Chapter 1025: Various Factions (II)
An Siwei bowed low and answered respectfully, "Floating Cloud Cave fell into utter chaos. Beasts and disciples scattered. Elders and guest cultivators stormed the pavilions and divided the treasures. The cave master, overcome with guilt, committed suicide. His corpse was seized and torn apart by cultivators until it transformed into a strange phenomenon and vanished, leaving only his head behind.
"Midway through the chaos, the other two sects of Mount Xiaoshi stormed Floating Cloud Cave as well, under the banner of cleansing the Dao lineage of traitors. They rounded up the cultivators, severed their heads, and sealed them. Zai Xingzi's faction has already been ground into dust, their bones untraceable. Only the spirit items of that group were collected and sent over.
"Now, the cultivators of the two Mifan sects have already escorted the people of Floating Cloud Cave to the northern bank, along with the sealed heads and spirit items."
Li Xuanxuan was dumbfounded and speechless. Li Ximing sipped his tea in silence, while Li Jiangqian, fingering the jade pendant in his hand, let out a cold laugh and said, "They responded quickly, but in the end, only a few cultivators of Zai Xingzi's faction and a late-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cave master died. Their stance is low indeed... Taking advantage of our Daoist Master's breakthrough today, they dared not wait until nightfall and hurried to present their faces for a slap."
He paused slightly, calculated the timing, and said quietly, "Judging by the timing, the turmoil at Mount Xiaoshi must have already begun the moment our Daoist Master appeared. Otherwise, the news alone would have taken half a day to reach them, let alone arriving here before nightfall. There is likely someone guiding them from the shadows."
Li Ximing naturally understood that the Golden Tang Gate stood behind the Mifan three sects. Even the Golden Tang Gate itself had repeatedly targeted his family because there was profit to be gained. He paused slightly and said, "Bring the items forward."
An Siwei immediately withdrew, and returned with a row of jade boxes. He opened the largest and most ornate one, revealing the head of an old man, hair and beard bristling in fury, his features twisted as if in regret.
The heavenly light at the center of Li Ximing's brows shifted, dispelling the technique that shrouded the face. The head returned to its appearance at the moment of death. His features had not changed, but where was the regret? His face was only filled with shock and fury.
Li Ximing lowered his head and sipped his tea, while An Siwei replied, "It is undoubtedly this man."
Li Ximing lightly waved his sleeve. The sealed head immediately began to seep blood. He spoke softly, "Quewan, investigate the blood kin."
Li Quewan immediately understood. She placed one hand over her wrist, placed two fingers together, and drew the blood up with mana. When she started to chant incantations, she caused silver-white mercury light to float within the blood.
She said quietly, "A red-tailed fish, its household ruined, its son a beast, a distant kin."