Meng Qi had never seen Gu Xiao Sang’s handwriting. Judging her identity purely from the script was clearly impossible. However, since she had just discovered Lao Zhong Tou’s movements yesterday, receiving clear news today made it hard not to connect the two events.
The simplest, clearest, and most logical inference was: After discovering Lao Zhong Tou, Gu Xiao Sang had someone secretly follow him to determine his destination or hiding place. Because she worried about ambushes or traps, and Luo Jiao didn’t have sufficient strength here, she had notified him first, allowing righteous martial artists to test the danger.
Of course, it might also be a letter deliberately sent by “Mythos” seeking revenge. However, this would require first fulfilling two conditions: first, they must have discovered his connection with Gu Xiao Sang, and second, they must believe they had indeed located Lao Zhong Tou. Only then would they use female handwriting to lure him with news of the Tian Mo’s movements. Considering all factors, this possibility was extremely low.
“Even if it’s a Mythos trap, with enough strength on our side, we can turn their scheme against them…” Clutching the letter, Meng Qi made up his mind. Mythos, including its reserve members, only had about forty to fifty people. After deducting those who couldn’t leave or were on missions, the number available for a single operation was quite limited. As fugitives, they were hunted by everyone. Once their tracks were exposed, they would immediately face attacks. However, as a righteous martial artist, he could act openly and openly seek assistance. With just one leverage point, he could mobilize all the masters outside the city walls of Yingcheng.
If Mythos’ “trap” could withstand so many masters, why bother with such trouble? They could just come directly to kill him!
The white letter paper emitted a faint fragrance, seemingly exactly Gu Xiao Sang’s scent. After careful consideration, Meng Qi decided to find Jiang Zhiwei and secretly inform Qi Zhengyan and the Six Gates. This way, at least three masters would secretly follow the two of them. If “Mythos” was stronger than them, they could resist while calling for help from the entire Yingcheng city in the name of the Six Gates.
…
The Longpan Mountain twisted and turned, rising and falling like a coiled dragon. After crossing a mountain ridge, Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei could already see the entrance to the Valley of Mass Graves. Lush vegetation defied the winter season, and faint outlines of grave mounds were visible.
“They say this place was originally called ‘Long Teng Valley,’ the ancestral cemetery of the Han Clan in Yingcheng. Later, it was moved to the imperial mausoleum. But after Yingcheng fell, the Zhao Clan in the Divine Capital still sent troops to destroy it,” Jiang Zhiwei, who had recently learned much about Yingcheng’s history, explained. “Because many people believed in Feng Shui, thinking this valley was where the Han Clan rose to power, inheriting the fortune of the dragon’s ascent, yet dared not do so openly, they secretly buried their parents and brothers here, turning it into the Valley of Scattered Graves.”
Meng Qi crouched low, using the trees as cover, and slowly approached the Valley of Chaotic Graves. “Come to think of it, it’s like spring here in winter, with lush vegetation. This valley truly has a supernatural aura.”
“There are many such places. Who knows if it’s the emperor’s fortune? Besides, these are external things, to be used but not relied upon.” Jiang Zhiwei followed Meng Qi, circling toward the valley entrance to avoid startling their prey and ending up with nothing.
Meng Qi looked back. “Star-shattering Sword” Hong Qian, “Silver Seal Constable” Qian Kai, and another master should be right behind them. These were their trump cards.
“Don’t worry. Master Hong has extensive experience in the martial world. If there’s any formation set up in the Valley of Chaotic Graves, he will definitely spot it,” Jiang Zhiwei’s eyes remained fixed on the valley, alert and cautious, yet showing no sign of tension.
Meng Qi nodded and said no more, following the cover of trees and bushes slowly to the valley entrance.
Strange indeed, the valley was green with trees and plants, seemingly full of vitality, yet utterly silent without the slightest movement, giving off a feeling of death. The combination created an eerie silence.
“There are traces.” Jiang Zhiwei began to cultivate the ancestral cavity between her eyebrows, significantly enhancing her spiritual perception.
Meng Qi focused his gaze, a slight surprise in his heart: “How come there are traces of multiple people?”
Moreover, judging from the traces, none of them were as skilled as Lao Zhong Tou.
“Perhaps people who secretly came here to bury their relatives?” Jiang Zhiwei guessed.
“Regardless, let’s follow the traces first,” Meng Qi transformed into a phantom, stealthily advancing into the silent valley.
After walking for a while, he suddenly caught a faint smell of blood, his heart stirred. Without further concern for stealth, he quickened his pace directly.
Jiang Zhiwei also sensed something and rushed forward with her sword, swift as a rainbow.
Passing a grave mound, ahead was a larger tomb, heavily damaged, full of holes from grave robbers.
In front of the tomb lay five corpses, all dressed in yellow Buddhist robes, their skin and bones all that remained.
“Long Xiang Hu Bao Peng?” Though only skin and bones remained, Meng Qi’s sharp eyes still recognized the identities of the five corpses. They were the five monks—Long Xiang Hu Bao Peng—who had sparred with him earlier, the Crown Prince’s aides with a secret technique for merging their powers!
“How did they end up here?” Jiang Zhiwei also recognized them. Why would the monks following the Crown Prince mysteriously appear in the Valley of Scattered Graves, dying under the Heavenly Demon’s sinister technique?
In less than three months, Lao Zhong Tou’s strength had advanced rapidly, now capable of easily killing Long Xiang Hu Bao Peng… The Tian Mo Art was indeed a notorious evil technique. As long as it could consume flesh, bones, true energy, and spiritual essence, it could ascend in power… Meng Qi briefly examined the five monks, finding no other clues, and continued forward following the faint smell of blood.
Beyond this tomb, beside the small path leading out of the valley, another corpse lay dead, dressed in black robes, face down.
Meng Qi flicked the tip of his knife, and the black-robed man rolled over, exposing a distinctive red nose.
“Him?” Meng Qi was even more astonished. This man was the one who had secretly met Mi Zijing last night. Why was he in the Valley of Scattered Graves, with the Crown Prince’s men nearby?
The man in black had not only lost his flesh and blood but even most of his bones. If not for his distinctive nose, Meng Qi might not have recognized him so quickly.
At this moment, a figure flew past and landed at the end of the path, bending down to pick up a hidden weapon concealed in the grass.
The newcomer wore the standard dark red attire of the Six Gates, with a silver official seal hanging at his waist. He had a five-beard mustache, and his eyes seemed perpetually narrowed into slits. It was indeed Qian Kai, the Silver Seal officer of Yingcheng, a master of the third realm.
The concealed weapon in his hand was shaped like a plum blossom, exquisitely crafted and intricate, with a unique design. It was stained with bright red blood, the scent potent and detectable from a distance. This was the source of the bloody odor that Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei had noticed earlier.
Gazing at the somewhat eerie bloodstain, Meng Qi surmised it must be Lao Zhongtou’s blood. Who could have possibly wounded him?
Gu Xiao Sang? A wandering practitioner of Luo Jiao?
“The Plum Blossom Nail of ‘Thief King’ Sikong Tu…” Qian Kai murmured softly.
“Star-shattering Sword” Hong Qian and the external masters of the Hua Hua Sword Sect had already followed the path outward, trying to lock onto the trail.
“Thief King” Sikong Tu… Him? Hearing this name, Meng Qi’s mind buzzed. Many previous events suddenly connected.
Sikong Tu, an expert in tomb raiding, unexpectedly acquired a secret treasure from a previous dynasty while excavating an ancient tomb. It was said to have been crafted by Emperor Ai and could enhance an emperor’s fortune. As a mere thief, the treasure held no value for him, so he deliberately leaked the news to the Divine Capital, enticing the Crown Prince and the Jin Prince to Yingcheng to vie for its possession.
Having long operated in the Jiangdong region, this was his home turf. With the influx of martial artists due to the Xingyun Banquet, he had no fear of being tailed by experts. Boldly raising his price, he watched to see which side—the Crown Prince or the Prince of Jin—would offer better terms. The highest bidder would prevail, which was why the informant with the alcoholic nose was in contact with both parties.
However, the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. He was targeted by “Mythos.”
—If it wasn’t a secret treasure but a previous dynasty’s treasure, Sikong Tu could use it directly, avoiding unnecessary trouble and danger.
The three masters split up to search. Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei were not idle, examining the corpses and searching for traces within the valley.
After a while, Qian Kai, Hong Qian, and the other masters returned, all shaking their heads.
“Sikong Tu is skilled at hiding. He disappeared midway. The demon of Mythos chased him all the way but also gradually lost his trail,” Qian Kai told Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei.
Before the masters, Meng Qi did not inform Jiang Zhiwei about the connection between Qinglian Gongzi and the Thief King. After returning to the city and parting ways, he first pretended to head back to Xingyun Villa, then changed course midway and went straight to the courtyard rented by Qinglian Gongzi, intending to inquire whether he had any news about Sikong Tu.
Once he found a clue, he would submit a secret report to the Six Gates, no longer needing to get involved in the struggle among the major powers. Whoever obtained the secret treasure had nothing to do with him. It was completely useless to him. It would be better to use this opportunity to claim a reward from the Six Gates!
Since he loved drinking and cherished freedom, Qinglian Gongzi did not stay at the Treasure Pavilion opened by the Huahua Sword Sect. Instead, he rented a courtyard in a nearby alley. The surroundings were tranquil and refined, with scarcely anyone passing by even at noon.
Stepping on the bluestone slabs and counting the white walls on either side, Meng Qi walked toward Qinglian Gongzi’s courtyard. Suddenly, he came to a halt as he walked.
Because he heard a low groan!
If not for the quiet and secluded surroundings, Meng Qi’s hearing might not have detected it!
This groan was full of pain, filled with the struggle of someone on the brink of death.
Meng Qi furrowed his brows thoughtfully. After a slight hesitation, he turned and climbed over the wall into the courtyard, searching for the source of the groan.
This courtyard might have belonged to a traveling merchant, and only two elderly servants were guarding it during the festival. Meng Qi caused no disturbance as he stopped in front of a shed near the wall.
The groan was coming from here.
He extended his long knife, pushed open the door, and quickly moved aside to avoid any ambush.
The shed door was broken and old, creaking open to reveal the scene inside. In front of the stacked firewood leaned a man in black, half his body emaciated and half rosy, an extremely eerie sight.
Meng Qi recognized it instantly upon seeing him; the Tian Mo Art had consumed most of his flesh—had it been the Finger of Annihilation, his face would have remained unchanged.
He closed the shed door with a wave of his hand and lowered his voice: “Sikong Tu?”
The man in black let out a faint groan, his smile twisted with bitterness and pain: “I had hoped to rely on Liushu for protection and his healing, but then that demoness struck again. I fled here, my wounds flaring up, my life hanging by a thread. Even the Shaolin Great Recovery Pill would be useless now.”
“This friend, I have great wealth and honor for you, as long as you agree to one thing from me.”
He was very resilient. Half his face was stuck to the bone, yet he spoke without stuttering, though his voice was filled with pain.
Meng Qi gazed deeply at him. Sunlight from the window poured in, casting a few golden spots, creating a dreamlike atmosphere.
The person who had stirred up the storm in Yingcheng was quietly lying before him.
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