Xiuxian, I can travel to another world

Chapter 262 The Murderer (Early Month, Requesting Monthly Tickets!)

It is truly horrifying that several Foundation Establishment cultivators have been murdered in their own cave dwellings and manors.

The island of Narwhale has existed for thousands of years, and while such an event is not unprecedented, it is extremely rare.

The key is,
We don't know who the murderer is!
Doesn't this mean...

Others could also be killed?

Today is the joyous occasion of the Drunken Daoist and Hu Lishu's wedding, but this incident has dampened the spirits of all the cultivators, who have all taken their leave.

on the way back.

"Fellow Daoist Zhu."

Yu Lou leaned closer, his usual winking and gesturing gone, and asked with a serious expression:
"You've spent a long time on Cloud Whale Island and are familiar with the cultivators there. Can you guess who the murderer is?"

"..." Zhu Ju gently shook his head:
“Nothing like this has ever happened since Zhu arrived on the island.”

“Even in the last hundred years, there have been very few murders on the island, and even if there are, the murderers are caught quickly.”

"Hmm..." Yu Lou's eyes flickered:
"There can't be many people who can bypass the third-tier formation on the island and kill a Foundation Establishment cultivator silently, can they?"

Not much indeed.

The fact that the killer was able to avoid the island's array indicates that they possessed certain array authority. The fact that they could kill a Foundation Establishment cultivator silently suggests that they had profound cultivation and formidable strength, and were very likely a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Upon closer inspection, the number of people on the island who met the criteria was less than two fingers' width, and each of them held a prestigious position.

Yan family?
Fang family?

Or is it that one from the Sun family?
But they had no reason to take action against the Daoist monks on the island.

"Both of you."

As he was lost in thought, a man walked over; it was Chen Tong, who lived not far away.

"Fellow Daoist Zhuang has been murdered, and the killer's identity is unknown. It's highly likely they will strike again," Chen Tong said.
"Chen discussed with several fellow Daoists nearby and decided to adjust the formations of their respective manors to connect them together. This way, if anyone made a move, the others would be able to detect it and lend a helping hand."

"Would you two like to participate?"

"Why go through all that trouble?" Yu Lou's eyes widened, and he said:
"If you ask me, we should just move to a manor. With Fellow Daoist Chen in charge, even a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator would have a hard time escaping our combined attack."

"Fellow Daoist Yu, you think too highly of me, Chen Tong." Chen Tong shook his head with a wry smile.
"However, your suggestion is indeed safer, but many fellow Daoists are unwilling to live together."

"still……"

"Let's wait for the Chamber of Commerce's investigation results before making any decisions!"

Dao Foundation cultivators have keen senses; even without projecting their divine senses, they can clearly see everything around them.

There are many people.

Smells and thoughts are mixed together, making it difficult to find peace.

Unless absolutely necessary, or if they are a couple, most Foundation Establishment cultivators are still accustomed to living alone in their cave dwellings.

Many Dao Foundation cultivators don't even keep their children by their side.

"What's this?"

Yu Lou curled his lip. He even opened the courtyard gates when looking for women, never bothering to hide it, so he didn't care.

Then he said:
“Fellow Daoist Chen, would you mind if I moved in with you? I’m willing to pay a certain amount of rent.”

"I am most pleased to welcome you, fellow Daoist." Chen Tong's expression was stiff; he wanted to refuse but was too embarrassed to say so, so he could only sigh helplessly.
"Rent will be waived, as opportunities to exchange ideas with like-minded people are rare."

"so!"

"Chen is holding a small meeting at his residence and inviting fellow Daoists from the neighborhood to attend. With more people, it's safer and they can exchange their knowledge. Isn't that the best of both worlds?"

The Dao Foundation Small Meeting often lasts for ten days to half a month. By the time the meeting ends, the Cloud Whale Chamber of Commerce should have already found the real culprit.

"That's great!" Yu Lou's eyes lit up.
"I'll go back and pack my things now. I'll be troubling Fellow Daoist Chen for the time being."

"I have some matters to attend to, and it might be inconvenient for me to move there," Zhu Ju said.

"The formation can be connected."

"That's fine then." Chen Tong didn't try to persuade him further; being able to connect to the formation was enough to handle most situations.

…………

A few days later.

No other cultivators on the island have been reported killed, but the Cloud Whale Merchant Guild has not disclosed the results of its investigation.

The result was not ideal.

I don't know when it started, but all sorts of rumors began to circulate on the island, giving me a sense that a storm was brewing.

"senior!"

"Lord."

It was time for the monthly account reconciliation again, and Yan Yunying and Li Xingzhou came to visit.

Yan Yunying was the maidservant assigned to Zhu Ju by the Yan family when Zhu Ju was invited to become a guest of the Yan family.

It also implies a desire to be bound together.

No matter what.

Zhu Ju didn't plan to keep any informants around, nor did he have the habit of leaving any blood relatives, so he simply let her manage the shop.

Over the years, Yan Yunying has given up on currying favor with Zhu Ju, and her business has only become more and more prosperous.

Thanks to this, she earned a lot of spirit stones, and her cultivation level improved from three-aperture innate to six-aperture.

Given time, it is not impossible for them to advance to the foundation of the Dao.

From being dependent on others to becoming independent and self-reliant, she is becoming more and more like a strong woman and is gradually standing out among the younger generation of the Yan family.

However, she is now focused on breaking through to the late stage of the Innate Realm and has no interest in settling down and starting a family.

"Lord."

"This is the profit for this month."

Yan Yunying presented the ledger, pursed her lips, and said:

"There's another matter. My second uncle asked me to ask the master if it's possible to refine a batch of second-tier, low-grade thunder pearls?"

"If possible, the Yan family will provide the raw materials and purchase them at 20% above the market price. As for the quantity, the more the better. As long as you can refine them, the Yan family will buy as many as you need."

"Thunder Pearl? Second-tier, low-grade?" Zhu Ju flipped through the ledger and casually remarked:

"I can refine it, but the success rate is not high, and I'm afraid I won't have time recently."

“I see…” Yan Yunying nodded:

"My slave understands."

"correct."

“There are some matters in the clan recently, so I need to go back. I will be back in about half a month. The shop will be temporarily managed by Li Wang.”

?

Zhu Ju looked up, gazing thoughtfully at Yan Yunying, then paused before nodding.
"fine."

“Li Wang can handle it too.”

After Yan Yunying took her leave, Li Xingzhou shakily took out the account book for Jiupinju for this month.

"How are you feeling?"

Zhu Ju asked:
"If you can't manage, then take a break."

"Thank you for your concern, my lord. I am fine." Li Xingzhou shook his head: "I will be fine for the next two or three years."

He had already suffered internal injuries when he first landed on the island, and after so many years, his days were numbered.

However, Li Xingzhou was already content.

Over the years, he married and took concubines on the island, and had two sons and a daughter, thus continuing the bloodline of the Li family and not letting down his ancestors.

His child is still young, so of course he's reluctant to rest; he also wants to build up his wealth for his descendants.

"Lord."

After hesitating for a moment, Li Xingzhou finally said:
"Recently, rumors have been circulating that evil spirits are hiding on the island, and several senior Dao Foundation cultivators have already been killed."

"It caused widespread panic."

He looked up at Zhu Ju, a look of surprise on his face:
"it is true?"

"It's true that some Foundation Establishment cultivators were killed, but the talk of demons and monsters is utter nonsense." Zhu Ju shook his head.
"The Chamber of Commerce is truly investigating the murderer; there's no need to worry."

"Yes." Li Xingzhou hesitated for a moment before saying:

There's another rumor circulating, but I'm not sure if I should mention it?

"What can't be said?" Zhu Ju asked.

"tell me the story."

Li Xingzhou is busy in the market all day long, has a wide circle of contacts and is well-informed, so he may really know something.

"Yes." Nodding, Li Xingzhou lowered his voice and said:

"Some say that the thing that harmed people came from the Yan family, and it is very likely that it was a big shot in the Yan family who killed people because he practiced some kind of demonic art. It is precisely because of the Yan family's protection that the murderer has not been caught."

Yan family?
Zhu Ju's eyes narrowed.

He had heard the rumor before and initially didn't take it seriously, but recently the situation has become increasingly complicated.

The Drunken Taoist has just gotten married, but he hasn't been at the manor these past few days.

Most of the more outstanding younger members of the Yan family were called back to their ancestral home, such as Yan Yunying, who had just left.

and……

None of the Dao Foundation Establishment cultivators who were killed had any connection with the Yan family; they were all guest elders or even clansmen of other families.

All signs indicate that something is wrong.

Is it possible?
Was it really someone from the Yan family who did it?
*
*
*
Yunlou.

The buildings, nestled amidst thick clouds, stand majestically, resembling celestial palaces, far removed from the turmoil of the world.

This day.

"Peng!"

The glass cup was smashed to the ground, shattering the tranquility of the scene.

A chilling and somber atmosphere permeated the main hall.

Fang Wang, the patriarch of the Fang family, had a gloomy expression, and his aura of perfected Dao Foundation was emanating from him. His eyes were fixed on the person opposite him.

"Speech imprisonment!"

"What exactly does the Yan family mean?"

"Only five people could circumvent the island's formations and kill a Foundation Establishment cultivator silently. The other four have already proven that they were not the ones who did it, so who else could it be besides Yan Weiran?"

"Impossible!" Yan Yu sneered.
"As the head of the Yan family, Wei Ran has protected Cloud Whale Island for nearly three hundred years. He would never do such a thing."

"Brother Yan," said Sun Gan, the head of the Sun family, slowly.

“We have known the Yan family head for hundreds of years, and we trust his character. But now the situation is like this. Everyone else has an alibi, and it seems that only the Yan family head could have committed the murder.”

“If he doesn’t come forward, it will be difficult to investigate the matter thoroughly, and we will be unable to give an explanation to the other people on the island.”

“That’s right,” someone in the hall echoed.
"The successive deaths of Foundation Establishment cultivators have caused widespread panic. If this continues, no one knows what the consequences will be."

"No!" Yan Yu shook his head in rejection.
"Weiran is currently in seclusion, attempting to break through to the Golden Core realm. He is at a critical juncture and must not be disturbed."

"If all our previous efforts are wasted because of this..."

"It definitely won't work!"

"Trying to break through to the Golden Core stage?" Fang Wang sneered.
"So much time has passed. If Patriarch Yan has not yet successfully formed his core, he should have emerged from seclusion by now, right?"

"perhaps……"

"It's hard to say what might happen."

"Fang Wang!" Yan Yu's eyes widened, and a violent aura surged forth:

"you wanna die!"

"Come on!" Fang Wang stood up, a surge of inspiration flowing through him:

"Afraid you won't succeed?"

"enough!"

Just as the two were locked in a heated argument, an elderly man with a cane and a full head of white hair spoke up in a low voice:
"Shut up, everyone!"

"Senior Miao!"

"senior!"

"..."

This Senior Miao is the most senior member of Yunjing Island, two generations higher than the heads of several families.

He has lived for over four hundred years.

All of this was because he had mistakenly consumed a longevity fruit years ago, which caused him to remain alive for over four hundred years.

Having lived for so many years, his cultivation level was already at the Dao Foundation Perfection, but he had long since given up hope of achieving the Golden Core.

"The reason why the Cloud Whale Chamber of Commerce has been able to roam the East China Sea for thousands of years is due to the concerted efforts of various families, but it is also because the safety of Cloud Whale Island is deeply rooted in people's hearts, attracting many cultivators to come and join us."

"Back then, I came to Cloud Whale Island because I wanted to find a safe place, and so did everyone else."

Taking a deep breath, Elder Miao said in a muffled voice:

"The situation has changed now."

“Cloud Whale Island is no longer safe. We must find out why, otherwise, if people’s hearts are scattered, the foundation of the Cloud Whale Chamber of Commerce will also be shaken.”

"Speech imprisonment!"

He looked directly at Yan Yu and said slowly:
"Take us to see Patriarch Yan, and try not to disturb his cultivation. Just make sure he is still in seclusion in his meditation room."

"..." Yan Yu's expression changed, and under the intense gazes of the others, he finally nodded helplessly:
"it is good!"

Shortly after.

Several figures arrived at the Yan family ancestral home.

"Om..."

With a dull thud, the heavy stone door slowly slid open to both sides.

inside of.

Empty!
Yan Weiran, who was in seclusion trying to break through to the Golden Core realm, suddenly disappeared!

(End of this chapter)