Extreme Almightiest Young Master-Chapter 1738 - 1720: Sophistry

"Yuntian, it’s best if you don’t get involved in this matter. Just act as if nothing happened. Keep up the investigation on the surface and even create a fake thief to distract them. The goal is to make the real thief lower their guard. How you carry this out is up to you." Song Hong spoke with great seriousness at this time. The situation was severe, and if the thief wasn’t found, the sect’s treasure vault might be targeted again in the future. So under no circumstances could the thief be allowed to escape. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"Leave the rest to us. All you need to do is watch over the sect and make them lower their guard." Xia Yan also furrowed his brows, a flame of anger burning within him. With such a huge chaos stirred up, if they captured the person, even death would be too lenient a punishment!

"Yes, Ancestor, I understand what to do." Xia Yuntian replied simply after receiving orders from the two ancestors and then turned and left. His task was simple—lure the snake out of its hole.

After Xia Yuntian left, Xia Yan and Song Hong began discussing the subsequent matters. After discussing briefly, they decided Song Hong would check the archives while Xia Yan would find a few trustworthy Inner Pavilion Elders to be ready to take action at any time. Once everything was determined, they both departed.

...

Lin Feng had been wandering around the Immortal-Slaying Secret Realm for several days. There were a few recently appeared Space Fluctuation Points, but their frequencies weren’t significant enough to utilize, which frustrated Lin Feng. Had he known about the doppelganger matter earlier, he wouldn’t have sealed all the Space Fluctuation Points.

But even so, Lin Feng didn’t lose heart. He absolutely had to find a new Space Fluctuation Point to send his doppelganger to the Immortal Realm. Only then could he scout the situation on that side of the Immortal Realm.

With that thought, Lin Feng continued to explore the spatial aspects, constantly scanning everything here. He refused to believe he wouldn’t find a useful location.

...

A sudden uproar occurred within the Holy Wind Sect when someone attempting to approach the Sect Treasure Vault with ill intent was discovered. The entire sect began chasing this person. Strangely, this individual’s speed was exceptional; even experts at the Human Immortal Realm Peak couldn’t catch up.

In the blink of an eye, more than half of the sect’s experts had left to pursue that person. Everyone was furious with this figure in black, all vowing to sort them out.

Finally, the opportunity had come.

In a corner of the sect, Fang Deming, dressed in a gray linen robe and looking about sixty or seventy years old, breathed a deep sigh of relief. The sect had been under such intense pressure these days he didn’t dare act. Now, the Steward Elders and experts were chasing someone, wasn’t this the perfect moment!

Casting a glance at the distant Sect Treasure Vault, he immediately rushed over...

At the registration area of the Sect Treasure Vault, like everyone else, he lined up in order, waiting to enter and select items. There were only three people waiting to exchange Contribution Points, so it soon was Fang Deming’s turn. Accompanied by two guards, Fang Deming quickly entered the Sect Treasure Vault.

When filling out the form earlier, he applied for Dharma Treasures, so the guards took him to the Dharma Treasure area, letting Fang Deming start selecting items. Feigning seriousness, Fang Deming picked up a bottle-like Dharma Treasure, examining it in all directions. While the guards were oblivious, an unassuming ring appeared in Fang Deming’s palm.

Without any smile on his face, instead looking rather regretful, Fang Deming walked to another Dharma Treasure resembling a stele and pretended to inspect it. After a long time, he seemed to make a decision and directly exchanged it with the guards.

After deducting twenty thousand Contribution Points from his total, Fang Deming left with the stele-like Dharma Treasure, his face filled with elation. Indeed, he was truly happy now, but not because of the stele Dharma Treasure in front of him, rather because he reclaimed the Three Lives Ring, which contained goods beyond ordinary imagination.

But things didn’t go as smoothly as Fang Deming expected. Just as he was about to reach the exit, countless powerful Divine Change Realm experts had gathered outside, including several Inner Pavilion Elders. The scene was chaotic, yet no one suspected that Fang Deming could be the mysterious thief.

Seeing this, Fang Deming was stunned. He hadn’t expected this to happen. Seeing everyone’s eyes fixed on him, his heart pounded, and he vaguely guessed he might be the target here...

"Fang Deming, I didn’t expect you to be such a person." Xia Yan said coldly, looking at Fang Deming. If looks could kill, he would have already killed Fang Deming countless times.

"Great Elder, what do you mean by this?" Fang Deming was shocked inside, but he didn’t show it at all outwardly and instead questioned Xia Yan. He didn’t believe Xia Yan had found evidence. He had left no flaws, and if he could just endure this, he knew he’d be fine.

"Unrepentant until you see the coffin! Let me ask you, when was the last time you entered the Sect Treasure Vault?" Xia Yan questioned coldly. This guy was still stubborn. Since that was the case, he might as well reveal everything publicly.

"The last time inside the Sect Treasure Vault?" Fang Deming hadn’t expected Xia Yan to ask that and instinctively repeated it, thinking that last time he didn’t slip up. Why is this old guy asking this?

"Not saying anything? I’ll say it for you. The last time you entered the Sect Treasure Vault was thirteen days ago, and the following day there was a theft. On such a significant day, you think you could forget?" Xia Yan continued, looking at Fang Deming. He wanted to see how this guy would respond.

"Great Elder, what do you mean? Do you think I’m the thief? I entered the Sect Treasure Vault to exchange items normally, so what’s the problem with that? Do I not have the right to exchange items?" Fang Deming answered, seemingly righteous and indignant, as if he was immensely wronged. However, his heart was pounding, wondering how Xia Yan found out. It shouldn’t have been possible, because he planned everything very carefully, with no room for error. Why now?

"Exchanging normally is fine, but entering the Sect Treasure Vault twice in half a month when there’s a theft, you don’t want to say anything? Don’t rush to deny it. You may not know, but within the entire sect, aside from you entering twice in half a month, the fewest interval for anyone else was two months. If it wasn’t for a special purpose, why would you save up Contribution Points for over a year just to enter the Sect Treasure Vault twice in half a month?"

Xia Yan coldly looked at Fang Deming, directly unveiling his cards. During the investigation, he had already noticed the anomaly. Fang Deming was the only person who hadn’t entered the Sect Treasure Vault for over a year to exchange anything, and the only one who entered twice in half a month and then a theft occurred recently. If Fang Deming wasn’t suspicious, Xia Yan might as well not exist!

The previously puzzled members of the Holy Wind Sect were curious why Xia Yan brought other Inner Pavilion Elders. But when Xia Yan revealed this, they finally understood what he meant. Fang Deming was the person who stole from the Sect Treasure Vault! Instantly, everyone felt suspicious. The entire sect had no clues before. Even Xia Yuntian had led the elites out to chase the thief moments ago, so how did one suddenly appear here? There must be a connection.

As everyone thought of this, Fang Deming, at this point, with a flushed face and twisted neck, asked, "Great Elder, if you wish to accuse me of something, just say it outright rather than plot behind the scenes. I, Fang Deming, have always conducted myself with integrity and have done nothing against the sect, and I certainly won’t take the fall for stealing from the Sect Treasure Vault!"

As he spoke, veins bulging, almost livid with anger, yet, despite his outward fury, his heart raced like a wild rabbit. He couldn’t understand why Xia Yan would berate him this way. If proven, he feared the other sect members would tear him apart! He couldn’t fathom where Xia Yan found a flaw. Based on his entering the Sect Treasure Vault twice in half a month, that wasn’t enough evidence to convict him, was it?

Xia Yan observed Fang Deming’s demeanor and chuckled coldly. He then stepped up, looking down at Fang Deming and shaking his head said, "You still won’t admit it’s your doing? Fine, I’ll make you concede! Let me ask you, why were you wearing a golden ring when you entered the Sect Treasure Vault, but a different ring when you left? Explain this change!"

Hearing Xia Yan’s words was like thunder striking Fang Deming. He hadn’t imagined Xia Yan would notice such a detail, and his heart raced wildly. But considering the consequences of this exposure, he could only grit his teeth and tough it out. If Xia Yan couldn’t find evidence, there might still be room for maneuver; admitting it now was certain death.

Thinking this, he prepared to argue again. But even before he could say anything, Xia Yan’s words silenced him entirely.

"No need to answer, I’ll say it for you. The ring you wore is not an ordinary ring; it’s a Space Ring capable of holding a living person. Your last entry into the Sect Treasure Vault was to leave the Space Ring inside. When no one was around, the person hiding in the Space Ring came out, looted the vault, and then hid back in the ring. Thus, completely undetected, you could leave with the Space Ring upon re-entry. No one would realize what happened before."