Chapter 201
Chapter 201: Suppression
Naturally, Li Mu Sheng would not answer Elder Formless’s doubts. Accepting the Formless Divine Art sent over through the Life Death Talisman, he casually reached out and twisted the elder’s neck.
Having done this, Li Mu Sheng no longer paid attention to the corpse lying on the ground. Instead, he began to study the Formless Divine Art. In earlier times, this was the supreme martial scripture of the Infinite Forms Demon Sect, and even in the Martial World, it was rare to find such a top-tier demonic art.
Of course, Li Mu Sheng’s true interest lay in the peculiar martial techniques within, especially the puppet manipulation methods and the secret art of changing one’s appearance and Qi known as “No Form Is All Forms.” Previously, from the Formless Puppet Art used by the scholar, he had already discovered a way to secretly track others using threads of Qi.
Now, with the complete Formless Divine Art in hand, it was enough to occupy his leisure. Perhaps he could even uncover more intriguing martial techniques.
[But there’s no rush for now. I should first complete my Azure Dragon Cang Ming Scripture. Time is something I have plenty of.]
As Li Mu Sheng contemplated this, a soft meowing suddenly sounded from the courtyard. Hu Rui An and the others glanced toward the sound, eyes narrowing suspiciously.
When they had been manipulated by Elder Formless and had fought one another earlier, the big black cat had vanished without a trace. Now that everything was settled, it sauntered back gracefully, purring as it approached Li Mu Sheng affectionately.
“Hm? What’s it carrying?” Shen An Ran looked closely and saw the big black cat had brought two jade tokens from somewhere. It dropped them next to Elder Formless’s corpse.
The big cat clearly intended to show that these tokens belonged to the body lying there, though no one knew exactly where it had found them.
Hu Rui An’s gaze flickered as he examined the jade tokens on the ground. He then frowned slightly and turned to Li Mu Sheng: “Judging from the inscriptions on these jade pendants, one appears to come from the Han Residence. And the other…if my memory serves correctly, belongs to a First Rank Martial World guest retainer of the Second Prince’s household.”
Explaining further, Hu Rui An said: “Second Prince Li Que has been recruiting martial artists from the Martial World, offering them exceptional benefits. According to their status, position, and strength, they are divided into three ranks. First Rank retainers are exceedingly rare and hold the highest status. Since this man possesses such a token, he clearly had deep ties with the Second Prince. Given that he attempted to assassinate Your Highness, perhaps revenge isn’t his only motive.”
At Hu Rui An’s words, Li Mu Sheng raised an eyebrow slightly. Initially, he hadn’t paid much attention to this matter. But recalling that one of the keys to the Heavenly Revelation Secret Treasury was temporarily entrusted to that very Second Prince, he waved his hand gently and replied, “Don’t worry. I have a plan.”
Hearing Li Mu Sheng’s assurance, Hu Rui An understood it was not appropriate to discuss further. Matters involving the Great Li royal family were not for him to interfere.
At this moment, Wu Shang fixed his gaze on the other jade token, his expression thoughtful. “This man also had a jade token from the Han Residence. Could it be he’s linked somehow to Han Chui Yuan, the general stationed in Sheng Province?”
Before Wu Shang could speak further, a dazzling, scorching blaze of light flashed from the sky, revealing Murong Xiao Ya in her flowing black robes. Her aura was terrifying, crimson hair dancing wildly like flames behind her. Within her deep eyes swirled molten gold and threads of fiery blood-red. She fixed Wu Shang with a piercing stare and asked gravely: “Just now, who did you say was connected to Han Chui Yuan?”
Wu Shang felt his heart tremble under the overwhelming aura emanating from Murong Xiao Ya. The martial Qi within his meridians stalled, and his face turned deathly pale.
“I…” Wu Shang struggled to speak, but the fear surging in his heart left him trembling, unable to form words.
Seeing this, Hu Rui An quickly frowned, urgently calling out: “Young Lady Murong…” He intended for her to restrain her oppressive aura since Wu Shang’s martial cultivation was insufficient to withstand such intense pressure. Facing such terrifying power directly could even harm Wu Shang’s martial heart.
But before Hu Rui An finished speaking, Murong Xiao Ya swiftly turned her head, her eyes aflame with blood-red flames. Instantly, Hu Rui An felt an overwhelming sense of mortal danger surge through him, as if merely the slightest movement would provoke a terrifying sea of fire to engulf him.
“Young Lady Murong, that’s enough,” Li Mu Sheng suddenly spoke.
At that moment, both Wu Shang and Hu Rui An felt the oppressive aura from Murong Xiao Ya lift. Even Shen An Ran and the others, who had been breathless under her presence, finally took deep breaths of relief. The big black cat, previously bristling and hiding behind Li Mu Sheng, quietly poked its head out, curiously watching Murong Xiao Ya with shining green eyes.
Slowly turning to face Li Mu Sheng in the courtyard, Murong Xiao Ya’s molten-gold eyes rotated gently, the fiery blood-red flames flickering between intensity and calmness. After a moment, she closed her eyes, visibly suppressing something within, her terrifying aura gradually receding.
When she opened her eyes again, the blood-red flames in them had noticeably calmed. Murong Xiao Ya surveyed the surroundings, recognizing where she was, then slightly furrowed her brows. She addressed Li Mu Sheng: “Your Highness, the Mei Family indeed has dealings with Fallen God Peak.”
Then, she recounted everything she had learned from Mei Yan Yu and the leader of Fallen God Peak. Listening to her explanation, Hu Rui An and the others exchanged glances, realizing that her account matched Mei Yan Yu’s confession.
As everyone watched Murong Xiao Ya, they saw her petite figure enveloped by the flowing black robe, exuding a refined and otherworldly elegance. Though traces of a frightening aura lingered about her, this moment finally revealed the familiar Murong Xiao Ya they had known.
“Young Lady Murong, you’ve done well. The matter regarding Sheng Province’s Heavenly Brocade Guard is mostly resolved,” Li Mu Sheng gently waved his hand, examining Murong Xiao Ya closely.
“That is good,” Murong Xiao Ya nodded softly, then glanced again at one of the jade pendants beside Elder Formless’s corpse. She murmured quietly, “Han Residence… Han Chui Yuan.”
In that instant, her eyes narrowed slightly, the blood-red flames within no longer able to be contained, suddenly surging upward uncontrollably.