Hua Ruoan's expression changed slightly, and he used a spell to erect a protective shield in front of Zhou Shu.
The red-faced cultivator took a step forward and stood in front of Zhou Shu. He had argued with the cultivator with long eyebrows before, and naturally would not allow the cultivator with long eyebrows to be presumptuous at this moment.
But before the cultivator with long eyebrows could release his strength, it was dispersed by Yuan Li's cough and disappeared into thin air.
Zhou Shu was secretly shocked.
The cultivator with long eyebrows did not let him continue, and there must be something wrong. If he had not seen the steward directly, and if he had not found Hua Ruoan first, his life would be in danger, and he would not have had the chance to produce the evidence he had found.
Yuan Li's expression did not change, and he slowly said, "Deacon Xu Xinyuan, please step aside. Zhou Shu, continue."
Zhou Shu glanced at the few people indifferently, and continued to finish what he wanted to say. Then he took out the evidence he had obtained one by one and placed it in front of him.
Yuan Li checked them one by one, muttering to himself.
"Soul-extracting lamps, I didn't expect to see this in the market. The so-called Fire Refining Array, they probably want to use the souls of independent cultivators to refine ghost fire."
Hua Ruoan was slightly puzzled. "Ghost fire? I seem to have heard of it. Is it a kind of exotic fire?"
Yuan Li nodded slightly. "Yes, it is a rare exotic fire, ranked third in rank. However, most exotic fires are born from heaven and earth and are beyond human power. Trying to refine exotic fire using this method is simply impossible and will only cause loss of life. Yet, those vicious and evil cultivators insist on trying. They are truly sinful."
Exotic fire is an extremely rare and unique resource in the world of immortal cultivation. All cultivators dream of it because of its countless benefits.
Cultivators obtain exotic fire and slowly nourish and cultivate it within their bodies. Once it is fully integrated, their strength will be greatly enhanced. Whether using magic spells or physical strength, they will far exceed that of ordinary cultivators.
Furthermore, Strange Fire can significantly elevate the skills of cultivators in professions like alchemy and weapon forging. Many high-level materials are exceptionally tough, requiring Strange Fire to refine. Without Strange Fire, alchemists and weapon forgers can only stare blankly at the materials, never reaching a high level.
In the world of immortal cultivation, there are nearly a hundred different types of Strange Fire, each of varying qualities. Most are naturally generated by nature. For example, the Yinhun Fire, formed from the fusion of countless souls that have endured painful torture, is only obtained by chance and can only be found in ancient battlefield ruins.
In Yuan Li's opinion, the owner of the masked cultivator's attempt to utilize the souls of wandering cultivators to refine Yinhun Fire and enhance his own strength was sheer audacity and impossible.
"Is this the Eclipse God Pill? Deacon Shen Bailie, you have some knowledge of elixirs. Take it and have a look."
"Yes, Steward,"
the red-faced cultivator Shen Bailie replied, removing a Eclipse God Pill and carefully examining it.
After a moment, he said gravely, "Sir, this Soul-Erosion Pill seems to be modeled after the Soul-Erosion Pills of the Demon Sect. It also has the effect of corroding the mind and causing drowsiness, but it's far less potent. It requires long-term use to be effective."
The Demon Sect is also the name of a sect in the world of immortal cultivation. Its members are mostly self-centered, believing that if plucking a single hair could benefit the world, they won't do it, but if the entire world were to serve them, they would take it." They don't follow
the Way of Heaven, acting recklessly and committing almost any evil. They are considered mortal enemies by most sect disciples. On both the path of immortal cultivation and the path of the demon, there is no compromise.
Zhou Shu listened attentively to the conversation, absorbing the knowledge he had never encountered before.
"There are both witnesses and evidence, which is conclusive. It is obvious that a group of evil cultivators set up a nest and captured independent cultivators around the market town. They wanted to use the independent cultivators' souls to refine strange fire. Their crime is unforgivable."
Looking at the evidence in front of him, Yuan Li quickly came to a conclusion and turned to Zhou Shu and said, "Zhou Shu, you did a great job. You were able to escape from the cultivators' nest and even bring out evidence. Most people here would not be able to do it. I admire you very much."
Zhou Shu shook his head indifferently, "It was just luck."
Yuan Li shook his head and said with a slightly serious expression, "No matter how you did it, you have done it, so you deserve reward. You tried your best to work for the market town, and the market will definitely let you get a satisfactory price, but the reward must be after the nest is completely destroyed. Are you willing?"
Zhou Shu was secretly happy and nodded, "Of course."
Yuan Li's expression was grim, "This is a matter of evil cultivators and must be resolved as soon as possible. Let's set off now. Everyone present, follow me."
Everyone nodded in unison and said solemnly, "Yes, Manager."
The eyes of several people fell on Xu Xinyuan who was not far away.
Ever since Zhou Shu produced the evidence, the expression of the long-browed cultivator Xu Xinyuan changed drastically. He had been slowly backing away, as if he was about to quietly exit the hall.
But when he was about to approach the door, he seemed to be suddenly grabbed by the throat and lifted up. His whole body was suspended in the air, unable to move anymore.
His face turned purple and black, and he opened his mouth in pain, begging for mercy.
This situation has been going on for quite some time.
Everyone knew that his miserable condition must have been caused by Yuan Li, but Xu Xinyuan obviously had an inexplicable connection with the masked cultivator, so it was not unfair for him to be locked up.
"Xu Xinyuan, no wonder we can't find the whereabouts of those missing cultivators. It turns out you're behind this! No wonder you said you would find them next month. By then, I'm afraid all we'll find will be corpses!"
Shen Bailie pointed at the suspended Xu Xinyuan and cursed angrily.
"Spare my life, spare my life..." Xu Xinyuan did not argue, but just kept begging for mercy.
"I don't know what has bewitched you to do such an evil thing! You even colluded with the most despicable evil cultivators! Have you forgotten that you are also a casual cultivator?"
"Don't mind him, let's go."
Yuan Li stopped Shen Bailie from cursing, stretched out his hand and took out a shuttle-shaped magic weapon that was less than three inches long, and threw it into the wind.
The magic weapon suddenly grew bigger and turned into a black boat that was more than two meters long.
Several people boarded the boat, and the boat immediately took off into the air and flew swiftly in the direction Zhou Shu pointed.
It was the first time to ride a flying magic weapon, and it felt quite comfortable. The white clouds passed by, and the ground was like a bullet. It was a rare romantic and free feeling to fly with a sword.
Three hundred miles would take Zhou Shu half a day to walk, but it would only take half an hour to ride the flying boat.
The flying boat was hovering in the air, and not far away, the mark Zhou Shu had made before was faintly visible.
"It's here."
Zhou Shu pointed at the cave entrance covered by vines.
Yuan Li flicked his sleeves, and the vines within dozens of feet spread out and flew up, revealing the dark cave entrance.
Several people looked at the cave entrance. Except for Yuan Li, the expressions of others seemed a little solemn.
According to what Zhou Shu said, the cultivation level of these masked cultivators was not scary, but evil cultivators have always had strange skills and cruel methods, and there are probably all kinds of sinister mechanisms and formations in the cave. What's more, the owner of the cave is an evil cultivator whose cultivation level is unknown, which inevitably makes them worried.
"Evil demons, why should we be afraid!"
The mountain wind suddenly blew, and the chaotic clouds flew away. Yuan Li looked solemn and walked slowly into the cave.
"You wait outside."