After quickly altering his consciousness and questioning him, Chu Chengzhou let She Long go.
Makes sense. Even sixteen years later the guy is still a weakling. Sixteen years ago he would have been even weaker, the weakest of the weak.
Setting aside whether he could defeat the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect elder who was ambushed alongside Ning Rongrong's mother back then, the mere fact that nothing was left behind after the assassination shows it was not something a weakling like She Long could have done.
What is more, judging by the timeline, when his second mother-in-law was attacked, She Long was already one of Qian Renxue's bodyguards. Spirit Hall is full of talent. They would not have She Long play bodyguard and moonlight as an assassin at the same time.
After that, Chu Chengzhou restrained his power and hit She Long with a burst of spiritual shock, knocking him out so the fool would not disturb his hunt for the culprit tonight when his mind returned to normal.
As for after tonight?
If he found the culprit tonight, he would wipe his hands of it and leave. He would not care what happened afterward.
"Mm, do not look at what is improper. That said, Big Sister Ling Yuan has quite a figure. Her breasts don't seem any smaller than Zhuqing's."
Through his spiritual-sense view, seeing Titled Douluo Ling Yuan meditating in her bedroom wearing only close-fitting undergarments, Chu Chengzhou could not help covering his eyes.
It was only because Ling Yuan was not his type. Otherwise he would have had to weigh things carefully.
You say covering his eyes is useless and does not affect spiritual probing?
Chu Chengzhou: All rights of interpretation belong to me.
Half an hour later, after questioning and knocking out more than a dozen Titled Elders one by one through the Void Illusion Realm, he still had not found the culprit. A trace of helplessness flashed through his heart.
Could it be that the culprit was not in Spirit City tonight and had gone out on a mission?
"Speak. Who the hell are you? Sixteen years ago, the attack on the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect sect master's wife, was it you?"
Activating the Void Illusion Realm again, Chu Chengzhou controlled a Spirit Hall elder who was meditating, with a slightly lanky build and spirit power at rank 94 as a Titled Douluo, and asked as usual.
"Great Lord God, your devout believer is named Xue Sha. Martial soul: Blood Shadow Dagger. Title: Blood Shadow. I am the Eleventh Elder of Spirit Hall. The wife of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's sect master Ning Fengzhi was indeed the one I assassinated on the former Pontiff's orders."
Blood Shadow Douluo Xue Sha spoke with a devout face.
"Damn, finally found you. Go wait for me outside the north gate."
Cursing under his breath, Chu Chengzhou sent a voice transmission order.
"Yes, Great Lord God."
Xue Sha did not know why Chu Chengzhou told him to go outside the north city gate, but since it was the command of the Great Lord God, as a devout believer he would obediently comply.
Immediately, Xue Sha left his residence and headed for outside the north gate of Spirit City.
At the same time, Chu Chengzhou sent a voice transmission to the palace-guard knights outside the Pontiff Palace and the Hall of Worship, telling them to pass on a message for him. Then he left Spirit City as well.
As a junior, leaving without saying goodbye is not good.
But he was avenging his second mother-in-law, which undoubtedly harmed Spirit Hall's interests. To avoid disturbing his elders' rest at night, it was better to have someone pass the word tomorrow morning.
Early the next day, in the bedroom, She Long opened his slightly confused eyes.
"Not good."
He shook his aching head. After clearing up a little and recalling what had happened before he fainted last night, She Long's face changed.
Chu Chengzhou had asked him whether Ning Fengzhi's wife was killed by him.
At once, She Long got up and left his quarters, hurrying toward the Hall of Worship.
Though Chu Chengzhou was just a young man, She Long knew this young man was ruthless. He had even played the vast Star Luo Empire into ruin.
And Ning Fengzhi's wife had indeed been assassinated years ago, with the culprit never found. She Long was aware of this. After all, because of Qian Renxue, he had long collected a great deal of intelligence on the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
If Chu Chengzhou, for no reason, decided it was him and came to kill him one day, he might not get the chance to clear up the misunderstanding. Better to first find a powerful patron who could protect him and give him a chance to explain.
Outside the Hall of Worship.
"Greetings, Elder."
"Inform the Grand Worship that She Long requests an audience."
Waving his hand, She Long spoke to the palace-guard knights standing outside the hall.
"The Grand Worship has already given instructions. Elders coming today may enter directly."
The knights exchanged looks, then the captain stepped forward and spoke.
What was going on? Why were these elders who are usually elusive all coming to seek an audience with the Grand Worship this morning?
"Have other elders already arrived?"
After a moment of silence, She Long asked.
Judging by this, was he not the only one who got sapped last night?
"Reporting to Elder, nine elders arrived before you."
The captain replied.
She Long: "..."
When She Long entered the hall, he saw nine colleagues already standing inside.
Seeing She Long walk in without a word, Qian Daoliu's mouth twitched slightly. Good grief, there were already ten elders... no, fourteen elders who got sapped. He wondered if there would be more.
There probably would not be. After all, She Long was the weakest. After being sapped, he should be the last to wake.
The reason it was fourteen and not ten was because four others had gone to the Pontiff Palace.
It could only be said that Bibi Dong had been in power for many years and her influence within Spirit Hall was not small. At least four Titled Elders had been won over by her.
"Greetings, Grand Worship."
She Long bowed to Qian Daoliu.
"Mm. Wait here. I have already sent people to investigate."
Qian Daoliu waved his hand.
Before long, a red-robed bishop walked into the hall.
"Reporting to the Grand Worship. After searching the archives, your subordinate has clarified the cause of the matter.
Seventeen years ago, the former Pontiff signed an assassination order. The plan was carried out sixteen years ago by the Eleventh Elder, Blood Shadow Douluo."
The red-robed bishop reported.
At once, Qian Daoliu released his spiritual power and probed the entire Spirit City.
After a moment, not sensing any trace of the Eleventh Elder Blood Shadow, black lines popped up on Qian Daoliu's forehead.
Good grief. A Spirit Hall elder had been kidnapped inside Spirit City.
"Alright. This matter ends here. Do not discuss it again. Treat it as if it never happened."
After thinking for a moment, Qian Daoliu spoke to everyone.
Qian Daoliu felt a bit helpless. The one who did the kidnapping was his own grandson-in-law, and at the root of it, it was his own Spirit Hall elder who had assassinated the man's mother-in-law first. As an elder, it was not appropriate to pursue it, nor could he.
After all, in terms of closeness, subordinates who are merely tools cannot compare to a grandson-in-law.
"Yes, Grand Worship."
Everyone rose and responded.
The elders did not dare feel dissatisfied with Qian Daoliu's approach, nor would they. Chu Chengzhou had been able to sap them without a sound. That meant this young man's strength was far above theirs.
Such strength at such a young age. How would they dare offend him? They could barely hide fast enough.
The reason they came to Qian Daoliu right away was only for peace of mind and to clear up the misunderstanding of "did you kill my so-and-so."
T/N: I thought he would like remove their memories of it but I guess not lol.