Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1244 - 413: The Truth, Shifting the Blame to Cai Qiu, Hongmen Affair Concluded (2)

Within Yang Ning's pupils, a pair of minuscule black specks appeared.

These specks were incredibly small, easily overlooked unless examined with care.

"At present, my eyes possess a minor control over soul forms, which ought to impact these black specks somewhat. Let's attempt it..."

In the turmoil at Dajue Temple last year, Xu Ning had been one of the initial victims whose soul was drawn out by Master Wusheng. Thus, come this April, following the fusion of his vital organs, he promptly emulated Master Wusheng's technique, employing his pupils to command the soul body.

After numerous trials, Xu Ning had gained a basic grasp of this power. The attractive force generated by his gaze depended on the target's cultivation strength; it intensified against weaker foes and diminished against stronger ones. Against a vastly superior adversary, it might even rebound harmfully.

With Yang Ning possessing merely 21 Zou of power, far less than double Xu Ning's own, drawing out those two specks from his eyes posed no challenge.

Ssshhh...

True to Xu Ning's anticipation, he fixed his stare upon the specks in Yang Ning's eyes, then abruptly focused his will, causing the pair to eject with a sharp hiss.

These weren't mere specks; rather, they formed two slender black threads, extending over ten centimeters in total, penetrating deeply enough to touch Yang Ning's cranium.

"What's that?"

"This..."

"Something's actually there!"

Though the threads were slender, all attendees held the Cold Resistance Level, allowing them clear sight of it. The Eight Towns Institute Chief, in particular, paled sharply, leaping to his feet from his seat without thought.

Ssshhh!

With the two threads fully removed, they vanished into nothingness at once.

"Ah..."

Pain twisted Yang Ning's features, and following a sharp wail, his form collapsed straight to the floor.

Yang Rong hastened over to steady him. As Yang Ning lifted his gaze once more, bewilderment crossed his face initially, then recollection struck, shrinking his pupils suddenly while his entire body quivered fiercely.

...

On September 1st's evening, over twenty kilometers northward from Hongmen City

"Brat, weren't you full of courage inside the city earlier? Why the fear now?"

The black-robed middle-aged man, appearing unassuming and straightforward, advanced gradually toward Yang Ning, mockery etched across his visage. Moments before, he had ruthlessly slain thirteen members of the Beishuo Chamber of Commerce.

Yang Ning, wounded already and having beheld the gruesome demise of kin such as Yang Fan, stood in complete disarray then. Confronted by the approaching man, dread and alarm overwhelmed him, his lips quivering soundlessly.

"Useless trash!"

The middle-aged man seized Yang Ning outright, meeting his stare directly, whence two rays of dark light burst from his eyes, lancing straight into Yang Ning's own.

"Ah!"

As the dark rays struck his eyes, Yang Ning endured a searing agony within his consciousness. With a piercing cry, he plunged into oblivion.

...

Once Yang Ning had thoroughly shared his recollections, Xu Ning applied the identical approach to draw forth the black threads from the eyes of Cao Yuanwu and Long Bohai, as well as Yang Ning's.

Their responses mirrored Yang Ning's exactly after the threads' removal. In turn, each described vividly the slaughter of their chamber of commerce's members.

At that instant, the reality of the Three Towns Chamber of Commerce's thirty-two victims' slaughter emerged, rendering all onlookers' faces somber in a flash.

"Just black attire, an apparently guileless middle-aged fellow—these three traits alone?"

Xia Chuan's forehead creased deeply. The perpetrator had clearly been exceedingly wary. The authentic recollections of that night from Yang Ning, Long Bohai, and Cao Yuanwu offered no further clues. Pinpointing the true offender using only these scant descriptors resembled hunting for a needle amid a haystack.

Yet, Great Xia's primary objective lay not in exposing the facts, but in absolving itself of blame. Thus, this outcome proved more than satisfactory.

Naturally, one additional matter remained!

Xia Chuan's furrowed brow eased promptly. He cast a look toward the Eight Towns Institute Chief before eyeing Hou Ming beside him in silent cue.

Hou Ming grasped the intent instantly, advancing to declare with hands clasped, "Fellows, the facts have surfaced. The perpetrator responsible for slaying every member of the Three Towns Chamber of Commerce clearly matches the black-garbed middle-aged man recalled by Yang Ning, Cao Yuanwu, and Long Bohai.

Skilled in wielding a longsword and possessing immense power, no less than 50 Zou at minimum. Furthermore, he commands the ability to tamper with memories. Judging by the trio's responses, this individual likely hails from beyond our Nine Towns, implying that..."

"An outside influence is indeed stirring strife within our Nine Towns!"

Yangqu Institute Chief Cao Tianying rose abruptly, completing Hou Ming's statement.

Individuals surpassing 50 Zou in strength number fewer than twenty throughout the eight Towns united. Beyond the trio's reactions, the memory manipulation skill itself surpasses any capability present in the Nine Towns today.

Hence, Cao Tianying's inference bore strong likelihood of truth!

The remaining seven institute chiefs, together with their accompanying entourage, comprehended this reasoning, and their countenances shifted at once.

In that moment, every soul from the Eight Towns assembled in the chamber shared a singular conviction: an extraneous power had indeed breached the Moao South Slope Territory.

"Does this exonerate Great Xia from all doubt?"

Xia Chuan's declaration swiftly captured the focus of the Eight Towns Institute Chiefs.

After brief contemplation, they turned their gazes to Yang Rong and the pair beside him.

Cao Tianying moved first, advancing to offer a deep bow toward Xia Chuan as he declared, "I, Cao, shall relay every event of this gathering in the hall back to Yangqu without omission. Then, my Lord will undoubtedly furnish Great Xia with due recompense!"