Translator: Cinder Translations
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Many of the foreign cultivators wore expressions of discontent as they watched their hidden treasures being uncovered. However, due to Su Junhao's oppressive presence, they could only simmer in silent anger.
After searching through all the houses and finding no clues, Su Junhao's gaze shifted towards the many foreign cultivators below.
He knew he couldn't afford to completely offend these foreign cultivators just yet.
First, the Su family would still need them in the future.
Second, if these foreign loose cultivators were pushed too far and there was a riot, the thief among them could very well use the chaos to escape.
Su Junhao spoke loudly, "Everyone, rest assured that all your treasures will be returned. The Su family is a righteous clan and will not stoop to robbery and steal your belongings."
"Calling everyone here in the middle of the night was done for good reason, and I ask for your understanding. Tonight, a bandit infiltrated our spiritual fields and stole some medicinal herbs. Although the herbs aren't of high value, the Su family is a respected family of Golden Core cultivators, and we won't tolerate such audacity. We are determined to catch the thief."
"Now, I ask that everyone hand over your storage pouches for our Foundation Establishment cultivators to inspect. If nothing suspicious is found, not only will you clear your names, but you will also get your treasures back."
Song Wen glanced at Su Junhao in the sky, his expression full of doubt.
Why was the Su family so unwilling to openly mention the stolen Yellow Essence mushrooms?
Was it to protect their reputation?
Or was it because these yellow mushrooms, which were cultivated with live human bodies, had some special purpose that couldn't be revealed easily?
Watching the Su family mobilize such a massive force, Song Wen felt a sense of satisfaction.
The more anxious the Su family was, the more important the yellow mushrooms clearly were to them.
Isn't the whole point of revenge to make your enemy suffer?
Consider this payback for what happened outside East Huafang Market, where the Su family tried to forcibly take him away.
The foreign cultivators, upon hearing Su Junhao's words, were mostly indignant.
The Su family was actually suspecting them of being thieves!
How could they, as mere Qi Refining cultivators, have the ability to sneak into the heavily guarded spiritual fields and steal the herbs?
Moreover, the Su family had mobilized such a large force; how could the stolen goods be ordinary items?
Did the Su family think they were fools?
Though they felt wronged, the cultivators had no choice but to comply due to the overwhelming power disparity.
Most of the foreign loose cultivators removed their storage pouches, waiting for the Su family cultivators to search them.
In the sky, Su Junhao frowned deeper and deeper as he watched this unfold.
He had already scanned these foreign cultivators with his spiritual sense no less than ten times, but found nothing.
This made him doubt whether the thief was even among these foreign loose cultivators. If the thief wasn't here, tonight's massive effort would have been a complete waste.
Not only had they offended many foreign cultivators, but they had also expended considerable manpower and time here, possibly allowing the real thief to escape.
Now, his only hope was that the body searches would reveal some clues.
The Su family had dispatched ten male and ten female family members to conduct a thorough search of the foreign cultivators.
Storage pouches, outer clothing, undergarments, shoes, socks—everything was carefully inspected.
...
Half an hour later, Su Junhao's face was as dark as a stormy sky.
After searching every foreign cultivator, they found nothing except a few personal secrets.
After a long silence, Su Junhao finally spoke.
"Everyone, return to your rooms. Without the Su family's permission, no one is allowed to take even one step outside."
Then, he turned to the Su family members and said, "Guard this place well. Do not let a single person leave. If there is any movement, crush the family's emergency jade token immediately."
Before he even finished speaking, Su Junhao's figure vanished from the sky, destination unknown.
Seeing Su Junhao leave, the crowd returned to their respective houses as ordered.
However, with doors and windows broken, and walls collapsed, it didn't seem like any of these houses could still be lived in.
The crowd consisted of cultivators, and neither the harsh elements nor sleepless nights had any effect on them.
...
At the peak of Qingping Mountain.
Inside the Su Family's deliberation hall.
At this moment, there were four people present in the hall.
The Su Family Patriarch, Su Anqing, the First Elder Su Wenshi, the Second Elder Su Junhao, and a middle-aged man dressed in a grey long robe, exuding a scholarly air.
The latter was the Fourth Elder of the Su Family, Su Yuanzheng.
Also, there was the Fifth Elder, Su Xiuyong, who was stationed at the northern market and had not yet returned. These five were the true power holders of the Su Family.
There used to be a Third Elder, Su Jingshu, but he had died in the Blood Spirit Crystal Mine.
Su Anqing turned his gaze towards the Second and Fourth Elders and asked.
"Have you found any clues about the bandits?"
The two looked dejected and shook their heads.
"We have thoroughly searched all of Qingping Mountain, including the areas where outside cultivators reside, the Su Family's town, and even the surrounding hundred-mile radius, but we found no clues."
Upon hearing this, the four fell into silence.
The matter of the Yellow Essence Mushroom herb was critical to the Ancestor's life extension. If all the highly valuable Yellow Essence Mushroom herbs were lost, it would inevitably affect the preparations for the "Devouring Soul Array."
The Ancestor, Su Qian, was nearing the end of his lifespan, and since the Su Family had not yet produced a new Golden Core cultivator, any misstep in the life-extension process could mean a thorny future for the Su Family.
Suddenly, First Elder Su Wenshi spoke.
"According to Fifth Elder Su Xiuyong, four days ago, a second-rank alchemist appeared at the northern market, seeking to buy Yellow Essence Mushroom herbs everywhere. This person also killed Su Wei and Su Gu."
"Additionally, some of our family members reported that four days ago, a stranger appeared in the Su Family's town, inquiring everywhere about Ghost Needle Grass and Yellow Essence Mushroom."
"The person who appeared in the Su Family's town, the northern market, and stole the Yellow Essence Mushroom herb that night is likely the same individual."
A flash of killing intent appeared in Su Anqing's eyes.
"An alchemist!"
"Then thoroughly investigate all non-Su Family alchemists, whether they are first-rank or second-rank. It is better to kill the wrong person than let the culprit escape."
"There are various arrays hidden around the spiritual fields. For someone to infiltrate the spiritual fields unnoticed and accurately locate the Yellow Essence Mushroom, it is impossible that they know nothing about the Su Family. Moreover, since they appeared both at the market and in the town, the thief is likely hiding within the Su Family."
The Second Elder Su Junhao and the Fourth Elder Su Yuanzheng exchanged glances and replied.
"Understood!"
With that, the two turned and left the deliberation hall.
After the two departed, First Elder Su Wenshi said.
"The chances of retrieving the Yellow Essence Mushroom herb are slim. We should report the theft to the Ancestor immediately and prepare a backup plan. There can be no room for error in the Ancestor's life extension."
Su Anqing nodded.
The two then flew on their swords, heading toward the valley where Patriarch Su Qian was in seclusion.
...
On the eastern side of Qingping Mountain.
In a bamboo grove, a finely crafted wooden house stood nestled among the trees.
In front of the house, a crystal-clear stream flowed, and the sound of the babbling water added to the serene and peaceful atmosphere of the bamboo forest.
Su Anqing and Su Wenshi descended in front of the wooden house, bowed, and saluted.
"Patriarch, we have an important matter to report."
Creak!
The wooden door opened without a breeze.
An elderly man with white hair and a kind, immortal-like appearance floated out of the house, his feet not touching the ground.
"You two have come together today. Has something significant happened within the family?"
(End of the Chapter)
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