Chapter Nine: It's All Forced by This World

In the Spirit Medicine Valley, Zhang Chi displayed a piece of torn fabric before Tang Feng, asking him to identify whether it belonged to Tang Ruoling.

This scrap was ripped from Tang Ruoling's clothes by Zhang Chi himself, he had deliberately chosen a piece with a print on it. It would indeed be strange if Tang Feng could not recognize it.

He hadn't expected Zhang Chi to find a clue so quickly. After detailed inquiries, he learned that Zhang Chi had made preparations the day before.

"I deduced that after kidnapping Miss Tang, the thief would definitely move her. The most suitable location for this is Qingshui Town."

In Qingshui Town, there is a large flow of people and a commercial port. If matters become unfavorable, the thief could blend into the crowd and escape by boat at any time.

Zhang Chi took advantage of the thief's mindset. Under the pretense of investigation, he visited every sect of the Hezuo Alliance. And at the crucial exits of each sect, he set up Tracing Incense.

This kind of incense has strong adherence properties and does not dissipate easily; the scent can linger for a long duration once one comes into contact with it.

Since the thief acted at night, he definitely would not dare to use flight techniques. Such tactics would create a lot of movement that even the night patrol would not miss.

Therefore, the thief must have passed through the path prepared by Zhang Chi.

Also, Zhang Chi set up a different type of tracing incense on the outskirts of Qingshui Town. Anyone who entered the town would inevitably pick up the scent.

By the time he finished setting up both types of incense, it was already nightfall. After that, anyone who got contaminated with the scent was highly suspicious to be the thief.

First thing in the morning, Zhang Chi utilised a special Spirit Bee to track the scent. If he were lucky, he could have directly captured the thief.

Unfortunately, his luck was not good. The tracing incense had limitations—it could be covered by other odours. Zhang Chi eventually found only a piece of torn fabric in a small house, and the trail of the scent ended in the marketplace where fish was sold.

Further investigation would require sealing off the marketplace and conducting a thorough search.

Zhang Chi, being short of hands, had to seek assistance from Tang Feng.

He had long prepared this explanation, and based on this narrative, he had produced the evidence.

He then removed any trace of the scent on himself, forming a perfect chain of evidence. The logic was irrefutable, who could doubt his words?

So Tang Feng had to admit his respect for this younger generation. He himself had not thought of using this kind of tracking method at all.

Now that he had such a clear clue, finding his daughter wouldn't be as difficult anymore.

He immediately summoned all the disciples of the Spirit Medicine Valley and ordered them to obey Zhang Chi's dispatch.

Following which, he intended to contact the elders of the Hezuo Alliance to blockade Qingshui Town.

Just then, news arrived—a Sword Sect disciple named Zhou Ran was attacked last night, and the Mysterious Yin Nine Turns—Divine Dragon Nine Probes cultivation technique—was lost.

Upon hearing the news, Tang Feng was overcome by a surge of fury and shock. He almost fainted from the sudden rise in blood pressure.

Just as a clue was found on one end, an incident occurred at the other.

Zhang Chi's expression drastically changed, exclaiming in surprise, "The Divine Dragon Nine Probes were stored in the Scripture Pavilion. How could they have been stolen? If the thief got the technique last night, I fear Miss Tang..."

Through their interactions over the past couple of days, Tang Feng had grown to truly trust Zhang Chi's judgement. Just as he had almost found his daughter, now her life hung by a thread.

He nearly collapsed from the shock, but Zhang Chi quickly supported him, reassuring him, "Valley Master, don't panic. Things may still turn around. I will now lead your people to search Qingshui Town, whereas you go inquire about the situation.

If the technique was lost after midnight, there's still a chance that Miss Tang is alive."

Although Tang Feng was puzzled about why there was still a chance for his daughter to be alive if the technique was lost after midnight, he did not inquire further.

He now had great faith in Zhang Chi's theory, and time was of essence. It had reached a point where every second counted.

He gathered his spirit, suppressed his grief and anger, and rode his flying sword straight towards the Sword Sect.

"By manipulating a father's love for his daughter like this, doesn't your conscience hurt?"

Gu Youyou, who was privy to the entire plan, couldn't help but feel the stirrings of sympathy at witnessing Tang Feng's deep love for his daughter.

Even the Demon Clan had emotions; although in many cases, they discarded these emotions for the sake of cultivation.

Gu Youyou was not a quintessential member of the Demon Clan. She had been deprived of love since childhood. To train her, her parents had been particularly ruthless.

So, seeing someone else having a father so protective aroused feelings of discomfort within her. She regretted abducting Tang Ruoling in the first place.

As part of the Demon Clan, having such feelings, made her unfit.

However, Zhang Chi was calm, responding mentally, "If I don't exploit them, someone else will exploit me. I just want to survive, what's wrong with that? Should I wait until a knife is at my throat before I start struggling?"

"Moreover, I've been very merciful, at least for now, I haven't really done anything to Tang Ruoling."

Yes, I am a good person indeed.

I cause trouble, but it's because the cruel world forces me to.

Gu Youyou: "..."

If I can't win the argument against you, I'll accept you being right.

Under Zhang Chi's arrangement, a good show is being performed in Sword Sect.

Tang Feng's arrival was fierce, also attracting other onlookers.

The Hezuo Alliance, led by the Great River Sword Sect, comprises of a total of nine sects.

Without a doubt, the strongest is Sword Sect, and slightly weaker ones are Pill Hall and Refining Equipment Pavilion. These are not the strongest in combat, but their power is immense. Both also have their own guilds and are known together with Spirit Medicine Valley as the three richest in the Hezuo Alliance.

As the Pill Hall and Weapon Sect also have large expenses, their wealth is slightly less than that of Spirit Medicine Valley. However, their power is something Spirit Medicine Valley is incomparable to.

The remaining Formation Sect, Spirit Stone Cave, Spirit Beast Workshop, Spirit Valley Terrace and Qingshui Sect are basically affiliated and do not have much say.

Formation Sect is named as a sect, but it has lost its powerful successors and exists in name only. The other factions' tasks include mining, chicken rearing, farming, and fishing.

At this moment, the members of the Hezuo Alliance gathered together, watching Tang Feng clash with Sword Sect.

After Tang Feng arrived at Sword Sect, seeing Zhou Ran, he only asked him one question - when was the cultivation technique lost?

By this time, Zhou Ran realized his mistake. The Grand Elder had also given him some advice, thus he took the initiative to admit his mistake in hopes of lenient treatment.

Therefore, when faced with Tang Feng's question, he did not hide the truth.

After all, he did not even know what it meant.

"It was probably at around 9pm to 11pm."

Upon hearing this, Tang Feng swayed again.

Before midnight, it is considered the first half of the night.

Lost cultivation technique in the second half of the night gives a chance to survival, but lost in the first half of the night means there is only a path towards death.

Zhang Chi didn't say it this way, but he hinted, and Tang Feng naturally understood it this way.

At this moment, Tang Feng can no longer hold back.

"I want to kill you!"

With that said, he drew his sword and was about to attack.

There were still representatives from other sects present at this time, but they were not the sect leaders, only the elders.

Even then, they just came to watch the excitement of Sword Sect.

After all, everyone lost something before, only Sword Sect did not. Now that Sword Sect has lost something, it is something big - everyone naturally wanted to offer their condolences.

Nobody expected that Tang Feng would be so impulsive.

The Grand Elder would naturally not watch his beloved grandson get hurt, and he stepped in front of Tang Feng at the first moment.

Both belonging to the same realm, but the Grand Elder's cultivation was much stronger. After a few rounds of clashes, he struck Tang Feng with a palm and struck him into the air.

But he was still merciful in his attack.

After all, he can't make a fatal move while under everyone's watchful eyes.

Tang Feng was already emotionally agitated, and upon receiving this blow, he immediately vomited a mouthful of blood.

"Valley Master Tang, calm down."

Chong Xu looked at Tang Feng displeasedly, with a warning in his eyes.

To attempt to kill his grandson in front of him as such, isn't he disregarding him?

Little did he know that his warning only drove Tang Feng into madness!