As they flew forward, searching for their next prey, Rong Qingxian suddenly spotted a familiar figure fighting a monster about a mile ahead—it was Ye Chen.

Rong Qingxian's eyes flashed with a cold light. This wicked disciple had truly made rapid progress. In such a short time, his combat strength had already reached the Spirit Sect level. At this rate, it probably wouldn't be long before even she would be no match for Ye Chen.

Thinking of this, You Rongqingxian felt a sense of urgency. She had always wanted to punish Ye Chen herself, preferably by eliminating him from the sect, to make amends for her serious mistakes back then.

Now that Ye Chen's strength has improved by leaps and bounds, if she doesn't find an opportunity to make a move now, she will most likely be unable to defeat him even if she is given the chance in the future.

Let's settle things with him here.

A cold glint flashed in Rong Qingxian's eyes. She suddenly appeared in front of Ye Chen, wielding her sword like a dance, instantly unleashing several sharp and towering sword energies.

The sword energy was dazzling and swift as lightning, tearing the void apart. It had already reached the power of a ninth-level Spirit Master and was about to kill Ye Chen on the spot.

Ye Chen's hair stood on end. The sense of impending death made him retreat instantly, delaying the sword energy from striking him, while simultaneously summoning a bronze bell to block it in front of him.

??!

The sword energy struck the massive bronze bell, producing a deafening ringing sound. The bell swayed precariously in mid-air for a moment before finally deflecting and withstanding the sword energy.

However, Ye Chen's crisis was not over. Rong Qingxian appeared to Ye Chen's side like a ghost, and then, with her sword following her body, she stabbed at Ye Chen with lightning speed.

"That vile woman!"

Ye Chen cursed inwardly. Before he could activate the great bell for defense, he summoned another golden seal. This was a defensive magic weapon given to him by Gan Hong, which could withstand attacks from low-level Spirit Venerables.

As soon as the golden seal was unleashed, it rapidly enlarged, and a golden dragon phantom flew out from it, blocking You Rong Qingxian. Then, the dragon lashed out with its tail, fiercely striking You Rong Qingxian.

You Rong Qingxian hurriedly used her sword to block, but was sent flying back more than ten feet with a muffled groan. However, she was not to be trifled with. She raised her hand and summoned a flower basket, which expanded a hundred times in an instant. She put the golden seal into the basket and sealed it temporarily. Then she summoned seven azure flying swords, each about a foot long and crackling with lightning. They circled once above her head and then dispersed, shooting towards Ye Chen from different directions.

"You wicked disciple, die!"

With a sharp shout, You Rongqingxian raised her sword with both hands and slashed down. A dark spatial rift appeared above, and a giant sword of spiritual energy, tens of feet long, tore through the space, its sword light splitting the heavens and earth as it delivered a fatal blow to Ye Chen.

??!

At this moment, the seven flying swords blocked Ye Chen's escape space, and he had no choice but to use the bell to defend again. However, this time the bell could not stop the giant spiritual sword that Rong Qingxian had unleashed with all her might, and it exploded into pieces.

Now Ye Chen was completely exposed, and could only watch helplessly as the giant sword of spiritual energy slashed down on him.

"No, fairy!"

Just at this critical moment, a figure with a majestic sword intent appeared in front of Ye Chen. Jiang Yi swung his sword and cleaved the giant sword of spiritual energy in two, then used a defensive magic treasure to protect Ye Chen before looking at You Rong Qingxian and saying in a deep voice, "You Rong Fairy, why did you have to try to kill Brother Ye?"

“This wicked disciple has committed numerous evils and is deeply demonic. Sooner or later he will become a scourge to the righteous path. As his master, I should cleanse his sect to prevent future troubles!”

You Rong Qingxian spoke coldly, pointing her sword at Jiang Yi, "Get out of my way! If you protect him, you will be my enemy and a sinner against the righteous path!"

Jiang Yi was caught in a dilemma. He didn't want to antagonize You Rong Qingxian, but he participated in this trial to do Ye Chen a favor and gain Ye Chen's friendship for the Emperor Sword Sect. If he backed down, not only would he fail to do the favor, but he would also offend Ye Chen and suffer bad consequences.

"stop!"

Chi Yue arrived at this moment, standing protectively in front of Ye Chen. She looked coldly at You Rong Qingxian and said, "Ye Chen is someone protected by my Heavenly Pool Holy Land. With me here, you can forget about touching him!"

Jiang Yi's expression turned solemn as he said in a righteous voice, "Fairy You Rong, although Ye Chen is a descendant of demonic cultivators, he is devoted to the righteous path and upholds the belief of eliminating demons and protecting the righteous. How can you say that he is a scourge to the righteous path?"

Upon hearing this, You Rongqingxian sneered and revealed, "A despicable and vicious person who would stop at nothing to get a woman, framed his senior brother who took great care of him, and even ruined his cultivation, do you say he is on the right path?"

"You all act so righteously and indignantly, labeling him a demonic cultivator based on mere rumors, yet you become so tolerant and magnanimous when it comes to Ye Chen?"

"They keep claiming to be on the righteous path, but with such double standards, what right do they have to call themselves righteous?!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi's expression changed. He was unaware that Ye Chen and Chi Yuan had such a past. No wonder Chi Yuan was so hostile and hateful towards the Chi family and his own younger brother. It was understandable, though.

Chi Yue found it difficult to refute, since what Rong Qingxian said was true. Others might not know the truth, but how could the Chi family not know?

"As the saying goes, to err is human, to forgive divine. Ye Chen has indeed made mistakes, but who hasn't made mistakes? Should we completely condemn him just because he made a mistake?"

Chi Yue defended herself.

A surge of anger welled up in You Rong Qingxian's heart. She glared at Chi Yue and rebuked her, "You're supposed to be a member of the Chi family! Your family members have been wronged and persecuted, and instead of helping them seek justice, you side with those who harmed them, slandering and threatening them. Have you lost all your conscience?!"

"What do you mean by admitting one's mistakes and correcting them is the greatest virtue? Ask him when he has ever admitted his mistakes to Chi Yuan, when he has ever repented for his mistakes? Just before entering the tower, he slandered Chi Yuan, maliciously trying to label him as a demon. Do you think he has even the slightest remorse?"

"You think you can be fooled by a few nice words and lose your sense of right and wrong? With your childish sense of right and wrong, what right do you have to ask Chi Yuan to prove himself? You have pig-like brains, yet you dare to question others?"

Rong Qingxian's barrage of angry words left Chi Yue speechless, her lips trembling as she struggled to defend herself. She knew perfectly well that she had always blindly sided with Ye Chen over Chi Yuan. Her pressure on Chi Yuan to prove himself was an attempt to show that she hadn't wrongly helped him. It was only because everyone had been on the same page and no one had pointed this out that she felt at ease.

Jiang Yi was also scolded until his face turned red. Looking back now, he realized that his attitude towards Ye Chen and Chi Yuan was indeed too immature. He acted entirely on his own will and had no sense of right and wrong.

It's no wonder that Chi Yuan was unwilling to prove himself. They didn't even achieve the most basic fairness, so what right did they have to ask Chi Yuan to prove himself?

"Go ahead and protect him. The cause you have today will one day become the evil consequence that devours you. When he grows into a great demon and wreaks havoc on the world, let's see if you and your holy land can withstand the backlash of karma!"

After saying this in a very serious tone, You Rongqingxian put away her flying sword and flower basket and turned to leave.