Upon hearing You Su’s account, the father and son, huddled together, did not refute it, accepting with a dolorous expression the punishment they were about to face.
The Senior Elder observed this and shook his head with a soft sigh.
"Alas..."
He had lived for hundreds of years, always dealing with malevolent spirits. He had witnessed countless incidents of malevolent spirit havoc, many of which were closely linked to human actions.
If only human hearts were self-content and did not seek to satiate desires or achieve goals through malevolent spirits, who knows how many horrifying tragedies could be avoided in this world.
How could the malevolent spirits blocked overseas by the Divine Radiance Stone alone cause such panic?
"Xiang Wenting, the Ghost Mite and the Dream Centipede are not weak malevolent spirits. Where did you acquire them?"
The Senior Elder looked down with disdain at the sobbing Xiang Wenting, a dignity emanating from the old man that was almost impossible to defy, as if anyone faced with his questions could only respond truthfully.
But Xiang Wenting remained silent, either stunned by fear or resolutely refusing to expose the person behind him.
"Speak up, and you might endure less torment. Think not only for yourself but also for your father. The punishments of the Exorcism Bureau are beyond what humans can endure."
The Senior Elder continued to press, as Xiang Wenting lifted his head, the disheveled hair falling away to reveal his sorrowful face.
"He’s already trying to sever ties with me, so why should I care about him? You needn’t ask, Immortal Master. That person even erased my memories, so even if you dig into my brain, you won’t know who she is."
Hearing this, the City Lord, still embracing his son, felt his heart turn to ashes. Disbelieving, he pushed his son away, as if recognizing for the first time this cold-blooded child of his own.
"If your father hadn’t tried to protect you, he wouldn’t have framed an ordinary woman. What’s wrong with him wanting to sever ties?"
Even the Senior Elder, with a faint hint of anger, looked at this wastrel, Xiang Wenting, wishing he could be etched onto a pillar of shame.
The Xiang Family’s hundreds of years of legacy had been ruined because of him. And his motive, it turned out, was merely to keep an ordinary woman by his side.
"His fault was in initially blocking me and Ying’Er!" Xiang Wenting broke free from his father’s embrace, veins popping in his jaw as he hysterically yelled at him, "As a City Lord, have you not done enough filthy things over the years?! How can you look down on a courtesan? At least she’s much cleaner than you!"
This father and son, regarded as paragons by the outside world, had become bitter enemies, leaving onlookers filled with lament.
"Alas, come back to the Exorcism Bureau with me. There, what should be said or not will naturally be revealed."
The Senior Elder shook his head in resignation, knowing it was difficult to continue the interrogation in this place.
Compared to the person behind Xiang Wenting, what were the Ghost Mite or Dream Centipede?
Since the purification war on Divine Mountain centuries ago, the number of Evil Cultivators in the world had significantly decreased, but this only indicated that each surviving Evil Cultivator was a considerable threat.
Suddenly, the Senior Elder spread his arms, and two thick, golden chains extended from his palms, binding the kneeling City Lord and Xiang Wenting.
Zi Yiyi’s eyes narrowed slightly, being the most experienced among You Su’s group, recognizing the high-level skill the Senior Elder had used—the Primordial Dragon Suppression Lock.
This powerful skill, rumored to subdue dragon descendants, was performed by the Senior Elder without any incantation, proving worthy of being called the pinnacle of skill in the Five Continents, a Celestial Technique Venerable of such terrifying prowess.
"Zi Yiyi, the true Mother of Ghost Mite has yet to be found. Continue overseeing You Su’s examination. Do not worry about the city’s order; I will quickly have Spirit Treasure Sect appoint a new City Lord. The City Lord’s Manor of Mo Ye City, under the Xiang name for hundreds of years, should indeed change."
In the Senior Elder’s eyes, the change of City Lords was as simple as erasing a name from a piece of paper.
"Yes."
Zi Yiyi bowed respectfully, somewhat flattered. She was merely a maid of Hua Jing’s head, yet she hadn’t expected the venerable first seat to remember her name.
The Senior Elder suddenly turned his head, quietly gazing at You Su:
"You’ve done well, but the Ghost Mite is still lurking in this city. Your senior sister is on her way here; she will ensure your safety but will not aide you. I look forward to your subsequent performance."
"Thank you, Senior Elder."
You Su cupped his hands in gratitude.
"In times of necessity, crush the jade bead."
The Senior Elder offered a final reminder to You Su before vanishing like a breeze, along with the two people he took.
In the dim chamber, only You Su’s group of four remained, alongside the withered corpse of Qiao Xiuying.
Ji Lingruo and Zi Yiyi gazed at You Su with complex expressions, never expecting the situation was always under You Su’s control.
Qiao Xiuyun, who had never experienced such intense and twisted scenes, felt like an ant among these Cultivators. She knew nothing, except that her sister had been exonerated, and her family was no longer in mortal danger. She hurried to the coffin’s side, weeping loudly against the coffin board.
Ji Lingruo followed, gently comforting the girl’s back with her hand.
"Why didn’t you ask the father and son where the Mother of Ghost Mite is hidden? Now that they’ve gone, the trail for the Ghost Mite is broken again."