Chapter 139 passed verification, everything went smoothly.

[You sit on the chair, your gaze deep.]

[In order to obtain the intelligence regarding the discontinued sequel...]

[Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian will definitely look for clues from the three of you who came to 'deliver the goods'.]

[And this is the perfect opportunity to verify the "disguise" you are currently wearing!]

[Although you are extremely confident in the "Reflection of the Years" effect of your [Thousand Autumns of Regret (Gold)]...]

[And believe it will absolutely not be seen through...]

[Taking the chance to perform a proper verification is still very necessary.]

[As expected.]

[In the corridor outside the door, Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian quickly set aside the doubts in his heart.]

[He returned to a state as calm as a deep well.]

[He walked straight toward the third interrogation room where you were.]

[As for why he questioned you first?]

[Sitting on the chair, you secretly guess: "Is it because I have the highest Martial Arts Realm among the three?"]

[However, in reality, this was an illusion created by Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian!]

[His interrogation was being conducted in all three investigation rooms simultaneously.]

[As a powerhouse of the Shentong Realm, he split off three completely real Incarnations of his will and pushed open the three doors.]

[Making each of you believe you were the first to be questioned.]

[Thereby applying the maximum psychological pressure.]

["Creak—"]

[The heavy iron door was pushed open.]

[Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian's Incarnation stepped inside.]

[Cold Kite followed closely behind, but she only stood outside the door in awe.]

[She did not enter, and conveniently closed the door behind him.]

[To be honest, Cold Kite actually didn't know what had happened in those few seconds just now.]

[She never expected that these three seemingly ordinary young people could actually lead to a situation that even a Great Grandmaster would treat so solemnly.]

[But at this moment, Cold Kite, standing outside the door, felt a bit excited.]

["It's been a long time since something this exciting happened."]

["With Old Zhao personally taking action, it seems Wuyue City, and even Jiangnan Province, will see some big moves."]

["Maybe I'll be able to take on important missions again."]

[Cold Kite gripped the Tang sword at her waist, Battle Intent flashing in her eyes.]

[Inside the interrogation room.]

[This time you came to the Investigation Bureau, you didn't do as you usually did, wearing the [Reflection of the Years: Thousand Faces] while...]

[...also using "Hiding the Edge" to suppress your Realm.]

[You sat there directly with your martial arts cultivation of the Ninth Stage of Qi and Blood at seventeen years old.]

[Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian didn't waste any time; he walked over and sat down across from you.]

[He spoke bluntly:]

["Little fellow, what is it you seek?"]

[Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian's expression was kind, even carrying a smile like that of a Senior.]

[However, the pressure belonging to a superior and a Great Grandmaster that he inadvertently revealed in his words...]

[...was like a mountain, pressing heavily on your shoulders.]

[Facing a Great Grandmaster, you didn't want to play dumb anymore, as that would instead seem fake.]

[You took a deep breath, withstanding that invisible pressure.]

[Slowly raising your head, you looked directly at Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian.]

["This student knows his strength is meager."]

["I accidentally learned that the school might encounter a great crisis, and received guidance from a Senior in a dream."]

["So I rushed here overnight to seek the protection of a Great Grandmaster."]

[You gritted your teeth, putting on an act of going all out, and continued:]

["And... I hope the Great Grandmaster can give me a chance to advance to the Origin Opening Realm!"]

[After saying that, you stared intently into Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian's eyes and threw out the final sentence:]

["The Senior in the dream said that after meeting you..."]

["...I should say one word to you—Yi."]

[As the words fell.]

[The "Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian" in front of you stared at you without saying a word.]

[Those eyes, which seemed able to see through everything, scanned up and down your body.]

[One second... five seconds... more than ten seconds passed.]

[These dozen or so seconds felt as long as a century to you.]

[You pushed the disguise of [Thousand Autumns of Regret] to its limit.]

[Finally, the Great Grandmaster withdrew his gaze.]

[It seemed he hadn't seen anything amiss with you.]

["Granted."]

[Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian left behind a single, brief word.]

[Immediately, your vision blurred, and this Great Grandmaster's Incarnation vanished like a bubble.]

["Whew..."]

[You let out a long breath, your back already soaked with cold sweat.]

["I passed. The Great Grandmaster's verification is complete. This disguise... is invincible!"]

[...]

[At the same time.]

[In the first and second interrogation rooms, the questioning by the other two Incarnations also ended simultaneously.]

[Liu Qing and Liao Fan's answers were basically similar to yours; they both followed the instructions.]

[They requested the resources to advance to the Origin Opening Realm.]

[Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian agreed to all of them.]

[In his view, the value of this intelligence...]

[...far exceeded the cost of providing a few Origin Opening Realm resources to these three juniors.]

[It was a major matter concerning the life and death of a city, and even the defensive lines of the Human Race.]

[Furthermore, under his rigorous scrutiny...]

[...he believed that the three of you did not seem like brainwashed cult believers.]

[The Qi around you was very clean, like ordinary people who had been caught up in this.]

[However, you did pique Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian's interest significantly.]

["A seventeen-year-old at the Ninth Stage of Qi and Blood, with a solid Foundation and pure Qi..."]

["Even in a big city, he would be considered a top-tier Genius Martial Artist."]

["To think that such a Golden Phoenix could fly out of a small place like Longnan?"]

[Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian marveled secretly in his heart.]

[However, this only made him slightly interested.]

[What he needed most urgently now was the follow-up intelligence.]

["That kid named Li Ang said the word 'Yi'."]

["That arrogant kid named Liao Fan also said the word 'Yi'."]

["The female coach Liu Qing didn't say this word, but only requested protection for her younger sister."]

["Then, it's very obvious..."]

[How clever was Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian? He instantly sorted out the clues.]

["The final intelligence should be with that little girl named Liu Yiyi!"]

[The Great Grandmaster had other instructions for Liu Qing.]

[He walked out of the interrogation room and said to Liu Qing:]

["Lead the way; let's go to your home. This old man wants to personally meet your younger sister."]

[She complied and immediately led the way.]

[But at this moment, Liao Fan, sitting in the second interrogation room...]

[...did not feel the expected ecstasy after receiving the Great Grandmaster's promise.]

[He sat on the interrogation chair, his face pale.]

[His forehead was covered in anxious cold sweat.]

[He called out frantically in his mind:]

["Master Xu? Master Xu! Are you there?"]

["The Great Grandmaster promised to give me resources! Come out quickly and acknowledge him!"]

["Master Xu! Say something!"]

[However, there was dead silence in his Sea of Consciousness; no one responded.]

[His omnipotent Great Grandmaster master was gone!]

[...]

[Time returned to ten or so minutes ago.]

[Which was when Water Spirits number one, three, and four self-destructed.]

[At that time, "Water Spirit Number Two," which was comfortably enjoying the pure Wood-element Ability Origin of Liu Yiyi...]

[...also chose to self-destruct without hesitation after perceiving your command.]

[It dissipated into dots of blue light, leaving behind only a shimmering light orb of information.]

[Hidden within Liu Yiyi's ability Origin.]

[...]

[Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian took Liu Qing and arrived at Liu Yiyi's room with swift and decisive action.]

[At this time, Liu Yiyi was still resting.]

[However, because "Water Spirit Number Two" had already cleaned up the evil technique left by Zhang Dehai during its lurking period...]

[...the symptoms of weakness on her had vanished; her small face was rosy, and she slept peacefully.]

[Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian extended two fingers and placed them on the girl's wrist to investigate for a moment.]

["A very rare Wood-type ability user, with an extremely pure Origin that is undamaged."]

["Your sister is very suitable for practicing martial arts," Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian gave a very high evaluation.]

[Then, his eyes narrowed, and he held his fingers together like a sword.]

[He made a grasping motion in the air above Liu Yiyi's brow.]

["Come out!"]

["Buzz!"]

[The final deep-blue information light sphere...]

[...was extracted by him from Liu Yiyi's body without any damage.]

[Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian crushed the light sphere, and a massive flow of information instantly surged into his Sea of Consciousness.]

[What was in this light orb was the truly critical information!]

[The complete ritual and final goal of the "Blood Shadow Life Replacement" plan!]

[The existence and terrifying characteristics of the ancient evil creature, the "Two-Life Blood Soul Demon"!]

[Regarding Liu Xiyue, who was treated as the perfect vessel, and the secrets hidden behind the Liu Family of Haicheng!]

[After Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian finished reading this content, his expression changed.]

[Shock, anger... various emotions intertwined on the Great Grandmaster's face.]

["What a Heart-Eroding Cult! What a Blood Shadow Life Replacement!"]

["They actually want to use this method to steal the future high-level members of the Human Race! This is simply insane!"]

[...]

[Meanwhile, at the Wuyue City Investigation Bureau.]

[After completing the remaining routine information recording with Cold Kite, you were finally allowed to wait in the resting area.]

[You sat on a metal chair.]

[And opened the nutritional lunch box made of high-grade Exotic beast meat that the Investigation Bureau had specially given you to calm your nerves.]

[You began to eat in large gulps.]

[As you chewed the Exotic beast meat, you calculated the upcoming situation in your heart, feeling great.]

["Everything is going according to plan. Next, it depends on how the Great Grandmaster performs."]

[However, just as you were eating with gusto and thought the job was done...]

[You suddenly felt someone gently pat your shoulder.]

["Is it delicious?"]

[A gentle voice tinged with a smile echoed softly in your ear.]