Otherworldly Affairs Office-Chapter 727: Confusion (Please Subscribe)

Cao Jiu Zhou's words left Pei Yan and Gu Shenghui speechless. The suspicion towards Celestial Sword Manor was indeed initiated by the two of them. However, they couldn't directly reveal the internal strangeness to the other party, much like a mute tasting bitter coptis but unable to speak out.

"Uh, but I heard that the Immortal Palace hasn't been able to get any concrete evidence against Celestial Sword Manor. Why did they suddenly take action today?" Gu Shenghui hesitated and asked tentatively.

"Yes, yes! We've been with these disciples all night and can guarantee that they absolutely didn't go out or have any contact with outsiders. Could there be some misunderstanding here?" Pei Yan hurried to echo and ask.

Upon hearing this, Cao Jiu Zhou looked at the two, then turned to watch the departing squad, shaking his head and sighing, "You two are indeed fair and just, disregarding past enmity to vouch for former enemies. But regarding this matter, I advise that it's wise for the investigators not to meddle too much. I will truthfully report your information to the Immortal Palace Steward, which can serve as supplementary evidence on whether Sword Stand Man and others were involved in the rebellious actions. If it turns out they're not complicit, we'll surely be lenient with them."

Seeing Cao Jiu Zhou leave with such an ambiguous explanation, Pei Yan stepped forward, grabbing his wrist to stop him forcefully, "Hey, Elder Cao, wait, Elder Cao, wait, oh, you're killing me with anxiety! Elder Cao, at least give us a hint about what happened last night."

"This..."

Beside them, Gu Shenghui, seeing his hesitation, knew there was hope and pressed further, "Fellow Daoist Cao, last night's attack on the Celestial Prison and disaster at the Immortal Palace are no secrets now. We're not blind or deaf; these things can't be concealed. Now you've taken people from our yard without letting us know any news. My subordinates are bound to be anxious; I have to give them an explanation. Considering our friendship isn't shallow, Fellow Daoist Cao, couldn't you disclose a bit of the inside story."

"This, sigh!" Being pressed by the two, Cao Jiu Zhou knew he couldn't leave without providing information, so he reluctantly explained, "Since you've asked to this extent, I won't hide it from you. Alas, it's a misfortune for the sect. Last night, those villainous ruffians attacked the Celestial Prison and then the Immortal Palace. They took advantage of us being busy fighting back to lead an army attacking the various sects' quarters participating in this Immortal Palace selection. According to reports, every sect suffered varying degrees of losses, especially the Celestial Secret Pavilion..." At this, Cao Jiu Zhou paused, glancing at Pei Yan, then continued soberly, "The Celestial Secret Pavilion was especially targeted, suffering severe losses due to losing three elders consecutively and was nearly wiped out."

"How, how could this be? How is it possible?" Pei Yan was struck by the news like lightning, incredulous. It wasn't guilt over indirectly causing the Celestial Secret Pavilion's downfall but shock at the Blood Alliance's demonstrated strength. Attacking the Celestial Prison and Celestial Palace under the very noses of the Six Mansions of the Immortal Palace was shocking enough. After doing all this, they still had the power to sweep through various sects. Thinking of this, he blurted out, "Where did they get the strength to do this?"

"We were too careless, and they were too cunning, picking the timing too perfectly!" Cao Jiu Zhou said, showing resentment and injustice, "In order to participate in this Immortal Palace selection, most high-ranking members and core disciples from every sect had already arrived in Luocheng to enter the Immortal Palace for enlightenment, leaving their sects empty. This gave the villains the opportunity. Normally, the elders from each sect within the Immortal Palace could use the Teleportation Array to return to their sects to fend off the enemy. But unexpectedly, at this critical moment, traitors hidden inside the palace sabotaged the Teleportation Array, severely delaying the time for reinforcements."

Seeing Pei Yan's suspicion, fearing he might underestimate the Daoist Realm's strength, Cao Jiu Zhou hastily argued, "Actually, these Underworld ruffians only appeared imposing and attacked in strange ways. When attacking various sects, aside from the specifically targeted Celestial Secret Pavilion, they didn't send many experts against other sects. Instead, the strange puppets known as Devouring Demons and other monsters they controlled caused significant losses among the disciples of some sects. Luckily, the remaining elders fought to the death to hold out until reinforcements from the Immortal Palace arrived, thus avoiding a catastrophe. It's a blessing in misfortune."

After hearing the details, Pei Yan thought for a while and asked puzzledly, "But what does this have to do with the Celestial Sword Manor?"

"The problem lies here. During last night's attacks, every sect involved in the Immortal Palace selection suffered some losses, except Celestial Sword Manor, which wasn't disturbed. More importantly, among the insiders who sabotaged the Immortal Palace Transmission Array, over ten dead identities were verified as core disciples from Celestial Sword Manor participating in this conference. With such ironclad evidence, Celestial Sword Manor is incontestable."

"Oh?" Pei Yan, intrigued, looked at Cao Jiu Zhou with a half-laughing, half-crying expression, "Elder Cao, don't you think this is too obvious? What thief would be stupid enough to do this? It's as if they're blatantly announcing they're rebels. This..."

Understanding Pei Yan's implication, Cao Jiu Zhou, somewhat embarrassed, said, "What you say isn't unreasonable. That's why we haven't actually done anything to Celestial Sword Manor. But since it's happened, the investigation must proceed, right? Therefore, we've only temporarily detained their sect elders and disciples to prevent further incidents. Once the truth is clear, if they're innocent, they'll naturally be exonerated."

"I see, thank you for your guidance, Elder. Since the Immortal Palace is in turbulent times, we won't bother you further. I'll see you out of the residence." Having understood the matter's origins, Gu Shenghui courteously saw Cao Jiu Zhou out of the residence.

Upon returning, he saw Pei Yan smoking in the corridor and sat beside him, taking a cigarette from Pei Yan's box, lighting it, and asked, "What do you make of this?"

"Do you even need to ask? It's either a clumsy frame-up or Celestial Sword Manor indeed has collusion with the Blood Alliance. But why they would do something so stupid is beyond explanation," Pei Yan said, blowing a smoke ring, then idly poked it apart with his hand, commenting meaningfully, "I'm increasingly convinced the problem lies within the Immortal Palace. The riddle of Celestial Sword Manor, Suhabaru's death, last night's series of farces, all point to the Immortal Palace. Previously, when we submitted intelligence, the Immortal Palace blocked and evaded, unable to obtain hard evidence. As soon as we clashed with Celestial Sword Manor and began piecing together parts of the puzzle, such a big issue surfaced. Does Celestial Sword Manor willingly step into disaster? Who believes that? Do you? One coincidence might be just that, but so many coincidences happen all at once, hahaha, it seems the real infiltrators can't sit still anymore."