Everyone was in an uproar, and whispers spread. Their eyes were like knives and their words were like blades. They surrounded Ji Rongxue from all directions, vowing to peel off a layer of skin from him.
"He really has no rules... No wonder he hangs out with Yun Xian..."
"Even the Sect Leader can be angered to death!"
"With her status, the Body Strengthening Sect is already making an exception by allowing her to attend the funeral banquet. In my opinion, she shouldn't have come."
Yun Xian was standing behind Ji Rongxue, receiving the second most amount of eye-rolling and rumors. Not only was he not embarrassed, he also felt refreshed.
Yes! There are no rules! Come and beat us up if you dare!
Due to the "rules," Qiu Zhuo and Qiu Dan were still lying on the ground, not daring to look up. Ji Rongxue, on the other hand, stood there perfectly still. "Come in," he said.
It was just a simple sentence, but it sounded like a master's voice to the two of them. Qiu Zhuo's face darkened for a moment, and he stood up and said, "Father passed away only a few days ago, and you're already so unfilial. My Body Strengthening Sect has truly raised an ungrateful person."
The sound was neither too loud nor too soft, just within the range that everyone could hear.
Everyone nodded secretly.
That’s right, it’s really too much.
"My father was seriously ill and bedridden. I found eight out of ten rare medicinal herbs needed for his treatment." Ji Rongxue looked at him coldly and said, "Don't suddenly become filial just because someone dies, okay?"
Qiu Zhuo couldn't refute it, and angrily asked, "What do you mean?!"
It would have been fine if he hadn't replied. But once he did, it confirmed what Ji Rongxue said. Suddenly, everyone behind him looked up at the sky, some at the ground, their faces somewhat gloomy.
Indeed, if you don’t do your best in life, even if you kowtow three times a day after death, it will be useless! You’re already dead!
This useless guy was silenced after only a few words. Qiu Dan really wanted to throw this brother, who was more trouble than help, into the ditch to feed the dogs. He said solemnly, "We naturally know you are concerned. However, the affairs of the Body Strengthening Sect are complicated, and father needs to recuperate. All matters can only be handled by the two of us. We are really too busy to handle them all, so we can only delegate this task to you. It was our negligence. I hope you will not bear any resentment."
As soon as Yun Xian heard this, he knew Qiu Dan was indeed more articulate than Qiu Zhuo. These few lines conveyed his unwavering devotion to the Body Strengthening Sect, demonstrating his grand vision. Secondly, he explained that Ji Rongxue's search for medicine wasn't his own will, but rather his own agency, suggesting a reluctance and lack of genuine feeling. Thirdly, he hinted at his experience and connections in sect management, while Ji Rongxue lacked even a chance at core power, making his claim to the position of Sect Leader seem absurd.
Qiu Zhuo said, "Yes. Rongxue, you have never been involved in sect affairs, so you may have some misunderstandings."
Yun Xian transmitted a message: "Master Xue, these two people's cultivation techniques are not very good, why are they talking so sinisterly?"
"..." Xue Lingxiu coughed lightly and said, "The elder is on the other end and can hear your voice transmission. Be careful."
Yun Xiancanlan said: "I know they can hear me. Hey, Third Elder over there, are you okay? Put your hands up!"
Xue Lingxiu: “?”
The third elder almost popped his eyes out of their sockets.
But no matter how much Ji Rongxue was teased, her expression remained impassive. With this icy expression, she presented cold statistics and said, "Does managing sect affairs mean that within two years, the Bodybuilding Sect's business has shrunk by one-tenth?"
"Or is it that their control over the borders is weakening, that they didn't even notice the fall of Qiankun City, and only responded hastily after the other sects had already taken advantage of them?"
"Or perhaps it's because no one paid any attention to the matter of the independent cultivators in Xiaoshi Town, and the urgent letter I wrote was intercepted and discarded. Even now, he's still completely clueless about the major events in the martial arts world?"
Everything she said was true, without any falsehood.
Everyone present understood this and felt awkward again.
Qiu Dan choked and was speechless, not knowing how to refute him. In the end, he could only say awkwardly, "We are still young, so naturally we can't manage things as well as our father can... When you say that, do you think you can do a good job?!"
At the end, I couldn't say a few useful words, so I could only say "you go ahead if you can do it".
However, Ji Rongxue really wanted to go up, and once he went up, he would probably not come down.
Ji Rongxue said calmly: "It may not be worse than what you did!"
"Enough!" Nan Ronghong, who was standing far away, finally spoke up, frowning, "What kind of occasion is this?! You're saying this in front of the great hall. Who are you trying to make a fool of yourself by saying this?"
As soon as she spoke, it was like a magic needle that stabilized the sea, and everyone's expression was frozen.
The third elder quickly followed suit: "Stop talking! Why make such a fuss? Everyone, take a step back! Everyone, take a step back!"
The Second Elder said, "The ceremony is about to begin, don't miss the time."
After the three of them spoke, the others immediately eased the atmosphere, saying things like "We are of the same roots" and "One step back and the sky will be wider." The atmosphere was harmonious, as if they were not the ones who had been criticizing Ji Rongxue for being unruly.
These people never play against the odds. When Qiu Dan and Qiu Zhuo are in the lead, they turn a deaf ear and dumb. When Ji Rongxue comes from behind, they ask everyone to "take a step back." However, this step back mainly refers to Ji Rongxue taking a step back.
Xue Lingxiu looked at the harmonious crowd and couldn't help but think of what Ji Rongxue had said on the treasure ship before.
If they were asked to knock someone out, they would refuse, but if they were asked to kill someone, they would think knocking someone out was a good idea.
Perhaps no one wants to be so powerful, but living in this kind of environment all day long, showing even the slightest weakness will only lead to double the oppression. She can only cultivate the most pervasive and cold appearance to earn the treatment of an ordinary person.
Ji Rongxue took one last look at Qiu Zhuo and the other man. Both of them had rather grim expressions on their faces. Which was just as well; at a funeral banquet, expressions didn't need to be too grim anyway.
She took one last glance at Ji Shang, who was still standing quietly in the distance.
Ji Shang smiled, as if he was completely oblivious to the situation.
Ji Rongxue withdrew his gaze expressionlessly, and took the lead to lead Yun Xian and his group into the hall.
Yun Xian had initially been worried. Even though she understood that the funeral customs of the Body-Building Sect were different, their uniqueness still proved challenging. After all, a "banquet" required food. Even Yun Xian wouldn't have much of an appetite if such a large coffin were placed in the center, with guests feasting around it. But now, it seemed like the situation wasn't as bad as she'd imagined.
There was no body inside the coffin, but a snow lion serving as a substitute.
The snow lion closed its eyes, looking peaceful, its fur always remaining at its most lustrous.
"This is Qiu Mo's natal spirit beast." Xue Lingxiu transmitted the message: "When he fell, it also followed his footsteps."
The elders of the Body Tempering Sect had already arranged seating for all the guests, taking seniority, qualifications, and who sat in the front and who sat in the back into account. Strangely enough, the seating they had arranged was almost identical to the spontaneous standing positions outside the hall. Yun Xian immediately spotted the empty seat at the highest point; it was probably reserved for someone more important.
Who? Liu Feiran wouldn't come to avoid suspicion. Could it be Jiang Fengtian, whom Jiang Lan had urged yesterday? Was he really coming?
Yun Xian took another look and realized that the seats they had arranged for Ji Rongxue and his group seemed to be in the corner. Naturally, those who were allowed to sit at the table were already considered distinguished guests of the Body Refining Sect. Most of the inner disciples and all the outer disciples were not even allowed to walk in. However, comparing the seats of Qiu Zhuo and Qiu Dan, it was quite interesting.
This needs to be explained, and it's easy to explain.
Ah, although you are the leaders of the younger generation, who among those present here is not your predecessor? Who does not have more experience than you?
Seeing that the three tiger eyes were closely watching Ji Rongxue, he would explain as soon as she had any questions. However, Ji Rongxue didn't even look at him and walked straight to the higher place.
Yun Xian followed, and the people behind him were so numerous that they filled up the nearest seats.
Ji Rongxue didn't need to explain at all. She didn't like the way the seats were arranged, so she just sat down as she pleased.
Everyone was stunned for a moment. The Third Elder was shocked and whispered, "Xiao Ji! What are you doing? Your place is right here!"
"Sorry, I didn't see it." Ji Rongxue said expressionlessly, "But I like it here better. We're all guests anyway, so it doesn't matter where we sit. Does the Third Elder want to rank the distinguished guests of the Body Refining Sect?"
The third elder said angrily: "You really are——"
Qiu Zhuo was truly terrified of her, worried that if he angered Ji Rongxue, she would expose the underbelly of the Body Strengthening Sect. It would be fine on any other day, but now with so many people gathered from the four realms of sects, how could he afford to lose face like this? The barefoot are not afraid of the shod. Once he obtained the Sect Leader Seal, he would have plenty of opportunities to deal with her. So he whispered, "Third Elder, it's all right."
Since Ji Rongxue had directly taken his seat, he could only choose a seat closer to him, and his expression became more depressed.
As this went on, the guests from all sides watched intently and were amazed.
Yun Xian was sitting high up and looking far away, observing people's expressions. He could tell at a glance that the cultivators from the Southern Realm looked more surprised.
While there's a custom in the Southern Realm where the whole village celebrates when one person ascends to heaven, it's rare for someone to engage in heated arguments at their father's funeral. It looks like a fight is about to break out! Even brothers who've split up and never spoken to each other again should at least maintain a brief moment of harmony at their father's funeral. This, this is really...
It's so exciting! Love it! Fight! Fight louder!
“…”
And Ji Rongxue really lived up to everyone's expectations.
After everyone was seated, the dishes were served one by one. They were all cold noodles and cold dishes that could be stored for a long time. More than ten plates were served, but not a single one was steaming hot.
Yun Xian flipped through the book and said in a voice transmission, "Big Brother, you said Qiu Mo was poisoned. How did you know that? Can you tell what kind of poison was used?"
Su Chi's back was as straight as a cedar, his hair hanging down slightly. He said, "There's nothing unusual on the outside, but his internal vitality is completely gone. If you weren't well versed in pharmacology, you wouldn't be able to tell he died of poison and would simply think it was a natural death."
How come he's also proficient in pharmacology? Is there anything in the world that Senior Brother doesn't know? Yun Xian remembered something and hurriedly said, "Senior Brother, wait a moment. I'll pull you into the sound transmission array. Brother Xue will understand a little bit."
Su Chi was quickly moved into the six-man formation. Originally, there were seven people, but after Jimo Shu left, the demonic energy dissipated, so they would have to add more next time.
"Welcome, Senior Brother, to the group." Yun Xian said, "Applause!"
Xue Lingxiu: “…”
Qi Zhiye: “…”
Ji Rongxue: "Pa pa pa."
Qiao Lingshan: "Hey, Yun Xian. That Third Elder over there looks like he's ready to eat someone!"
To prevent his voice transmission from being overheard, Yun Xian had Su Chi cast a talisman, and then he took the initiative to construct the sound array. Su Chi's cultivation level was comparable to that of the other elders. Now the Third Elder could only hear that the group was openly gossiping together, but he couldn't hear what they were talking about. But he knew it was definitely not good!
Su Chi repeated what he had just said. Every profession has its own specializations, and this was Xue Lingxiu's area of expertise. However, his attention wasn't focused on this, as he frowned and asked, "You also know pharmacology?"
His tone sounded somewhat hostile, as if if Su Chi said "yes", he would refuse to communicate with him.
Yun Xian thought, Master Xue is a very strange man. Sometimes he is very broad-minded, not caring at all that she has been fleecing him for almost a year and not paying him back. But sometimes his heart is as narrow as a sesame seed, like now.
"I'm not proficient in it." Su Chi said, "I just happened to have seen this poison, Guangling Dan."
"I've heard of Guangling Dan. The symptoms are indeed as you described," Xue Lingxiu denied. "However, this poison is rare, and the conditions for using it are very demanding. The person being poisoned must already be injured or seriously ill, and the poison must be administered over time, and even then it might not work. In Qiu Mo's case, it would be better to wait five years for him to die on his own than to use this poison. That way, there would be no trace left."
Yun Xian was stunned: "In that case, what difference does it make whether the poison pill is taken or not?"
You will die sooner or later anyway.
"This wasn't originally meant to kill people, Yun Xian," Xue Lingxiu pondered, "It's a device developed by some sects to torture and extract confessions."
There may seem to be no traces on the outside, but it is just the injuries that cause the person to be weak, drowsy, and unable to get up.
But in reality, after taking this pill, one will feel as if one's internal organs are being burned by a furnace, and will suffer from severe pain. However, one will be unable to speak or cry out for help, and will have to endure it again and again until one is about to die. Finally, one will have a last burst of light, which will make people think that there is hope for their life. In fact, in three months, they will be too weak to die.
"What a ruthless poison pill..." Qiao Lingshan sighed, "Fellow Daoist Xue, do you know which sects it belongs to?"
"The Wangchen Sect was the first to do so." Xue Lingxiu looked at Nan Ronghong, who had not yet entered the hall. The woman's graceful figure was as still as floating duckweed in the wind and snow. He whispered, "Madam Nan, you are from the Wangchen Sect."
The group was horrified.
To be honest, it’s no wonder that the Body Strengthening Sect didn’t have any doubts. Before coming here, no one would have doubted Nan Ronghong.
For so many years within the Body Strengthening Sect, she and Qiu Mo had treated each other with respect. While their love and affection were undoubtedly sweet, she had certainly fulfilled her duties as the Sect Leader's wife, as the public considered her. When Qiu Mo became bedridden, she resigned from her duties and remained by his bedside, caring for him day and night, searching for elixirs and never abandoning him. But thinking about it now, it's a bit thought-provoking.
"I don't understand." Yun Xian frowned and said, "I can understand Qiu Zhuo, Qiu Dan, and even you, Miss, wanting to kill the Sect Leader. I can understand Senior Ji Shang... too. But Madam Nan, if she really did it, why did she want to kill Qiu Mo? It doesn't seem to benefit her in any way."
Wangchen Sect was now on the same boat with the Body Strengthening Sect. A major chaos in the Body Strengthening Sect would not benefit her sect at all, but would likely bring disaster. It would be even less beneficial to her personally.
It's impossible that she's just been displeased with her husband for so long that she wants to poison him, right? Of course, it's not impossible; that's one motive. However, if she wants to kill someone, she has to cut him with a knife. With Madam Yinan's pharmacology, it's not impossible to kill Qiu Mo without leaving a trace. And why use Guangling Dan, a drug used to torture him? Is it simply to torture him? Is there such a deep hatred?
I can't figure it out, I really don't understand.
"The timing is wrong." In silence, Ji Rongxue opened his mouth again and said, "According to Fellow Daoist Xue, after the Guangling Dan has a lasting effect, it will take another three months for the body to weaken and die. Yesterday, I spoke with the elders and learned that my father did have a similar 'lasting effect'. He was able to get out of bed and even summoned Qiu Zhuo, Qiu Dan, and several elders for the first time. The next day, he passed away."
Xue Lingxiu said, "...Perhaps, there was more than one person who did this. It's just that we only found the Guangling Pill."
Tsk, if he could see the body, maybe he could see more.
But now that Su Chi has been discovered, his body is being carefully guarded, so I guess there's no chance. I wonder if the Body-Building Sect uses burial or cremation, and if we can dig up his grave afterwards...
Xue Lingxiu suddenly woke up and was scared by herself.
What? What the hell is he thinking?! This is clearly something Yun Xian would do!
After everyone analyzed the situation fiercely, things returned to the starting point.
Combining Ji Rongxue and Xue Lingxiu's statements, it's highly likely that Nan Ronghong administered the Guangling Pill, and that someone else did it on the day Qiu Mo summoned everyone. However, who it was and how they did it remain unclear.
Yun Xian asked, "Big Brother, does Qiu Mo have any external injuries?"
"..." Su Chi showed a rare moment of hesitation. "Then I'll have to undress and check. Time was tight, and the elders discovered me quickly. But there are no fresh wounds on the exposed parts. The old scars left behind are from the blow that caused his serious injury two years ago."
Yun Xian suddenly cried out like a groundhog: "Ah! I'm so annoyed!!"
The sound was so loud that everyone in the sound transmission array was startled by her shout. Qi Zhiye frowned: "What are you yelling about?"
"I thought I could stop thinking now." Yun Xian said dejectedly, "I hate thinking!!! I'm so stupid!!! Just come and fight me!! I have no place to display my Out-of-Body Stage strength. I'm suffocating!"
Since she was promoted, there hasn't been a single occasion where she needed to use force to suppress anyone! What's going on?!
Everyone: “…………”
Aren't you embarrassed to be so loud?
Ji Rongxue suppressed his laughter and said, "You are not stupid, you are very smart."
Su Chi sat beside her, not knowing how to comfort her. He could only pull her closer and touch her head.
The third elder watched the screen for a long time and saw that Ji Rongxue not only did not retreat without any hesitation, but even began to smile. He was so angry that he was furious.
What time and place is this?! Can't you see how gloomy everyone looks?! Okay, he understands that maybe most people aren't gloomy, they're just pretending—after all, even if their own leader dies, they wouldn't necessarily be sad, let alone someone else's. But at least they should pretend! That's your father!!!
Qi Zhiye had been silent until now, but now he suddenly said, "Have you noticed that it's getting colder in the hall?"
"Yeah." Qiao Lingshan was almost freezing cold, but she was already very cold, so she couldn't tell the difference. "Is the weather getting worse again?"
"No. The sun is out." Qi Zhiye raised his hand, and the Buddhist beads on his wrist began to glow and vibrate. His face was solemn. "If we don't stop it, the spirit may be born."
Everyone in the Body Strengthening Sect was still unaware of this.
Qiu Mo had suffered torture before his death and was killed by his closest people. His obsession had not yet subsided. Now he watched helplessly as an unknown murderer or murderers dared to sit so easily in the funeral banquet. Not to mention him, even Buddha would be angry.
Ji Rongxue said, "...During the funeral banquet, the sect leader transformed into a spirit and was saved by a wild monk. This will probably be the biggest joke of the past century."
"What wild monk?" Qi Zhiye frowned and spoke even more bluntly: "Hurry up and find a way to make your father quiet down!"
Ji Rongxue spread his hands and said, "I couldn't control what my father wanted when he was alive, and it would be even harder to control him after he died."
"What are you talking about? Your dad and my dad! Stop talking!" He was still acting like this even after ascending to heaven. His merits were in jeopardy. Xue Lingxiu's high moral standards made him angry, "I really can't stand it anymore!"
There was chaos. At this moment, after the funeral banquet was over, the elder coughed lightly, and everyone present immediately put down their chopsticks.
The main topic is finally here.
Nan Ronghong turned around when she heard the voice, her face and lips were pale, like a bunch of bright white plum blossoms in the wind and snow.
She slowly walked into the hall with the people around her and behind her.
Ten feet, eight feet, five feet...
The moment the pedestrians came within three meters, Yun Xian's expression changed.
The magic stone in her chest was burning, getting hotter than ever before!
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