Chapter 510: Chapter 45: The Real Culprit

“What did you say?!”

Luo Shi stood up abruptly.

“True Man Qingding is dead…”

The newcomer repeated the statement.

Who was True Man Qingding?

One sentence could summarize his status:

Among the twelve True Monarchs of the Daluo Sect, Qingding was firmly among the top three!

This top three wasn’t about combat power but influence and importance.

True Man Qingding was skilled in alchemy and was the number one alchemist of the age!

Many of the unique elixirs of the Daluo Sect could only be refined by Qingding, including the Lifespan Extension Pill.

How could such an important figure be dead just like that?

“What was the cause of his death? What has the Daluo Sect announced to the public?”

Li Fei spoke up.

He suddenly realized something, the great hall he entered in his dream realm might have been where True Man Qingding practiced alchemy.

Otherwise, why would the Daluo Sect disciple, whom he had possessed, go there to fetch the elixirs?

Qingxu True Monarch appeared in that place, and now the alchemist Qingding was dead.

Such connections made it easy to suspect the worst.

“At the moment, it’s unclear; the Daluo Sect has only made Qingding’s death known to the public, but the cause of death has not been revealed.”

The newcomer said.

Li Fei and Luo Shi exchanged glances, seeing the gravity in each other’s eyes.

“Alright, report back as soon as you have any news.”

Luo Shi told the newcomer.

Once the person left, Luo Shi sat down again and looked at Li Fei:

“What are your thoughts?”

Li Fei: “I was wondering what kind of result would satisfy the Emperor in this investigation? Is it crucial to find out the truth, or would retrieving the missing elixir suffice?”

Luo Shi: “Which answer do you lean towards?”

Li Fei: “I initially thought that if we could retrieve the elixir, the Emperor might be willing to let the Daluo Sect save face and not delve deeper. But now, the Daluo Sect has practically demolished that step down…”

Luo Shi: “….”

Indeed, with the death of Qingding, it was no longer about whether the elixir could be found, but that there would be no more Lifespan Extension Pills in the future!

Li Fei let out a heavy sigh: “True Man Qingding’s death is very likely related to the lost elixir case; we will know once we get to the Daluo Sect.”

…

On the afternoon of October 13, the special train from Lanling City arrived at Daluo Town.

Apart from Li Fei and Luo Shi, the rest of the team looked unmistakably nervous.

They had already been informed of True Man Qingding’s demise.

A high-ranking True Monarch had died before the investigation had even begun; how could they not be afraid?

To put it bluntly, if a prominent figure like Qingding could die, what’s to say they wouldn’t have an accident while investigating?

As the imperial envoy and a cabinet official, Li Fei and Luo Shi were somewhat safer.

The remaining court-assigned officials and sitting officials were genuinely on edge!

Upon disembarking, Daluo Sect disciples came to receive them.

They were then taken straight to the Daluo Sect.

After dozens of minutes, Li Fei and others reached the foot of Daluo Peak.

Li Fei’s last visit was as the leader of the Wu’an University delegation; this time, he was here as an imperial envoy.

What a world of difference!

The group walked past the gatehouse and saw the person waiting for them at the foot of the mountain.

Like the last visit, dressed in a Taoist robe, holding a horsetail whisk, and with an elegant and ethereal demeanor, True Man Qingxia stood beside the giant stone inscribed with “Taoist Ancestral Court.”

“Lord Li, Lord Luo.”

True Man Qingxia greeted Li Fei and Luo Shi with all due Taoist courtesy.

There was a complex look in her eyes as she regarded Li Fei; after all, during their last meeting, it was Li Fei who had taken the initiative to pay respects to her.

But now the roles were reversed.

“Greetings to True Man Qingxia.”

Li Fei and Luo Shi paid their respects to True Man Qingxia.

Compared to their last meeting, Qingxia looked noticeably more haggard.

“Please follow me up the mountain.”

True Man Qingxia gestured with a turn of her body.

Luo Shi turned to look at Li Fei.

Li Fei, without any hesitation, took the lead and began to ascend.

Thus, with Li Fei in the center, Qingxia to his left, and Luo Shi to his right, followed by a group of Zhi Ge Pavilion officials, they made their way to the summit.

“True Man Qingxia, I hear that True Man Qingding of your sect has passed?”

En route up the mountain, Li Fei initiated the conversation.

True Man Qingxia’s face darkened with sorrow as she nodded: “Indeed, Brother Qingding passed away a few days ago.”

Li Fei: “May I ask the cause?”

True Man Qingxia glanced at him: “The details will be made clear to Lord Li once you reach Daluo Peak and meet the Master.”

Upon hearing this, Li Fei paused, sharing a look with Luo Shi.

Sure enough, True Man Qingding’s death was related to the elixir theft!

Li Fei didn’t inquire further; for the rest of the ascent, they climbed in silence, quickly reaching the mountain top.

“The Master awaits you in the Taixu Hall.”

True Man Qingxia told Li Fei and the group, “Lord Li, Lord Luo, please follow me.”

The Taixu Hall on Daluo Peak was used for significant sect affairs and was only accessible to Taoist True Monarchs and Martial Arts Masters for deliberations.

Li Fei, as the Emperor’s appointed imperial envoy, and Luo Shi, as a Martial Arts Master, could enter the hall with True Man Qingxia.

The rest were to wait elsewhere.

“Please.”

Following True Man Qingxia, Li Fei and Luo Shi crossed a mist-filled plaza, passed by a secluded pool, and finally entered a majestic hall reaching dozens of meters in height.

The Taixu Hall was even larger than the Da Lan Dynasty’s main hall used for imperial meetings!

Upon entering, Li Fei’s first sight was the colossal statue of the Taoist Ancestor enshrined directly ahead, nearly reaching the ceiling.

This was the statue of the Taoist Ancestor, the founder of Taoism.