Long Zhizheng, of course, noticed Tai Lingxuan’s reaction, yet the contemptuous sneer at the corner of his mouth remained utterly dismissive.
“Ha, after all these years, the moment we meet you act as if I’m your sworn enemy.”
“Is it because your conscience is truly guilty, or have you become so ungrateful as to forget the mercy I once showed you, sparing your life?”
Tai Lingxuan said nothing, but the spiritual power within her began to circulate silently.
Chen Yuyang sensed this and quietly grasped Tai Lingxuan’s hand, his gaze sweeping coldly toward the arrivals.
Grand Completion, third level.
Chen Yuyang’s pupils contracted.
He’s strong!
Even now, with all his means, he was only eighty percent confident he could escape safely from this man on his own.
After all, the difference in realm was simply too great.
However, if his master at the seventh level of Unity Realm cooperated, and he himself disregarded the consequences to act, and if they didn’t consider the enemy’s hidden trump cards…
There was a sixty percent chance they could kill!
Chen Yuyang was silently calculating their odds in his heart.
But… upon seeing the person who followed behind Long Zhizheng, Chen Yuyang’s heart couldn’t help but sink to rock bottom.
Grand Completion, perfect stage, half a step into the Tribulation Crossing Realm!
Alright, with these two together, they were utterly impossible to defeat.
Even with his master, escaping would have less than a sixty percent chance.
…
At this moment, Long Zhizheng still wore a proud expression as he spoke: “If I hadn’t proposed a deal with your teacher all those years ago, stepping in for your Hehuan Sect, would any of you have what you do today?”
Tai Lingxuan didn’t reply, biting her lip, feeling the warmth of the youth’s hand she was holding.
She also noticed that countless cultivators nearby—including the Dan Sect elders responsible for keeping order—were all focusing their divine sense on them.
Slowly, Tai Lingxuan lowered her head.
“Senior Long… may I ask, why is Senior seeking me?”
“It’s no big matter. Didn’t Sect Master Tai just break through a realm a few days ago?”
Yan Dangmo interjected, his posture also high and aloof, but far less hostile or arrogant.
“I did break through,” Tai Lingxuan nodded in response.
“But I heard, Sect Master Tai only broke into the Unity Realm less than three years ago, yet now, you’re already at the seventh level.”
As Yan Dangmo spoke, the surrounding crowd of cultivators couldn’t help but express surprise and disbelief.
Less than three years, breaking into the Unity Realm, and already reaching the seventh level in one go?
“Is this a joke? Even my Foundation Establishment wasn’t that fast.”
“But that’s the Unity Realm! Every level requires insight into the Heavenly Dao, each one with a multiple in power! Even breaking one minor level in three years is considered fast, how could you possibly jump seven levels in a row!”
The crowd was in uproar, discussing in confusion.
And their chatter was not at all concealed—Tai Lingxuan heard every word clearly.
Long Zhizheng snorted coldly, his booming voice resounding through the sky.
“Hmph! Tai Lingxuan, I now suspect your realm breakthrough may have used demonic cultivation methods! You will cooperate with my investigation!”
What was at first only noticed by a few cultivators, in an instant, became known to all.
Everyone’s attention was now focused here, and more unpleasant gossip followed.
“There’s a problem, I knew there was a problem.”
“Hah, so that’s it. I told you, Demon Cult is Demon Cult—their nature never changes!”
“But… I haven’t heard of anyone being harmed.”
“If you cover your tracks, who’d know? With so many people in the cultivation world, a few disappearing daily, you think you could count them all?”
The rumors grew ever louder, foul language and groundless suspicion filling the air.
Tai Lingxuan lowered her head, her face flushed red with anger.
But…
A fist is no match for a crowd, and when the situation is against you… what good does anger do?
Tai Lingxuan stayed silent.
She realized, it seemed she could only submit and cooperate with his so-called investigation…
On the side, Yun Lian watched the scene, her eyes flickering.
Although she didn’t know why this elder of Qiankun Sect suddenly targeted the Hehuan Sect—
She was happy to see it.
Hehuan Sect humiliated, doubted, ostracized…
But just then, a somewhat young voice rang out, clear and sharp: “This isn’t right, Senior Long.”
“In the Unity Realm, what’s comprehended is a Law of Heaven and Earth. The faster the comprehension, the faster the breakthrough—everyone knows this.”
“Since Senior has interacted with the Hehuan Sect during the Demon Cult era, you should know well: although harvesting yin to supplement yang can bring a brief surge of power, it is of no help at all in comprehending the laws.”
“If Senior suspects, why not produce concrete evidence? Empty words—doesn’t that mean this junior can also accuse you, Senior, of colluding with the Demon Cult, slandering my master and attempting to snuff out a peerless genius of the Unity seventh level in her cradle?”
Long Zhizheng’s pupils suddenly widened.
“Ignorant brat, you dare instruct me!”
Roaring, Long Zhizheng raised his palm for a strike.
This palm was merely a lesson; Long Zhizheng hadn’t used spiritual power.
Yet Chen Yuyang dodged nimbly, immediately hiding behind Tai Lingxuan.
“Ah, did I hit a nerve, Senior? Are you enraged and planning to silence me?”
“Master, save me!”
Hearing this, Tai Lingxuan’s pupils dilated sharply.
Her expression changed at once, rage surging as wild spiritual power erupted around her.
“Senior, why is this? What my disciple said is not without reason—why would you kill my beloved disciple?”
Long Zhizheng was speechless for a moment.
He wanted to say he had no intention to kill, but only he knew the truth behind that palm.
If he spoke now, he’d only confirm his own lack of reason; the more he explained, the more he’d seem guilty and at a disadvantage.
Behind him, Yan Dangmo was silent but couldn’t help glancing more at the youth.
This boy is sharp-tongued.
With a few words, he turned the passive into the active, even biting back.
….
Long Zhizheng snorted coldly and continued:
“Hmph! Don’t try to quibble! The laws of heaven and earth aren’t so easily comprehended! In three years, could you possibly understand seven minor realms?”
From behind Tai Lingxuan, Chen Yuyang poked out his head, feigning incredulity and asked back: “Senior Long, you can’t be serious. Are you telling us that you find it hard to comprehend the laws of heaven and earth?”
Long Zhizheng felt a vein throb on his forehead.
Had it not been for this brat’s antics just now, he’d have liked to slap him again.
What does he mean, ‘You find it hard to comprehend the laws of heaven and earth’?
Are the laws of heaven and earth something anyone can just comprehend so easily?
“Oh my, really, aren’t these laws of heaven and earth just for the taking? Watch!”
As he spoke, a golden radiance suddenly appeared around Chen Yuyang, and an immense power of the laws of heaven and earth descended.
Countless cultivators around him were instantly stunned, almost instinctively wanting to begin cultivating, hoping to grasp a thread of that law.
But before they could act, Chen Yuyang dissipated the power, then turned to the equally shocked Long Zhizheng and said: “Senior Long, look! Even I can comprehend the laws of heaven and earth at will. Why can’t my master do it? If not for my current need to accumulate more spiritual power, perhaps I too could break through seven levels in three years. Would you then accuse me of harvesting yin to supplement yang as well?”
Upon hearing this, Long Zhizheng’s face turned alternately blue and pale.
All his grounds for suspicion collapsed.
He truly hadn’t expected this brat could so casually summon the power of the laws.
The regretful cultivators nearby, hearing these words, also turned their gazes toward Long Zhizheng, their dissatisfaction shifting onto him.
“If even the disciple is so outstanding, the master should be even stronger.”
“That’s right. If a disciple can summon the laws of heaven and earth to comprehend at will, there’s no reason the master can’t. In that case, breaking through seven levels in three years is not strange.”
“Sigh, what a pity. If only I could have continued to comprehend that law just now, perhaps my cultivation bottleneck would’ve been broken…”
“I’m envious too. Damn, can I join the Hehuan Sect? I’ll even sweep the floors, as long as the Sect Master lets me stand nearby when she cultivates…”
“That Qiankun Sect elder really is intolerant, isn’t he?”
“Tai Lingxuan was a famous genius in the past, what’s wrong with breaking through a bit faster?”
“Exactly. If you cultivate slowly, do you have to suspect everyone who advances quickly? By that logic, all the geniuses on the rankings must be demon cultivators!”
The crowd’s discussion shifted dramatically.
Long Zhizheng’s face was deathly pale, trembling with rage.
But now, he had no way to refute.
Yan Dangmo secretly shook his head.
Given the situation, unless Long Zhizheng produced irrefutable evidence, this matter could only be dropped.
Thinking this, Yan Dangmo couldn’t help glancing again at the youth.
This boy is impressive.
Facing Grand Completion cultivators, he remained unflustered.
Arguing with reason, even displaying mysterious means to stir the laws of heaven and earth…
Watching, an approving glint appeared in Yan Dangmo’s eyes.
Long Zhizheng gritted his teeth, suddenly making a decision, and spat: “Fine! Since you’re so sure of yourself, then open your divine soul to me. If there’s nothing wrong, I’ll personally apologize!”
“Open her divine soul?!”
Tai Lingxuan’s expression changed.
To a cultivator, opening one’s spirit or soul to another was no different from laying bare all one’s secrets, entrusting one’s very life to another.
“How can that be allowed? If, during the probe, Senior Long destroys my master’s soul and shatters her consciousness, then claims he found something wrong—how could my master argue back? By then, it would be whatever you say!”
Chen Yuyang immediately objected.
“I would never stoop so low!”
Long Zhizheng shouted, nearly beside himself with rage.
“If Senior truly were a reputable orthodox cultivator, I would be at ease, but what if you are a Demon Cult spy?”
Chen Yuyang replied, shaking his head noncommittally, the suspicion plainly written on his face.
Yan Dangmo placed a hand on Long Zhizheng’s shoulder, preventing him from acting out of anger, and stepped forward to look Chen Yuyang in the eye.
“Young man, what do you propose then?”
Chen Yuyang lifted his chin and stepped forward:
“My master must not be humiliated. If Senior Long insists on a probe, then investigate my soul instead.”
“If there’s anything wrong with my Hehuan Sect, I couldn’t escape either. Senior can get any evidence you wish from my soul, perhaps even more easily.”
Yan Dangmo’s eyes brightened, regarding the youth with greater approval.
This boy is truly responsible.
He’s willing to shoulder this for his master.
And it’s true: with a few words, Long Zhizheng demands to probe the soul of a sect master—that’s quite unreasonable.
“Very well, I accept for you!”
Yan Dangmo promptly agreed.
Long Zhizheng snorted coldly, but did not object.