Chapter 311: Traitor Among Us

While Wang Sheng and his senior sister had been locked in a desperate battle with a corrupt cultivator from abroad, the half-immortal fox had been out treasure-hunting on the snowy plains!

Feeling so helpless that he was torn between laughing and crying, Wang Sheng could only hurry over to see what treasure Xi Lian had found and whether he could get a share just for showing up. The other Daoists followed him as he rushed across the snowy plains to the borders of the Hua Republic.

Though still far from the destination, the half-immortal fox had already detected their presence. She telepathically complained to Wang Sheng's mind.

—

What are you doing, Little Fei Yu? I told you to come with Little Xuanxuan, not with so many old geezers! I only found one or two treasures here!

Wang Sheng found it a bit ironic that she would call the elders "old."

To Wang Sheng's surprise, Yaoyun telepathically joined the conversation.

"

So what if they're older? How can those who walk the path of cultivation be measured based on age? One's appearance reflects their heart; whether one looks old depends entirely on their mindset.

"

Wang Sheng felt awkward, while Xi Lian quickly grew curious.

—Hmm? An esteemed senior is in Fei Yu's Heavenly Abode? Who might you be?

"

That is all in the past. Now, I am merely Fei Yu's sword spirit.

"

These two powerful individuals can talk to each other in my mind? Seriously?

Wang Sheng quickly replied, "

Yaoyun was the one who resealed the Earth Qi Seal and saved the world. She is a Celestial Immortal who now resides in Spiritless.

"

Though startled, Xi Lian soon smiled.

—So you're the Heavenly Court princess... I almost forgot about you! Pardon my manners, Your Highness! I truly admire your noble character. You saved Little Fei Yu even though it would mean being trapped in Spiritless.

Wang Sheng couldn't help but smile. He didn't expect the half-immortal fox to actually flatter someone.

Yaoyun replied, "

He was just lucky, and I didn't want to harm anyone. Anyway, you have a devilish nature within you. You should find a quiet place to cleanse it at its root. Why are you out wandering? Do you not know you could invite disaster?

"

Xi Lian grew so hesitant that she stammered.

—I... Uh...

Wang Sheng smiled. "

I'll explain Big Sister Xi Lian's situation to you later, Yaoyun. For now, could you two change your mode of communication? I feel like a chat lobby.

"

"

I will resume cultivating for now. If danger arises, I will appear to help you.

" Yaoyun faintly replied.

Before Wang Sheng could thank her, Spiritless released a pulse of intent in its sword case, as if saying, "Do not disturb me for trivial matters."

Xi Lian playfully grinned.

—

Little Fei Yu, you should draw and bind more powerful cultivators to your spirit. Perhaps in a few years, the four of us can project our consciousness into your Heavenly Abode and play mahjong together.

Wang Sheng pressed his hand to his forehead and steered the conversation away. "

Big Sister, what exactly did you find?

"

—Bring them over first.

Xi Lian smacked her lips.

—It's actually not that amazing. I found a

sarira

, an ancient scripture, and two ice sculptures.

Though momentarily surprised, Wang Sheng didn't press further. Deep down, he could already guess why Xi Lian was so pleased. She could probably make great use of the

sarira

.

After flying for a few more minutes, Wang Sheng, Mu Wanxuan, Qing Yanzi, the Daoist elders, and the Daoist masters finally sensed Xi Lian's aura in the corner of a gorge. She had deliberately revealed her presence to them.

Following her presence, they soon reached the gorge. Qing Yanzi landed with Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan, while most of the Daoist elders simply hovered in the air to watch. Though it was not openly displayed, the cultivation world still had a degree of prejudice against Xi Lian.

"Here, Little Xuanxuan, Little Fei Yu! Take a look!"

Xi Lian opened her small hand. Resting in her palm was a pure-white

sarira

that was as smooth as ivory. It was glowing faintly.

Wang Sheng smiled. "Big Sister, you might as well keep it. We'll just pretend we never found it."

Xi Lian snorted lightly. "What, am I not allowed to take this

sarira

? I went through a lot to find this place."

Mu Wanxuan tilted her head, puzzled, as if wondering why Xi Lian had been wandering around the snowy plains instead of alongside them.

Xi Lian smiled sheepishly and switched to a small voice. "I've actually just been flying aimlessly."

Wang Sheng grinned. "Did you get lost?"

Resentment filled up Xi Lian's expression.

Wang Sheng took the

sarira

and glanced at it. He then handed it to his master, who didn't really understand much about it either.

Qing Yanzi, whose attention was drawn to the scene behind Xi Lian, did not take the

sarira

. "If it's useful to you, Senior Xi Lian, you should keep it. Finding this place was no small effort. Anyway, those two ice sculptures..."

"They were already here. I didn't make them," Xi Lian replied as she took the

sarira

back and rolled it gently in her fingers. She stepped aside to give the others a clear view of the cliffside.

Several Daoist elders descended from the air. Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan instinctively stepped forward, carefully observing the "ice sculptures."

The cliff and the grass field were coated with thick frost. Frozen within the ice were two young girls facing each other.

They were the key figures in the recent plane crash incident: Gelan Empire cultivators Dale and Shelley! A spell seemed to have been instantly cast to freeze them, locking them in their last position.

Dale was leaning slightly backward, her delicate face showing disbelief and a trace of panic. In her right hand was a necklace with a shattered pendant. Meanwhile, Shelley was gripping Dale's collar with her left hand. She gripped a longsword with her right hand, its tip about to touch Dale's neck.

At their feet lay a scroll painting and an ancient scripture. The

sarira

in Xi Lian's hand had been right beside the two items. These were the three treasures that the two Gelan Empire cultivators were supposed to return to the Hua Republic.

In a deep tone, Qing Yanzi said, "Their poses... It seems like Shelley was about to kill Dale. Little Sheng, what do you think happened?"

Wang Sheng studied the scene for a while before shaking his head slightly.

"Master, one of them is most likely a spy of the Dark Faction, and the other discovered it. Shelley could have noticed something off about Dale and immediately sought to confront her. On the other hand, Dale could have found Shelley suspicious, and Shelley tried to silence her when she realized she had been exposed. Those are just my guesses, though. It would be best to release them and ask."

Qing Yanzi's expression grew serious as he stepped forward. "They know each other. If we questioned them, they'll just give their own version, which will only create more trouble."

Wang Sheng reminded, "Master, it's best not to take everything they say at face value. We can investigate in detail when we return."

Qing Yanzi nodded slightly. He placed his palms on the ice sculptures, sending power through them. Cracks spread across the ice.

"Master," Mu Wanxuan suddenly called.

Qing Yanzi immediately stopped.

She quickly typed on her mooncake-shaped phone, which then projected lines of text with special effects.

The traitor is most likely Shelley. Dale once served as an envoy of Gelan and studied under the Special Investigation Unit. Her background is more reliable, and her family's status should be fairly high.

On the other hand, Shelley seems more like a guardian knight. If Dale were the traitor, Shelley would not have aggressively drawn her sword. She wouldn't have grabbed Dale's collar first to ensure the sword would land either. There should be at least some hesitation.

Mu Wanxuan then looked up to find her master, junior brother, and Xi Lian staring at her oddly. She just smiled calmly and typed a few more lines.

I read a lot of detective manga while you were in seclusion, Junior Brother. Some had excellent logic and art style.

Xi Lian snapped her fingers. "Recommend them to me!"

"

Mm, mm!

"

Seeing the conversation about to drift away, Qing Yanzi and Wang Sheng quickly exchanged a few words and made a decision.

Qing Yanzi made Pure Yang Enchanted Power course through the ice again, turning it into mist and freeing Dale.

The somewhat frail blonde girl breathed in deeply. She then stumbled back and fell to the ground, coughing violently and gasping for air. She had used a form of "primal qi" to protect herself and keep her from freezing to death, but without knowledge of internal circulation, she struggled to breathe immediately afterward.

Xi Lian pointed at Dale, sending streams of Buddhist light into her. Her pale face quickly regained color as she sat in a daze.

When her gaze fell on Qing Yanzi, she visibly relaxed. In perfect Hua Republic language, she said, "Daoist Master Bu Yan, this may be a trap. The Dark Faction has set this up to—Daoist Master Wang Fei Yu?!"

Wang Sheng smiled kindly. "That's me."

Qing Yanzi suddenly pointed at her from a distance. Dale shuddered and slowly fell backward. A force of power then lifted her.

"Little Xuan, take her outside the gorge for now," Qing Yanzi instructed.

"Master, are you trying to determine if she's lying?" Wang Sheng asked.

Qing Yanzi nodded slightly. "

Mm.

One can never be too careful."

Once Xi Lian and Mu Wanxuan had taken Dale away, he stood where Dale had been and began melting the ice around Shelley.

Steam rose as Shelley took a deep breath. Trained in physical combat, she was quick to react. She immediately thrust her sword forward. Halfway through, she saw that the one before her was a middle-aged Daoist master in robes. Surprise flickered in her expression.

Qing Yanzi raised two fingers and caught the sword tip.

Wang Sheng asked, "Miss Shelley, where is Miss Dale?"

"She..." Shelley shook her head and looked around. Her attention was quickly drawn to the Daoist elders and Daoist masters in the air. In the Gelan language, she steadily answered, "When the incident happened, the explosion's shockwave blew me away."

Wang Sheng and Qing Yanzi exchanged a glance. Qing Yanzi shook his head slightly, then flicked his fingers. Shelley's longsword sharply shattered.

"Take her."

"Yes, Master." Wang Sheng moved at lightning speed. Before Shelley could say anything else, he appeared behind her and struck her unconscious with a palm.