Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

Shen Mo did not answer immediately. He slowly walked to the corner where there was a faint spatial fluctuation, squatted down, and stretched out two fingers to gently pick up a clump of almost imperceptible dark red dust.

The dust was mixed in with the ordinary soil, and if it weren't for his keen senses and the system notification, he wouldn't have been able to detect it at all.

"What is this?" Su Xiao noticed Shen Mo's actions and asked softly.

Shi Tie leaned closer, stared at it intently, scratched his head, and said, "Sect Leader, isn't this just wall plaster mixed with blood clots? What's so special about it?"

Shen Mo summoned a faint, cloud-like spiritual energy from his fingertips, enveloping the dust mote as he carefully sensed it.

With the powerful divine sense of the Foundation Establishment stage and the unique keen perception of energy by the Flowing Cloud Dao Body, the Yin energy and extremely weak spatial fluctuations contained in the dust were amplified and analyzed.

"This is no ordinary blood scab." Shen Mo slowly rose, his gaze sweeping over everyone before finally settling on Elder Zhou of the Deacon Council. "Deacon Zhou, was there anything unusual in the market before and after the incident last night? For example, did any strangers purchase large quantities of certain materials? Or, were there any individuals skilled in formations, talismans, especially those related to space or blood magic, appear or leave?"

Old Man Zhou was taken aback. After thinking carefully, a steward responsible for patrolling the market suddenly interjected, "Now that you mention it, Sect Leader Shen... I remember! About seven or eight days ago, a man in black robes wearing a bamboo hat, whose face was obscured, bought a considerable amount of 'Void Stone' fragments and 'Yin Blood Sand' at the 'General Store'!"

"The shopkeeper was wondering at the time, it's strange that no one usually buys these two things together! Because that person paid so readily and didn't ask any questions."

"Fragments of Void Stone? Yin Blood Sand?" Zhao Yuanming's expression changed slightly. "These are materials for setting up simple teleportation arrays or for crafting certain evil talismans!"

Jin Dadao and Liu Sandao also abandoned their dismissive expressions, their eyes gleaming. The Void Stone, involving space, was incredibly valuable; the Yin Blood Sand was an even more sinister substance, often associated with evil arts like blood sacrifices and soul refining. That both items were bought in large quantities by the same person was no coincidence!

Shen Mo understood immediately; this matched the system's analysis of "remnants of low-level teleportation arrays or special escape talismans." He continued, "Do you know where that person went?"

The patrolling deacon shook his head and said, "That person bought the goods and left the market. The direction... seems to be towards the depths of the Blackwater Marsh."

"Deep within the Blackwater Swamp?" Everyone's expression changed again. That place was infested with demonic beasts, a harsh environment, and rumored to be the hidden strongholds of evil and demonic cultivators.

Shen Mo then pointed to the clump of dust: "This is not ordinary dust, but 'Blood Fiend Powder' containing special Yin energy and blood. It is often used by evil cultivators to track, mark, or... serve as a medium for certain blood-path formations. Extremely faint spatial fluctuations still remain on it."

His sharp gaze swept across the courtyard floor, his Foundation Establishment stage divine sense like a fine broom, meticulously combing through every inch. Suddenly, he paused, exhaling a wisp of cloud of energy that brushed away a layer of loose soil.

On the bluestone floor, several faint, almost invisible, twisted patterns outlined with some kind of dark red liquid suddenly appeared! These patterns intertwined to form a fragmented circular pattern about three feet in diameter, with a hideous ghost head mark in the center!

"This is... a formation?!" Su Xiao exclaimed in surprise. She had been learning formations from Zhao Qingyan and could tell at a glance that the pattern was not naturally formed and exuded an eerie aura.

Zhao Yuanming, Jin Dadao, and the others also gathered around. After seeing the pattern clearly, they all gasped in shock! Although they were not proficient in formations, the sinister aura emanating from the ghost head mark and the patterns was unmistakable!

"It really was an evil cultivator's formation!" Jin Dadao gritted his teeth. "Using such a vicious formation to harm people!"

Shen Mo carefully observed the remnants of the formation, and combined with the "Blood Soul Daoist Rhyme" and "Low-level Blood Shadow Escape" hinted at by the system, he had already made a general deduction in his mind.

This evil cultivator's cultivation level wasn't top-tier, but his methods were unpredictable and his mind was meticulous. He first used an array to isolate the inside from the outside, instantly subdued the five rogue cultivators, and absorbed their essence, blood, and souls. Then, he likely used a pre-arranged short-distance teleportation array or a special escape talisman to instantly flee far away, thus achieving the feat of appearing and disappearing without a trace.

"This person's cultivation level is between the ninth level of Qi Refining and the early stage of Foundation Establishment," Shen Mo said in a deep voice. "He is proficient in blood-path evil arts and possesses the ability to teleport or escape at high speed. His targets are clear, and his methods are skillful, indicating that this is not his first time committing such a crime. The purchase of the Void Stone and Yin Blood Sand is to prepare for a backup plan or to commit another crime. His lair is very likely deep within the Blackwater Swamp."

After a thorough analysis, the evidence was presented in a clear and logical manner, and the chain of evidence was beginning to take shape. Everyone was convinced, especially the members of the Deacon Council, who felt as if they had grasped a lifeline.

"Sect Leader Shen, please be wise! We beg you to do us justice and eliminate this scoundrel!" The old man Zhou was so excited that he was about to kneel down.

Shen Mo raised his hand to stop him, but his gaze turned to Jin Dadao and Liu Sandao: "Sect Leader Jin, Chief Liu, this person's lair may be deep within the Blackwater Swamp. The situation there is complex and not easily explored by our Qingyun Sect alone. I wonder if you two would be willing to join forces to rid the people of this scourge?"

Upon hearing this, Jin Dadao and Liu Sandao's expressions shifted. They certainly wanted to eliminate this threat, but venturing deep into the Blackwater Marsh to wipe out a possibly Foundation Establishment stage evil cultivator? The risk was too great! Who knew if that evil cultivator had accomplices? Or perhaps an even more powerful ambush?

Jin Dadao chuckled, "Sect Leader Shen's analysis is reasonable! However, the depths of this Blackwater Swamp are extremely dangerous. Our disciples' cultivation is shallow; if we rashly venture in, we fear we will suffer heavy losses... We need to plan carefully, plan carefully!"

Liu Sandao also chuckled sinisterly, "Master Jin is absolutely right. Besides, there's no concrete evidence pointing to a specific person yet. What if we find the wrong person? Wouldn't that be alerting the enemy? In my opinion, we should strengthen the defenses of the market and wait for that evil cultivator to reappear before joining forces to encircle and annihilate him!"

These two were clearly trying to back down and were unwilling to take any risks.

Shen Mo sneered inwardly, having anticipated their reaction. He didn't press the matter, instead turning to Zhao Yuanming: "City Lord Zhao, what is your opinion?"

Zhao Yuanming, ever the straightforward one, gritted his teeth and declared, "My Zhao family is willing to follow Sect Leader Shen's lead! Such evil cultivators harm all sides and must not be tolerated!"

Shen Mo nodded and said to Elder Zhou of the Council of Deacons, "In that case, strengthen the defenses in the market and reassure the people. Now that our Qingyun Sect has intervened in the matter of eradicating the evil cultivators, we will take full responsibility for it."

These words were spoken with resounding force! An invisible aura of dominance arose spontaneously!

Jin Dadao and Liu Sandao looked rather grim, feeling that Shen Mo was slapping them in the face, but intimidated by Shen Mo's Foundation Establishment cultivation, they dared not say anything more. The cultivators and members of the council in the surrounding market all cast grateful and admiring glances at Shen Mo.

"Sect Leader Shen, your righteousness is admirable!"

"Thank you, Sect Leader Shen!"

Shen Mo ignored the others and said to Su Xiao, Shi Tie, and the others, "Let's go."

After leaving the courtyard, Shen Mo did not return directly to Qingyun Mountain. Instead, he led Su Xiao and the others to the "General Store" in the market. Upon seeing that it was Sect Leader Shen, who had just displayed his great power, the shopkeeper was so frightened that his legs went weak, and he became extremely respectful.

Shen Mo asked directly, "Seven or eight days ago, the black-robed man who bought the Void Stone fragments and Yin Blood Sand, besides wearing a bamboo hat, had any other distinguishing features? Was there anything unusual about his height, build, accent, or hands?"