"Yes."
With a wave of Qin Wang's hand, the Millennium Soul-Nourishing Wood appeared. On it, Wu Su's soul silhouette flickered, enveloping Qin Wang and Zhang Fujiang. Shortly after, two grain-sized, white light spots were stripped off.
Qin Wang skillfully took out a blank jade slip. Wu Su's spiritual sense peeled off the Foundation Establishment spiritual imprint and entered the jade slip.
"Alright, now we just need to find a beast and place the imprint on it."
Wu Su pondered for a moment before speaking.
"Understood."
Qin Wang nodded, his eyes gleaming.
The Chu family had imprinted spiritual marks on him twice. If he didn't have enough means, he would have been thoroughly taken advantage of.
Qin Wang knew that the early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator would definitely pursue them later.
He himself was at the Foundation Establishment stage. With the Earth Dragon Beast King, Mu Hun'er, the Four Symbols Killing Array, the Yin-Yang Illusion Array, and the Thunder Sound Array, he was confident that he could kill the pursuer!
As Qin Wang stripped off the spiritual imprint and rushed towards the Five Poison Swamp, back at the West Gate of Wanling Market:
The middle-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator in black robes slowly opened his eyes. Glancing at the cross-eyed cultivator sitting at the table, he instructed, "I'm heading out for a while, I'll be back soon!"
As an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, Chu Chucheng was assigned to investigate the murder of the Eighteenth Prince.
His clan had repeatedly instructed him to rigorously inspect all late-stage Qi Refining cultivators coming from Wanling Blessed Land. Investigate secretly, rather kill the wrong person than let the culprit go.
Of course, he wouldn't trouble those with strong backers. All actions were carried out secretly, leaving no trace. He left spiritual imprints; a mere late-stage Qi Refining cultivator couldn't escape.
"Yes, Uncle Master!"
Cross-eyed Huang Lin respectfully cupped his fists and acknowledged.
Qin Wang traveled over a hundred miles, reaching the edge of the Five Poison Swamp.
Here, low-lying marshland stretched out, with lush, three-meter-tall poisonous herbs and fire spirit reeds. The air was filled with light gray miasma.
The entire Five Poison Swamp was shrouded in mist.
This area was inhabited by demonic toads, poisonous pythons, scorpion demons, centipede demons, and other poisonous creatures. Average Qi Refining cultivators could only hunt demonic beasts on the outskirts with detoxifying pills in their mouths.
Qin Wang arrived at a hundred-meter wide, emerald green pond. The pond lay next to a gray stone cliff, and from the pond occasionally emerged crocodiles resembling deadwood, their fierce eyes glinting with malice.
"Here will do!"
Qin Wang surveyed the surroundings and instructed Zhang Fujiang beside him, "Set up the Yin-Yang Illusion Array, Thunder Sound Array, and Four Symbols Killing Array!"
"When that Foundation Establishment cultivator arrives, let's make him suffer!"
Although he had Mu Hun'er and the Earth Dragon Beast King by his side, and he himself was at the Foundation Establishment stage, he believed in using every available means to ensure absolute success.
"Yes, Master!"
Zhang Fujiang answered, taking the array discs and setting up the formations. He was quite excited.
He knew that his master was planning to ambush the Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Heavenly Chu Immortal Dynasty!
Qin Wang summoned Mu Hun'er and the Earth Dragon Beast King, placing them in ambush. He then sat cross-legged on a large rock, cultivating.
He waited patiently for the arrival of the Heavenly Chu Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Less than half an hour later, a figure appeared in the sky, flying on a sword.
The moment the Foundation Establishment cultivator arrived, Qin Wang stood up respectfully and cupped his fists, "Junior Qin Tiedan greets Senior! What instructions does Senior have?"
Beside Qin Wang, Zhang Fujiang also stood up and respectfully cupped his fists.
"My Heavenly Chu's Eighteenth Prince, Chu Ping, was murdered in Wanling Blessed Land. All who entered must be strictly investigated. Come with me!"
Chu Chucheng looked at Zhang Fujiang, his tone brooking no refusal.
As for Qin Wang, a mere Qi Refining tenth layer, he didn't pay much attention. A simple soul search would suffice later.
After speaking, Chu Chucheng's figure flashed, holding his spiritual sword, landing three meters away from Qin Wang.
"Must we go?"
"Senior, I didn't encounter the Eighteenth Prince in Wanling Blessed Land. We've been checked many times, even by Golden Core seniors. Isn't this... unnecessary trouble?"
Following Qin Wang's instructions, Zhang Fujiang spoke up.
"Unwilling to cooperate?"
"Seems you have much to do with my Eighteenth Prince's murder! Perhaps you are the killer!"
"Take them down first!"
Chu Chucheng's eyes flashed with killing intent. His Foundation Establishment aura spread out!
Just as Chu Chucheng spoke:
He suddenly felt the surroundings change, finding himself on an endless grassland!
"This array?"
Chu Chucheng's eyes sharpened. He slashed his sword, sending a ten-meter-long sword energy into the ground!
With a loud bang, the grass was blown apart but quickly restored!
"What kind of array is this?"
Chu Chucheng felt a chill.
Simultaneously, he sensed a murderous aura from behind. Dodging to the side, he slashed out another sword energy.
With a loud explosion, the grassland restored itself again.
Charging towards him was a five-meter-long, blood-red Earth Dragon Beast King!
"A... third-rank Earth Dragon Beast King!"
"Could this person be Sima Rui in disguise?"
Seeing the third-rank Earth Dragon Beast King, Chu Chucheng's heart sank.
According to what he knew, in Wanling Blessed Land, the Eighteenth Prince was pursuing the one who took the Heavenly Blue Fruit and went missing. In the mountain cave where the Heavenly Blue Fruit was found, there was a third-rank Earth Dragon Beast King!
Rumors said this third-rank Earth Dragon Beast King was subdued by Sima Rui.
As Chu Chucheng's thoughts raced, the Earth Dragon Beast King charged.
He felt a powerful force and was knocked back several meters. Simultaneously, he sensed a killing intent from behind. In desperation, he dodged to the side!
"Ah!"
Chu Chucheng screamed in pain as he looked down to see a bloody hole in his thigh, blood gushing out!
A black-robed youth holding a purple sword stood a meter away, looking at him like a dead man.
"It's you!!"
Chu Chucheng was shocked.
The black-robed youth was no longer a Qi Refining tenth layer but a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator!
"You indeed killed the Eighteenth Prince!"
Chu Chucheng felt like he had fallen into an ice cave.
The youth had hidden his true Foundation Establishment cultivation and subdued the Earth Dragon Beast King. He was undoubtedly the murderer!
With a Foundation Establishment cultivation and a third-rank demonic beast, it was no wonder the Eighteenth Prince, despite his strength, met his end.
"Annoying!"
Qin Wang sneered, his purple sword slashing towards Chu Chucheng, while the Earth Dragon Beast King pounced and Mu Hun'er thrust the Purple Sun Sword!
"No!"
Chu Chucheng watched in despair as two Foundation Establishment cultivators and a third-rank demonic beast attacked him.
In desperation, he infused his remaining power into his sword and activated three talismans.
But it was too late.
A red beam pierced through Chu Chucheng's chest.
"Ugh..."
Chu Chucheng looked at the red beam with disbelief. His strength waned and his consciousness faded.
He fell with a thud.
"Another Foundation Establishment puppet! How refreshing!"
Qin Wang, in his black robes, stood over Chu Chucheng's body, holding a black bowl that absorbed Chu Chucheng's soul!
"Congratulations, Master! Another Foundation Establishment puppet!"
Behind Qin Wang, Zhang Fujiang fawningly congratulated him.
"Pack up the array and clean up. We must leave quickly!"
Qin Wang ordered, storing Chu Chucheng's body.