Chapter 1274: The Former Land of Peach Blossoms

Chapter 1274: Chapter 1274: The Former Land of Peach Blossoms

"Fortunately, we acted swiftly, and soon after the incident yesterday imposed martial law. Then we detained the elder and disciple responsible for inspecting the Hongjun Sword Furnace. That so-called broken Spirit Stone hasn’t been dealt with yet. We checked it and indeed found cracks, but whether it naturally cracked due to the quality or was deliberately damaged, we can’t determine because we are outsiders. This item has been handed over to Lin Daozi for the Spirit Lord’s examination. I think we’ll have a conclusion somewhat later," Wang Wenze said, fanning himself with his hat as he sat down.

"Did Liu Xuanji have anything to say about this?" Pei Yan continued.

"No!" Xiang Zixiong answered this time; he shook his head with a sense of helplessness and said, "Compared to Li Ang, this Elder Liu has quite a temper. Apart from narrating the events that happened last night to us, he refused to answer any more questions. When we pursued further, he said you were the one who caught him and that if we wanted answers, you had to ask him yourself. If you don’t ask, he won’t answer any more questions."

Upon hearing Liu Xuanji’s stance, Pei Yan chuckled, "Now you remember me? What were you thinking before! Ah, it’s also time to see him, but now is not the right moment because I’m waiting for some information. Commander Xiang, you should head back now. Remember, whether it’s that Hongjun Sword Furnace, Elder Yang, the General Elder of the White Deer Institute, or those three peculiar thieves, you must keep a close watch on them. Do not let outsiders near them, and more importantly, prevent them from committing suicide! If any issues arise among them, hehehe! Commander Xiang, it’s not a threat! You better weigh the consequences yourself."

As Pei Yan coldly sneered, Xiang Zixiong felt cold sweat running down his spine. He hurriedly stood up in compliance, turned around to leave and arrange tasks, but he was stopped by Pei Yan to add: "Also, when your Commander-in-Chief Mao comes out of the palace, inform him that I wish to see him for an important discussion. He doesn’t need to come to me; I’ll seek him when the time is appropriate through you."

"Yes!"

After Xiang Zixiong respectfully exited the hall, Pei Yan didn’t immediately act but instead repeatedly watched the footage of the Teleportation Array in and out of the White Deer Institute on his phone. Initially sent by Mei Simiao to urge Pei Yan to wake up and interrogate Liu Xuanji, Wang Wenze, upon seeing this behavior, didn’t hurry him but quietly began to eat dinner, as handed over by his subordinate, opposite Pei Yan.

"Sss—Hmm—!"

Wang Wenze, who was eating with his head down, suddenly heard a sharp intake of breath followed by a muffled hum. He looked up and saw Pei Yan, who had been watching the video, now clutching his left eye, his features contorted with pain. Seeing this, Wang Wenze put down his chopsticks and inquired with concern, "Are you alright?"

"It’s nothing! The seal on my left eye moved! I suspect it’s the reaction from the new Mechanical Eye fusing with Suzi’s soul. This will become more frequent over the next period, and once it calms down, the seal on my left eye will be lifted," Pei Yan exhaled deeply as the pain in his left eye gradually subsided, his facial expression relaxed and showed much relief.

"Rest if it’s necessary?"

"No need for that!" Pei Yan rubbed his eye, stood up, and sighed, "Around this time, information about that Spirit Stone should nearly be sent out from the palace. It’s time to meet that Elder Liu; I have many questions I hope he can answer."

When Pei Yan, led by Wang Wenze, arrived at the temporary detention place for the suspects from last night, he couldn’t help but pause at the sight of the building complex before him, whose scale and luxury rival those of other sects’ branch institutes. In confusion, Pei Yan asked, "What has the Embroidered Robe Envoy occupied here?"

"Oh! You forgot this Immortal Palace used to be under six domains!"

Wang Wenze’s remark made Pei Yan suddenly realize, "Oh! So it’s the annex of the extinguished Peach Blossom Spring Valley?"

"Yes! According to standard regulations, after Peach Blossom Spring Valley lost its Immortal Palace status, new sects should have settled here following victorious sect duels. But Spirit Lord Lin evidently has no such intentions now, so after Peach Blossom Spring Valley was destroyed, all its Teleportation Array were dismantled. The place remained vacant until yesterday when the Embroidered Robe Envoy temporarily repurposed it as a detention site."

As they spoke, they stepped onto the stairs, and the Embroidered Robe Envoy, who had been waiting at the entrance for a long time, immediately greeted them upon Pei Yan’s arrival to guide them inside. The exterior of the building was opulently grand, but once inside, an overwhelming, oppressive solemnity could be felt.

This atmosphere is not to the building’s splendor; luxurious buildings without residents lack vitality but retain a sense of decay and gloom. The now reactivated building complex, repurposed as a cage rather than a residence, adds an air of strife and resentment.

On the way, between corridors and dwellings, checkpoints and posts were ubiquitous, with the Divine Martial Guard and Embroidered Robe Envoy vigilantly guarding the site. Embroidered Robe Envoys often appeared escorting prisoners. Under each pavilion, at least one team of Embroidered Robe Envoy and one team of Divine Martial Guard stood watch. Some areas’ security doubled in numbers, indicating the inmates here are more crucial. As Pei Yan walked past these chambers, screams from within occasionally rang out, heightening the already oppressive atmosphere with terror.

Pei Yan, however, wasn’t bothered by it; rather, he felt slightly at home here. Humming softly while he followed the guide deeper into the annex, the surroundings grew stricter in security. Whereas before their path was unimpeded, they now faced checks, with investigation staff seen assisting at each post.

Further inward, guards outside several pavilions were no ordinary soldiers. A mere probe by Pei Yan prompted immediate reactions from them, fixing malignant gazes upon him. Through this, Pei Yan found these guards, though part of Embroidered Robe Envoy and the Six Guards, were of substantial strength and rank; not mere soldiers but generals, consultants, deputy commanders, town officials, with the weakest being Tier Eight Asura Dao, and at least three Tier Nine Celestial Dao stationed outside each pavilion.

Seeing such a lineup, Pei Yan realized they’d reached their destination. As expected, it wasn’t long before Mei Simiao, informed of their arrival, stood outside a small yard, stepping forward to reproach upon seeing Pei Yan, "Why so late?"

"I’ve analyzed the video thousands of times using artificial intelligence, which took some time," Pei Yan rubbed his still aching forehead in response.

"Oh! Did you notice any flaws?" Mei Simiao’s eyes lit up upon hearing this, lowering his voice with a joyful tone.

"Hard to say! I need to meet those three and test it out before confirming anything. Their matter is not urgent and can wait! Has news about the Spirit Stone returned?"