Bai Ying lowered her head and looked at the Bai family members. Her face was as cold as frost: "Where is the Chaos Rift Hammer? I need to take it back to report."

The Bai family's high-ranking members quickly ordered someone to fetch the Chaos Sky-Splitting Hammer and hand it to Bai Ying.

Their faces were still beaming with joy. They were thinking how fortunate the Bai family was to have produced such a fine member!

Moreover, Bai Ying was a disciple favored by Qi Haoyuan. With this connection, the Bai family was truly destined to live a life of luxury alongside the Lingyin Sect.

Those people were so happy they didn't know what to say.

However, just as everyone was still reeling from the emotional shock, Bai Ying suddenly and slowly descended from the sky. Each step she took was steady and slow, emanating a chilling aura, her target Bai Di.

When Bai Di saw Bai Ying walking towards her, she turned ashen-faced with fright. She instinctively retreated, her steps frantic and unsteady, her eyes filled with terror. Finally, she lost her balance and fell flat on her backside, instinctively bracing herself with her hands, trying to move backward and escape this terrifying presence.

Seeing this, Zhou Ying and Bai Ying rushed to Bai Di's side and shielded her behind them. Zhou Ying's hands trembled slightly as she gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, her face filled with worry and tension. Bai Ying, on the other hand, stared wide-eyed at Bai Ying warily and shouted, "What do you want to do?" His voice trembled slightly, yet he tried to remain calm.

The Bai family's high-ranking members, who were originally immersed in the joy and anticipation of the Bai family's impending rise, were now stunned by this sudden change.

They looked at each other, their eyes filled with doubt and confusion.

"What's going on?" The Third Elder broke the silence first, his voice filled with surprise.

In their minds, shouldn't Bai Ying's family be the ones cheering the most at this moment? After all, Bai Ying and Zhou Ying had a blood bond with Bai Ying, and even if Bai Di wasn't related by blood, she was still Bai Ying's sister. By all accounts, they should be the biggest beneficiaries of this victory. But the scene before them was completely unexpected.

The Second Elder was also completely bewildered. He said to the First Elder, "What's going on with them? Bai Ying is so powerful, shouldn't they be overjoyed?"

At this moment, Bai Ying seemed to completely disregard the two people blocking her way. Her eyes were icy cold, radiating a chilling aura, and she reached out her hand. An invisible, powerful force erupted instantly, like a surging undercurrent, forcefully pulling Bai Di off the ground. Bai Ying's hand, like a vise, gripped Bai Di's neck tightly.

Bai Di stared wide-eyed in terror, desperately trying to pry Bai Ying's hands off, his legs kicking helplessly in the air, and a faint "woo-woo" sound escaping his throat—an instinctive struggle born of extreme fear.

The Bai family's leaders, who were still immersed in the joyful fantasy of the Bai family's rise due to Bai Ying, were now thrown into chaos by the sudden change in the scene before them.

The Second Elder shouted anxiously at Bai Ying, "Bai Ying, what are you doing? Let go of Bai Di!" Before he finished speaking, he was about to rush towards Bai Ying without thinking, but he was stopped in his tracks by the First Elder's next words.

The usually taciturn elder now had an expression so solemn it seemed like water could drip from it. He sighed heavily, his voice filled with endless helplessness and bitterness, as if squeezed from the depths of his soul: "It's no use, Bai Di only has himself to blame."

As if frozen in place, everyone turned their heads, their gazes all falling on the Grand Elder. Their faces were filled with bewilderment.

"What happened?"

The elder's face grew increasingly gloomy, his brows furrowing into a deep frown.

"Because... the formation that trapped Bai Ying was set up by Bai Di, and it was also Bai Di who invited the Hua family patriarch over. She coveted Bai Ying's spiritual root and planned to have the Hua family patriarch help her dig it out." The First Elder spoke with difficulty, each word like a heavy stone hitting everyone's hearts.

Upon hearing the First Elder's words, the Hua family's high-ranking members froze on the spot, as if struck by lightning, their mouths slightly agape and their faces filled with disbelief.

The Second Elder's eyes widened, his expression shifting from shock to anger. He couldn't believe his ears and shouted, "How could Bai Di have such power? How could she set up that formation in front of you?"

The Third Elder was also full of doubt, but he still subconsciously wanted to find a way to save face for the First Elder, so he hurriedly said, "It's probably what the Hua family patriarch asked for. He's so powerful, even my eldest brother can't do anything about it. But fortunately, it's only Bai Di's fault. As long as we kick her out and sever ties with the Bai family, it'll be fine. Bai Ying won't blame the entire Bai family."

However, the elder's next words were like a bombshell, shattering everyone's illusions completely.

"At the time, Bai Di told me that since Bai Ying was so uncontrollable, we might as well dig out Bai Ying's spiritual root and give it to her. Anyway, her soul blood is in our hands, and she will never betray us." The Grand Elder's voice was low and hoarse, as if it were squeezed out from between his teeth.

The moment those words were spoken, the scene fell into a deathly silence. The elders seemed to have had their spines removed, and they froze completely.

"And then what? You wouldn't agree, would you?" The Fourth Elder's voice trembled slightly, carrying a hint of desperate probing.

The elder lowered his head even further, his face flushed red, a mixture of shame and remorse on his face, and he nodded with difficulty and embarrassment.

That slight nod seemed to be the last straw that broke the camel's back. The elders instantly erupted into chaos, their emotions completely out of control.

"Brother! Have you lost your mind? Bai Ying's achievements are beyond what one can attain with just one spiritual root! Whether it's talent, comprehension, or combat skills, she's top-notch in every aspect. How can Bai Di compare to Bai Ying?" The Second Elder trembled with rage, pointing at the First Elder, his voice sharp and shrill with anger.

The Grand Elder knew it too, but at the time he had no idea Bai Ying was so powerful! He was filled with regret.

"What about her parents? Didn't they try to stop her? Bai Ying is their own daughter! I remember when Bai Ying went missing, they searched for her day and night. Zhou Ying even said she was willing to give up her life to bring Bai Ying home! Didn't they stop them?"

The elder shook his head helplessly: "They agreed."