Heavenly Fire combined with Dragon Whale Oil, the fierce flames that ignited, burned for three days before they were finally extinguished through everyone's efforts.
To say they were extinguished might not be entirely accurate.
It was simply because there was nothing left nearby that could be ignited; three days had already turned one of the Langya Institute's libraries into ruins.
During those three days, Cheng Jing had gone nowhere, vigilantly monitoring the situation the entire time.
He dared not leave, for fear that if he did, someone might carelessly allow the fire to spread elsewhere.
The libraries of the Langya Institute were renovated every few years and a completely new one would be constructed every few centuries.
Not only because the original libraries could no longer accommodate the books, but also as a precaution.
If they wished, they could even refine a blessed land into the structure, creating a new library.
That would ensure a library could almost encompass all the classics within the Langya Institute.
They indeed had this idea quite early on, but after an incident where an entire library was destroyed, the loss was devastating.
They learned not to put all their eggs in one basket.
Even though the majority of the books could be copied,
there was still a significant number of books, Jade Scrolls, bamboo slips, gold foil, and Jade Tome, etc., whose content could be replicated, but their True Intent could not.
Those classics that contained strong True Intent, if destroyed, would truly be gone.
From then on, it was possible that no one would be able to cultivate a Dharma Method to its highest Realm as before.
Many times, issues in Cultivation stemmed from getting hold of what appeared to be an excellent classic, but that contained no True Intent or had the wrong True Intent. It would be strange if problems didn't arise.
Cheng Jing stood silently in front of the ruins of the library, his face as still as water, while someone from the Langya Institute behind him was reporting the situation.
"It has been clarified, it was a scholar, who recently found a Secret Technique in some obscure corner, capable of drawing forth a Spiritual Fire with the moon's glow.
Then, for some reason, he drew out a wisp of Heavenly Fire, set fire to himself, and was burned to death almost instantly.
As for the Dragon Whale Oil, it seems to have been procured five years ago, with a portion not accounted for.
According to the records, that portion was taken by the already executed Dean Zhang..."
"Ha, making a dead man carry the scapegoat, truly shameless," Cheng Jing could not help but scoff coldly.
All the people busy around him went silent, pretending not to hear.
That Dean Zhang was the same one whom Cheng Jing had killed previously, the unfortunate scapegoat.
It was clear to others that Cheng Jing must already have concrete evidence in his hands, it was simply that he allowed them some dignity, and at the moment, no one dared to say anything further.
That fellow had provoked Cheng Jing's killing intent, and was struck down by him on the spot, an outright confrontation.
Sadly, even in death, the fellow couldn't catch a break, now being made a scapegoat once more.
"Continue," Cheng Jing glanced at the person beside him who was keeping their head down, not daring to speak, and told him to go on.
"The source of the Dragon Whale Oil is difficult to trace because according to the records, Dean Zhang had almost used it all up, and the remainder has also disappeared.
As for the scholar, it's impossible to investigate, because it was only a few days ago, while organizing the library, that he found that book.
Indeed, the book had been found and wasn't inside this particular library.
Nobody knows what that book was, as it's been burned to ashes."
The reporter paused for a moment, lowering his voice.
"Regarding using a Magical Treasure for retrospection, Lord Song has also sent word that this site, destroyed by the Dragon Whale Oil and Heavenly Fire, likely wouldn't even retain a trace essence that could be burned to nothingness.
Any Divine Dynasty Magical Treasure would utterly fail to find anything now, we can only rely on people to further the investigation."
"Then investigate. The Dragon Whale Oil, who used it, where it was used, all details must match up.
The Dragon Whale Oil that disappeared, who was in charge of it, who took it, check everything painstakingly.
And also who has been to this library, to possibly have secretly placed that book, check that too."
"Dean Cheng, we can't investigate the library. Even the records have been destroyed. Without them, the number of people who have been in and out of this library these past days is at least in the thousands..."
Cheng Jing took a deep breath, his expression turning even grimmer.
The person behind this definitely belonged to the Langya Institute, it was certain.
Moreover, they had deliberately chosen this timing, right when the library was being reorganized, a task that started several days prior when everything from the books to the personnel was in utter chaos, and then they set fire to this place.
"Put the reorganization of the library on hold for now. Go and check against the master catalogue, each and every book.
Speedily prepare the list of everything in the library that was destroyed."
After saying this, he stepped into the ruins to look for something that might have survived the fire.
An hour later, Cheng Jing came out of the ruins and left an instruction to the people beside him.
"Don't let a single item from the ruins go missing or be taken away."
The mastermind had chosen not only a good time but also an ordinary scholar as the executioner, whom, no matter how much they investigated, would likely raise no suspicion.
The person held responsible was already dead.
Looking at it now, they were at a dead end.
Thus, he would have to start from the most basic level.
That night, since the library was no longer open due to the reorganization, there were no people inside seeking books or reading.
It couldn't have been an attack on a person, so it could only have been about burning the books.