"What!?" Chong Jingtian's expression drastically changed. A furious aura of violent energy erupted from his body, and the red vertical mark between his eyebrows flashed with a bloody glint. Everyone was forced to retreat repeatedly backward.
Su Chen only felt a palpitation in his heart, as if a wild, frenzy-driven lion was standing right beside him.
Ming Lin and the others wore expressions of shock. Chu Xuan died?
However, the Chief Inquisitor quickly restrained his out-of-control aura. His expression was so gloomy that water could practically drip from it, staring intently at Chu Yunze. "Exactly what happened? Explain everything clearly and in detail."
As pairs of eyes fell upon him, Chu Yunze's face turned ghastly pale, and his body trembled slightly. He had already thought clearly about the severity of this matter on his way here, which only made him feel even more terrified.
"A few days ago, Chu Xuan told that he was going to calm his mind and focus on training, telling not to disturb him unless sothing major ca up." Chu Yunze recalled. "Earlier today, an inquisitor ca looking for , saying the Chief was summoning him, but couldn't get in touch with him."
"I went over to where he lived, only to find that he had died inside the gravity training room."
In just two or three sentences, the situation was described clearly. This matter didn't sound complicated, but that was precisely where the problem lay.
This was inside the Adjudication Court. A Core Seed simply died silently and without a trace—how could that not send shivers down people's spines?
"Suicide?" Wei Yufan opened his mouth to ask, even sweeping a glance at Su Chen.
Everyone's expressions turned subtle. A few days ago on the arena, Su Chen had indeed told Chu Xuan that if he truly wanted to seek death, he should find a place with no one around to commit suicide.
No way he literally talked a person to death, right?
"No, it wasn't." Chu Yunze hurriedly shook his head. "Chu Xuan would not choose suicide. Furthermore, the state of his death was very strange."
"Lock down the entire Adjudication Court; only entry is permitted, absolutely no exit." Chong Jingtian looked at the inquisitor beside him, issuing a direct command: "Imdiately dispatch personnel to lock down Chu Xuan's residence."
"As for you—" Chong Jingtian looked toward Chu Yunze, his face holding nothing but apathy. "I must inspect your mories. Do you have any objections?"
As the one who discovered the corpse, it was inevitable for Chu Yunze to be suspected. Looking at the apathetic and unfeeling Chong Jingtian, he could only nod helplessly.
Even with a clear conscience, nobody liked having their mories displayed nakedly for others to see. However, right now, he had no choice.
You Shan waved her hand, and Chu Yunze walked over. Investigating mories was a delicate task. Even when a Chief Inquisitor personally struck, they could not be disturbed by external interference.
"Old Chong, I'll take my people and leave first." Sensing that things were amiss, Sang Hanhai didn't want to get mixed up in this ss and had already instructed his people to start packing up the equipnt.
"There's no rush." Chong Jingtian swept a cold, piercing gaze over. "Wait until I've handled this matter, and I will personally see you off."
Sang Hanhai's expression turned ugly. Staring wide-eyed, his fake eye practically popping out, he asked sharply, "What is the aning of this? Are you suspecting ?"
Chong Jingtian's expression was icy and apathetic, practically seeming like a completely different person from before. "I suspect everyone."
"Elder Sang, Elder Sang—" Su Chen hastily stepped forward to hold him back, lowering his voice, "The one who died is, after all, a Core Seed of our Adjudication Court, and soone with an Ink Jade talent at that. Having just been recruited this year, for him to die wordlessly and tracelessly like this, the inside story behind it makes one shudder..."
"Please try to understand; be accommodating—"
'An Ink Jade talent as well—' Sang Hanhai felt a shock in his heart. No wonder he felt the na sounded sowhat familiar just now.
This was truly a major event. No wonder this bastard was so furious. Seeing Chong Jingtian's face set like iron and stone, he rode the donkey down the slope, waving his hand in resignation:
"Investigate! Investigate, search however you like!"
"The few of you, co with ." Chong Jingtian didn't say much else, bringing them directly toward Chu Xuan's residence.
On the way, everyone's expressions were very grave. Ming Lin asked in a low voice, "Who do you reckon did it? Who possesses the ability to achieve such a feat?"
"How would I know?" Su Chen shook his head, glancing at Chong Jingtian walking ahead.
"Perhaps soone was afraid of him seeking revenge," Wei Yufan threw in a comnt from the back.
"Shut up!" Chong Jingtian sharply scolded coldly without even turning his head around, leaving Wei Yufan with an ugly expression.
'To still be stabbing knives in backs at a ti like this...' Su Chen inwardly shook his head.
By the ti the group rushed over to Chu Xuan's residence, the place had already been locked down by inquisitors.
The mont the Adjudication Court's lockdown order was issued, everyone knew a major incident had occurred. Passing inquisitors didn't dare to stop or linger around here, rely casting at most an extra glance or two.
The group entered the basent. Within the gravity training room, Chu Xuan's haggard, withered corpse was currently lying right in the center. He looked severely dehydrated, with his skin cracked and dry, and his muscles completely atrophied.
"Big Brother Chu..." Seeing this scene, ng Qi couldn't help but quietly sob.
Everyone wore varying expressions, yet they couldn't help but feel a lingering sense of mourning over the death of a peer.
After all, they were all Core Seeds. Not long ago, they were still fighting openly and scheming in the dark, yet today, one had turned into a withered corpse.
Since Chu Xuan could die silently and tracelessly in his room, there was no guarantee they wouldn't et the sa end.
"—Chief—" the figure squatting beside the corpse stood up. It was precisely Jiang Shumo. He had arrived very quickly, and his expression was grave. "The state of death is very strange. His entire person looks like he aged several decades. The vast majority of his vitality has been extracted."
"When did he die?" Chong Jingtian suppressed his fury.
"Uncertain. His body is practically dried up, making it extrely difficult to determine the exact ti of death," Jiang Shumo shook his head. "However, I've already investigated and found that roughly five days ago, soone still saw him moving about."
"But the possibility of it being a disguise cannot be ruled out."
Hearing this sentence, Su Chen couldn't help but look at this Chief Inquisitor ranked at the very bottom. He was truly experienced!
Jiang Shumo pondered, "I suggest that starting from after his battle with Su Chen, every single person he contacted and every single place he visited must be strictly investigated."
They had all seen the battle on the arena clearly, so they could confirm that it was undoubtedly Chu Xuan then. However, things after that were hard to say.
It was also because the ti from the end of the battle until now was very short that the Adjudication Court could still figure things out. If too much ti had passed, then there would be nothing they could do.
ng Qi's sobbing gradually softened. With his head lowered, no one could see his expression.
Finally, Jiang Shumo said, "Chu Xuan has no life-and-death blood-feud enemies in Yingfeng. The cost of killing him is too great. Nine tis out of ten, it is related to the Evil Gods."
"When the Evil Gods make a move, they must have a purpose. In killing Chu Xuan, what exactly are they trying to do?" Chong Jingtian's expression was dark and obscure. "Shumo—I'll leave this matter to you to handle. I am going to convene an Elder Council eting to grant the Adjudication Court temporary law-enforcent authority within Yingfeng City."
"No matter who it is, and no matter who assisted them from the middle, I want them to pay the price!"
His tone was exceptionally severe and brutal. Anyone could hear the intense killing intent contained within.
Chong Jingtian hurriedly left, leaving only the few of them sitting restlessly. Wei Yufan was the first to speak. "Chief Inquisitor Jiang, if there's nothing else for us here, we'll be leaving first."
"Wait." Jiang Shumo's eyes flickered slightly as he swept his gaze across the few of them. "I am going to summon all the deputy directors and directors for a eting. Co and sit in to listen."
All of them were very surprised. Have them sit in to listen?
The corpse was taken away to undergo further examinations. In silence, the few of them followed Jiang Shumo to the large conference room.
The number of directors and honorary directors stationed in Yingfeng was twelve. Combined with the deputy directors and honorary deputy directors, there were a total of thirty-three people.
Teng Liang and Bu Siqi were mixed among them. They were both completely clueless about this temporarily convened eting until they heard the news of Chu Xuan's murder from Jiang Shumo's mouth.
"What!? Chu Xuan was killed? He's a Core Seed!"
"Who? Who did it!?" several deputy directors shouted sharply, fire surging in their eyes. They were all students of Wei Yinshuo; Chu Xuan was their junior brother.
Among the director-level figures, there were also two whose expressions turned very ugly.
When they learned that Chu Xuan had died inside his own residence, the scene fell into deep silence.
"The next steps are very simple. Starting from after his arena battle, I want you to find every place he went, every thing he ate, and every person he t, one by one—" Jiang Shumo said in a heavy voice.
"What if it involves matters outside the Adjudication Court?" one of the director-level figures asked.
Jiang Shumo didn't even lift an eyelid. "The Chief has already gone to convene the Elder Council eting. This ti, whoever stands in our way is an enemy of the Adjudication Court."
"In addition, squeeze out a squadron from your subordinates and give it to them."
He pointed a finger, and Su Chen and the others sitting off to the side revealed expressions of astonishnt.
"The Adjudication Court does not raise idlers. As fellow Core Seeds, don't stay idle either; go and investigate together." Jiang Shumo issued his command in an unquestionable tone. "I know the relationships backing you are intricate and complex. Now is the ti to mobilize them. Leave the matters outside the Adjudication Court to yourselves!"
"Yes." The few of them stood up, accepting the order with varying expressions.
The eting quickly concluded, and everyone swung into action with intense, urgent preparations.
"Su Chen—"
After exiting the conference building, Bu Siqi unexpectedly called out to him, bringing Teng Liang along to his residence.
"What's the situation this ti?" Bu Siqi shut the door and queried with a grave expression. "How did Chu Xuan die?"
Su Chen's heart stirred slightly, and he lowered his voice. "It seems he was killed by the Evil God Cultists. The corpse looked like a dried mummy, even more withered and emaciated than Senior Brother Teng."
Beside him, Teng Liang was surprised. "You saw the corpse?"
"The Evil God Cults can actually stretch their hands straight into the Adjudication Court?" Bu Siqi was filled with shock and incomprehension.
"I don't know," Su Chen shook his head, only to see Bu Siqi's brows knit tightly.
"What is Jiang Shumo trying to do? Chu Xuan is already dead, yet he still wants the five of you to lead n and show your faces in public."
"Fishing." Teng Liang summarized it concisely and comprehensively.
Bu Siqi couldn't help but be shocked. "He truly dares to do this. The few of you are treasures in the eyes of the Chief. Just the intricate relationships backing you would be enough for him to suffer if soone else drops dead."
"He has always liked making dangerous moves and is adept at utilizing sches." Teng Liang's reaction was very indifferent.
Bu Siqi hurriedly instructed, "Junior Brother, you must be careful yourself. Be absolutely sure to take good care of yourself. If it truly cos down to it, just hide at ho. It's not like Jiang Shumo can force you out, right?"
"This is my duty," Su Chen shook his head, but inwardly he was pondering. He knew exactly what had happened to Chu Xuan better than anyone else.
The other Evil God Cultists were still hiding, however. Now he could actually use the Adjudication Court's power to catch Believers of Black Buddha and fulfill his objectives. If they really were fishing, he would actually be safer.
"You... you're too rigid!" Bu Siqi said exasperatedly. "I could tell when you were fighting Chu Xuan. Chu Xuan looked like he was suffering a ntal breakdown, yet you still offered words to guide him. Wouldn't it have been perfectly fine if he failed to recover after that setback?"
"Senior Brother was at the scene too?" Su Chen was surprised.
"Mm, you are very formidable," Bu Siqi couldn't help but add. "No wonder Teacher values you so much."
"He has a sense of propriety; there's no need to say any more. Since you saw Chu Xuan's corpse, do you have any other thoughts?" Teng Liang asked very directly. "Or rather, is there anything the Chief explicitly ordered not to be told?"
Su Chen's heart stirred slightly. Perhaps he could use this information gap to stealthily ss with ng Qi.
"—Chu Yunze was taken away by Chief Inquisitor You. His mories are to be examined—" Su Chen's voice was almost imperceptible.
"People beside him—" A glint flashed through Teng Liang's eyes, and he said heavily, "Be careful yourself. Wu Yang will continue following you."
"Thank you, Senior Brother." As Su Chen saw the two off, he couldn't help but think: 'If things continue according to this trend, ng Qi won't be able to hide for much longer. That Jiang Shumo is truly formidable—'
...
The orders had already been issued, and the Disciplinary Departnt squadron belonging to him was prepared as well.
Su Chen swiftly arrived at the gravity room, wanting to see exactly what this newly obtained ability was all about.
As his ntal energy surged out, he felt a strange sensation gradually erging from his surroundings. The space seed to have turned into flowing water, allowing it to be clearly perceived by him.
Whoosh! Su Chen's body abruptly turned illusory, and his entire person vanished from within the gravity training room.
'So this is hiding within the spatial interstitial layer?' Su Chen found it very wondrous. It felt like he was standing on the ground, yet simultaneously like he was stepping on empty air. It was very awkward.
'But the consumption is truly massive.' Feeling the ntal energy draining away like floodwaters, Su Chen clicked his tongue inwardly. 'I estimate that I can only hold on for a few minutes right now.'
Attempting further experints, he discovered that when he was in this spatial crack, he could practically do nothing at all. If he slightly mobilized his body's internal energy, the consud ntal energy would rapidly multiply exponentially.
Moreover, he couldn't move autonomously; he could only stay in his original spot.
'If I don't do anything, I can hide for a few minutes. If I accumulate power, I won't be able to hold on for even a few seconds.'
'But as long as I remain hidden, let alone a 4th-tier, even a 5th-tier might not necessarily be able to discover .' Su Chen secretly speculated. Despite its various shortcomings, they could not obscure the sheer power of this ability.
'Worthy of being related to space—' Su Chen massaged his temples, feeling his ntal energy gradually recovering.
When he had mostly recovered, he went to et the Disciplinary Departnt squadron allocated to him. There was a total of one hundred and twenty people. The vast majority were 2nd-tier professionals; only a minority were 1st or 3rd-tiers.
Yang Yan and Zhang Yunqing were among them. Seeing Su Chen, who was about to command them, their moods were inevitably complex.
'Rooting out the Evil God Cultists within Yingfeng City... this mission is truly broad. They really are just using us to fish.' Looking at the direct orders issued by Jiang Shumo, Su Chen couldn't help but feel speechless.
"Everyone." Su Chen raised his head and looked at the troops Wu Yang had already organized into formation. They were entirely solemn and serious, all of them experienced veteran inquisitors staring straight at him.
"I don't have much experience. In the ti to co, I still hope everyone will give it their all to assist ." He appeared very frank and earnest, his voice loud and clear.
"We will give our utmost efforts!" The crowd responded in unison, unavoidably harboring a bit of a good impression of Su Chen.
Of course, it was also tied to his status as a Core Seed. If he were just an ordinary inquisitor, it might have been an entirely different scene: 'Since you know you don't have any experience, go play with your balls.'
He was the first to lead his team out. Even though he had long sensed the activity ranges of several locations of Believers of Black Buddha, heading straight there for a targeted capture would simply be too exaggerated.
Su Chen still decided to wander around for a few days first to put on an act before making any real moves.
(End of this chapter)
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