https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-183-Evil-God-s-Ascension-Inspection-Team-Takes-Notice/13686655/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-185-Zhenzhen-s-Potential-Ritual-Embodiment/13686657/
Chapter 184: The Interrogation of Zhang Yu
Fujie whispered beside her: “Remember—you never saw Song Xu.”
“The building’s surveillance was already down. You and Bai Zhenzhen both altered your appearances, and there’s no footage of your real faces in the surrounding neighborhood.”
“Plus, these Evil God Cultists are terrified of Ritual backlash. They’re extremely cautious—no personal items would contain anything related to the Evil God.”
“The Inspection Team hasn’t pulled any intelligence about the Evil God from them yet. So they definitely don’t know Song Xu and the others were targeting us.”
Zhang Yu, ever the careful planner, always prepared in advance—just like how he’d stock up containers and tissues before selling seeds. Unlike some reckless fools who only scramble when the crisis hits, he’d already mapped out every angle.
He and Fujie, Bai Zhenzhen, had discussed the possibility of interrogation long before this moment. Fujie’s reminder wasn’t new.
Now, hearing Yun Ni’s question, Zhang Yu blinked in feigned confusion. “Song Xu? I know he’s a top student at Bailong High School, but I’ve never met him. We’ve never even spoken.”
Yun Ni nodded slightly, her mind flickering through the data on Song Xu.
The six cultists had died in a Ritual backlash—witnessed by countless citizens, even captured on video. The incident quickly drew the Inspection Team’s attention, flagged as a potential Evil God case.
In cross-referencing records, Song Xu was the first confirmed identity. As a renowned prodigy at Bailong High, his personal data was the most complete—officially documented in every detail.
From his phone, computer, and other personal belongings, the Inspection Team uncovered a secret organization he’d secretly built.
“A group of poor geniuses aiming to break through the shackles and ascend to the second layer…”
“Pfft. Still peddling that old scam?”
Yun Ni didn’t care. Her experience told her: the poorer you were in Kunxu, the more easily you were exploited by the wealthy—due to the massive information gap. But this kind of fraud wasn’t her jurisdiction.
What mattered most to Yun Ni, the Inspection Team’s top agent, was the Evil God.
But six people spontaneously combusting wasn’t enough proof. Many methods could cause such effects. And from the victims’ belongings, not a single clue pointed to the Evil God.
As for Li Quan and the other resident who’d been taken by the company that day? They were currently working off their fines for pirated Techniques.
Nothing useful came from them either.
The case seemed like a plain murder—no supernatural elements. That meant Yun Ni couldn’t escalate her authority, couldn’t use stronger, more aggressive, or Divinely sanctioned tactics.
Yet, from the ruined building, the shattered wreckage, and the broken surveillance cameras, Yun Ni sensed something… unmistakably Evil God.
She’d questioned Zhang Yu only because, in Song Xu’s files, his name had surfaced.
“Could this guy have been gathering intel on Zhang Yu for weeks?”
“Was Zhang Yu their target?”
“Did Song Xu think he was just another poor kid, trying to recruit him for a scam?”
“Maybe Zhang Yu could lead us to something useful?”
Now, standing in an empty classroom, Yun Ni and Zhang Yu sat across from each other at separate desks. The other Inspection Team members guarded the door.
Yun Ni spoke first: “Has Mo Tianyi contacted you?”
Zhang Yu’s heart paused. Fujie’s warning echoed in his mind: “Don’t deny it. For one, you’re not truly tied to the Poor Genius Alliance. And the Inspection Team isn’t part of the same system as Songyang’s noble families. They don’t care about such groups. Just tell the truth about your interactions with Mo Tianyi.”
“Lying here would only raise suspicion.”
So Zhang Yu recounted every contact he’d had with Mo Tianyi.
Yun Ni listened, then sighed—disappointment flickering in her eyes. “Nothing useful. Just like the other poor students. None of them knew anything about Song Xu’s connection to the Evil God.”
Just then, Zhang Yu tilted his head, curiosity in his voice: “What happened to them?”
Yun Ni wasn’t surprised by the look. She kept her expression neutral. “Hmm… they’re involved in a case of pirated Techniques.”
“If you remember anything else about them, feel free to call me anytime.”
In her mind, more details flashed like lightning.
“Trouble. Everything valuable at the scene was destroyed.”
“Almost all the building’s surveillance was faulty.”
“No suspects in the surrounding area’s footage.”
“The delivery man who visited the scene? He ordered via a stolen phone. The original owner has no suspicion.”
The more she dug, the fewer real leads she found. Nothing tied to the Evil God.
And yet—the more sparse the evidence, the stronger the feeling in her gut.
“If those six really died from Ritual backlash… this was the work of a seasoned, skilled Cultist. Or worse… a true, senior-level Evil God pulling the strings.”
“This isn’t a random act. It’s an internal war among Evil Gods.”
“Could it be someone from Songyang High School?”
A year ago, traces of an Evil God had been detected at Songyang High. The Inspection Team had poured resources into investigating the school’s corporate and family networks, maintaining long-term surveillance.
But the Evil God vanished—like a phantom. Many agents now believed it had just passed through.
“These vermin in the cracks… one’s more skilled at hiding than the next.”
The thoughts passed in an instant.
Yun Ni turned to Zhang Yu, smiling faintly. “Pianpian asked me to look after you before she left. But sorry—sister’s broke. Can’t lend you a cent.”
“Just… I can put in a word in the Inspection Team.”
“You ever think about advancing within the Team? Becoming a full member?”
“Then you’d get a salary bump, full medical coverage, daily meal and transport allowances, tax exemptions, access to more talismans… and even a chance to contact Pianpian.”
Zhang Yu’s eyes flickered. “You mean… I could actually reach Zhang Pianpian?”
“Isn’t communication across Kunxu layers strictly forbidden?”
Yun Ni explained: “Ordinary people can’t cross layers. But the Eight Great Righteous Gods oversee all of Kunxu—how else would they communicate? If they couldn’t link the layers, the system would collapse.”
“Once you’re a formal employee under the Eight Great Righteous Gods, you gain that ability.”
Fujie added: “She’s right. If both you and your sister become official members, you could cross layers. There’s also cross-layer business trade—those with proper clearance can maintain contact.”
“But joining the divine bureaucracy? That path comes with too many restrictions. You’ve got too many secrets already. Better not.”
Even without Fujie’s warning, Zhang Yu remembered Pianpian’s advice. He declined politely.
Yun Ni shrugged, smiling. “Change your mind anytime. Just come find me.”
A few moments after Zhang Yu left, one of the officers stepped inside.
A young man looked at Yun Ni. “Captain, I just ran a check on Zhang Yu. He recently bought a batch of antiques—worth over a hundred thousand.”
“Antiques? That’s risky. It’s like archaeology—tons of people chasing ancient secrets, lost sects, fallen Evil Gods. The market’s flooded. Everyone’s trading. And he’s a high school student—how would he even know this?”
“Plus, I found he and Bai Zhenzhen left Songyang City twice in the past six months.”
Yun Ni glanced at him, unimpressed. She knew more about antiques than most. Especially with the Top Ten Sects and their subsidiaries constantly hunting for lost knowledge—this was a vast, hidden market, far beyond ordinary citizens.
She also knew many antiques were used in worship.
Powerful cultivators along the Divine Path often had personal shrines—Yun Ni’s parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, even her great-great-grandfather—all had their own.
Zheng Shen was the common deity. But some used shrines for Evil Gods too.
Yet… Zhang Pianpian’s younger brother worshipping an Evil God?
Yun Ni shook her head.
“Pianpian’s under Zheng Shen’s close watch. Every family member is scrutinized. How could she be linked to the Evil God?”
The thoughts flashed through her mind like lightning.
She looked up at the officer. “Who told you to dig into him?”
The man blinked. “You asked about Song Xu. Didn’t you suspect Zhang Yu might be connected to the Cultists?”
Yun Ni’s voice turned icy. “When did I say I suspected him? I was just gathering intel. Don’t go making decisions on your own.”
She didn’t punish him—she knew his family had been Inspection Team for seven generations.
To her, the Inspection Team was like a beautifully decorated house. It had many walls, but only two or three were load-bearing. The rest were just for show—fake supports. But even if they weren’t structural, breaking them down meant costly renovations.
She turned back. “When exactly did he leave Songyang?”
The officer recited the dates.
Yun Ni’s brows twitched.
To most, these dates were ordinary. But to her—ten generations of inspectors—something stood out.
“The Foundation Establishment Exam dates?”
“Were they there to take the exam?”
For a moment, she thought she’d misjudged.
But then she thought of Zhang Pianpian.
“If she guided her brother to take the exam… it’s not impossible.”
“Alright,” Yun Ni said. “Zhang Yu’s a colleague. Don’t go snooping around him for no reason. Especially his trips out of Songyang.”
She looked at the officers, voice firm: “If anyone finds anything—and I mean anything—you won’t be protected even by Songyang City.”
“The Foundation Establishment Exam is top-secret. Digging deeper into Zhang Yu’s movements? You might just stir a hornet’s nest. And you’d drag down so many people.”
The officers exchanged glances, stunned.
“Who is this Zhang Yu, anyway? One look and we’re all out of the job?”
(End of Chapter)
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