The news brought by Han Li was like the final piece of a puzzle, allowing Lu Mingzhe to see the perilous situation he was in. Elder Qinglan and Su Hao had grand designs, and his identity as a "medicinal catalyst" was likely set in stone. As for Zhou Cong, he was the dirty executor responsible for "screening" and "processing" potential medicinal catalysts within this chain of interest.
Passive waiting would only lead to a dead end. He had to proactively break free from this predicament.
Directly confronting Elder Qinglan would be like an ant trying to stop a chariot. However, if he could first eliminate her pawns and disrupt the situation, he might be able to buy himself a sliver of a chance for survival.
Zhou Cong was the perfect breakthrough point.
Lu Mingzhe meticulously studied the Imprint Jade Slip and the copy of accounts obtained from Zhao Hu again. The jade slip recorded the evidence of Zhou Cong instructing Zhao Hu to suppress and even eliminate potential competitors, while the accounts detailed his embezzlement through withholding pills and reselling sect resources. Either of these items, if exposed, would be enough to ruin Zhou Cong's reputation, possibly even leading to his cultivation base being crippled and expulsion from the sect.
But how to expose them was a matter of skill. Handing them directly to the Law Enforcement Hall? Firstly, it was uncertain if Zhou Cong had accomplices within the Hall. Secondly, the source of the evidence (Zhao Hu was dead) would be difficult to explain, and could easily backfire on him.
He needed a "perfect" informant, one who would capture the Law Enforcement Hall's full attention and who wouldn't suspect him.
His gaze turned towards Xinglü Peak, which had long harbored animosity towards Dānxiá Peak.
Within the Yunxia Sect, Dānxiá Peak's foundation was alchemy, making it wealthy and inevitably attracting envy. Xinglü Peak, on the other hand, managed the sect's criminal justice and law enforcement. Its disciples were generally known for their formidable combat prowess and impartiality. The two peaks had a long-standing grudge over resource allocation and disciple conflicts, leading to constant friction.
If he could use Xinglü Peak to eliminate Zhou Cong, it would not only sever one of Elder Qinglan's arms but also escalate the conflict between Dānxiá Peak and Xinglü Peak, diverting attention. It would be killing two birds with one stone.
With the plan set, Lu Mingzhe began to act.
He first spent several days utilizing his divine sense, far superior to his peers, and his understanding of formations and runes, to meticulously refine two one-time use "Trace-Hidden Communication Talismans." These talismans could transmit stored information to a designated recipient and then self-destruct, making them extremely difficult to trace.
Next, he chose a moonless, windy night, disguised himself again, and infiltrated a remote mountain forest within Xinglü Peak's sphere of influence. He copied the core fragments from the Imprint Jade Slip, which detailed Zhou Cong instructing murder, and several large, clearly indicative deficit records from the copy of accounts, onto the two Trace-Hidden Communication Talismans respectively.
One talisman he programmed to be sent to Elder Tiěxíng of Xinglü Peak, known for his integrity and fiery temper. The other he programmed to be sent to Steward Sītú Míng of Xinglü Peak, who was skilled in calculation and had a close relationship with Elder Tiěxíng.
Lu Mingzhe had carefully considered his choice of these two individuals. Elder Tiěxíng held high status and was straightforward; upon learning of such a scandal, he would surely be enraged, ensuring the matter escalated. Steward Sītú Míng, with his meticulous mind, was adept at exploiting opponents' weaknesses and could ensure the evidence was used effectively, delivering the greatest blow to Dānxiá Peak.
He placed the two talismans under two different rocks, setting up simple trigger restrictions. This ensured that only when disciples passed by and triggered them at a specific time (the next morning, when Xinglü Peak disciples were active) would the talismans activate and transmit the information.
Having done all this, he quietly departed like a phantom in the night, leaving not a trace.
The next day, Xinglü Peak.
As the morning mist had yet to dissipate, two disciples patrolling Xinglü Peak's mountain forest happened to pass by the area. One of them accidentally kicked a rock set up by Lu Mingzhe.
"Buzz!"
The two Trace-Hidden Communication Talismans instantly activated, transforming into two almost imperceptible streams of light. One flew directly towards Elder Tiěxíng's cave dwelling at the peak, while the other soared towards Steward Sītú Míng's residence halfway up the mountain.
A moment later...
"Boom!"
A surge of violent rage erupted from the peak of Xinglü Peak like a volcanic eruption, accompanied by a thunderous roar: "Zhou Cong, you scoundrel! How dare you!!"
The entire Xinglü Peak was stirred by this furious outburst, and numerous disciples craned their necks, wondering what had happened.
Immediately after, Elder Tiěxíng's tall figure transformed into a blood-red escape light, heading menacingly towards the direction of the Outer Sect's Medicine Hall. Simultaneously, Steward Sītú Míng, his face grim, led a troop of elite law enforcement disciples, following closely behind.
Such a significant commotion immediately drew the attention of the entire Yunxia Sect.
"What happened? Why is Elder Tiěxíng so enraged?"
"The direction is towards the Medicine Hall? Did something happen at the Medicine Hall?"
"Quick, let's go see!"
Countless curious disciples followed from a distance, chattering.
Inside the Medicine Hall, Zhou Cong was squinting, fiddling with an abacus, calculating how much profit he could skim this month, when he suddenly felt a suffocating, terrifying pressure descend from the sky, locking onto him!
His expression changed drastically. The moment he looked up, he saw Elder Tiěxíng's furious figure descend like a meteor in front of the Medicine Hall's main entrance, his cold gaze piercing like a sword!
"Zhou Cong! Do you know your crime!" Elder Tiěxíng's voice boomed like a bell, making the entire Medicine Hall tremble.
Zhou Cong was horrified but forced himself to remain calm. "Elder... Elder Tiěxíng, what are you implying? I have always performed my duties diligently. What crime have I committed?"
"Performing duties diligently?" Elder Tiěxíng laughed in extreme anger, waved his hand, and a projection of the Imprint Jade Slip instantly unfurled in the air, showing the scene of him discussing with Zhao Hu and instructing him to deal with Wang Lei and Lu Mingzhe! "Instructing disciples to harm fellow sect members, is that also performing duties diligently?!"
At the same time, Steward Sītú Míng stepped forward with a cold smile, unfurling the projection of the copy of accounts. The shocking deficit records were all crystal clear: "Withholding pills, reselling resources, pocketing profits! Steward Zhou, you have quite the audacity!"
With both human evidence (the recording) and material evidence (the accounts), the proof was irrefutable!
The surrounding disciples gasped in shock!
"Heavens! Zhou Bapai actually instructed someone to harm fellow sect members!"
"Senior Brother Wang Lei was indeed killed by him!"
"And Lu Mingzhe? He was targeted too?"
"To have embezzled so many Spirit Stones and pills! He deserves to die!"
Seeing the projections in the air, Zhou Cong's face instantly turned ashen, his body trembling like a sieve. He couldn't fathom how these actions, which he thought he had perfectly concealed, had fallen into Elder Tiěxíng's hands!
"No... it's not like that! This is a frame-up! It's fabricated!" Zhou Cong yelled hysterically, trying to struggle.
"Still trying to argue!" Elder Tiěxíng, unwilling to waste words, struck out with his palm. An invisible, immense force instantly restrained Zhou Cong's spiritual power, and he was lifted up like a chicken, "Take him back to Xinglü Peak for strict interrogation!"
"Tie Xing! How dare you touch me! Elder Qinglan will not let you off!" Zhou Cong cried out in terror, threatening.
"Hmph! Qinglan? We'll investigate him too! Let's see how much filth is hidden in his Dānxiá Peak!" Elder Tiěxíng snorted, unfazed. He then carried Zhou Cong, whose face was ashen, and departed in an escape light. Steward Sītú Míng led the law enforcement disciples to seal the Medicine Hall and search for more evidence.
This sudden storm instantly swept through the entire Yunxia Sect.
Dānxiá Peak, inside Clear Heart Hall.
Su Hao rushed in, his expression grave. "Master, Zhou Cong is in trouble! That old scoundrel Tie Xing has arrested him and taken him to Xinglü Peak!"
Elder Qinglan, still seated before the alchemy furnace, maintained a calm expression, but the fingers holding the jade slip tightened slightly. He slowly opened his eyes, a hint of gloom flashing within them. "What happened? Where did the evidence come from?"
"It was an anonymous Imprint Jade Slip and a copy of accounts, sent directly to Tie Xing and Sītú Míng. The content... is about him instructing Zhao Hu to suppress disciples and embezzling resources," Su Hao said gravely. "The method was clean, and the source couldn't be traced."
Elder Qinglan pondered for a moment, then said coldly, "Incompetent! He can't even handle such a small matter properly!"
"Master, what do we do now? Zhou Cong knows quite a bit about us. Although he doesn't know the core secrets, if he were to randomly implicate us, it might be disadvantageous..." Su Hao worried.
"It matters not." Elder Qinglan waved his hand, his tone returning to indifference. "He's just a pawn. What he knows is limited, and he can't fabricate any substantial content. Tie Xing doesn't have concrete evidence and wouldn't dare to touch my Dānxiá Peak. It's just... our channel for screening 'medicinal catalysts' is temporarily cut off."
His gaze deepened as he looked outside the hall, as if penetrating the void to a certain direction. "It seems someone doesn't want things to be peaceful and is stirring up trouble from the shadows... Investigate, investigate thoroughly! Find out which restless elements have been active recently!"
"Yes, Master!" Su Hao bowed and took the order, a cold glint in his eyes.
Outer Sect, inside the small hut.
Lu Mingzhe soon learned through Han Li and other channels that Zhou Cong had been personally arrested by Elder Tiěxíng. Everything was proceeding according to his plan.
He stood by the window, gazing towards Dānxiá Peak with a calm expression.
The strategy of using one wolf to fight another had succeeded. With Zhou Cong, this cancerous growth, removed, Elder Qinglan and Su Hao would likely not dare to easily target potential "medicinal catalysts" for a while, and his safety had greatly increased. At the same time, the conflict between Dānxiá Peak and Xinglü Peak had intensified, with both sides restraining each other, which would also buy him precious time to grow.
"The first step is complete," he murmured.
However, he felt no great sense of relief. Elder Qinglan and Su Hao were by no means easy opponents. This time, having alerted them, they would undoubtedly be more vigilant, and their investigations would become more thorough.
The path ahead was still fraught with thorns.
But he feared nothing. He would face any challenge that came his way. The path of steadiness lay in meticulous planning before action, and more importantly... in carving out a path to survival in desperation!
He turned and looked at Bai Chen, who was preening its feathers on the mat, and said softly, "We don't have much time, we need to be even faster."
Bai Chen raised its head, and in its clear crane eyes, a sharp glint flashed, as if it understood his intention.