noffsinger 60. The real culprit
60. The real culprit
Lin Mo carefully hid the Cold Jade Box on his person and, without daring to delay, immediately set off on his return journey. Obtaining the Heavenly Heart Lotus was only the first step; the key was whether he could return to the Seven Absolutes Sect in time to revive the Grand Elder and uncover the mastermind behind it all.
He still chose the same desolate path he had come by, his figure darting through the mountains and forests with the speed of a ghost. Yet, he remained vigilant. This journey to the Western Regions to seize the medicine, seemingly smooth, was in fact fraught with danger. The guardian of the medicine from the Demon Fire Sect was no weakling; if it weren't for his rich experience and his inner strength perfectly countering the poison's effects, the outcome would have been uncertain. More importantly, the enemy had blew that eerie bone whistle before dying; although he had killed him, it was possible it had alerted the Demon Fire Sect forces further away.
Eager to return home, Lin Mo remained unusually calm. As he traveled, he mentally pieced together clues within the Seven Absolutes Sect. The poisoning incident initially pointed to a Western Region aristocratic family connected to the Demon Fire Sect, but upon closer examination, many inconsistencies emerged. How could an outsider family so easily poison a high-ranking elder within the Seven Absolutes Sect? There must be an inside agent. Moreover, this person must be of considerable status to have access to key figures and to conceal their involvement.
"Who could it be?" Lin Mo's eyes narrowed slightly. Fragments of memories from his past life corroborated his observations in this life, and several blurry figures flashed through his mind.
After days of travel, he was covered in dust and grime. That afternoon, he had entered the heart of the Central Plains and was less than two days' journey from the mountain range where the Seven Absolutes Sect was located. Ahead was a treacherous place called "Falling Eagle Gorge," with steep cliffs on both sides and a narrow passage winding through the middle. The water at the bottom of the gorge was turbulent and roared like thunder.
Upon reaching this point, Lin Mo's heart skipped a beat, a faint sense of unease creeping over him. He slowed his pace, his sharp gaze scanning the cliffs on either side and the path ahead. It was too quiet. Apart from the sound of the water at the bottom of the ravine, not even the chirping of birds or insects could be heard.
He stopped in his tracks, stood at the mouth of the ravine, and said loudly, "Now that you're here, why hide?"
The sound echoed through the valley, carrying a hint of coldness.
After a moment of silence, a soft laugh came from the cliff on the left: "Guest Elder Lin is indeed astute. He truly deserves to be called a hero who passed three trials and won the position of Guest Elder."
Before the words were even finished, three figures leaped down the cliff like eagles, landing lightly in front of Lin Mo, blocking him at the mouth of the ravine in a triangular formation. At the same time, footsteps sounded behind him. Turning around, he saw two more people blocking his escape route. All five were dressed in the robes of the Seven Absolutes Sect disciples, but their eyes were sharp and their auras were deep and composed, clearly indicating that they were all skilled fighters, far from ordinary disciples.
Lin Mo's gaze swept over the five people, finally settling on the leader directly in front. This man was about forty years old, with a fair complexion and no beard, and a sinister look in his eyes. He wore a long, narrow curved sword at his waist. He was a steward of the Seven Absolutes Sect's Punishment Hall, surnamed Zhao, who was in charge of enforcing the sect's laws and was quite imposing.
"Deacon Zhao?" Lin Mo raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by blocking my way? Are you perhaps acting on the orders of the Sect Master or some elder?"
Deacon Zhao said with a forced smile, "Guest Elder Lin has misunderstood. We are not acting on anyone's orders. We simply heard that Guest Elder Lin traveled to the Western Regions to find a miraculous medicine to save the Grand Elder and has returned. We have come here to... welcome you." He deliberately emphasized the word "welcome," his tone carrying undisguised malice.
"To welcome you?" Lin Mo sneered. "To ambush you in this treacherous place with weapons? Deacon Zhao, let's not beat around the bush, you're here for the antidote, aren't you?"
"Guest Lin is a smart man." Deacon Zhao no longer pretended, his face darkening. "Hand over the Heavenly Heart Lotus, and perhaps we can leave you with a whole corpse."
"Just the few of you?" Lin Mo's tone was calm, yet carried a powerful confidence. These five people were indeed strong, but they were far from capable of stopping him.
Deacon Zhao gave a sinister smile: "If it were just us, we would naturally not dare to make such a boast. But since we have set up this operation here, how could we not be fully prepared?" He clapped his hands.
Amidst applause, a figure gracefully descended from the right cliff face like a willow catkin, landing silently and displaying exceptional lightness skill. This person also wore the attire of the Seven Absolutes Sect, but a white robe with cloud patterns befitting an elder. His face was lean, with three long wisps of beard, giving him an air of otherworldly elegance. However, his eyes were now icy cold, carrying a hint of smug satisfaction at his successful scheme.
Upon seeing this person, Lin Mo's pupils contracted slightly, and he instantly understood many things. He slowly uttered three words: "Elder Sun."
The newcomer was none other than Elder Sun, the head of the alchemy and medicine storehouse within the Seven Absolutes Sect, who was an expert in medicine and medicinal properties! He was also the elder who had previously actively assisted Lin Mo in analyzing the poison's components and provided clues about the possible existence of the Heavenly Heart Lotus!
"Didn't expect that, did you, Lin Mo?" Elder Sun stroked his beard and smiled, but the smile was no longer gentle, only calculating and cold. "The antidote you went through so much trouble to find will eventually fall into my hands."
"It really was you." Lin Mo's tone was icy. "From the very beginning, you were the one who poisoned me. What Western Region family, what Soul-Eating Incense, it was all just a smokescreen you threw out to lure me away from the Seven Absolutes Sect, and preferably to kill me in the Western Region. Even if I managed to steal the medicine and return, you could lie in wait here and kill me to take it."
"Excellent, your analysis is spot on." Elder Sun nodded approvingly, as if commenting on a junior. "That stubborn old man, the First Elder, has been obstructing my 'cooperation' with the outside world, blocking my path to wealth and hindering the Seven Absolutes Sect's 'further advancement.' He must die. And you, Lin Mo, a young man who suddenly appeared, possesses extraordinary talent and is highly regarded by the First Elder. If you were to save him, would I still have a place in the Seven Absolutes Sect?"
"Cooperation? You mean cooperation with the Demon Fire Cult?" Lin Mo sneered. "For profit, you're willing to collude with evil cults and poison your fellow disciples. Elder Sun, is your 'further step' just dragging the Seven Absolutes Sect down the demonic path?"
Elder Sun's face darkened: "The victor is king, the loser is villain; what is right and wrong? What the Demon Fire Sect can give me, the Seven Absolutes Sect cannot! As for you, you know too much; today, this Eagle Falling Gorge will be your burial ground!"
Without further ado, he moved and struck first! He did not use any weapons; his palms crossed, and the wind howled, carrying a scorching aura that was completely different from the cold and poisonous technique he had analyzed earlier, clearly indicating that it was extremely well hidden.
"Blazing Palm? You really did have a trick up your sleeve!" Lin Mo snorted coldly, dodging the palm strike as he simultaneously threw a powerful punch with his backhand, the force of which was concentrated and aimed straight at the heart of the enemy.
Elder Sun changed his move extremely quickly, transforming his palm into a claw with his five fingers like hooks, grabbing at Lin Mo's wrist with scorching energy. His move was ruthless and cunning.
The two instantly clashed. Elder Sun possessed profound internal strength and exquisite palm techniques, coupled with the powerful and domineering hidden Fiery Palm Force, making him evenly matched with Lin Mo for a time. Meanwhile, Deacon Zhao and the other four disciples circled around the perimeter, occasionally launching hidden weapons or sudden arrows to distract Lin Mo and coordinate with Elder Sun's attacks.
Lin Mo was attacked from both sides, and the situation seemed unfavorable. However, he remained calm under pressure, his footwork exquisite, dodging and weaving in the confined space, always managing to avoid fatal attacks at the last second. He used fists, palms, fingers, and legs, his moves unpredictable, combining the skills learned from both his lives, attacking from unexpected angles, forcing Elder Sun to retreat and defend.
"Bang!" Lin Mo took Elder Sun's Fiery Palm head-on, and the two of them each took a step back. Lin Mo felt a slight burning pain in his arm, but after circulating his internal energy once, he was fine. Elder Sun's eyes, however, flashed with a hint of surprise. He felt as if his fierce and unparalleled palm force had been thrown into a deep pool, and most of it had been neutralized and eliminated by the other party in a peculiar way.
"This boy's internal strength is strange!" Elder Sun was secretly alarmed and intensified his attack, trying to use speed to overwhelm Lin Mo's slowness and exhaust his internal strength.
However, Lin Mo's combat experience was far too rich; how could he let him have his way? He seized an opportunity, deliberately feigning an opening, and took a blow to the shoulder from Deacon Zhao's side. The blade tore through his clothes, but only left a white mark on his skin, failing to penetrate! He had already mastered the Golden Bell Cover technique to a certain degree.
Just as Deacon Zhao was slightly stunned by his unsuccessful strike, Lin Mo pointed out with his finger, and a sharp finger gust, like an invisible sword, instantly pierced Deacon Zhao's throat!
Deacon Zhao clutched his throat, his eyes filled with disbelief, then with two gurgling sounds, he collapsed to the ground, dead.
Elder Sun was both shocked and furious upon seeing this: "What ruthless methods!" His attack became even more frenzied.
Lin Mo killed one person, easing the pressure slightly. He no longer held back, rapidly circulating his inner energy using a secret technique from his previous life, causing his aura to surge another threefold! He unleashed both palms simultaneously, the palm winds like a tidal wave, completely suppressing Elder Sun's fiery palm force!
"boom!"
Their palms clashed solidly, the force exploding and kicking up dust. Elder Sun felt an overwhelming force surge towards him, his chest tightened, his throat tasted sweet, and he couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood. He staggered backward, his face filled with horror.
He never expected Lin Mo's strength to be so formidable! His own Fiery Palm, which he had painstakingly cultivated for many years, had actually been defeated in a direct confrontation!
Seeing that Deacon Zhao was dead and Elder Sun was injured, the other four disciples were immediately intimidated and slowed their attack.
How could Lin Mo let this opportunity slip by? He moved like lightning, instantly closing in on the four disciples. Using both fists and feet, several muffled thuds and screams were heard. The four disciples were sent flying like kites with broken strings, crashing into the cliff or falling into the ravine, where they lay motionless.
In the blink of an eye, only Elder Sun, with blood trickling from the corner of his mouth and a pale face, remained in the arena.
Lin Mo walked step by step towards Elder Sun, his eyes icy cold: "Now, tell me, what exactly is your cooperation with the Demon Fire Sect? And who else within the Seven Absolutes Sect is your accomplice?"
Elder Sun watched Lin Mo approach step by step, a flash of despair and madness in his eyes. He suddenly pulled out a pill the size of a longan, completely crimson, from his robes and said sternly, "Lin Mo! This is the 'Blood Burning Pill' of the Demon Fire Sect. Taking it will double your power in a short time! If you force me, I'll take you down with me!"
Lin Mo continued walking, his tone remaining calm: "You can try. Let's see if your Blood Burning Explosion is faster, or my Sword Finger."
He pointed his fingers like a sword, and a wisp of extremely condensed sword energy flickered at his fingertips, locking onto Elder Sun's aura.
Sensing the deadly threat contained within that wisp of sword energy, Elder Sun's hand holding the pill trembled slightly, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead. He knew that Lin Mo was not bluffing. Taking the Blood Burning Pill might grant him temporary courage, but ultimately, he would not escape death.
The fear of death ultimately overwhelmed his will to fight. He loosened his grip, and the crimson pill rolled to the ground. He deflated like a punctured balloon, slumping down, his face ashen.
"I...I'll talk..." Elder Sun's voice was hoarse and full of defeat, "It's...it's Master Kumarajiva of the Demon Fire Sect...He promised that if I help them control the Seven Absolutes Sect, he will pass on the sect's highest secret manual to me and help me break through my current bottleneck...Several deacons and disciples within the sect have also been recruited, and their names are in a secret compartment in my study..."
Lin Mo listened quietly and confirmed that it roughly matched his deduction. He stepped forward and sealed several major acupoints on Elder Sun's body, preventing him from circulating his internal energy.
"Take the antidote and escort you back to the Seven Absolutes Sect. In front of everyone, we'll clean house." Lin Mo picked up the Cold Jade Box from the ground, confirmed that the Heavenly Heart Lotus was intact, and then lifted the limp Elder Sun like a dead dog, his gaze fixed on the direction of the Seven Absolutes Sect.