Chapter 47: Breaking Through the Mental Defense
Chapter 47: Breaking Through the Mental Defense
Wealth tempted people’s hearts!
Two of the three Elders had fallen, leaving only the eighteen-year-old Zhu Fuqin to oversee Violet Cloud Town. She alone controlled all the cultivator resources and cultivation resources of the entire Violet Cloud Town, which naturally aroused some people’s desperate greed.
The current town guardian, Feng Yong, though merely a puppet manager propped up by the three Elders, still possessed some strength and connections, which were not comparable to those of ordinary small families.
When the Qin family, one of the three great families, was swallowed by the Zhu Residence, the remaining gray income resources were secretly taken by Feng Yong.
Feng Yong seized the opportunity to develop, quietly breaking through to Third Rank Peak, and his ambitions began to swell.
However, he was not bold enough to think he could contend with a Fourth Grade cultivator—an Inner Sect Disciple of the Xuanxin Sect. So, he turned his gaze to Deer City outside Violet Cloud Town…
But it was beyond his expectations.
Recently, some movements from the Zhu Residence disrupted his plans:
Just as he was secretly deploying manpower to take over Deer City, intending to become the largest cultivator family there, Zhu Fuqin’s trade teams began frequently traveling between the two places.
Immediately, Feng Yong took a desperate risk.
But not long ago, Feng Yong received news that Zhu Fuqin had returned…
He became uneasy and regretful all day long in his residence, aging significantly.
On this day, cultivators from the Zhu Residence suddenly rushed into the Feng Residence to arrest people. The cultivators and retainers in the residence did not dare to stop them.
“What are you doing!”
“The exalted immortal from the Xuanxin Sect wants to see you.”
After Feng Yong shouted angrily, he was immediately silenced by the words of the cultivators on either side and complied obediently.
“Liu Tao pays respects to the exalted immortal.”
While Feng Yong was being escorted to the Zhu Residence, Lu Hangzhi took the time to visit the cultivator Liu Tao. The latter was close to Third Grade cultivation, but in front of a Fourth Grade cultivator brimming with the aura of Spiritual Artifacts, he was fearful and spoke with great respect, occasional awe flashing in his eyes.
“…”
Seeing this, Lu Hangzhi shook his head inwardly.
Liu Tao had cultivated his whole life in isolation, and his mindset remained trapped in that narrow soul, making it impossible for him to achieve anything more in his lifetime.
However, considering that the other party had provided him with the Breath Concealment Art, which had benefited him greatly, Lu Hangzhi always greeted him with a smile and proactively took out a box of Essence Spirit Fruit, making Liu Tao salivate and swallow hard.
“Brother Liu, I came here this time to ask you about some matters.”
“You flatter me, Exalted Immortal. Liu Tao does not deserve such respect.”
Liu Tao quickly stood up and bowed, his tone fearful, saying, “Exalted Immortal, feel free to command. Liu Tao will speak everything he knows without holding back.”
Though he was still pondering what exactly “consult” meant.
“Recently, have you still been in contact with that person?”
“…”
Liu Tao shuddered, as if a demon in his heart had been exposed. His face turned pale, and he fell to his knees with a thud, loudly begging for mercy: “Exalted Immortal, spare my life! I cut off contact with that person long ago, long ago!”
Lu Hangzhi smiled without speaking.
In fact, a few months ago, when he was a servant in Liu Tao’s residence, he had wondered why a mysterious cultivator would come to speak secretly with Liu Tao every so often. Moreover, that person’s aura was very strange, and the temperature around them would drop noticeably when he passed by.
Now he understood…
That was the characteristic of a Ghost Cultivator.
Those who associated with resentful souls and Evil Spirits all day long would naturally form a Yin energy field around their bodies, altering the ambient temperature.
Thinking deeper, he guessed that person was one of the Ghost Cultivators under the Yellow Spring Demon, specifically tasked with gathering spiritual items from nearby Marketplaces to support daily cultivation.
“You really don’t know?”
Lu Hangzhi asked lightly.
Just as Liu Tao was about to lift his head to reply, he heard a “shing” sound—a Flying Sword cut through the air, its Sword Qi gathering and pointing directly at his throat, emanating a murderous aura.
“We do have a good relationship, but this matter concerns the life and whereabouts of my Sister Fuqin and is related to the safety of the Xuanxin Sect’s thousand-year foundation. If you cannot give me a satisfactory answer, I’m afraid I will have to take you to the Xuanxin Sect and hand you over to the Discipline Hall for judgment.”
“…”
Liu Tao’s face turned deathly pale, his teeth chattering uncontrollably.
The Xuanxin Sect’s Discipline Hall!
To an ordinary minor cultivator, it was like a death sentence in the eyes of mortals…
“No!”
“Hangzhi, Hangzhi, please spare me.”
“I truly don’t know the identities of those Ghost Cultivators.”
“Oh?”
Lu Hangzhi laughed.
Liu Tao’s face grew even paler.
“Four months ago, when the powerful experts of the Xuanxin Sect wiped out countless Ghost Cultivators in one go, I never saw that person again…”
“I only want an answer, a satisfactory one. You can continue to brush me off, but remember, a Senior Brother—a True Disciple of the Xuanxin Sect—came with me to Violet Cloud Town. I believe you wouldn’t want him to personally cast the Truth Detection Spell on you.”
True Disciple.
Discipline Hall.
The invisible intimidation and pressure worked together, and Liu Tao could hold out no longer. Knowing that he would have no chance of luck in front of a True Disciple—just the charge of associating with Ghost Cultivators would be enough to execute him—he quickly lowered his voice and stammered:
“If I tell you, Hangzhi, I beg you to let me live. I’m begging you!”
“Fine.”
Lu Hangzhi said:
“I can swear that as long as you give me a satisfactory answer, I will not reveal your dealings with Ghost Cultivators to anyone.”
Cultivators did not make oaths lightly; once broken, their cultivation would struggle to advance, and it might form inner demons in the future.
Hearing Lu Hangzhi swear, Liu Tao finally relaxed a bit, though he remained somewhat nervous. Only after setting up a Soundproof Barrier did he gradually return to normal, quietly disclosing a hiding place of a Ghost Cultivator.
Having obtained the information,
Lu Hangzhi stood up and said:
“If the information is true, my promise will naturally hold. But if the information is false, this day next year will be your death anniversary.”
With that, he left the residence directly, leaving Liu Tao collapsed and limp in the courtyard.
…
When he returned to the Zhu Residence, Feng Yong had already been brought there. The latter was drenched in sweat, clearly showing extreme guilt.
This guy had problems!
At first sight, Lu Hangzhi felt sure of it.
“Rogue Cultivator Feng Yong pays respects to the Exalted Immortal.”
Feng Yong, after all, was the guardian of Violet Cloud Town and had seen some of the world. Despite his guilt, his demeanor and etiquette were impeccable, far surpassing Liu Tao’s.
Once such a person calmed down, his cunning, methods, and stress resistance would be much more troublesome than Liu Tao’s.
Lu Hangzhi had no time to haggle with him. Seizing the moment while the other was unsettled, he took a thunderous approach, ruthlessly attacking his weaknesses.
“A few months ago, Lord Guardian was only at Early Third Grade cultivation, yet now you’ve risen to Third Rank Peak. Where have you been plundering recently?”
“…”
Feng Yong shuddered and repeatedly said he wouldn’t dare.
“Hmph.”
Lu Hangzhi continued to strike while the iron was hot, sneering coldly, “I’ve long heard about the Town Defender’s aptitude in Violet Cloud Town. If it weren’t for the sudden increase in cultivation resources and overnight wealth, how could a position like yours—barely a lucrative job—allow your cultivation to advance so rapidly?”
“Tell me, was the Zhu Residence merchant convoy incident done by you alone, or did you collaborate with the Yellow Spring Demon’s underlings?”
Lu Hangzhi spoke very quickly; as soon as one shocking accusation landed, he threw out another:
“Or perhaps you think a Fifth-Grade Cultivator like me isn’t qualified to question you. I can ask my fellow Xuanxin Sect True Disciple, Senior Brother Qi, to speak with you instead.”
“… I wouldn’t dare!”
Feng Yong was completely terrified.
He had already seen the two Divine Cranes parked behind the Zhu Residence and heard from some Zhu Residence cultivators that a True Disciple was among the visitors. Lu Hangzhi’s confident and accusatory tone left him at a loss for how to defend himself. Guilt-ridden, his face turned pale, and sweat poured down like mud.
However…
Could such a heavy bet, forcing a desperate cultivator to confess so meekly?
Not enough.
With one glance, Lu Hangzhi knew he had to apply more pressure. He turned to the Zhu Residence retainers and others.
“The Xuanxin Sect is a place of reason. I refuse to believe everyone in the Feng Residence can keep their mouths shut. Immediately detain all personnel of the Feng Residence and carefully screen them—note who is present and who is not, and record everything! Those present are to be taken to the prison by the Guard Camp, and Elder Xu will interrogate them one by one. I want to know everywhere they’ve been, everyone they’ve met, everything they’ve done, and every business they’ve conducted over the past few months—each detail must be confessed clearly. As for those not at the residence, order the Guard Camp to issue a notice immediately! Put out a bounty for their arrest.”
“No! You can’t! You mustn’t…”
Feng Yong was utterly dumbfounded.
If the questioning were only about dealings with Ghost Cultivators or the attack on the Zhu Residence merchant convoy, everyone in his residence could stick to the same story—because they genuinely knew nothing about the convoy attack.
Even if Lu Hangzhi or powerful members of the Xuanxin Sect used a Truth Detection Spell, it would be useless.
However!
Lu Hangzhi’s line of questioning was too cunning and ruthless.
He actually inquired about everyone’s whereabouts and the Feng Residence’s business dealings over the past few months.
Once the Feng Residence’s business in Deer City was touched upon, the truth would inevitably come out.
Conflicts with the Zhu Residence’s business led to hostility, and then they took action…
Even without catching the perpetrator, Feng Yong and his entire household could still be condemned.
Feng Yong’s heart sank into despair. He collapsed to the ground and began explaining the whole story, repeatedly insisting that he had only tied up the merchant convoy’s people and not killed anyone.
The entire Zhu Residence was outraged.
It turned out Feng Yong had really ordered the attack.
Feng Yong’s face was deathly pale, and his whole body trembled uncontrollably. He kowtowed repeatedly to Lu Hangzhi, saying, “I confess, I confess everything. I didn’t kill anyone. I know my crimes deserve death, but I beg you to spare my descendants. They knew nothing; they are completely unaware.”
“…”
Lu Hangzhi turned and walked away without a word.
The matter of the merchant convoy was now clear. As for Feng Yong and everyone in his residence, the judgment could only be made by Sister Fuqin; he had no say in it.
Besides…
Feng Yong probably really didn’t know Sister Fuqin’s whereabouts.
Firstly, he lacked the courage; secondly, he lacked the capability.
Could it be…
What exactly had happened to Zhu Fuqin?
As he ordered the guards to take Feng Yong away for strict custody and to seal up the Feng Residence, Feng Yong, still trembling violently, desperately cried out, “Spare me, exalted one! I am willing to offer all my wealth and a Magical Artifact in exchange for my descendant’s only son’s life!”
His words shocked everyone in the room.
All movement halted.
Lu Hangzhi slowly turned around, his expression one of keen interest as he stared at Feng Yong:
“None of the three great families in Violet Cloud Town possess a Magical Artifact. How could a mere Third Grade Cultivator like you have one?”
“Please ask everyone else to leave, exalted one.”
After a moment’s thought, Lu Hangzhi decided to give it a try. He waved his hand, and everyone withdrew from the hall.