Chapter 105: Returning with treasures, the storm arises again
Half a month later, the Xuanyun Sect's mountain gate came into view. The rolling hills, shrouded in a shroud of ethereal energy, with cascading waterfalls and flying cranes, formed a stark contrast to the bleak ice fields of the Soul Burial Mountains. However, the returning team had no time to appreciate this familiar fairyland; the atmosphere remained solemn.
Qin Yixuan, thanks to Ye Li's relentless treatment and subsequent meticulous care, managed to survive. However, her essence was severely damaged, and her cultivation had plummeted to the early stages of the Spiritual Mansion Realm. She was extremely weak, spending most of her time lying in a specially crafted sedan chair, carried by disciples of the Bishui Pavilion. Her face remained pale, but her eyes had regained their former clarity, though a subtle gloom lay deep within. From a favored daughter of the sect, held in high regard, to a severely injured body in need of care—the difference is hard to fathom without personal experience.
Ye Li's condition was slightly better, but the aftereffects of forcibly burning her blood essence and overactivating the Samsara Mirror's essence were also significant. Her face was sickly pale, and while her aura remained stable at the mid-stage Spiritual Residence Realm, she clearly felt a sense of inner weakness. She needed a long period of rest to fully recover. She spent most of her time silently walking beside Qin Yixuan's sedan chair, like a loyal guard.
Elder Yun of the Bishui Pavilion's expression remained steadfast. Qin Yixuan's injuries tore at her heart, and even more worrying was how to explain this to the Pavilion Master, as well as the future situation Bishui Pavilion would face.
In contrast, though Lay Buddhist Muyun's expression was also sullen, a sharp glint shone deep in his eyes. This trip to the Bingpo Xuan Palace had resulted in heavy losses, but also immense gains. Ye Li's astonishing growth and the opportunities she had gained were self-evident. More importantly, we now had irrefutable evidence of Situ Kuang's collusion with the Shadow Demon and betrayal of the sect (from the confessions of captives like Shi Long, as well as the lingering Shadow Demon aura at the scene). This would be the perfect opportunity to purge the sect of this malignant tumor!
The team slowly landed on the main square of the Xuanyun Sect. Almost all of the sect's senior leaders, who had received the summons long ago, were present, led by Sect Master Xuan Chengzi, and accompanied by the various peak masters and elders. The atmosphere was solemn and dignified. Countless inner and outer disciples, having heard the news, gathered around the square. The crowd was immense, all eyes fixed on this wounded team, returning with astonishing news.
A suppressed cry of surprise erupted from the crowd as they saw the dying Qin Yixuan being carried off the flying boat. News of the Bishui Pavilion Saint's serious injury had already spread, but witnessing it firsthand was still shocking. And when their gazes fell on Ye Li, standing tall and emaciated beside her, a complex mix of emotions—amazement, admiration, jealousy, curiosity—intertwined in countless glances.
"Welcome back Uncle Muyun (great-uncle master) and Elder Yun!" The true disciples, led by Xuan Tianzi, were the first to bow and salute.
Sect Leader Xuan Chengzi stepped forward, his gaze sweeping across the group, lingering for a moment on Qin Yixuan and Ye Li. He said in a deep voice, "Junior Brother Muyun, Elder Yun, thank you for your hard work on this journey. We have a rough idea of the details, so please proceed to Lingxiao Hall for the details."
His voice was calm, yet it carried an undeniable authority. As his gaze swept over the dejected captives, including the stone dragon whose spiritual power had been sealed, a hint of icy coldness flashed across his face.
"We will follow the master's orders." Mr. Muyun and Elder Yun returned the greeting together.
At this moment, a sharp voice suddenly rang out, filled with anxiety and anger: "Muyun! Where is my disciple Situ Kuang?! Why hasn't he returned yet?!"
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw an old man wearing a crimson Taoist robe, with a haggard face and eyes as sharp as an eagle, standing out from the crowd. It was none other than the deputy peak master of Zhan Kuang Peak and Situ Kuang's uncle—Zhenren Lieyang! Behind him were several elders from Zhan Kuang Peak, all of whom had grim expressions on their faces.
As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the square suddenly became tense. The news that Situ Kuang had colluded with Shadow Demon and attacked their own team was no longer a secret among the higher-ups, but the vast majority of the disciples were still unaware of it.
Lay Buddhist Muyun glanced coldly at Master Lieyang, his tone calm but piercing with chill, "Brother Lieyang, why are you asking questions when you already know the answer? Situ Kuang colluded with the Shadow Demon, setting an ambush in Icewind Gorge, intending to kill his fellow disciples and steal the treasures. After failing, he fled with the Shadow Demon. Shi Long and other captives can testify to this, and the presence of the Shadow Demon at the scene is also proof!"
"What? Master Situ is colluding with Shadow Demon?"
"How is this possible?!"
"No wonder Saint Qin was so badly injured!"
"You actually attacked your own people?!"
Mu Yun Jushi's words were like a huge rock dropped into a calm lake, instantly causing a huge uproar! The square immediately exploded with exclamations, questions, and angry shouts! Zhan Kuangfeng's disciples were even more pale, in disbelief.
"Nonsense!" Master Lieyang roared, his beard and hair standing on end. "Muyun! Stop slandering me! You must be coveting the opportunity Kuang'er has gained, and you've teamed up with the Bishui Pavilion to frame him! Evidence? Who knows if you tortured those captives into confessing? The aura of the Shadow Demon? How do you know it wasn't fabricated by you?"
He is determined to refuse to admit his mistake and is biting back!
"Lieyang! Facts speak louder than words!" Elder Yun couldn't help but speak sharply, her anger simmering in her heart with nowhere to vent. "If Situ Kuang hadn't colluded with the Shadow Demon, how could our Saint Maiden have suffered such a severe injury? My Bishui Pavilion will never let this matter go! I will definitely demand justice from your Xuanyun Sect!"
Seeing that the two sides were about to argue in the square, the leader Xuan Chengzi frowned, and a vast pressure instantly enveloped the entire venue, suppressing all the noise.
"Enough!" Xuan Chengzi's voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard by everyone, with unquestionable majesty. "I will make the final judgment on right and wrong! All relevant personnel, go to Lingxiao Palace immediately! The rest of you, return to your positions and refrain from making irresponsible remarks!"
After the Sect Master spoke, no one dared to make any more noise. Although Master Lieyang was unwilling to give in, he could only glare fiercely at Lay Buddhist Muyun and Ye Li, then followed them with a wave of his sleeves.
The atmosphere inside Lingxiao Hall was even more solemn than in the square. The core leaders of the Xuanyun Sect and Elder Yun of the Bishui Pavilion stood on either side. Ye Li, as a key figure, was also allowed to stand behind Lay Buddhist Muyun. Qin Yixuan was arranged to rest and recuperate in a side hall.
Monk Muyun recounted in detail everything that had happened within the Bingpo Xuan Palace ruins, including the fight for the Samsara Mirror fragments in the core hall, Qin Yixuan's awakening of his divine essence, Gao Sheng's loss of control, the appearance of the Shadow Demon Envoy, and finally, the combined attack by Situ Kuang and the Shadow Demon General in Bingfeng Gorge, and Qin Yixuan's serious injury while saving Ye Li. His words were objective, but the thrilling nature of his words still made everyone present shudder.
When they heard how Ye Li, with his Spiritual Mansion Realm cultivation, had teamed up with Qin Yixuan to repel the Shadow Demon Envoy and severely injure Gao Sheng, and finally, after Qin Yixuan was seriously injured, he had burst out with astonishing power to injure the Yuandan Realm Shadow Demon General, everyone's eyes were once again focused on Ye Li, filled with incredible shock! Even the usually calm head Xuan Chengzi had a glint in his eyes.
Afterwards, Shi Long and other captives were brought to the hall. Under the secret questioning of the headmaster, they tremblingly told the details of how Situ Kuang colluded with the Shadow Demon and how he planned the ambush, which corroborated what Master Muyun said.
The evidence is irrefutable!
The expressions of Master Lieyang and the others became extremely ugly, but they could no longer make excuses.
"How can this be outrageous! How dare Situ Kuang do such a heinous thing!" A highly respected elder slammed the table and stood up, furious.
"Colluding with the Shadow Demon and harming fellow disciples, this crime is unforgivable!"
"Those involved in the Zhan Kuangfeng case must be severely punished and the sect rules must be upheld!"
Inside the main hall, cries of condemnation echoed one after another. Situ Kuang's betrayal had touched the sect's bottom line.
However, just as everyone was getting excited, a deacon disciple hurried into the hall and reported a piece of news that was beyond everyone's expectations:
"Report to the headmaster! I just received a secret report from Zhan Kuang Peak... Peak Master Situ... He's back!"
"What?" Everyone was stunned. Situ Kuang actually dared to come back?
The disciple swallowed and continued, "But... Peak Master Situ was seriously injured and unconscious. He was found outside the mountain gate... And, according to the elder who examined him, his internal energy was chaotic. It seemed... he had suffered a backlash from an extremely powerful force, and his golden core... was showing signs of shattering!"
This news was like another heavy hammer, making the entire Lingxiao Palace quiet down instantly.
Situ Kuang was seriously injured and unconscious, his golden core on the verge of shattering? Was he injured by Master Muyun? Or... was he attacked by the Shadow Demon?
The situation suddenly became more confusing.
Everyone's gaze involuntarily turned to Ye Li once again. This young woman was not only the central figure in this incident, displaying incredible combat prowess, but now she seemed to have indirectly contributed to Situ Kuang's tragic end. The mysterious aura surrounding her became increasingly eye-catching.
It's foreseeable that with Situ Kuang's "return," whether his injury was genuine or fake, a greater storm within the Xuanyun Sect will soon erupt because of her. Ye Li stood in the center of the hall, taking in the various gazes from all directions. Her expression remained calm, except for the slightly clenched fists in her sleeves. What was meant to come would eventually come. She was fearless.
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