The fugitive injected with the Truth Serum was at that moment shaking his head, expressionless, with a vacant look in his eyes.
"Need..."
He had just uttered two words when the device monitoring his bodily data suddenly emitted a piercing "beep beep beep" alarm, flashing red lights!
The electrocardiogram turned into a straight line...
The brainwaves fell silent...
His neck slumped, and he spewed a mouthful of blood before going silent forever.
He was dead.
The huge conference room fell silent. The smell of blood gradually spread.
Bai Mo sat in the audience, curled his lips, finally understanding why interrogation was not advised...
Sounds gradually filled the room as experts gathered in whispers, discussing discreetly.
Beside him, Fang Xiaoyu was pale-faced, "Expert Bai Mo, did you see that?
"The bloodthirsty ones we've captured before were like this too; we couldn't interrogate them!
"If we interrogate, they die.
"We've done numerous autopsies before as well.
"The issue lies with the spleen.
"Whenever we reach a crucial point, the bloodthirsty's spleen explodes!
"When the spleen bursts, they die."
The spleen explodes?
Bai Mo frowned. If he could get within a few meters of the fugitive, he could use Sequence Seven's ability, [Divine Sense], to potentially find out why the fugitive died. But sitting too far, he couldn't cover it with the Divine Sense. Besides, Divine Sense is a Sequence Seven ability, and at the Immortal Technique Committee, he only received a Sequence Nine treatment; using it wasn't quite appropriate. He also preferred not to reveal it.
In the conference room, staff clad in white coats were already dissecting the body and displaying the results on a big screen. Several experts even rushed forward, personally conducting the dissection and observation.
In no time, everyone was amazed, finding it unbelievable.
The bald middle-aged man sitting in front of Bai Mo suddenly said, "This...is the Ancient Immortal's restriction, right? It's the Ancient Immortal's means, a restriction left in the disciple's body by an Ancient Immortal!
"My Master has mentioned these things before!"
The group of experts turned to look.
"Really?"
"An Ancient Immortal's handiwork?"
"How can it be undone? Did your master mention it?"
"If we can't solve it, can the West State City Branch President, Sequence Eight, solve it?"
The bald middle-aged expert shook his head.
"Unlikely.
"Not to mention Sequence Eight, even Sequence Seven would struggle.
"My Master said that only an Ancient Immortal can contend with another Ancient Immortal."
The conference room fell silent again.
The non-immortal experts didn't understand these matters.
The immortal-involved experts thought of their respective Ancient Immortal Masters, remaining silent.
Without an Ancient Immortal Master, Bai Mo felt a bit curious: how exactly were the so-called Ancient Immortal restrictions set up? Even the Ancient Immortals were cultivators on a path. Their means should adhere to the principles of Immortal Technique, so how was this restriction achieved?
...
A cold wind blew in from the overcast sky.
By the small river valley, in front of the straw hut.
Zhang Shan and over sixty brothers sat together, chatting and laughing.
These sixty were all well-trained, now on the verge of conducting the Sequence Nine advancement ritual!
Zhang Shan pondered the title "Bloodthirsty", thinking of the scent on that fugitive, feeling a little displeased, but then thinking it wasn't a big deal...
"Bloody-smelling or not, as long as I don't commit crimes, I won't become a fugitive.
"After advancing, I'll look for a job at the Immortal Technique Committee."
Lu Yang, sitting next to Zhang Shan, was chatting casually.
"I just realized today that over sixty of us are all from West State City!
"Our Master with this Immortal Dream, really recruits exclusively from West State City."
After hearing this, Zhang Shan only realized.
Lu Yang continued.
"Also, let me tell you, our Master seems to have a dual sequence.
"He has the legacy of a Martial Immortal, and also a Sword Immortal's legacy.
"Look over there at Yu Tingting, she's learning swordsmanship from Master."
Zhang Shan, following Lu Yang's glance, indeed noticed a girl sitting nearby, hugging a long sword, from Class 3, Year 3, it's Yu Tingting.
"A school beauty huh?
"How come I didn't notice before?"
Suddenly, the straw hut door made a sound, about to open.
Over sixty disciples immediately tensed up, all kneeling facing the straw hut!
The Master is very particular about etiquette; meeting the Master requires kneeling!
As the straw hut door opened, out came a black fatty. So fat that his whole person was almost square. A shiny bald head, donned in a greasy black robe.
He was Zhang Shan and others' master, Round Stone Ancient Immortal!
Despite not looking impressive, the disciples quietly knelt, slightly bowing their heads, not daring to breathe.
Then, the Ancient Immortal spoke, his voice hoarse.
"You are all nearly ready, prepare for the Sequence Nine advancement ritual.
"Senior and junior brothers will assist you."
Once the Round Stone Ancient Immortal finished speaking, a group of young people exited the straw hut behind him.
These individuals, with varied attire, standing behind the Ancient Immortal, were already Sequence Nine.
The kneeling new disciples looked at the Sequence Nine senior brothers and sisters, and suddenly, some sensed something was off.
Kneeling, Zhang Shan widened his eyes!
These senior brothers and sisters, he recognized over half! They were clearly on the wanted list in the software, fugitives!
"Master, this..."
"These senior brothers and sisters..."
"Master..."
Some disciples couldn't help but speak out! Did Master make a mistake? These senior brothers and sisters were fugitives, needing to clean the sect!
Round Stone Ancient Immortal impatiently waved his greasy fat hand.
From his sleeve wafted a red bloody breath. This bloody breath came alive, splitting into over sixty strands, flying up into the crowd, giving each new disciple a strand, drilling into their nostrils.
The disciples' expressions changed.
Take Zhang Shan for instance; his face turned slightly red, and looking at those senior brothers and sisters, he smiled warmly, as if familiar and affectionate.
Over sixty new disciples were all like this, kneeling with big smiles.
"Then, please trouble the senior brothers."
"It's great to have someone leading."
"Thanks to Master! Thanks to Senior Brothers!"
The ten-odd fugitive senior brothers wore sneering smiles.
The senior among them, Black Hide, couldn't help but smirk, marveling at the sheer unpredictability of the Ancient Immortal's methods! Manipulating minds, all in a single thought!
Whatever the Ancient Immortal wanted to do felt like reaching out for something at hand.
Humans seeking to stop an Ancient Immortal faced an uphill battle.
...
The sky over Fox Mountain remained overcast.
The plaza of Fox Mountain was abuzz with activity.
A Great Tripod was burning beneath, with medicine bubbling inside.
Beside the Tripod, Bai Mo lounged in a comfortable position, presiding over the alchemy session. This chair was a new outdoor folding one he'd bought, reportedly for fishing enthusiasts. It was sturdy and comfortable, perfectly suiting Fox Mountain's environment.
Hundreds of fox apprentices were guarding piles of various herbs, busily processing them alongside.