Wen Jiu quickly figured it out. That ghostly entity hadn't seen through the "Three Rivers Ghost Concealment" at first; otherwise, it would have immediately attacked the black ghoul. After all, corpses and ghosts were natural enemies. It must have only noticed after stirring up that surge of ghostly energy. The fact that it could send a black ghoul, enhanced with a triple-layered blood refinement body, flying backward showed just how extraordinary its ghostly techniques were. Perhaps that ghostly technique was the key.

"No, I have to find it."

Making up his mind, Wen Jiu changed direction and pursued the ghostly entity. If he didn't go after it now, then when? If the Night Patrol Division arrived, they would scour the entire mountain, forcing that half-faced ghost to flee far away. Ghosts could fly—not very high, but far enough to escape Dead Man's Peak overnight. If it got away, tracking it down again across thousands of miles of mountains and rivers would be like finding a needle in a haystack.

More than that, if he could devour it and allow the black ghoul to learn its ghostly technique, its combat power would increase significantly. Even if he remained at Qi Refinement Level Two for now, having the black ghoul at his side meant he didn't need to worry about unforeseen dangers.

However—

After pursuing it for five miles, the ghostly energy suddenly vanished by a forest stream, as if it had disappeared into thin air. He continued for another mile but still couldn't pick up any traces of ghostly energy. Left with no choice, Wen Jiu summoned the black ghoul and forced it to burn ten percent of its corpse energy to once again activate "Three Rivers Ghost Concealment" and help him search.

The moment the black ghoul emerged, it immediately turned back and retraced its steps to the forest stream, then followed the water upstream. Wen Jiu instantly realized—perhaps the ghost had escaped upstream, and the flowing water had washed away its ghostly energy, making it impossible to track.

Sure enough, as they followed the stream, the forest grew denser. Where there had once been scattered patches of light filtering through, there was now only darkness. But after traveling another hundred feet upstream, a massive, frigid pool emerged before them, its surface churning with thick, ominous energy. It was clear—the half-faced ghost was hiding beneath it.

Wen Jiu attempted to probe it with his spiritual sense, but he could only extend it three feet before it was blocked. Even so, he could feel the increasingly sinister energy emanating from below.

"Go!"

After a few moments of thought, he decided to explore with the black ghoul. With the Blood Corpse Escape technique at the ready, he could retreat at any time. Activating his ghostly defensive arts, Wen Jiu dove into the frigid pool with the black ghoul. As they descended, the ghostly energy grew denser, but Wen Jiu quickly realized—this wasn't the energy of the half-faced ghost.

It was something else.

Because the ghostly energy surrounding him was thick enough to be semi-liquid. Though just thin, wispy strands, this alone was extraordinary. Take corpse energy, for example—mere walking corpses could never reach this level. Whether beings above them could or not was unknown, but one thing was certain: whatever lay beneath this pool was far from ordinary.

Before long, the pool's bottom came into view.

The underwater space wasn't vast, allowing him to take in everything at a glance. And there it was—a grotesque ghost-faced flower blooming beneath the water, exuding wisps of liquefied ghostly energy.

The moment his spiritual sense touched it, Wen Jiu's expression hardened. The ghostly energy it released made his heart pound with fear. If it had been anything more than just a flower, he would have immediately activated Blood Corpse Escape to flee.

This overwhelming energy far surpassed that of Ji Qiubai, the Peak Master of Flying Immortal Peak.

Seeing the black ghoul beside him nearly trembling with excitement, Wen Jiu didn't hesitate. He used his ghost arts to pluck the flower while preparing to escape, in case of any unexpected danger. But fortunately, even after taking the ghost-faced flower, nothing unusual happened.

To prevent its ghostly energy from leaking, he didn't store it in his spatial pouch but placed it inside his corpse-nurturing coffin instead. While primarily used to cultivate corpses, the coffin was also an excellent tool for storing bodies and special items.

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As for what exactly the flower was, Wen Jiu wasn't in a rush to find out. He could simply check its details during his daily settlement.

Scanning his surroundings and finding no trace of the half-faced ghost, Wen Jiu suddenly had a feeling—if that ghost discovered that he had taken the flower, trouble would follow.

Down here, the half-faced ghost was likely at full strength, possibly even stronger than before. With that thought, Wen Jiu activated Blood Corpse Escape and swiftly left.

It was a shame, but there was no other choice.

Yet, not long after he departed, the half-faced ghost, weakened, slipped into the frigid pool. As it absorbed the ghostly energy from the water, its presence rapidly strengthened—multiplying to several times its previous peak.

Then, it rushed toward where the ghost-faced flower had been.

But when it found nothing but an empty pool bottom, a furious howl erupted, shaking the waters into a boiling frenzy.

Yet after venting its rage, the half-faced ghost wasted no time. It immediately left the frigid pool, transforming into a black shadow and fleeing beyond Dead Man's Peak.

"Yinzhou Corpse Cultivation… I will remember this…"

This time—

The ghostly voice it left behind was filled with boundless hatred.

And it was far more than just an empty threat.

At the same time, Wen Jiu landed five miles away. The moment he stored the black stiff corpse into his corpse-nurturing coffin, several signal talismans lit up in the sky, flashing urgently. Seeing this, Wen Jiu immediately understood—Mu Ye's body must have been discovered. However, he didn't rush. Instead, he moved leisurely toward the signal talismans, carefully considering how he would explain things.

He wasn't afraid of the Illusion Pill because normal pills wouldn't work on him—his Yin cultivation rejected them. In other words, even regular healing pills were useless to Wen Jiu. The best remedy for his injuries was death energy, Yin energy, or any kind of sinister aura. In this regard, he was even more extreme than some heretical cultivators. At least those people could still rely on medicine—he couldn't.

By the time he arrived at the scene, numerous Night Patrol Division disciples, as well as disciples from Feixian Peak within Lianwu Mountain's market, had already gathered. Wen Jiu blended into the crowd, mimicking their solemn expressions.

Half an hour later, Sikong Bai arrived with his Night Patrol Division disciples and began a meticulous investigation. The death of a division officer was no trivial matter.

Before long, members of the Demon-Slaying Division and the Devil-Suppressing Division also arrived. Surprisingly, it was the same two individuals who had previously tried to recruit him—Li Qing in green robes and the burly man with a fierce gaze.

Wen Jiu, along with the other Night Patrol Division disciples, was interrogated three or four times, but suspicion never fell on them. While the investigation unfolded, he simply stood by in silence.

Li Qing carefully examined the surroundings multiple times with his divine sense before giving his assessment. "Daoist Sikong, if I'm not mistaken, your officer was slain by a ghostly entity. The method of tearing the body apart and the traces of soul extraction all point to ghosts."

The fierce-eyed burly man from the Devil-Suppressing Division crouched beside Li Ye's bloodstains and spoke in a deep voice. "I can also sense the presence of the Blood Ghoul Hand, along with another person's blood… This suggests that there was at least one more individual present. Moreover, there are traces of your Night Patrol Division's Whirlwind Sword Technique here."

As soon as he said this, Sikong Bai's expression darkened.

He had noticed these details as well but had been reluctant to dwell on them. The Blood Ghoul Hand, the Whirlwind Sword Technique, and another person's blood… His first instinct was unsettling—could there be a Blood Garment Tower spy within the Night Patrol Division?

As for the idea that Blood Garment Tower remnants had committed the murder, that seemed highly unlikely. Right now, the Night Patrol Division and the Hall of Supervision were scouring the outside world for Blood Garment Tower survivors. Why would they dare return to Lianwu Mountain just to kill Mu Ye?

"Daoist Sikong, we've seen what we needed to see. It's neither a demon nor a devil. From here on, this matter is yours to handle."

"The Hall of Supervision is currently investigating Yan… That main peak elder is also about to arrive. You'd best wrap this up quickly. Otherwise, just the presence of the Blood Ghoul Hand alone could stir up another major storm."

After saying this, Li Qing and the burly man left with their subordinates. However, before departing, both of them glanced in Wen Jiu's direction and gave him a slight, friendly smile.

Sikong Bai didn't notice this exchange. He was standing there with a grim expression, staring at Mu Ye's corpse, his mood growing darker.

The Hall of Supervision's main peak elder was about to arrive, yet this incident had occurred.

Leaving aside the identity of the third person present, just the presence of the Whirlwind Sword Technique and the Blood Ghoul Hand was enough to turn the Night Patrol Division into a target of scrutiny.

Moreover, he had also sensed a familiar ghostly aura.

But with Li Qing and the burly man present, he hadn't dared to mention it.

It was the same ghostly cultivator from Feixian Peak who had killed Fang Zheng and the others—the one Elder Gong had suddenly declared must be found.

"This situation is getting more complicated."

"I should never have let that guy bring people to Lianwu Mountain… All this over a few dead Spirit Farming Division disciples!"

Sikong Bai pinched the bridge of his nose, lost in thought.