The flying puppet descended in the center of the square, and Ling Chen and Ling Xue followed suit.

"Are you the new special envoy?"

The Ling Family's Half-Saint examined Ling Chen, somewhat surprised as he asked.

"I am Ling Yu, sent by the family for a special mission."

Ling Chen responded with poise.

"So young?"

The Ling Family's Half-Saint was quite shocked. Ling Chen seemed to be in his early twenties, even younger than Ling Feng, the youngest of the Ling Family Four Heroes.

"What, a special envoy, how could it be this youngster."

Instantly, skeptical gazes were cast in Ling Chen's direction.

"Uncle Ling Yuan, Ling Yu is indeed appointed as the special envoy by the Family Head." Ling Xue explained to everyone.

At this point, Ling Chen also took out the special envoy token, "This is the token granted by the Family Head."

Receiving the token, Ling Yuan inspected it briefly and then nodded, "It's indeed the special envoy token."

Though still somewhat doubtful, Ling Yuan could guess, besides Ling Chen being accompanied by Ling Xue, it seemed unlikely there would be any issues.

"Uncle Ling Yuan, I presume you are aware of my purpose for coming to Qinglong Island. Let's discuss it inside."

Ling Chen cupped his hand towards Ling Yuan in courtesy.

"Hmm. Follow me inside."

Ling Yuan nodded and then led them into the hall.

Once Ling Chen and the two entered the hall, the experts outside couldn't help but discuss.

"Does the Ling Family think sending such a young person can solve the problem? I'm somewhat baffled."

"Yes indeed, who exactly is this Ling Yu, can he truly undertake such a major task? I fear it's concerning."

Several Half-Saint commanders shook their heads, expressing disappointment in Ling Chen as the special envoy.

"It's indeed puzzling why the Family Head sent Ling Yu on such an important task."

Ling Feng also remarked with some confusion.

"Hmph, the Family Head may wish for Ling Yu to achieve a significant accomplishment, earning a substantial contribution to the family, thereby opportunistically gaining access to a top-notch family secret skill."

Ling Hai sneered, "A clever plan, but with such an important task, how could one Ling Yu possibly accomplish it? Soon he will be replaced and obediently sent back to the family."

"If everyone knows he cannot complete it, why did second brother send us here?"

Ling Feng was puzzled.

"Naturally, it's to decisively eliminate this youngster here."

Ling Hai's eyes flashed coldly, "Big Brother Ling Yuxuan doesn't want to see this kid appear before him again."

"Eliminate him?" Ling Feng pondered, "Given his current strength, getting rid of this kid is no easy task…"

"Don't worry, Big Brother Ling Yuxuan has already arranged reinforcements. It would be difficult for both of us alone to put Ling Yu to death, but with help, it's a whole different scenario."

Ling Hai grinned ferociously.

...

Inside the grand hall.

Upon entering a secure, secret chamber, the three began to discuss matters.

Initially, Ling Xue provided Ling Yuan with a detailed introduction of Ling Chen, as the family affairs apparently hadn't reached Qinglong Island timely enough. Ling Yuan was quite unfamiliar with Ling Chen.

"To think I've only been away from the family for just over half a month, yet so much has occurred."

Ling Yuan stared at Ling Chen, astonished. Tested with a Supreme Sword Saint Bloodline during bloodline testing, persevered nine days in the Sword Pool, cultivating a Perfect Sword Spirit Physique, and publicly defeating Ling Hai, of the Eighth Layer of Sky Apex Realm, with merely Sky Apex Fourth Layer cultivation.

Each of these feats was extraordinarily impressive, and to think this young man accomplished them all in less than half a month.

"Let's discuss the main issue, Uncle Ling Yuan, can you specifically tell me about the matter of espionage within the allied forces?"

Ling Chen spoke with a serious demeanor.

"Hmm."

Nodding, Ling Yuan's expression grew grave, for the espionage issue has recently become the most significant matter within the allied forces, causing him considerable frustration.

"Initially, we didn't suspect the allied forces' upper echelons, but recently many of our actions have been preemptively discovered by the Witch Fiend Sect, leading to either failure or inconclusive ends, resulting in heavy losses."

Ling Yuan squinted his eyes, "Until recently, when a Half-Saint commander fell into an ambush, forcing the alliance to act. Otherwise, before demolishing the Witch Fiend Sect's forces, the allied forces might collapse without even fighting."

Ling Chen pondered for a moment; such sensitive news being known by the enemy certainly indicated an internal spy, and the spy must be a key figure with comprehensive knowledge of allied forces' movements.

"Do you have any suspects?"

Ling Chen raised his head to ask.

"Currently, there are three."

Ling Yuan's face grew more serious, "They are the White Dragon Half Saint, Heaven Cloud Half Saint, and Water Heart Half Saint."

"These three individuals are suspected, but only suspected, as there is no decisive evidence, and it might not be among them; it could be someone else."

"Then I'll trouble Uncle Ling Yuan to provide detailed information about these three individuals."

Ling Chen knew nothing about these three, needing fundamental understanding to find a breakthrough.

Moreover, a major issue remains; these three individuals are Half-Saint powerhouses, and cannot be easily opposed or tampered with.

From Ling Yuan, Ling Chen learned about these three individuals. None are Half-Saints from the Ling Family. The White Dragon Half Saint belongs to Xuzhou Yan Family, a Saint Family, the Heaven Cloud Half Saint named Ling Bo is from a Ling Family branch, the last, Water Heart Half Saint, hails from the Lan Family.

These three individuals are associated with the leaked operations, involved in the secret planning, hence deemed suspicious.

Judging solely by the information makes it difficult to determine the primary suspect, as none seem related to the Witch Fiend Sect. These three come from Xuzhou's Saint Families, one even the Ling Family member; why would they betray their family to ally with the Witch Fiend Sect?

It's baseless, and they need not do such a thing.

However, that's precisely the tricky part of the matter. If evidence is insufficient, Ling Chen attempting to confront a Half-Saint powerhouse would undoubtedly provoke fierce resistance from Saint Families. Although appointed as a special envoy to investigate this incident, few might take him seriously, and handling a Half-Saint powerhouse would be simply dreaming.