Imperial Cultivation-Chapter 997 - 993: Pursuing the Trail
Of course, it’s possible that Xu Qinglan made a mistake.
He closed his eyes, contemplating the Super Sense’s vision and verifying with the Demon Clan.
Unfortunately, he didn’t know much about the Demon Clan, having only really fought against Hu Yuni from Star-picking Cliff.
Relying on Hu Yuni alone is not enough to understand the depths and features of the Demon Clan.
Song Lianshuang gazed at him with clear eyes.
Leng Tieya shook his head, opened his eyes, and bowed his head to flip through the Qinglan Secret Record.
He flipped through page by page, without stopping, and Song Lianshuang looked at him with confusion.
Flipping through a book like this, unable to clearly see the words on the pages, what’s the use?
After flipping through it once, Leng Tieya shook his head and said, "Just fragments."
He handed the book back to Song Lianshuang and then took a few steps forward to another bookshelf, pulling out a volume of book.
Song Lianshuang followed and saw it was the Southern Travel Notes, authored by Xu Qinglan.
Leng Tieya quickly flipped through it once, then opened a page and handed it to Song Lianshuang.
Song Lianshuang took it and began to read.
Her expression focused, she observed carefully.
Her clear eyes were like water, and her quiet brows held their own charming grace.
Leng Tieya scanned around.
Within the Wanxiang Hall, there were countless books, but from the bookshelves, Xu Qinglan’s works were only these two. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦
Yet for the Demon Clan, being able to leave two books in the Wanxiang Hall is already quite rare.
Most Demon Clan members, even after countless reincarnations, haven’t been able to leave a single volume in Wanxiang Hall.
It’s unknown if his own clone will be able to leave works in Wanxiang Hall in the future.
"Brother Leng, according to Xu Qinglan, this Ghost Bone Sect indeed originated from the Demon Clan, using Demon Clan’s Secret Technique to gather the Ghost Bone Flower."
Leng Tieya pondered, "Demon Clan Secret Technique..."
He took brisk steps to another bookshelf and pulled out a book.
Written on it was the Demon Realm Search for Strange Record, authored by Li Guanhai.
Leng Tieya quickly flipped through it and shook his head disappointedly before pulling out a thin booklet, which was the Demon Evil Record.
After flipping through it, Leng Tieya frowned and handed it to the quietly approaching Song Lianshuang.
Song Lianshuang took it and after flipping through it, said in surprise, "Evil Cultivators of the Demon Clan?"
Leng Tieya sighed, "It’s really complicated."
"When connected like this, it can be inferred that these Evil Cultivators of the Demon Clan couldn’t stay in the Demon Realm, ran to our Demon World, and established the Ghost Bone Sect."
Song Lianshuang softly spoke, slightly furrowing her delicate brows, and expressed the unexpected conclusion.
But through the records in these books, connecting them, the conclusion can be drawn.
The Evil Cultivators of the Demon Clan based their Evil Technique on Demon Crystals, which could devour Demon Crystals to enhance themselves.
This method is like a rat crossing the street in the Demon Realm, almost with no place to stand.
So they ran to the Demon World.
Unexpectedly, they flourished in the Demon World, quickly causing a significant impact, leading to their extermination.
"Could this really be true?" Song Lianshuang was skeptical.
Though the claims in the books were certain, the true circumstances might not be as described; they cannot be fully trusted.
Leng Tieya did not respond, continuing to pull out and flip through more books.
He paused at the thirteenth book, staring at it without moving.
Song Lianshuang came closer to see.
A faint fragrance drifted to his nose, but he paid no mind, staring at the image and verifying it with his memory of the Ghost Bone Sect’s hidden items.
Back in the cave, he saw not only the Ghost Bone Flower but also what was buried beneath the small high altar.
It was a small black altar, pitch black as ink, unusually styled with strange carvings.
He couldn’t see the object inside the altar, but knew from its exterior it was extraordinary.
Moreover, intuition warned him to stay away from this object; he must not approach or touch it.
He now, through the records in this scroll, glimpsed these strange carvings and vaguely guessed the black altar’s purpose.
The patterns were not Divine Language but the beast markings of the Demon Realm, belonging to Fierce Beasts.
Fierce Beasts, Ancient Strange Beasts, feast on souls, inhale the soul, and exhale to form Soul Cloud, the impurities of the soul condensed into Soul Cloud.
With this recorded here, then validated by the black altar under the small high altar.
He vaguely believed this conclusion: the Ghost Bone Sect originated from Demon Clan’s Evil Cultivators.
He looked up at Song Lianshuang, "Sister, we need to keep some distance from this Ghost Bone Sect."
"Is it very dangerous?" Song Lianshuang asked softly.
Leng Tieya replied, "It involves the soul, very troublesome; one mistake can be fatal."
Song Lianshuang trusted Leng Tieya’s judgment, nodded slowly, and sighed, "So it’s really Demon Clan’s Evil Cultivators?"
"Almost certainly."
"Should we report this to the Chief Steward?"
"...Hmm, better to mention it." Leng Tieya said, "I’ll report it to the Chief Steward to avoid misjudgment by the palace and trouble, ...but I estimate the palace already knows."
He didn’t consider himself the smartest; what he could see, other Demon Clan members might also see.
Not to mention, Great Heavenly Demon Palace isn’t dealing with Ghost Bone Sect for the first time, it knows it well.
...
When he arrived at Nine Abyss Hall to report his findings to Inner Palace Chief Zhou Jiangming, Zhou Jiangming merely nodded insipidly.
Leng Tieya knew that Great Heavenly Demon Palace also understood Ghost Bone Sect’s background.
However, within Wanxiang Hall, there were no records, evidently not wanting the disciples to know.
Zhou Jiangming said, "You really don’t want to participate in this extermination operation?"
Leng Tieya shook his head, "Chief Steward, my Cultivation is weak now, unfit for this task."
Zhou Jiangming snorted, "Eighth Grade already, your advancement is the fastest in history, yet so protective of your life; your caution is also rare in history."
"Chief Steward, I have another discovery."
Ignoring the sarcasm, Leng Tieya shared what he found in the cave.
Zhou Jiangming’s expression changed slightly.
The elderly man standing bent in respect behind also turned grim, looking solemnly at Leng Tieya.
"Is there really that black altar?"
"Without a doubt." Leng Tieya answered.
He didn’t explain how he discovered it; as Great Sky Demon, possessing certain Strange Techniques and Abilities was not unusual.
Zhou Jiangming stood up, paced with hands behind across the hall, his expression serious.
Leng Tieya asked, "Chief Steward, exactly what place is this black altar, giving such a dangerous feeling?"
"Filthy Soul Altar!" Zhou Jiangming’s face was somber as he replied coldly, "This altar is sinister; once the soul is contaminated, it enters slumber until it sleeps to death."
"Is there any way to break it?" Leng Tieya asked, "Can it be warded off?"
Zhou Jiangming said, "The palace has found a counter-method, requiring Great Sky Demons to perform."
Leng Tieya sighed in relief, "That’s good."
Zhou Jiangming continued slowly, "To activate this Secret Technique, the requirements are high; the more Great Sky Demons, the better."
Leng Tieya closed his mouth, bowed his fists, "Since that’s the case, the disciple will take leave."
"Go ahead, go!" Zhou Jiangming gave him a disapproving glance.
After Leng Tieya left the hall, Zhou Jiangming shook his head, "Inadequate for major duty!"
Having no good strategy for the slippery Leng Tieya.
As Chief Steward, he couldn’t forcefully compel him, couldn’t press him to take this task.
The elderly man with white hair and beard softly offered, "Chief Steward, perhaps increase the reward."
Zhou Jiangming glanced at him.
The elderly man said lowly, "The old man feels he is quite suitable: cautious, careful, won’t make mistakes."
"He doesn’t seem interested."
"He practices the Leng Family’s Nine Solutions of Heavenly Demon." The old man smiled, "As far as I know, the Leng Family’s Nine Solutions comes from the outer world, incomplete and fragmented."
"Hm..."
The old man smiled, "Is there not a few Tracking Beads left in the palace’s Secret Vault?"
"...Then go tell him, if he takes this task, he gets a Tracking Bead!"
"Chief Steward is wise!" The old man smiled and agreed, then stood and left.
He caught up with Leng Tieya a few steps after leaving the hall, informing him of the reward and explaining the Tracking Bead’s exquisite use.
Leng Tieya perked up.
