Chapter 1080: Chapter 331: How Could Your Broken Sword Possibly Pierce My Azure Flood Dragon Scale Armor? (6k)

As the altitude decreased, the myriad phenomena of the imperial city unfolded more clearly before their eyes.

The main road below was entirely paved with mysterious crystal glass, refracting a seven-colored glow in the sunlight.

Dozens of hundred-foot-tall puppet sentries stood imposingly on both sides of the street.

These bronze giants, driven by spirit stones, held long halberds made of mysterious iron, with ethereal blue spiritual fire flickering within their eye sockets, dutifully carrying out patrol tasks.

In the sky above, countless streams of light streaked across the sky.

These were cultivators flying with their magical tools, some stepping on flying swords, some standing atop jade flutes, and others directly piloting bronze elixir cauldrons through the air.

Various spiritual lights interwoven into a net, rendering the sky extraordinarily magnificent.

Faced with this vast spectacle, the newly arrived Zhou Qing and Luo Lingling couldn’t help but stop and watch.

Only Lan Caiwei seemed accustomed to it, her brow furrowed, seeming deep in thought.

"Lan Daoist friend, where are we going next?" Zhou Qing withdrew his gaze and turned to ask.

Lan Caiwei appeared startled out of her contemplation, her fingers absentmindedly twisting the corner of her clothes: "Xiang Chuan... he’s in the outskirts of the imperial city, in the Qixia Mountains. We’ve rented a cave mansion there for him."

Zhou Qing frowned slightly, helplessly saying: "Why not mention this earlier on the way?"

"I..." Lan Caiwei’s eyes flickered, "seeing you two so absorbed in the scenery of the imperial city, I didn’t want to disturb."

Zhou Qing sighed lightly, once again summoning the flying ship: "Please lead the way."

...

As the flying ship sailed through clouds and fog, none noticed Lan Caiwei silently crushing the communication jade talisman in her sleeve, a wisp of cyan smoke silently dissipating in the deep sea of clouds.

"We’re here!" It was uncertain how much time had passed, but Lan Caiwei pointed to the cave mansion on the mountainside shrouded in thin mist, her voice oddly gentle.

Zhou Qing maneuvered the flying ship to land, looking at the open entrance of the cave mansion, a hint of doubt on his face: "Daoist friend Xiang Chuan is gravely injured, how could the mansion’s restriction be wide open?"

Lan Caiwei frowned slightly: "Perhaps Xiang Chuan’s condition worsened, unable to maintain the restriction, especially since I’ve been gone for over a year."

As Zhou Qing was about to step forward, Luo Lingling suddenly tugged at his sleeve, a flash of caution in her eyes.

Then turning to Lan Caiwei, she put on a charming smile: "Lan Daoist friend, we’re guests, and you and our senior brother and others are close friends. By etiquette, you should announce yourself first."

Lan Caiwei’s figure froze slightly, hesitating for a moment before forcing a smile: "Yes... that’s the proper way."

She then stepped forward, raising her voice at the entrance: "Xiang Chuan, are you there? It’s Caiwei, I’m coming in..."

With that, she quickly entered the cave mansion, her silhouette tinged with a hint of panic.

"That woman is seriously suspicious!" Luo Lingling looked at the entrance and secretly communicated.

Zhou Qing nodded slightly, she had indeed seemed troubled throughout the journey.

Logically speaking, having obtained a life-saving elixir, she should be extremely happy.

Yet from her, he perceived not even a hint of joy.

Even subtly staying half a step behind them throughout the journey, showing no urgency, certainly raised doubts.

But considering she had been supported by their senior brother till now, perhaps they should observe quietly for now.

At this moment, a sudden scream came from within the cave mansion.

The two exchanged glances, each drawing their weapons, their figures flashing as they leapt into the cave mansion.

...

Inside the cave mansion, the dim lighting shrouded the space, with a faint scent of blood mixed with the stench of decay in the air, creating discomfort.

Zhou Qing condensed a strand of spiritual fire at his fingertips, illuminating the surroundings.

Only to see Lan Caiwei collapsed on the ground, her face pallid, tremblingly pointing ahead: "Xiang Chuan... Xiang Chuan is missing!"

Luo Lingling’s gaze was sharp as she swiftly surveyed the interior of the cave mansion.

On the ground and walls, several deep and sinister cuts crisscrossed, as if brutally slashed by a sharp weapon.

She crouched, lightly touching those marks with her fingertips, feeling a sharp sensation on her finger pads, her brow furrowing slightly: "These are gun marks."

Zhou Qing’s heart trembled.

The senior brother, Ghost Mastiff, precisely wielded a black gun, and these marks were likely left by him.

Suppressing his excitement, he also examined carefully, asking in a deep voice: "Lan Daoist friend, how was Xiang Chuan’s condition? Why did he suddenly disappear?"

Lan Caiwei’s eyes flickered, her voice carrying a trace of panic: "I... I don’t know either. When I came in, no one was here."

Luo Lingling then paused to investigate a bit more, frowning as she analyzed: "There are signs of a fight, but it ended quickly, the incident happening at least six months ago."

Zhou Qing furrowed his brow tightly, searching for any clues in the cave mansion.

Soon, his gaze fell on a corner where a patch of dried blood lay.

Walking over slowly, he dipped his fingertip into it, smelled it lightly at his nose, then frowned slightly: "There’s a faint fishy smell in the blood, clearly poisoned."

Lan Caiwei’s face grew even paler upon hearing this, her lips trembling slightly.

She bit her lip and suddenly said: "It’s Xiang Chuan’s... he was poisoned." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"Could it be... something happened, and Mastiff returned in time to take Xiang Chuan away?"

Zhou Qing and Luo Lingling exchanged glances, a hint of suspicion flickering in their eyes.

Zhou Qing pondered for a moment and asked: "Which family owns this cave mansion? Does no one manage it?"

Lan Caiwei barely composed herself to explain: "The dynasty here is expensive, and we rented long-term, so chose something more remote and cheaper."

"They only handle the rental, not the affairs within."

Zhou Qing nodded.

It seemed, for now, they had no other explanation than hers.

"Lan Daoist friend," Luo Lingling then spoke, her gaze fixed on her expression.

"If it’s true my senior brother returned early and took Xiang Chuan away, where might they have gone?"