Chapter 723

Chapter 723: Interrogation Comparison

On the Eastern Continent, there were indeed not many sects that practiced the Nine Nether Arts (Necromancer Sequence). The Xiangyu Sect was more famous for its Celestial Intercepting Dao, which led some who were less informed to forget that this profound sect also had heritage in the other two paths.

“This…”

The disciple felt puzzled as to why the Xiangyu Sect, located so far away, would send people here. However, some of his confusion began to dissipate.

If it was the Xiangyu Sect, then it made sense. After all, Zhaoye Palace originated from the Xiangyu Sect. If they had been closely connected a few hundred years ago, they would have even addressed each other as fellow disciples.

“Could you tell me about your plans and current situation?” asked Lolan Hill, her figure turning ghostly as she sat on a scythe, looking down at the two below her. Despite knowing they might lie or remain silent, she still wanted to try asking.

“I don’t know what mission our senior sister has undertaken, but we are merely exploring the ruins of the Yama Palace,” another disciple said cautiously as he got up from the ground.

Looking at this cunning individual, Lolan Hill sighed inwardly. She didn’t really want to engage in any mind games or trickery with these two.

She leaped lightly from the air, her scythe transforming into magical fragments of light that scattered around her.

“I know what you’ve done at your base. Crane Feather and Jade Sword competed, resulting in Jade Sword’s death, and you also killed your own fellow sect members,” the young lady said softly. Hearing this, both were startled and felt a chill.

No matter the East or West, such actions could not be considered righteous and were always suppressed by their respective sects. Their hearts sank like they had fallen into an ice cellar, their fingers trembling as they nervously searched the cold rocky ground.

“This… We…” As the silver-haired black-dressed girl approached, fear rose in their hearts.

As outer sect disciples, they naturally understood the power of this girl during their previous confrontation. With their depleted mana and injuries, even if they resisted, they knew they would only face a crushing defeat.

Therefore, this masked girl seemed to them like a vengeful spirit, instilling fear in their hearts.

“Speak, we can all talk. Please just spare us,” one of the disciples immediately knelt and kept bowing, pleading for the girl’s mercy.

Huh? Lolan Hill had originally planned to intimidate or persuade them into speaking, but they surrendered so quickly. Perhaps she had forgotten that not everyone was fearless; most of her past opponents had never surrendered, making her feel somewhat unaccustomed.

“Alright, let’s see what you have to say,” Lolan Hill stopped and extended her finger, a ghostly blue flame flower floating into the air before blooming, illuminating the underground cavern.

“Here’s what happened,” one of the two started to speak when the girl interrupted.

“Hold on, turn your backs to each other and take turns recounting. I will compare your stories later. If there are discrepancies, I’ll kill you both. It’s just housecleaning anyway, I doubt the elders of Zhaoye Palace would mind.”

Lolan Hill’s manner now carried a certain witch-like aura. Her silvery white hair and near-mystical posture seemed to confirm their suspicions. This must be a pampered true disciple of the Xiangyu Sect, one who treated ordinary human lives with disdain.

It was not taken to heart at all.

After all, among those who cultivated the Nine Nether Arts, eight out of ten had strong and cold minds, with few being innocent and pure. Even the most innocent person would inevitably ponder their own end and the cruelty of survival after facing the dead and corpses year after year.

“Yes,” one of the disciples swallowed hard, looking uneasily at his companion. The psychological博弈bargaining began at its limit.

In the case of uncertainty about how much truth his companion would reveal, he had to decide how much he should say to avoid conflict and satisfy this young lady.

The two turned their backs to each other. Then, Lolan Hill moved her fingers slightly, and the region where one of them stood immediately fell silent, no sound could propagate, plunging into a deathly stillness.

“Tell me first what you did after killing your fellow sect members,” Lolan Hill raised her palm, and a dark blue flame ball appeared in front of her, growing larger and emitting dazzling light that was hard to look at.

“We…” the disciple who had been studying the technique began to recount.

On that day when they turned against each other, everyone did not initially expect He Ling to be so ruthless; not everyone could bear to go through with it until the end.

However, the arrows were already on the string, and the conflict between both sides had reached an irreconcilable state. If they allowed the Jade Sword True Person to return, they would either be expelled from the faction or receive severe punishment. But many of the disciples were no longer young; if they wasted any more years, they would miss this great era of contention, which would be impossible to catch up to.

For this reason, as the fighting went on, many gradually became more ruthless until they finally exterminated the Jade Sword True Person’s faction. To ensure that no one would betray them, each person was made to shed blood under the arrangement of He Ling True Person, serving as a pledge of loyalty.

After resolving internal conflicts, these Nightwatch Palace disciples abandoned their task of clearing demons on the surface and all moved underground, exploring one by one. In doing so, they voluntarily released many ancient seals, uncovering ruins of the Yama Palace.

“What did you find underground?” Lolan Hill continued to ask.

“In our exploration, although we lost some people, we also found some of the Yama Palace’s secret techniques and some treasures left behind in the Heavenly Gaps.”

Just like the alchemical creations on the West Continent, the East Continent had also developed its unique alchemical system, using materials such as ancient beasts or divine plants, amplifying their inherent properties to make them more prominent.

“There are three most powerful crystal-grade treasures: ‘Seven Swords Piercing Heart Cabinet’ for refining skeletal remains, ‘Transforming Demon Soul Furnace’ for melting demon spirits, and ‘Evil Driving and Ghost Expelling Horn’ for summoning and controlling demons.”

“Are there any other things besides these treasures?” Lolan Hill was not interested in these treasures.

“There are also the secret techniques of the Yama Palace. Many of them use corpses and living creatures as materials for spells and drives,” the disciple mentioned each complex name.

“Anything else?”

Just as the disciple was desperately trying to think of what might have been overlooked, a clear voice came again from above.

Is my answer unsatisfactory? Is she getting impatient? If she gets angry, will she kill me right away?

This thought tightened the disciple’s heart, causing anxiety and fear. His voice shook as he continued to speak.

“There is… there is, oh yes, there is also the ‘Lightless Endless Abyss’ improved by the Immortals of the Yama Palace. Just by soaking in it, one’s cultivation…”

The sentence was cut off.

The speed would greatly increase, and even individuals with poor innate talent could easily advance.” He finally mentioned the part that interested this young lady.

“Then what? Where is it?” Lolan Hill asked.

“It’s in the southwestern corner of the lowest level underground. I can guide you there,” he finally found his purpose for living, which was to lead the way.

“Alright, stay here for now. I’ll ask your companion,” Lolan Hill waved her hand, and the disciple felt as if he were in a dead silent hell, with no sounds reaching his ears or sides.

No wonder she wasn’t afraid of the other person hearing what I said; it’s like this. However, such methods don’t seem like those of the Xiangyu Sect but rather like the inheritance of the Black Phoenix Pheasant lineage. At this moment, he didn’t dare to ask, only suppressing his doubts.

—

At this moment, Lolan Hill questioned another disciple, the one who had been holding the sword earlier.

“Please tell me,” this disciple had some backbone, not being so servile.

“Tell me about what happened in the encampment,” Lolan Hill requested.

“Yes,” the disciple then recounted the events, the content similar to what the young lady had seen in the ghostly memories.

She shook her head, sighing over the tragedy of Zhaoye Palace, then continued asking about what happened after they went underground.

His account was roughly similar, but with some differences in detail. The previous disciple focused on what treasures and benefits they had gained, while this disciple meticulously described the dangers of exploration and the process and risks of opening seals in the underground ruins.

“Since you know, doing this will eventually be discovered by the outside world, why did you follow True Master He Ling all along?” Lolan Hill looked at him.

“You’re right, but when one is part of the situation, it’s hard to remain rational. Sometimes, when hope seems so distant and the future bleak, I cannot willingly give up and live a mediocre life,” he replied.

“I also want to grasp that glimmer of hope,” his voice was low.

Lolan Hill made no comment on this. Regardless of their motives, once they acted, they must accept the consequences. She wasn’t the family of the Zhaoye Palace disciples who had been killed, nor could she forgive others on behalf of someone else.

Lolan Hill waved her hand, breaking the silence.

“You will lead the way ahead, to the lowest region. If we encounter other Zhaoye Palace disciples on the way, I assume you know how to handle it,” the young lady’s voice was clear and ethereal, yet to them, it sounded like the warning and threat of a demon from beyond the heavens.

Actually, Lolan Hill didn’t intend to kill them and hadn’t decided how to deal with them yet. But given the urgency of the situation, she let them imagine their fate, solving the problem first.

However, she didn’t think too much about it, but these two disciples thought a lot, turning pale. As a practitioner of the Nine Hells Path, there were countless ways to torment someone, and death was not the end; suffering began only after death.

“Yes, Great One,” they had no choice but to proceed.

With the specific path known, the two quickly traveled underground, and since they were allies, they weren’t hindered by other disciples guarding the area. They proceeded almost unimpeded, leading the ghost-like Lolan Hill straight down into the depths.

At the same time, the battle on the surface had begun.

Tonight, one more chapter 0 0/

(End of Chapter)