He himself was the Island Master Xinghui; the core Starlight Immortal City was even larger in scale than Fire Cloud Immortal City.

Beside him, Su Yajing asked with a thread of hope, "Hall Master Zuo, are you sure Fellow Daoist Zhao has fallen?"

"Absolutely certain. The Soul Token he left in the Sect has completely shattered."

The last shred of hope was extinguished.

Su Yajing couldn’t help letting out a deep sigh.

This trouble was far too big.

Never mind helping Fellow Daoist Shen out of this mess—she herself would find it hard to get clear.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, Pavilion Master Su, recount in detail all your recent dealings with Zhao Changming."

Zuo Yaoting’s tone grew heavier: "Especially last night. Every sentence, every detail—you must not leave anything out."

"Fellow Daoist Shen, you go first."

Shen Xuan gave a wry smile and整理了一下思绪.

In truth, he didn’t have the slightest good feeling toward Zhao Changming.

Zhao Changming was coveting his wealth; Shen Xuan’s heart was as clear as a bright mirror.

It was just that he hadn’t planned on fussing with Zhao Changming over it.

Disciples of Sect Families seeing a fat sheep and using trickery and force to shear it—this sort of thing was all too common in the Cultivation Realm.

Shen Xuan wasn’t some chivalrous hero who roamed about punishing evil; how would he have the energy or time to eradicate all these rotten scions of Sect Families?

You’d be sowing karmic causes and making enemies on all sides.

As long as Zhao Changming didn’t go too far, Shen Xuan would just pretend not to notice.

After all, he was only borrowing Fire Cloud Immortal City’s Fire Spirit Vein to establish his Fire Technique Dao Foundation.

Once he successfully reached Foundation Establishment, he’d be leaving this place.

If Zhao Changming had even half a brain, he wouldn’t keep pestering him endlessly.

No one expected this man to suddenly fall.

Shen Xuan organized his words and recounted his interactions with Zhao Changming.

In fact, there were only two scenes.

A few days ago, when he was at Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion, he saw Zhao Changming and Xiang Tianyi going upstairs as he came down; he stepped aside and saluted to let them pass.

As for the bidding war at the auction, Shen Xuan simply acted as if it had never happened and didn’t mention it.

The main point was last night’s banquet.

Shen Xuan related everything one by one, exactly as it had occurred.

While he spoke, Xu Can was taking notes, and Liu Chen occasionally glanced at the Heart Questioning Array and the Heart-Illuminating Mirror.

Not a ripple appeared—calm as still water.

Zuo Yaoting’s Divine Sense stayed locked onto Shen Xuan the whole time, without the slightest relaxation.

When Shen Xuan finally finished speaking...

Xu Can handed the record to Zuo Yaoting, and after he finished reading it, passed it to Shen Xuan.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, take a look. Is there any error in this record?"

Shen Xuan swept it with his Divine Sense; it was identical to what he had just said.

"No errors."

"Then please imprint it with your Daoist Technique Magical Power and sign to confirm."

"Very well."

Shen Xuan circulated his Fire Spiritual Power and imprinted his signature on the record.

Of course, the name was Shen Baiwan.

"Liu Chen, take Fellow Daoist Shen down to rest."

Zuo Yaoting gave Shen Xuan a look and said gravely.

"Fellow Daoist Shen is a guest. See that he’s well accommodated; do not slight him."

"Yes."

Liu Chen stepped forward and led Shen Xuan toward the inner residence in the rear courtyard of the Law Enforcement Hall.

In front of an antique-styled little house, Liu Chen stopped.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, this is the guest room of the Law Enforcement Hall. Please."

In front of and behind the little house grew nine red willow trees, lush with leaves and soaring into the clouds.

Shen Xuan smiled and stepped inside.

As soon as he walked in, his body suddenly grew heavy.

All of his Fire Spiritual Power came to an abrupt halt and could no longer circulate.

"Mm, a Red Willow Spirit-Sealing Array. Quite interesting."

This Tier Two Top Grade Array used nine red willows to form an array barrier.

Within it, the Five Elements Mutual Inhibition operated, Spiritual Qi was cut off, and a cultivator became like an ordinary mortal—only able to move within a tiny space, unable to step even half a pace beyond the thunder pool.

Below True Master level, one’s cultivation was completely sealed.

Simply put, he’d been placed under soft detention; his Spiritual Power was stagnated, his cultivation gone.

Compared to wearing shackles and sticking on a Sealing Spirit Talisman, the treatment was only slightly better.

But not by much.

"So be it. Since I’m here already, I might as well make myself at home."

Shen Xuan opened the door, lay down on the bed, and rested in peace.

...

Inside the interrogation hall.

"So, from last night until this morning, Shen Baiwan was with you the whole time, and he had no window to commit the crime?"

After listening to Su Yajing’s account, Zuo Yaoting looked at her, his expression a bit strange.

"That should be the case."

Su Yajing said.

"Pavilion Master Su, you must think this through. This matter is of great importance. Shen Baiwan and you only met by chance. But Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion will be operating in Fire Cloud Immortal City for many years."

Hearing this, Su Yajing fell into thought again.

At her side, Xu Can spoke up, "Pavilion Master Su, could it be that after you fell asleep, Shen Baiwan slipped out in secret and struck from the shadows?"

Su Yajing’s face flushed red.

"No."

"Why not? Just now, didn’t you say that last night, that, uh..."

Xu Can grew a bit embarrassed, paused, glanced at Su Yajing, then continued, "You were very tired, slept for a while, and after you woke up and dressed up, only then did you leave the building with Shen Baiwan?"

"When did Zhao Changming’s Soul Token shatter?"

"At the third quarter of the Chou hour."

Zuo Yaoting answered.

Su Yajing nodded. "I didn’t fall asleep until the second quarter of the Yin hour."

"That late? Impossible!"

"Doesn’t that mean you two were at it for a full two hours!"

Xu Can blurted out.

Su Yajing’s cheeks reddened even further; shame and anger churned in her heart.

"Why is it impossible! Just because you can’t do it doesn’t mean others can’t!"

With that one sentence, Xu Can was humiliated to the point of wishing he could crawl into a hole.

Beside him, Liu Chen, who had just returned to report, covered his mouth and snickered.

Outrageous!

This Su Yajing actually dared to say to his face that he couldn’t do it!

Xu Can opened and closed his mouth, wanting to retort, but not knowing how to argue back.

"Wait a moment!"

Zuo Yaoting seemed to realize something.

"Pavilion Master Su, has that Shen Baiwan cultivated any Body Refining Technique? Is he a Body Refining Master?"

Su Yajing focused her thoughts for a moment.

"He never said so."

"But, he did tell me that he was born with extraordinary Talent and innate Divine Power."

Xu Can suddenly saw the light.

"No wonder Shen Baiwan’s stamina is so vigorous!"

Su Yajing looked toward Zuo Yaoting.

"How do you plan to handle him? No matter what, Shen Baiwan is a friend of mine. If he has nothing to do with the Zhao Changming case, I ask that Hall Master Zuo, for the sake of Ten Thousand Flowers Sect and myself, let him go."