After the order from the head of the Xue family, everyone got busy again and completely blocked off Yinliu City.
The head of the Xue family stood with his hands behind his back, staring at the fallen willow tree with a cold gaze, his eyes showing heartache. This was the hope for the future rise of the Xue family, but now it was shattered.
Even if the willow roots are found, it is impossible to bring the willow tree back to life. At most, the spiritual power contained in the willow roots can be used to improve the cultivation level of a certain cultivator.
"You just said that this incident might have been committed by a traitor in the family in collusion with outsiders. Do you have anyone in mind?" The head of the Xue family suddenly asked.
The elder's heart skipped a beat, his eyes flickering: "It's just a suspicion, no evidence."
He thought that the patriarch did not believe his guess, but now he understood why the patriarch sent everyone away and left only him. It was because he had even a little trust in his guess.
Thinking of this, he immediately perked up and waited for the patriarch's questions.
Sure enough, the head of the Xue family soon said: "Even if there is no evidence, as long as the suspicion is established, a conviction can be made."
"I have thousands of ways to make people tell the truth. Just tell me who you suspect."
The elder immediately clasped his fists and said, "When the Immortal Lady's Dharma Assembly began, two people from the clan were not present."
"who?"
"One is... Butler Red."
"Deacon Hong..." The Xue family head slowly raised his head, then shook his head gently, "He can't be a thief."
"His daughter disappeared yesterday. He might be looking for her today. It's understandable that he didn't attend the ceremony. Moreover, Deacon Hong's cultivation level is at the sixth level of Qi Condensation. If he wants to steal the willow rhizome, no one can stop him."
"He is an outsider after all." The elder bowed.
The head of the Xue family thought for a long time and finally shook his head. He did not believe that Deacon Hong would do such a bad thing. After all, he was the one who had helped Xue Kong's parents fight against the five major clans.
It can even be said that he has contributed to the Xue family's current status as the number one family in Yinliu City.
"Tell me about the other person you suspect." The head of the Xue family closed his eyes.
"The other one is Xue Kong."
"Him?" Upon hearing this name, the Xue family head slowly opened his eyes, feeling surprised, but soon frowned. "He is just a mortal. How could he uproot the treasure tree? Moreover, he has no reason to collude with outsiders to steal the family treasure tree."
"His talent is mediocre and he will never be able to cultivate in his lifetime. It will be useless even if he takes the willow roots."
"Perhaps it's revenge on the clan, clan leader. Don't forget what happened at the clan meeting the other day... and the clan's attitude towards him over the years, as well as his..."
"Enough!" Before the elder could finish his words, the head of the Xue family shouted loudly, interrupting him from saying the taboo.
"Yes." The elder lowered his head deeply and dared not say anything more.
The Xue family leader's eyes flickered as he took one last look at the fallen willow tree. He turned and left the compound, but before he left, a word drifted into his ears: "Ask Xue Kong to come see me."
“…”
Xue family lobby.
The head of the Xue family sat high in the front of the hall, and Xue Kong was the only one standing in the empty hall.
The two looked at each other. The head of the Xue family showed a kind smile on his face and asked softly, "I heard that you didn't attend the Fairy Lady's Dharma Assembly today. Do you know the Fairy Lady's status in Jingwu Country? This is an opportunity for everyone. Why give it up?"
"I know that I am mediocre in talent. Even if I go to the Dharma Assembly, I will not be noticed and will have no chance to cultivate into an immortal." Xue Kong did not avoid the clan leader's gaze and answered slowly.
"Alas." The clan leader shook his head with regret, a look of regret on his face. "Your talent is indeed not good, but talent is not everything. You must persist on the path of cultivation. Even if you have excellent talent, without the heart to fight, you will still find it difficult to achieve great things."
"The fairy lady's ceremony has ended. There is no point in saying this again, clan leader. Please ask what you really want to know." Xue Kong's mind was as clear as a mirror. When he was called here by the clan elder, he guessed the reason, so he answered slowly and unhurriedly.
This surprised the head of the Xue family.
"Do you know what I want to ask?" The head of the Xue family looked at Xue Kong with a shrewd gaze. He suddenly felt that Xue Kong's body seemed a little different from usual.
But he had very little contact with Xue Kong, so even if he noticed something was wrong, he couldn't figure out the reason for a while.
With his mere fifth-level Qi Condensation cultivation, he was unable to see through Xue Kong's cultivation that he had restrained with secret methods.
"The clan's treasure tree was destroyed by villains, and I didn't attend the Fairy Lady's Dharma Assembly today, so the clan leader naturally asked me to inquire about the situation." Xue Kong said sincerely, "But I have been staying in the house and have not noticed anything unusual, let alone encountered any villains."
"That is the foundation of our clan."
The head of the Xue family sighed, stood up, and walked towards Xue Kong: "Don't be nervous. I carefully looked around the damaged willow tree. It was the work of a cultivator. I don't suspect you."
Seeing the clan leader walking towards him, Xue Kong's heart suddenly became alarmed.
With a hundred years of experience in cultivation and rich knowledge, his intuition told him that the patriarch's sudden action at this moment had ulterior motives.
Sure enough, when the head of the Xue family came within three steps of Xue Kong, a strange fragrance entered Xue Kong's nose. In an instant, Xue Kong felt dizzy, the scene in front of him gradually became blurred, and he began to lose consciousness.
Xue Kong immediately practiced his cultivation in secret, and the spiritual power of the third level of Qi Condensation surged in his body, allowing him to stay awake at all times. However, under the effect of the secret technique, the fluctuation of spiritual power did not leak out at all.
The head of the Xue family walked up to Xue Kong, and the kind smile on his face gradually faded. His face was gloomy. He leaned over to Xue Kong's ear and asked softly, "Was there any lie in what you said just now?"
In his eyes, Xue Kong had already been bewitched by the soul-summoning spell he had secretly released.
It was a kind of incense made from seven or eight herbs. Monks could suppress the medicinal effects with their profound cultivation, but if mortals smelled even a hint of it, they would quickly lose consciousness and become its plaything.
Anyone who is summoned by the spirit will answer all questions.
Xue Kong still stood there and did not answer the question immediately. His eyes gradually became confused and dull, as if he was possessed by a ghost. His body began to sway from side to side, his steps became unsteady, and he could not stand steadily.
Seeing this scene, the head of the Xue family waited patiently.
After a moment, Xue Kong opened his mouth and uttered word by word: "It's... fake."
"It's fake!" The head of the Xue family's eyes flashed, and when he looked at Xue Kong again, there was a hint of coldness in his eyes.
As long as the Xue family leader heard from Xue Kong that he was the thief who conspired with outsiders to steal the clan's precious tree, after finding out the thief's whereabouts, he would slap Xue Kong to death on the spot to set an example.
Taking a deep breath, the head of the Xue family was shaking with anger. His genius son was so incompetent. Not only was his talent mediocre, but his character and family cohesion were the worst in the entire Xue family.
Even worse than those two outsiders, Butler Red and his daughter.
"How can it be fake!" When asking this question, the head of the Xue family had cold eyes and murderous intent was brewing in his heart.
"I... am not... in... the house..." Xue Kong replied with a blank look.
“…”
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