Great Li Martial God

Li Musheng raised an eyebrow, then flicked a thread of talisman light that settled into the Crimson Cloud Evil Spirit’s body.

In the next instant, the loose-haired Crimson Cloud Evil Spirit’s expression suddenly changed dramatically, and an uncontrollable cry of agony burst from him.

At first, the Crimson Cloud Evil Spirit understood this was Li Musheng’s method of interrogation, and tried to suppress it through sheer force of will.

But very quickly he found that the Life and Death Talisman’s pain far exceeded anything he had imagined, and was simply impossible to endure. In the end, unable to hold back any longer, he let out a wrenching, soul-tearing scream.

At the sight, the surrounding martial world experts, Zhao Muning, and the Grand Manager of the Treasure Assembly Trading House all felt a sudden chill run down their backs.

Watching the Crimson Cloud Evil Spirit, notoriously feared throughout the Great Xuan martial world, reduced to this wretched state in the hands of this young man before them, everyone felt an overwhelming, impossible-to-suppress surge of extreme fear toward Li Musheng.

”Can you answer my question now?”

Li Musheng remained utterly expressionless throughout, looking at the Crimson Cloud Evil Spirit in extreme agony and unable to move as he asked again.

At those words, the Crimson Cloud Evil Spirit’s awareness, which had grown somewhat hazy from the extreme pain, sharpened slightly, and he struggled to suppress the sounds of suffering as he said with great difficulty, ”Stop... I will tell you... she... is... the one you are looking for...”

At those words, a flicker crossed Li Musheng’s eyes.But he did not stop the Life and Death Talisman working on the Crimson Cloud Evil Spirit, and instead continued for a little longer before finally speaking slowly, ”I am afraid I do not particularly believe what you just said.”

With that, Li Musheng set the Crimson Cloud Evil Spirit aside for the time being, leaving him to continue experiencing the Life and Death Talisman, and turned to look at the Grand Manager of the Treasure Assembly Trading House, ”Why did the Great Xuan imperial family capture you?”

At those words, the Grand Manager pulled his gaze away from the Crimson Cloud Evil Spirit and looked at Li Musheng with an expression of deep fear, then said in a halting, broken voice, ”It was... because of... the Demonic Cores...”

Then the Grand Manager struggled through a rough account of his own situation.

As the Grand Manager of the Treasure Assembly Trading House, the wealthiest entity in all of Great Xuan, he possessed countless rarities and had naturally collected quite a few unusual items. The Demonic Cores left behind by the Demonic Patriarch were of considerable renown in the Great Xuan martial world, and through various circumstances he had acquired two of them out of curiosity for his collection.

But that was precisely what had brought about this disaster of being imprisoned in the Mystic Mechanism Palace.

”The Great Xuan imperial palace was also collecting Demonic Cores?”

Li Musheng narrowed his eyes, and the Grand Manager of the Treasure Assembly Trading House gave a nod.

He indicated that both of his Demonic Cores had already been handed over to the Great Xuan imperial palace, but they had shown no intention of releasing him, and had continued feeding him the poison, apparently hoping to reduce him to the same unaware state as the white-robed woman.

”He is most likely lying.”

At that, Zhao Muning, who had been quiet throughout, furrowed her brows sharply and suddenly shook her head slowly, looking toward Li Musheng, ”The Great Xuan imperial palace is not connected to the demonic path. Why would they be collecting Demonic Cores? And even if the Great Xuan imperial palace truly wanted Demonic Cores, they could simply demand them from him directly. Would a mere trading house manager dare defy an imperial order? Why go to all this unnecessary trouble?”

At those words, Li Musheng turned to look at Zhao Muning, then looked back at the Grand Manager of the Treasure Assembly Trading House.

Hearing Zhao Muning’s counter and seeing Li Musheng’s now somewhat suspicious gaze turning toward him, the Grand Manager’s expression shifted immediately.

At that very moment, the Crimson Cloud Evil Spirit, unable to endure any more of the Life and Death Talisman’s punishment and on the verge of breaking down entirely, suddenly spoke, ”I will tell you... the Mystic Mechanism Palace... is just a cover... you need to find... the Great Xuan emperor...”

At those words, Li Musheng’s eyes shifted immediately. He temporarily suspended the Life and Death Talisman working on the Crimson Cloud Evil Spirit, and looked at the man, ”What do you mean? Explain more clearly.”

The Life and Death Talisman’s agony vanished in an instant, letting the Crimson Cloud Evil Spirit, whose awareness had nearly dissolved from the torment, finally catch his breath.

But faced with Li Musheng’s question he did not dare delay, and said between gasps, ”When they interrogated the prisoners... I had my acupoints sealed and my six senses closed off, so in truth... I do not know what you want to know, nor who that woman is.”

As he said this, the loose-haired Crimson Cloud Evil Spirit paused briefly, then said in a hoarse voice, ”Those of us who guard the Mystic Mechanism Palace are nothing more than puppets under the Great Xuan imperial palace’s control. How would we ever be allowed to hear their secrets?”

”Whatever the Great Xuan imperial palace is scheming, only they themselves know.”

With that, the eyes concealed beneath the Crimson Cloud Evil Spirit’s hanging hair slowly turned toward the Grand Manager of the Treasure Assembly Trading House.

Seeing this, the Grand Manager, who had been clutching his own head with a pained expression, looked even worse, and then suddenly fixed his gaze on Li Musheng.

He found Li Musheng looking right back at him, and in that instant a flash of panic crossed the Grand Manager’s eyes, and he managed with great difficulty, ”Everything I said... is the complete truth... I have not hidden... a single thing...”

At those words, Li Musheng thought quietly for a moment, then shook his head, ”I genuinely cannot be bothered to play these tedious mind games with all of you. I will just go and find the Great Xuan emperor directly.”