Chapter Seventy-Three
"High Lord Lanfeng was murdered?" Ayin was stunned, finally noticing the undried specks of blood on the corner of Hua Shu's crimson wedding robe, and cried out in shock.
"Hua Shu! What happened? What happened to Lanfeng?" At that very moment, Gu Jin appeared out of nowhere, his flying sword slicing through the air as he landed before the crowd.
He stepped past Ayin, adopting a protective stance as he faced Yu Feng, Hua Shu, and the assembled immortals.
Seeing his action, warmth blossomed in Ayin's heart, and she took a step back. She didn't dwell on Hua Shu's earlier rudeness; after all, the news of High Lord Lanfeng's murder was too shocking. She wasn't so immature as to pick a fight over such a trivial matter at a time like this.
Upon seeing Gu Jin appear, the cold severity in Hua Shu's brow eased slightly. She turned her head away, unwilling to recall the scene of Lanfeng's murder.
Noticing the sorrow in Hua Shu's eyes, Yu Feng sighed and said, "Immortal Lord Gu Jin, since you have appeared, allow this lord to explain. Two days ago..." Yu Feng's voice began to recount the events that had transpired at the Heavenly Palace two days prior, continuing until he described how they had followed the trail of the demon fox that assassinated Lanfeng all the way to Great Marsh Mountain.
Gu Jin listened with a deepening frown, while Ayin and Yan Shuang were filled with astonishment and disbelief. They both immediately thought of A Jiu in the mountain, a flicker of worry passing through their eyes. Their expressions did not escape the keen observation of Yu Feng, who felt a stir in his heart, secretly thinking that Great Marsh Mountain indeed harbored secrets.
"As shown in the Mirror of Observation, that demon fox has not left since entering Great Marsh Mountain and remains within the mountain to this day," Yu Feng looked at Gu Jin, his expression grave and sincere. "Immortal Lord Gu Jin, we all know that Great Marsh Mountain would never harbor such a demon, but the fox did indeed enter your mountain. Regardless of how it knew to bypass your Mountain Protection Array, we ask for your assistance in first capturing this demon. We can then question it in detail without delay."
In the face of the fact that the demon fox had fled into Great Marsh Mountain, Yu Feng's words were already extremely tactful.
Faced with such a grave matter, and one that concerned the reputation of Great Marsh Mountain, both Ayin and Yan Shuang silently looked to Gu Jin, awaiting his decision.
Under the gaze of the numerous Immortal Lords and Generals, Gu Jin raised his head and said solemnly, "High Venerable Yu Feng, fellow Immortal Lords, to be frank, there is indeed a nine-tailed demon fox currently within Great Marsh Mountain."
"A Jin!" Yan Shuang cried out involuntarily, unable to conceal her anxiety.
Gu Jin shook his head at Yan Shuang, his eyes conveying reassurance. Ayin comfortingly patted Yan Shuang and whispered, "Don't worry. Since A Jin has spoken, he will definitely protect A Jiu."
This earth-shattering statement left the assembled immortals dumbfounded. Hua Shu's expression changed, a cold anger appearing on her face.
Yu Feng looked surprised but remained far calmer than the others. He looked at Gu Jin and said, "Immortal Lord Gu Jin, how can there be a demon fox in your Great Marsh Mountain? Then this demon fox..."
"High Venerable, rest assured, he is absolutely not the one who assassinated High Lord Lanfeng," Gu Jin said calmly. "This fox is the nephew of the Demon Tribe's king, named Hong Yi, a nine-tailed demon fox. Half a year ago, my junior sister and I went to the Demon Realm to search for the soul of the Little Phoenix Lord. We were trapped in the Nine Nether Purgatory of Purple Moon Mountain. It was Hong Yi who intervened and saved us, allowing us to escape from the God-Slaying Flower. He was injured in his inner core by the God-Slaying Flower. My junior sister is a Water Condensation Beast, possessing spiritual power that can heal inner cores. Therefore, we brought him to Great Marsh Mountain to recuperate. His internal injuries have not yet healed. How could he possibly enter the Heavenly Palace to assassinate High Lord Lanfeng?""Even so, that still doesn't prove he isn't the one who assassinated High Lord Lanfeng," Yu Feng said. "Perhaps he had already recovered from his injuries long ago and was hiding in your mountain. If it wasn't him, how would that person know how to open Great Marsh Mountain's Mountain Protection Array and infiltrate the mountain without a sound?"
"Does the High Venerable remember one thing?"
"What thing?"
"Three months ago, a member of the Demon Tribe appeared at Great Marsh Mountain. That demon also infiltrated the mountain without a sound and severely injured my junior sister. Although it was wounded by my hand, we have yet to find any trace of that demon. Afterward, although Sect Leader Brother repaired the Mountain Protection Array, we never found the reason why the demon creature could open the Mountain Protection Array at will. That is why my two senior brothers lit the Nine Star Lantern to protect the mountain gate." Gu Jin glanced at the nine-star mark in the sky above the Hall of Eternal Life. "There are still five days left in the ninety-nine day period. After five days, when the Nine Star Lantern is lit, no demon tribe member will ever be able to break into Great Marsh Mountain again."
Seeing that this involved the Demon Tribe, Yu Feng's expression turned serious and more grave. "Does the Immortal Lord mean the demon who assassinated High Lord Lanfeng in the Heavenly Palace is the same one that appeared at Great Marsh Mountain three months ago?"
"I don't have absolute certainty or evidence. After all, when that demon fought me that day, it didn't display the mark of a Nine-Tailed Fox Demon. But I believe this is the most likely truth."
"Nonsense! You're clearly shielding that fox! I think that demon fox is that demon creature! It deceived you all, hid in Great Marsh Mountain, pretended to be severely injured by the Water Condensation Beast before escaping, then came to the Heavenly Palace to assassinate Lanfeng. If not for the Mirror of Observation revealing him, as long as he hid in Great Marsh Mountain, who would suspect him?" Hua Shu said angrily. Blaming others for Lanfeng's death, she was unwilling to listen to anyone's words.
Gu Jin understood her feelings at this moment and, remembering that both Lanfeng and she had shown kindness to Ayin, could only speak gently: "Hua Shu, I know you're heartbroken over High Lord Lanfeng's death, but Hong Yi truly isn't the demon fox who assassinated Lanfeng. These past few days, he has been guarding my two senior brothers outside the Hall of Eternal Life, as witnessed by Great Marsh Mountain disciples."
Hearing him softly comfort Hua Shu, Ayin felt a pang in her heart. A surge of cold air struck her chest, and the breath of true energy she had forcibly gathered nearly scattered. Fortunately, Yan Shuang noticed her unusual state and quickly supported her, transferring a palmful of Immortal Power to her back.
Ayin signaled with her eyes to reassure Yan Shuang, telling her not to speak up and distract Gu Jin.
"Qing Yun," Gu Jin turned and spoke, "tell us where Hong Yi has been these past few days."
"Since the Nine Star Lantern was lit three months ago, Demon Monarch Hong Yi has been guarding outside the Hall of Eternal Life, watching over the Sect Leader and Uncle Xian Zhu, never leaving even half a step."
"What about these past few days?" Yu Feng, being cautious, wouldn't overlook the slightest doubt.
"These past few days..." Qing Yun paused, then said, "Four days ago, Demon Monarch Hong Yi felt he was about to advance in cultivation, so he entered seclusion behind the Hall of Eternal Life and hasn't emerged since."
The round trip from Great Marsh Mountain would take exactly four days. Upon hearing this, all the immortals felt deeply perplexed.
"If he's in seclusion, that means none of you have seen him these past few days," Hua Shu questioned, her voice accusatory. "Then how can you testify for him, saying he never went to the Heavenly Palace!"
Qing Yun was left speechless by the question, but Gu Jin waved his hand, signaling him to step back. Instead, he looked toward Yu Feng and Hua Shu. "High Venerable, Hua Shu, disciples of Great Marsh Mountain never speak falsely. When Hong Yi advances, his Demonic Power cannot be concealed. These past few days, there have indeed been signs of his advancement outside the Hall of Eternal Life. This proves he is not the murderer."Yu Feng and Hua Shu looked towards Gu Jin, still wearing expressions of disbelief.
Gu Jin continued, "The Nine-Tails Mark is an ancient demonic beast imprint that only appears when a Nine-Tailed Fox Demon is preserving its life or undergoing ascension. If, as you claim, that demon fox could easily kill Lan Feng in front of everyone and then leave without a trace, it would have had no need to summon the Nine-Tails Mark. Yet it deliberately displayed the unique mark of the Nine-Tailed Fox—wouldn’t that be openly declaring its identity to all? As for the Nirvana Wheel you mentioned..." Gu Jin paused briefly in thought. "To my knowledge, as long as one’s immortal or demonic power reaches the pinnacle and one has advanced to the rank of Demigod, it is possible to manifest magical artifacts. What you saw in the Mirror of Observation might merely be an artifact it conjured, not the true Nirvana Wheel. Everyone in the Three Realms knows that Chang Qin, the tribal chief of the Fox race, is a Nine-Tailed Fox Demon. Hong Yi is the nephew of the Fox race’s king. Although his identity as a Nine-Tailed Fox Demon is not widely known, it is hardly a secret. Once the Nine-Tails Mark appeared, wouldn’t everyone suspect them of plotting against Lanfeng Supreme Lord? If that were the case, why would they have concealed themselves with black mist in the first place?"
"Moreover, given Chief Chang Qin’s temperament, if she wanted to kill Lanfeng Supreme Lord, she would more likely charge directly into the Heavenly Palace with her whip, never resorting to such underhanded tactics as stealthy infiltration and assassination. As for Hong Yi, if someone truly intended to shift the blame onto the Fox race, they overlooked one crucial detail."
"What detail?" Yu Feng asked urgently.
"Although Hong Yi is exceptionally gifted, born as a Nine-Tailed Fox Demon with the Nirvana Wheel by his side, he is only five thousand years old—just reaching adulthood—and currently holds no higher rank than a Lower Lord of the Demon Tribe. With his level of demonic power, how could he possibly infiltrate the Heavenly Palace under everyone’s watchful eyes, breach the seal of the Hall of Imperial Cosmos, and even slay Lanfeng Supreme Lord, who possessed peak High Lord strength, beneath his halberd?"
"That is precisely why I say Hong Yi himself is the best proof—because he simply could not have killed Lan Feng."
After hearing Gu Jin’s explanation, Yu Feng fell into thoughtful silence, finding his reasoning sound. Although what they witnessed in the Mirror of Observation was factual, there were inconsistencies: Why would the demon fox reveal the Nine-Tails Mark after effortlessly killing Lan Feng? Why resort to a weapon resembling the Nirvana Wheel when a single halberd strike could have ended Lan Feng’s life? If this truly was a deliberate frame-up, then the aim was to incite war between the immortal and demon races, dragging Great Marsh Mountain into the conflict. Had Gu Jin not been intimately familiar with Hong Yi’s capabilities and able to promptly identify the flaws and irregularities, they might have already forced their way into the mountain, clashing head-on with Great Marsh Mountain.
Yu Feng, steady and experienced, sensed deeper implications in Gu Jin’s words, sending a chill down his spine. If Gu Jin’s suspicions were correct and someone was indeed manipulating events from behind the scenes, that person was truly sinister and cunning.
Nevertheless, Hong Yi remained the prime suspect. Hua Shu, still unconvinced after listening, retorted, "Gu Jin, according to your reasoning, the assassin in the Heavenly Palace is someone else entirely—someone who not only knows Hong Yi is hiding in Great Marsh Mountain and is aware that his personal artifact is the Nirvana Wheel, but can also open Great Marsh Mountain’s Mountain Protection Array, and even deliberately lured us here." Her voice carried heavy accusation. "Then tell me, if the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon who assassinated Lan Feng is neither Chang Qin nor Hong Yi, who is it? Where in the Three Realms is this third Nine-Tailed Fox Demon?"Seeing Gu Jin frowning in silence, Hua Shu stepped forward, her voice icy. "Can't speak? All of this is your speculation, without a shred of solid evidence. What we saw in the Mirror of Observation is the truth—the one who killed Lan Feng was a nine-tailed fox demon, and it did indeed flee into Great Marsh Mountain. If Hong Yi had planned from the start to use Great Marsh Mountain as cover, then it’s entirely possible he feigned injury or even concealed his strength."
Without giving Gu Jin a chance to defend himself, Hua Shu declared with certainty, "Hong Yi is the murderer. His so-called ascension to Demon Monarch is nothing but a lie to confuse everyone. Open your Great Marsh Mountain’s protection array. I will personally go to the Hall of Eternal Life to capture him and prove to everyone that he is no mere Lower Lord—he is the murderer!"
With a wave of her hand, the divine seal of the Sky-Shielding Umbrella manifested behind her. The peak High Lord-level immortal power and the pressure of the Semi-Divine Artifact enveloped the skies above Great Marsh Mountain.
In Hua Shu’s eyes, the evidence against Hong Yi was irrefutable. She refused to heed Gu Jin’s warnings, especially since he could provide no compelling proof. All she wanted was to drag the nine-tailed fox demon who killed Lan Feng to the Azure Dragon Platform and subject it to the punishment of having its bones ground to dust and its ashes scattered!
Many of the Qing-generation disciples could not withstand this demi-god power. Cold sweat beaded on their foreheads, their knees slightly bent as they struggled not to collapse. If not for Yan Shuang’s protection, Ayin would have long succumbed to the pressure.
The people of Great Marsh Mountain looked at the divine seal of the Sky-Shielding Umbrella behind Hua Shu, their eyes blazing with fury and filled with disdain for her. Even though they mourned the death of Supreme Lord Lan Feng, how could Hua Shu dare to summon the Sky-Shielding Umbrella at Great Marsh Mountain? This was, after all, the Divine Artifact once carried by Donghua Divine Lord, the founding ancestor of Great Marsh Mountain!
As Hua Shu summoned the Sky-Shielding Umbrella, Yu Feng and Jing Lei’s expressions also changed, and they sighed. Hua Shu’s actions were likely to alienate everyone at Great Marsh Mountain.
A cold and regretful glint flashed in Gu Jin’s eyes. He stepped forward, blocking Hua Shu’s path, as his Primordial Spirit Sword drew a trail of light, halting her advance.
"Hua Shu, there are too many doubts in this matter. Hong Yi is innocent. I can allow you and High Lord Yu Feng to search the mountain for traces of that fox demon, but you cannot take Hong Yi away."
Given Hua Shu and the Immortal Tribe’s hatred for that nine-tailed fox demon, if A Jiu’s guilt were truly confirmed, he would undoubtedly die on the Azure Dragon Platform!
Seeing Gu Jin refuse to yield an inch, Hua Shu grew furious. The divine seal of the Sky-Shielding Umbrella behind her grew even more oppressive as she blurted out, "Step aside! Gu Jin, you’ve truly been bewitched by that fox demon. If it could kill Lan Feng today, it could destroy your Great Marsh Mountain tomorrow! Don’t forget what you once promised me. Today, I demand that you fulfill your promise to me. As long as you hand over Hong Yi, everything between us will be settled!"
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