Yan Shouyi's strength was such that the Zanpakuto he threw was as powerful as a giant bolt fired from a ballista, capable of pinning Huang Qingcang directly to the floor.
Furthermore, Huang Qingcang was severely injured. Although his movement speed was high, he might not be able to dodge the Zanpakuto.
As the Zanpakuto drew closer, a surprising scene unfolded.
The disciples of the Dian Yi Sect, without regard for their own lives, charged towards Huang Qingcang, using their bodies to block the Zanpakuto and create an opportunity for him to escape!
*Swish!*
The spiritual body of the Zanpakuto pierced directly through the body of a Dian Yi Sect disciple, and then the other disciples followed behind Huang Qingcang!
Yan Shouyi's expression darkened, and he shouted, "Everyone, pursue them together!"
Huang Qingcang was their only lead at the moment; they absolutely could not let him escape!
Everyone began to chase Huang Qingcang. Yan Shouyi tried to summon the spiritual body of the Zanpakuto again to stop Huang Qingcang, but the result was the same as before—the Dian Yi Sect disciples, like lunatics, blocked the blade behind Huang Qingcang!
After killing two Dian Yi Sect disciples, Yan Shouyi did not want to waste any more energy or watch the Dian Yi Sect disciples sacrifice themselves in vain for Huang Qingcang. Thus, he stopped using the Zanpakuto and simply pursued them.
Unexpectedly, before they had pursued much further, Huang Qingcang was faced with a sheer cliff!
What surprised Yan Shouyi even more was that Huang Qingcang, without any hesitation, jumped directly off the cliff!
The other Dian Yi Sect disciples showed no fear on their faces, jumping down as if they were puppets on strings.
"Stop them! Leave at least one behind!" Yan Shouyi roared.
Ye Tianyuan, running at the rear, heard this and stopped in place. He took out a simple shadow puppet from his pocket.
This puppet was crudely made, looking no different from Agong's paper effigies.
He threw the shadow puppet, and it instantly disappeared, reappearing behind a Dian Yi Sect disciple the next second and merging into the disciple's shadow.
Within the shadow, a strange light flashed, and then that shadow became a shade darker than the others.
The disciple trembled, freezing in place and ceasing to flee!
"Tian Yuan, well done!" Yan Shouyi couldn't help but praise.
Given the urgency of the situation, Ye Tianyuan could only stop this one Dian Yi Sect disciple. The others had already jumped off the cliff!
Yan Shouyi walked to the edge of the cliff and looked down. The mountains below were covered in a sea of clouds, and Huang Qingcang and the others' bodies were nowhere to be seen.
It was also unrealistic to pursue them.
He withdrew his gaze, his brows furrowed.
Huang Qingcang's escape had caused the once clear clue to be lost, making the events on Mount Emei even more perplexing!
What he found most incomprehensible was Huang Qingcang.
What kind of grudge did this person have with Mount Emei to go on a killing spree on the mountain?
And he seemed to have other plans…
The only thing to be thankful for was that Ye Tianyuan had used his skills as a shadow puppetry inheritor to hold back one of the Dian Yi Sect disciples.
Perhaps some clues could be obtained from this disciple.
To prevent this disciple from escaping, Yan Shouyi took out a rope from his satchel and bound the person tightly.
Ye Tianyuan walked over, his expression solemn, and said to Yan Shouyi, "Chairman, I have something very important to report!"
"Speak."
"Huang Qingcang and the Dian Yi Sect disciples were being controlled!"
Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked. Zhuge Ji frowned and asked, "Controlled? How were they controlled?"
Zhuge Ji pointed at the shadow of the captured Dian Yi Sect disciple and said, "They were controlled by a group of shadow puppetry inheritors!"
"What makes you say that?" After a moment of surprise, Yan Shouyi regained his composure.
"During the fight, I found it strange. These people had the strength of martial artists, but lacked their true skill and 'intent.' When I used the skills of the shadow puppetry lineage to try and control this Dian Yi Sect disciple, I discovered that other shadow puppetry inheritors were already present in his shadow! I erased that person's consciousness, and only then could I control this disciple."
Ye Tianyuan further explained, "We shadow puppetry inheritors are skilled in manipulating shadows. This move of mine is called 'Shadow Manipulation Technique,' and it allows one to control living people through their shadows!"
Hearing Ye Tianyuan's explanation, the others looked at him with increased respect.
Despite being crippled, Ye Tianyuan could directly control others without needing to act himself. The Shadow Manipulation Technique alone was formidable enough. If he had other skills, he would be even more powerful.
No wonder Agong valued him so highly.
Qi Dongqiang asked, "So, are you saying that the guy called Huang Qingcang was controlled by a shadow puppetry inheritor, and it was the shadow puppetry inheritor behind him who was actually killing people?"
Ye Tianyuan nodded, "That's right. They were all controlled."
"This is indeed the work of inheritors from folk cults…"
Yan Shouyi murmured, then looked up, a troubled expression on his face.
Ye Tianyuan's discovery solved part of the mystery. The truth was unexpected, yet logical.
Yan Shouyi was now certain that the mastermind was the Twelve Yuan Chen of the Xin Xuan Mountain Sect, specifically the shadow puppetry inheritor.
However, he didn't know which of the Twelve Yuan Chen this shadow puppetry inheritor was, nor if there were other Twelve Yuan Chen inheritors on Mount Emei.
"Tian Yuan, if it were you, from what distance could you control someone?" Yan Shouyi asked.
Ye Tianyuan thought for a moment and replied, "Within five kilometers."
Upon hearing this, Yan Shouyi's spirits lifted.
Ye Tianyuan's strength should not be underestimated. If his control range was only within five kilometers, then the Twelve Yuan Chen's range would be at most ten kilometers.
This meant that the other party was still hiding within Mount Emei!
He immediately said to Qi Dongqiang, "Dong Qiang, I need you to act this time. Please send out the monkeys to search for the whereabouts of the shadow puppets in the vicinity!"
Qi Dongqiang wasted no time. He called out to Huan Huan and Le Le and gave them their orders.
The monkey troop, receiving the command, began their search without hesitation.
After making arrangements, Yan Shouyi turned his attention to the controlled Dian Yi Sect disciple.
"Release his control."
Ye Tianyuan nodded and directly reached into the disciple's shadow, picking up a small shadow puppet.
The Dian Yi Sect disciple's body trembled, his face gradually regaining expression, and his eyes no longer appeared vacant.
He saw his surroundings and Yan Shouyi and the others clearly. Just as he was about to speak, his face contorted in pain the next second!
"Save... save me..." he looked helplessly at Yan Shouyi, black blood flowing from the corner of his mouth as he spoke.
Yan Shouyi immediately realized the situation: "There's poison in his mouth! Save him quickly!"
The Gu Master Tian Jue'er quickly intervened, but unfortunately, before she could do anything, the Dian Yi Sect disciple had already breathed his last.
Tian Jue'er pried open his mouth and found the shell of a dissolved capsule. She said, "This poison was hidden in his mouth long ago. When he regained consciousness, he couldn't help but bite the capsule shell, and the poison would kill him within three seconds... and scatter his soul!"