Zhu Xuanji let out a cold snort, "So, you're all starting to suspect me now!"
"My Heaven-Piercing Eyes oversee everything; mere flames can't obscure my sight!"
"I observed that old ape. It’s cultivated a deep-rooted demonic art, yet it didn’t unleash its power. It would rather risk its own life to protect its master."
"Truly, it is loyal and righteous!"
"If it were one of us, how many could act with such resolve?"
"I was moved by its devotion, so I couldn’t bear to let it die and thus intervened to save it."
With that, Zhu Xuanji’s tone grew stern, "Furthermore, because I personally administered treatment—not just with my Heaven-Piercing Eyes but with my own spiritual power penetrating its body—I can affirm with certainty: aside from its severe injuries, everything else about the old ape was normal. No Shadow Demon Cultivator was hiding within it!"
The group fell silent again, considering Zhu Xuanji’s firm words.
If true, there would be no grounds for suspicion.
This left only one likely explanation: someone must have secretly released the Shadow Demon Cultivator in advance.
Fei Si’s brow slowly furrowed.
He opened his mouth to speak, then thought better of it and stayed silent.
The Zhou family ancestor also frowned but continued to press, "Lord Zhu, forgive this old man’s boldness, but are you certain beyond all doubt?"
"Is there no other technique, divine ability, or artifact that could evade both your Heaven-Piercing Eyes and spiritual power?"
Zhu Xuanji let out a cold laugh, "Now you’re being unreasonable."
"Who can guarantee absolute certainty?"
"There are countless talents and limitless geniuses in this world, with innumerable techniques, divine abilities, and artifacts beyond our knowledge."
"All I can tell you is that with my Heaven-Piercing Eyes, I've reached near-divine insight."
"In over a decade with the Divine Constable Division, only three golden core cultivators have ever resisted my scrutiny. Below the golden core stage, nothing escapes my eyes."
The group once more fell into silence.
Zhu Xuanji, determined to dispel any doubt about himself, proposed, "Since some are doubting me, that’s fine. Let’s go find the old ape now, and everyone can examine it for themselves, agreed?"
"That’s reasonable!" Chi Dun nodded.
"Very well," the Zhou family ancestor agreed as well.
Fei Si, however, felt a pang of unease.
He thought again of Ning Zhuo.
Earlier, Ning Zhuo had volunteered to persuade Yuan Er into submission, using threats and inducements to have him eliminate the old ape.
How far had things progressed by now?
The thought of Ning Zhuo still holding his command token stirred a growing anxiety within Fei Si.
Outwardly calm, he said, "I, too, have some doubts. Seeing for myself would be best."
"Chi Dun, you stay here to keep control of the situation and continue leading the other golden core cultivators in the search. There might be someone hiding underground; we can’t afford to overlook anything!"
Fei Si then invited the Zhou family ancestor and Zhu Xuanji to join him in going to inspect Yuan Dasheng.
Chi Dun, displeased, protested, "Why am I the one left here? You’re the one responsible for this area!"
Fei Si replied with one sentence that silenced him, "The City Lord appointed me in charge of the Fire Persimmon Festival. Do you refuse to follow my orders?"
Chi Dun let out a cold snort, forced to comply.
The three golden core cultivators flew together to the Monkey Head Gang’s quarters.
Yuan Er was still kneeling on the ground beside the bed, looking lost and vacant.
Suddenly, the three golden core cultivators descended from above, crashing through the roof, and peered down at him.
Yuan Er shivered in terror.
"Where’s your old ape?" Zhu Xuanji scanned the back courtyard with his divine sense, a bad feeling stirring within him.
Yuan Er’s face went pale, and he began to sob, "Dead. My Uncle Ape is dead!"
Zhu Xuanji’s eyes flared with golden light as he questioned sternly, "I gave you the Autumn Life-Saving Pill; how did that old ape die?"
Yuan Er shook like a leaf, too frightened to hide anything, and stammered out the entire story.
Zhu Xuanji’s face went white with fury as he pointed at Yuan Er, "You ungrateful wretch!"
Turning to Fei Si, he said, "Well, well, Fei Si. You have some nerve."
Fei Si inwardly exulted, "I didn’t expect that Ning Zhuo would act so quickly and pull it off perfectly!"
Feeling vindicated, Fei Si narrowed his eyes and responded slowly, "Thank you for the praise, Lord Zhu."
"I did it all for the sake of Fire Persimmon Immortal City."
"After all, continually using pet monkeys to harvest Fire Persimmons was rather cruel."
"The Sage of the Three Sects was compassionate and merciful; had he not left behind the Lava Immortal Palace all those years ago, Fire Persimmon Mountain wouldn’t be the blessed place it is today."
"As the younger generation, we should honor the Sage’s spirit, release these monkeys, and use only mechanical constructs for harvesting. It’s an act of benevolence, a policy of virtue."
Feigning ignorance, Fei Si shamelessly praised himself while ignoring Zhu Xuanji’s thinly veiled mockery.
Zhu Xuanji’s face turned pale with anger as his breathing quickened.
Fei Si’s satisfaction only grew.
It wasn’t merely a matter of reputation.
When orthodox cultivators clashed, it couldn’t be as direct or bloody as with demon cultivators.
Thus, these strategic confrontations within the rules became the mark of a cultivator’s strength.
Reputation led to practical gains.
Fei Si’s earlier concession to Zhu Xuanji in opening the formation had shown weakness, which would prompt many to lean toward Zhu Xuanji in the future.
This weakened Fei Si’s authority and influence.
In essence, it was also diminishing the authority of the City Lord’s Mansion and the current City Lord, Meng Kui.
Since Zhu Xuanji represented the royal family and the Divine Constable Division, his presence inherently challenged Meng Kui’s authority.
If Fei Si didn’t retaliate according to the rules of the game, Meng Kui would be disappointed in him.
Now, he’d regained his footing, neutralizing the previous setback and easing his mind.
The Zhou family ancestor, meanwhile, frowned, unwilling to get involved in Fei Si and Zhu Xuanji’s subtle feud.
As a third party, he felt it was far too early to choose sides.
He was more interested in resolving the matter of the Shadow Demon Cultivator and asked, "Since the old ape has been taken away, why are we lingering here?"
"Brother Fei, where is that envoy of yours now?" the Zhou family ancestor asked Fei Si.
The Immortal City Grand Formation severely restricted divine sense, but Fei Si had authorization and immediately expanded his divine sense with the formation, locating his command token.
"Follow me!" Fei Si led the way, flying out of the Monkey Head Gang.
Zhu Xuanji and the Zhou family ancestor followed closely.
Three streaks of light crossed the sky, soon arriving at the Flying Disc Workshop.
Zhu Xuanji reached out, and an invisible force lifted the roof, revealing Ning Zhuo and Chen Cha.
The old ape they sought lay on the mechanical platform, its body drained of all blood and about to be dismembered.
"Stop at once!" the Zhou family ancestor barked.
Ning Zhuo and Chen Cha looked stunned, immediately bowing in respect.
The three golden core cultivators ignored them, instead scanning Yuan Dasheng’s corpse thoroughly with their divine senses.
No sign of the demon cultivator was found.
"Indeed, it had cultivated demonic arts—rather well, it seems," remarked the Zhou family ancestor.
Zhu Xuanji reconfirmed his prior observations, casting a regretful look at the ape’s body, then turned to Ning Zhuo, "You, boy, have quite a silver tongue. Yuan Er was a fool to fall for your words so easily."
Ning Zhuo took a deep breath and, with trepidation, said, "Lord Zhu, please understand. My cooperation with Yuan Er was mutually beneficial!"
"I wanted to make money, and Yuan Er wanted to keep his position as gang leader."
"Forgive my audacity, but my lord, you are compassionate and helped the old ape. But was it truly in the ape’s best interest? With its loyalty to its master, wouldn’t it rather not be a burden to him?"
"Hmph, sharp-tongued!" Zhu Xuanji’s impression of Ning Zhuo soured significantly.
Meanwhile, Fei Si stroked his beard, growing even more appreciative of Ning Zhuo.
Finding no suspicious traces, the three golden core cultivators promptly departed.
Fei Si returned to Fire Persimmon Forest, while Zhu Xuanji halted midway.
Furrowing his brow, he pondered deeply, "I can’t shake the feeling that something… something isn’t quite right!"