Chapter 454: Chapter 230: Venerable! In Broad Daylight, Human Xiao Reappears

"So you’re Zhang Fan? Come with me."

The cold words fell on Zhang Fan’s ears, carrying an unquestionable authority and an air of superiority that made Zhang Fan’s expression ripple strangely.

He remembered, back when he had just descended Zhenwu Mountain, his Daoist Skill was newly formed and his strength weak, so many people never saw him as anything worth regarding.

Especially that day at Taoyuan Square, when Hai Pig used the He Family to open the Dragon Vein’s Evil Gate and refine the Dragon Saliva, the other side hadn’t even bothered to notice him.

Yet ever since Zhang Fan entered High Skill, it had been a long time since anyone treated him with this kind of attitude.

Even when facing Li Changgeng that day, he had been perfectly... unmoved.

"Who are you?" Zhang Fan stared at the suddenly appearing Hua Yanqiu, his tone indifferent.

"I’m a member of the Divine Power Association’s investigation team, Hua Yanqiu..."

"On behalf of the Daoist Alliance Headquarters and now stationed in Jiangnan Province, investigating Meng Qinghuan’s death. You are a related party; come back with me and accept interrogation."

Hua Yanqiu informed him mechanically, her words calm and void of any emotional fluctuation.

"Divine Power Association!?"

Beside him, Lin Jianyue’s eyes narrowed, involuntarily scanning the woman before her up and down.

As one of the Thirteen Zodiacs, she naturally had heard of the Divine Power Association’s reputation—anyone who could enter it was heaven’s favoured, granted blessings beyond compare!

Yet, her glance had only just landed on Hua Yanqiu when the latter grew alert; her beautiful eyes flickered as their gazes locked together.

"What sharp perception!" Lin Jianyue felt a gloom settle inside as she slowly withdrew her gaze.

Just with that reaction, she could conclude—the woman before her was not only gifted with Divine Techniques, but had also entered High Rank, her Divine Intent and Order shifting, no ordinary expert.

"Divine Power Association..." Zhang Fan was lost in thought.

He’d long known Meng Qinghuan’s death wouldn’t be brushed aside so easily.

In fact, Sui Chunsheng had even warned him a few days before—the Daoist Alliance Headquarters would soon dispatch an investigation team, and inevitably they’d come to question him. He just hadn’t thought it would be so soon.

"Fine, let’s go." Zhang Fan nodded.

If it was just a simple questioning, there would be nothing to it. What made him agree so neatly, even a bit hastily, was because Lin Jianyue was still by his side.

She, after all, was the Rabbit of the Thirteen Zodiacs.

Zhang Fan had come today specifically to warn her to hurry and leave Yujing City—if she got targeted by the Daoist Alliance’s investigation team, then Zhang Fan really was the mud stuck in his pants: whether it’s shit or not, it sure looks like shit.

By then, even if Meng Qinghuan’s death had nothing to do with him, even if he had no connection with Human Xiao, it would all end up implicating him.

"You come with me too."

At that moment, Hua Yanqiu’s tone suddenly shifted, her gaze snapping to Lin Jianyue.

"Hmm!?"

Her words made Zhang Fan’s brow twitch violently, and a flash of murderous intent appeared in Lin Jianyue’s eyes.

"Nice eyes," Hua Yanqiu sneered coldly.

"I have no problem going with you, she’s my friend, just an ordinary person, has nothing to do with the case. Why do you need her to go too?" Zhang Fan’s voice deepened.

"Everyone, all contacts and connections before and after the crime must be investigated. Don’t you know that?" Hua Yanqiu said indifferently.

"An ordinary person? Just for that fleeting flash of killing intent, she’s definitely not ordinary. Her heart holds blades, afraid to show herself—I suspect she’s a demon from the Wuwei Sect."

Hua Yanqiu’s mind was quick and ever-changing—in a few words, she seemed to pierce right through, her overwhelming aura sweeping in, pressing down on Zhang Fan, pressing down on Lin Jianyue.

In that moment, she truly unveiled the authority of the Divine Power Association’s investigation team.

She did not merely represent herself; behind her stood White Crane Temple, the Divine Power Association, the Daoist Alliance...

With such a force behind her, it was only natural she would have that aloof domination over life and death.

"Oh? Now that’s interesting. What happens if she refuses to go with you?" Zhang Fan’s expression turned cold.

"Refuses to go?" Hua Yanqiu laughed, looking at Zhang Fan as if his words were too naive.

"You’re welcome to try."

"I know you, Zhang Fan... You think, just because you helped the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance solve a few cases and caught Yin Hu, you have the right to show off before me?"

"Let me tell you straight—we’re here to knock Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance down a peg too. Who do you think you are?"

"Refuse to come with me? I’d like to see how you manage that."

Hua Yanqiu’s words were sharp and forceful, each syllable like sword and blade, cutting right through.

"Good, so overbearing. Divine Technique against Divine Technique, today I want to see just how tough the Divine Power Association types really are," Zhang Fan laughed angrily.

He’d never seen a woman dare to be so arrogant in front of him.

"You want to see my Divine Technique? You’re not qualified yet," Hua Yanqiu replied with a light laugh.

The Divine Gift is not something to be casually displayed.

That day, Meng Qinghuan had only been forced by Zhang Fan’s Nine Dragon Divine Fire Shield to the brink before unleashing her Daoist Divine Technique, Feathered Robe.

Moreover, in broad daylight, in public, Hua Yanqiu was even less likely to recklessly use her Divine Techniques.

That’s organizational discipline.

Still, even without the Divine Technique, she was confident she could subdue this troublemaker.

"You’re a disciple of Zhenwu Mountain. Speaking of which, it’s been ten years since White Crane Temple last clashed with Zhenwu Mountain."

Hua Yanqiu murmured softly; suddenly, her delicate figure trembled, head lifted three inches up, and her Primordial Spirit emerged.

A Primordial Spirit Battle, waged between reality and illusion, hardly perceptible to ordinary folk.

Rumble rumble...

Hua Yanqiu’s Primordial Spirit rose like a fierce wind, formlessly gathered, might vast as the heavens, a terrible aura pressing in—up and down the street, everyone unconsciously halted, affected somehow by invisible force.