235: Investigation direction

"Revered Master, are you no longer going to search for that soul refining primordial pill?" Zhao Jingchen could not suppress the doubt in his heart and could not help but ask.

"It is no longer necessary."

As Chu Haotian's voice fell, he looked toward the Disciple beside him and changed the subject, asking, "Since it has been confirmed that those villagers were abducted by Cultivators of the Chusheng Sect, do you two have any clues as to what their purpose is for this trip?"

A trace of shame flashed across Zhao Jingchen's face, and he shook his head gently: "Your Disciple is dull and has not yet discovered any clues."

Hearing her Revered Master say that the soul refining primordial pill was unnecessary, Lin Xiuqin's heart, which had been hanging in her throat, suddenly dropped, and she secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She had been privately worried, thinking that her Revered Master's Divine Soul had suffered a heavy injury, which was why he had ordered several Disciples to search for soul-repairing pills of the seventh or eighth rank. Now it seemed she had been overthinking.

"Revered Master, since we already know it was the work of the Chusheng Sect, why don't we just go to their door and question them directly? Why the need for such a roundabout way?" Lin Xiuqin's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly in confusion.

Chu Haotian looked at his pure-hearted female Disciple. Just as he was about to explain, Zhao Jingchen spoke up first to clear his Junior Sister's doubts:

"Junior Sister, you may not know that the Chusheng Sect is one of the Three Great Sects of the Rain God Continent, and its power and foundation are on par with our Tianque Sect. In their eyes, abducting a few Mortals from a mountain village is a trivial matter, even if it is improper. After all, they haven't harmed a whole city or region, so it's not considered a major crime."

If it were a second-rate Sect like the Tianjian Sect, it naturally wouldn't be so troublesome.

All it would take is for their Revered Master to pay a visit and say, 'Fellow Daoist, such actions are somewhat inappropriate,' before leaving. The other party would immediately have to reconsider their actions.

Chu Haotian nodded slowly and added to the conversation: "Precisely because of this, we need to investigate clearly. Unless we can uncover the true plot behind these people abducting the commoners from the foot of the mountain—if they are committing acts that slaughter living beings and defy the heavens, then it will be a different matter entirely."

Hearing this, Lin Xiuqin sighed softly: "In that case, we must continue our investigation."

Just as she finished speaking, she noticed her Senior Brother beside her had suddenly stopped his wind-riding, his figure hanging steadily in the air.

"What's wrong, Senior Brother?"

Chu Haotian also looked over.

A bright light suddenly flashed in Zhao Jingchen's eyes. Without thinking further, he asked urgently:

"Revered Master, when the Yao Race transforms into human form, can there be cases of Half-human, Half-demon beings with mixed forms?"

His Revered Master was one of the seven peak Revered Masters of the Tianque Sect and had personally guarded the border of the Rain God Continent, having many clashes with those beasts from the Demon Race Continent. He knew far more about the habits and secrets of the Yao Race than these Disciples.

Chu Haotian shook his head slowly: "When the Yao Race transforms, they have always emphasized the harmony of the Divine Soul and Physical Body, and the purity of their Origin.

Low-level Yao Race need to use Demon Essence to temper their entire bodies, shedding claws, teeth, scales, feathers, beast bones, and demon breath before they can condense a complete human body. High-level demon Cultivators can even refine a 'Body of the Borrowed Dao,' with features and skin texture no different from a Mortal. They can even hide the unique resonance of their Demon Core and Divine Soul. Unless one's cultivation base far exceeds theirs, it's impossible to tell them apart."

After a short pause, his expression became a bit more solemn: "If you truly see a half-human, half-demon form, it is definitely not caused by natural transformation. Either they encountered a great tribulation during transformation, causing their Physical Body to collapse and their Origin to be damaged, failing to reach Perfection; or their Demon Roots were altered by evil arts, or they are monstrosities forcibly fused by different races.

Such existences are often accompanied by overwhelming malevolence and are definitely not benevolent."

"Definitely not benevolent?" Zhao Jingchen said with a serious expression, "Revered Master, your Disciple forgot to mention one thing."

He briefly explained the matter regarding Yun Xuanxuan and Fang Ningyan.

Lin Xiuqin was suddenly stunned upon hearing this, her delicate eyebrows furrowed: "How is that possible? The Yao Race has always been irreconcilable with our Human Race. Why would they go out of their way to rescue the people of Pingquan Village?"

"Junior Sister, do not be anxious. There are still many suspicious points in this matter. It is too early to reach a conclusion."

Zhao Jingchen shook his head slowly. Had he not seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn't have believed it either.

Even Chu Haotian's expression became more solemn as he said deeply, "This matter is of great importance. I will immediately report it to the Sect Master. If those Half-human, Half-demon beings really are strange and it is the work of the Chusheng Sect, then this is a major event for the entire Rain God Continent."

"Oh, right, Revered Master!" Zhao Jingchen seemed to suddenly remember something and cupped his hands. "When I was eavesdropping on the confrontation between that demon woman and the Chusheng Sect Elder, I heard fragments of 'escaped from the Demon Suppressing Tower.' I suspect this matter is inextricably linked to the Demon Suppressing Tower. I request Revered Master's permission to go and investigate what is going on!"

...On the other side, deep in the vast desert, the wild wind howled, carrying yellow sand. The dust and mist filled the sky, obscuring the sun and filtering the sunlight into a dim yellow.

Inside the valley!

Inside the valley, Yun Xuanxuan looked at the distant horizon. She felt both relieved and a bit regretful.

She was relieved because the two young men had not pursued them, allowing them to escape a disaster for the time being. She was regretful because their attempt to rescue the people of Pingquan Village had ultimately fallen short.

Fang Ningyan, beside her, was lost in thought. That sentence echoed repeatedly in her mind, and her thoughts were as messy as a ball of yarn!

Just then, a sound of light footsteps came from the cave in the valley, breaking the silence.

"I was wondering why there wasn't even a cup of tea for a guest today," a voice as seductive as bone-chilling drifted over, carrying a bit of lazy laughter.

The first thing to come into view was a slit purple gauze dress swaying gently in the breeze. As the hem fluttered, segments of fair, jade-like long legs were faintly visible, a natural seductiveness that could stir one's soul.

Following that, Purple Sandalwood walked out slowly. A faint smile hung on her stunning face, and her sandalwood-colored lips parted slightly as she spoke in a voice soft enough to melt water:

"So Young Miss Yun and Young Miss Fang went out to handle some business."

Seeing this, Yun Xuanxuan's face, which had just relaxed slightly, instantly darkened. A cold sharpness flashed in her eyes: "I have already said that you are not welcome here. Why do you keep showing up?"

Purple Sandalwood didn't care at all. She gently brushed a stray hair from her temple with her slender hand, her smile remaining.

"Naturally, to act as a lobbyist and persuade Young Miss Yun to change her mind."

"If others are willing to join you, I have no right to interfere, but my answer has been the same from beginning to end."

Hearing this, Purple Sandalwood could only sigh softly: "Even after seeing the filth of the Human Race with your own eyes, even when the people you risked your lives to save turned around to hunt and despise you, does Young Miss Yun still insist on being so stubborn and protecting these cold-hearted people?"

"I am not protecting those Cultivators." Yun Xuanxuan's eyebrows suddenly shot up. "However, in my view, there isn't much difference between you and them."

"To ask me to join forces with you Yao Race who eat raw meat and drink blood, and treat human lives like grass, I simply cannot do it!"

The smile on Purple Sandalwood's face did not fade; instead, it gained a hint of playfulness.

"Eating raw meat and drinking blood? That's not entirely wrong. There are indeed some Yao Race tribes who, due to generations of blood feuds, use this to vent the resentment in their hearts. But Young Miss Yun, you only see the 'evil' of the Yao Race. Do you know what kind of heartless things the Human Race Cultivators have done to my Yao Race?"