Chapter 1265: Hongjun Sword Furnace

Chapter 1265: Chapter 1265: Hongjun Sword Furnace

Both sides took a step back to show sincerity. Situ Maocai first took out the Thunder Pattern Pill and had Feng Tianhe deliver it to Pei Yan and explained how to use it. After Pei Yan observed its effects on Yu Xueli, he kept his promise by releasing Elder Wu from his restraints and also released Chao Zimin, who had been previously captured.

Throughout the process, no one mentioned the disciples of the Infinite Thunder Sect, who were the focus of the controversy earlier. At this moment, they were completely forgotten by both sides in silent agreement. After ordering Elder Wu, whose skin was red and swollen from the glue’s pulling and irritation, to be taken inside, Situ Maocai opened the path for Pei Yan and his people to enter for inspection.

With Lin Daozi present to assert authority, the subsequent search went quite smoothly. The Infinite Thunder Sect not only fully accepted the inquiries and searches by the Embroidered Robe Envoy, but even when they proposed to inspect the Secret Teleportation Array in the villa, they only hesitated for a moment before Situ Maocai let them proceed with the inspection.

The Infinite Thunder Sect was very cooperative, and Pei Yan did not press too hard. Originally, the agreed plan was to execute the disciples of the Infinite Thunder Sect publicly, but they were instead ordered to be taken back to the Immortal Palace Guard. While their lives were still forfeit, the move preserved the sect’s dignity.

Situ Maocai understood this, so he tacitly approved of Pei Yan’s approach. However, after Pei Yan finished the search and moved on to the next sect, Situ Maocai did not stay behind; instead, he chose to accompany him. His reasoning was simple: if only he suffered tonight, it wouldn’t be fair. He needed to see someone more unfortunate than himself to feel somewhat balanced.

Yet, the performance of the next sect was surprisingly disappointing to Situ Maocai. With both the Mo Sect and the Infinite Thunder Sect as examples—one positive and one negative—the Clear Wind Talisman Transformation Sect, the third on Pei Yan’s inspection list, made the wise choice. Under the leadership of Sect Elder Heaven-Questioning Talisman, the entrance was opened, and a queue formed to welcome the visitors. They even voluntarily listed out visitors from other sects, providing a list for the Embroidered Robe Envoy to check and take away. Elder Talisman accompanied the entire search without any complaints.

With no resistance, the search proceeded much faster. After finding no major issues, the group marched to the next villa, now with one more spectator—Elder Talisman of the Clear Wind Talisman Transformation Sect.

They believed the next destination would surely have trouble since the root of all disturbances tonight lay with it.

Hongjun Sword Furnace!

Nervous, excited, uneasy, gloating—every person with hidden motives soon arrived at the gates of the Hongjun Villa. The last time Pei Yan came, he hadn’t even seen the main gate before being blocked on the street. This time, Liu Xuanji stood alone at the gate, awaiting a storm to arrive.

"Pei Yan, we did not do this," Liu Xuanji seemed to have aged a dozen years in a flash. The day before, he had been a spirited old man; now, he stood hunched with fatigue lines etched into his face, standing alone at the villa gate to confront the large army, evoking a sense of desolate heroism.

"Elder Liu, you said the same thing to me right here on this street a day ago," Pei Yan retorted mockingly, tilting his head toward where he had once stood.

"Someone has been deliberately sowing discord between us. When you sent someone to ask for the spear manual, although I didn’t meet them in person, I didn’t make it difficult for them to take it from my disciples, and I accepted the gift you sent! Pei Yan, you’re a smart man; you should be able to see the peace offering in this. I, old as I am, have no reason to harm your servants." For the matter to escalate like this, Liu Xuanji knew that whatever he said wouldn’t let him off easily. But he still had to clarify the right and wrong publicly; he wasn’t one to suffer in silence.

"Elder Liu, that spear manual of yours!" Saying this, Pei Yan turned his head, glanced around before ultimately looking at Feng Tianhe. Remembering Pei Yan’s actions in the investigation hall, Feng Tianhe immediately took out the bloodstained spear manual Pei Yan had given to him and handed it back to Pei Yan.

Receiving the spear manual, Pei Yan said nothing more, grasping one corner of the book with his fingers which turned crimson, releasing a high temperature that instantly set the spear manual aflame until it was engulfed in flames. Pulling a half-consumed cigar from his cigar case, Pei Yan clamped it in his mouth, using the burning book to light the cigar, inhaling deeply and slowly exhaling. Savoring the unique aroma of the cigar, Pei Yan coldly declared, "I didn’t read a single word."

Only then did Feng Tianhe understand that the purpose of giving him the spear manual was for him to serve as a witness. From the beginning, Pei Yan had made up his mind not to accept this favor from the Hongjun Sword Furnace.

In the book’s burning light, Liu Xuanji’s face grew increasingly unsightly, as Pei Yan continued, "Elder, personally, I want to believe you, but I can’t do so when, twice, those attacking me used techniques from your Hongjun Sword Furnace. Fine! Let’s set aside the first time; I gave you seven days to find the real culprit. But the second time! In this attack, there was a master whose strength was on par with the various sects’ Grand Elders present; it was precisely their presence that resulted in one of my retainers’ death and another’s serious injury, using your Hongjun Sword Furnace’s killing move! Elder Liu, such an individual would be exceptionally rare in any plane, sect, or organization. Can you still say you don’t know who this person is? Do you think I would believe that?"

Liu Xuanji was left speechless by Pei Yan’s question. An individual capable of touching the pinnacle of the Heavenly Dao would, single-handedly, elevate a sect, and even in super sects like the Six Mansions of the Immortal Palace, there wouldn’t be more than seven or eight. Each is a pivotal figure within their sects, so claiming ignorance of such a person’s existence, not to mention Pei Yan, would invite disbelief from any other sect.

In fact, as early as the first assault on the investigative group, he had vaguely guessed who might be behind it. However, he still couldn’t believe that person would commit such an act. Therefore, after contacting the sect, he instructed them to swiftly investigate that person’s whereabouts. When Feng Tianhe secretly delivered details of the night’s events to him, Liu Xuanji was shocked to his core and could almost confirm who the perpetrator was. But he couldn’t publicly expose such an internal scandal before a large audience.

Seeing Liu Xuanji’s increasingly grim expression, Pei Yan knew that the elder had long suspected the culprit. Without exposing it further, he stamped out the burning spear manual underfoot, sighed, and said reluctantly, "Since Elder Liu cannot recall who the person is, then we will proceed with formalities and search your villa today. Whether or not we find the culprit, let’s finish the search, and then we’ll gather all the sect elders before the Spirit Lord, lay everything out, and let everyone weigh in on who’s right and wrong! Shao An, Xiang Zixiong! Search the villa for people!"

"At your command!" The two leading officers, from the Divine Martial Guard and the Embroidered Robe Envoy, bowed and responded in unison.