351: Chapter 352 can provide protection!

As for the person following behind him, when Ye Changge looked, a smile could not help but form at the corner of his mouth.

That was a young Cultivator with a delicate face and a cultivation base of only Late Stage of Qi Refining; he was the very Disciple who had taken Ye Changge to the Law Enforcement Hall back at the Qingyun Sect.

"Fellow Daoist Ye! We meet again!" Seeing Ye Changge come out, the young Cultivator hurriedly stepped forward a few paces, cupped his hands in salute, with a slightly awkward smile on his face.

He remembered clearly that back at the Qingyun Sect, he had been ordered to "invite" Ye Changge to the Law Enforcement Hall, but in the end, not only was this Ancestor Ye unharmed, but his own superior, Deacon Li Su, had been punished instead.

Later, he found out through roundabout inquiries that this Ancestor Ye had a close relationship with his Hall Master's precious Disciple, Xia Qingyue, and even the Hall Master regarded him with special consideration.

Since then, he had secretly warned himself: This Ancestor Ye must absolutely not be offended.

"So it is you, Fellow Daoist." Ye Changge returned the salute with a smile, "It has been many days; Fellow Daoist's cultivation has improved again, which is truly gratifying."

The young Cultivator hurriedly waved his hand: "Fellow Daoist Ye, you flatter me! My Aptitude is dull, and after many years of study, I am only at the Late Stage of Qi Refining. Unlike you, Fellow Daoist, who succeeded in Foundation Establishment in such a short time—truly advancing by leaps and bounds, it is truly admirable!"

After the two exchanged a few pleasantries, that Lingxiao Sect Disciple at the Early Stage Foundation Establishment stepped forward, cupped his hands to Ye Changge, and said with a polite attitude: "Fellow Daoist Ye, I am Zhou Yuan, a deacon of the Lingxiao Sect Law Enforcement Hall. Hearing that your Family encountered an attack by remnants of the Demonic Path, I was specifically ordered to come and investigate. May I ask where that Tier 2 Corpse Puppet is now?"

Ye Changge nodded, turned to the side to lead the way: "Fellow Daoist Zhou, please follow me. That Tier 2 Corpse Puppet has already been suppressed by me, just waiting for your Sect to come and inspect it."

As he walked, he whispered to Xiao Caiyue beside him: "Caiyue, you should come along too. You are clearer about the situation that day than I am; it is more appropriate for you to explain it."

Xiao Caiyue nodded slightly, her lotus steps moving lightly as she followed by Ye Changge's side.

Zhou Yuan's gaze swept over Xiao Caiyue, and a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes.

Although this woman's face was pale and her aura somewhat weak, the spiritual energy fluctuations faintly circulating around her were not weak at all; she was clearly a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Moreover... he keenly sensed that this woman seemed to carry a faint aura of a Formation.

"And this is..." Zhou Yuan asked tentatively.

Ye Changge said calmly: "This is my Dao Companion, Xiao Caiyue, a Second-Order Array Master."

The surprise in Zhou Yuan's eyes deepened, and he hurriedly cupped his hands: "So it is Fairy Xiao, excuse my lack of manners."

A Second-Order Array Master is an extremely rare existence among Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Even in a Sect like the Lingxiao Sect, Second-Order Array Masters are rarely seen; each one is a talent held in the palm of the Sect's hand.

This Ancestor Ye was actually able to take a Second-Order Array Master as a Dao Companion; he is truly blessed!

Xiao Caiyue bowed slightly in return, saying softly: "Fellow Daoist Zhou is too polite."

The group passed through the many courtyards of the Ye Family and arrived before a stone chamber tightly sealed by a Restriction.

The stone chamber was not large, only a few zhang square, and the surrounding walls were engraved with dense Formation patterns, with spiritual light faintly circulating.

In the center of the chamber, a figure that was charred black all over and exuded a faint corpse odor was firmly bound by several spiritual energy chains, unable to move.

It was the very Tier 2 Corpse Puppet that had attacked Longmai Mountain that day.

Zhou Yuan and the young Cultivator walked up to the corpse puppet and examined it carefully.

The corpse puppet was pitch black as ink, its skin covered with a layer of fine scales, and its ten fingers were like hooks, gleaming with a cold metallic luster.

Although it had been severely damaged by Ye Changge with a Third-Tier Talisman and suppressed by Xiao Caiyue's Formation, one could still feel the cold corpse Qi contained within its body.

Zhou Yuan squatted down, took out a small, silver-white Magical Artifact from his Storage Pouch, and probed various parts of the corpse puppet. Each time the artifact pierced a spot, it would light up with varying degrees of spiritual light, as if detecting something.

A moment later, he stood up, took out a yellowed Talisman paper, stuck it on the center of the corpse puppet's eyebrows, formed hand seals with both hands, and shouted in a low voice: "Reveal!"

The Talisman paper moved without wind, and lines of dense, blood-colored text appeared on its surface.

Zhou Yuan looked intently, and a moment later, his expression changed slightly.

He put away the Talisman paper, turned to look at Ye Changge and Xiao Caiyue, and said in a deep voice:

"Fellow Daoist Ye, Fairy Xiao, after a preliminary examination, this corpse puppet was indeed refined by the remnants of the Jin Family. Its refining technique, the concentration of corpse Qi, and the rune mark branded on its brow all match the characteristics of the Jin Family corpse puppets recorded on the Lingxiao Sect's wanted list."

He paused, then added: "Judging by the strength and concentration of corpse Qi of the corpse puppet, this corpse puppet was at least at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage before its death, and after being refined into a corpse puppet, it still maintains the combat power of a Middle Stage Foundation Establishment. If controlled by a master of the Corpse Dao, it could even exert the strength of a Late Foundation Establishment."

Zhou Yuan continued: "As for the person controlling this corpse puppet..." He lowered his head to glance at the information appearing on the Talisman paper, "Based on the residual spiritual energy of the brand on the corpse puppet's brow, I speculate that this person is very likely the Jin Family remnant on the Lingxiao Sect's wanted list—Jin Wuji."

"Jin Wuji?" Ye Changge raised his eyebrows slightly.

"Correct." Zhou Yuan nodded, "Jin Wuji, a direct descendant of the Jin Family, a Late Foundation Establishment Cultivator, proficient in the arts of the Corpse Dao. After the destruction of the Jin Family, this person took a group of Jin Family remnants and fled outside, repeatedly attacking families and markets under the jurisdiction of the Lingxiao Sect, plundering resources, refining corpse puppets; his crimes are numerous, and he is notorious. The Lingxiao Sect has listed him as a priority wanted target."

Ye Changge nodded inwardly.

Zhou Yuan added: "Fellow Daoist Ye, I wonder if it is convenient for you to tell me in detail about the situation that day? Including how this corpse puppet appeared and how it was slain by you. I need to record these details truthfully and report them to the Sect."

Upon hearing this, Ye Changge gently took Xiao Caiyue's hand and said to Zhou Yuan: "Regarding the situation that day, Caiyue was present the whole time and is clearer about it than I am. Let her explain it."

Xiao Caiyue nodded slightly, then began to narrate to Zhou Yuan.

Her voice was gentle and pleasant, and her logic was clear.

Zhou Yuan listened and nodded repeatedly, occasionally recording something in a jade slip.

After Xiao Caiyue finished speaking, he raised his head, a look of relief appearing in his eyes: "I have recorded everything Fairy Xiao said. Fortunately, you had a Third-Tier Talisman in your hand, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable."

He paused, then added: "It is truly not easy for the two of you to have retreated unscathed from such a dangerous attack. After I return, I will certainly report truthfully to the Sect and request merit for the two of you."

Ye Changge waved his hand and smiled: "I dare not accept credit, I only ask that your Sect can quickly investigate the matter of the Li Family colluding with the Demonic Path and return justice to my Ye Family."

Zhou Yuan said sternly: "Fellow Daoist Ye, rest assured, the Lingxiao Sect will definitely investigate this matter to the end. If the Li Family is truly colluding with the Demonic Path, the Lingxiao Sect will never be lenient!"

As he spoke, he said to Ye Changge again: "In addition, considering that your Family has now become a thorn in the side of the Demonic Path remnants, I have a proposal—the Lingxiao Sect can dispatch a Cultivator to temporarily station at your Family and provide protection."