Chapter 73: Visitor from the Immortal Treasure Pavilion

You handed the soul blood to Zhang Qishan, then asked, "Where did you get this broken sword?"

Zhang Qishan, flattered beyond measure, accepted the soul blood and replied, "Replying to Senior, this disciple obtained it by chance at the Trial Battlefield, together with this jade pendant."

You nodded. The jade pendant was very ordinary, usable only as storage space, nothing remarkable.

With this matter settled, you were about to leave when a tremendously powerful aura suddenly appeared above the Spirit Sound Sect.

"Sect Master of the Spirit Sound Sect, come out and have a word!" The voice was grand and booming, shaking cultivators below the Golden Core until their ears went deaf, unbearable to endure.

Jiang Wu raised his head to look at you. After receiving your instruction, he shot into the sky.

Watching Jiang Wu depart, a flicker of gravity crossed your face—only because the cultivator who had just spoken was of Spirit Transformation cultivation!

From Spirit Transformation onward, cultivation was divided into four minor stages: early stage, mid stage, late stage, and great perfection.

And all the many Spirit Transformation cultivators you had slain were, without exception, early-stage Spirit Transformation.

But the cultivator who had come today was a mid-stage Spirit Transformation cultivator!

You did not know whether you could beat a mid-stage Spirit Transformation cultivator. If there was no need, you did not particularly want to try.

A quarter hour later, Jiang Wu returned and looked at you, hesitating to speak.

"Speak. Who has come?" You glanced at Jiang Wu and said flatly.

"Replying to Senior, it is the Law Enforcement Team of the Immortal Treasure Pavilion."

"They say someone killed a Spirit Transformation cultivator of the Immortal Treasure Pavilion in the north half a year ago, and now they have ordered our Spirit Sound Sect to cooperate with the investigation."

As Jiang Wu spoke, he watched your expression. Seeing your face remain as usual, he continued, "Right now our Spirit Sound Sect has already been sealed off. All disciples and Elders are to gather at the sect plaza to undergo investigation by the Immortal Treasure Pavilion."

"You know in your heart what should be said and what should not!" You suddenly spoke up. You knew Jiang Wu already harbored some suspicion.

Jiang Wu was startled and hurriedly fell to his knees. "This junior understands!"

"Mm. You go on ahead. I will follow shortly." You waved your hand, and Jiang Wu left.

You knew things had become troublesome.

After all, you had killed the Spirit Transformation Ancestor of the Spirit Sound Sect only days ago. At this critical juncture, the Law Enforcement Team of the Immortal Treasure Pavilion would easily set their sights on you.

In the entire north, there were only a handful of people capable of killing early-stage Spirit Transformation powerhouses, and you were acquainted with Li Wuyou. Clearing yourself of suspicion would be very difficult!

Once caught, the truth would be exposed sooner or later. After all, to learn the truth, a single soul search would suffice!

It seems I must hide first, lie low for a while. You thought this in your heart. Fight the Immortal Treasure Pavilion head-on? You did not yet have that kind of strength!

This time it was a mid-stage Spirit Transformation cultivator. If you killed him, next time it would likely be a Void Return cultivator!

You did not want to stir up the young and then have the old come, endlessly.

You suppressed your cultivation to the Foundation Establishment stage and quietly arrived at the Spirit Sound Sect plaza.

Here you saw the members of the Immortal Treasure Pavilion Law Enforcement Team: three Spirit Transformation cultivators, and the leader was of mid-stage Spirit Transformation cultivation! Beyond that, there were ten Nascent Soul stage cultivators!

The Immortal Treasure Pavilion really is generous. A lineup like this could probably sweep the Five Great Sects! You thought this.

Without showing any emotion, you came to the ranks of the Inner Sect disciples and underwent inspection by the Immortal Treasure Pavilion Law Enforcement Team.

"Is everyone present?" A Spirit Transformation powerhouse spoke up, questioning Jiang Wu.

"Replying to Senior, aside from those not in the sect, all are present."

The Spirit Transformation cultivator said nothing, merely releasing the Primordial Spirit power of his Spirit Transformation cultivation, sweeping the entire Spirit Sound Sect.

After a moment, the Spirit Transformation cultivator nodded and said, "Begin!"

The ten Nascent Soul stage cultivators moved out, their divine sense sweeping over one disciple after another, as if confirming something.

Sensing several strands of divine sense sweep over your body, you did not mind. Having cultivated the Breath-Concealing Art, unless a late-stage Spirit Transformation cultivator was present, they simply could not discover your disguise.

Moreover, to guard against any mishap, you had even changed your appearance. Even if Jiang Wu wanted to report you, he simply could not recognize you.

Half an hour later, the ten Nascent Soul stage cultivators returned behind the Spirit Transformation cultivators, and one Spirit Transformation powerhouse spoke. "The Spirit Sound Sect has been cleared. Withdraw!"

The Immortal Treasure Pavilion Law Enforcement Team departed. Before leaving, a Spirit Transformation cultivator left behind a portrait, handing it to Jiang Wu.

Jiang Wu took it in hand and opened the portrait to look. His heart gave a violent jolt!

Only because the person in the portrait was exactly the same as you!

The Spirit Transformation cultivator noticed Jiang Wu's oddity and asked, "What, have you seen this person?"

"No, never seen him." Jiang Wu said this on the surface, but in truth he had already begun a secret voice transmission.

You raised your head, looking at Jiang Wu above, eyes narrowed. Every word of their exchange had entered your ears.

"All of you disperse. Those who should cultivate, cultivate!" Jiang Wu returned and dismissed everyone present.

You did not rush to leave. Instead, you went to the Inner Sect disciples' living quarters, randomly selected a victim, and seized his cave residence.

"Behave yourself. In a few days I will let you go." You sealed a Foundation Establishment cultivator inside the cave residence and impersonated him.

You began to cultivate, taking out a Profound-rank zither and starting to practice the Nine Firmament Zither-Sound Art.

Within your cave residence, the sound of the zither never ceased each day. At first it was off-key and discordant, the zither notes noisy, irritating to the ear.

If not for the soundproofing formation you had set up in advance, you likely would have been complained about already for disturbing the peace!

As the number of times you played increased, your technique grew more and more practiced, and the zither notes were no longer so unpleasant.

Even so, you still found it hard to enter the art. The zither notes you produced had only the sound of it, without a shred of power.

"This… Senior! Please, I beg you to withdraw your divine ability!" The Foundation Establishment cultivator whose cultivation you had sealed, Sun Chengwu, truly could not endure it any longer and hurriedly spoke up.

"Ahem." You felt somewhat embarrassed. Having never touched a zither, you truly found it hard to enter the art.

"You, do you know how to play the zither?"

"I do, Senior. Among the Inner Sect disciples, if I claim second, I fear none would dare claim first!" Sun Chengwu said with pride.

You waved your large hand and directly released Sun Chengwu's cultivation. A mere Foundation Establishment stage—he simply could not escape your palm.

"Fine then. Teach me to play the zither!" You tossed over a zither and said.

A month later, your zither skill had risen greatly, and you had finally grasped a trace of the knack.

"Senior's talent, I cannot match!" Even Sun Chengwu, reputed first among the Inner Sect, had no choice but to concede.

You laughed heartily, unable to help but sigh in emotion. Having someone to lead you in really was different!

If you had relied entirely on yourself to fumble through it, you would likely have taken many detours.