45: Chapter 45 Heading Towards the Abyss

The Qian Family's bloodline tracing secret technique requires someone to burn their own vital blood to perform the tracing.

This cost is immense; burning the vital blood within the body is equivalent to completely ruining that person's future in cultivation.

But in the eyes of the Qian Family, sacrificing one person to gain the initiative is worth it.

Although the Twelve Ancient Families each have their own resources and connections, they are actually constrained at every turn, and every move must be reported to those above.

Those above know that this group is not honest, but their methods are tough, keeping them bound tightly.

Now the Qian Family has finally found an opportunity; since a branch family was wiped out, the main family must demand an explanation.

"Is that White Flood Dragon the same white snake that wiped out the Qiu Family ten years ago?" Fourth Master Qian Hongda asked.

Sun Ling nodded and took out the information on Li Xiuyuan: "It is him, a Spirit Rank Rising Beings."

"Is the intelligence reliable?" Fourth Master Qian Hongda asked again.

Sun Ling said with extreme confidence: "Absolutely true. I got this from the Mysterious Investigation Bureau, and the Mysterious Investigation Bureau obtained it from the Jiantian Bureau."

Fourth Master Qian Hongda smacked his lips: "A Spirit Rank Rising Beings, which means it has formed an Inner Core. A dragon's Inner Core—what a good thing."

Sun Ling was a bit worried: "Fourth Master, that guy is a Spirit Rank Rising Beings, and his methods are ruthless, his strength is not to be underestimated. Do we have any certainty?"

"If we aren't sure, I can also provide some weapons here. The Security Bureau's newly equipped Spirit-Eliminating Rounds have Spirit-Breaking Talismans engraved on them, which have miraculous effects on Rising Beingss."

Fourth Master Qian Hongda gave a light hmph: "Strength is indeed there, but that doesn't mean it's invincible. Bring those weapons of yours too. Let's go."

Sun Ling was stunned for a moment: "Now?"

"Otherwise? Revenge should be taken early. Besides, if those above find out about this, they will definitely stop us, and your chance for promotion will be gone." Fourth Master Qian Hongda stretched out his right hand, covered in calluses but still vigorous and powerful, and patted Sun Ling on the shoulder.

Sun Ling opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but swallowed it back.

He had originally planned to prepare for two more days and wait until Fan Ming and that group from the Mysterious Investigation Bureau had withdrawn before making a move, but Fourth Master Qian Hongda clearly did not want to wait.

"Alright, I will go gather the men now."

Meanwhile, Fan Ming was already driving toward the City Bureau.

He had already learned that the Qian Family had sent people, and he didn't need to think to know what this group was going to do.

He floored the gas pedal, and the car sped down the road. Fan Ming dialed Sun Ling's phone while driving. It rang a dozen times, but no one answered.

After calling three times in a row without an answer, Fan Ming immediately guessed Sun Ling's intention. He turned the car around and changed course toward Yunfeng Mountain.

On the way, Fan Ming called Director Qin Siyuan again.

"Director Qin, Sun Ling has lost his mind. He isn't answering the phone. He has likely already taken people to Yunfeng Mountain."

Director Qin Siyuan was silent for a moment: "You head toward Yunfeng Mountain. I will contact the Jiantian Bureau and have them send people there."

At the foot of Yunfeng Mountain, Fourth Master Qian Hongda stood at the edge of the restricted area cordon. He sensed a formation in front of him. He looked up at the white mist on the mountaintop. The night wind blew down from the mountain, carrying a chill of moisture, making his clothes flap loudly.

"This must be it, there's even an early warning formation," Fourth Master Qian Hongda said.

Sun Ling got out of the car, followed by more than twenty subordinates from the Security Bureau. Everyone nimbly opened the boxes, and the disassembled weapon parts were quickly assembled.

Then they brought out a second box, which was neatly packed with hundreds of bullets. The bullet tips were engraved with fine inscriptions, glowing with a faint blue light in the twilight.

"That's right, this is it," Sun Ling said while loading the bullets.

Fourth Master Qian Hongda loosened his wrists: "We will split up to go up the mountain. Once we cross the formation, the guardians of this Yunfeng Mountain will be alerted."

He raised his finger and pointed to a small path hidden in the night on the side of the mountain: "You take your men and go up the eastern mountain path first to attract attention."

Sun Ling was stunned. Taking his men to the east was clearly acting as bait. But at the moment, it seemed to be the only way. Sun Ling gritted his teeth: "Fine."

The group passed through the formation and disappeared into the mountain mist. Before they could even rush to the mountainside, a figure blocked Sun Ling's path.

Gu Xiao walked out of the mist wearing a nuo mask, blocking the middle of the road.

"This place has been designated as a restricted area by the Jiantian Bureau. Retreat."

Upon hearing this, Sun Ling immediately took out his credentials: "We are performing official duties. The White Flood Dragon on the mountain is suspected of being involved in a mass murder case, and we are here to arrest him for questioning."

Under the nuo mask, Gu Xiao's expression was somewhat surprised. A mass murder case? What the hell is that?

He had been with Li Xiuyuan during this time. Even when Li Xiuyuan was patrolling the waters, saving people who had accidentally fallen in, he had been watching from afar. Li Xiuyuan simply didn't have the time to do those things.

"Impossible. I have been watching him the whole time; he had no time to do those things," Gu Xiao said.

Sun Ling narrowed his eyes and asked: "The time the mass murder occurred was the 13th of this month. Are you sure he has evidence to clear his name?"

Hearing this, Gu Xiao was stunned. The 13th was just a few days ago, the day Li Xiuyuan flew out of Yunfeng Mountain for the first time. He really didn't seem to have followed Li Xiuyuan. No way, just one day of not watching him, and he went out and caused trouble again?

Seeing the other party lost in thought, Sun Ling's voice hardened: "It seems you have no way to prove it either. I must go and interrogate him. The situation is serious, please move aside!"

"I still cannot let you go up," Gu Xiao interrupted him. "In case you anger him, I worry that you will all die up there."

"Fine, it would be even better if he killed me too. I don't believe it—a Spirit Rank Rising Beings, having committed so many bloody crimes, can still survive before the laws of Xia Kingdom?!"

Sun Ling laughed out of extreme anger, his emotions becoming somewhat agitated.

Gu Xiao looked at him, his eyes complex: "I must correct you on one point: he is Desolate Rank."

"So what if he is Desolate Rank? Does that mean he can ignore the law?! Wait... Desolate..."

Sun Ling realized it belatedly, his voice rising sharply, and he looked at Gu Xiao with a shocked expression.

"Isn't he Spirit Rank? When did he break through to Desolate Rank?"

"Not long ago."

"Impossible! The intelligence I obtained from the Mysterious Investigation Bureau clearly stated he was Spirit Rank."

"The intelligence has been updated."

Sun Ling stood there, his mind buzzing. How could he be Desolate Rank? If he is Desolate Rank, wouldn't Fourth Master Qian Hongda be walking to his death?

Just at this moment, Gu Xiao also sensed that people were successively breaking into Yunfeng Mountain. He immediately realized that the Sun Ling in front of him was here to delay time.

"You are really courting death," Gu Xiao gritted his teeth and turned to leave. But when his figure was about to disappear into the mountain mist, he stopped and turned back to look at Sun Ling and the people behind him: "Get down the mountain quickly. If something happens, no one can save you."

Sun Ling stood where he was, his legs feeling a bit weak. Fourth Master Qian Hongda had already entered the mountain. If he ran away and Fourth Master Qian Hongda died on Yunfeng Mountain, the Qian Family would absolutely not let him go. Once the dirty things he had done were exposed, it would be no different from being dead.

At this point, he could only take a gamble. Sun Ling's eyes changed. No matter what happened tonight, he had to kill that Flood Dragon!

"Follow me up the mountain!" Sun Ling turned his head to look at the crowd, not realizing at all that he was leading everyone toward an abyss from which they could not climb out.