Life span plundered, I became a detective and achieved immortality

"Old Ghost Xingyuan, you..."

Chi Ming Zhenxian stared intently at the old man in green robes, his throat bobbing as anger surged wildly in his chest, burning like magma, but he was silenced by the suppression originating from the level of life itself.

Xingyuan Laogui's cultivation was far superior to his, having already reached the peak of the seventh-grade True Immortal realm, and was not far from the perfect seventh-grade True Immortal realm. His strength was more than twice that of him.

Moreover, this is the Starsea Continent, the home base of the Starsea Trading Company. If they were to break off relations and fight, even if the four major forces joined forces, they would have little chance of winning and would only end up with heavy losses.

After a while, True Immortal Chiming let out a heavy snort, and the flames around his body subsided by most of them, leaving only a few sparks dancing on his surface. He seemed to have given up: "Well done, Star Sea Merchant Guild! Old Ghost Xingyuan, my Chixiao clan will remember what happened today! But the theft of the Four Symbols True Immortal's tomb was no accident, and this matter will not be left unresolved!"

Although his words were firm, he didn't repeat the threat of "we won't rest until we get an explanation," which was a tacit admission of weakness. He glared fiercely at the Star Origin True Immortal, his eyes almost overflowing with resentment, then turned and transformed into a streak of crimson light, leading his True Immortals to retreat sullenly to the side. However, his fiery eyes remained fixed on the Star Sea Trading Company in the center of the Immortal City, clearly indicating that his resentment and anger had not been extinguished, like a dormant volcano ready to erupt again at any moment.

Xingyuan True Immortal merely glanced calmly at Chiming True Immortal, his gaze as indifferent as if looking at a speck of dust. Then, his gaze shifted to the seventh-rank True Immortals of the other three major forces, and the chill in his eyes intensified.

"Old man Chiming bought the Vermilion Bird Immortal Token from the Starsea Trading Company, so he has some reason to come looking for trouble," True Immortal Xingyuan's voice was not loud, but every word was like the clash of metal, carrying a metallic coldness. "The immortal tokens in the hands of the three of you were not made by my Starsea Trading Company. Did you really think that my Starsea Trading Company was a soft persimmon to be manipulated by others?"

Before he finished speaking, Xingyuan Zhenxian took a step forward.

This seemingly ordinary step caused the void of the entire Star Sea Continent to slightly sink, as if pressed down by an invisible hand—his green robes fluttered without wind, and the terrifying pressure of a peak seventh-grade True Immortal erupted like a volcano dormant for billions of years, crushing down on the three major forces without reservation. That pressure contained the accumulated wisdom of the Star Sea Merchant Guild over billions of years, mixed with the vastness and immensity of the celestial sphere. Wherever it passed, the True Immortals of the three major forces turned pale, their breathing becoming labored.

Almost simultaneously, the "Nine Heavens Star River Grand Array" below suddenly erupted with billions of dazzling starlight, the star patterns flowing like living things, echoing the oppressive aura of the Star Origin True Immortal. The entire Star Sea Immortal City seemed to transform into a real star sea, with illusory starlight floating in the array light, radiating a powerful force capable of contending with a Seventh-Rank True Immortal, firmly suppressing the auras of the three major forces above the Immortal City, preventing them from advancing an inch.

"Fellow Daoist Xingyuan, please calm down! That was not our intention!" The three seventh-grade True Immortals trembled violently, feeling the mountain-like pressure. They hurriedly cupped their hands and spoke, their voices tinged with panic, "It's just..."

"But what?" Xingyuan Zhenxian interrupted them, a cold glint flashing in his eyes like a drawn blade. "Don't you think that I secretly tampered with things and took the treasures from the tomb before you did?"

Before the three True Immortals could speak, True Immortal Xingyuan sneered, with a hint of self-mockery and disdain: "With just a Vermilion Bird Immortal Token, do I have the ability to break through the tomb-protecting formation set up by the Four Symbols True Immortals?"

"this......"

The three seventh-rank True Immortals exchanged glances, each seeing hesitation in the other's eyes. After obtaining a Four Symbols Immortal Token, they had tried to enter the Four Symbols True Immortal Tomb before. Although Xingyuan Lao'er's cultivation and strength were a notch above theirs, it was absolutely impossible to enter the Four Symbols True Immortal Tomb with just a Vermilion Bird Immortal Token.

“Ahem… Fellow Daoist Xingyuan misunderstands. We had no such intention.” The seventh-grade late-stage True Immortal in the green robe among the three coughed, breaking the silence. His tone softened considerably. “We have come here simply to find out who has consigned the Vermilion Bird Immortal Token to your esteemed institution. After all, this person may be related to the theft of the Immortal Tomb. We hope you can inform us.”

......

In the Starry Sea Immortal City, eight million cosmic years away, lies a small world that was newly created less than a billion years ago.

Still carrying the chaotic aura of newborn life, the earth was a primeval rock vein that had not been carved. Three stars with soft halos hung in the sky. The purest immortal energy flowed in the air, but there was not a trace of living beings. Only a simple stone house built of chaotic crystals stood quietly in the center of the world.

Before the stone house, an old man with white hair and beard stood with his hands behind his back. His white robe was spotless, as if it were woven from the purest light. No trace of his aura was leaking out, yet he resonated faintly with the rules of this small world. With each breath, countless tiny rule runes flowed from his sleeves and quietly merged into the void.

The old man slowly raised his eyes, his gaze calm and undisturbed, yet it seemed to transform into two divine rainbows piercing the universe, easily tearing through the void barrier of eight million cosmic years, passing over layers of nebulous turbulence, and landing directly on the figure in green robes above Star Sea Immortal City, hearing the conversation over there clearly.

"Xinghai Trading Company..." The old man's lips curled into an enigmatic smile, a smile that seemed both mocking and warning. His voice was as light as the wind blowing through jade, rippling through the quiet little world, "You'd better keep your mouths shut."

"Otherwise, the title of the No. 1 Trading Company in the Crimson Sea would have come to an end here!"

......

Above the Starry Sea Immortal City.

After a few moments of silence, Xingyuan Zhenxian finally spoke again. His voice was no longer as imposing as before, but rather gentle, as if he were chatting with an old friend: "Fellow Daoist Yuyang is joking."

He paused, then flicked his fingertips, subtly reducing the oppressive aura of a peak seventh-rank cultivator, while adding a touch of undeniable composure: "My Star Sea Merchant Guild has been able to stand firm in the Crimson Sea for billions of years because of the word 'trustworthiness.' Regardless of the consignor's status, their information is confidential and never leaked—this is the guild's rule, and even as the guild's owner, there is no reason to make an exception."

"It's not that I'm trying to shirk responsibility..." Before Yu Yang Zhenxian could speak, Xing Yuan Zhenxian continued, his tone still calm, yet each word was like a rune engraved on the Chaos Mystic Stone, carrying an unwavering determination, "It's just that the rules of the Dao are as iron as iron and cannot be transgressed. Let alone the three of you fellow Daoists, even if a Ninth-Rank Zhenxian came, these rules would not be touched in the slightest."

As he spoke, True Immortal Xingyuan slightly turned his body and looked towards the main building of the Star Sea Trading Company, as if gesturing to something. The starlight of the Nine Heavens Star River Array below flickered slightly. Although it did not release any pressure, it seemed to be silently echoing his words—the ironclad rules of the Star Sea Trading Company, like the city's protective array, were indestructible.

The three True Immortals of Yuyang had their expressions change several times. This old guy was all talk and no action. What kind of ninth-grade True Immortal was he? Could he really think they were fools?

The merchant guild's reputation was important, but what did it matter compared to the guild's survival? His resolute stance was merely a pretext to exploit their perceived weakness. If it were a true ninth-rank immortal, this old man would be the first to back down, not only revealing the consignor's information but likely even handing over the entire guild.

Seeing the changing expressions on the faces of the three True Immortals, including Yu Yang and Xing Yuan, and a hint of disdain in their eyes, True Immortal Xing Yuan could easily tell that they still harbored resentment. He sighed softly, as if carefully choosing his words.

As a merchant guild, we believe in making money through harmony. Unless absolutely necessary, we are unwilling to provoke four powerful seventh-grade True Immortal forces at the same time and incur their deadly enmity.

After a moment of silence, as if suddenly remembering something, he added a touch of seriousness to his tone, reminding everyone: "Fellow Daoists, sometimes suffering a loss is a blessing in disguise."

"I advise you not to pursue this matter any further. You know better than anyone the power of the Four Symbols Grand Array in the Tomb of the Four Symbols True Immortals."

"Even if what you think is true, that person who consigned the item emptied the tomb of the Four Symbols True Immortal before consigning the Vermilion Bird Immortal Token..." Xingyuan True Immortal changed the subject, his tone becoming more enigmatic, "His cultivation is at least that of a quasi-eighth-grade True Immortal, and he is definitely not someone you can afford to offend."

"To put it another way, if it's not as you all guessed," Xingyuan True Immortal paused, his gaze becoming even more profound, "the Four Symbols True Immortal Tomb had already been emptied before the Vermilion Bird Immortal Token appeared... then the one who made the move could only be a true eighth-rank True Immortal, or even stronger, and someone you can't afford to offend."

At this point, True Immortal Xingyuan leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice, but it struck the three like a heavy hammer, carrying an unprecedented solemnity: "Fellow Daoist Yuyang, if you continue to be stubborn and determined to investigate to the end, there will only be one outcome: death and annihilation of your souls. Even your clans may be completely wiped out from the Ancient Immortal Realm."

As he finished speaking, the blue robe around Xingyuan Zhenxian fluttered gently, carrying a sense of vicissitudes that had endured countless calamities. He said no more, but simply looked at the three of them quietly, his eyes seeming to hold the rise and fall of stars—there was no mockery in his eyes, only a warning from someone who had been there, as if he had already seen too many forces destroyed by greed.

The expressions of the three True Immortals, Yu Yang and Xing Yuan, changed drastically. True Immortal Xing Yuan's words were like a bucket of ice water poured over their hearts, causing their anger to quickly subside, leaving only a chilling feeling.

They had personally experienced how terrifying the restrictions on the Four Symbols True Immortal Tomb were; no matter which situation the Star Origin True Immortal mentioned, it was not something they could afford to provoke.

Above the void, even though True Immortal Chiming hadn't gotten close, he heard these words clearly. The flames around him suddenly contracted, and a hint of fear flashed in his eyes. He had only been focused on anger and had never considered whether he had the ability to take revenge.

The next second...

The flames surrounding True Immortal Chi Ming completely subsided, leaving only a few wisps of sparks flickering at his fingertips before dissipating into wisps of smoke. He abruptly turned his head, his gaze meeting that of True Immortal Yu Yang and the other two not far away.

Four pairs of eyes, once burning with anger or concealing calculation, now reflected the same emotion—bitterness. The crimson armor of True Immortal Chiming seemed to have lost some of its luster, the hem of True Immortal Yuyang's green robe was still trembling slightly, and the clenched fists of the other two True Immortals slowly loosened, the white marks between their knuckles gradually fading away.

No words were needed; a single glance was enough to say it all. They needed the four of them to fight off a mere quasi-eighth-grade True Immortal, let alone an eighth-grade True Immortal or even stronger.

Yu Yang Zhenxian was the first to look away, gazing at the sea of ​​clouds below Xinghai Immortal City. A smile that was more like a grimace stretched across his lips. Their Nine Yang Immortal Clan had paid such a high price to snatch a Azure Dragon Immortal Token, but they never expected that in the end, not only would their efforts be in vain, but they might also face annihilation. The frustration in their hearts was beyond words.

On the other side, True Immortal Chiming sighed heavily, filled with resentment and helplessness. His voice shook the void in front of him, causing a ripple. Old Man Xingyuan's words were not an exaggeration. In the face of an absolute difference in strength, any anger or resentment was futile.

The other two True Immortals exchanged glances, both seeing resignation in each other's eyes. They slowly withdrew their scattered auras, and the tense pressure around them receded like a tide. The True Immortals behind them also restrained their sharpness, standing with their heads bowed, no longer displaying their previous arrogance.

They're determined to suffer this loss in silence!