Chapter 2718: Not a Fish

Why aren't you replying to my messages? Are you on the road, or have you already started? Or… is it too intense?

After thinking for a bit, "Dou Xiaoer" wrote another crane letter.

"Brother, are you in?"

His crane letter seemed broken. He clearly had over ten thousand blocks of Taixu ring money, yet not a single letter would fly in.

"Dou Xiaoer" felt prickly all over in the spectator seat. Even the about-to-begin unlimited field champion title match couldn't capture his attention.

The matter of Zhongshan Weisun and Bian Qiong – to say it's small, it's just a fleeting romance between contemporary heavenly prides, with an elder generation's Huan Jingxuan inserted in. To say it's big, it involves the diplomacy of hegemonic countries! He, this peculiar man with a heart that embraces the world, couldn't possibly miss this unprecedented big play.

Of course, back on the grassland, Huan Jingxuan hadn't been polite to him. He didn't take this small matter to heart. He stared intently at Bian Qiong, trying to glean some clues from her explanation's expression, but unfortunately, he failed. Bian Qiong was still as charming and enchanting as ever, as if nothing had happened. Huan Zhenjun, who had been the daughter-in-law for many years before becoming the mother-in-law, also showed full composure, chatting and laughing on the stage as if the wind was at his back. His gaze inadvertently shifted to the side, landing on the referee currently presiding, as if lost in thought.

Jiang Manzi was again talking about "avoiding suspicion" and getting off the stage. Clearly, he was holding onto that Mu Fuyao. If he really wanted to avoid suspicion, why not be the referee and let me do it! They say Chu country is a place where ghosts and gods are greatly prosperous. These individual Youming deities truly have no eyesight. Isn't Fenggu a very good place to live?

Just as he was thinking, Jiang Manzi, dressed in a flamboyant display and slowly walking off the martial arts stage, suddenly lifted his eyes and looked over! It seemed that even through the projection of the Taixu illusion realm, he still caught this burning gaze! "Dou Xiaoer" quickly lowered his head, covering his face and adopting a thoughtful posture.

After a good while, he only peeked at the stage through his fingers. The unlimited field's champion title struggle had already begun. Zuo Guangshu and Wu Yu were locked in battle. Jiang Manzi, having already walked off the stage, naturally no longer appeared in the match projection of the Taixu illusion realm.

He thought for a bit and simply exited the Taixu illusion realm as well. Then, through the Zhanghua letter path, he wrote a letter to the real Dou Xiaoer.

"Under the great trend today, great powers contend, and only Jing and Mu in the northern border are worth worrying about! There is a major matter that will influence the progress of all directions. I wonder if my wise brother is interested?"

During the Yellow River Meeting, Chu country's heavenly prides went to war at Guanhe Terrace, and the Zhanghua letter path also connected here. Sending a letter was not as troublesome as in the Taixu illusion realm, and the advantage lay in not needing to reveal his Taixu illusion realm identity. Zhongshan Weisun not replying to his letter didn't matter. It was certain that he had gone to find Bian Qiong. Just look at that gaze he had towards Bian Qiong, similar to wanting to devour her alive. Taixu Pavilion members definitely had a way to lock onto the reality position of Taixu travelers, especially since Bian Qiong was still explaining the match in the Taixu illusion realm.

He initially planned to find Jiang Manzi to ask for his position, but after thinking about it, Jiang Manzi had a good relationship with the grassland emperor. Who's to say he didn't want to see this lively spectacle and had already gone ahead to persuade and act as a good person?

It still had to be Dou Zhao. This bastard had loved to climb walls and watch other families' lively affairs since he was young...

After waiting for a while, the Zhanghua letter path seemed to be broken as well. He was quite used to this. After all, he was the one asking for help. Zhongli Danye's mouth might scold and blabber, but under his pen, he was still gentle and polite, giving him another chance.

"I originally prepared to contact other people, but after thinking about it, it's better to deal with someone familiar than a stranger. We've known each other since we were young, so there's no need to let others benefit."

A star flashed once in front of him. That was the response from the Zhanghua letter path. Zhongli Yan received this message:

"If you have a fart, let it out quickly, otherwise I'll cut off your letter path authority."

Is he finally anxious? Asking me to reply quickly?

Zhongli Yan was very dissatisfied with Dou Xiaoer, a foreigner, having the highest authority over the Zhanghua Terrace letter path in the Guanhe Terrace area. He had even protested to the Chu emperor multiple times. Alas, the emperor just kept repeating one sentence: "The Reign knows, the Reign will consider judiciously. Beloved minister, go back and wait for a reply."

Zhongli Danye sneered. His reply was still very composed, and he appropriately kept him in suspense for a bit.

"That Zhongshan Weisun from Jing country, he just left the Taixu illusion realm with soaring killing intent. Guess what he went to do?"

Dou Gelao had just finished the Taixu Meeting and was not in the mood to immediately invest in cultivation. Replying to Zhongli Yan's letter was just like playing with a fool – mainly because the constant letters were really annoying.

But upon seeing the content of this letter, he was still a bit startled. It's not that he felt anything particularly in his heart. Although Chen Suan was not an enemy he could defeat, and Zhongshan Weisun had never been someone he regarded as an opponent, they were after all figures among the heavenly prides of the same generation. They all knew each other's names, once shining like a group of dazzling stars, illuminating the present world, and then gradually extinguishing like night lamps. Who could ultimately shine eternally on this path?

Initially, in Abi Ghost Cave, if he, Dou Zhao, hadn't returned, that would have been just one way to extinguish. And how could his experiences these years be limited to just Abi Ghost Cave? Fighting against the Shura Great Lord in Yu Abyss, single-handedly beheading a general on the demon world battlefield, rising and falling multiple times in the disastrous water... It was only after forging this heavenly xiao that his blade light was like snow.

He thus wrote down his reply: "Zhongshan Weisun should be trying to find a way to avenge Chen Suan!"

Zhongli Yan was stunned upon receiving the letter. Avenge Chen Suan? Avenge what? Is Chen Suan gone? How did he go? Wasn't this guy just added to the list of Taiyi Zhenren? This is such big news, how could I not know?

Good old Zhongli, the fire is burning his eyebrows, he's disarmed, yet he's still reluctant to give up power! Even this kind of intelligence, he dares to selectively share with me.

Just as he was gnashing his teeth on this side, a letter flew from Dou Zhao's side again.

"You just said... where did Zhongshan Weisun go?"

Xiong Wen of Ji country is dead.

Of course, he didn't die at Guanhe Terrace. All match participants were under the special attention of the match group, and their safety was directly under the responsibility of Zhenhe Zhenjun – no one would be killed at Guanhe Terrace. He died on the road back to Ji country. Along with him, the Ji country's state minister, state master, ritual minister, the carriage driver who sent them back, and the Ji country soldiers who accompanied them also died.

Although Ji country is a small country, the combat power of its army is not weak. On one hand, as a subordinate country of Dao, they always get some allocated resources. On the other hand, the soldiers of these small countries regularly receive unified training from the Dao country. At any time, when the central empire launches a war that involves the entire country, they are simply conscripted to set out. While they can't be the main force, they can fight supporting battles and provide assistance without a problem. Selecting elites from such an army to form a team responsible for guarding or ceremonial duties is also quite impressive.

Someone saw Xiong Wen leaving Guanhe Terrace for the first time and being shackled. His injury hadn't healed, and he was about to be held accountable by the state – this was the last impression people had of this person.

Xiong Wen was cut into pieces by chaotic blades, his death was miserable. The murderer was suspected to be a Qi person. There were no survivors at the scene, so why say "suspected"? Because in Xiong Wen's tightly clenched left palm, he held a piece of purple cloth corner. Qi people wear purple, and this fabric was also a special product of the Eastern Domain, Yaoguang brocade.

This direct framing made it very convincing. It was as if the Qi people fundamentally disdained to conceal it, simply wanting to ruthlessly avenge Ji country. This small country in the Central Domain, like a weed or a mud pill, dared to act as a vanguard for Jing country and publicly provoke the dignity of Qi country at Guanhe Terrace. Naturally, his death was not enough to regret!

Ji Jinglu hadn't received the news that quickly at first, after all, Ji country was truly too small. If not for a Xiong Wen appearing, Ji country's intelligence wouldn't even qualify to be placed before him. Regarding Xiong Wen's abrupt behavior at Guanhe Terrace, the Ji country monarch had already personally gone to Tianjing City to explain – they in Jing country had been sitting and waiting for news from the beginning. If it was proven that Xiong Wen's provocation of Bao Xuanjing on stage was purely a result of losing his mind, then he might have been handed over to Qi country as an explanation. If Xiong Wen showed enough value, he might not have been protected either...

This time, Chen Suan's death shocked the court and the country, causing Ji Jinglu to set aside military affairs, resign from his explanation work at Tianheng Fighting Field, and take control of the large manpower of Jingshi Terrace and the central prison to personally come and investigate. Actually, his explanation of the unlimited field was invited by Chen Suan's disciples. Unexpectedly, not only did he not earn the money from outside, but his boss was also gone. Before Chen Suan died, he was investigating the news of person demons and how he thought of person demons was because he saw this person called Xiong Wen – so Ji Jinglu came to check on Xiong Wen. It was only then that he discovered this person was already dead.

A small illusion array prevented passersby from seeing and flying birds from being alarmed, so the news didn't spread immediately. But in Ji Jinglu's martial eyes, the place was filled with blood fiends, extremely conspicuous. "Hiss," things were getting more and more complex. This vague feeling of approaching the truth, yet with a mess in front of him, made Ji Jinglu frown. He realized there was a layer of fog deliberately covering everything. "How muddy does this water need to be stirred? How big is the appetite of the person behind the scenes, and how big of a fish do they want to catch?"

He turned around. "Jun Lan, what do you think?"

Lou Yue's fall into demonhood was a devastating blow to Ying Tian Lou Shi. Lou Junlan, who was still being cultivated as a core talent for the next generation of generals in the Military Machine Building, was naturally among the most embarrassed. Her own younger sister was a ruthless assassin from the netherworld, and her own father was a demon lord. She who was once fawned upon everywhere with smiling faces, in one night, everyone avoided her like the plague. Thankfully, the emperor did not extend his anger and even issued a special decree for Lou Junlan, stating that since Lou Yue had fallen into demonhood, she had no relation to the former Lou Daojun. Lou Junlan did not need to be responsible for this. But the emperor's sacred decree could only prevent Lou Junlan from suffering superficial trouble. Her many years of operation in the Military Machine Building were basically destroyed.

Ji Jinglu brought her along when handling this matter, planning to later recommend her to the Dou E army. Such good talent shouldn't be wasted on old matters. Perhaps there was still a path to walk by relying on military merit.

Lou Junlan half-squatted amidst the carriage wreckage, having already examined Xiong Wen's corpse three times. She lowered her head, gazing at the unrecognizable flesh, her eyes gradually drifting far away, as if the clouds were floating higher.

Supreme is not I, standing in the abyss knows the fish. Divine Ability · Zi Fei Yu! Zi Fei Yu means observing the fish to know the joy of the fish! This divine ability could simulate anyone she had seen in her life, copying their wisdom and power. The more she understood, the closer she could get. In the end, she could even simulate everything about the other person, even performing their divine abilities! Of course, a person's heart is separated by their belly, drawing a tiger is difficult, wanting to completely understand a person is impossible. She could only get as close as possible.

At this moment, the character she was simulating was Chen Suan. Chen Suan was already dead, and all the information known about Chen Suan was no longer an unreadable secret to her. Due to the gap in realms, simulating Chen Suan's power would be very difficult for her, but the divine ability Zi Fei Yu originally focused more on "knowing the fish." She was now only simulating Chen Suan's way of thinking, and she believed she had six-tenths of Chen Suan's wisdom.

After thinking for a while, she opened her mouth and asked, "Why was he called Xiong Wen?"

"The ninth person demon, Swallow-Heart Xiong Wen, died at the hands of Jiang Wang and Zhu Weiwu, ending his evil name in Fenglin City. This point is reflected in the investigation book that the Fenglin City Dao Academy handed over to the Zhuang country's national Dao Academy that year. It's a pity that the Fenglin City Dao Academy didn't have much information to report at that time, otherwise we should have a better understanding of Jiang Wang's past..."

Before Ji Jinglu could answer, she said again, "Of course, it's possible it's a coincidence. Other than the name, these two people have nothing in common."

"Swallow-Heart person demon Xiong Wen was an abandoned disciple of the Blood River Sect. Although his nature was bad enough, the kung fu he learned was very crude. It wasn't until he reached Wuhui Valley and was taught by Yan Chunhui that he had some ability."

"This Xiong Wen from Ji country has a very clean background, without any major sect background. However, he benefited from the Taixu illusion realm and only received the inheritance of the Yinshan Sect before this match..."

Lou Junlan was indeed working very seriously. Cruelly speaking, Chen Suan's death was precisely her time to shine. Otherwise, with the abundance of talent in the great Jing, those who fell down often could never get up again. Her father was no longer here, and no one would stand on the shore and give her another chance.

"Xiong Wen of Ji country, this person himself shouldn't have a big problem. Which one of the several Taixu Pavilion members isn't formidable, and those honorable Youming deities are also present. Although the several emperors only descended their Dharma forms, their divine abilities are immeasurable."

"Unless there is a peak expert close to a saint, or even transcendent means, it is absolutely impossible not to reveal a flaw in such an occasion. But isn't it too wasteful to use such means on Xiong Wen?"

"In other words, if such means were used on Xiong Wen, how would that person let Xiong Wen die so easily?"

Lou Junlan slowly walked out of the pile of corpses, leaving no trace of her own. At this moment, she walked with the wind and fog, truly embodying some of Chen Suan's Dao intent. She said, "But Chen Suan was such a smart person. Since he thought of person demons because of this person, he even started investigating person demons—"

She looked at Ji Jinglu. "I'd rather believe they had a connection. There is a certain connection between Xiong Wen of Ji country and the person demon."

Lou Junlan's deduction could be said to have no useful support. The only support was Chen Suan. Believing that Chen Suan didn't do useless things, believing in Chen Suan's wisdom. But it convinced Ji Jinglu.

He stood under this tree by the roadside, its branches and leaves lush like a giant umbrella. While summarizing the intelligence transmitted from everywhere, he lifted his eyes slightly. "Continue."

Lou Junlan then continued. "Before coming here, I went to Ji country. This person Xiong Wen's background is almost without problems. His growth has a clear trajectory, and every step is very clear. There are only two points that raise doubts for a deep investigation. One is his provocation of Qi country at Guanhe Terrace, which doesn't match his usual performance, as if he was instructed by someone. The other, possibly lies in his name."

"Name?" Ji Jinglu looked over.

"Xiong Wen is a name he changed later. Before that, he was called Xiong Bao'er." Lou Junlan was already very familiar with this person's information. "Obviously, this name is more in line with his origin. I didn't find the reason for him changing his name, but the time he changed it was three years ago."

"What's special about this time?" Ji Jinglu asked.

"Jiang Wang became Dao in the autumn of Dao Calendar 3929. In the same year, he contacted Li Yi and Gongsun Buhai, killed into Wuhui Valley, and failed to surround and kill Yan Chunhui. But he didn't retreat because of this. Instead, in Yun country, single-handedly forced Yan Chunhui to change his Dao." Lou Junlan said, "Xiong Bao'er changing his name to Xiong Wen was after this time point."

Ji Jinglu thought of Jiang Wang's reply to Chen Suan and said in a deep voice, "If this Xiong Wen from Ji country is related to the person demon, I think Yan Chunhui needs a 'person demon', not just the name of a person demon."

"Is there such a possibility?" Lou Junlan lifted her eyes and asked. "Someone is using this name to remind others of the existence of person demons?"

Ji Jinglu seemed lost in thought. "You mean, Xiong Wen might not have any connection with Yan Chunhui. But someone knows what Yan Chunhui is doing, so they specially guided Xiong Bao'er to change his name, threatening Yan Chunhui with this to achieve a certain purpose?"

"Maybe it's a threat, maybe it's a reminder. For example, to remind Jiang Zhenjun. He should have a strong impression of the name Xiong Wen." Lou Junlan said, "At least Chen Suan received the message brought by this name."

"What can a name remind one of?" Ji Jinglu asked.

"This is a name that ascended Guanhe Terrace." The sunlight was too fierce. Lou Junlan pulled her Dao robe around her. She tried to think about heavenly secrets, but knew the possibility of success was low, and she might suffer backlash instead. Like Chen Suan, she gently tapped the sword sheath with her finger.

"Yan Chunhui has been missing for a long time. Is it possible he's on the stage?"

"If he is, who would he be?"