Chapter 241: Step by Step, Slowly Entering the Trap

Upon hearing Li Shun's question, Kong Changqing could not help but laugh bitterly.

"Great Siming has never truly fought a life-and-death battle against a Sage of the Heaven-Earth realm. As for this old man, I am but a mortal. How could I possibly speculate upon such heavenly secrets?"

Nevertheless, after furrowing his brows and pondering for a while, he eventually offered his own deduction.

"If both sides truly unleash their full foundations and fight to the death, then in this old man's opinion, the ultimate victor will depend entirely on where the battle takes place."

"If it is within the Great Qian world, on the home ground of this realm, then the Sage of the Heaven-Earth realm, whose every word can alter reality, will undoubtedly hold the upper hand."

"But if the battle takes place outside the Great Qian world..."

Kong Changqing's voice sank lower.

"I'm afraid the Spirit Wandering realm would have the greater advantage."

"It is much like those indescribable Outer Gods. Even though they possess nearly limitless and terrifying power beyond the heavens, once their projections descend into this realm and enter the fetal membrane of this world, they are bound to be subjected to layer upon layer of restrictions by the laws of heaven and earth. Their strength will inevitably be greatly diminished."

"It is precisely because of this that we cultivators have even the slightest chance of fighting them, or perhaps even suppressing them. Otherwise, if those Outer Gods could descend here in their full glory after tearing through the heavens..."

Kong Changqing did not continue.

The meaning behind his words was already obvious.

If such a day truly came, this entire world would probably be reduced to ashes in an instant.

Li Shun nodded deeply in agreement.

After all, he had personally confronted an Outer God before and knew all too well how terrifying they were.

...

The Right Chancellor's arrangements were indeed swift and decisive.

Early the following morning, Zhao Cheng rushed all the way from Sacred Capital under orders, claiming that he had come to fulfill his previous promise.

His purpose this time was to formally bring Li Shun back to the Imperial Censorate in Sacred Capital and cultivate him with every possible resource as the new generation's most important direct successor of the Spring and Autumn Brush lineage.

He made no mention of anything else.

Judging from Zhao Cheng's expression, he did not seem to know anything about the other matters either.

Li Shun made no attempt to probe him.

Judging solely from the fact that Kong Changqing had not only refrained from stopping them, but had even grandly arranged a farewell banquet, there was no doubt that this was another part of the Right Chancellor's scheme.

Li Shun suppressed his thoughts and followed Zhao Cheng on the journey back.

The two transformed into streaks of light and sped through the sky toward Sacred Capital.

However, halfway through their journey, just after entering the territory of Jianzhang Commandery, the jade pendant hanging from Zhao Cheng's waist suddenly began trembling violently.

He swept it with his divine sense, and his brows immediately knitted tightly together.

He then halted his escape light and turned toward Li Shun with an extremely ugly expression.

"Martial Uncle, what happened?" Li Shun asked.

"Junior Brother Fang Xun's shrine... has been destroyed."

Zhao Cheng gritted his teeth, his face ashen as he forced out those words.

Although Li Shun had already made some preparations for this possibility, his brows still furrowed deeply upon hearing it.

"The incense shrine of my late master was established with the explicit approval of the imperial court. What kind of person would dare act so recklessly, treating the laws of the imperial court as though they were nothing?!"

Li Shun's expression immediately changed. His eyes widened, and his voice was filled with righteous fury.

He then cupped his fists and spoke with solemn determination.

"My master has suffered such humiliation even after his death. If I cannot investigate this matter to the very bottom and uncover the culprit, then I would be unworthy of calling myself his disciple!"

"Martial Uncle, please forgive me. Allow me to return to Dongshan Town first and deal with this matter. Once it is settled, I will accompany you to Sacred Capital."

His words were righteous and dignified, leaving not the slightest room for criticism.

Zhao Cheng also understood that if Li Shun were to choose the glory and prosperity of Sacred Capital at such a critical moment rather than return to Dongshan Town to uncover the truth, this matter would become a stain he could never wash away for the rest of his life.

Thus, he could only let out a helpless sigh and nod.

"Very well. Since that's the case, I'll accompany you there."

"I would also like to see exactly who could be so bold."

The two immediately changed direction and hurried toward Dongshan Town.

That very night, they returned to the Dongshan region.

The Fang Xun Shrine, which had once received the incense offerings of countless common people, had now been reduced to a field of ruins.

Li Shun descended from the sky and stood before the scorched earth.

His expression was solemn as he faced the broken and damaged stone statue of Fang Xun and bowed deeply in respect.

After straightening up, his face became as cold as still water.

Without wasting a moment, he immediately began investigating.

The testimonies recorded from all the surviving eyewitnesses in the surrounding area were astonishingly consistent.

A ghostly silhouette had appeared without warning beneath the cover of night.

The figure had possessed an extremely violent temperament, accompanied by a spine-chilling, maniacal laughter.

It had rampaged through the town, destroying everything in its path as though no one else existed.

And the destruction had not been limited to the Fang Xun Shrine.

Throughout Dongshan Town, and even across most of the surrounding Guling Commandery, the vast majority of its landmark structures had suffered devastating attacks.

The figure's frenzied actions were almost exactly like someone venting their hatred and taking revenge in a fit of hysteria.

Zhao Cheng seemed to have thought of something.

A trace of disbelief flashed through his eyes.

He said nothing. With a grave expression, he first bid Li Shun farewell before secretly going out to investigate.

When he returned, his expression was exceedingly solemn, with a trace of doubt concealed deep within his eyes.

"If my guess is correct, that figure should be Shentu Xin, the madman of the Jun School who once set fire to the Imperial Mausoleum."

Zhao Cheng spoke in a deep voice.

Li Shun pretended not to know and allowed a trace of astonishment to appear on his face.

Then, filled with confusion, he asked, "Shentu Xin? Didn't he already turn to ashes and completely disappear from this world long ago? How could he possibly have come back to life?"

Zhao Cheng shook his head.

"This matter is indeed exceedingly strange. In my opinion..."

Before he could finish, Li Shun suddenly raised his hair and beard in fury and shouted, forcefully interrupting him.

"I don't care whether he is a man or a ghost, nor what schemes he may have!"

"The destruction of my master's shrine is a hatred that cannot coexist under the same sky. I, Li Shun, will surely avenge this blood feud!"

"The Jun School... Hmph. Do they truly think there is no one left in the Confucian lineage?"

Over the following days, he rushed throughout Guling Commandery, frantically searching for every trace and clue concerning Shentu Xin.

Unfortunately, after that night's mad rampage, Shentu Xin seemed to have vanished from the mortal world. He never revealed the slightest trace of himself again.

Just when they were at their wits' end, Zhao Cheng suddenly seemed to recall something.

"The descendants of the Jun School have always appeared and disappeared without a trace. Trying to track them down is extraordinarily difficult."

"However..."

"Isn't there still another descendant of the Jun School standing openly in the imperial court right now?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shun immediately understood.

"Martial Uncle, are you referring to Sun Lang?"

In that instant, the two reached an unspoken understanding.

"Good. Then let's go to Sacred Capital and demand an explanation from him."

Li Shun's voice was decisive.

They did not remain in Dongshan Town any longer.

After merely instructing the local authorities to repair the Fang Xun Shrine as quickly as possible, the two once again set off toward Sacred Capital.

They had not even reached the territory of Sacred Capital when they noticed a figure speeding toward them from the opposite direction.

Taking a closer look, it was precisely Sun Lang, the person they had been looking for.

"Brother Sun, what brings you here? I heard you've already risen to the position of Gate Attendant?"

Li Shun cupped his fists and spoke in a distinctly sarcastic tone.

Sun Lang's expression showed no abnormality. He merely gave a bitter smile.

"The matter of Senior Brother Shentu Xin reappearing and running rampant through Guling has already spread throughout Sacred Capital."

"I know very well that such actions could never have been Senior Brother Shentu's way of doing things!"

"To clear my Jun School's name and prove our innocence, I have no choice but to personally travel to Dongshan Town and uncover the truth behind all of this."