Before long, Xiao Huo arrived at an open space and found a group of people gathered around a ragged old cultivator, discussing the matter animatedly.
The old monk looked flustered, clutching a tattered box in his hands, as if he were desperately trying to protect something.
The surrounding cultivators looked on with suspicion, and some even drew their weapons and pointed them at the old cultivator.
"Speak! Did you just come from the direction of the Heavenly Cloud Tower? Why are you covered in black mist?"
A young monk demanded an explanation.
"I...I didn't! I was just passing by, I really don't know anything about this black fog!"
The old monk waved his hands repeatedly, but his grip on the box tightened even more.
"Just passing by? Who are you trying to fool! Someone clearly saw you run out of the tower just now, and you were acting suspiciously as you walked out. Now you're saying you didn't know anything? What are you holding in your hand? Is it something from a demon?"
The other cultivator persisted, his eyes filled with suspicion.
"These... these are just some of my personal belongings, they have absolutely nothing to do with evil spirits! Don't make wild guesses!"
The old monk spoke urgently, his face filled with panic.
Little Fire lay on a rooftop not far away, swishing its tail and watching the commotion with squinted eyes.
"Hehe, this old man is quite interesting. He's acting suspiciously, there's something fishy about him. Maybe... I should go over and poke around a bit to see what he's hiding?"
As he spoke, Little Fire leaped down from the roof and landed steadily in the middle of the group of people, wagging its tail and speaking leisurely.
"Oh my, what a lively scene! What are you all doing gathered around here? What's that old man doing?"
The crowd was stunned when they saw the little fire suddenly appear. Some people recognized it as the pet beast of the Nine Heavens Emperor and immediately bowed in respect.
"Lord Huo, what brings you here?"
"Stop talking nonsense, I'm asking you what this old man does!"
Little Fire flicked its tail, its eyes fixed on the box in the old monk's hand.
"Tsk, why is he holding this tattered box so tightly? Is he hiding something he shouldn't be hiding?"
"Lord Huo, we don't know either. This person just ran out from the direction of Tianyun Tower. He was covered in black mist and was carrying a box. We suspect he might be a minion of a demon!"
One of the cultivators immediately replied, his tone somewhat ingratiating.
"Ouch, a demon's minion?"
Little Fire deliberately raised its voice and circled the old cultivator twice.
"Old man, they say you're a henchman of evil spirits, what do you think?"
"I...I didn't do it! I've been framed!"
The old monk was so frightened that he retreated repeatedly, but he held onto the box tightly with both hands.
"Lord Huo, I'm really just an ordinary rogue cultivator. I haven't done anything wrong. You have to believe me!"
"Believe you?"
Xiao Huo pouted.
"Then let me take a look at this thing you're holding!"
"That won't do!"
The old monk instinctively clutched the box tightly, his expression changing drastically.
"These are my personal belongings, and I must never show them to anyone else!"
"Oh my, that's an interesting thing to say!"
Xiao Huo looked at him with amusement.
"What's so mysterious that it can't be shown to others? Besides, I'm not stealing it. I just want to take a look. Can't I even take a look?"
"No...no, Lord Fire! This thing is really important, please have mercy on me!"
The old cultivator was so anxious he was almost crying, his eyes filled with pleading.
Little Fire squinted its eyes and flicked its tail.
"Your attitude only makes me more eager to see! Well then, if you won't let me see, then I'll just have to do it myself!"
"No, no!"
Upon hearing this, the old monk was so frightened that he took several steps back.
"Lord Huo, please, please don't open this box!"
"Wow, you've got guts!"
With a flick of its tail, the small fire flared up.
"If you keep hiding this from me, I'm really going to take action!"
"stop!"
A clear, cold voice rang out, and Ye Lingtian appeared before everyone.
All the cultivators immediately fell silent and bowed their heads in respect.
"Nine Heavens Emperor!"
"Master, why did you come out so quickly?"
Xiao Huo looked at Ye Lingtian with an innocent expression.
"I'm checking if this old man has any problems!"
Ye Lingtian glanced at it but ignored it, then turned to look at the old cultivator, his voice calm.
"Who are you? What's that in your hand?"
Upon seeing Ye Lingtian, the old cultivator's legs went weak, and he almost knelt down.
"Nine Heavens Emperor! This junior truly meant no harm! This box... this box is a family heirloom, absolutely not an object of evil!"
"Family legacy?"
Ye Lingtian's gaze sharpened slightly.
"let me see!"
"No...no! If an outsider touches this, it will cause uncontrollable consequences!"
The old monk's tone carried a hint of despair.
"Heavenly Emperor, please don't force me!"
Ye Lingtian frowned slightly, raised his hand and waved it, an invisible force enveloping the old cultivator.
After a moment, he said softly.
"You're not lying, this box really has nothing to do with evil spirits!"
"Thank you, Heavenly Emperor! Thank you, Heavenly Emperor!"
The old monk breathed a sigh of relief and kowtowed repeatedly.
"But it seems to be hiding some kind of special power!"
Ye Lingtian looked at him calmly.
"I won't ask where the box came from, but I want you to understand that if this kind of thing attracts unnecessary trouble, you might not be able to keep it!"
"I understand! I will be careful and never expose it again!"
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