From Zhongzhou

Facing the shameless words of the Foundation Establishment cultivator who acted as a traitor, Chu Xingchen didn’t hesitate to check his attributes.

[Target: Guan Quan]

[Blue Trait: Flexible Morals]

[White Trait: Somewhat Clever]

[White Trait: Ruthless]

[Black Trait: Poor Talent]

Seeing these traits, Chu Xingchen smiled with satisfaction. Flexible morals? Exactly the kind of talent he was looking for.

"Luck is on my side. I’ll choose him," Chu Xingchen thought.

He then remarked, "You’re clearly a capable man. It can’t be easy to have your own dock here, right?"

Guan Quan smiled warmly and replied, "Thanks to the blessings of you two officers, I manage to get by."

"We came to ask for your help with a case," Chu Xingchen said, patting Guan Quan on the shoulder. "You’re free, aren’t you?"

"Of course, officer. Everyone at my dock will do their best to assist."

"No need for so many people. Just you will do."

Guan Quan was taken aback. Just him?

Considering the things he’d been up to lately, he wasn’t much better than Wang Ermazi, whom he’d just reported.

Who in their right mind would follow a Demon Suppression Bureau squad leader on a case?

Were they trying to bait him into a trap?

Was this so-called case actually about dealing with him?

Guan Quan hesitated and tried to decline, "Officer, more hands make lighter work…"

"True," Chu Xingchen nodded in agreement, then his expression turned sharp as he glared at Guan Quan. "You’d better call more people too! Don’t say we’re bullying you!"

The threat was crystal clear.

Faced with Chu Xingchen’s intimidation, Guan Quan quickly knelt down.

He had no choice. These two were clearly here to cause trouble. This dock was all his savings. He could run, but the dock couldn’t follow him.

With a pained expression, he pleaded, "Officer… Can’t we discuss the case here? I’ll cooperate fully."

Seeing Guan Quan on the verge of tears, Chu Xingchen decided to get to the point before scaring him off completely.

"Recently, someone has been buying a lot of ritual foundation stones at high prices, right?"

Guan Quan froze, a sense of unease washing over him. As he tried to figure out how to respond, he caught Chu Xingchen’s knowing smirk.

Taking a deep breath, Guan Quan forced a bitter smile. "Yes, a group of people bought a lot of ritual foundation stones, and they didn’t care about the price at all."

Hearing this, Zhao Wanqing’s eyes lit up. Even she could figure out what was going on.

She eagerly pressed, "Who bought them? What are their names?"

Guan Quan gave Zhao Wanqing a strange look, hesitating to speak.

What kind of fool was this woman to be a squad leader? Why do you think they’d spend so much money here instead of buying from a reputable store like the Treasure Pavilion?

Obviously, their identities couldn’t be revealed, or their faces were already on wanted posters.

Seeing Guan Quan’s odd expression, Zhao Wanqing quickly realized her mistake and felt a bit foolish.

Chu Xingchen spoke seriously, "Now, do you understand what those people are planning to do with the stones?"

Guan Quan replied meekly, "We don’t really know…"

Chu Xingchen cut him off coldly, "Think carefully before you answer. You only get one chance."

Seeing Chu Xingchen’s icy demeanor, Guan Quan knew he had to say something or this wouldn’t end well.

He glanced at his subordinates around him and, with no other choice, raised both hands in surrender.

"Sir! I really don’t know anything!"

Chu Xingchen instructed Zhao Wanqing, "Take him away."

Zhao Wanqing was puzzled. What good would taking him away do?

Were they planning to torture him at the Demon Suppression Bureau?

By the time they got him to talk, wouldn’t it be too late?

Still, she obediently escorted Guan Quan out.

The subordinates watched as their boss was taken away, but none dared to intervene.

Guan Quan cooperated fully, offering no resistance, but he kept shouting, "Officer! I really don’t know anything!"

Chu Xingchen ignored him and walked away. Zhao Wanqing followed closely, dragging the loudly protesting Guan Quan.

After walking for a while, Chu Xingchen suddenly turned into an alley.

Zhao Wanqing hurriedly followed, only to find it was a dead end.

Chu Xingchen stood there, watching them.

Guan Quan stopped shouting and said flatteringly, "Officer, could you loosen your grip a bit?"

Zhao Wanqing looked at Chu Xingchen, who nodded, so she released Guan Quan.

Chu Xingchen asked, "Now, care to talk?"

"They seem to be a group of demonic cultivators. The recent blood sacrifices are probably their doing," Guan Quan quickly said. "Officer, I only sold them a small amount, and once I found out what they were doing, I stopped selling to them!"

Zhao Wanqing watched as Guan Quan, who had seemed so defiant earlier, now acted like a sycophant.

This…

Chu Xingchen looked slightly impatient. "Say something useful."

"They’re planning to set up a massive ritual! And it’s going to be huge!" Guan Quan hurriedly added. "I’ve heard they bought a Tai Xuan Stone as the core of the formation!"

Chu Xingchen asked, "Who sold it to them?"

Guan Quan blurted out, "Wang Ermazi sold it!"

Before Chu Xingchen could even respond, Zhao Wanqing instinctively reached for the dagger at her waist.

Chu Xingchen sighed, "What exactly did Wang Ermazi do to make you hate him so much?"

"No, really! Wang Ermazi sold it! I had already spent a fortune to get a piece, but that Wang Ermazi stole the deal! I lost a lot of money on that stone!"

Zhao Wanqing was speechless. So that’s what happened.

Guan Quan pleaded, "Officers, that’s all I know."

"You’re not being honest," Chu Xingchen said, patting Guan Quan’s shoulder. "Do you think we just randomly picked you? Guess who sent us to you?"

Guan Quan’s expression changed instantly. He cautiously asked, "Wang Ermazi?"

Chu Xingchen suddenly summoned a spirit sword and held it to Guan Quan’s neck, coldly saying, "It was your great-grandmother. She appeared in my dream last night and said if you dared to hide anything, she’d have me send you to meet her!"

Facing the spirit sword at his neck, Guan Quan’s face fell. He quickly stammered, "It really was Wang Ermazi who sold it! All I know is that those demonic cultivators call themselves the Spirit Demon Sect. I don’t know their specific plans!"

Chu Xingchen sneered, "You don’t know? Then why are their people still at your dock?"

Guan Quan was stunned. He looked at Chu Xingchen, but all he saw was mockery in his eyes.

Was this man bluffing, or did he really have information?

But the cold blade at his neck was no bluff. The spirit sword’s chilling aura was already pricking his skin.

Taking a deep breath, Guan Quan finally said, "They’re from the Central Continent!"