Hearing Ye Ling's words, Wang Liren echoed, "Yes, Nie Yi's ambition is now known to everyone at the branch base, and even the high-level officials at headquarters have heard about it. Headquarters sent me here, firstly to handle Qi Tan's aftermath, and secondly to investigate Nie Yi in secret."
Ye Ling raised an eyebrow, "So, you suspect Qi Tan's death is related to Nie Yi?"
Wang Liren nodded, "Precisely. Nie Yi is the deputy head of the branch. If Qi Tan dies, he is the most likely candidate to become the head. He has significant motive and capability to assassinate Qi Tan."
"However, this is all speculation for now. I haven't gathered concrete evidence yet, so I can't convict Nie Yi."
Ye Ling chuckled, "What's so difficult about that? Tell me what Nie Yi looks like, and I'll search his soul. Everything will be clear."
Wang Liren quickly replied, "Absolutely not! Emperor... Nie Yi is a Dragon Department operative, after all. If he is innocent and you damage his mind by soul searching, the negative repercussions will be immense!"
"If the employees of this branch base become dissatisfied and rebel, the Dragon Department will completely lose this place."
Wang Liren had personally witnessed Ye Ling's soul-searching methods. That intense demonic energy could easily destroy a person's nervous system if not handled carefully!
If Nie Yi was indeed involved in Qi Tan's assassination, then all the evidence hidden in Nie Yi's mind could be presented to convince the Dragon Department employees at the branch, and everything would be settled.
But if Nie Yi was innocent, wrongly accusing someone would be troublesome.
Although Wang Liren disliked Nie Yi's arrogant demeanor and even wanted to get rid of him, personal matters were separate from official duties. Nie Yi played a crucial role in maintaining the Dragon Department's branch base. As a Dragon Department operative, Wang Liren could not jeopardize collective interests due to his personal feelings.
Hearing Wang Liren's words, a hint of impatience flashed in Ye Ling's eyes. "I also have urgent matters to attend to, and time is tight. However, my affairs cannot proceed smoothly until the matters of your Dragon Department and the Arid Department are resolved."
"Believe it or not, if you intend to investigate slowly and delay my matters, I will make you and this branch base disappear from the face of the earth?"
Wang Liren trembled instantly and stammered, "Emperor... Emperor, you can't do that, I..."
He had every reason to believe that if he truly delayed Ye Ling's business, he would indeed vanish.
Wang Liren did not forget that he currently possessed seventh-grade cultivation, having been promoted entirely by Ye Ling!
With Ye Ling's strength, let alone making this branch base disappear, sinking the entire Yang Country would be a matter of moments.
To appease Ye Ling, Wang Liren quickly said, "Emperor, please don't rush. I will handle matters here as quickly as possible and then fully assist you, Emperor."
"Give me a week, Emperor, and I guarantee I will resolve everything here cleanly!"
Ye Ling said, "A week is too long. Three days at most, otherwise my matters will be difficult to complete."
Compared to finding the murderer of Qi Tan, Ye Ling's task of finding the top-tier power hidden in Yang Country was far more difficult.
To this day, the cultivators' circle did not know the name of the top-tier power located in Yang Country; whether such a power even existed had always been a topic of debate among cultivators.
Ye Ling had to find that power within a month and, at the same time, make cultivators worldwide believe that the power he found was one of the remaining twelve top-tier powers in the world. This, it had to be said, was quite challenging.
Therefore, he had to borrow the strength of China's Dragon Department and Yang Country's Arid Department, and the sooner the better.
"Three... three days?" Pushed so hard by Ye Ling, Wang Liren's face immediately contorted into a grimace.
He had been at the Yang Country branch for some time, but the investigation had yielded no progress, and he hadn't even managed to establish a foothold in the branch!
Now, he was being asked to solve the case of Qi Tan's assassination within three days, which was simply making things impossible for him!
Achieving such a feat was harder than climbing to heaven!
Ye Ling said, "It's alright. I believe in your abilities. If you need my help during these three days, just say the word, and I will act."
"Once this matter is resolved, if you help me achieve my objective for coming to Yang Country, I can give you another reward, promoting you directly to eighth grade."
Wang Liren exclaimed in shock, "Directly... directly to eighth grade?"
As soon as Ye Ling uttered these words, Wang Liren's tongue became tied, and his body trembled uncontrollably.
What kind of joke was this?
In the current world of cultivators, the Red Dust Immortal had not appeared for a long time. An eighth-grade cultivator was already a peak expert, capable of walking anywhere with impunity and being treated as an honored guest by any faction!
It was uncertain whether the total number of eighth-grade cultivators worldwide exceeded one hundred. Now, Ye Ling could casually create eighth-grade cultivators?
Wang Liren felt his breathing become difficult just thinking about it.
He couldn't fathom what kind of monster Ye Ling was!
Seeing Wang Liren's shocked expression, Ye Ling said nonchalantly, "I always keep my word. If you handle things exceptionally well, it wouldn't be difficult for me to make you directly ascend to Red Dust Immortal."
Boom!
Upon hearing Ye Ling's words, Wang Liren's mind exploded, his vision darkened, and he felt on the verge of fainting.
Directly ascend to Red Dust Immortal?
What kind of joke was this?
Even gods might not be able to achieve this!
Wang Liren did not believe Ye Ling could accomplish this, but he dared not question it. After barely stabilizing his emotions, he looked at Ye Ling and said with a trembling smile, "Emperor... let's discuss the reward later. The most important thing now is to investigate the cause of Qi Tan's death."
"Now, both our Dragon Department and Yang Country's Arid Department have suffered severe blows, and the relationship between the two countries has plummeted to freezing point. If this matter is not handled properly, it could lead to international disputes, or even war. It must be taken seriously!"
Ye Ling asked, "So, do you have any plans now? Or should we consider my suggestion and just go with soul searching?"
Wang Liren gave a wry smile, "Unless it's absolutely necessary, I still don't recommend Emperor soul searching. I do have a plan, and my plan's success rate has significantly increased with your arrival."
Ye Ling raised an eyebrow, "Let me hear it?"
Wang Liren said, "Today is Qi Tan's funeral. Nie Yi plans to attend Qi Tan's funeral and then announce his succession to Qi Tan's position, becoming the acting head of the Dragon Department's Yang Country branch, effectively taking control."
"If Nie Yi truly succeeds, any successor appointed by headquarters will likely have their authority usurped by Nie Yi, forcing them to leave. Therefore, I intend to make a move here."
Ye Ling inquired, "You want to trip up Nie Yi?"
Wang Liren nodded, "Exactly. Although the branch employees don't pay me much heed, they have to admit that I am an imperial envoy sent by headquarters. They dare not openly oppose me."
"If Nie Yi truly participated in killing Qi Tan for the position of head, then if I were to seize the position of head using my authority as an imperial envoy, Nie Yi would surely be furious!"
"The assassin behind him might come to kill me. At that time, I hope Emperor can lend me a hand and capture the assassin alive!"
Ye Ling asked again, "What if Nie Yi is not the culprit?"
Wang Liren replied, "I still have another lead. If Nie Yi is not the one, I will follow that lead."
"Although that lead is difficult to investigate, it's the only way."
Ye Ling spread his hands, "Alright... let's do as you say. If you need me to act, just call out to me anytime."
Wang Liren was overjoyed and quickly bowed gratefully to Ye Ling, "Thank you, Emperor!!!"
"Nie Yi will be here soon, and I need to make preparations."
"Mm... go ahead." Ye Ling yawned and sat directly in Wang Liren's chair, resting his feet on the desk. "Liren, don't disappoint me."
"Yes!!!"
With Ye Ling's clear support, Wang Liren confidently began his preparations.
As the funeral ceremony preparations for Qi Tan were completed within the base, numerous black sedans also stopped outside the base.
Nie Yi... and the high-ranking officials of Yang Country's Arid Department, arrived one after another!