Yunxi walked slowly toward the knot of onlookers, letting her divine sense sweep precisely over the male cultivator. The corner of her eye tilted. She had thought that after the Weiyu Realm's entire realm ascended, the fake Heavenly Dao's "alt account" would be scrapped, so she had stopped paying attention to Mu Zijun.
She had not expected this rat to develop in the shadows and already condense a Nascent Soul. Worse, the sealing sigils she had placed on his "Fate-Seizing Constitution" were loosening, which seemed to have allowed him to borrow someone else's luck again.
Yunxi's gaze flickered. This kind of cultivator was a favorite target of evil cultivators. Back then, she had stayed her hand only because of the fake Heavenly Dao. Now she would show no mercy. While everyone's attention was locked on the arguing pair, two Soul Thorns slipped out without a sound, stabbing into Mu Zijun's sea of consciousness and dantian.
Mu Zijun, who had been arguing righteously a heartbeat earlier, felt his mind go blank. The next instant, the man opposite him seemed to recoil in fright, and then all Mu Zijun could see was another person's boot.
Because Mu Zijun suddenly pitched forward and his aura vanished on the spot, the surrounding cultivators instinctively grew wary. Someone immediately stopped the man who had been arguing with Mu Zijun. The stall owner crushed a jade talisman, and moments later the city guards arrived, taking Mu Zijun's body and the quarreling cultivator away.
Only then did Yunxi ask a male cultivator beside her, "Daoyou, where are they taking him?"
The man glanced at Yunxi, could not see through her cultivation, and became far more polite as he answered, "They are taking them to the City Guard Office. When a cultivator dies, there must be an investigation, to prevent evil cultivators from slipping into Chong'an City."
"How will they handle the dead cultivator?"
"If he has a sect, they will notify the sect. If he is from a family, they will notify the clan to claim him. If his identity cannot be verified, the City Guard Office will dispose of him. His storage pouch will likely be confiscated."
"I see. Thank you."
Smiling, Yunxi thanked him, then slipped into a robe shop. She chose a low-key gray robe and also custom-ordered a high-grade robe. After paying a deposit, she headed straight for the City Guard Office.
Chong'an City's guard office was very close to the commercial street. It was probably because trouble flared there often and the guards needed to respond quickly, so the office had been built in that location.
As expected, Yunxi was stopped by guards at the entrance. Since they could not discern her cultivation, both cupped their fists and said politely, "Daoyou, what business do you have with the City Guard Office?"
Yunxi replied evenly, "This Lord parted ways with a fellow sect disciple on Yong'an Street. We had agreed on a place to meet, but he did not come. While searching for him, I heard a cultivator had been ambushed at the curb stalls. The description sounded somewhat like my same-sect fellow, so I came to confirm."
Hearing this, the two understood she was likely here to identify a body. They cupped their fists again. "Senior, please wait a moment. I will inform the captain."
"Good."
A short while later, the guard returned and led Yunxi into the office.
The instant Yunxi stepped inside, a strand of divine sense swept over her, probing for her depth.
Yunxi merely flicked her robe in mid stride and blocked the probe without even alerting the guide in front.
She was invited courteously into the main hall. The captain entered in a hurry. On seeing Yunxi, he bowed respectfully. "City Guard Cen Sen pays respects to Senior."
"Captain Cen, there is no need to be so polite. This Lord only wishes to confirm whether the deceased is my same-sect."
She then used spiritual power to sketch Mu Zijun's features in the air and asked, "Captain Cen, is the cultivator they brought in this person?"
Cen Sen nodded at once. "It is indeed him. May Senior be able to prove your connection?"
"Yes. He is a disciple of Haoran Sect. This Lord is an elder there. We have met in the sect, so I recognize him. He should have Haoran Sect's identity jade token on him."
"Understood. I will send someone to check immediately."
Cen Sen did not dare delay and gestured to the subordinate behind him.
The subordinate understood and jogged out of the hall to search the deceased's storage ring.
Only then did Cen Sen carefully ask, "Has Senior come to Chong'an City on important business? If there is anything I can do, I am at your service."
Yunxi gave Cen Sen, who remained properly respectful, a calm look. "This Lord is only passing through. I heard Chong'an City is a great cultivator metropolis, so I came to look around and see if there is anything worth acquiring."
"Would Senior be interested in the auction?" Cen Sen smiled.
"Are there any items worth bidding on?" At her current cultivation, unless it was a profound treasure, Yunxi preferred to craft things herself.
Cen Sen said with a smile, "I hear there will be a 'Fortune-Turning Pearl' up for sale, as well as a 'Phoenix Feather Raiment.' Both are very suitable for female cultivators, so there are more lady cultivators in the city than usual."
Yunxi was indeed intrigued by the Fortune-Turning Pearl and was about to ask about its provenance when Cen Sen's subordinate hurried back into the hall, holding an identity jade token. It was from Haoran Sect.
Yunxi sighed softly, flipped her hand, and produced her own identity jade token to prove they were of the same sect. Then she asked, "Captain Cen, have you determined the cause of death?"
"Forgive us, Senior. We have no clues yet. We only know your same-sect had his sea of consciousness and dantian attacked, and even his Yuányīng did not escape. The assailant was extremely ruthless, clearly intent on erasing this disciple completely."
Yunxi put on an appropriate look of puzzlement. "This disciple and I met only once. He was ordinary, with nothing special about him, and his cultivation was mediocre. How could he have provoked such an enemy?"
"That I do not know. We only detained the cultivator who argued with him. He claims they did not know each other and that the dispute began because both reached for the same jar of Spirit Milk Paste at a curb stall."
"Would it be convenient for this Lord to ask him a few questions?"
"Of course."
Moments later, the man was brought into the hall. His face paled further when he saw Yunxi. He felt cursed by misfortune. If he had known, he would never have competed with that man.
Yunxi knew he was innocent. She formed a seal and caused his mind to go blank. She asked, he answered. After she dispelled the technique, his innocence was established.
"Captain Cen, it appears this person is not involved. Release him."
Cen Sen could only gesture for his men to let the cultivator go. The man, relieved, bowed gratefully to Yunxi and hurried out of the office.
Only then did Yunxi turn back to Cen Sen. "Since the murderer has not been found, this Lord does not wish to leave my same-sect's body in Chong'an City any longer. What do you think?"
Cen Sen hesitated. "If Senior is willing to forgo pursuing the murderer, you may of course reclaim the body. However, the City Guard Office will then close the case. Even if clues appear later, we will not continue the investigation."
Yunxi's lips curved faintly. Her tone stayed light. "The killer was not caught on the spot and will not show himself later. Rather than waste time here, this Lord will investigate personally. There will certainly be clues on the corpse."
Cen Sen understood immediately and cupped his fists. "Senior, please wait a moment."