Chapter 7 Who is Yuan Wuxing?

"I have a major case to report."

Jiang Li placed Jiang Yixing on the ground and cupped his hands towards City Lord Zeng.

"Speak."

"My name is Zhang Li, a native of Green City and a Nascent Soul Rogue Cultivator. This is my companion, Yuan Wuxing, a Golden Core Rogue Cultivator. We heard that many infants have gone missing in Green City in recent years, and that the Green City authorities were short-staffed, so we investigated privately and finally caught the main culprit."

Jiang Li paused for a moment, then pointed a finger at Jiang Yixing on the ground.

"The main culprit is the Old Ancestor of the Jiang Family, Jiang Yixing!"

When the crowd outside the main hall heard Jiang Li's words, they instantly burst into an uproar. Upon hearing this, the dozen or so parents who had lost their children broke down and wailed loudly. If not for the guards holding them back, they would have already rushed into the hall to demand Jiang Yixing's life.

They had been told by Yuan Wuxing that their children had already been used in a Blood Sacrifice.

"Zhang Li, do not speak carelessly. The Jiang Family has been virtuous for generations and has even produced a hero of the Human Race like Human Emperor Jiang. If you have no evidence and are making wild accusations, this official will sentence you for the crime of slander."

City Lord Zeng's tone was calm, but it held a hidden threat.

"Of course, there is evidence. Why did the Jiang Family repeatedly steal infants? Jiang Yixing's aptitude is mediocre; it was a struggle for him to even cultivate to the Golden Core stage. Therefore, he thought of using Demonic Path methods, performing a Blood Sacrifice on infants, using the form of the infant to supplement the meaning of the Nascent Soul, and only by this method could he break through to Nascent Soul and extend his lifespan."

Jiang Li ignored City Lord Zeng's threat and analyzed in a slow, methodical manner.

"I wonder, am I right, Jiang Yixing?"

Jiang Li leaned down to look at Jiang Yixing, whose face was old and wrinkled yet had a ruddy complexion. This was the result of absorbing the infants' Blood Qi.

"Who in the world are you!"

Jiang Yixing lay on the ground, so heavily injured he couldn't move. He was utterly shocked in his heart. Besides those of his own generation who were also in Green City, who would know that his aptitude was mediocre, at a level where Foundation Establishment was attainable but Golden Core was difficult to achieve!

Jiang Li sent a voice transmission: "You use my name to wave a grand banner, yet you don't recognize me, cousin?" Jiang Yixing's eyes widened, his pupils reflecting the changing appearance of Jiang Li.

Finally, from his figure and the look in his eyes, he faintly saw the image of the person who had run away from home all those years ago. An immense fear enveloped Jiang Yixing. With Jiang Li personally taking action to deal with the Jiang Family, there was absolutely no chance for him to survive.

Never mind the Green City Lord protecting him, even if the Great Zhou Emperor himself came, it would be useless! He wanted to use all his strength to shout Jiang Li's name, but he was secretly knocked unconscious by one of Jiang Li's Magical Arts, and it was unknown how many days would pass before he would awaken.

Hearing Jiang Li say that Jiang Yixing cultivated the Demonic Path, the spectating crowd began to whisper amongst themselves, discussing animatedly. The Old Ancestor of the Jiang Family, the cousin of the Human Emperor, was actually cultivating the Demonic Path! This was a huge scandal.

If word of this got out, they would probably be mocked by the people of the other Imperial Dynasties, laughing at them for priding themselves on their laws yet having lax governance, laughing at the Homeland of the Human Emperor for letting the Demonic Path run rampant. The Jiang Family Patriarch came walking slowly, leaning on his cane.

The people automatically parted to make a path for him. Seeing the Old Ancestor collapsed on the ground, he hurried forward to check on him. Discovering that the Old Ancestor was only injured and unconscious, his foundation undamaged, he finally let out a sigh of relief and said angrily to Jiang Li.

"Are you trying to say that because my Old Ancestor used infants to cultivate, he must have the infants' resentment in his body? Fine, test him. But you must remember, if you cannot find any infant resentment, then you will pay the price for insulting the Jiang Family and Green City!"

The Jiang Clan Leader was talking about a common method used throughout the Nine Provinces Continent to inspect for the Demonic Path. Demonic Path cultivation harms others for one's own benefit, so most practitioners would have Resentment Qi in their bodies, to say nothing of someone like Jiang Yixing who used several hundred infants for his cultivation.

The Resentment Qi in his body was likely enough to soar to the heavens. Jiang Li gave a light chuckle.

"Jiang Clan Leader, you're really getting muddled in your old age. I'm afraid you haven't forgotten that you used the Power of Faith to wear away the Resentment Qi in Jiang Yixing's body."

Having his thoughts exposed by Jiang Li, the Jiang Clan Leader's face turned ashen. That the Power of Faith could wear away Resentment Qi was something few people knew. He didn't understand how Jiang Li knew about it.

But at this point, thinking about these things was useless. The most important thing was to suppress this matter quickly.

"Although the Resentment Qi can be worn away, the infants' bones are still there. I happened to discover a Spatial Node where infant bones are piled high. Your Excellency might as well take some people to have a look."

"Your Excellency, you must not listen to this person's nonsense! This man has only been in the city for a day and has never been to Green City before. How could someone happen to discover a Spatial Node in just one day and insist it belongs to my Jiang Family? This person must have been hired by another family to frame my Jiang Family. I implore Your Excellency to investigate clearly!"

The reason the Jiang Clan Leader had arrived late was because he had sent people to secretly investigate Jiang Li's identity and dispose of the evidence. It was just a pity that it was too rushed; they only found out that Jiang Li had just arrived in Green City, and the Spatial Node had not yet been completely cleaned up.

"It is getting late. This case is complex and a conclusion cannot be easily reached. To ascertain the truth, the trial will resume on another day."

City Lord Zeng glanced at the unconscious Jiang Yixing, then at the troublesome Jiang Li, afraid he would find something else to say. He paused, then continued, "For now, escort Jiang Yixing to the great prison."

"Court dismissed!" ...

After court was dismissed, City Lord Zeng no longer maintained his previous calm and steady demeanor. He hurriedly went with the Jiang Clan Leader to a secret chamber for an urgent discussion.

"I told you long ago to stop, but you wouldn't listen. And look what's happened now, you've been discovered!"

City Lord Zeng complained.

"What could I do? The Old Ancestor was insistent on doing this. Who could have stopped him?" the Jiang Clan Leader retorted weakly, lacking confidence.

"But you told me back then that this matter was secretly instructed by Human Emperor Jiang," City Lord Zeng shot a sideways glance at the Jiang Clan Leader.

"It was the Old Ancestor who insisted on doing it, and Human Emperor Jiang reluctantly agreed," the Jiang Clan Leader hastily added.

"Can't we ask Human Emperor Jiang to personally step in and suppress this matter? If he takes action, even His Majesty the Emperor will have to give him some face."

"That would be difficult. Human Emperor Jiang has always acted as he pleased, coming and going whenever he wishes. The Jiang Family has no way to contact him."

The Jiang Clan Leader actually wanted to say, what Human Emperor Jiang? If we could really contact Human Emperor Jiang, would we have to go to such lengths to deceive one City Lord after another? Of course, he couldn't say these inner thoughts aloud.

"Then what do you propose we do now?"

"We'll prepare for two possibilities. The only thing that can be called evidence is that space where the Blood Sacrifice of the infants took place. I have already sent people to deal with it, but it's hard to say what other tricks those two might pull.

Yuan Wuxing should be easy to handle; he's timid and weak-willed. But that Zhang Li is difficult to deal with. We've never heard of this person before, yet his combat power is extremely high.

Judging from the way he captured the Old Ancestor alive, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him the number one master in Green City."

"Using force is out of the question. I will personally go find him tonight and see if I can persuade them to leave. This matter concerns the Human Emperor's reputation. This person shouldn't go so far as to disregard the Human Emperor's reputation and insist on prosecuting the Old Ancestor."

"That would be for the best."

City Lord Zeng stroked his beard and nodded.

"There is just one more problem."

"What is it?"

"Who is Yuan Wuxing?"

(End of this chapter)