The Aloof Lord's Mysterious Wife-Chapter 854: A Divination from a Thousand Years Ago

Before long, Shi Miaomiao stepped out again. "Venerable Master, you may enter now."

Qingwu still put on an act, staring at her. "I can give you one more chance. If you hand them over now, I won’t hold it against you or the Shi family."

Shi Miaomiao smiled faintly. "Someone’s slandering me without proof. I haven’t sheltered any monks—how can I hand anyone over?"

"You’re too stubborn." Qingwu sighed lightly and led his disciples inside.

The Shi family estate was vast.

Its clan members were numerous.

But Shi Miaomiao had gathered everyone on the training ground, making the search easier.

The Jialan Disciples began searching each area.

Meanwhile, Qingwu inspected the people on the training ground, ensuring no one used a Face-Changing Talisman or disguise technique to slip by.

Nothing was found here.

The Jialan Disciples soon returned to report. "Venerable Master, nothing was discovered!"

"What?" Qingwu narrowed his eyes.

"N-Nothing... nothing was found." The disciple’s voice shrank, head bowing low. "But... but there’s a caretaker at the herb vault."

Shi Miaomiao explained, "That’s the elder who guards our herb vault. He’s likely older than the Venerable Master. If you doubt his identity, feel free to check."

Qingwu naturally knew of this caretaker elder.

For some unknown reason, the man had stayed with the Shi family, content to guard herbs. His cultivation level was a mystery to Qingwu.

That was why he hadn’t acted rashly earlier.

"It seems there are still hidden chambers in the Shi family yet to be searched." Qingwu turned to Shi Miaomiao, hoping to catch a hint of weakness.

Shi Miaomiao shrugged. "To prove our innocence, I’ve opened all the hidden rooms for your men to search. Venerable Master, if you can’t find anyone, don’t start spouting nonsense here."

Qingwu felt a flicker of doubt.

After all, the Shi family had no ties to Cinian—Shi Miaomiao had no reason to risk so much for a few monks.

Could it be...

Shi Taotao was indeed trying to use him to eliminate Shi Miaomiao?

"Venerable Master!" Shi Taotao jumped forward. "I saw it clearly—five of them, all in monk robes!"

Qingwu looked at him. "Can you identify them?"

Shi Taotao racked his memory. "It was Shan Pei, Shan Lun, Shan Chen, Shan Mu, and Shan Yang—those five!"

Seeing him name them, and noting Shi Miaomiao’s fleeting change in expression and slight tremble, Qingwu believed him seven or eight parts.

He leapt into the air, his fingers weaving a spell.

A massive, intricate array bloomed beneath his feet, shimmering with light.

His robes fluttered.

Closing his eyes, he sent spiritual energy from the array surging through every corner of the Shi family, seeking hidden life.

This was a formidable tracking technique.

The Shi family was vast—Qingwu’s spiritual energy drained considerably, and it took time.

As minutes passed,

in the autumn air, sweat beaded on his forehead.

Not just from the energy spent, but because... he found nothing!

No one—every living soul in the Shi family was gathered here. No fluctuations of talisman arrays or traces of other life existed elsewhere!

Qingwu landed, his face slightly pale.

"Venerable Master, did you find them? I’m willing to serve you!" Shi Taotao sought to claim credit.

But Qingwu, enraged, struck out with a burst of spiritual energy, severing Shi Taotao’s heart meridian instantly.

Shi Taotao collapsed.

Blood spilled from his mouth.

The Shi family members gasped, their faces paling.

They hadn’t expected Qingwu to turn so ruthless today.

"Venerable Master, what’s the meaning of this?" Shi Miaomiao’s expression eased, tinged with smugness.

Qingwu said, "Lord Shi, clever scheme. You set this up to have me eliminate your dissenters, didn’t you? Now that I’ve dealt with your traitor, you should sleep soundly from now on."

Shi Miaomiao didn’t deny it, smiling. "Oh, as a woman, it’s taken me much to get here. Naturally, I must plan carefully."

Qingwu had been used, yet he’d found no one, wasting his spiritual energy and swallowing frustration.

After recent setbacks, he wasn’t willing to let this slide.

As he prepared to strike, a voice rang from nearby. "Qingwu, you’ve gained nothing—why don’t you scram?"

Others heard it without discomfort.

But for Qingwu, it was different. The voice targeted him, piercing with intent, striking his heart meridian. He grunted, stifling the pain.

It took effort to steady himself.

At the same time, he was struck with dread.

He hadn’t expected the herb vault’s caretaker elder to possess such skill—his cultivation surpassed Qingwu’s!

Qingwu quickly regulated his breath, glaring at Shi Miaomiao before flicking his sleeve and departing.

Shi Miaomiao was stunned too.

She went to the herb vault, where Elder Sheng sat as he had for decades.

"Elder Sheng." Shi Miaomiao, unsure if he could see, gave a respectful bow regardless.

Elder Sheng didn’t respond.

Perhaps he was asleep—she couldn’t tell.

Shi Miaomiao, used to this, spoke anyway. "With your cultivation, why not kill Qingwu outright? He’s caused enough evil!"

Over the years, every family and sect had faced suppression.

Limitless Palace was the first to suffer.

Frosty Valley followed close behind!

Even the Divine Buddha Sect couldn’t escape annihilation!

Penglai Island seemed better off, yet its strength waned too.

She refused to believe Qingwu had no hand in this.

Elder Sheng’s head shifted, and he spoke rare words. "Can’t beat him."

"Why not? That move just now clearly rattled him!" Shi Miaomiao said. "If he died, the Immortal World would know peace."

"I’ve held on till now—reached my limit." Elder Sheng’s voice was calm. "A thousand years ago, my sins were too heavy. I should’ve died, but someone read my fate, saying if I stayed with the Shi family and helped you through this calamity, I could atone and avoid Abyss Hell after death."

"What?" Shi Miaomiao was baffled. "You mean someone foresaw the Shi family’s crisis a thousand years ago?"

Elder Sheng hummed in affirmation. "Piaopiao, listen—after I die, don’t move my body. I’ve taken secret pills for years; it won’t decay. As long as my body remains, Qingwu won’t dare act against the Shi family."

Shi Miaomiao quickly realized Elder Sheng’s end was near!

And he’d already planned everything!

Moved and saddened, she corrected him. "Elder Sheng, my name’s Miaomiao."

Elder Sheng didn’t reply.

Her heart clenched painfully. "Elder Sheng?"

Probing, she found his breathing lingered, but his pulse had stopped.

This was the secret pill’s effect.

Shi Miaomiao’s eyes reddened, her voice choked. "Elder Sheng, you’ve worked hard." ƒrēenovelkiss.com

Though unsure who had guided him, she silently thanked them in her heart.

Without that, the Shi family would’ve indeed fallen today.