Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8566: Suspicion (1)

This was an extraordinarily magnificent Hall, yet visitors were invariably struck by a peculiar paradox. While the architecture appeared grand, it emitted an aura of tawdry vanity. These conflicting impressions left onlookers at a loss for words, as the entire structure radiated a persistent sense of awkwardness.

The hall was packed with a diverse assembly of men and women. Positioned in the deepest section of the chamber was a raised dais, upon which sat a man adorned in opulent robes. Looking to be in his forties, he possessed a finely groomed beard and a handsome, gentle demeanor; he was, in essence, the very image of a god-like uncle.

Right now, however, he cast a murderous gaze upon the attendants below. The people gathered there, regardless of gender, wore lavish attire. The men were remarkably striking—some possessed a feminine grace, others were霸气or domineering, and many were the epitome of refined style. They were, in every sense, handsome.

The women were equally extravagant, though their garments were daringly scant, bearing no resemblance to the modest attire of female cultivators in other parts of the cultivation world. With their chests exposed and deep cleavage on display, they were calculated to ignite the imagination. More importantly, each woman carried an air of either profound purity or seductive charm, guaranteed to make a man's heart race at a fleeting glance.

The Yin Yang Sect specialized in dual cultivation, yet their approach differed drastically from the Orthodox sects. While the Orthodox sects practiced dual cultivation with a single, dedicated Dao partner, the Yin Yang Sect centered their techniques on raw physical indulgence. Male cultivators kept numerous concubines, while female cultivators maintained male companions, all of whom were treated as mere cauldrons, destined for a tragic fate.

This specific cultivation path resulted in the female cultivators of the Yin Yang Sect appearing as formidable as their male counterparts, a rarity in other sects. Despite this strength, other sects frequently reviled them, labeling their practices as demonic. Even the major sects within the Blood Sea Realm looked down upon them, though none dared openly challenge them due to their overwhelming combat prowess.

Presiding over the hall was the sect leader, the Yin Yang scholar Ji Chunfeng, a notorious devil within the Blood Sea Realm. His rise to power was paved with the corpses of women whose primordial Yin he had drained dry. He was widely considered the most detestable devil in the Blood Sea Realm, surpassing even the ghost-manipulators of the Yin Ghost Sect, the corpse-restoring practitioners of the Corpse Demon Sect, or the bloodthirsty zealots of the Blood Kill Sect.

Nevertheless, his demonic arts were devastatingly effective. With only a few rare exceptions, no one could stand against him. Consequently, despite the burning hatred of countless enemies, he reigned supreme as the head of the Yin Yang Sect. However, Ji Chunfeng’s expression was currently grim. As one of the nine great sects, the Yin Yang Sect was untouchable; yet, one of their clans had been annihilated in the blink of an eye. This was an affront he could not simply overlook.

Glare fixed upon the elders below, Ji Chunfeng grunted, his voice dropping into a menacing tone, "Liu Wuji, tell me. What is the status of your investigation into the Ghost Shadow Group?" He commanded his attention toward the elder standing at the head of the row. This man, looking to be in his thirties with a pale, beardless face and dressed in scholarly robes, was a high-ranking elder named Liu Wuji, known for his formidable strength.

As his name was called, beads of sweat broke out on Liu Wuji's forehead. He was well aware that beneath the scholarly facade, Ji Chunfeng was a man of cold-blooded, merciless efficiency. Every time the sect leader flew into a rage, heads would roll. Trembling slightly, he bowed and replied, "Sect leader, the Ghost Shadow Group has only just emerged, and their methods are incredibly elusive; as a result, our intelligence remains sparse. They appeared roughly half a year ago, primarily handling minor missions for rogue cultivators. Because they only targeted rogue cultivators initially, they went unnoticed. Later, they began accepting missions involving sects, but only those of small or medium standing. They have never targeted the nine great sects, and their actions are marked by extreme caution. No one has ever successfully laid eyes on a member. Whether it is accepting contracts or collecting payments, the entire process is offloaded to irrelevant intermediaries—hired rogue cultivators who act only once before being discarded. They are impossible to track, and thus, we have made little progress." By the end of his report, he had bowed his head low.

Liu Wuji oversaw the sect’s intelligence network, yet he failed to satisfy his own standards, let alone those of the Yin Yang scholar. He dared not look up at Ji Chunfeng’s ashen face, while his peers watched from the sidelines with malicious glee.

Ji Chunfeng snorted at him. "This is the extent of your findings? Liu Wuji, the sect provides you with ample resources for intelligence annually, and this is the return on our investment? We cannot even produce a single member of the Ghost Shadow Group, nor can we confirm they are the culprits! Is this how you conduct your duty?"

Liu Wuji immediately cupped his fists, declaring, "I beg the sect leader's forgiveness!" He knew full well that excuses were pointless. Admitting guilt was his only recourse for survival, so he offered no defense at all.

Observing Liu Wuji's posture, Ji Chunfeng understood that the man had truly failed to find any leads. As one of his most trusted and diligent aides, Liu Wuji’s lack of results suggested that the enemy had truly left no traces.

Turning to the rest of the assembly, Ji Chunfeng barked, "A clan guarded by over thirty Island Lord-level powerhouses was eradicated without a trace. This is a direct slap to the face of the Yin Yang Sect. If we fail to retaliate, how will we be perceived by others? I demand you find the perpetrators using any means necessary. Liu Wuji, stop fixating exclusively on the Ghost Shadow Group. They are merely assassins; do you truly believe they possess the status of the Rahu Sect? Since the trail for the Ghost Shadow group has gone cold, pivot your attention to other sects and look for anomalies. Aside from the other eight major sects, only a few mid-sized organizations have the capability to execute a strike like this. Investigate exhaustively—we will not let this slide."

The group echoed their agreement. They understood that allowing this to pass was unthinkable. They were members of the Yin Yang Sect, and to allow their house to be insulted was to accept personal humiliation. Despite their usual internal squabbling, they had to unite to find the murderer; otherwise, the reputation of their sect would be ruined. They had no desire to become another Dark Ghost Sect, whose islands had been ravaged by the Ghostwind bandits while the world looked on in mockery. They had been struck far harder than the Dark Ghost Sect, and any sign of weakness would invite infinite ridicule.

Ji Chunfeng commanded firmly, "Even if we cannot confirm the Ghost Shadow Group's guilt, we cannot discard them as suspects. Use any bait necessary; find these people and execute them!"

The assembly shouted their compliance. Ji Chunfeng continued, "Furthermore, do not lose sight of the bigger picture. This has severely damaged our reputation, and we must ensure other sects don't seize this moment of weakness to undermine us. Pass the order: all subordinates are to be placed on high alert to handle any unexpected developments."

Hearing these words, the hearts of the elders tightened, and they responded immediately. Ji Chunfeng then waved them away. As the hall emptied, the men breathed a collective sigh of relief, though the Sect leader could only lament in private. He harbored little confidence in finding the true culprit so quickly; the mystery was simply too absolute, devoid of any genuine clues.

He even privately doubted if the Ghost Shadow Group was truly behind it. It was illogical to believe a fledgling assassin outfit could suppress thirty Island Lord-level experts simultaneously. Even the knockout agents used, while rare, required a level of sophistication he doubted they possessed. If they were that talented, they would have made a name for themselves long ago.

In truth, Ji Chunfeng suspected one of the other eight major sects—the Yin Ghost Sect, Poisonous Insect Valley, Rahu Sect, Sick Man Sect, or even the Corpse Demon Sect. He discounted the Sharp Sword Sect, Heaven Crippling Sect, and Giant Demon Sect, as they lacked the particular aptitude for poison. The Giant Demon Sect, in particular, was known for their blunt, direct approach—they lacked the patience for schemes, let alone poison. The Heaven Crippling Sect used strange arts but not poisons, and the Sharp Sword Sect relied purely on sword cultivation. Every other major sect, however, remained a candidate. While they maintained a facade of cordiality, Ji Chunfeng knew them well; they would jump at any opportunity to tear a piece out of him if given half the chance."