Huh? Isn't this an adventure kingdom building game?!

Chapter 1301: Chapter 981: The More You Dig, the Deeper It Gets (Part 2)

"The whereabouts of the two children are still under interrogation, possibly involving figures behind the scenes. Zhong Yingui refuses to speak regardless of life or death." Mentioning this, Du Li felt even more annoyed, especially with Gao Yi’s methods yielding no results so far, likely implicating many secrets within the alliance.

Hu Zhile was also anxious and suggested eagerly, "Alliance Leader Du, may I try? Perhaps using illusion magic could help."

"Then I leave this matter in your hands, Miss Hu!" Du Li didn’t refuse and personally led her to the temporarily set up interrogation room.

As the main perpetrator, Zhong Yingui had disheveled hair and was covered in wounds, clearly having endured many harsh methods.

Gao Yi coldly stared at him, the magical treasure whip in his hand slightly swaying. Usually, when this item came out, the interrogated would not withstand a few lashes before confessing.

Yet this scoundrel admitted to other offenses but was stubbornly silent about the whereabouts of the two humanoid little demons who hadn’t yet cultivated.

"Zhong, are you forcing me to find someone to perform a soul search on you?"

"Ha! Even the so-called righteous army of the Demon Realm Alliance keeps evil cultivators and uses their methods!" Zhong Yingui, with blood on his lips, looked up and laughed breathlessly, "Give up on that thought.

Don’t think I don’t know; the soul searching technique can’t reveal everything. No one will know where those two kids are, hahaha!"

Gao Yi raised the whip, seeing the fear on the other’s face, and said coldly, "Can you guess your fate then?"

"At most, death, turning into ashes, nothing will be left, I don’t care!" Zhong Yingui closed his eyes, filled with confidence.

He knew very well that ever since the power of the Celestial Dao’s remnant hidden by the Demon Realm Alliance was exposed, and many demon cultivators failed to seize it, the alliance began using it as a punishment method.

It no longer publicly executed criminals but trapped them beside the power of the Celestial Dao’s remnant, waiting for it to be activated and swallow everything around.

In this way, there was a loophole — the demon cultivators responsible for execution feared being devoured, so after confining the criminal, they would leave hastily.

As long as one was rescued before the power of the Celestial Dao’s remnant was activated, they could live freely without worry!

Zhong Yingui believed this was a risky but highly probable plan.

As an escape plan, it was quite good, enduring the torture without revealing the backers would naturally lead to salvation, and then the vast world would be at his feet!

"No, you do care." Hu Zhile observed in the dark for a while and continued softly, "You just think there’s a way out, someone gave you a calming pill, as long as you’re not killed immediately, there’s still a chance to turn the tide."

As she spoke, a light pink mist slowly drifted over.

With his plan exposed, Zhong Yingui didn’t panic at all, looking at the graceful silhouette in the dark, "You’re the fox spirit who made me a prisoner."

Hu Zhile walked out silently, her faint fragrance spreading with her movements, and she smiled charmingly, "No wonder you got caught, being so stupid; the association leader position, did you buy it?

Wasn’t it your good brother Zhong Yinghui who got you in trouble?

Knowing you’re indulging in corruption and bribery, he didn’t know how to keep a low profile. Grabbing others’ prey for a few spirit stones, so shallow-minded, always thinking of oppressing others to show off, it was only a matter of time before he got you involved."

Knowing the fox spirit is expert in enchantment, Zhong Yingui was very wary of her fragrance.

Holding his breath, not responding, closing his eyes, he silently recited the Heart Clarity Spell; though his spiritual power was already restrained, focused attention prevented her from easily succeeding.

Not knowing that Hu Zhile’s fragrance was just a blinding technique, the real illusion magic — that pale pink mist silently invaded through his ears while his eyes were closed, completely enveloping him.

"Open your eyes, look at me." Her voice was as enchanting as celestial music, and Zhong Yingui, dazed, opened his eyes, unable to look away.

Brilliant rays of immortal energy floated, with colorful clouds swirling beneath his feet and congratulatory voices around him, in front of him stood a fairy dressed in rosy garments, the receiving fairy!

"I made it, hahaha, I’ve completed the great path, really ascended to immortality! Next, I shall be given duties, conferred a god!" Zhong Yingui’s eyes were dreamy, trapped in the illusion, unable to extricate himself.

Hu Zhile asked softly, "Who helped you achieve ascension to immortality?"

Swayed by his greatest inner desire, he replied smugly without a thought, "With my proud talent, would I need any assistance? Ha, even that teaching mentor who did his duty unfortunately met an early death, leaving me to walk the path of cultivation on my own.

Especially after entering the Demon Realm Alliance, navigating smoothly and paving the way with money, I finally obtained the position of Association Leader of the Carefree City Commerce Association.

Afterward, things went smoothly, and I even encountered a benefactor, just offering a few pairs of boys and girls and three to five unnoticed little demons each month could exchange for numerous cooperative opportunities and escape routes..."

Gao Yi, having never seen such a method of "interrogation," stared at the beautiful woman brought by the Vice Alliance Hierarch with wide eyes;

"Oh? What kind of benefactor requires so many boys, girls, and living people each month? For what purpose?" Hu Zhile followed up.

He replied without hesitation, "The benefactor is Qian Xiaoyu, the Chief Steward of the alliance overseeing market matters. The boys and girls are probably for eating; after all, many demons innately prefer live food, especially tender-skinned young ones; for other purposes, who knows?

However, I reckon they might be used for refining to assist cultivation.

After all, when I represented the Commerce Association in negotiating market cooperation, Qian Xiaoyu mentioned a belief he held firmly — to get something, you must supplement it; to become above others, you must eat others; likewise, to become a demon above demons, you must eat demons."

Du Li, hearing this, felt repeatedly faint, with a foreboding premonition.

The Commerce Association is utterly corrupt; the market is probably not clean either, if these two critical industries supporting the Demon Realm Alliance gradually crumble?

"What escape route did Qian Xiaoyu promise you?"

"Every city’s Commerce Associations are lucrative positions, everyone from the association leader to the members finds ways to make money. I’m well aware that if exposed, retribution is inevitable, and Qian Xiaoyu, managing all markets, has extensive connections and methods.

He promised that as long as I offered tributes monthly, in times of great crisis, he would bribe relevant Law Enforcement Hall personnel. In the vicinity of the power of the Celestial Dao’s remnant during execution, he would make arrangements allowing me to escape alive.

Moreover, Qian Xiaoyu, cunning with multiple ventures, would offer me another position to help him amass wealth, continuing to live lavishly and freely!"

Gao Yi’s expression changed drastically hearing this, looking at Hu Zhile with disbelief, then at Alliance Leader Du with slight fear.

The former hadn’t expected the interrogation to involve the chief steward of the market and the Law Enforcement Hall, fearing innocent involvement, quickly asked, "The Law Enforcement Hall of the Demon Realm Alliance is always reputed, can it really be bribed?"

"Hahaha! Demons aren’t immortals; naturally, they have strong emotions of greed, anger, and delusion; once you find the right medicine, there’s no demon that can’t be bought." Zhong Yingui, eyes dull and vacant, laughed foolishly, "Qian Xiaoyu has bought through several times already.

Seven days ago, Alliance Leader Lan found out that the former Deputy Director of the Inspection Department, Fang Hao, sold alliance intelligence and privately stole a large quantity of Immortal Jade belonging to the alliance, causing great loss.

In a fit of anger, he was exiled into the array of the power of the Celestial Dao’s remnants.

Fang Hao and Qian Xiaoyu were close friends, so he bribed Law Enforcement Hall officers Du Zhaosheng and his subordinates Zhai Guangyu, Xiao Lin, etc., leaving a corner in the beast trap array, then Qian Xiaoyu rescued him.

If he hadn’t real skills, how could I foolishly offer tributes monthly? I’m not stupid, I have my ways..."

Du Li felt faint again, the Law Enforcement Hall is implicated now!

Gao Yi immediately pledged loyalty, "Please, Alliance Leader Du, observe wisely. I have never been associated with any steward from market, Commerce Association, etc. Though Du Zhaosheng and I are both officers, we belong to different departments and are not familiar. My loyalty to the alliance stands as a testimony, willing to undergo any method of scrutiny!"

"I know you well, the innocent need not worry." Du Li spoke reassuringly, though inside, he’d already been chilled several times.

His trusted Ye Fan was able to betray under his nose, now he trusted no one at all!

The Distinguishing Heart Realm hadn’t been fully repaired, and Mr. Jiang...

Oh, what was it? Mr. Jiang mentioned the presence of evil cultivators within the Demon Realm Alliance last time. Now that he’s investigating the Leisure Sect members’ affairs, could Qian Xiaoyu be an evil cultivator from the Leisure Sect?

Thinking of this, he ordered Gao Yi to completely seal the interrogation room, for Hu Zhile to continue guiding the interrogation, ensuring the intel Zhong Yingui revealed wouldn’t leak.

Subsequently, Du Li first contacted Alliance Leader Lan Shanying, informing her of the unverified intel, requesting her to control Qian Xiaoyu, Du Zhaosheng, and the others;

And then used the Communication Stone to contact Jiang Yuan, "Mr. Jiang, any progress in the investigation of the Leisure Sect evil cultivators?"