"Your subordinate has learned a lesson!" Xi cupped his fists and bowed deeply, his tone filled with genuine respect.
Dao Qiongcang nodded with satisfaction. He had successfully managed to teach Xi a valuable lesson, though he noticed that Xi still seemed puzzled. "There is still one thing that this subordinate does not understand."
"Speak."
"Since you didn't know the real situation beforehand, how can you be sure that there's a problem here?"
Dao Qiongcang's eyes glowed with a piercing intensity. He hesitated, reflecting on his own early days of studying the Divine Secret. "Bold speculation, careful verification."
Xi's eyes widened. He had learned that the key to unraveling the truth lay in combining daring assumptions with meticulous checks. "I'm willing to hear the details," he said eagerly.
Dao Qiongcang sighed. "I had two pieces of evidence." He produced a delicate purple cover from his ring. "This is one of them."
"Yes." Xi examined the object with curiosity. It was a luxurious item, clearly of high quality. Dao Qiongcang had kept one for himself, just as he had given two to Xi.
Dao Qiongcang paced slowly under the moonlit sky. "I gave you two. What conclusion did you draw from them?"
Xi thought for a moment before replying. "The Southern Region's evil technique has the aura of the satanic god. I guessed that the person who attacked must be a Southern Region evil cultivator."
"Is that all?"
"He dared to challenge Hallmaster Dao. This person is audacious, but I suspect he hasn't reached the Saint Stage, the highest realm of the Higher Void State."
"What else?"
Xi hesitated. "When higher voids attack, they are limited by the precision and range of their spells. I speculate that this person is hiding within a hundred miles of the Southern Zone gate."
"Pure hindsight!"
Xi winced at Dao Qiongcang's blunt criticism. "Yes, this was the conclusion after the incident," he admitted. "Hallmaster Dao, I have no more guesses."
Dao Qiongcang shook his head in disappointment. "What you arrived at is the usual conclusion for someone in your position with your resources. In other words, you're not irreplaceable."
Xi felt as if his heart had been pierced. The realization hit hard—his conclusions were as predictable as anyone's.
"I dare ask Hallmaster Dao, what else have I overlooked?" Xi asked, a hint of defiance in his tone but also genuine curiosity.
Dao Qiongcang's eyes sparkled with a hint of amusement. "I neglected the essence!" He held up the purple cover. "What did you see?"
"Uh…"
Dao Qiongcang glanced at him with a smirk. "This item is made of high-quality materials, soft and exquisitely crafted. If placed in the Jade Capital City, it would be considered a luxury item for the elite."
Xi felt his cheeks flush. How could Hallmaster Dao discuss such matters so candidly?
Dao Qiongcang continued, "This purple corset is not only for the wealthy but also designed with a sexy style. It's large and difficult to handle with one hand. I've seen similar items before…"
"Yes," he said, "under normal circumstances, such items are only used by women in their thirties or forties from influential families. Spirit cultivators might use them, but they would be more refined."
"If you're young and talented, you might have a few exceptional cases, but they'd still seek further refinement and show off."
Xi was blushing furiously. "Hallmaster Dao, so…?"
"So you're embarrassed and didn't investigate this thoroughly?" Dao Qiongcang's expression was mocking. "I didn't correct your misconceptions or advise against exploring this direction…"
Xi's face went from red to pale as he realized Dao Qiongcang had given him a subtle nudge towards investigating further.
"Sometimes, even the most trivial clues can reveal a lot," Dao Qiongcang said with a wry smile. "A large faction will have a protective formation. This person stole something small, but it's telling. It implies that the sect's and clan's protective arrays were ineffective against him."
Xi's eyes widened in shock. The realization that the sect's defenses were useless against this person was a revelation. His previous conclusions had been naïve and shallow.
He bowed deeply, his tone filled with genuine respect and gratitude. "Please teach me!"
Dao Qiongcang, trying to maintain his aloof Hallmaster persona, struggled to suppress a smile. The earnestness of Xi's request and the seriousness with which he approached the subject was both amusing and endearing.
In the end, Dao Qiongcang's lips twitched as he fought to keep a straight face, but he remained silent, allowing the young man's newfound understanding to settle in.
Dao Qiongcang looked at the educated young man, suppressing his amusement. "Either he possesses the skills of a Saint Stage Spirit Array Caster, or he wouldn't be able to infiltrate other sects' arrays so casually without leaving a trace."
"Or," Dao Qiongcang continued, "your so-called inferior Southern Region evil technique isn't true. This person might be practicing the true legacy of the Ancestor Art."
Xi's mind was struck like a giant bell, his thoughts racing.
He stared blankly at the three-finger-thick cover in his hand, realization dawning on him.
"That's it!" he thought. "How could Hallmaster Dao deduce so much?"
Dao Qiongcang's voice cut through Xi's daze. "A person may think they've covered their tracks perfectly, but there will always be signs."
Xi was speechless. If he were the evil cultivator from the Southern Region, he would avoid such obvious evidence. Yet, Dao Qiongcang seemed to spot the clues others missed.
"A person is still human. Even the most meticulous will leave traces," Dao Qiongcang said, his tone earnest. "No one can erase their marks like the Divine Puppet."
Xi's face showed awe and confusion.
"Hallmaster Dao, is it possible that he is a Saint Stage Spirit Array Caster…" Xi tried to make a counter-guess.
"No!"
"If he were truly a Saint Stage Spirit Array Caster, he wouldn't be caught by a binding array. He could have freed two more people."
This left only one possibility—did this person possess the Ancestor of Arts' inheritance?
Xi nodded, feeling that everything made sense now. However, when he looked at the cover in his hand, he almost went mad again.
"Hallmaster Dao…" Xi took a deep breath to steady himself. "How did you find this place? It seems unrelated to the conclusions we've drawn."
"No, it's very relevant. I mentioned that you overlooked the essence."
Dao Qiongcang grabbed the purple cover and held it up. "If it were you, would you steal such an item just for fun?"
"Absolutely not!" Xi exclaimed. "Even if it meant death, I wouldn't!"
"Alright, let's assume that you wouldn't do it," Dao Qiongcang nodded. "But who would?"
Xi was taken aback. "Southern Region people?"
Dao Qiongcang's gaze turned icy. "Don't be so quick to judge other regions!"
"What if this is a smokescreen, meant to disguise his true intentions?" Dao Qiongcang added, a sly grin on his face.
Xi was stunned. The idea that someone might use such absurd items to mask their real identity seemed bizarre yet intriguing.
"Are you confused now?" Dao Qiongcang chuckled. "It's possible he's using this as a distraction. But stealing a bra and men's underwear? It's beyond what any normal person would consider."
Xi rolled his eyes inwardly. Hallmaster Dao seemed to take pleasure in scaring people with such outlandish theories.
Dao Qiongcang shook the purple cover again. "Let's sketch a profile of this individual."
"This person has questionable taste, a penchant for theft, and is quite bold. If someone dares to steal from me, they must be accustomed to living on the edge."
Using the Divine Secret, Dao Qiongcang began to outline a blurry face in the air. He carefully detailed the features: single eyelids, high cheekbones, thin lips, and narrow eyes like a snake.
As he worked, he adjusted the details, making the teeth uneven to fit the temperament he was describing. The face took shape, reflecting someone who knew how to wait for the perfect moment.
Xi watched in awe as the face became more defined. The figure's lower half appeared next, dressed in black and hunched over like a thief. It moved as if alive, constantly glancing around as if wary of being discovered.
"This isn't enough," Dao Qiongcang murmured.
With a flick of his fingers, he made the figure's hands move, rubbing them as if to relieve anxiety.
"He's not a seasoned warrior; he hasn't had special training," Dao Qiongcang noted. "He waited all afternoon but isn't the type to remain steady. He's got a small theft problem…"
Xi's eyes widened as he saw the figure use its fingertips to create a snowflake, which then transformed into a purple bra.
"This was his mistake," Dao Qiongcang said. "He was bored from waiting too long. When he turned around and used his gaze to scare away the beast, he inadvertently transformed the bra into a leaf."
The scene revealed the figure's blunder, demonstrating how a seemingly trivial action could betray someone's true identity.
"Leaf!"
At that moment, Xi felt an explosion in his mind. The occasionally changing leaves must have been a habit of the Southern Region evil cultivator.
And the feedback led straight to Lin Shan…
It was the fracture Hallmaster Dao had mentioned earlier. It was supposed to be rough but was instead smooth!
"If it was due to a technique that made the entire leaf vanish, then the cut would naturally be as smooth as if it were deliberately sliced…"
Xi gaped at Hallmaster Dao, who was still meticulously refining the portrait. He felt as though he had witnessed a peak of understanding beyond his reach.
The Divine smashing the Saint Mountain flashed before his eyes. Legends of the Eighth Sword Deity danced in his thoughts.
He suddenly understood why some could be Ten High Nobles while others were only Transformation Division chiefs.
"Still not enough," Dao Qiongcang said, tapping his finger to his forehead as he entered a state of deep thought. "How could someone so fearful of death expose their entire face? If they're not afraid of surprises, they should at least be cautious of me…"
As he spoke, starlight of heavenly secrets flickered. A black hood covered the figure's face, obscuring it further. Beneath the hood, a black faceless mask appeared, its rugged style clashing with the figure's cold demeanor.
Dao Qiongcang waved his sleeve again. The mask transformed into a black cloth, through which the grimacing face of the figure was faintly visible. It was hideous.
"Perfect, that's about it," Dao Qiongcang said with satisfaction. "If I were him, I'd do the same. First, make myself unattractive and then cover my face with a black cloth to create an illusion."
He clapped his hands, looking pleased with himself. "Of course, this might be the real appearance, or it might not be."
Xi was left speechless.
He struggled to express the shock in his heart. The deliberate concealment of the Divine Secret made the facial features of the figure blurry. Yet, the description conveyed a Southern Region death apostle with a sharp mouth, monkey-like cheeks, and shifty eyes.
Combined with Hallmaster Dao's detailed profile and Xi's knowledge as the chief of the Transformation Division, the figure seemed familiar.
"You recognize him?" Dao Qiongcang asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.
Xi shook his head, then nodded.
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he quickly rummaged through his ring and produced three bounty notices.
Xi pulled out the first bounty notice.
"Old Ghost Wu, a Death Apostle from the Southern Region, inheritor of the ancient Golden Gate. He mastered the Golden Gate Stealing Technique, 'Sky Stealing'. The bartering ability you described is somewhat similar."
"However, it's rumored he died in the Fengshui Secret Treasury. Many gained the power of the evil god there, possibly tied to the Ancestor of Arts' inheritance."
Dao Qiongcang nodded but remained silent.
Xi then retrieved the second bounty notice.
"Old Ghost Yin Ming, another Death Apostle. Thirteen years ago, he was a researcher of the ancient Golden Gate techniques. He studied the 'Thirty-Six Stratagems' of the Golden Gate Stealing Technique."
"However, after the catastrophe that befell the Golden Gate Sect, he vanished. He might be dead, severely injured, or simply hiding."
Dao Qiongcang gave a slight nod and focused on the final bounty notice.
Xi showed it to him. "The Red Flower Bandit, an evil person from the Southern Region. He once stole from the Saint God Hall branch in the Eastern Region. After being pursued, he fled to the Central Region."
"In the Central Region, he sought refuge in the City of the Dead Bodhisattva but didn't dare venture further due to fear. He later reappeared in the Southern Region, entering the Fengshui Secret Vault and mastering the Golden Gate Stealing Technique. Some say he is a disciple of Old Ghost Wu, though details are unclear."
Dao Qiongcang's eyes narrowed. The Red Flower Bandit had fled to the City of the Dead Bodhisattva, an unusual choice given the Central Region's significance.
"The key question is," Dao Qiongcang said calmly, "which of these three is connected to the Saint Servant?"
Xi hesitated, then removed the first two bounty notices, leaving only the Red Flower Bandit's.
"I'm not sure about his connection to the Saint Servant, but he is connected to Xu Xiaoshou. This person has been to Sky City."
He continued, "After the battle at Sky City, the Holy Divine Palace surveyed all survivors in the Great Void. One was Chen Ran from the Eastern Region, who saw Xu Xiaoshou in his team."
"The team included Feng Xiaose from the Feng Family, Li Fugui from the Southern Region, and Yuan Ping and Ruan An from the Xuanwu Sector."
"Yes, the Ruan brothers were killed while trying to claim Xu Xiaoshou's head," Xi added. "The last member was Zhu Yike, a heretic cultivator from the Southern Region."
Xi paused, then added, "The Divine Puppet Xiao Qi's investigation revealed the Golden Gate Stealing Technique appeared on the battlefield of the First Hall of Sins. This battlefield involved Xu Xiaoshou and powerful Saints, far beyond the reach of ordinary Great Void experts."
"If the Golden Gate Stealing Technique was present, it must be linked to Xu Xiaoshou."
Xi compared the portrait of the bounty with the one Dao Qiongcang had drawn. He carefully aligned them, finally placing the bounty notice behind the portrait.
He fell silent, pointing at the Red Flower Bandit's portrait. "Hallmaster Dao, could the Red Flower Bandit be Zhu Yike? Does he have a connection to Xu Xiaoshou? Did he use Sky Stealing to exchange for Aunt Xiang?"