Cultivation is just so scientific!

Chapter 182: Chapter 137 Confrontation_2

If it were outside the Sect’s Nine Peaks, breaking through the defensive formation of a cave dwelling might pose a challenge, but within the Sect Formation, the Law Enforcement Hall could request the deployment of the Sect Formation’s power.

With consent from a high-level array master stationed at Dui Peak, the Sect Formation could be activated to forcibly tear open such defensive formations.

However, before Deacon Xu could utilize his authority, the formation of the courtyard in front of them had activated on its own, revealing the situation inside.

Deacon Xu did not walk through the courtyard gate; all the law enforcement monks followed him as they flew down into the courtyard.

The scene inside the courtyard made Deacon Xu’s gaze sharpen; finding four corpses outside was one thing, but this was Gen Peak within the Sect’s Nine Peaks—a place where such a violent major incident had not occurred in many years.

He spotted Yun Ze. Yun Ze had a small reputation in the business world, but he was a stranger in the eyes of Deacon Xu, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Yun Ze was a mess, clearly indicating his spirit root seeds had been destroyed—only profound hatred could drive someone to such extremes.

Deacon Xu’s gaze finally rested on Li Shiming. Others present understood even more how powerful Li Shiming’s background was. To be honest, his knowledge about Li Shiming was limited.

Yet it was Li Shiming who had sent another steward, Deacon Xu, to Heavenly Sea to remain there for twenty years, and the case had concluded with Deacon Xu’s involvement, leaving an indelible impression.

“Nephew Li, we meet again!” Deacon Xu nodded in greeting toward Li Shiming.

This gesture puzzled the twelve accompanying law enforcement monks. This was not Deacon Xu’s usual style—why would he take the initiative to greet a minor Qi Refinement Fifth Level cultivator?

Although Yun Ze was in a despondent state, having become disabled, he grasped the implication behind Deacon Xu’s words.

Li Shiming was not as the Yun’s Trading House had assessed—a cultivator without any significant background but some talent in formations. Otherwise, how could a distinguished Law Enforcement Foundation Establishment Steward show such an attitude toward Li Shiming?

“Li Shiming pays respect to Junior Master Xu!” Li Shiming stepped forward respectfully to salute.

“It seems you’ve encountered trouble. Tell me, what happened?” Deacon Xu’s words, revealing his stance, were related to his interest in Li Shiming and his extensive experience in handling cases.

Gen Peak did not have Li Shiming’s cave dwelling, so this courtyard was not owned by Li Shiming.

It is difficult for a guest to gain the upper hand in a conflict inside another’s dwelling, where various formations and defensive measures give the owner significant advantages.

Li Shiming was not insane to kill someone inside a cave dwelling in Gen Peak and then report it to the Law Enforcement Hall.

“Junior Master Xu, there is Spirit Suppressing Powder in the Spiritual Tea on the stone table, and the four maids, I suspect, were trained assassins proficient in Body Refinement and expert in close-quarter swordsmanship. Additionally, here is something that can restrain the spiritual power within the courtyard!” Li Shiming pointed each item out, finally placing a metal box on the stone table.

Deacon Xu waved his hand, and the law enforcement monks had already gone over to examine the scene.

He brought professional personnel with him, veterans in examining crime scenes.

“This is a seal for Prohibition Spirit Gold!” Deacon Xu examined the metal box on the stone table with a serious expression. He refrained from opening it, recognizing what it was solely from experience.

Just the presence of Prohibition Spirit Gold meant that this incident was far from minor.

“This is Yun Ze, a member of Yun’s Trading House. He invited me here in the name of Yun’s Trading House—this was an assassination attempt against me by Yun’s Trading House. Moreover, according to what Yun Ze earlier stated, Yun’s Trading House also colluded with the Holy Ice Sect, accepting benefits to deliver my body to them!” Li Shiming continued.

He spared Yun Ze’s life not out of mercy but as his strategy to implicate Yun’s Trading House.

“Silence!” A voice interrupted Li Shiming, and then a figure flew swiftly towards Li Shiming, thrusting down with a palm.

Li Shiming didn’t even think before his Broken Jade Sword flew out, transforming into a sword light that met the incoming palm.

He felt the terror of that palm, the attacker was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, far beyond his capability to handle.

After using the “Sword Manipulation Technique” to confront the enemy, he utilized his privileges as an Intermediate Array Master to mobilize the Sect Formation’s power to protect himself.

This was one of the few privileges he had within the Nine Peaks of the sect. Previously, when he was in the courtyard, he was inside the Defensive Array and could not mobilize the Sect Formation. Now, with the courtyard’s Defensive Array fully activated, there was no barrier between it and the Sect Formation.

The incoming person slapped away the Broken Jade Sword, the terrifying spiritual pressure in his palm struck in front of Li Shiming, but was blocked by an invisible force.

“Yun’s Trading House is colluding with the Holy Ice Sect to assassinate fellow disciples at Gen Peak and now they start silencing by killing!” Li Shiming shouted loudly.

His voice might not seem loud, but, with the help of Sect Formation, his voice spread across most parts of the Nine Peaks. As long as there was no soundproofing set up, everyone could hear him.

Now that a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was here to kill him, he absolutely wanted to escalate the situation as much as possible.

“Yun Gang, what are you doing?” Deacon Xu roared, standing in front of Li Shiming.

“I heard this kid slandering my Yun Family, so I couldn’t help but make a move. After I kill this kid, I will then go and apologize to the Sect Leader!” Yun Gang coldly said, standing on a magic artifact.

A flicker of doubt flashed through his eyes; his last palm strike should have been enough to kill Li Shiming, yet it was somehow blocked.

“It’s not up to you to decide whether it’s slander. This matter should be handled by the Law Enforcement Hall!” Deacon Xu, seeing Li Shiming was unharmed, broke out in a cold sweat. If Li Shiming had been killed in front of him, he could almost imagine how much trouble there would be.

Just now, Yun Gang had the intent to kill, and moved so fast that even Deacon Xu couldn’t stop him in time.

During their conversation, several cultivators appeared around them. Qi Refining cultivators, seeing two Foundation Establishment Cultivators and even a monk from the Law Enforcement Hall, quickly retreated to an even further distance.

However, the arriving Foundation Establishment Cultivators didn’t care. They flew around the courtyard, hovering in the sky and watching the unfolding events from above.

This was all summoned by Li Shiming’s shout. The situation involving a traitor within the sect was of concern to any cultivator, not to mention that the Yun Family held some influence within the sect.

Among them were friends of the Yun Family, enemies of the Yun Family, and also cultivators who were uninvolved. They all remained silent, waiting for the situation to develop.

Li Shiming, observing the Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the sky, also displayed a look of astonishment. Having spent a substantial amount of time at Nine Peaks, he truly understood the sect’s strength.

Just in this location, there were over twenty Foundation Establishment Cultivators who arrived immediately because they were free, showing that the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the sect was much higher than he had imagined.

“Please, Senior Uncles, take charge. The Yun Family is lawless, setting up murderous traps within the sect. Their proficiency in such methods isn’t developed in a day. I believe the Yun Family has used Prohibition Spirit Gold and their trained Body Refinement Female Assassin to slaughter fellow disciples more than once!” Li Shiming knew he needed to put in an effort now, so he bowed to the Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the sky and spoke loudly.

The Foundation Establishment Cultivators weren’t blind. Seeing the four maids’ corpses and the gilded box on the stone table, how could they not understand what was going on?

Those Foundation Establishment Cultivators who had poor relations with the Yun Family already began showing schadenfreude. Those with closer ties to the Yun Family had their gazes wandering, as if weighing their relationship with the Yun Family.

“Kid, you use these tricks to target the Yun Family. Who knows if this Prohibition Spirit Gold was brought by yourself? You killed four maids and seriously injured Yun Ze, just to slander the Yun Family!” Yun Gang, seeing the tide turning against him, immediately retorted.

In fact, all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators present understood that Li Shiming could not have accessed Prohibition Spirit Gold on his own.

Prohibition Spirit Gold, a special metal controlled by the major sects, used to restrict serious offenders within the sect. Objects made from Prohibition Spirit Gold, when implanted in a cultivator’s body, can prevent them from mobilizing Spiritual Power, reducing them to ordinary humans.

Regarding the Yun Family Trading House’s usage, it could only target Qi Refinement cultivators. When Spiritual Power reached a certain strength, the effect of Prohibition Spirit Gold’s restraint would cease to function.