Zi Ling shook her head and turned to the villagers. “We will not kill you to silence you. If anyone asks, just tell the truth. Otherwise, your lives will be at risk.”
Having said that, she turned back and glanced at the others. “If I am not mistaken, none of you can bring yourselves to do it either.”
“I cannot do it,” Lu Chuyou said.
“I am a woman. I definitely cannot do it,” Li Luo said.
“This humble monk does not take life,” Huyan Ziru said.
“I cannot do it either,” Qu Yuan said.
Ji Shengchong stepped forward two paces and spoke in an indifferent tone. “I, Ji Shengchong, am no good person. You cannot do it, but I can. Let me handle it.”
The villagers all felt a chill in their hearts.
“My Sheng family has always upheld justice. If you act, I will stop you,” Sheng Li stepped forward and declared. This immediately made Ji Shengchong abandon the idea.
“So much talk. Just kill everyone the Ji family sent and make a run for it. It is not as if we have never been hunted before,” Ling Hu cursed.
“Let us go,” Lu Chuyou sighed.
Zi Ling collected the five storage rings. Ling Hu stepped forward to destroy the corpses. Then the group flew off into the void to one side, leaving the trembling villagers behind.
…
Before a certain mountain peak, a dozen or more people stood. From time to time, someone arrived to report.
“These people are far too slow. At this rate, it will probably take several more months to reach the edge of the sea domain,” Ji Mao muttered under his breath as he watched one reporter leave.
“These minor forces are too inefficient. If we had not pressed them hard, it would take even longer,” another youth said.
“That damned Lin Xiao. Who knows where he came from. Perhaps his forces heard the news and fled,” yet another youth remarked.
“If everyone were like Lin Xiao, they might indeed have a chance to escape. But with a thirty-thousand-li sweep line, they would be spotted even if they ran, unless they fled across the sea domain. Heh, that sea domain has restrictions. The strong cannot cross it, the weak would die on the way. If Lin Xiao’s clansmen are nearby, they are dead either way,” someone else said.
“If they die, our efforts are wasted. We need them alive,” another added.
“I heard Lin Xiao was very weak before. Whatever family or force he belongs to cannot be too strong. They certainly lack the speed to slip away quietly under our search. I fear Lin Xiao actually comes from the other side of the sea domain,” yet another said.
The group of youths could not help discussing the matter. Carrying out a task with no precise target had made them impatient. At the same time, they kept cursing the forces for working too slowly. They had to remain in the same area for quite a while.
“Not all forces are useless. The Shangguan family and the Ouyang family have performed outstandingly. If not for limits of strength, they would even surpass the Four Valleys. Spirit-controller clans do have their unique strengths. They are worth cultivating,” Ji Gan sighed at that moment.
The others agreed.
The heads of the Shangguan and Ouyang families were certainly clever.
“Swoosh!”
Not long afterwards, a fifth-level Martial Emperor elder who had only recently flown off to report came hurtling back.
“Hm? You are back again?” Ji Gan asked with a frown, clearly displeased.
“Reporting to Elder Ji Gan. Our Fierce Fang Sect has discovered a special weapon. According to our sect disciples, when it was found it emitted brilliant black light that prevented anyone from approaching. It is clearly extraordinary, so they hurriedly sent it here. My disciples are of low status and unfit to present it themselves. I encountered the courier on the way and so returned,” the elder explained. He produced a three-inch-long box the width of a thumb, opened it, and offered it to Ji Gan.
“Oh?” Ji Gan paused for a moment. “It seems you, the sect leader, wish to steal the credit from your own disciples.”
“This subordinate would not dare!” the elder said in alarm.
“Do not worry. If it truly is a treasure, neither you nor the disciple from your Fierce Fang Sect will go unrewarded.”
Ji Gan examined the object, which resembled a dagger yet was not quite one, and also looked rather like a woman’s jade hairpin. He reached out and took it.
Ji Mao and the other Ji family youths crowded closer, curiosity plain on their faces.
On their advance they had received plenty of items. More valuable ones were privately sent to curry favour with the Ji family. Ordinary ones were simply kept. Yet even things these minor forces considered extremely precious were, to the Ji family, only slightly better than the most common items in their own treasury.
Still, the practice of offering treasures was good for the Ji family. Even if the items were not particularly fine, they would still grant rewards.
Ji Gan himself did not place much importance on this small object. After all, the discernment of a ninth-level Martial Emperor was beyond ordinary people. He was merely curious.
The item was pitch black and slippery. It required some effort to grip firmly. Yet outwardly it showed nothing particularly special.
“What makes this thing special?” Ji Gan asked the Fierce Fang Sect leader in a level tone.
“This subordinate is not entirely certain,” the sect leader replied, head lowered.
“Are you trying to fob me off with any old rubbish?” Ji Gan’s voice cooled.
“This subordinate would not dare.” The sect leader quickly bowed lower, then added in a quiet voice, “In truth, it was not obtained by our Fierce Fang Sect disciples. Someone else sent it.”
Ji Gan’s face darkened at once. He gave a cold snort. “Hmph. Are you trying to make a fool of me? Do you intend to deceive me or shift the blame onto others? Explain yourself clearly.”
In fact, he rather admired families that employed clever strategies. But this petty trick from the Fierce Fang Sect leader was far too crude, not even close to the level of the Shangguan and Ouyang family heads.
“That is not the case!” The sect leader raised his head. The fawning expression was gone. He spoke calmly. “I did not intend to steal credit or pass the blame. I am merely delivering this item for someone else.”
“Delivering for someone else?” Ji Gan’s voice grew colder. The man had already given himself away. What further trick could he possibly play?
Many people tried to be clever. But without sufficient wisdom, playing petty tricks before the Ji family would earn no admiration, only greater disgust. The dignity of the Ji family could not be trampled by anyone.
“The person who sent it said this item is merely an ordinary ornament. However…” The Fierce Fang Sect leader continued indifferently. “It carries a special poison. The moment it is touched, the poison seeps invisibly into the flesh. It can solidify the bloodline, obstruct yuan force, and eventually render the victim unable to move.”
“What did you say?” Ji Gan’s expression changed. Killing intent burst forth at once as fury surged within him.
Ji Mao and the other youths were stunned. This Fierce Fang Sect leader had actually dared to strike against a ninth-level Martial Emperor elder of their Ji family?
