Chapter 423: Chapter 35: Sect Trial (Part 3)

Helplessly, the spiritual energy in this region was too scarce. Their consumption from riding flying swords was too great, making it truly unsustainable.

A day and a half later, they were again overtaken by the ox cart.

This time, just as Yao Rui was about to take flight on her sword, Zhou Zheng and Shen Xingchen found their magical power severely depleted. Forcing themselves to proceed might harm their foundations.

Reluctantly, Yao Rui could only watch as the ox cart disappeared into the distance.

"Pah! And they said they didn’t use the back door?"

"As expected from the sect’s direct lineage, they even have a spirit beast pulling the cart for the trial." Shen Xingchen commented with a grim face.

"Why don’t we join with Senior Brother Li? He’s a peaceful person and probably won’t refuse us, right?" Zhou Zheng was willing to bend.

"You can go if you want. I, Yao Rui, would rather exhaust my spiritual qi and magical power than sit in his ox cart." Yao Rui retorted bitterly.

"What does it matter if we reach the Xue Family faster? Those thief cultivators must have already fled, and they may not even find a trace. The speed is meaningless." Shen Xingchen echoed Yao Rui.

...

Nine days after their departure, Li Ji’an and Hu Zaiyi arrived at the Ping Lake Xue Family.

Beside a lake as smooth as a mirror stood the solitary mansion of the Xue Family.

However, at this moment, it seemed exceptionally quiet.

The air was even filled with a faint mist of blood.

"Not even a mosquito?" Hu Zaiyi’s eyes narrowed.

Before long, the two arrived at the ancestral compound of the Xue Family and saw the cultivators of the Law Enforcement Hall standing guard.

"Greetings to True Inheritor Li and True Inheritor Hu." The guards examined their tokens and bowed in respect.

"Hmm." When together with Li Ji’an, Hu Zaiyi appeared meek, but before other sect disciples, he displayed the demeanor fitting of a True Inheritor.

With a slight nod, Hu Zaiyi headed towards the inside of the ancestral compound.

But after just two steps, he realized Li Ji’an was still standing in place.

"Thank you for your hard work. Please inform us of the situation here." Li Ji’an smiled at the guards.

"As you command, one hundred and twenty-three members of the Xue Family are dead. The clan leader and six elders, with the highest cultivation, show signs of poisoning, but the poison has yet to be identified..." The guard immediately explained.

"I wondered why there was such a stench of blood without a single mosquito; it turns out it’s poison!" Hu Zaiyi suddenly understood.

Li Ji’an ignored him. He had sensed the poison as soon as he approached; it was a quasi-second-tier poison, well-crafted, with a subtle scent similar to spiritual energy, making it extremely hard to detect. Even a Foundation Establishment early period cultivator could easily fall victim to it due to negligence,

It was deemed quasi-second tier because its function was not to kill but to assist, merely weakening the magical power of the victim gradually. It took at least a month to take effect, so without experience, one might suspect their own cultivation technique was at fault.

He focused on the guards’ account that supplemented the sect’s records. The Law Enforcement Hall had only provided possible suspect information about the thief cultivators, offering a rough description of the clan extermination here.

"Before the incident at the Xue Family, were there any special events? Like purchasing a Foundation Establishment Pill or other fortunate chances?" Li Ji’an patiently continued to ask.

Although the Law Enforcement Hall provided information on suspicious individuals, it was speculative and not definitive, so it couldn’t be ruled out as misleading.

The sect’s trials for True Disciples were not as straightforward as those for Inner Sect Disciples.

They involved testing the mind and character, worldly experience, interpersonal skills, teamwork, and even personal magical combat.

After all, True Disciples would become elders of various peaks at the very least, and they needed to interact with families, forces in the state, and sects’ holy palaces in other regions.

"Upon our investigation, the Xue Family has had no particular..."

After a detailed inquiry, Li Ji’an offered his thanks before stepping into the Xue Family’s ancestral hall.

In the next three days, Li Ji’an and Hu Zaiyi meticulously surveyed the entire mansion.

Much of the evidence matched what the guards reported.

"It seems the Law Enforcement Hall has not misled us, and they truly haven’t found the culprits yet." Li Ji’an nodded to himself.

Just as Li Ji’an, with a troubled Hu Zaiyi, was about to leave the Xue Family’s ancestral compound, they noticed Yao Rui and her group descending somewhat unsteadily in the distance...