Chapter 1843: Chapter 1843: Shrouded in Mystery
After the alliance between the Green Rainbow Sect and the City Lord Mansion was finalized, and they had requested a batch of Spirit Pills to be refined, they were about to set off when they discovered that Tong Mengjiao and Feng Zihua had gone missing.
Initially, they thought the two were wandering around near the Alchemy Immortal City, so they waited patiently. However, waiting left and right, nearly a month had passed without their return, and instead, they received dreadful news from the sect disciples.
The Soul Lamps of Tong Mengjiao and Feng Zihua placed in the Soul Hall of the Green Rainbow Sect had extinguished a month ago.
Upon receiving this message, Tong Shun and several disciples of the Green Rainbow Sect in the Alchemy Immortal City were stunned and found it difficult to accept.
They couldn’t believe that someone would dare to kill Tong Mengjiao and Feng Zihua, both possessing Thunder Tribulation Realm four and five strengths, and as disciples of such a top-tier strong sect as the Green Rainbow Sect.
Could the murderer be unafraid of inciting the wrath of the Green Rainbow Sect and enduring the fiercest revenge?
Some disciples of the Green Rainbow Sect thought of the City Lord Mansion.
In the region around the Alchemy Immortal City, the only ones with the guts to kill disciples of the Green Rainbow Sect would likely be the City Lord Mansion.
But those disciples only thought about it and didn’t really suspect the City Lord Mansion.
After all, the City Lord Mansion had always maintained a good relationship with the Green Rainbow Sect, and with their successful alliance this time, they could be considered intimate allies.
To those disciples, the City Lord Mansion harming Green Rainbow Sect disciples would be against their sect’s interests, offering no benefit and impossible for them to do.
That day, Tong Shun found Hua Yanqing, the Alchemy Immortal City Lord, to discuss locating the bodies of Tong Mengjiao and Feng Zihua and investigating the murderer.
"Sect Master Tong, rest assured, our City Lord Mansion will fully cooperate! Regardless of who the murderer is, whichever force, our City Lord Mansion will stand firmly with you, ready to jointly attack the opponent!"
Hua Yanqing was shocked and furious upon receiving this message. After comforting Tong Shun, he dispatched elite disciples to assist the Green Rainbow Sect disciples in investigating the matter.
To Hua Yanqing, having members of the Green Rainbow Sect travel from afar to visit the Alchemy Immortal City, only for two important disciples to fall here, not only would leave the sect displeased with the City Lord Mansion but also embarrass the mansion greatly.
Hua Yanqing would never have thought that the "culprits" behind Tong Mengjiao and Feng Zihua’s deaths were actually Honorary Elder Fang Bai, whom he respected three times, and his favorite Direct Disciple Leng Rui.
The news of Sect Master Tong Shun’s daughter Tong Mengjiao and Direct Disciple Feng Zihua’s demise spread quickly, causing quite a stir throughout Alchemy Immortal City.
Some said the two perished to a Spirit Beast’s mouth or at some perilous place while training outside the city.
Others said they were killed by enemies and their bodies burned to clear all traces.
There were even rumors that Leng Rui discovered the ambiguous relationship between his fiancée Tong Mengjiao and Feng Zihua and in a fit of rage, killed them.
Some even suspected that it’s possible Fang Bai harbored revenge against Tong Mengjiao and Feng Zihua due to past grievances, leading him to take action...
Ultimately, regarding the news of Tong Mengjiao and Feng Zihua’s demise, opinions varied widely, with truth and falsehood intertwined, creating a mysterious situation.
Meanwhile, led by Xue Hongxing, the experts from the Divine Eagle Sect had not left yet, and after hearing the news, they outwardly appeared indignant, expressing their willingness to assist the Green Rainbow Sect in the investigation while inwardly delighted.
Previously, the relationship between the Green Rainbow Sect and the Alchemy Immortal City’s City Lord Mansion was slightly better than with the Divine Eagle Sect. However, after this incident, relations between the two sects would inevitably deteriorate, which was favorable news for the Divine Eagle Sect.
Both the Divine Eagle Sect and Green Rainbow Sect are top-tier strong sects in contemporary times, and given their proximity, they engage in a competitive relationship. Should relations between the Green Rainbow Sect and Alchemy Immortal City’s City Lord Mansion worsen further, it would diminish the overall strength of their sect, thus giving the Divine Eagle Sect a competitive advantage.
Ten days later, the Green Rainbow Sect and City Lord Mansion joined forces to investigate. Yet, they failed to discover the location of Tong Mengjiao and Feng Zihua’s demise, nor did their bodies leave a trace. Unable to do any further, the two sects announced a manhunt bounty throughout Alchemy Immortal City, stating that anyone who found the murderer would receive generous rewards from both sects.
The substantial rewards offered by two top-tier strong sects were coveted by many Thunder Tribulation experts. Consequently, within Alchemy Immortal City, hundreds of thousands of experts set forth, causing a great commotion both in and outside the city.
Meanwhile, Leng Rui and Fang Bai were respectively focused on alchemy and cultivation, seemingly completely detached from the incident.
Tang Wenrou along with Hu Yichen, Feng Ziyu, and Hu Xue’er, under Fang Bai’s meticulous guidance and with the substantial cultivation resources provided by the City Lord Mansion, saw their strengths advance rapidly,
Leng Rui, from having fought a battle with Fang Bai that formed a bond, realized Fang Bai’s astonishing prowess and worshipped Fang Bai nearly to the point of reverence, occasionally visiting to seek Fang Bai’s guidance.
Fang Bai was generous too, casually offering advice that greatly improved Leng Rui’s strength.
Several months later, the attempt to uncover any clues regarding the deaths of Tong Mengjiao and Feng Zihua remained fruitless. Those experts in Alchemy Immortal City who initially aimed to gain rewards gradually lost interest and withdrew.
Thus, the murder case of Tong Mengjiao and Feng Zihua became a "cold case".
At the same time, the discovery of the Ancient Battlefield Ruins in the Blood Sea Desert in the western part of the Eastern Desolate Continent attracted significant interest from numerous experts in Alchemy Immortal City. Some of the city’s experts began moving towards the Blood Sea Desert either solo or in groups, seeking opportunities.
"Rumor has it that the Ancient Battlefield Ruins of the Blood Sea Desert contain relics of ancient immortals, no matter truth or falsehood, it’s always worth a look."
On this day, Hua Yanqing gathered the high-ranking members of the City Lord Mansion to discuss the matter.
At this point, Tong Shun had already led his disciples of the Green Rainbow Sect out, and after a brief respite upon returning to their sect, they too would head for the Blood Sea Desert.
As for the murder case of Tong Mengjiao and Feng Zihua, both sects would continue dispatching disciples to investigate further.
"On this journey to the Blood Sea Desert, I plan to take half of the elders and stewards along, while the remaining guard the sect."
After a pause, he addressed Fang Bai: "Elder Fang, will you stay, or accompany us?"
Fang Bai thought for a moment and said: "My friends and relatives may be scattered across the Three Thousand Worlds, instead of waiting idly for news, it’s better to actively seek them. The Blood Sea Desert should attract countless powerful individuals from the Three Thousand Worlds, and perhaps I’ll find news about them there. I’ll go with you!"
After everyone agreed on the departure time, they returned to their residences to prepare.
Hu Yichen’s family was to stay in the City Lord Mansion, protected by the mansion’s powerful individuals.
Fang Bai, on the other hand, traveled with Tang Wenrou alongside Hua Yanqing and others.
On the day of departure, Hu Xue’er held onto the hand of Tang Wenrou, whom she had grown close to, with tears flowing, extremely reluctant.
Tang Wenrou consoled her for quite a while, promising to bring many gifts upon return, which finally led Hu Xue’er to let go.
For convenience in travel, the City Lord Mansion trained a large number of Thunder Tribulation Realm flying Spirit Beasts, and after Fang Bai, Tang Wenrou, and the dozens of City Lord Mansion experts gathered, each mounted a Wind Roc and set off towards the Blood Sea Desert.
