"Pavilion Master, Pavilion Master! The interrogation has begun! Master Wu Wangzi is already inquiring about the incident."

Next to Wu Wang's residence, inside that seemingly simple and unadorned warm pavilion which actually hid a rich and luxurious interior, Liu Baiyi, with a purple clay pot in hand, burst into hearty laughter upon hearing the report from his subordinate. He took a sip from the pot's spout and sat cross-legged beside the soft couch.

"I don't believe he can come up with any tricks. Keep probing!"

After a while, another Immortal from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion hurried over.

"Pavilion Master! Master Wu Wangzi has furrowed his brow! He can't find any suspicious details either!"

"Look at that, look at that!"

Liu Baiyi spread his hands wide and turned to a few old men standing beside him, saying with a smile, "See, he's out of options, isn't he? Can that be blamed on us for not handling things properly? He's stumped!"

A few Hall Masters and Vice Pavilion Masters nodded with smiles.

"Keep probing!"

"Yes!"

The errand-running Immortal took the order and left, only to hurry back after a short time.

"Pavilion Master, Pavilion Master! Master Wu Wangzi is asking if there are Immortals with surnames Di, Ke, Jintian, or Fu within our Sect!"

"What?"

Liu Baiyi was somewhat perplexed but ordered, "Go to the Immortal-Mortal Hall and have someone check it out. If there are such Immortals, drag them over to him."

It was all in good fun, but serious business still needed to be dealt with.

"Continue probing…"

"Pavilion Master, why don't we just open a Cloud Mirror to watch directly," suggested an old crone. "So we don't have them running back and forth."

Liu Baiyi clearly wasn't ready to give up on the fun just yet, and with a wave of his hand, he conjured a Cloud Mirror. The mirror revealed the scene inside the Punishment Hall, where Xue Kailong was seen entering alone, saluting Wu Wang with a bow, saying the phrase, "I know this problem."

"Xue Kailong? Quite interesting."

Liu Baiyi smiled and said, "This Young Master of the Xue family, not getting along with Wu Wang, so confidently says that he can clear this matter up. It's unmistakably a taunt at Wu Wang, tsk, tsk, tsk, such a young man…"

"Pavilion Master?"

"What is it?" Liu Baiyi was puzzled.

The old crone frowned and said, "Could you please shut up? We can't hear what they're saying."

Liu Baiyi crossed his legs, curling his lip and raising his eyebrows, but he fell silent, continuing to sip from the teapot in his hand.

In the Cloud Mirror, Wu Wang was seen looking directly at Xue Kailong.

Wu Wang smiled and asked, "Daoist Xue, do you truly have a way to clarify this matter?"

"Indeed," Xue Kailong slowly nodded. "This case appears complex, but in fact, it conceals clues. By integrating all the inconsistencies, one can find the real culprit who acted. My lord, please give me a chance. I have joined the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion with great ambition and heartfelt sincerity, willing to dedicate myself to the duties of the Pavilion!"

Wu Wang was almost moved by these words.

However, skepticism soon crept into Wu Wang's mind. Just as Wu Wang didn't believe Ji Mo would settle down and behave properly, Wu Wang had always felt that a person's nature is difficult to change in a short period of time. Even if this Xue Kailong had suffered humiliation at the Xuan Nu Sect last time and vowed to turn a new leaf, the person before him seemed completely different... Where did his inherent boldness come from?

"Since that's the case, go ahead and try."

Wu Wang announced to those around him, "We all work for the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion, for the Human Domain. Whether it's Daoist Xue or any of the others, if you have any good methods, feel free to propose them. Our Pavilion Master Liu is fair and open-minded, and will certainly provide opportunities for the younger generation to advance. Daoist Xue, please proceed with your questioning. If you can break this deadlock today, you will be the chief contributor!"

Xue Kailong joyfully said, "Thank you, my lord!"

His smiling expression, when seen by others, was brimming with the vitality and confidence of youth, and it wasn't offensive.

In a secluded and damp cave in the southwestern part of the Great Wilderness, a middle-aged man sitting on a stone seat allowed a cold smile to glide across his lips, then resumed his frowning contemplation.

Xue Kailong wasted no time and began to question the dozens of Immortals from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion one by one. The questions he asked were quite accurate, mainly getting the dozens of people to start detailing what they were doing on the day of the incident. This was really just for appearances. Who was he at this moment? One of the Ten Evils! Well, temporarily the leader of the nine, Qiong Qi himself!

Qiong Qi could see the fears lurking in the hearts of living beings and could see through the gaps in their hearts. His favorite thing was to subvert the loyal and good. The pawns that the Ten Gods Hall had placed in the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion were actually Immortal Soldiers and low-level officials, who were insignificant in Qiong Qi's eyes. Such puppets were easily seen through, and he could obtain as many as he wished. But Xue Kailong, a scion of a military family, had the opportunity to enter the higher echelons of the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion, obtaining more critical information! The former was simply a stepping stone for the latter's advancement. Besides, as long as Xue Kailong had contact with the high-level officials of the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion, Qiong Qi would have the chance to glimpse into their Dao hearts. If gaps were found, they could be gradually...

A vicious smile appeared on Qiong Qi's lips as he continued to manipulate Xue Kailong, asking him tedious questions that held no real significance.

Several hours later, in the Main Hall of the Punishment Hall of the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion, Wu Wang sat in the primary seat, by now feeling somewhat drowsy. Inside the hall, there were already hundreds of figures standing, mostly called in to verify the 'activities of the day' of the dozens involved. The surrounding Immortals were all striving to stay alert, with one or two Immortal Soldiers unable to resist bowing their heads and yawning.

Wu Wang, looking at Xue Kailong's mouth, had by now only one question in his heart… He, isn't he thirsty? Did I just encounter a case of real talent? I didn't expect this Xue Kailong to be capable of such feats in an investigation. Unlike me, the Young Master of the Northern Wilderness, who can only employ some "non-reasoning" methods.

Wu Wang glanced at the Crystal Ball inside his sleeve, pondered for a moment, and still decided to secretly observe the Divine Souls of everyone present. If one wants to grade papers, one must at least have the answer key in hand. Otherwise, if I let Xue Kailong guess at random, wouldn't that wrongly accuse the innocent? Praise the Star God.

Wu Wang placed his hands in his sleeves, closed his eyes, and concentrated; everything within the Crystal Ball was projected into the depths of his heart.

Shortly after, Wu Wang found someone unusual among those dozens of people. It was a female Immortal Soldier responsible for patrolling the dungeon. She was sitting among those being questioned, seemingly no different on the surface, her gaze filled with the same worry and fatigue as everyone else's. But deep within the female Immortal Soldier's Divine Soul was a dot of blackness, much like what Wang Lin's Divine Soul had. Having clashed with the Ten Evils Hall many times and having used the blood of Evil Gods extensively, Wu Wang was well acquainted with the patterns of the Ten Evils Hall. A Divine Soul with abnormalities likely meant some kind of soul restriction by the Ten Evils Hall. If I were more cautious, I couldn't directly conclude that this woman was the mastermind behind the dungeon's tragedy, but I could confirm her identity as a spy. Similarly, those whose Divine Souls showed no abnormalities couldn't necessarily be considered clean either. Among those present, is there anyone else whose Divine Soul is abnormal?

As Wu Wang thought this, he slightly turned the Crystal Ball in his sleeve, and a fragment of the scene was projected in his heart.

Hmm? Who is this, why so black, nearly turning into ink…

Whoa!

Wu Wang almost jumped up from his chair!

What the hell?!

Wu Wang abruptly looked up at Xue Kailong's back, who was inquiring about an Immortal Soldier's hometown and family situation.

If you looked at Xue Kailong with the naked eye, nothing seemed amiss; even if you examined him more carefully with Spiritual Sense, there was no sign of anything strange about Xue Kailong's aura. Only! Only now, through the Crystal Ball, using the Star God's Divine Power to observe his Divine Soul, could you see that pitch darkness. The aura of that darkness was rising and surging, transforming into a ferocious beast that threw its head back and roared at the heavens! That ferocious beast, with wings, tiger-like, and marked with patterns—Wu Wang had seen it once before! Qiong Qi!

Wu Wang felt chills run down his spine. He immediately clutched the Crystal Ball and stuffed it into his storage magic treasure. Cold sweat almost broke out on his forehead, but he forcibly pushed it back.

Keep calm, keep calm. Xue Kailong? Qiong Qi? What is this? Could he be controlled by the Evil God Qiong Qi? No wonder he didn't go to the Four Seas Pavilion, where the treatment was good, filled with Fairy Immortals, and where going out for experience meant public expenses for food and drinks, but came to seek promotion in the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion! No wonder, there was an air of boldness in his very bones, an air of boldness from having no worthy opponents in the world, the confidence derived from the Evil God Qiong Qi. I couldn't recall who said it, or in which ancient text I'd read it, but Qiong Qi wasn't like the Evil God Ming Snake, where [the strongest of a ferocious beast clan was elevated to Evil God status]. Qiong Qi itself was a ferocious beast, a strange beast of heaven and earth, and by its own abilities, it became an Evil God of the Heaven Palace! This?

Wu Wang's throat quivered slightly, and his mind raced, but his expression didn't change at all from beginning to end. Xue Kailong himself doesn't have very high cultivation; at the moment, he's only in the Jumping God Realm. But with a strand of Qiong Qi's Divine Soul residing within him, he might be able to self-destruct and injure others.

Wu Wang immediately decided: I must not act rashly for now. First, I have to contact Pavilion Master Liu. The test of acting skills has arrived!

"Ha—Yawn."

Wu Wang stretched in a not-so-exaggerated way, letting out a yawn that made his eyes slightly moist.

He said, "Daoist Xue?"

"Sir, what is it?" Xue Kailong turned and asked.

Wu Wang smiled and said, "Have you found anything?"

Xue Kailong instinctively glanced at the female Immortal with the abnormal Divine Soul and then turned back to Wu Wang, saying, "Sir, I have some leads. Give me another hour, and I should be able to wrap this up."

Wu Wang smiled and said, "This case is complex and baffling. Let's take a brief rest, have some tea to soothe our throats, and continue the questioning later."

"Thank you for your consideration, Sir."

Xue Kailong thanked him with a smile and a bow, adding, "I will continue the questioning. Sir, please rest."

"Then I'll go take a stroll and have some tea."

Wu Wang beamed, "Keep up the good work, the credit for this case won't elude you! Hahaha!"

With those words, Wu Wang stood up, his smile gradually fading from his lips as he turned and headed to a side door not far away. Just before he left, Wu Wang's mouth curved into a slight cold smile, his gaze turning frosty.

'Xue Kailong' certainly caught Wu Wang's expression, and a silent chuckle echoed in his heart; in that distant cave dwelling, the figure bore an even sharper cold smile.

"Won't submit to my intervention? This Wu Wangzi, he really is petty."

After Wu Wang left the Punishment Hall, he felt a genuine sense of relief. I'm not sure if my expression was convincing enough. The Great Wilderness is becoming increasingly ruthless; now I'm even being forced to act opposite an Evil God! I should really focus on my facial expression training later, spend some time practicing in front of the mirror each day... Of course, that's all for later.

Having found the way back to his own attic, Wu Wang leisurely strolled there with hands clasped behind his back, as if he were simply out for a casual walk.

「A short while later.」

He arrived at his attic. Wu Wang turned his steps and headed next door to Pavilion Master Liu's warm pavilion. Act the part fully and thoroughly.

Wu Wang raised his voice, "Pavilion Master, your subordinate has a matter to see you about."

The door opened, and Pavilion Master Liu's voice carried out, "Instead of investigating the case, what business brings you here? Feeling outshone by others?"

"Heh," Wu Wang chuckled lightly, stepping inside.

The threshold of this attic was the limit to which Qiong Qi could probe through Xue Kailong's Nascent Soul.

—Under the influence of Liu Baiyi's Daoist rhyme, even Qiong Qi could not see through it.

Inside the attic, Wu Wang remained vigilant, signaling to Liu Baiyi not to act rashly.

Confused, Pavilion Master Liu said, "What's the matter? You needn't worry here. This small building is secured by my Great Dao; no one can eavesdrop."

"I have a matter that I'd like to discuss with you alone," Wu Wang said, emphasizing each word.

Wu Wang looked at the several elders, his smile apologetic. The elders rose, gave Wu Wang a courteous bow, moved to an adjoining room, and set up several layers of Barriers.

Pavilion Master Liu laughed, "Don't worry, these are ministers trusted by His Majesty. Have you found out something?"

Wu Wang took a long breath, his arms hanging forward, shoulders slumped, his entire demeanor deflating. He walked straight to the soft couch where Pavilion Master Liu was sitting, plopped down next to it, picked up an untouched teacup, and downed its now-cooled contents in one gulp.

"We have a big problem!" Wu Wang said, gritting his teeth.

Liu Baiyi's eyes widened, and he exclaimed, "What? Is my Benevolent Emperor Pavilion so severely infiltrated? Is the Main Hall full of spies?"

"It's not about that," Wu Wang handed the Crystal Ball over, tapping it. "Please hold this Crystal Ball, Pavilion Master, and take a look at Xue Kailong in the Punishment Hall."

"What's with him? Wu Wang, your status is different now. We shouldn't stoop to bickering with a junior… like him…"

Liu Baiyi's speech halted, his thick lips parted slightly as he stood to leap forward.

Fortunately, Wu Wang moved quickly, grabbing Liu Baiyi to restrain him, and urgently said, "It's likely just a strand of Qiong Qi's Divine Soul controlling Xue Kailong. Killing him won't help; we need to plan for the long term! Think long-term, Pavilion Master!"

Liu Baiyi stomped his foot forcefully, cursing, "If it has guts, let it come itself! I'd smash its skull! What skill is there in bullying the young!"

"Yes, yes, Pavilion Master is mighty."

Wu Wang offered a heartfelt compliment and then laughed, saying, "Your Benevolent Emperor Pavilion truly is impressive. Spies from the Ten Evils Hall are one thing, but to have an Evil God personally enter the fray and become an Immortal Soldier! Ha ha ha! Thinking about it, it's actually quite amusing!"

"You're still laughing!"

Liu Baiyi said through gritted teeth, "That Evil God is utterly detestable! Ever since the era of Emperor Fuxi, it's been opposing our Human Domain, harming countless masters! Wu Wang, do you have any ideas? Stop beating around the bush and speak up! Even destroying one of its Divine Souls would feel satisfying to me!"

"What's so satisfying about that? A Divine Soul can recover in just ten days or half a month," Wu Wang said. "If you, Pavilion Master, wish to vent your anger, I could help you plan something."

"How would you plan it?"

"Qiong Qi is skilled at prying into hearts; this fact has been well-known since ancient times."

Wu Wang smiled and continued, "He still doesn't realize he's been exposed. I tried to act convincingly just now, and I've probably deceived him into thinking I will target him next. Actually, it's not just human hearts that have weaknesses; the Dao hearts of Evil Gods aren't necessarily flawless either. Even if Qiong Qi makes no mistakes, Xue Kailong's original disposition will still have some impact."

"Do you mean..."

"Let the two of us put on a play."

Wu Wang pondered for a moment, a few rays of Spirit Light flickering in his eyes, then said earnestly, "At this point, I still can't be sure of Qiong Qi's true nature, but we can adapt as things unfold. If we record everything with the Image Projection Ball, we can seize the initiative."

Full of questions, Pavilion Master Liu asked, "What specifically do we do?"

"Lean in, Pavilion Master."

Wu Wang leaned forward, and Pavilion Master Liu bent down, his ear close, as the two whispered to each other.

So-and-so, such-and-such.

「A few moments later.」

Wu Wang left Pavilion Master Liu's small building, the slight smile on his once somewhat stern face restoring his graceful composure.

A soft sigh wafted from the building, and Pavilion Master Liu's voice called out, "Wu Wangzi, just do your own duty, and don't meddle in the affairs of others."

Wu Wang's expression stiffened momentarily, but he continued on as if nothing had happened, strolling toward the Punishment Hall.

Inside the Punishment Hall, 'Qiong Qi,' catching this scene, pondered. I pretty much understand. The Xue family is, after all, a significant power, and the Pavilion Master of the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion would naturally be somewhat wary of them.

As Wu Wang made his way, 'Qiong Qi' used Xue Kailong's Spiritual Sense to covertly observe him; he caught every subtle change in Wu Wang's expression for careful consideration.

Qiong Qi quickly concluded: 'Though this lad possesses some cunning, he's not much of a formidable foe. After all, he is just a young man.' This just went to show how utterly useless everyone in the Ten Gods Hall was!

Once Wu Wang returned to the Punishment Hall and sat down on the central wide chair, Xue Kailong immediately stepped forward and made a Daoist salutation to Wu Wang.

"Sir, I have found out who the spy is!"

"Oh?"

Wu Wang's eyes lit up as he smiled and asked, "Who?"

"Her!"

Xue Kailong immediately pointed to the female Immortal Wu Wang had locked onto earlier.

The color drained from the female Immortal's face as she quickly stood up, shouting, "My lord! I've been wronged! I'm certainly not a spy for the Ten Evils Hall!"

Wu Wang secretly frowned and said, "Xue Xianbing, do you have a way to prove it?"

The address here had changed to Immortal Soldier.

Xue Kailong chuckled, "It's not just this person; there's another spy here!"

He raised his left hand and pointed to a middle-aged man near the hall door, stating firmly, "That man by the hall door, dare you come inside!"

The pointed-out middle-aged man's eyebrows furrowed deeply as he immediately stepped forward and said loudly, "How can you tarnish my name for no reason! I have shed blood for the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion! How can you slander me so!"

"Xue Xianbing!"

Wu Wang spoke sternly, "This is not a place for you to cause trouble! If they are spies, then state the specifics and present the evidence. Otherwise, I, as the Inspector, will have difficulty defending you!"

Defend? Qiong Qi inwardly chuckled. This Wu Wangzi clearly intends to take the opportunity to make things difficult for me. But today, I'm certain to win.

Xue Kailong took out a mirror from his sleeve and declared loudly, "This is the treasure of the Xue family, the Heart-Clarity Mirror! Have these two look into it, and see if there are demons lurking in their hearts!"

Wu Wang stared at the mirror for a few moments, noticing it was but an ordinary bronze mirror, and he roughly knew what trick Qiong Qi planned to use. Moreover, Wu Wang secretly checked the middle-aged man's Divine Soul with his Crystal Ball; it too was white mixed with black.

"Someone," Wu Wang commanded, "detain these two for now. Xue Xianbing, go and have them look into the mirror."

Two rows of Immortal Soldiers beside him responded with a thunderous affirmation, immediately rushing out to detain the middle-aged man and the female Immortal, bringing them before Wu Wang.

Xue Kailong, holding the bronze mirror, was about to step forward.

Wu Wang said, "Xue Xianbing, if you can't find anything unusual about them..."

Xue Kailong declared loudly, "I will accept the punishment myself!"

"Good! Young Master Xue is forthright."

Wu Wang made a gesture to proceed, his gaze somewhat stern.

Xue Kailong, holding the bronze mirror, stepped forward. Reaching the two, he thrust the mirror directly in front of the middle-aged man's face.

"Open your eyes."

A wisp of black air, hidden from everyone's sight, slipped into the soles of the middle-aged man's feet.

Almost instantly, the middle-aged man trembled all over, his face covered in cold sweat. As he saw the face full of black scales in the mirror, he let out a panic-stricken shout and collapsed to the ground.

"How, how could this be..."

The female Immortal clenched her teeth upon seeing this, but the bronze mirror was already turning towards her, and a wisp of black air also invisibly entered the soles of her feet.

To her eyes only, a fox's face appeared in the mirror...

Her Dao heart was almost instantly shattered. She fell to the ground, sobbing continuously, and said pitifully, "I, I haven't betrayed the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion yet! Weren't those eight people deserving of their fate, my lord? My lord! Spare my life, my lord!"

Wu Wang immediately revealed a stern expression.

Xue Kailong smiled faintly, put away the mirror, and turned to look at Wu Wang, his eyes filled with a hint of anticipation.

"Take these two away! Leave them to the Pavilion Master's judgment!"

Wu Wang stood up, smiled, and said, "Today, Xue Xianbing has the greatest merit. Report this to the Immortal-Mortal Hall for judgment and rewards."

With that, he didn't look further at Xue Kailong and walked towards the side door of the great hall with his hands behind his back.

Xue Kailong, however, bowed with cupped hands, expressing his thanks loudly, "Thank you, my lord!"

Clasped tightly!

The fist that Wu Wang concealed behind his back clenched tightly!

In that distant cavern, Qiong Qi, in human form, raised his head and laughed uproariously, his laughter filled with mockery.

At Pavilion Master Liu's residence, Liu Baiyi held an Image Projection Bead, aligning it with the Cloud Mirror, a zhang in diameter, in front of him, documenting all the scenes it reflected.

「Half a day later.」

A letter of commendation was delivered to Xue Kailong, formally appointing him as a First Grade Immortal Soldier.

Qiong Qi, hidden in the shadows, raised his eyebrows slightly, feeling a trace of delight in this rank advancement.

At the same time, a few 'rumors' spread from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion.

The first: the newly appointed Inspector Wu Wangzi had a falling-out with Young Master Xue of the Xue family, Xue Kailong, and they had come to blows at the Xuan Nu Sect.

The second: Young Master Xue's promotion was suppressed by Wu Wangzi; he should have been promoted to a Third Grade Captain and given a troop to command.

The third: The Benevolent Emperor Pavilion had established a fast track for rank advancement: capturing four spies from the Ten Evils Hall could promote one from First to Second Grade; capturing another eight spies would advance one from Second to Third Grade, and so on.

That night, Xue Kailong muttered to himself, "A total of four plus eight, plus another sixteen spies, will allow me to rise to a Fourth Grade Internal Affairs Officer? And capturing thirty-two more spies will advance me to Fifth Grade, sixty-four more to Sixth Grade, and one hundred twenty-eight more spies to Seventh Grade?"

He subtly sensed and tallied the number of Ten Gods Hall moles in the area.

Not enough for me to ascend to Seventh Grade. Should my sons send over some more spies?

Xue Kailong lay there, resting his arm beneath his head, sinking into contemplation along with a middle-aged man in a distant cavern in the southwestern territory of the Great Wilderness.

Elsewhere, Wu Wang and Liu Baiyi shared a knowing smile, their wine cups gently clinking, both letting out a sly chuckle.

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