burn inside, but merely held that faint sound tightly within the casket, not letting a single fraction of it leak out.

The Temple Inspector's expression changed instantly, their voice tight with disbelief: "Casket reaction!"

Instructor Han Tiecheng looked up at the Sun Gold Detail Order hanging before the iron fire order and let out a cold snort, the firelight on the iron fire order flickering slightly: "You certainly know how to pick your timing."

Qiao Ye stood at the mouth of the Lock Bridge, his shield still stuck at the seventh tooth. He glanced at the grey casket, then at the Detail Order, his brows knit tightly: "Who is this knocking at the door?"

Wen Zhao retracted the Line-Marking Nail by half an inch, his gaze sweeping between the two as he said in a low voice: "Both count."

The Sun Gold Detail Order did not urge them; it simply hung there like a gold-stamped invitation slid to the edge of a table—unhurried and calm, yet possessing a weight that no one could ignore.

The dark gold patterns on the face of the order unfolded layer by layer, every line regulated to the extreme, like a seal that had been meticulously polished countless times, intending to stamp everyone's position clearly.

Pei Chengxu stood to the side, the transmission fire in his sleeve already extinguished. He did not speak again, and the few Pei Family field-sealing hands behind him also pulled back half a step.

This half-step was taken in perfect unison, so uniform it was as if they had practiced it countless times, as if an invisible hand were manipulating their rhythm from the shadows.

Outside the gate, on the Frontline Fire Platform, dark gold light descended from mid-air. There were no carriages, no attendants shouting orders, and no suppression sorcery; yet, once that patch of dark gold light settled, another person had appeared before them.

The young man wore a white-based battle robe with Sun Gold patterns, his cuffs neatly tightened, and a slender judgment order hung at his waist, looking like the embodiment of some ancient law.

His divine fire was not unleashed; the aura around him was as restrained as a deep well. Yet, as he stood there, the sealing grey casket, the half-gate fire line, Instructor Han Tiecheng's iron fire order, and the Temple's verification register all seemed to be gently sorted into different grids by an invisible hand, each returning to its place, undisturbed by the others.

The Black-Armored Recorder's pen tip paused, and the ink bled into a tiny black dot on the paper.

Instructor Han Tiecheng's gaze sank, his voice carrying a note of scrutiny: "Young Master Pei Tiange."

The young man nodded slightly toward Instructor Han Tiecheng, his courtesy impeccable yet not servile: "Instructor Han."

He then looked toward the Temple Inspector, his gaze calm: "Inspector."

Finally, he looked at Lu Jin, his eyes holding an indescribable nuance: "Lu Jin."

He called everyone's name, neither loudly nor with disdain, yet each address fell like he was marking their positions, as if on an invisible chessboard, placing every piece back into the grid where it belonged.

Young Master Pei Tiange. Initial-stage Divinity User. The ace field-suppressor of this generation of the Pei Family's Sun Gold Judgment Divine Lineage. Field investigators like Pei Chengxu could rely on seals, procedures, and executive layers to suppress people, but Young Master Pei Tiange was different—his mere presence here meant the Pei Family could push procedures one layer further, to a height everyone was forced to acknowledge.

Qiao Ye glanced at him twice, muttering in a low voice: "He doesn't look like he's here to snatch things."

Wen Zhao's gaze never left the Sun Gold Detail Order, his voice so soft it was like talking to himself: "That's why it's troublesome."

Ning Yanqiu tucked the Cold Mirror Auxiliary Seal into her sleeve, the cold ash still sticking to her fingertips like a scar that had yet to heal.

Young Master Pei Tiange's gaze swept past her sleeve without lingering too long, his tone as flat as if he were stating the simplest of facts: "The Ning Family's old file index is temporarily outside the scope of this joint investigation."

After speaking, as if he hadn't seen the flash of coldness in Ning Yanqiu's eyes, he used a single sentence to temporarily isolate the Ning Family's thread—neither touching it nor releasing it, leaving it hanging in mid-air, waiting for her to choose whether to collide with it.

Instructor Han Tiecheng sneered, the firelight from the iron fire order making one side of his face flicker: "You certainly know how to divide the table."

Young Master Pei Tiange said: "The table is too messy; it is easy to accidentally damage evidence."

His gaze fell back to the half-gate fire line; that look wasn't like viewing a ball of fire, but more like examining a piece of evidence that needed to be reclassified: "I have come here to enter with the dual authority of the Pei Family's Sun Gold Judgment Internal Affairs Investigation and the Federal Aristocratic Family Sealing Verification."

"The No. 7 Rift Zone Royal Court Ancient Gate has opened. Initial surveys of the inner ring have revealed Outer God fine bone reactions, remnants of Duan Jun's living records, Sun Gold old clasp transmission, and Cold Mirror old war order indices. According to investigation regulations, a single vanguard line should not continue to monopolize the records behind the gate."

The Black-Armored Recorder's pen paused again, the tip hovering above the paper, hesitant to descend.

Lu Jin did not speak; he simply stood there like a sword wedged in a stone crack, letting the wind and rain grind against him, remaining unmoved.

Instructor Han Tiecheng cursed first: "Stop pinning regulations to the gate. Who opened the half-gate, who dropped the anchor, who repaired the Lock Bridge, and who pressed the living records into road signs—all the records are there. You Pei Family come here with one investigation order and want to draw all of this into your grid?"

Young Master Pei Tiange nodded, his expression unchanged: "Therefore, the main control should still be recorded under Lu Jin's vanguard line."

Instructor Han Tiecheng's eyes narrowed slightly, like an old wolf sniffing the scent of a trap: "And then?"

Young Master Pei Tiange continued, his voice unhurried, every word sounding as if it had been precisely calculated: "Main control belongs to Lu Jin. Joint investigation belongs to the Pei Family. Outer God verification belongs to the Temple. War affairs sealing belongs to the Military Court. Four-party co-management, no conflict."

Qiao Ye's brows knit together as he listened, and he couldn't help but whisper: "Why does that sound so smooth?"

Wen Zhao's voice was even lower, as if squeezed through his teeth: "Smooth until the end, and then everything has to pass through his grid."

Young Master Pei Tiange looked at Wen Zhao, his gaze devoid of reproach, only a frankness that wasn't annoyed even when exposed: "You are the line-marking position?"

Wen Zhao looked up, neither avoiding nor yielding: "Wen Zhao."

"Just now, with the remnants of Duan Jun's living records, you kept an off-the-books account."

Wen Zhao did not answer, his fingers tightening on the Line-Marking Nail like a beast guarding its food.

Young Master Pei Tiange said gently, his tone even carrying a hint of negotiation: "You can keep the off-the-books account. The joint investigation only requires a rubbing."

Lu Jin finally spoke, his voice not loud, but like a stone dropped into a deep pool; the ripples that spread made everyone fall silent for a moment: "Rub which copy?"

Young Master Pei Tiange looked at him, his gaze frank: "Duan Jun's living record anchor. The direction of the Outer God fine bone reaction. The original image of the Sun Gold transmission clasp. As well as the corresponding record between the fire in your sleeve and the remnants of the living records."

As the last sentence fell, the wind in the outer ring of the Grey Fire Well seemed to drop an inch, and even the air became heavy.

Ning Yanqiu looked up, her eyes cold as frost. Instructor Han Tiecheng's iron fire order also pressed down a fraction, like a mountain slowly sinking.

Lu Jin looked at Young Master Pei Tiange, his eyes finally holding something other than calm, like a stone dropped into an ancient well: "You know about that fire."

Young Master Pei Tiange did not deny it, his expression as frank as if he were speaking of something unrelated to himself: "I know a part of it."

Qiao Ye's expression sank instantly, his voice suppressing anger: "You Pei Family actually know?"

Young Master Pei Tiange did not look at him, his gaze remaining fixed on Lu Jin, as if evaluating an item that hadn't been priced yet: "Qiao Ye, is that right?"

Qiao Ye was stunned, not expecting the other party to suddenly call his name.

Young Master Pei Tiange said, his tone even carrying a hint of sincere praise: "Your forward suppression position records are very good. Just now, when the Lock Bridge withstood the Well Wind back-suction three times, you handled it more steadily than most new vanguards."

The fire in Qiao Ye's throat was stuck; it wouldn't go up or down. Even praising someone was like organizing a grid, neatly stacked and handed over. He felt even more uncomfortable, as if someone had stuffed his mouth with soft cotton, leaving him with no leverage to even curse.

Lu Jin said: "Don't beat around the bush."

Young Master Pei Tiange nodded gently, like a gentleman who only remembered his business after being reminded: "Very well."

He looked at Lu Jin's sleeve, and that gaze finally revealed a hint of edge, no longer just a gentle scrutiny: "The Ruptured Furnace fire seed was split into two parts back then, and Duan Jun's living records have already revealed half. The main lamp was pressed into the Ruptured Furnace Seat, and a wisp of the auxiliary fire was intercepted by Observer Lu Chenyuan. This type of fire cannot be kept solely in private divine fire. It will attract Outer Gods, and it will also attract old orders."

Lu Jin said: "So you want to collect it?"

Young Master Pei Tiange said: "It will enter the sealing verification."

Lu Jin looked at him, his gaze like two blades crossing in the air: "The Pei Family's Sun Gold internal affairs mouth just emerged from Duan Jun's living records, and now you are using the Pei Family's sealing verification to collect my fire?"

Young Master Pei Tiange's expression did not change, as if he had long expected this question: "The old-system internal affairs mouth is not equivalent to the current Pei Family."

Nail Bone sneered from inside the old carriage frame, his grey-copper fire flickering, his voice hoarse as if it had been ground on sandpaper: "Sounds nice. A broken axle can also be called an old axle; it has nothing to do with the current carriage frame."

Young Master Pei Tiange looked at him, his gaze carrying a hint of respect for an ancient craftsman, yet also hiding an unquestionable certainty: "Old craftsman of the Ding Gu Workshop?"

Nail Bone's grey-copper fire jumped, his tone full of wariness: "You've sorted me into a grid too?"

"Old craftsman work file, original embryo-level craftsman core," Young Master Pei Tiange said. "If you are willing to enter the joint investigation workshop sequence, the Pei Family can provide you with half a hollow bone axle."

Wu Fu's eyes narrowed instantly, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on: "Poaching a craftsman right in front of me?"

Young Master Pei Tiange looked at her, his gaze as calm as if looking at an object that needed to be classified: "Wu Fu, deacon-level Breeding Nest core. You are very strong at protecting the nest, but the inner ring workshop does not only consume Breeding Nest materials."

Wu Fu hugged the Worker Nest Egg Tray, her expression fierce, her tail tip curling up: "I know what it eats; I don't need you to feed it."

Young Master Pei Tiange did not suppress her further. He simply turned his gaze back to Lu Jin, like a patient hunter who had finally waited for the right moment for the main target to speak: "Lu Jin, your Multi-Nest Layer Divine Domain is rare. As a frontline management type, you can connect strongholds, road networks, hero departments, and old workshops simultaneously. If you join the Pei Family's joint investigation sequence, you can still hold the half-gate main control. The Pei Family will give you access to the sealing library files, Sun Gold Judgment Order protection certification, and borrowing rights for Old Mirror teeth. If you want to investigate old cases, it will also be much faster."

He spoke very calmly, without enthusiasm or coaxing, as if discussing something that was mutually beneficial—a transaction with a clear price.

Qiao Ye couldn't help but say: "Does this count as recruitment?"

Wen Zhao said: "It counts as co-option."

Young Master Pei Tiange glanced at Wen Zhao, his lip corners seeming to move slightly, very faintly, as if he didn't find that statement unpleasant: "It can also be called co-management."

Wen Zhao looked down at the fire line casket, his voice carrying a bit of the stubbornness peculiar to a youth: "I prefer the former term; it sounds clearer."

Young Master Pei Tiange did not respond further. He simply looked at Lu Jin, as if waiting for an answer.

Lu Jin said: "I will not enter the Pei Family sequence."

"Reason?"

"The half-gate is a Military Court mission. The workshop was connected by the Multi-Nest fire line. Duan Jun's living record anchor is the road sign pressed into the old tracks before the living record remnant self-destructed. The Outer God fine bone is now in the Temple's grey casket," Lu Jin looked at him, enunciating every word. "Your Pei Family's old clasp was just pinned down by me. Of the four matters, only your Pei Family's hand is the one that should explain itself first."

Young Master Pei Tiange listened, nodded, and his gaze even held a hint of praise: "Very good at prioritizing."

Instructor Han Tiecheng snorted coldly: "Don't praise him, say how you intend to snatch it."

Young Master Pei Tiange raised his hand, and the Sun Gold Detail Order unfolded in mid-air, splitting into four fine lines. The first fell toward the half-gate fire line, the second toward the sealing grey casket, the third toward the second layer of the war map where Duan Jun's living record anchor was located, and the fourth toward the dark gold transmission clasp at Wen Zhao's hand.

The lines did not press down, only hanging an inch above, like a net that had not yet been tightened.

The Temple Inspector immediately raised the verification register, their voice carrying a hint of urgency: "The sealing grey casket belongs to the Temple verification."

Young Master Pei Tiange said: "Therefore, we will only verify the reaction direction."

Instructor Han Tiecheng also raised the iron fire order, the firelight reflecting a deep red in his eyes: "Duan Jun's living record anchor belongs to the Military Court's war affairs sealing."

Young Master Pei Tiange said: "Therefore, we will only co-record the coordinates, not seize the anchor."

Wen Zhao stared at the fourth line, his fingers tightening on the Line-Marking Nail: "What about the transmission clasp?"

Young Master Pei Tiange said: "For the Sun Gold old clasp, the Pei Family has the right of verification."

Lu Jin said: "It is evidence."

Young Master Pei Tiange said: "Evidence must also be able to prove where it came from."

Lu Jin looked at the Temple Inspector, his gaze like a knife: "Why did the grey casket make a sound just now?"

The Inspector paused, as if stumped by the question.

Lu Jin said: "Write it down."

The Inspector frowned, clearly unwilling.

Instructor Han Tiecheng also said: "Write it."

The Black-Armored Recorder and the Temple verification deacon raised their pens simultaneously, the tips making a rustling sound on the paper.

Lu Jin looked at the sealing grey casket, his voice as steady as if reading out a verdict: "At the same moment the Sun Gold Investigation Order descended, the Outer God fine bone produced a soft sound. Grey Pupil's Sacrificial Fire suppressed the casket. The Outer God fine bone did not leave the casket. Reaction direction, pending verification."

The Temple Inspector's expression was somewhat ugly, but they still had the verification deacon write it down.

Young Master Pei Tiange looked at Lu Jin, his gaze finally holding a hint of amusement: "You wrote me and the Outer God fine bone in the same moment?"

Lu Jin said: "You arrived precisely."

Qiao Ye almost laughed out loud, quickly pressing his fist against his mouth.

Instructor Han Tiecheng's mouth corners also twitched, like an iceberg cracking open a seam.

Young Master Pei Tiange was not annoyed. Instead, he glanced at the grey casket and nodded: "Correctly written."

As these three words came out, even Grey Pupil lifted his eyes, clearly not expecting this Pei Family ace field-suppressor to be so frank.

Young Master Pei Tiange said: "The Outer God fine bone reacts to the Ruptured Furnace remnant fire. My investigation order carries the Sun Gold old clasp; if it also rings, it means there was indeed an interface between the old clasp and the Ruptured Furnace remnant fire. This is advantageous for you."

Lu Jin looked at him, his gaze not loosening: "It is also advantageous for you."

Young Master Pei Tiange added, his voice carrying a hint of candor: "If the old-system internal affairs mouth was used as a passage by an Outer God, the Pei Family needs to know first which segment was borrowed."

He finally revealed a bit of sharpness—not cold, not dirty, like a meticulously polished cutting blade finally revealing a sliver of cold light from its sheath.