Chapter 16: Creation Furnace

The Tower of Ten Thousand Scrolls housed not only supreme cultivation techniques but also the treasured artifacts of Xuanling.

Zhuge Song, upon detecting the intruder’s traces, immediately sent out an alert and personally gave chase. 

However, the demon was cunning and managed to escape under cover of night using an evasive technique.

Yet after receiving the warning, all halls of Xuanling had swiftly activated the Mountain Protection Array. 

Once activated, this array strictly prohibited any entry or exit-only elder tokens could grant passage. 

Though the demon had temporarily escaped, it shouldn’t be able to flee beyond Xuanling’s territory.

“All halls have organized teams to search for suspicious individuals,” Xie Cifeng said. 

“Lingyue will guard Wuwang Peak, while Congyun and Jin Ni will lead teams to search within a ten-mile radius.”

Mu Congyun responded gravely and immediately set off with Jin Ni to organize the search party.

Shen Qi made to follow, but Xie Cifeng stopped him: “Your cultivation isn’t sufficient. Stay on Wuwang Peak and don’t cause trouble for your senior brother.”

Pausing mid-step, Shen Qi turned back to meet Xie Cifeng’s scrutinizing gaze.

So the old man still didn’t trust him.

Shen Qi scoffed inwardly but bowed respectfully.

“As you command, Master.”

Unaware of the silent tension between master and disciple, Mu Congyun pressed a jade talisman into Shen Qi’s hand. 

“Stay with Senior Sister Lingyue and don’t wander off. This is a Lightning Summoning Talisman-keep it for protection, just in case.”

Clutching the talisman, Shen Qi’s eyes clearly conveyed “I really want to follow Senior Brother but I’ll obey.”

Lowering his gaze, he murmured, “I’ll wait for Senior Brother’s return on Wuwang Peak.”

Mu Congyun gave a brief hum of acknowledgment before departing with Jin Ni to begin the search.

The operation lasted through midnight.

During the third watch, as Mu Congyun and Jin Ni were about to commence their third sweep, faint commotion arose from the mountain gate.

With his superior vision, Mu Congyun spotted Elder Zhuge from the Punishment Hall racing toward Liangwang Peak’s summit with someone in his arms.

Liangwang Peak housed the Bright Hall, and the Sect Leader’s Nine Bend Tower stood at its peak.

“What happened? Did they catch the Nether Capital demon?” 

Jin Ni, lacking Mu Congyun’s keen eyesight, strained to make out the distant figures.

“No, it seems someone’s injured.” 

Mu Congyun shook his head. 

The darkness obscured details, but the figure in Elder Zhuge’s arms bore an unsettling resemblance to Jiang Ling.

Suppressing his unease, he maintained his post and continued searching with Jin Ni.

At dawn, Guan Lingyue arrived with replacements.

During the handover, her expression was grave. 

“Jiang Ling fell victim to the Nether Capital demon outside Xuanling.”

After discovering the demon’s infiltration, Elder Zhuge had been leading patrols and temporarily set aside the search for Jiang Ling. 

Midway through the night watch, however, he received an urgent message from his daughter―Jiang Ling’s life tablet had shattered.

Panicked, Elder Zhuge immediately mobilized disciples to search, combing through Xuanling before expanding the hunt. 

They eventually found Jiang Ling barely alive on a solitary mountain near Xuanling’s borders.

According to the discovering disciples, Jiang Ling wore only an underrobe-its white fabric stained dark red with blood. 

His exposed skin appeared lacerated by some fine mesh, flesh torn open to the bone in places, a horrifying sight.

The physical wounds alone were severe enough, but they also detected traces of Corrosive Mist erosion in his injuries.

Any cultivator tainted by the Corrosive Mist would find their path of cultivation effectively cut short, even if they hadn’t succumbed to mutation or lost their sanity.

After locating the person, Zhuge Song immediately took Jiang Ling to Liangwang Peak to seek the sect leader’s help in prolonging his life. 

Although Jiang Ling had always been arrogant and wasn’t particularly well-liked within Xuanling, he hadn’t made any major enemies either.

It was all just minor squabbles among fellow disciples.

Now, upon hearing of his plight, everyone wore grave expressions. 

Even Jin Ni, who had always disliked Jiang Ling the most, couldn’t bring himself to gloat. 

Instead, he said with some frustration, “We’ve searched Wuwang Peak over ten times but found no trace of demons or monsters. Have any other peaks reported anything?”

Guan Lingyue silently shook her head.

*

The atmosphere in Xuanling had never been more tense.

The mountain-protecting array, which consumed vast resources and was rarely activated, had now been running continuously for three days.

During these three days, disciples from all halls took shifts, scouring every corner of Xuanling’s three halls, nine palaces, and twelve peaks without rest.

Finally, at dawn on the fourth day, they made a discovery.

While meticulously cross-checking the roster of disciples from each hall, Mingtang noticed an extra name in the records. 

After thorough verification, they apprehended the Fengdu demon who had infiltrated Xuanling.

It was said that the demon had tried to flee when discovered but was ultimately captured by Zhuge Song himself, who had rushed to the scene upon receiving the news.

“The Fengdu demons have grown utterly brazen, daring to infiltrate Xuanling! The sect leader and the elders will surely make an example of this one!”

As Shen Qi listened to Jin Ni’s animated retelling of the demon’s capture, the corner of his eyebrow twitched imperceptibly.

He was curious-which useless fool had been caught?

Soon enough, he found out: it was “Crimson Robe Immortal” Zhao Huaixu.

Though Fengdu had no ruler, it was governed by four Ghost Kings. Apart from the “Two-Faced King of Hell,” whom Shen Qi had replaced, there were also “Crimson Robe Immortal” Zhao Huaixu, “Powder-Faced Buddha” Chen Po, and “Three-Eyed Nuo God” Ji Liancheng.

The four Ghost Kings each ruled their own territories and operated independently, though they occasionally exchanged information.

For instance, when Shen Qi had dealt with the “Two-Faced King of Hell,” he had bought intelligence from Zhao Huaixu.

They had a passing acquaintance, at best.

And it was this shallow connection that drove him to follow Mu Congyun to the Punishment Hall to witness the spectacle. 

Zhao Huaixu was bound by Spirit-Sealing Chains and suspended in the center of the interrogation hall.

Having already endured torture, his usual crimson brocade robes hung in tatters, and his once-charming peach-blossom face now looked as miserable as a wilted cabbage, as if he wanted to carve the words “I’ve had the worst luck in eight lifetimes” across his forehead.

“It wasn’t me who broke into the Ten Thousand Scrolls Tower! You’ve got the wrong man!” 

Despite his wretched state, his spirit remained unbroken, and he still had the energy to defend himself.

“I only came to Xuanling on personal business—I meant no harm!”

“A Fengdu demon coming to Xuanling for personal business? Ridiculous!” 

Zhuge Song was practically itching to flay him alive. 

“Confess now-who are your accomplices? If you cooperate, I might grant you a quick death!”

“…” 

Zhao Huaixu was seething with frustration, convinced that reasoning with the old man was impossible. 

He turned to Xie Cifeng instead, pleading earnestly, “I’ve heard Elder Xie excels in divination. Why not cast a hexagram to confirm whether I’m the culprit? Clear my name!”

Xie Cifeng had already performed the divination, but such arts were not infallible. 

The matter was shrouded in too much interference, obscured like clouds and mist, making it impossible for even him to discern clearly.

He said to Zhuge Song, “The one who harmed Jiang Ling must be someone else.”

Zhuge Song angrily said, “If you still refuse to reveal your accomplices, don’t blame me for ending you right now.”

The conversation had circled back again.

Even Zhao Huaixu, known for his patience, was now thoroughly annoyed. 

His usually charming peach-blossom eyes turned icy as he sneered, 

“It’s only out of respect for past ties that I haven’t torn this pretense apart. Do you really take me for helpless prey? If you want to stir up conflict between the Western Territories and Fengdu, go ahead and try.”

As one of Fengdu’s Four Ghost Kings, Zhao Huaixu knew that while Fengdu’s factions typically operated independently, his death at Xuanling would prompt the other three powers to declare war on the Western Territories to claim his former territories. 

Moreover, Fengdu had been restless in recent years, frequently probing the Western Territories with covetous intentions. 

This would undoubtedly spark another wave of turmoil and strife.

It was only then that Sect Leader Sikong Qingyang, who had remained silent until now, spoke up: 

“Since the Scarlet-robed Immortal claims you weren’t the one who broke into the Tower of Ten Thousand Scrolls at night, then tell us why did you disguise yourself and sneak into Xuanling? Where were you and what were you doing when the incident occurred? Do you have any witnesses?”

Zhao Huaixu: “…”

The imposing aura of a ruler faded from him as he coughed awkwardly, hesitating before replying, “That’s… a private matter. It’s not really appropriate to discuss.”

The others took his evasive demeanor as deliberate obstruction. 

Sikong Qingyang shook his head and said gravely, 

“Since the Scarlet-robed Immortal refuses to speak, you shall remain at Xuanling as our guest for now. Once we investigate and confirm your innocence, you will be free to leave.”

Zhao Huaixu sighed dejectedly, his gaze sweeping over the disciples observing the interrogation. 

Not finding the figure he sought, his expression flickered with faint regret-though perhaps it was for the best, given his current sorry state.

With the interrogation yielding no results, Zhao Huaixu was escorted back to the underground prison of the Punishment Hall.

Shen Qi watched his retreating figure, lost in thought.

He knew Zhao Huaixu well enough—this man flitted through the world like a carefree butterfly, acting solely on whims. 

If he had truly committed the crime, he wouldn’t shy away from admitting it. 

Besides, as a supreme expert of the Boundless Heaven Realm, Zhao Huaixu should have been able to hold his own against Zhuge Song even without the advantage of terrain. 

His capture had been too effortless.

His claim about sparing them out of respect might hold some truth.

But if it wasn’t him, then who had broken into the Tower of Ten Thousand Scrolls? 

What could Fengdu possibly covet within its walls? 

And now, multiple factions from Fengdu had converged in Xuanling—this matter was growing increasingly intriguing.

*

Patiently waiting until deep into the night, Shen Qi employed the same concealment technique and silently made his way toward the Slaughterblade Peak.

Fearing Zhao Huaixu might escape, the Punishment Hall’s prison was heavily guarded. 

It took Shen Qi some effort to infiltrate and finally reach Zhao Huaixu.

Bound at the wrists and ankles with heavy Spirit-Sealing Chains, Zhao Huaixu sat with his back to the cell door, examining a jade hairpin in his palm.

Shen Qi materialized before him, looking down with cool detachment. 

“It seems the Scarlet-robed Immortal is in rather high spirits.”

The moment Shen Qi appeared, Zhao Huaixu sensed his presence and pocketed the hairpin, regarding him without much wariness. 

“What wind blows through Xuanling to bring even the ‘Devious Emperor’ here?” 

Then, abruptly realizing something, his earlier composure shattered. 

His face twisted with fury as he snarled, “It was you who broke into the Tower of Ten Thousand Scrolls?”

Shen Qi scoffed. 

“Use your brain. If it were me, why would I come looking for you now?”

That did make some sense.

Zhao Huaixu sat back down. “Then why are you here? Surely not just to gloat over my misfortune?”

“What secrets does the Ten Thousand Scrolls Tower hold?”

Zhao Huaixu raised an eyebrow and replied, “I do know a few things, but why should I tell you?”

“I can get you out of here,” Shen Qi offered as leverage.

Zhao Huaixu hesitated. 

Truthfully, he didn’t have to stay here, but if he openly clashed with Xuanling, he’d likely end up a bachelor for life.

Between two evils, choose the lesser.

But if the Ghost Emperor were to free him, it’d be different-he wouldn’t have to confront Xuanling head-on.

After weighing his options, he lifted his chin. 

“Come closer.”

Shen Qi reluctantly leaned in, only to curl his lip in disdain after hearing the answer. 

“That’s it?”

“It’s just a guess—might not even be right,” Zhao Huaixu shrugged.

He’d never had much interest in other people’s schemes and power struggles.

“Now hurry up and undo the Spirit-Sealing Chains,” Zhao Huaixu urged.

Shen Qi glanced at him, a faint smirk tugging at his lips, laced with mockery. 

“You don’t want to clash with Xuanling, and neither do I-for now.”

Without waiting for a response, he turned and strode away without hesitation.

A bewildered Zhao Huaixu:

“…..???”