"Now, a mighty figure with Sword Dao attainments far surpassing Desolate Sword has appeared in the capital. That Innate Dao Body might not have been taken by Desolate Sword at all."

"Thinking about it carefully, this person is much more suspicious. I suspect Chief Eunuch Allen guessed the wrong culprit."

"This person might be the true mastermind."

Hearing Eunuch Maldric’s solemn analysis, Eunuch Aldyn furrowed his brows tightly. "Old Maldric, this matter is of grave importance. You cannot just spout nonsense."

"Are you certain?"

A sharp glint flashed in Maldric’s eyes, and he said with absolute confidence, "Old Aldyn, think about it."

"Desolate Sword is a world-renowned Sword Dao Great Grandmaster. If he wanted to seize the Innate Dao Body, why would he use sword techniques? He was already in the capital. Doing that would immediately draw suspicion to himself."

"With Desolate Sword’s strength, even without revealing his Sword Dao cultivation, he could have easily snatched the Innate Dao Body from those two Ancient Ash Clan youths."

"Desolate Sword is no fool. How could he not think of such a simple detail?"

Eunuch Aldyn nodded in agreement.

Previously, only Desolate Sword in the capital possessed the Sword Dao cultivation necessary to snatch the Innate Dao Body from that Great Grandmaster youth of the Ancient Ash Clan.

Even though there were discrepancies, Desolate Sword had been the most obvious suspect.

But today, a Sword Dao expert whose strength far surpassed Desolate Sword’s had appeared in the capital. Eunuch Aldyn gradually began to accept Maldric’s reasoning.

"Old Maldric, continue," Eunuch Aldyn urged.

Eunuch Maldric continued, "Old Aldyn, this person is extremely mysterious. His cultivation is incredibly profound, yet he has never had any reputation in Silver Willow."

"Taking the Innate Dao Body and intentionally exposing his Sword Dao cultivation, it is highly likely he did this to frame Desolate Sword and make him take the fall."

"Furthermore, I suspect this person might not even be from the Sword Sect!"

Eunuch Aldyn completely disagreed. "Old Maldric, Innate Sword Qi can only be cultivated by core members of the Sword Sect."

"This is common knowledge. Aside from someone from the Sword Sect, who else under the heavens could master such pure Innate Sword Qi?"

Maldric did not directly respond. Instead, he posed a counter question. "Old Aldyn, before today, would you have ever believed that someone with such profound Sword Dao cultivation could remain completely unknown?"

Eunuch Aldyn fell silent.

In his view, no peerless powerhouse could truly remain anonymous. Even hidden experts were considered magnificent figures of their eras before going into seclusion.

The appearance of this black-robed guest was truly too bizarre.

Could this person be the true culprit who took the Innate Dao Body? Eunuch Aldyn did not dare make a definitive conclusion.

"Old Maldric, this matter is of grave importance and brooks no carelessness."

"We must return to the Purple Gold Pavilion immediately and report this to the Lord of Silver Willow. Regardless of whether your deduction is correct, this should be decided by His Majesty."

Eunuch Maldric nodded. Having finished their discussion, the two immediately hurried back to the Imperial Palace.

Flying rapidly through the air and confirming no powerful enemies were tailing them, Adam found a remote thatched cottage outside the city and placed Maren Veil inside.

"Miss, this place is a full hundred miles from the Imperial City. It is deep within the mountains and extremely remote."

"The Night Watch Bureau will not be able to find this place in the short term."

"Everything you need for daily life is available in this cottage. Firewood, rice, oil, and salt. It is enough to ensure your survival for a very long time."

Maren felt as if everything were a dream.

Not long ago, she believed she was destined to die in Heaven Block Cell No. 1, eventually turning into dry bones. She did not expect to leave that cage in the blink of an eye.

Her eyes were brimming with gratitude. The moment Adam set her down, she immediately knelt and kowtowed in thanks.

"Thank you, Senior, for your life-saving grace. This great kindness is something this little woman will never forget."

Seeing Maren perform such a grand gesture, Adam immediately helped her up. "There is no need for this."

"I merely acted because I was entrusted by Desolate Sword. If you want to thank someone, you should thank him."

"Senior Desolate Sword? Senior was entrusted by Senior Desolate Sword?"

"That is correct. Desolate Sword is a good friend of mine. Had he not repeatedly requested it, I would not have taken such a massive risk to rescue you from the Heavenly Prison."

Adam never intended for Maren to feel indebted to him.

By pushing all the credit onto Desolate Sword, he could lower her emotional burden of trying to repay her savior.

Maren knelt and kowtowed once more. "Even so, this woman still thanks Senior for the life-saving grace."

"However, Senior, I have a presumptuous request and would like to trouble you with it."

"Speak your mind. If I can accomplish it, I will definitely help. If I am powerless, then my hands are tied."

Having rescued Maren from the Silver Willow Heavenly Prison, Adam had fulfilled his promise to Desolate Sword. He was in a good mood and quite interested in hearing her request.

"It is no trouble. With Senior’s methods, this matter will be as easy as flipping a hand."

Hearing that her benefactor did not reject her outright, a trace of joy flashed in Maren’s eyes.

"Benefactor, I wonder if you could go to the ruined Mountain God Temple west of the capital and look for a young master named Adam?"

Adam! So the favor Maren wanted to ask was to look for him! Adam was curious to see why she was looking for him.

Without revealing his identity on the spot, he continued to ask, "What important matter do you have with this Young Master named Adam?"

"I will not hide it from Senior.’

’This junior once made an agreement with Young Master Adam. Given my current situation, I naturally cannot return to the capital. I can only trouble Senior to find this person and tell him my current location."

"While in Heaven Block Cell No. 1, this junior heard Amos say that the Sixth Heaven and Earth Upheaval will arrive in at most half a month."