Chapter 82: Soul-Seizing, Spirit-Questioning

Footsteps approached swiftly; from the entrance of the dungeon to the cell where Lu Xin was held took only an instant. Surveying the scene, the leader wore a scarlet cloak, a crown adorned with purple clouds and the image of a mythical beast, and golden-threaded cloud-walking shoes. He was tall and imposing, his gaze sharp, and appeared to be just past thirty—radiating an aura of authority.

Behind him followed four Onmyoji of the Temple of Divine Guardians. Among them was the Liu official Lu Xin had seen yesterday.

This group, all solemn-faced, arrived outside the cell. The leader gestured at the ground, and a long bench materialized from nowhere. He sat down, fixing his eyes on the youth inside, his hostility undisguised.

“So this is who you are? First stage of the Void Observing Realm! Liu Zhi, is this the main culprit of the Xuanzhou ruined temple case you spoke of?”

“Reporting to Chief Director, yes, it is him.”

“Hmph. You claim he killed Wang Quan Yi, who was at the fourth stage of the Void Observing Realm? Fortunately, I did not take your word at face value. My reply to the master was cautious, else not only our Temple of Divine Guardians but the entire Onmyoji Institute would have committed the crime of deceiving the emperor!”

The man in the cloak’s face grew cold, his voice suddenly rising, causing Liu Zhi to bow his head in fright. This man was none other than Wei Tun Yun, Chief Director of the Temple of Divine Guardians, famed throughout the martial world. His standing in the court even surpassed that of the minister of the Dali Temple.

Lu Xin had expected someone from the Temple to interrogate him, but not that Wei Tun Yun himself would come. Judging from Liu Zhi’s exchange with him, Lu Xin deduced his case had reached the emperor’s ears.

“How could this be? Even if I did kill Wang Quan Yi, it shouldn’t have alarmed Li Shimin. Is Wei Tun Yun deliberately trying to terrify me?”

Lu Xin flickered his eyelids, puzzled but kept his eyes closed. Facing a master of the Micro Returning Realm, whose techniques were unfathomable, silence was the wisest course.

Snoring still resounded, while Wei Tun Yun glanced at the leftover food nearby, the corner of his mouth twisting in a cold smile.

“Young man, as an Onmyoji, you ought to understand: attacking the Temple of Divine Guardians is opposing the entire Tang court. Speak—regarding the ruined temple at Xuanzhou, what did you do?”

“What did I do? Ha! That day, torrential rain fell across the land; I journeyed deep into the mountains, but the muddy paths were impassable. I entered the ruined temple simply to seek shelter. Yet your Temple’s men, without discernment, tried to kill me—such impressive authority.”

“Hmph, insolent brat! Not only do you refuse to confess, you dare bite back at the Temple? Madness! I saw with my own eyes that you killed Wang Quan Yi.”

Liu Zhi, furious at Lu Xin’s refusal to admit guilt, spoke with a voice sharp as a blade. Hearing this, Lu Xin slowly raised his head.

“Sir Official, is blatant lying a specialty of your Temple? When did you see me kill anyone? Or perhaps, as a master at the sixth stage of the Void Observing Realm, you watched me kill your colleague and could do nothing? Chief Director, it seems your subordinates are all useless, hahahahaha…”

Lu Xin threw his head back in laughter, his face full of ridicule. Liu Zhi, pale-faced, slammed a fist against the cell. With a thunderous crash, the entire Dali Temple dungeon seemed to tremble.

“Slanderer! Brat, you’re still stubborn in the Dali Temple dungeon? It seems you don’t want to live!”

“I am innocent. What do you want me to admit?”

---

Lu Xin’s eyes turned fierce; he suddenly rose from the ground. The force of his presence was so intense that even Wei Tun Yun, seated, was startled. Liu Zhi wanted to speak, but Wei Tun Yun waved him silent. The Chief Director squinted, smiling as he looked at the upright youth, as if about to say something.

“Whether you’re guilty, the Dali Temple and Ministry of Justice will investigate thoroughly. But remember this: the Temple of Divine Guardians is deeply trusted by the emperor. If I say you’re guilty, you’re doomed; if I say you’re innocent, you walk free. Young man, whether you seize this chance depends on your own choices.”

“If Chief Director wishes to say something, speak plainly. Such evasiveness reeks of guilty conscience.”

“Hahaha, clever indeed. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have acquired the Yin-Yang Wandering Immortal Sword, one of the Five Divine Weapons. I only wish to know—where is the sword now?”

Wei Tun Yun’s eyes narrowed to slits. Instantly, Lu Xin felt the air around him solidify; his body seemed pressed beneath a mountain, unable to move.

“Yin-Yang Wandering Immortal Sword? Ha…where did you get such news? Do you think someone of my ability could obtain a legendary divine weapon?”

Lu Xin sneered, but before he finished, an invisible force seized him and slammed him against the cell door with a boom. The impact rattled his head; his whole body clung to the door like a sheet of paper. Looking out, Wei Tun Yun’s face hovered less than two feet away, sneering coldly.

“Since ancient times, the wise know when to yield! In front of me, the truth is far less painful than lies. The Demon Sect possesses a soul technique called ‘Soul-Seizing and Spirit-Questioning Grand Method.’ Whether you speak or not, I can extract what I want from your mind.”

“Wei Tun Yun, I am innocent—dare you use torture? This is the Dali Temple, a place of justice! If you disregard the law so openly, are you not afraid of being despised by the world? Are you not afraid of tarnishing the Tang court and the reputation of Emperor Taizong?”

“Despised? Who dares look down on me? Not you commoners—even the leaders of sects dare not act so rashly. Young man, careless words deserve punishment!”

Wei Tun Yun’s eyes flashed; a palm print appeared instantly on Lu Xin’s right cheek, then his left burned red. The alternating pain stabbed deep, relentless. Though Wei Tun Yun sat motionless, he toyed with Lu Xin as he pleased.

Such was the terror of the Micro Returning Realm!

Within seconds, blood smeared Lu Xin’s lips, his pupils unfocused, his consciousness hazy.

“You…you’re using torture! You’ll…you’ll suffer divine retribution!”

“Boy, I gave you a chance, but you failed to cherish it. Now, even if you beg, it’s too late. The Soul-Seizing and Spirit-Questioning Grand Method will shatter your memories; what remains depends on your fate.”

Wei Tun Yun suddenly grabbed Lu Xin’s long hair, his eyes glinting red, pupils expanding like twin abysses—boundless, swirling counterclockwise. Lu Xin shuddered, his eyes closed, and he fell unconscious.

Wang Quan Yi, watching, smiled wickedly. The more the youth suffered, the happier he became.

“Hmph, opposing the Temple—ignorant fool! No one has ever saved themselves under the Chief Director’s Soul-Seizing and Spirit-Questioning Grand Method. This world truly has changed; so arrogant at the mere first stage of the Void Observing Realm—he deserves to die!”

Wang Quan Yi thought venomously, his gaze fixed on Lu Xin. But in the next moment, he saw Wei Tun Yun abruptly release the youth and stand up.

---

“Noon is the best time for pleasant dreams—why all the noise? Well, the Temple of Divine Guardians? Has the Tang court become so lawless that your Temple can lord over the Dali Temple? What a spectacle, hahaha…”

At some point, the burly man in the neighboring cell had awakened, standing in the corner and staring at the Dali Temple officials with eerie eyes. Wang Quan Yi turned, immediately transfixed by the man’s crimson pupils, his face drained of color, unable to move. Now, only Wei Tun Yun remained able to act or speak.

Even for the Chief Director himself, a top master at the fifth stage of the Micro Returning Realm, his brow was furrowed, his demeanor deeply wary.

Wei Tun Yun glanced at the unconscious youth, tightened his right hand, and suddenly laughed.

“Who would’ve thought the Dali Temple dungeon held such mysteries. If I’m not mistaken, you entered here nine years ago, didn’t you?”

“Hehehe, Chief Director remembers well. Pity we’ve never met face to face. Back in the Wu De era, you were still a junior.”

“Hmph. What is your relationship to him?”

“Chance acquaintances—barely even old friends.”

“Then why intervene?”

“Hahahaha…I'm not saving him, but you. Chief Director, Dali Temple officials are coming; you’d best make yourself scarce.”

The burly man laughed, then lay down again. Sure enough, moments later, a young man in Dali Temple official robes appeared before Wei Tun Yun.

“Wei Qing?”

Wei Tun Yun frowned, waved his hand, and Wang Quan Yi and the others awoke.

“Chief Director, what brings you personally to the Dali Temple dungeon?”

Wei Qing stepped forward, seemingly shocked, and quickly bowed. Wei Tun Yun accepted the salute with a smile, then, after a long silence, strode toward the exit.

“The nephew of Wei Zheng—truly a dragon among men. Pity, he possesses the bones of the Dao but never entered the mysteries. Lord Wei truly has a ruthless heart.”

Wei Tun Yun departed swiftly; his voice faded as he vanished. Wei Qing, confirming he had left, turned cold-eyed to the youth in the cell. The floor’s straw was stained with blood, and the once vibrant youth now lay as weak as the dead.