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Chapter 299: Electric Interrogation
Chapter 299: Electric Interrogation
Ji Xinghuo's eyesight far surpassed Shen Yucheng's. He could spot Shen from several dozen kilometers away, while the latter remained oblivious to his presence.
As he flew, Ji maintained his refraction ability, but it soon became ineffective as he accelerated.
It didn't matter, though.
Ji had no intention of hiding, and the distance between them quickly shortened to around ten kilometers. Shen Yucheng, sensing his presence, hesitated and slowed to a stop.
"Bold one," Shen remarked.
Ji Xinghuo, seeing that Shen was observing him without attempting to flee, knew that his opponent was skilled and fearless in battle.
The two rapidly closed in on each other, the distance shrinking to within five kilometers.
Ji Xinghuo's electromagnetic sensing ability swept over Shen Yucheng, and he understood that his opponent had already reached the legendary realm, which explained his boldness in waiting for Ji's approach.
Ji accelerated once more.
Boom…
Shen Yucheng finally caught a clear glimpse of Ji Xinghuo, who resembled a fighter jet speeding towards him. His expression changed drastically, and he turned to flee at top speed.
Possessing the flight ability, Shen burned his stellar power, reaching speeds of over 100 meters per second. He resembled a fiery meteor streaking across the sky, but compared to Ji Xinghuo's speed, he was still far behind.
Shen Yucheng kept glancing back, only to see Ji Xinghuo rapidly closing in.
In just over ten seconds, the distance between them had shrunk to less than three kilometers.
A look of panic flashed in Shen's eyes.
Speed meant power, and speed determined strength. The faster an evolver was, the more powerful they undoubtedly were.
This Highlander's exaggerated flying speed far surpassed that of a legendary powerhouse and even rivaled many Heavenly Kings!
Shen Yucheng had always been proud of his speed. With his superhuman flying ability, he dared to roam freely in the Bloody Highlands. But now, on this hunting trip, he had inexplicably encountered a Highlander with such extraordinary speed, and it seemed his intentions were less than friendly.
"He's a follower of the Red Emperor..."
"Trying to reason with Blood Maniac is like casting pearls before swine! Damn it!"
Shen Yucheng cursed inwardly, gritting his teeth. His pupils took on a bloody hue, and he burned his stellar power once more, pushing his speed even further.
Boom!
After flying for just a few seconds, Shen Yucheng felt extreme pain and struggled to continue.
He turned back and was stunned by what he saw.
Despite his efforts, not only had he failed to increase the distance between them, but the Highlander had also closed in even further.
"I have no choice but to fight!"
Shen Yucheng stopped burning his stellar power and conserved his energy. He arced through the air and turned to face his opponent, flying straight towards him.
"Heh heh..." Ji Xinghuo could tell what Shen Yucheng was planning and admired his courage, but it would be of little use.
The two flew towards each other, the distance shrinking rapidly.
In the blink of an eye, they were just about a hundred meters apart.
Intense flames surged from Shen Yucheng's body, and the scorching heat spread outwards. His right fist, encased in a boxing glove, concentrated the 'Fury Flame Power,' and flames erupted from the soles of his feet, unleashing the 'Blazing Dash' ability, causing his speed to surge once more. He resembled a meteor crashing towards Ji Xinghuo.
Ji Xinghuo had experienced a similar scene not long ago on the Earth Abyss Star, where he had faced off against another legendary evolver, the Flame Maniac, and defeated him in a head-on collision.
Shen Yucheng had only recently advanced to the legendary realm, and his strength fell slightly short of the Flame Maniac's.
Ji Xinghuo had no intention of killing him.
As Shen Yucheng charged forward, his flaming fist came at Ji with lightning speed. But to Ji, it seemed as though the scene was playing out in slow motion. When Shen's fist was just half a meter from his face, it suddenly disappeared.
Boom!
The air exploded, and the scorching flames engulfed an area with a radius of several dozen meters.
"You missed!"
Shen Yucheng immediately realized something was amiss. With his 'High-Frequency Thought' ability, his reactions were incredibly fast. He sensed that his opponent had appeared behind him, but before he could turn or escape, he felt a heavy blow to his back.
Bang!
Shen Yucheng felt as though his body was falling apart, and he fell uncontrollably towards the ground.
As he tumbled in the air, he turned to see the Highlander charging down from a height of about a hundred meters above him, fist aimed at his abdomen.
Bang!
Despite the protective layer of 'Crimson Flame Armor,' Shen Yucheng spat out a mouthful of blood, along with his recently consumed lunch.
But it wasn't over yet.
The Highlander dove in again, raining punch after punch.
Shen Yucheng desperately tried to regain control of his flight, but his opponent gave him no chance. Each dive was accompanied by a punch that shattered his Crimson Flame Armor, and the immense force of the blows scattered his flaming stellar power.
Electricity coursed through his body, causing paralysis and excruciating pain.
Bang! Bang! Bang...
After more than a dozen punches, Shen Yucheng's falling speed increased, and his body curled up like a shrimp.
His martial arts skills, combat techniques, equipment, and other ability means were all rendered useless in the face of such an overwhelming gap in strength and speed.
Finally, he slammed diagonally into a snow-capped peak over two thousand meters high, creating a loud rumble and a huge pit. Countless snowflakes flew in all directions, triggering a minor avalanche.
Shen Yucheng lay embedded in the pit, struggling to maintain consciousness.
With great effort, he opened his eyes and saw the Highlander slowly descending and hovering at the edge of the pit, looking down at him with a fierce and savage expression. The Highlander's body didn't exude much aura, but Shen Yucheng was still terrified. This follower of the Red Emperor was too strong!
However, Shen Yucheng was puzzled as to why his opponent hadn't killed him.
"Who the hell are you?" Shen Yucheng exclaimed, his initial shock giving way to realization. "You're not a Highlander; you're an Earthling in disguise!"
"So soon you forget," Ji Xinghuo replied with a faint smile, his deep voice returning to its usual tone. "You're doing quite well for yourself in the Starry Realm, I see."
"It's you!" Shen Yucheng exclaimed. "You're that Swordmaster from the Sword Bureau, code-named Xintian! How is this possible?" His eyes widened in disbelief as he struggled to make sense of the situation.
The last time they had crossed paths, Ji Xinghuo had only been a high-level Evolver. Although he had been powerful, Shen Yucheng had deliberately lost their battle in the Immortal City, seeking death. Yet, in just over a year, Ji Xinghuo's strength had surpassed even that of a legendary Evolver, as evidenced by the brutal beating he had just delivered.
And it seemed he still hadn't exerted his full strength.
"Anything is possible," Ji Xinghuo replied, his face hardening. He had no fondness for Shen Yucheng and asked in a stern voice, "Now, tell me, what's the situation with the Qianyu Society? Why did you defect, and what crucial information or items do you possess?"
"Have you clashed with the Qianyu Society?" Shen Yucheng's expression suddenly relaxed, and he studied Ji Xinghuo intently, trying to discern his true identity.
The previous year, in the Immortal City, Ji Xinghuo had been in disguise. Now, he was masquerading as a Highlander, and Shen Yucheng only knew his code name, "Xintian," with no other information about him. Shen Yucheng was genuinely curious about the true identity of this Swordmaster from the Sword Bureau.
Crackle!
A thunderous crack split the air as a bolt of lightning descended from the heavens, striking Shen Yucheng and causing him to convulse in pain from the high-voltage current. It took him half a minute to recover.
Ji Xinghuo watched him impassively. "Answer my questions. This is an interrogation, do you understand?"
"Go ahead and kill me if you dare," Shen Yucheng spat defiantly.
Another bolt of lightning struck, illuminating the sky.
"I know you have a clone twin," Ji Xinghuo said calmly. "Death would be a release for you. But go ahead and try to commit suicide in front of me. Even if you die, I'll find your original body and put an end to you for good."
Shen Yucheng's eyes flickered with uncertainty.
Although he had been the deputy director of the Exploration Department in the Starry Realm Department, he had no access to information about the Sword Bureau. His impression of the organization was the same as that of most people in the Pan-Asian Collective—mysterious, powerful, and awe-inspiring.
The Swordmaster before him was a testament to that reputation.
In just over a year, he had managed to track Shen Yucheng down in the vast expanse of the Starry Realm, an impressive feat. And finding his original body might not be out of the question either.
"Ask your questions," Shen Yucheng said, finally relenting.
Ji Xinghuo cut straight to the chase. "Who are the members of the Qianyu Society?"
"I don't know," Shen Yucheng replied, shaking his head painfully as he lay in the pit. "When I was the deputy commander of the Exploration Department, I led a mission where an Evolver approached me and became a friend. They offered me conditions I couldn't refuse, helping me accelerate my cultivation and evolution, resulting in a significant increase in my strength."
He paused briefly before continuing, "Later, I learned of their intentions, but by then, I was already in too deep."
"We always met in the Starry Realm."
"During exploration missions, they provided a lot of information and assistance, which helped me establish a reputation in the Exploration Department and rise through the ranks."
As he spoke, a self-deprecating smile crossed his face, his expression complex.
"Who is this person?" Ji Xinghuo asked.
"It's not just one person; there are many of them," Shen Yucheng replied. "They all have shape-shifting abilities, and although they used the same appearance when interacting with me, I soon realized that there were at least three different individuals."
He looked at Ji Xinghuo and added, "I've checked, and they have no identity information on Earth, which strongly suggests that they've never been there. Otherwise, they would have left some trace or record."
"You're quite certain about that?" Ji Xinghuo's eyes narrowed.
"Hehe..." Shen Yucheng's eyes glinted with confidence. "Do you think I became a deputy director at the age of 40 purely through the help of others? When it comes to information gathering, I'm second to none. Ever since I realized that those people had questionable backgrounds and were backed by a powerful organization, I've been secretly investigating and collecting information on them. That's how I discovered the name Qianyu Society; otherwise, your Sword Bureau would still be clueless."
Ji Xinghuo nodded, urging him to continue. "What else do you know? Tell me everything."
"The Qianyu Society is a global organization, with members and branches in all the major countries on Earth," Shen Yucheng revealed.
"Their organization is highly secretive, and they've cultivated numerous Evolvers in secret, placing them in governments and companies. They've risen to very high positions, and among their ranks are not only legendary powerhouses but also Heavenly Kings!"
"The Qianyu Society controls at least one Earth Star Gate, allowing them to travel freely between Earth and the Starry Realm."
"I suspect that they were formed in the Starry Realm, and their mastermind might even be from here!"
As Ji Xinghuo heard this, his expression grew solemn.
"The Dagonians or the Celestial Feather King Court?" Ji Xinghuo immediately asked, knowing that only this force could harbor such ill intentions towards Earth and organize the Qianyu Society.
"I don't know," Shen Yucheng replied.
"You don't know, or you don't want to say?" Ji Xinghuo's face turned cold.
"I really don't know!" Shen Yucheng quickly defended himself. "If you ask me, the Celestial Feather King Court's Winged People are the more likely suspects."
"How so?"
"I've worked in the Exploration Department for over twenty years, mostly carrying out missions in the Thousand Peak Abyssal Wood. The Qianyu Society has always been able to help me, and I don't think the Dagonians have that kind of capability. Aside from the Winged People, I can't think of anyone else who could pull this off," Shen Yucheng offered his speculation.
Ji Xinghuo stroked his goatee, deeply shocked by this conjecture.
He found this speculation somewhat believable, and the fact that the Winged People had infiltrated Earth was astonishing.
"You should have reported this information instead of defecting," Ji Xinghuo expressed his dissatisfaction with Shen Yucheng's choice. It was only when the Sword Bureau was investigating Ji Zongbang that they discovered Shen Yucheng's involvement, prompting his defection.
"How do I know that reporting it won't alert the Qianyu Society's people?" Shen Yucheng retorted. "There are definitely traitors within your Sword Bureau as well."
Ji Xinghuo had no response to this.
Indeed, there were traitors within the Sword Bureau, and he suspected there were more than one, with some even deeply embedded.
Shen Yucheng continued, "I deliberately made a fuss about stealing the Exploration Department's information, sacrificing one of my clones, and used you to inform the Sword Bureau about the existence of the Qianyu Society. I've already done my part for the country."
When a clone created by a twin clone died, the original body would also experience the pain of death.
Re-creating a clone was time-consuming and energy-intensive, hindering one's cultivation and evolution.
If a clone died too many times, it could damage the soul, and the stellar power would be difficult to cultivate back to its previous level.
There was nothing wrong with Shen Yucheng's actions, and Ji Xinghuo had no intention of blaming him. He only wanted to know more about the Qianyu Society.
"Do you have a list of Qianyu Society members?"
"My position in the Qianyu Society wasn't high. I always communicated with a single contact, and my superior in the Starry Realm cut off contact a long time ago. I also had a subordinate, but he was eliminated before I was exposed," Shen Yucheng replied as he recovered some of his injuries and sat up in the pit.
He continued, "I don't have access to the list, but there are a few key suspects, all of whom I analyzed and identified through information gathering."
"Tell me."
"The first is the Giant Corporation. I already hinted at this when we were in the Immortal City," Shen Yucheng said.
Ji Xinghuo frowned.
Last year, when they were chasing Shen Yucheng in the Immortal City, he had suspected the Giant Corporation of being involved, and it seemed his suspicions were correct.
The Giant Corporation was a behemoth, with hundreds of subsidiary companies and tens of millions of employees. Moreover, it was one of the de facto controllers of the American Federation. Even if they knew of its connection to the Qianyu Society, it would be extremely difficult to bring them down or investigate them.
Shen Yucheng quickly named seven or eight suspects, but none of them were specific individuals. They were all companies, institutions, or organizations.
They were scattered across various countries on Earth, with three of them in the Pan-Asian Collective.
Ji Xinghuo had never heard of them.
He suddenly doubted the credibility of Shen Yucheng's statements or wondered if Shen Yucheng was simply making wild accusations without any evidence.
"Where are they?" Ji Xinghuo asked, writing down the names of the suspects. He suddenly reached out his hand.
"What are you talking about?" Shen Yucheng was confused.
"Don't play dumb with me." Ji Xinghuo glared at Shen Yucheng, taking a step forward. "If you didn't take something important from the Qianyu Society and frame me for it, why would the Qianyu Society send people to assassinate me repeatedly?"
Electricity crackled in his eyes, and lightning seemed ready to burst forth.
"It's in Chang'an!"
Shen Yucheng's face was filled with panic, and he finally blurted out, "I buried it in Lishan Park. Go and get it yourself!"
He provided a specific burial site.
"What is it?" Ji Xinghuo asked.
"Before I was exposed, my superior in the Starry Realm gave it to me and asked me to bring it back to Earth to await further instructions," Shen Yucheng explained quickly. "I secretly studied it, and its shell is very hard. I couldn't open it, so I suspect it's an alien artifact."
Ji Xinghuo nodded.
He asked a few more questions, and Shen Yucheng honestly answered, revealing everything he knew.
"You'd better not be lying, or next time I won't be so polite," Ji Xinghuo flew into the sky and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
"Damn, and you call this being polite after beating me up like this?"
Shen Yucheng grumbled as he lay in the pit for over ten minutes before painfully climbing out and taking off, heading in a different direction.
However, he didn't notice that dozens of kilometers away in the sky, a vague figure was following him.
(End of Chapter)
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