The old man kneeling in the Jiang Family Ancestral Hall was the most senior elder of the Jiang Family, and also the Jiang Clan Leader. Seeing the Hemp-Robed Elder arrive, the Jiang Clan Leader tremblingly supported himself with his cane, rose to his feet, and performed the rites of a junior, his face showing delight.
"Old Ancestor, you've come out of seclusion two days ahead of schedule. Have you broken through the Peak Nascent Soul and stepped into Spirit Transformation?"
The Hemp-Robed Elder shook his head and said with regret, "Stepping into Spirit Transformation is easier said than done. It's just a pity about those dozen or so infants. After the Blood Sacrifice, they didn't help my cultivation much.
It seems that to break through to Spirit Transformation, I can't rely solely on sacrificing infants. I must find another way." A look of regret flashed across the Jiang Clan Leader's face before vanishing.
He said, "Just now, a retainer passed on a message. The parents of the children lost this time are spreading it all over Green City, even causing a scene in front of the City Lord's Mansion. I'm afraid it will be difficult to suppress this time.
It's good that Old Ancestor is changing methods. We've stolen too many infants over the years, and some people have already become suspicious of us."
"Who?"
"A Golden Core Rogue Cultivator named Yuan Wuxing. For the past few years, he has been trying to sneak in during our Ancestor Worship."
The Hemp-Robed Elder sneered, completely unconcerned.
"It seems he's noticed the frequency of our Ancestor Worship is similar to the frequency of children going missing. A mere Rogue Cultivator. Capturing him will be just right for a Blood Sacrifice."
"Oh, right. Since those ignorant commoners and shrews who lost their children keep making trouble, why not just capture them for the Blood Sacrifice as well? Let them reunite with their children."
"Yes."
"How touching. Then why don't you go down below and reunite with your parents?"
"Who?"
The Hemp-Robed Elder whipped his head around and glared, trying to see who had spoken so disrespectfully. At the same time, his body retreated rapidly. He hadn't sensed anyone's arrival.
To be able to evade his senses, one had to be either a cultivator also at the Peak Nascent Soul who was skilled in concealment arts, or a Spirit Transformation cultivator. He consecutively unleashed several Magical Arts, all of which were slapped away by Jiang Li.
Without a second word, Jiang Li went up and delivered a slap, directly sending the Hemp-Robed Elder flying into the table that held the memorial tablets. The tablets scattered all over the floor, and what's more, half of the Hemp-Robed Elder's teeth were shattered.
"You!"
The Hemp-Robed Elder was greatly astonished. He could sense that Jiang Li was at the Peak Nascent Soul, same as himself, but the other's movements were so fast he couldn't react. Jiang Li himself couldn't count the number of life-and-death battles he had experienced in his life.
His combat experience was so rich that, let alone suppressing his cultivation to the Nascent Soul Stage, even if he suppressed it to the Golden Core Stage, he could still easily defeat the Hemp-Robed Elder. Jiang Li remained expressionless, not saying a word, fighting in silence.
He pinned the Hemp-Robed Elder onto the table and pounded him with one fist after another, each punch heavier than the last. In the middle of this process, he even heard the System's notification tone.
[Congratulations Host for defeating Jiang Yixing. Novice Mission complete.]
Hearing the System's notification, Jiang Li felt not a shred of joy. He continued to brutally beat Jiang Yixing with the strength of the Nascent Soul Stage. He was afraid that using greater strength would kill Jiang Yixing outright.
The moment Jiang Li scanned the spatial node with his divine sense, he had recognized the Hemp-Robed Elder as Jiang Yixing. But he had changed his appearance, so Jiang Yixing did not recognize him as Jiang Li.
"Do you... know... who I am... I am Human Emperor Jiang... Li's... older brother..."
Jiang Yixing spoke intermittently. Because he had lost half his teeth, his words were slurred and airy.
"Is that so!"
"Human Emperor Jiang's older brother!"
"What great prestige!"
"Even the Human Emperor isn't as prestigious as you!"
"Making a memorial tablet for yourself!"
"Do you know you deserve to die!"
"Or are you just faking your death to the outside world!"
Jiang Li's heart was filled with unbearable anger. Jiang Yixing was using his name to commit acts of the Demonic Path, causing the deaths of countless children. This made him feel that he, too, bore a share of responsibility for the deaths of these children.
With every sentence he spoke, he threw a punch, continuing until Jiang Yixing was bleeding from all seven orifices and barely conscious, only then did he stop. Jiang Li picked up the memorial tablet with Jiang Yixing's name written on it and snorted coldly.
"Using the Power of Faith from Ancestor Worship to wear away the Resentment Qi from the infants in your body. How clever."
Jiang Li grabbed Jiang Yixing by the ankle and dragged him outside. As they went through the door, Jiang Yixing's head knocked hard against the doorframe with a loud bang. The Jiang family members had long heard the commotion in the ancestral hall.
The moment they saw Jiang Li appear, they all attacked, intending to kill this intruder. With the exception of a few, the Jiang family had long thought Jiang Yixing was dead and didn't recognize him. Therefore, when they attacked Jiang Li, they didn't avoid Jiang Yixing.
A few attacks landed on his body, but compared to Jiang Li's fists, these attacks were like tickles. Jiang Yixing wasn't going to die from them. Jiang Li used his free hand to block all the moves and knock down the attackers, effortlessly.
"Senior, what you're doing is..."
Yuan Wuxing followed behind, startled by Jiang Li's actions. Directly taking down the Jiang family and capturing the main culprit was something he had never even dared to imagine.
"Of course, I'm going to make this a big deal," Jiang Li said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"A b-big deal?"
Yuan Wuxing no longer understood what Jiang Li was trying to do. He only felt that this Dao Sect Walker possessed profound magical power and his actions were difficult to fathom.
"Otherwise, how can we see just how many people dare to shelter the Jiang family? Whether it's a City Lord, a Prefecture Lord, or even someone higher up... I'd like to see just how big of a fish I can catch this time."
Jiang Li smiled, but there was no warmth in it. If Emperor Zhou didn't know, it would be fine. But if he knew of Jiang Yixing's conduct and concealed it, then he shouldn't blame Jiang Li for no longer recognizing him as a friend...
Yuan Wuxing's blood surged as he listened. This was the prelude to turning the heavens upside down!
"Go and call the parents of the missing children. Tell them the culprit has been found and is being judged at the City Lord's Mansion."
"Yes!" ...
The surname of Green City's City Lord was Zeng. He considered his official career to be exceptionally smooth. Starting as a minor clerk, he was constantly favored by influential people and rose through the ranks.
Now, he sat in the position of Green City's Lord, a seat many of his colleagues would break their heads fighting for. By connecting with the Jiang family line, although he had never directly met His Highness the Human Emperor, wasn't connecting with the Jiang family equivalent to connecting with the Human Emperor?
One must know, several of the past Green City Lords now held extremely high positions. The highest-ranking one was already a Prefect, which made him extremely envious. City Lord Zeng, just as usual, was preparing to rest early.
It was nearing dusk, and although it wasn't time to get off duty, as the City Lord, no one would say anything if he left an hour early. And just as he was about to rest, a subordinate came to tell him that someone was outside with a major case, requesting the City Lord to pass judgment.
City Lord Zeng was very displeased. A major case meant it wouldn't be resolved in a short time, and his time to get off duty would be delayed.
"Go tell that person outside that I've gone out on business, and to have them come back tomorrow."
"My Lord, according to that person, he has captured the culprit who stole the children. It is none other than the Jiang family's deceased old master, Jiang Yixing. And that Old Master Jiang has now been beaten senseless by him. The common people heard the news and have all rushed over. Our entrance is now surrounded and completely blocked."
"You damn fool, why didn't you say something so important earlier!"
City Lord Zeng's face turned pale with shock. He kicked over the subordinate who didn't know the gravity of the situation, hurriedly straightened his official robes, and sat upright in the main hall.
"Who is causing a commotion outside the doors? Bring them forward!"
City Lord Zeng sat high in the main hall, his expression solemn and majestic. Jiang Li strolled into the main hall, carrying Jiang Yixing like a little chick. Beside him was Yuan Wuxing, who was both unbearably excited and trembling with apprehension.
Behind them were a dozen or so sobbing parents, kicking and cursing at Jiang Yixing. Further behind was a crowd of onlookers. The Great Zhou Law clearly stipulated that when local officials judged cases, it should be done in public.
At this moment, City Lord Zeng deeply hated this law. Under the watchful eyes of the public, it would be very difficult for him to protect the Jiang family.
(End of this chapter)