Chapter 966: Interrogation
Led by the burly Flag Master, the two of them walked deep into Cangtian Valley and arrived at the shore of a rocky lake.
"Splash—"
On the surface of the rocky lake, a red mist drifted, coalescing into a divine phantom shadow dozens of feet tall. It had a humanoid body but bore two heads, appearing somewhat ferocious.
"Greetings, Vice Palace Master Yao."
The burly Flag Master immediately knelt on one knee, bowing respectfully to the strange phantom shadow in the lake.
Although the Dragon-Locking Chain was bound to his body, Zhang Ruochen still followed suit and bowed.
The Netherword Heavenly Palace had two Vice Palace Masters, who had rarely shown themselves and were undoubtedly true major figures of the Blood God Sect.
Yao Sheng was one of those two Vice Palace Masters.
That massive phantom shadow was a Sacred Soul avatar of Yao Sheng, floating above the water, inhaling and exhaling clouds and mist.
From the sockets of its four eyes surged four beams of purple-black evil light, crossing the rocky lake and landing simultaneously on Zhang Ruochen.
An overwhelming and majestic Sacred Might pressed down from all directions, as if trying to crush Zhang Ruochen to the ground.
This was a form of intimidation, meant to suppress Zhang Ruochen's Sacred Soul.
If Zhang Ruochen harbored guilt in his heart, he would feel fear and be unable to lie. Even if he did lie, he would reveal flaws.
Vice Palace Master Yao began the questioning: "On the day the Divine Son died, did you lead a team of Flag Bearers out of the camp and head to Luofeng Mountain?"
"What... the Divine Son has fallen?"
Zhang Ruochen feigned ignorance, while also acting extremely weak, his legs trembling incessantly.
"You don't need to know about this matter; just answer my questions directly."
The voice was quite forceful.
Zhang Ruochen, as if truly suppressed by the Sacred Might, stammered, "Yes, subordinate did go to Luofeng Mountain."
"What for?"
"Boundless Flag King ordered subordinate to go to Luofeng Mountain to eliminate blood beasts. It was said to be an order from the Vice Palace Master."
In the rocky lake, that massive two-headed Sacred Shadow paused briefly, then snorted coldly: "Neither of the two Vice Palace Masters gave such an order."
"How is that possible?"
Zhang Ruochen looked extremely shocked and said, "Vice Palace Master, subordinate's words just now were absolutely not a single lie. If you don't believe me, I can confront Boundless Flag King face to face right now."
Vice Palace Master Yao's voice rang out again: "On the day you went to Luofeng Mountain, Zhao Wuliang also went missing and has yet to appear."
Zhang Ruochen showed an even more puzzled expression, panicking as he said, "Vice Palace Master, please investigate thoroughly. Subordinate has nothing to do with the Divine Son's death."
"As long as you answer my questions truthfully, I naturally won't wrong an innocent person."
Above the rocky lake, the other head of the two-headed Sacred Shadow opened its mouth and let out a rather pleasant female voice: "Gu Linfeng, since you went to Luofeng Mountain to eliminate blood beasts, why did all the Flag Bearers you took with you die to the last man, while you went missing for several days? Where did you go during those days?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "When subordinate arrived at Luofeng Mountain, we were ambushed. All the Flag Bearers were killed by a formation. Subordinate barely escaped the formation with his life and fled deep into Juegu Snow Mountain."
"While breaking the formation, subordinate was severely injured and had no idea where I fled to, eventually losing consciousness."
"When I woke up, I didn't know how many days had passed. After recovering from my injuries, I immediately returned to Cangtian Valley to report to Boundless Flag King, but I never expected... that so many things had happened in the Netherword Heavenly Palace during these days."
From start to finish, the four beams of purple-black light had been shining on Zhang Ruochen, creating a sense of pressure.
Silence fell around them, and even Vice Palace Master Yao stopped questioning.
Zhang Ruochen tentatively asked, "Does the Vice Palace Master have anything else to inquire?"
"Not for now."
Vice Palace Master Yao's voice remained icy cold as he said sternly, "This matter must continue to be thoroughly investigated to verify the truth of what you just said. Even if you have nothing to do with the Divine Son's death, the fact that all the Flag Bearers you led died can still result in a severe punishment."
The other head let out a female voice: "Flag Master Shufeng, first take Gu Linfeng away and lock him in the Iron Prison Dungeon."
"Yes."
The burly Flag Master glared coldly at Zhang Ruochen and said, "Flag Master Gu, come with me."
After Flag Master Shufeng led Zhang Ruochen away, the two heads of that massive Sacred Shadow in the rocky lake began to converse with each other.
The left head let out a male voice: "What do you think?"
"Gu Linfeng probably isn't lying. This matter is very likely a scheme by Zhao Wuliang. Gu Linfeng is at most a scapegoat chosen by Zhao Wuliang. It's just a pity that Zhao Wuliang's plan probably didn't succeed and encountered an accident; otherwise, Gu Linfeng wouldn't have escaped alive." The right head let out a female voice.
The left head said, "When Zhao Shiqi brought back half of the Divine Son's body, he said they encountered an extremely terrifying blood beast. Zhao Wuliang's plan likely failed because of that blood beast."
"Zhao Wuliang has been missing for so long; he might have already died in the blood beast's belly." The right head said.
Vice Palace Master Yao naturally wouldn't believe that a mere Third-Rank Half-Saint would have the audacity to harm the Blood God Sect's Divine Son.
Even if he had the audacity, he wouldn't have the strength.
Thus, in his view, only Zhao Wuliang had the strength and boldness.
Moreover, all the evidence pointed to Zhao Wuliang.
...
...
The Iron Prison Dungeon was located a hundred zhang beneath Cangtian Valley, entirely forged from refined iron. Some of the prison bars were thicker than a bowl's opening.
The dungeon was densely inscribed with formation runes and guarded by the Third Battalion of the Netherword Heavenly Palace. Not even a Half-Saint, let alone a Saint, could easily escape once imprisoned.
It was said that all Blood God Sect disciples who committed serious crimes were locked up here.
Gu Linfeng, having reached the Half-Saint realm and being a Flag Master of the Netherword Heavenly Palace, was naturally considered a figure in the Blood God Sect and thus a serious offender.
Therefore, he was locked in the deepest level of the Iron Prison—the fourth level.
"Boom!"
Zhang Ruochen struck out with a palm, hitting the iron wall of the cell.
Instantly, dozens of thick black lightning bolts flew out from the iron wall, like dozens of black furious dragons, all striking Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen immediately released his Sacred Soul Domain, blocking all the electric light, but he still suffered some internal injuries.
"What a powerful formation. Even using spatial power, it's hard to break through. There's no way to escape."
Gradually, Zhang Ruochen calmed down, sat cross-legged, and began to think deeply.
"As long as I firmly deny killing Mei Lanzhu, Haiming Dharma King will definitely find a way to save me. This pawn of mine should still be of great use to that old demon."
Zhang Ruochen stopped overthinking, calmed his mind, and began to cultivate.
About three days later, the clanking sound of iron boots echoed clearly through the fourth level of the Iron Prison Dungeon.
Zhang Ruochen opened his eyes and saw a burly figure standing outside the iron bars, clad in full armor, like an invincible war god.
It was Flag Master Shufeng, the top-ranked Flag Master of the Third Battalion of the Netherword Heavenly Palace.
Flag Master Shufeng opened the formation sealing the cell, walked in, looked down at Zhang Ruochen, and said in a booming voice, "Haiming Dharma King personally vouched for you. You're lucky, kid. Let's go! You can leave now."
Zhang Ruochen stood up, brushed the dust off his clothes, and said, "Thank you."
Leaving the Iron Prison Dungeon, Flag Master Shufeng led Zhang Ruochen out of Cangtian Valley and deeper into Juegu Snow Mountain, moving farther and farther away from the Netherword Heavenly Palace camp.
Zhang Ruochen grew alert and quietly began circulating his Saint Qi.
Flag Master Shufeng's cultivation was extremely high; he was a High-Rank Half-Saint with keen Saint senses. He sensed the flow of Saint Qi within Zhang Ruochen's body.
He snorted coldly: "If I wanted to kill you, do you think your meager cultivation could stop me?"
Zhang Ruochen chuckled, retracted his Saint Qi, and asked, "Flag Master Shufeng, where exactly are you taking me?"
"You'll know when we get there."
The two continued forward, their speed increasing, now hundreds of miles away from Cangtian Valley.
Finally, Flag Master Shufeng stopped and said, "We're here."
In the distance was a cliff face covered in red plum blossoms. A cold wind blew, sending bright petals fluttering down.
Haiming Dharma King's thirteenth disciple, Lan Ye, dressed in a black robe with his hands behind his back, appeared sharp and capable. Standing beneath the cliff, he slightly cupped his hands toward Flag Master Shufeng and said, "Thank you, Brother Shufeng."
"It's just a small favor. You two talk; I need to return to the Netherword Heavenly Palace immediately."
With that, Flag Master Shufeng transformed into a gust of wind, sweeping up a large amount of snow, and disappeared among the snowy mountains.
Lan Ye's gaze turned cold and sharp, fixed on Zhang Ruochen as he said, "You sure know how to cause trouble. If it weren't for Master personally intervening, you'd already be dead."
"The Divine Son's death has nothing to do with me."
Zhang Ruochen's attitude was quite firm.
"Still talking back."
Lan Ye's pupils flashed with cold light. In the palm of his right hand, he condensed a ball of cold ice evil energy and struck it toward Zhang Ruochen's heart.
Lan Ye intended to teach Zhang Ruochen a lesson, make him suffer a bit, so he would behave and stay obedient in the future.
This was also Haiming Dharma King's intention.
As Lan Ye struck out, the temperature within several hundred zhang dropped tenfold, as if even the air had frozen.
Zhang Ruochen refused to back down. He formed hand seals, continuously channeling his Saint Qi, and opened the six apertures in both palms.
From his palms surged two patches of blood clouds, both shaped like five fingers.
"Seven-Aperture Blood Nether Palm."
Both palms struck out simultaneously, clashing with Lan Ye's palm strike.
"Boom!"
The powerful palm force shook the nearby cliff face, cracking it with dense fissures.
Some of those cracks were even several feet wide.
Strangely, the plum trees growing on the cliff remained unharmed, with only bright red petals drifting down through the air.
"Haiming Dharma King must be nearby. He loves plum blossoms the most; he must be using his Saint Qi to protect the plum trees on the cliff."
Realizing this, Zhang Ruochen immediately withdrew most of the power from his palms.
Then, he flew backward, flipping twice in the air before landing on the ground.
"Pfft."
A mouthful of blood spilled from Zhang Ruochen's lips, staining the ground crimson.
Lan Ye also took a small step back, looked at his own palm, and then stared at Zhang Ruochen across from him with some surprise.
Just now, although he had only used one-tenth of his strength, it should not have been something a Third-Rank Half-Saint could block.
"How is your Seven-Aperture Blood Nether Palm so powerful? No, it seems you've opened the sixth aperture."
(To be continued.)