Xing Yanchu’s single sentence caused the simmering anger within the vast Yisu Palace’s meeting hall to instantly freeze, as if a bitter wind had swept through.
Gong Shuangyu was about to reprimand Gu Jingyang for her disrespect, while Heng Qingyi had already prepared to back her disciple against the Sword Cultivator faction.
The moment Xing Yanchu’s words left his lips, Heng Qingyi was the first to fall silent. She looked at him in astonishment.
Xing Yanchu, with a serious expression, pointed at A’Ling and emphatically repeated his statement.
“A’Ling wasn’t like this originally. It’s because she fell to the demonic path that her temperament has become so violent. The Abode Masters, don’t delay; quickly help A’Ling and cleanse the demonic energy from her body.”
He even stomped his foot in urgency. “Any later, and it will be too late.”
He looked genuinely concerned for A’Ling, so much so that it truly seemed as if A’Ling had fallen to the demonic path.
As Xing Yanchu spoke, pointing at her nose and approaching, A’Ling’s wrist gradually grew hot. She looked down to see Little Wandering emitting faint specks of light.
Fortunately, it was daytime, so the color wasn’t too noticeable. She clasped her wrist, covering the glowing, heat-radiating Little Wandering, which seemed to be flaring up in anger.
A’Ling was also furious, angry that she hadn’t dealt with this person in the Mutated Sword Dragon Demon Cave, allowing him the chance to accuse her of falling to the demonic path in front of everyone.
However, she knew that if she were to summon Little Wandering now and thoroughly beat this fool, whose brain seemed to have been scalded by boiling water, it would only prove his words about her violent temperament.
It would likely make people believe even more that she harbored demonic energy.
A’Ling suppressed her rage, gritting her teeth as she retorted, “Nonsense! You’re slandering me! I’m perfectly fine, standing right here. Which eye of yours saw me fall to the demonic path?”
The moment she spoke, the eleven Abode Masters seated at the head of the hall collectively turned their gaze to her, their eyes filled with scrutiny and scrutiny.
Generally, anyone capable of becoming a Abode Master possessed cultivation at or above the Golden Core-Nascent Soul stage. For them, discerning the presence of demonic energy within a cultivator was instantly apparent.
Unless it was a high-level demon, or a high-level human demon cultivator whose cultivation had reached a point where they could conceal their demonic energy.
A’Ling, a new cultivator who had joined less than a year ago, even if she had fallen to the demonic path, couldn’t possibly have achieved such high cultivation so quickly as to conceal demonic energy.
If Xing Yanchu hadn’t been so insistent, they wouldn’t have considered that A’Ling injured someone because she had fallen to the demonic path.
“Who do we have here? This person looks unfamiliar; they shouldn’t be one of our spiritual cultivation disciples. Along with Gu Jingyang, besides the newcomer Lan Fushang from Soaring Rainbow Tower, I recall there were two other Sword Cultivation disciples.”
“How convenient. One accuses A’Ling of injuring and abandoning him, disregarding their camaraderie, and now another stands here, deliberately distorting the truth, claiming my spiritual cultivation disciple has fallen to the demonic path.”
“What, in the eyes of Sword Cultivators, are we spiritual cultivation disciples merely beings that anyone can step all over?!”
Among the twelve Abode Masters, Heng Qingyi was known for her gentle disposition. She rarely argued with others and consistently advised her spiritual cultivation disciples to keep a low profile.
This was the first time she had so brazenly debated with Sword Cultivators.
It wasn’t entirely for A’Ling’s sake; Heng Qingyi didn’t particularly favor this brash disciple either. It was all for Gu Jingyang’s reputation.
This was Gu Jingyang’s first time leading a mission, and so many incidents had already occurred. Heng Qingyi refused to believe it wasn’t a deliberate setup.
However, Gu Jingyang was a steady individual, always methodical in her actions, and astute in her dealings with others, rarely offending anyone.
Heng Qingyi found it hard to believe someone would go to such lengths to target Gu Jingyang. She felt that this matter was more likely aimed at the Spiritual Cave Abode, or perhaps even at her directly.
Gu Jingyang felt a little relieved seeing Heng Qingyi abandon her usual gentle demeanor and speak with such clear protection for A’Ling.
Gong Shuangyu had just been provoked by Gu Jingyang, a spiritual cultivation disciple, and now, being subtly mocked by Heng Qingyi, she immediately became displeased.
“Why so agitated? Could it be a guilty conscience?” Gong Shuangyu raised an eyebrow halfway, a slight, impolite curve to her lips.
Those around them began to mediate.
Yun Jingying, the Abode Master of Sovereign Peace Cave Abode, was deeply immersed in the way of the sword and had always been annoyed by such trivial matters, having no interest in participating in the squabbles between Abode Masters.
If she had her way, it would be more satisfying to just have a fight.
She looked at Shi Qingqian, who stood below. That person hadn’t spoken since the beginning, but her attitude was quite clear; she consistently stood behind the spiritual cultivation disciple named A’Ling.
Her entire dominant aura seemed to declare that the person in front was someone she protected.
She had just asked about the person who accused A’Ling of falling to the demonic path; it was someone from Shi Qingqian’s Heavenly Peace Cave Abode. In her opinion, it would be best to simply hand the matter over to Shi Qingqian.
Thinking this, she voiced it aloud.
“Shi Qingqian is now the Master of Heavenly Peace Cave Abode. Why not let her handle this matter?”
For a moment, the other Abode Masters seemed to suddenly realize.
They had briefly forgotten that Shi Qingqian was already the Master of Heavenly Peace Cave Abode.
Everyone’s gaze followed Yun Jingying’s direction and turned to Shi Qingqian.
Yun Jingying didn’t know why Shi Qingqian had gone to Zhuoling Mountain with these people. Shi Qingqian had clearly closed her dwelling earlier, stating she was going into secluded cultivation, and the Sword Cave Abodes were all spreading rumors that she might be on the verge of a breakthrough.
She had witnessed Shi Qingqian’s prowess during the Dwelling Disciple Selection and knew she couldn’t defeat her, harboring a faint admiration in her heart.
Seeing everyone quiet down, she continued, “Abode Master Shi, perhaps you can explain what happened here?”
A’Ling had already turned around when Yun Jingying suggested handing the matter over to Shi Qingqian.
She looked at Shi Qingqian, who had been standing behind her since the start. Though Shi Qingqian hadn’t spoken, A’Ling knew she was there all along.
Perhaps it was because she was too close, or perhaps Shi Qingqian always managed to capture her attention.
A’Ling looked at Shi Qingqian, her eyes seemingly asking, ‘What do we do now?’
She had already learned from Shi Qingqian that she indeed harbored demonic energy, due to the Tearless Key.
Shi Qingqian had even helped her guide and dispel the demonic energy once.
If the people of Mystic Crane Mountain discovered the demonic energy within her, even if she explained the origin of the item in her body, they would no longer keep her.
A’Ling’s gaze grew somewhat somber. She didn’t want to succumb to the demonic path, nor did she want to abandon the path of immortal cultivation. She had been reborn to live a different life, to live a unique existence.
She didn’t necessarily believe demons were inherently evil or bad, but she absolutely didn’t want to experience the pain of struggling to breathe again.
Shi Qingqian understood the worry in her eyes. She also knew A’Ling didn’t want to succumb to the demonic path, which was why she had desperately tried to prevent A’Ling from falling at the Huo family’s small residence.
She lowered her gaze to A’Ling. Those at the head of the hall couldn’t discern her expression, but A’Ling saw it clearly: the strong reassurance in Shi Qingqian’s eyes.
Instantly, A’Ling’s anxious heart miraculously relaxed a little.
Seeing A’Ling’s complexion improve, Shi Qingqian raised her head and looked towards the people at the head of the hall, her gaze also sweeping over the agitated Xing Yanchu, who was practically jumping up and down in impatience.
She walked around A’Ling to the very center of the meeting hall, positioning herself between A’Ling and the Abode Masters at the head of the hall who served as judges.
Her position was subtle, as if declaring that she favored no one, and that she was neither the judge nor the judged.
She looked at the people at the head of the hall, and they, in turn, watched her. Everyone was curious about what Shi Qingqian would say.
“This matter is simple; a single test will reveal the truth,” Shi Qingqian said indifferently, as if she didn’t care about it.
Xing Yanchu was the first to agree, saying delightedly, “Exactly, a test will prove I’m telling the truth!”
Gu Jingyang unconsciously furrowed her brows. Of course, everyone present knew that a test would reveal the truth, but the problem was, a mere word from someone else shouldn’t lead to A’Ling being subjected to a demonic energy test. This was a blatant insult to A’Ling’s dignity.
She did not approve of this approach.
“No, I can vouch that A’Ling has not succumbed to the demonic path. Our journey to Zhuoling Mountain was extremely perilous; we struggled out of it together, risking our lives. If A’Ling were a demon, then you might as well say I am.”
Gu Jingyang stood half a step in front of A’Ling, refusing to yield.
A’Ling looked at the resolute figure before her, her heart aching.
Lan Fushang had entered Mystic Crane Mountain earlier than A’Ling and her companions, and thus knew a little about it. Though it was called an immortal cultivation sect, it wasn’t much different from the outside world, merely a different place where some were elevated and others trampled.
If A’Ling were to have her demonic energy tested so casually, it would likely cause trouble for her in the future.
If someone merely stood up and questioned A’Ling, would she be subjected to a test every time?
She didn’t just think about the issue of dignity; it was also quite dangerous. If the person performing the test had ill intentions and tampered with the process, wouldn’t A’Ling be in danger?
Lan Fushang thought Shi Qingqian, as a newcomer to the inner sect, might not be aware of these implications and was about to speak up to warn her.
But before she could open her mouth, Shi Qingqian spoke again.
Her words weren’t directed at Gu Jingyang, who had just argued with her, but instead at Xing Yanchu.
“A’Ling has someone to vouch for her. Do you? If A’Ling’s demonic energy is to be tested based solely on your words, then next time, if you accuse one of the Abode Masters at the head of the hall of falling to the demonic path, will their demonic energy also need to be tested?”
Xing Yanchu was momentarily speechless. What did Shi Qingqian mean by this? Did she want to test A’Ling’s demonic energy or not?
Gu Jingyang immediately understood and felt relieved. She had almost thought Shi Qingqian wanted to quickly conclude the matter using the simplest method.
In her view, A’Ling had certainly not fallen to the demonic path, and a test would prove it. But she couldn’t be tested simply because of someone else’s accusation; that would make A’Ling a laughingstock.
A’Ling stood quietly to the side. She didn’t know what Shi Qingqian was planning, but as Shi Qingqian passed her and moved forward, she had whispered something beside her.
She had said, “Don’t worry.”
Hearing Shi Qingqian’s words, Xing Yanchu immediately stiffened his neck and declared, “I’ll guarantee it with my life, won’t that suffice?!”
The moment he finished speaking, he noticed that everyone around him seemed to look at him the same way.
Shi Qingqian, Gu Jingyang, and Lan Fushang all had similar expressions, as if to say, ‘What is your life worth?’
Xing Yanchu felt a surge of irritation from their stares. “What? Is my life not enough?”
Gu Jingyang scoffed, “Is your life something you can give to A’Ling or something? If you die, that’s you wanting to die. Does A’Ling gain an extra life because of it?”
Lan Fushang couldn’t help but give a mental thumbs-up. Gu Jingyang truly knew how to mock people.
As expected, Xing Yanchu looked like he was about to explode. Enraged and humiliated, he lunged forward, intending to fight Gu Jingyang.
Shi Qingqian casually waved her hand, and a streak of sword energy appeared out of thin air, throwing him violently backward.
Gu Jingyang also followed with a spiritual technique, striking him with a palm that knocked his head to the side.
“Stop! Fighting is forbidden in the meeting hall.” The presiding cultivator spoke at the opportune moment, stopping the confrontation.
In truth, it could hardly be called a confrontation. She looked sympathetically at Xing Yanchu on the ground. This person, facing Shi Qingqian and Gu Jingyang, was simply overestimating his own strength, like an ant trying to shake a tree.
Shi Qingqian bothered no longer to look at him. This person was insignificant anyway. What mattered were the people at the head of the hall, or rather, a specific person.
Her gaze swept over the eleven individuals above. “A’Ling has Gu Jingyang’s guarantee. Does anyone else have doubts about this?”
Heng Qingyi felt a wave of satisfaction watching everything unfold, and even found Shi Qingqian much more pleasing to the eye.
She glanced at the three Sword Cave Abode Masters, and seeing that they seemed to have no intention of speaking further, she felt a moment of triumph. It was rare for their spiritual cultivators to confront sword cultivators and win.
But before she could finish celebrating, a voice suddenly rang out from nearby.
“Since someone has brought this matter up, if we don’t test it, it might be difficult to convince people in the future.”
Everyone looked towards the speaker, and A’Ling also raised her head. The one who spoke was none other than the Medical Cave Abode Master, Ming Yunying.
Her abode, North Firmament Cave Abode, was the very Medical Cave Abode A’Ling had entered in her previous life.
Heng Qingyi looked in surprise at the person who had suddenly spoken. Ming Yunli, who was beside her, also looked at Ming Yunying in confusion.
She and Ming Yunying were twins; she was the elder sister and had chosen spiritual cultivation, while her younger sister, Ming Yunying, had chosen medical cultivation. Though their paths were different, their relationship wasn’t profoundly deep, but it was still good.
Her sister had always been devoted to the path of medicine. Why would she suddenly involve herself in this obvious dispute between Sword Cultivators and Spiritual Cultivators?
Heng Qingyi was also very puzzled. She and Ming Yunying had never had any grievances, so why was she the one speaking up at this moment?
The presiding elder also looked troubled. Since a Abode Master had spoken, her words carried far more weight than a mere disciple like Xing Yanchu.
She hesitated, looking at Shi Qingqian.
Shi Qingqian’s gaze was heavy as she looked at Ming Yunying. After entering Mystic Crane Mountain, she had investigated the twelve dwellings, and North Firmament Cave Abode had left the best impression on her. She hadn’t expected…
Shi Qingqian clicked her tongue inwardly. She was still too young, after all.
Her expression remained unchanged, but her gaze towards Ming Yunying was slightly cold.
“I didn’t realize you cared so much about this matter.”
Since Ming Yunying had already spoken, she didn’t mind the subtle sarcasm. “I’m simply concerned that a demon cultivator might have infiltrated Mystic Crane Mountain, intending to harm it.”
“I’ve also heard about the mutated demonic beasts on Zhuoling Mountain this time. Mystic Crane Mountain has never seen such strange mutated beasts. With so many anomalies converging, I fear a demon cultivator might be behind it all.”
The other Abode Masters also had their doubts. Zeng Bilan had already informed the other masters about the matters Gu Jingyang told her regarding Zhuoling Mountain. For hundreds of years, they had never heard of demonic beasts mutating into plants.
Ming Yunli found her sister’s concerns reasonable and, after some thought, supported her sister’s proposal to investigate whether A’Ling harbored demonic energy.
Gong Shuangyu and the other three Sword Cave Abode Masters naturally supported it. Since someone else had taken the lead, they were happy to follow.
In the end, everyone except Heng Qingyi agreed to the test. Even Zeng Bilan, who was on good terms with Heng Qingyi, felt that something was amiss.
She had seen Zhao Shan’s injuries; the blow was indeed heavy. Perhaps A’Ling truly had fallen to the demonic path.
Finally, after confirming the intentions of the various Abode Masters, the presiding cultivator confirmed that the resolution to conduct a demonic energy test on A’Ling had passed by a large majority.
She asked Shi Qingqian for her opinion, and Shi Qingqian had no objections.
“Since that is the case, I only have one question: What if no demonic energy is detected?”
Ming Yunying let out a cold laugh. As expected of someone who dared to issue a challenge, never suffering a loss. Her gaze paused on A’Ling. Shi Qingqian’s intentions towards this A’Ling are absolutely not simple.
She retracted her gaze and looked at Shi Qingqian, who showed no sign of backing down. After a moment’s thought, she produced a [Shining Spirit Restorative Elixir].
“If I have misunderstood, I wonder if this item is sufficient to express my apology?” Although her words were a question, her underlying meaning was extremely certain.
Everyone collectively looked over, and upon seeing it was a [Shining Spirit Restorative Elixir], they understood the confidence behind her words.
The [Shining Spirit Restorative Elixir] was truly an excellent item, a sacred-grade elixir capable of rapidly restoring spiritual energy. Only a handful of people within Mystic Crane Mountain possessed such a thing.
To speak impolitely, Heng Qingyi felt this was far more valuable than that absurd Xing Yanchu’s life.
But Shi Qingqian merely glanced at it, nodded, and withdrew her gaze, as if she didn’t find it particularly rare. She then turned to look at the others.
Her gaze seemed to say, ‘What about you all?’
Everyone’s hearts simultaneously skipped a beat. Heng Qingyi’s heart, however, immediately became lively. Interesting, this Shi Qingqian is truly interesting.
She was clearly responding to Ming Yunying’s “is it enough?” The answer was obvious: no, Shi Qingqian actually felt it wasn’t enough.
This wasn’t enough to compensate for the dignity A’Ling would lose. It was unclear if Shi Qingqian was deliberately trying to make Ming Yunying lose face, or if she truly believed A’Ling’s dignity was that important.
Gu Jingyang’s lips twitched, and she was speechless for a long moment. Wouldn’t this be a bit too much?
Just now, she had been worried that A’Ling would lose face. Now, she was worried that A’Ling was gaining too much face.
Lan Fushang also couldn’t help but feel nervous. She glanced at the Medical Cave Abode Master at the head of the hall, whose face looked somewhat green and purple.
But she felt that the aura emanating from that person wasn’t as frightening as the one Shi Qingqian emitted. She unconsciously shifted her steps slightly.
She felt as if Shi Qingqian was openly threatening the Abode Masters above.
This made her heart race, wondering, Wouldn’t this be a bad idea?
Initially, the Abode Masters at the head of the hall also found Shi Qingqian utterly outrageous, finding even the [Shining Spirit Restorative Elixir] from Ming Yunying insufficient.
But under Shi Qingqian’s gaze, not a single one dared to speak.
Finally, after Heng Qingyi produced a [Supreme Purity Soul-Stabilizing Talisman], they had no choice but to one by one bring out some of their treasured possessions.
Although the items they brought out were not as heart-wrenchingly precious as Ming Yunying’s, they were by no means inferior.
At this point, Shi Qingqian had certainly amassed enough ‘anger’ for A’Ling. The people at the head of the hall, with the exception of Heng Qingyi, all looked at her with unfriendly eyes, as if eager to see demonic energy detected in A’Ling.
A’Ling, however, didn’t care. Regardless of this incident, these people wouldn’t have liked her anyway, and in her previous life, none of them had chosen to believe her.
Seeing that the items had all been produced, Shi Qingqian said nothing further. Under everyone’s watchful eyes, she performed a spiritual cultivation technique for detecting demonic energy.
A’Ling looked at the golden light on her body, her heart suddenly tightening. But after seeing Shi Qingqian’s reassuring gaze, she immediately regained her composure; at least, her expression showed nothing amiss.
She even had the presence of mind to recall how Shi Qingqian had tested her for demonic energy once before. That time, she had used a demon cultivation technique. At the time, she wondered how Shi Qingqian knew such techniques. Now she knew, not only did she know them, but she was also incredibly skilled.
She could even switch freely between demon and spiritual cultivation techniques, truly an existence defying the heavens.
The golden light dispersed. A’Ling moved her limbs; the technique had made her hands and feet feel somewhat numb.
The people at the head of the hall looked at the perfectly normal A’Ling after the technique dissipated. Apart from Heng Qingyi, their hearts were collectively filled with disappointment and some regret.
Ming Yunying looked at A’Ling, who showed no changes, and clutched the [Shining Spirit Restorative Elixir] in her hand. There was none. She didn’t question whether Shi Qingqian had cheated.
Shi Qingqian had performed the technique right before their eyes. The spiritual Cave Abode Masters had seen it clearly and had no objections, so it was likely problem-free.
A’Ling truly hadn’t fallen to the demonic path. Then why… why did the Peak Master tell her to keep an eye on A’Ling?
She had thought the Peak Master meant A’Ling had a problem…
“A bunch of useless fools.”
Dao Rong scoffed, looking at the scene in the [Dragon Shadow Mirror]. Perhaps no one in Mystic Crane Mountain, besides him, could detect the demonic energy in the person within the mirror.
That wasn’t right either. He might not be able to detect it either. The person in the mirror hadn’t truly fallen to the demonic path yet, so where would the demonic energy come from?
Within the giant, person-sized [Dragon Shadow Mirror], A’Ling’s figure appeared clearly, as if a real person stood before him.
On the other side of the image, Shi Qingqian withdrew the spiritual technique from her hand, her gaze fixed on the Abode Masters at the head of the hall. Her expression was unspoken, clearly demanding compensation for A’Ling.
Looking at Shi Qingqian’s serene face, the smile on Dao Rong’s face gradually faded. The gloom in his eyes was like the increasingly thick clouds before a heavy storm, dark and oppressive.
He remembered that sudden, desperate escape. He had truly underestimated his daughter.
She actually had the heart to self-detonate and die. The destructive power of that instant was enough to overturn heaven and earth. Dao Rong had nowhere to hide, unsure how vast a space could escape such world-shattering divine power.
If he hadn’t exhausted his millennia of cultivation, decisively tearing open a crack in time at that very moment, he feared he would have died in that collapse of heaven and earth.
Perhaps he had already died, and now only a wisp of his spiritual consciousness had returned to the past.
He had successfully merged with this wisp of spiritual consciousness on the day Mystic Crane Mountain’s Crane Gate opened, amidst the cries of the Ice Crane Immortal.
And once again, he saw Shi Qingqian injured by the moonlight formation and falling from the Qiongdian Peak, but unlike his memory, he didn’t see Shi Qingqian struggling in pain for a month. That figure who abruptly arrived, Dao Rong saw clearly, was headed straight for Shi Qingqian.
This change made him realize: A’Ling had been reborn.
He finally understood what Shi Qingqian had done with that legendary ‘ancient divine power’.
She actually wasted such a perfect opportunity, just to allow that fool to be reborn!!!
How dare she call others fools? She was the greatest fool in this world.
Dao Rong took a deep breath, calming the sudden surge of rage in his heart. The burning sensation on his brow felt like a branding iron, twisting his face into a pained grimace.
He tried to reach up and touch his brow, but then abruptly saw the hand in his sleeve, nothing but white bone, devoid of flesh and blood. He roared in anger.
“Shi Qingqian! Damn you!”
This time, he couldn’t wait a hundred years. Last time, for the sake of the Demon Lord’s Tears, he had painstakingly schemed for a century, watching Shi Qingqian fall deeply in love, luring her to succumb to the demonic path for love, then destroying everything to make her shed tears of regret.
He had never imagined that Demon Lord’s Tears already existed in this world, within A’Ling’s body.
Only after Shi Qingqian obtained the ‘ancient divine power’ did he learn everything, realizing that someone had already shed tears for him long ago.
Only then did he understand why that woman had spoken such cruel and heartless words when they were fighting to the death, and why she had given birth prematurely and sent the child away. It wasn’t just because she feared he would harbor murderous intentions.
Thinking of this, Dao Rong suddenly burst into laughter. It was fortunate that Qi Yu, that useless wretch, had not succeeded back then.
He had neither successfully pursued the right person nor successfully killed anyone.
He had been trapped in the Qiongdian Peak, healing his injuries at the time, and hadn’t personally carried out that deed.
He was also grateful for that slight hint of compassion he’d had back then, not seeking to eliminate Jin Siliu and her group after learning they had gone to the Demon Realm.
Indeed, good deeds were rewarded.
Dao Rong smiled. His bony, skeletal hand casually swiped across the mirror, and the scene within it dispersed like smoke, turning back into a true mirror.
Dao Rong looked at his reflection in the mirror, smiling with a benevolent expression. He had pretended to be good for so long, he almost believed he was a good person.
But if he believed it, why didn’t the Heavenly Dao believe it?!
Why had he endured so many heavenly tribulations and still couldn’t become immortal?!
If he couldn’t become immortal, what was the meaning of immortality?!
Dao Rong looked up at the pale sky, as if gazing beyond the nine heavens.
Those high-and-mighty deities had existed for too long; it was time for a change.
He casually gathered a floating cloud, quickly wrote a line of text, and threw it into the pillar of light connecting to Summer Shadow Peak.
Looking at the tiny myriad things beneath the Qiongdian Peak, Dao Rong chuckled softly. He could hardly wait to see the world perish, to watch the ants struggle for survival, and to witness the wrath of the gods.
This time, he hoped Shi Qingqian would move faster, quickly gathering all the items for him.
Within the Yisu Palace meeting hall, A’Ling watched as Shi Qingqian activated a spiritual technique, levitating the items from the Abode Masters’ hands one by one.
All these precious items floated neatly arranged before her.
Shi Qingqian turned around, looking at the somewhat dazed A’Ling, and slowly walked back to her side, asking softly, “What’s wrong?”
It took A’Ling a good while to come back to her senses.
How could she describe her current mood?
Just now, when Shi Qingqian began to make demands, A’Ling had already thought about what would happen if this situation only involved her.
If she knew her demonic energy couldn’t be detected, she would probably be angry, angered by the lack of trust, and would demand a quick examination to clear her name.
If she knew she did have demonic energy, she would feel guilty and resist with all her might.
But the current situation was this: she knew she had demonic energy, but because of Shi Qingqian’s words, she knew it wouldn’t be detected. At most, she thought she would just be confirmed as not having demonic energy after the spiritual technique.
She would suffer some grievance, and the matter would end. But now, there was someone standing in front of her, not only resolving her troubles but also considering her grievance.
Not only did she consider it, but she also genuinely ensured A’Ling received tangible compensation.
Just like Xing Yanchu’s casual offer of his life, and Gu Jingyang’s words: yes, what did Xing Yanchu’s death have to do with her? She wouldn’t gain an extra life.
And if she were to take someone’s life simply because of a false accusation, how many people would say she was in the wrong?
When the Abode Masters began to speak, A’Ling also thought she was bound to suffer this grievance, and at most, she would receive a few “my apologies,” “we misunderstood you,” or “it was for the dwelling’s good,” and so on.
But as Gu Jingyang said, a lost reputation was lost. Those “apologies” wouldn’t compensate for anything.
Looking at the items before her, she never expected it to end like this.
She had experienced such trials before, but this was the first time she felt like she had someone by her side.
She looked at Gu Jingyang and Lan Fushang with gratitude.
They, too, had unconditionally chosen to believe her and stood by her.
Finally, A’Ling’s gaze fell upon Shi Qingqian. Seeing Shi Qingqian’s seemingly worried eyes, A’Ling’s heart suddenly leaped. She wanted to say something, but her throat felt tight. In the end, she sincerely said, “Thank you.”
She silently recited a chant and, with some awkwardness, put all the items into her spatial storage bag.
It wasn’t that she felt awkward accepting so many good items, but because her storage bag’s activation chant was: ‘Shi Qingqian, go crawl.’
She would have to quickly change it once they returned. That was truly a bit embarrassing to say aloud.
Shi Qingqian felt a little relieved seeing A’Ling put away the items. She had just been worried that A’Ling might find her approach inappropriate.
But after A’Ling put away the items, she acted somewhat unusually, as if avoiding Shi Qingqian’s gaze. Shi Qingqian felt a flicker of doubt, looking at A’Ling’s slightly flushed cheeks, and a sense of uncertainty arose in her heart.
She began to wonder again if she had done something wrong, or if A’Ling didn’t actually want these items and had only accepted them because of her.
Shi Qingqian couldn’t help but feel a pang of annoyance. She should have asked A’Ling beforehand, but the situation just now hadn’t allowed her to inquire.
The presiding cultivator was unaware of the individual dilemmas these two faced. Seeing that this sudden interlude had been resolved, she felt a little lighter and wanted to quickly settle the main issue at hand.
Off to the side, Xing Yanchu, who had seen that no demonic energy was detected in A’Ling, stumbled to the ground, muttering to himself in disbelief.
“How can this be? How could A’Ling not have demonic energy?”
The presiding cultivator glanced at him, feeling displeased. Since this person was from Shi Qingqian’s dwelling anyway, she could leave him for Shi Qingqian to handle.
Today’s meeting wasn’t originally for this matter; this was an unexpected development. The initial issues had yet to be resolved.
The presiding cultivator quickly returned to the original topic, bringing up Zhao Shan’s accusation that A’Ling had maliciously severely injured a fellow disciple and that Gu Jingyang had intentionally abandoned him during the mission.
However, after the recent interlude, no one was eager to speak.
The people at the head of the hall could all see that Shi Qingqian was protecting A’Ling below. If this matter wasn’t handled well, they might end up losing more treasures.
Heng Qingyi, bolstered by the fact that no demonic energy was detected in A’Ling, gained confidence. Seeing no one else speak, she began.
“This is merely a normal sparring session between fellow disciples. Gu Jingyang leaving him there was also for his own good.”
“You’ve all heard about the dangers of Zhuoling Mountain. If Zhao Shan had been brought along, he would most likely be dead in that mutated demonic beast cave by now.”
Gong Shuangyu, having just lost a valuable elixir, was displeased and snorted coldly. “A ‘normal sparring session,’ indeed! I wonder who it was that used to constantly complain about Sword Cultivators being too heavy-handed during sparring between Sword and Spiritual Cultivation disciples? Now it seems that when it comes to ruthlessness, you spiritual cultivators are the truly ruthless ones. Look how badly he was beaten; he can’t even get out of bed now.”
Heng Qingyi cast a sidelong glance at her, momentarily at a loss for words. A’Ling’s strike had indeed been a bit heavy.
“Is there a need to send a renowned medical cultivator to examine him?”
Suddenly, a profound and amiable voice came from the meeting hall’s entrance.
Everyone looked up. It was indeed the Peak Master of Summer Shadow Peak, the Venerable Minci.
The Abode Masters at the head of the hall rose in unison and bowed to Venerable Minci, greeting her.
Venerable Minci smiled as she slowly walked into the meeting hall.
A’Ling looked at the sudden arrival with confusion. Peak Masters usually did not participate in dwelling affairs and were rarely seen except on grand occasions.
What was happening today? Earlier, the Medical Cave Abode’s intervention during the demonic energy test had already made her very confused, and now the Medical Cultivation Peak Master had appeared as well.
A’Ling instinctively felt it was not simple.
Shi Qingqian thought a layer deeper than her. When Ming Yunying had spoken earlier, she had already realized that the Medical Cave Abode might have a problem.
Venerable Minci’s arrival corroborated her suspicion.
The people standing in the hall – Gu Jingyang, Lan Fushang, and A’Ling, Shi Qingqian – the four of them moved to the side, clearing a path.
As Venerable Minci passed A’Ling, she paused, as if A’Ling had caught her attention.
The Abode Masters at the head of the hall immediately all looked at A’Ling.
Ming Yunying, having just lost face, was the first to ask, “Peak Master, have you discovered anything amiss?”
Venerable Minci smiled, waving a hand at the people at the head of the hall. “No, nothing amiss.”
She then turned to A’Ling and said with a smile, “The last time I saw this young friend was during the Dwelling Disciple Selection. Your spiritual technique, which conjured a spider, left quite an impression on me. In just a few months, I never expected you to have broken through to the Nascent Soul stage. Truly, your talent surpasses ordinary people.”
“What?!” Overwhelmed by shock, Ming Yunying exclaimed in an undignified manner.
The surprise among the others was no less than hers, including Heng Qingyi. When she took A’Ling as a disciple, A’Ling was only at the early Golden Core stage.
How could she possibly break through to the Nascent Soul stage in such a short time?
A’Ling saw the astonished expressions on the faces of everyone at the head of the hall, including Heng Qingyi, after hearing Venerable Minci’s words.
She had originally planned to inform Heng Qingyi of her breakthrough after returning to the dwelling.
She hadn’t expected this Venerable Minci to suddenly bring it up. She wondered if it was unintentional or deliberate, and why she suddenly brought up her cultivation level.
The Venerable Minci before her was at the Soul Transformation stage, naturally able to see through her cultivation at a glance, so there was no need for her to conceal it.
“Yes, during this trip to Zhuoling Mountain, I broke through during the life-or-death struggle with the demonic beasts,” A’Ling said, lowering her gaze and showing great respect to Venerable Minci.
Gu Jingyang spoke up from the side to corroborate, “The situation was critical at the time. I imagine she gained enlightenment in a desperate situation.”
Lan Fushang didn’t know what to say, so she just nodded along.
Shi Qingqian had maintained a single expression since Venerable Minci entered, standing silently to the side.
Regardless of Venerable Minci’s sudden stop or her long speech, Shi Qingqian showed no emotional changes, as if it had nothing to do with her.
Venerable Minci glanced at her from the corner of her eye. She truly was quite a figure.
She had rushed here after receiving Saint Venerable Dao Rong’s floating cloud message. Thinking of the Saint Venerable’s instructions, Venerable Minci smiled faintly.
“This young friend truly has exceptional talent.”
Saying this, Venerable Minci continued to walk up.
Her words were like a small stone cast into the hearts of many, stirring up ripples of varying sizes.
Since Saint Venerable Dao Rong, Mystic Crane Mountain had not seen many people with extraordinary talent and outstanding abilities.
Occasionally, there would be a few promising newcomers, but they often perished in missions they could have survived, due to overconfidence.
She slowly walked to the very top, where three empty Dragon-Turtle-Qilin Ruyi Thrones were placed.
Although the Peak Masters of the three peaks usually didn’t attend ordinary meetings, their seats were always prepared.
“Venerable Minci, may I ask if there is an important matter that has brought you here?” As Venerable Minci’s disciple, Ming Yunying was naturally the best person to represent and inquire.
Venerable Minci’s gaze swept kindly over everyone, and she said with a smile, “Yes, there are some matters I wished to discuss with you all. It’s quite a coincidence that you are all here. My matters are not urgent; you may proceed with yours first.”
After she spoke, she looked at the presiding cultivator, signaling her to continue.
The presiding cultivator had been interrupted repeatedly and no longer knew where the discussion stood. She thought for a moment before remembering that the accusation by Sword Cultivator disciple Zhao Shan against Spiritual Cultivator disciple A’Ling and Gu Jingyang still had no resolution.
Since Venerable Minci had arrived, she naturally had to re-explain the entire matter to her.
After listening, Venerable Minci smiled gently. “Then I truly arrived at a convenient time.”
Everyone was puzzled by what she meant.
Venerable Minci unhurriedly began to explain her purpose.
“Recently, Summer Shadow Peak has experienced several incidents of ghostly fiends breaching the barrier. It seems that the soul-soothing incense and similar items inside attracted the ghostly fiends from Pi Lingyun Valley. The barrier in that place likely has a crack, and the seal in Pi Lingyun Valley is also nearly a hundred years old; it should be reinforced.”
A’Ling raised an eyebrow. She knew this place! In her previous life, when the Pi Lingyun Valley barrier was breached, she had also participated in the mission to capture the escaping ghostly fiends. She had even accidentally been possessed by a specter, and when she woke up, she was in Shi Qingqian’s dwelling.
She had also been thoroughly humiliated by Shi Qingqian, who told her that if her cultivation wasn’t strong enough, she shouldn’t get involved in such excitement, as she would only cause trouble for others.
Thinking of this, A’Ling instinctively turned to look at Shi Qingqian.
She suddenly wondered, could there be something here she didn’t know about?
What did she do when she was possessed by the specter? Did Shi Qingqian save her?
In her previous life, after A’Ling woke up, she was scolded so much that she got angry and fought Shi Qingqian. In the end, she couldn’t win and was tied up by Shi Qingqian with Little Wandering and thrown out of the dwelling.
Thinking of this, A’Ling’s hand, covering Little Wandering, tightened a little.
Shi Qingqian tilted her head, seeing that A’Ling had been staring at her ever since Venerable Minci finished speaking. She leaned closer and asked, “What’s wrong?”
A’Ling snapped back to reality. She felt Shi Qingqian’s breath tickle her ear, and as Shi Qingqian leaned down to speak, a few strands of her hair accidentally brushed into A’Ling’s collar.
Her entire body tingled. She gave a sudden shiver, quickly turned her head back, and hastily said, while swatting away the hair from her neck, “Nothing.”
Venerable Minci sat serenely at the head of the hall, clearly observing the reactions of those below. She also saw A’Ling and Shi Qingqian whispering, though she didn’t hear what they were saying.
After she finished speaking, Ming Yunying quickly responded, “It was the disciples’ oversight. The dwelling will dispatch people to deal with this matter as soon as possible.”
Venerable Minci smiled and nodded. “Mystic Crane Mountain is vast, stretching for thousands of miles. With so many dwelling affairs, there will always be things you can’t attend to. My arrival today is quite timely; I can resolve a matter for you as well.”
Ming Yunying lowered her gaze slightly, seemingly not understanding what Venerable Minci meant by her words.
Shi Qingqian had originally wanted to ask A’Ling again what was wrong. Standing behind her, she saw A’Ling scratching her neck until it was red. She wondered if there were insects in the meeting hall or if A’Ling had been affected by some poisonous gas on Zhuoling Mountain.
But upon hearing Venerable Minci’s words, Shi Qingqian suddenly had a bad feeling. She lifted her gaze from A’Ling’s reddened neck and looked up.
Her gaze met Venerable Minci’s, who was also looking her way, in mid-air.
Venerable Minci still maintained her benevolent demeanor, giving Shi Qingqian a gentle smile.
But her gaze ultimately settled on A’Ling.
