Including a ten-day disappearance, no trace of him, and in a short period, he cultivated to the third level of Yi Qi Gong.
He revealed all the details he had noticed, without any concealment.
As Steward Liu listened, his expression grew more and more astonished.
His heart churned with countless thoughts and calculations.
He secretly employed the Lie Detector spell, confirming that the few servant disciples before him were speaking the truth – whether the events themselves were true, the spell couldn't guarantee, only that these servant disciples believed them to be true.
This was enough for Steward Liu to make a judgment on the matter.
He made a silent decision.
Then, feigning a normal tone, he asked, "Are you the only ones who know about this?"
The youths, appearing as servant disciples, quickly nodded and replied, "Steward Liu, indeed, only we know."
Despite their words, these slow-witted youths failed to notice the hidden murderous intent in Steward Liu's eyes.
They merely felt puzzled as to why Steward Liu was asking these questions. However, they remained unwary, subconsciously believing that Steward Liu would not directly harm them.
The leading youth, however, possessed some insight. Upon hearing Steward Liu's question, he grasped its deeper meaning.
Why was Steward Liu asking if they were the only ones who knew?
What was he planning to do? Absorb the treasure for himself? Silence them?
They had discovered a celestial treasure and intended to report it to the higher-ups of the White Cloud Sect. To the leading youth and the others, Steward Liu was merely a transit point for reporting it.
Ultimately, this celestial treasure was meant to be handed over to all the high-ranking officials of the White Cloud Sect, not to Steward Liu, an outer disciple attendant who couldn't even become an inner disciple!
He was merely a conduit.
And now, this conduit, having discovered the benefits of the celestial treasure, intended to keep it for himself rather than pass it up the chain, acting as a mere intermediary?
Cold sweat broke out on the leading youth's forehead.
Steward Liu was a master who had cultivated the Cloud Sea Gong to the fifth level.
Such strength was only considered that of a seasoned outer disciple. In the face of inner or core disciples, he amounted to nothing.
However, among servant disciples, this strength was truly invincible.
It was known that once Yi Qi Gong was cultivated to the seventh level, one already possessed the qualification to become an outer disciple.
Therefore, the strongest servant disciples in the White Cloud Sect were at most at the sixth level of Yi Qi Gong.
With Steward Liu's strength, he could easily suppress all servant disciples. Even if all the servant disciples united, they would be no match for Steward Liu.
And these few of them didn't even dare to confront Fang Ming, who was at the third level of Yi Qi Gong, let alone Steward Liu, who possessed the strength to suppress all united servant disciples?
Even though the leading youth had already vaguely guessed Steward Liu's intentions, the disparity in strength was something he could not overcome.
Thus, at this moment, he was helpless, able to do nothing but await his fate.
Some things, even if understood and guessed correctly, are beyond one's ability to change.
This was a profound sense of powerlessness.
He could only silently pray in his heart, praying that his guess was wrong.
Alas...
His guess was correct.
Steward Liu suddenly formed a hand seal.
The servant disciples, who had been expecting a reward from Steward Liu, began to fall, one after another.
Although they were also cultivators and possessed mana within their bodies, their shallow mana, which had not been refined for even a year, was utterly incapable of resisting Steward Liu.
The servant disciples did not know what spell Steward Liu had used, which allowed him to kill his companions silently without any visible spell fluctuations.
They could only cry out in terror, "Steward Liu is killing people!"
"He wants to keep the celestial treasure for himself!"
"Steward Liu! If you kill servant disciples, someone in the sect will investigate! If we die, you're dead too!"
One servant disciple threatened with venomous eyes.
Not only did hatred towards Steward Liu surge in his heart, but also resentment towards the leading youth.
Who was it that had said reporting the celestial treasure found on Fang Ming to the White Cloud Sect would be safe?
And now?
Now, just by reporting it to Steward Liu, he had become greedy and wanted to keep the benefits for himself!
Reporting it was a sure path to death!
And he had been tricked into making such a choice.
...Perhaps the only consolation was that the leading youth would also die in endless regret due to his misjudgment.
Steward Liu heard this and laughed heartily.
"What sect investigation? If I kill you, I'll say you suddenly attacked me without authorization, and I was forced to defend myself."
"You, a mere servant disciple, think too highly of yourself. Don't you realize you are just manual labor? Do you still think you are an official disciple?"
"I am in charge of servant disciples. If I am forced to retaliate and kill a few servant disciples, I will be guiltless. Even if an elder arrives, they will rule me innocent."
"Kid, you are too naive to threaten me with this!"
Steward Liu was completely unconcerned about such matters.
They were just servant disciples, not outer disciples.
Outer disciples were different. They were official disciples, registered in the sect. While not impossible to kill, it certainly wouldn't be so easy.
Servant disciples were simpler.
He already had the authority to manage servant disciples. Now, he would simply insist that his management methods were not obeyed by a few servant disciples, and they attempted to resist and harm him, committing insubordination.
The White Cloud Sect records state that those who commit insubordination are guiltless if killed.
Therefore, Steward Liu was guiltless in killing these servant disciples – unless he committed mass slaughter, he was guiltless.
Steward Liu knew this rule, which emboldened him to act directly.
Even if he did it openly, no one in the White Cloud Sect could do anything to him!
With a flick of his spell.
In the end, only one servant disciple remained: the leading youth.
Steward Liu's gaze fell upon him, his eyes filled with blatant ill intent.
At this moment, the youth also noticed Steward Liu's gaze. From the deep chill emanating from it, he knew his fate was sealed: death.
"Why did I come here to report? Why did I come here to report?"
"It would have been so much better if I hadn't planned to report... No, it would have been better if I hadn't gone to investigate Fang Ming!"
On the brink of death, the leading youth's emotions completely collapsed under the threat of his demise.
Before, when he discovered the treasure, he had always thought that if there was danger in obtaining it, it would be more appropriate to report it.