Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 473 - 473 0331 This is Definitely Not the Best

Chapter 473: Chapter 0331: This is Definitely Not the Best Choice_2 Chapter 473: Chapter 0331: This is Definitely Not the Best Choice_2 Tens of thousands of cultivators from Wanjie Commerce lined up, passing through the fifty portals under vigilant surveillance of the Ghost God Temple disciples. In order to find the murderer, the Ghost God Temple had spared no expense. When a disciple of the Ghost God Temple is killed, traces beyond the fatal Mosquito Ghost clinging to the spirit could remain. Anticipating that a skilled individual could exorcise the Mosquito Ghost, they activated specialized detection formations at a high cost to determine if a cultivator’s soul was intact. Other methods were also employed.

If they had employed these measures sooner, they might’ve uncovered Qi Tian. As it was, Qi Tian entered the camp without a hitch along with the main force, encountering no troubles.

Jiang Fan and Lu Kui had always seen Wanjie Commerce as prime suspects. Though Wan Xiaolan and Lin Youbi might be unaware, they knew clearly that their over a hundred half-step Gold Core cultivators had perished there. Apart from the cultivators of Wanjie Commerce, no one else could have carried out such a brutal act.

However, despite their relentless watching, not until the last cultivator of Wanjie Commerce entered the camp did they realize that not a single disciple in charge of the portals had found anything unusual about the Wanjie Commerce cultivators.

Jiang Fan, completely disregarding his image as a Gold Core cultivator, squatted down, clutching his head. His hands were buried deep in his hair, scratching incessantly as he muttered, “How could this be? How is this possible?”

Lu Kui too found it hard to accept, but the reality was as such and it had to be accepted. He speculated, “Brother Jiang, could we have overlooked something? Could the native cultivators who contacted us and provided the secret tunnel, claiming to cooperate with us, have laid a trap instead? Once we jumped and fell into it, they impatiently took action and slaughtered our hundred plus half-step Gold Cores?”

Jiang Fan lifted his head. His eyes were red and on his dark face, he looked terrifying like a ghost. “Damn it.”

The short phrase showed a slight change in Jiang Fan’s attitude, which meant he had started to accept this explanation. Otherwise, it would be impossible to explain why not a single cultivator from Wanjie Commerce seemed abnormal from top to bottom.

After Wanjie Commerce, other forces arrived one after another. Each engaged in heated verbal confrontations with Jiang Fan and Lu Kui, but ultimately chose to compromise. Their considerations were essentially the same as Wanjie Commerce – they didn’t want unexpected complications at the crucial time of victory being within grasp, lest all their efforts go to waste.

All forces passed through the entry points guarded by Ghost God Temple disciples to enter the camp. The inspection results, as expected, showed nothing suspicious. The expressions of Jiang Fan and Lu Kui grew darker and darker. Could the murderer who left more than a hundred half-step Gold Cores dead be the native cultivators? Were the native cultivators the ones who ambushed their mine through the secret tunnel?

If so, they wouldn’t have to worry about bearing a big responsibility, but the losses the Ghost God Temple suffered could not be recouped.

At this moment, a disciple came forward and reported, “Lord, the forces that have arrived from Wanjie City have mostly entered the camp. Only two groups have yet to arrive.”

“Who are they?” Lu Kui asked.

“One is the Bear Paw Group, the other is the Ink Flood Dragon Association.”

Jiang Fan and Lu Kui exchanged a serious glance. The Ink Flood Dragon Association is regarded as the only top-tier force in Wanjie City, followed by three first-class forces: the Bear Paw Group, Ghost God Temple, and Wanjie Commerce. Among them, Wanjie Commerce primarily focuses on trade and has great combat powers, but rarely engages in fights with other forces. The Ghost God Temple and Bear Paw Group are more combat-oriented, with the general public regarding the power of Bear Paw Group stronger than the Ghost God Temple, which is indeed the case.

The last forces Jiang Fan and Lu Kui wanted to face was the Ink Flood Dragon Association, followed by Bear Paw Group. Against the former, they stood no chance of winning, while against the latter, they might have stood a chance if they had not suffered the loss of over a hundred half-step Gold Core cultivators. Now, they lacked the confidence.

“Keep investigating,” Jiang Fan gritted his teeth. “Regardless of whether we can beat them or not, we must at least find out who stabbed us in the back and caused us such tremendous losses.”

As they spoke, the large group of Bear Paw Group entered their line of sight. The cultivators from the Ghost God Temple glowered at them, hoping the murderer hides within them, otherwise, only the Ink Flood Dragon Association was left to suspect.

Leaving aside how Ghost God Temple and Bear Paw Group would confront each other, Qi Tian, who entered the camp enclosed by Ghost God Temple with the main force, followed the crowd and found a place to sit. With so many people sitting together and no one to regulate them, people were doing whatever they pleased. Given the chaos, Qi Tian, despite his diligent nature, knew better than to cultivate. Spotting a person selling a type of Spirit Fruit – a specialty of the secret realm, for one low-grade spirit stone per ten fruits, he went over to purchase some. He then took a seat and began eating. The secret realm had already provided him with some Spirit Fruits and he also took over a village of native cultivators along with its local specialties. Moreover, the Heavenly Dao Engine’s storage room held plenty of food, but he didn’t want to arouse suspicion. Many times, one revealed themselves due to lack of attention to detail. At this moment, Qi Tian preferred spending extra money rather than risking exposure.

While eating his third fruit, Qi Tian noticed a team carrying the banner of the National Master Manor passing by the Wanjie Commerce group. Huang Liuyan, with a serious face, led the team. There were several places on her body wrapped in gauze and because of extensive blood loss, her complexion was somewhat pale. Moreover, many cultivators in the National Master Manor also appeared wounded. Evidently, the National Master Manor had encountered a significant ambush and they were fortunate to have survived.

Qi Tian squinted his eyes. Huang Liuyan was a Gold Core cultivator. Even though she suppressed her level to half-step Gold Core, a Gold Core cultivator would always be superior to half-step Gold Core. Given her current strength and cultivation, the need for bandages implied the severity of her injuries. Qi Tian wanted to greet Huang Liuyan and ask her if she needed his help. But, he held back eventually. He hadn’t forgotten that Cheng Daoran, the half-step Nascent Soul in the National Master Manor, regarded Huang Liuyan as a forbidden fruit with several spies around her, openly and secretly. Approaching her rashly wouldn’t help Huang Liuyan much, might even complicate her situation, and put himself in absolute danger. It was certainly not the best option.

Qi Tian continued eating his fruit nonchalantly. Soon, he sensed Wang Na’s aura in the second team from the National Master Manor – the hired cultivators. Wang Na was also searching for Qi Tian, their gazes met, and Wang Na, without a sign of recognition, nodded subtly at Qi Tian, and continued marching forward with the team.

Qi Tian pondered over how to meet Wang Na privately and perhaps, through her, he could learn about Huang Liuyan’s situation.