Chapter 137: True Master Xuan Lu

Evil Extermination Bureau.

It was late at night.

The candlelight flickered. Mo Tang was hunched over her desk, brush in hand, reorganizing the details of this major Witch Race case to write a report for the Capital City.

He Liangzhi sat to the side, his eyes closed as he regulated his breathing.

"You’re injured. Go and rest. We’re going to be busy for the next few days."

Mo Tang glanced up at him and said softly.

"I’m fine."

He Liangzhi smiled. "The poison’s been purged. It’s just a flesh wound, nothing serious."

Just as Mo Tang was about to say more, her expression suddenly shifted. With a burst of Blood Qi, her figure flickered, and she was already outside the main hall, gazing beyond the city walls.

He Liangzhi hurried after her.

In the eastern sky above Bluestone City, a white halo had faintly appeared. It was incredibly conspicuous in the night, like a bright moon streaking across the sky, and it was racing toward them!

However, with his vision, He Liangzhi couldn’t see clearly what was inside the white halo.

"Is that... the Body Light of a Golden Core True Master?"

He Liangzhi asked.

After condensing a Blood Qi Golden Core in the Martial Dao, one’s Blood Qi would surge like flames. This was the most obvious sign of a True Master Martial Dao.

As for the path of Cultivation, after condensing a Golden Core, releasing Magical Power would cause a halo of it to appear behind the person. This was known as a ’Body Light’.

The strength of a Golden Core True Master’s Cultivation could be roughly judged by the size of their Body Light.

"Mm."

Mo Tang nodded. "A six-foot Body Light, and his mount is a White-Horned Profound Deer. That must be True Master Xuan Lu, an elder of the Xuanjian Sect."

He Liangzhi said, "I’ve heard of him. He’s supposedly the number one expert of the Xuanjian Sect, over three hundred years old. His three-hundredth birthday celebration caused quite a stir in Jing State, with many people going to offer their congratulations."

"That’s right."

Mo Tang said, "This True Master Xuan Lu has already reached the Late Stage of Golden Core and is quite famous throughout the Wu Dynasty."

"He isn’t coming with good intentions. He must be here for those two Xuanjian Sect disciples."

He Liangzhi frowned. "Mo Shaohan died at the hands of Lu Bai, and Jiao Wei died in his cell. That death is most likely related to Lu Bai as well. This matter will be difficult to explain."

"Mo Shaohan died on the Martial Arts Discussion Platform in a fair fight. He has no one to blame but himself for being less skilled."

Mo Tang said coolly, "As for Jiao Wei’s death, I’ve already written in the report that he died at the hands of Dou Kuan and his wife."

"Understood."

He Liangzhi instantly understood what Mo Tang meant.

No one knew the real circumstances of Jiao Wei’s death.

By pinning it on the Witch Race, no one could object.

Mo Tang was protecting Lu Bai.

Mo Tang’s expression turned doubtful, and she frowned. "But the timing doesn’t add up. Jiao Wei and Mo Shaohan only just died today. How did True Master Xuan Lu get here so quickly?"

Besides, as an elder of the Xuanjian Sect, True Master Xuan Lu hadn’t emerged from the mountain in a very long time.

For him to suddenly descend the mountain for a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator and a Qi Refiner seemed like a bit of an overreaction.

’I have a feeling True Master Xuan Lu has other business on this trip.’

’But I can’t guess what it might be.’

As Mo Tang contemplated how to deal with True Master Xuan Lu, the white halo arrived over Bluestone City. It suddenly halted, then slowly descended toward the End of Bluestone Alley, disappearing from their sight.

"What’s over there?"

Mo Tang frowned.

He Liangzhi replied, "Judging by the location, that should be the Willow Shade Courtyard. I just heard someone say they’d never seen it before, that it was as if it appeared out of thin air."

"Willow Shade Courtyard..."

Mo Tang murmured.

During the day’s gambling match, the owner of the Willow Shade Courtyard had placed a huge bet.

It was precisely that money that had utterly destroyed the Underground Gambling House.

The people from the Government Office had just calculated that selling off the Underground Gambling House, the Drunken Flower House, and the Drunken Flower Tower would be just barely enough to cover the winnings.

That was the only time the owner of the courtyard had made their presence known.

"Ma’am, should we go take a look?"

He Liangzhi asked.

"There’s no need."

Mo Tang shook her head.

Since True Master Xuan Lu wasn’t looking for them, there was no need to present themselves.

’We can deal with it tomorrow.’

-----------------

Willow Shade Courtyard.

True Master Xuan Lu had not come down from the mountain for Jiao Wei and Mo Shaohan. Rather, it was because the life-force signature of an Exotic Beast Mountain Demon he was raising had suddenly vanished!

This Mountain Demon was still a juvenile, an age notorious for its playfulness.

The Mountain Demon couldn’t stand being cooped up on the Sect’s mountain and had pestered him to go down and play. He’d taken the opportunity to let it tag along with Jiao Wei and Mo Shaohan.

The Exotic Beast was capable of protecting itself; even a Golden Core True Master would have difficulty detecting its movements.

But to his surprise, not long after leaving the mountain, something had happened to it!

Frantic with worry, True Master Xuan Lu had immediately descended the mountain to search for it.

He had once practiced a Beast Taming Cultivation Technique and knew some methods for controlling Demon Beasts. He had also placed his own mark upon this Mountain Demon.

Now, he secretly performed a Technique, following the lingering aura of that mark all the way to this location.

The connection between the mark and his senses grew stronger and stronger.

As he passed a certain courtyard in Bluestone City, the sensation reached its peak!

True Master Xuan Lu’s expression was grim as he slowly descended. His gaze swept the area. He formed a hand seal for a Technique with one hand while concealing a Sword Pill in the other, and began his investigation.

The courtyard was extremely quiet and secluded.

There was no one around.

At the entrance to the main hall, there were two females, one grown and one a child.

One was a stunningly beautiful Daoist Nun, dressed in an apricot-yellow Daoist Robe. She sat cross-legged with a duster resting on her arm.

Even with his three hundred years of experience, True Master Xuan Lu couldn’t help but feel a pang of awe at the sight of her, his focus wavering for a moment.

A young Daoist Child, about four or five years old, rested her head in the crook of the beautiful Daoist Nun’s legs. With rosy lips and pearly teeth, she looked drowsy and ready to fall asleep.

Soon, True Master Xuan Lu’s gaze sharpened, and he noticed the corpse of a Demon Beast not far from the pair.

Even though it was skinned, he recognized it at a glance—it was the Exotic Beast Mountain Demon he had raised!

Even though he had considered this possibility, seeing it with his own eyes still sent a wave of fury through True Master Xuan Lu. Killing intent surged, and his expression became utterly foul.

Yun Luo sensed an unusual fluctuation of Magical Power and opened her drowsy eyes. Seeing the visitor, she mumbled, "Someone really did show up."

Normally, she would have gone to bed long ago and never would have forced herself to stay awake this late.

But just a moment ago, she’d heard her Auntie say someone would be coming tonight.

Her Auntie had even taken out the Mountain Demon’s corpse and placed it to the side, which was why Yun Luo had stayed with her.

’Auntie is a master strategist; she guessed right again.’

Yu Daoxuan opened her eyes and looked calmly at the visitor.

Although True Master Xuan Lu’s killing intent was potent, he had, after all, lived for over three hundred years. He managed to remain calm and began to size up the stunning Daoist Nun before him.

She revealed no techniques and her Magical Power showed no fluctuations; for the moment, he couldn’t gauge the beautiful Daoist Nun’s Cultivation level.

Seeing how composed she was, he didn’t dare to make a rash move.

Suppressing his fury, True Master Xuan Lu slowly asked, "And how should I address you, Fellow Daoist? From which sect do you hail?"

Yu Daoxuan said nothing.

Yun Luo stood up and piped, "Who are you? You’re the one who barged into our home in the middle of the night. You should be the one to state your name and sect first!"

"Hmph!"

True Master Xuan Lu snorted. Unwilling to bicker with a child, he said in a deep voice, "This old man is True Master Xuan Lu, an elder of the Xuanjian Sect!"