"Poor mental strength?"
Ji Wusi almost let out a cold laugh.
Even among mortals, it would be absurd for a group to go mad within just a few days. Let alone here—kneeling across the ground were cultivators from Qingxiao Pavilion. These were the elite of the elite, the sharpest minds among all cultivators.
And they all went mad? All of them?
Ji Wusi stared at Lin Xiao with a blank expression.
Lin Xiao still wore that look of pained sorrow, as if his heart had been shattered.
Of course he knew.
No one would believe it if he tried to shove all the blame onto Zhao Ling as a scapegoat. Ji Wusi and the others certainly wouldn't.
But so what?
Qingxiao Pavilion was still a sect at the level of a Holy Land.
As long as he provided a reason—any reason—if they didn't believe it, they'd have to investigate.
But could they actually find anything?
Lin Xiao sneered inwardly. If these people could really uncover the truth, then the last ten thousand years he'd lived would have been for nothing.
"Mass hysteria? Quite the trick, Sect Master Lin," Ji Wusi couldn't help but mock.
Lin Xiao sighed. "Ah, I wanted to keep a few alive for questioning, truly I did. But who would've thought they'd all break down like this? Perhaps they knew they had no escape and drove themselves mad deliberately?"
"Even if they're mad, it's not a problem," Qing Yun said calmly. "I have a pill that can extract memories from the Primordial Soul."
As he spoke, he turned to observe Lin Xiao's expression.
Lin Xiao, however, didn't flinch. On the contrary, he even looked a bit relieved. "Yes, yes, how could I forget such a thing? Please, feel free to use any method you wish. Believe me, no one wants the truth uncovered more than I do."
Qing Yun frowned slightly.
Was Lin Xiao truly unafraid—or had he prepared everything in advance?
No matter. There was no time to waste second-guessing.
He immediately produced a pill and had one of the disciples consume it.
The disciple began to scream, his face contorted in agony.
A clear sign that the pill was taking effect.
But when Qing Yun attempted to draw out the Primordial Soul's memory, he found the recollections scattered and fragmented, impossible to gather.
When he tried to force the process—
Boom.
The disciple exploded in a flash, like fireworks.
"Oh no, how could this happen?" Lin Xiao looked shocked. "It seems these demonic infiltrators came thoroughly prepared."
What followed was a flurry of secret techniques.
Some used ancient arts.
Some brought out treasured artifacts.
The Beastmaster Sect even employed spirit beasts to assist.
Yet no matter what methods were used, no information could be extracted. Any attempt to force the process would end the same way: an explosion and obliteration, just like the first disciple.
By the end of it, Ji Wusi looked at the few survivors who remained and said coldly, "Detain these ones for now. Transfer them to the Demon-Slaying Alliance's prison for detailed interrogation. Just because we can't extract their memories now doesn't mean we won't be able to later. Wouldn't you agree, Sect Master Lin?"
Lin Xiao nodded with full agreement. "As expected of Sect Master Ji, so thorough. I naturally trust the Demon-Slaying Alliance's capabilities. Feel free to proceed as you see fit."
He remained utterly calm, even smug.
Ji Wusi narrowed his eyes. A sense of unease crept into his gut. These people—he was beginning to doubt they would uncover anything from them.
By now, they all knew that something was very wrong within Qingxiao Pavilion.
But even so, this was still a Holy Land.
With millennia of accumulated strength, Qingxiao Pavilion was not a place to be recklessly accused. Without concrete proof, no one would dare make a move.
The consequences of acting against a Holy Land without evidence—no one could bear that burden. Not even him.
At this moment, what they needed most was proof.
"These prisoners will be left for our subordinates to interrogate over time. Sect Master Lin, we're concerned that more demonic elements may be hiding within Qingxiao Pavilion. We'd like to perform a thorough investigation. You have no objections, I assume?" Ji Wusi locked eyes with Lin Xiao.
Lin Xiao hurriedly responded, "None at all. Not even the slightest. Qingxiao Pavilion wants to clear its name more than anyone. As long as it restores our reputation, investigate however you wish. But I do hope that if you find nothing, the other three Holy Lands will help us publicly clear this slander."
Ji Wusi didn't agree nor disagree. "We'll speak after the investigation is complete."
"Of course," Lin Xiao replied eagerly.
Since Lin Xiao had agreed, Ji Wusi and the others wouldn't hold back. If the entire Qingxiao Pavilion had been corrupted, it would be catastrophic for the human race. They had no choice but to investigate thoroughly.
They were already aware of the mysterious liquid that perfectly concealed one's aura. If the demonic forces within Qingxiao Pavilion had mastered its use, then all their previous detection methods would be useless.
But Qingxiao Pavilion was not like those cultists from the Tianxing Sect.
This was a bastion of the human race, filled with its finest cultivators. Even if the Demon Race had infiltrated, they couldn't have corrupted everyone.
If they had that capability, the other three Holy Lands would've long been riddled through as well.
Yet something was undeniably off about the disciples of Qingxiao Pavilion.
To alter the temperament of an entire sect's disciples? Even the Demon Race couldn't pull that off. No one in this realm could.
Unless…
It was something beyond this realm entirely.
Even before coming here, Ji Wusi had harbored suspicions.
He suspected the problem lay with Qingxiao Pavilion's Immortal Artifact—the one that suppressed its Luck.
Long ago, an immortal had fallen in this realm and left behind four Immortal Artifacts.
The founders of the four Holy Lands each obtained one. With the artifact anchoring their Luck, their sects had endured for millions of years.
A single Immortal Artifact could suppress the Luck of an entire region. It could forge a Holy Land.
Likewise—
If a Immortal Artifact were compromised, destroying a Holy Land would be effortless.
Ji Wusi and the others meticulously examined Qingxiao Pavilion.
And as expected—
No matter what methods they used, they found nothing suspicious.
Lin Xiao even looked relieved. "It seems Zhao Ling and the others were the only hidden traitors. We've already imprisoned them. Qingxiao Pavilion is clean now."
Ji Wusi glanced at him and suddenly said, "There's still one place in Qingxiao Pavilion we haven't checked."
Lin Xiao's expression changed instantly.
His voice turned cold. "Sect Master Ji, are you referring to the location of the Celestial Artifact? That artifact is the very foundation of Qingxiao Pavilion. If you damage it during your investigation, who will take responsibility?"
"If it's truly a Immortal Artifact, how could it be so easily damaged?" Liu Li said with a smile. "We only wish to inspect it. We won't lay a finger on it. Sect Master Lin, aren't you overreacting?"
"If the artifact is compromised, it would spell disaster for everyone. Sect Master Lin, let us examine it carefully," another added.
This time, the issue was too serious to ignore.
Especially with that strange liquid now in play, the absence of evidence didn't mean the absence of danger.
If they couldn't confirm the truth, no one would sleep well at night.
A flicker of anger crossed Lin Xiao's face. "You've already torn apart every inch of this place. Must you still press on? We are all Holy Lands here. Don't take this too far."
Ji Wusi remained calm. "Sect Master Lin, this is all for the sake of proving Qingxiao Pavilion's innocence."
Lin Xiao gritted his teeth. "So you're determined to inspect the Immortal Artifact?"
Ji Wusi nodded. "Absolutely."
A look of righteous fury swept across Lin Xiao's face. "Fine, fine! You want to use this excuse to humiliate Qingxiao Pavilion. Very well, I'll admit my failure—I failed to detect the demonic infiltration. Go ahead. Inspect the artifact. But if you find nothing, you'll owe us a proper explanation."
He said all this with indignation burning in his voice. But in a quiet corner, away from prying eyes, the corners of his lips curled up into a faint, mocking smile.
Investigating a Immortal Artifact wasn't so simple.
They wouldn't uncover anything in ten days or even half a month.
And by the time Ji Wusi and the others emerged…
He would have already received word of Yun Jin's death.