191: Anecdotes of the Imperial City

"Decades ago, several incidents of demonic Cultivators killing people occurred near Cangming City..."

Fairy Yujiao's expression was grave as she spoke in a low, steady voice. "It is said that from Mortals to Core Formation Cultivators, a total of several thousand people died. Without exception, there were no wounds on their bodies; only their Divine Souls were annihilated. However, the victims' Magic Treasures and Spirit Stones were still there, so it didn't look like a case of murder for treasure at all... Even weirder, these Mortals and Cultivators had no connection to each other, it was like..."

"Like they were killed in passing?"

Lu Tao drank the wine in his cup and added.

Fairy Yujiao naturally refilled his cup and nodded. "Exactly. At that time, the lords of the Imperial City's Law Enforcement Department reached the same conclusion. Unfortunately, after years of investigation and losing many personnel, they were never able to bring the perpetrator to justice."

"Just a year ago, such cases appeared again."

With the topic brought up, Fairy Diewu also chimed in. "Previously, it only happened outside the Imperial City, but now it has appeared directly inside the city."

"And the most recent victim was no ordinary person."

Fairy Yujiao continued, "A Director of the Law Enforcement Department's Supervision Division had his entire household exterminated, yet the murderer still hasn't been caught... And this Director was the very person responsible for investigating the case back then."

The Law Enforcement Division of the Vast Sea Imperial Dynasty has responsibilities similar to the ancient Ministry of Justice.

It consists of the Punishment Division, the Supervision Division, and the Gate Control Division, responsible for law enforcement, criminal investigation, and pass and gate security respectively.

The cultivation levels of the chief officials of each division vary from Peak Nascent Soul to Soul Transformation.

This Director of the Supervision Division was a Peak Nascent Soul existence.

For such a person's entire household to be exterminated was already a very serious matter for the Vast Sea Imperial Dynasty.

"But flight is prohibited within Cangming City, and there are so many high-level Cultivators stationed here..."

Song Moting frowned slightly, looking puzzled. "How did this murderer escape capture?"

Su Ling and the others also looked confused. This was a world of immortal cultivation, with endless methods of investigation.

This person had actually remained at large for decades and then turned around to wipe out the person who had been investigating him.

It was truly somewhat inconceivable.

Of course, to those high and mighty high-level Cultivators, the death of a Peak Nascent Soul might not necessarily prompt them to take action.

Otherwise, it wouldn't have taken this long without catching the killer.

"The specific details are unknown."

Fairy Yujiao shook her head. "The only clue is probably the lingering aura of yin souls left at the scene. Because of this, the Law Enforcement Department judged that this person should be a demonic Cultivator who specializes in the path of Soul Refining."

Upon hearing this, Lu Tao and the other three couldn't help but turn their gaze toward Su Ling.

Even the several top courtesan fairies showed expressions that were half-smiling and half-not.

"Why are you looking at me?"

Su Ling was stunned and said, caught between laughter and tears, "You guys don't suspect me, do you? This is my first time in Cangming City..."

"Haha!"

Lu Tao and the others burst into laughter, and the courtesan fairies also chuckled behind their hands.

Even the cold Fairy Aoxue and the indifferent Fairy Yuehen couldn't help but smile.

"Speaking of which, Junior Brother Su, you are an expert in Soul Refining!"

Qi Yunling teased with a wink, "I wonder what your chances of winning would be if you faced this person?"

Back then, Su Ling was able to kill a Nascent Soul Early Stage Cultivator while only at the Core Formation Mid-stage.

Now that he had reached the Peak Core Formation Stage and had two Spiritual Artifacts and a major Spirit Treasure with him, his combat power had soared immensely.

Never mind that the killer could wipe out a Peak Nascent Soul Imperial Dynasty Director, as long as their strength hadn't broken through to the Soul Transformation stage.

If they faced Su Ling, it was hard to say who would emerge victorious.

Hearing this, the fairies' eyes flickered as they looked at Su Ling with unusual interest.

Su Ling rolled his eyes and complained speechlessly, "We don't even know the other party's strength, how should I know!"

"Judging by their style of doing things..."

Luo Xuanxiao, who had been silent, spoke with a hint of hesitation, "If I'm not mistaken, this person might show signs of Qi Deviation."

"Young Master Luo's judgment coincides with that of the Law Enforcement Department."

Fairy Diewu let out a soft cry of surprise and looked at Luo Xuanxiao with admiration.

That burning gaze made the serious Luo Xuanxiao's cheeks turn slightly red.

"Junior Brother Luo is absolutely right. Generally speaking, even demonic Cultivators wouldn't easily attack Mortals."

Song Moting nodded slightly. "Mortals' Divine Souls are weak; even a thousand of them can't compare to the Divine Soul of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. If it were me, I'd rather target Loose Cultivators than slaughter Mortals."

"Indeed."

Su Ling agreed, "This person might have forcibly cultivated some incomplete Cultivation Technique, leading to Qi Deviation and uncontrollable behavior."

Fairy Wanqing tilted her head slightly and softly stated her view, "But since he could sneak into Cangming City and wipe out a Peak Nascent Soul's entire household, it suggests that the state of Qi Deviation might have been resolved!"

"That's the scariest part."

Qi Yunling sighed softly. "Maybe this person has already advanced or is about to advance to Soul Transformation!"

"Soul Transformation..."

Everyone looked at each other and sighed.

When their cultivation was low, several of them had the strength to fight across levels.

Although Su Ling could kill a Nascent Soul as a Core Formation Cultivator, it was mainly due to that mysterious and unpredictable Nether Soul Arrow Secret Art.

But once it reaches Soul Transformation, fighting across levels is not that simple.

Given the Divine Soul strength of a Soul Transformation Cultivator, even if it's just a Body Refining Soul Transformation, even if Su Ling reached the Nascent Soul Early Stage, it would be impossible to kill them even with the full power of the Ghost Soul Arrow.

If they met, he might be able to exchange a few moves using the Spirit Treasure phoenix dance nine-fierce ruler.

But the final outcome would definitely be a desperate escape.

"This matter will naturally be handled by the experts of the Imperial Dynasty; there's no need for you Young Masters to worry about it."

Seeing the atmosphere turn heavy, Fairy Diewu chuckled. "With fine wine and a beautiful moment before us, why don't I perform a new dance to liven things up..."

"Good, good, good!"

Lu Tao clapped and laughed. "Fairy Diewu's dance is exceptionally graceful; I'm sure the new dance will be eye-opening."

"Then, I'll trouble Sister Yuehen and Sister Aoxue to accompany me with a tune!"

Diewu rose with a smile, her graceful figure spinning lightly like a butterfly flitting through flowers as she drifted toward the center of the elegant chamber.

The moment she landed, the fiery red dress on her body suddenly shimmered with light, transforming in an instant into a pink gauze dress embroidered with colorful butterflies.

As the hem of her skirt lifted, the butterfly patterns on the gauze seemed ready to break free from the fabric, exceptionally vivid.

Yuehen and Aoxue exchanged a look, stood up in unison, and walked slowly to both sides.

A Guqin and a Konghou appeared out of thin air in their hands. As their fingertips lightly plucked the strings, a cheerful and agile melody spread like spilled mercury, filling the room.

Diewu slowly extended her slender hands, a layer of misty colorful light appearing around her.

As the dance began, with the swaying of the gauze skirt, colorful butterflies actually emerged out of thin air, fluttering around her.

They complemented the embroidered butterflies on her skirt, making it hard to tell if the butterflies were dancing with the dress or the dress was dancing with the butterflies.

What was even more remarkable was that those butterflies were surrounded by a faint spiritual rhythm, and as they flew into the air, their wings shed bits of starlight.

As more and more colorful butterflies appeared, they gradually flew around everyone.

Lu Tao interestedly extended a finger, and a colorful butterfly landed gently on his fingertip.

To the naked eye, it looked as detailed as a living creature.

Lu Tao's brow twitched as a sharp Sword Qi emitted from his fingertip, instantly shattering the butterfly.

But that spiritual power actually turned into a pale pink ribbon of light, winding and moving along with Diewu's spinning body.

"Wonderful!"

Seeing this, everyone clapped and cheered.

Fairy Diewu's control over her spiritual power was truly stunning!