As dawn broke, its light fell upon the eaves and brackets of Taiqing Palace. Inside, the melodious sounds of bells and chimes filled the air, and the Buddhist ceremony was solemn and dignified.
Liu Feng and Yu Jingya arrived at Taiqing Palace together. They found seats in the back row and quietly sat down, listening attentively to the sermon given by the person on the stage.
Yu Jingya turned her jade-like face slightly and said softly to Liu Feng, "Today's lecture seems to be more profound than yesterday's."
Liu Feng nodded slightly and said softly, "If you have gained some insight, that's a good thing."
The Dharma assembly was only halfway through.
Suddenly, a disciple of the Laoshan Sect rushed into the main hall in a panic, shouting, "Something terrible has happened! Someone has stolen the Laoshan Sect's most treasured artifact, the 'Cloud Sea Pearl'!"
This urgent shout was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples.
The entire audience erupted in an uproar.
The solemn and dignified ceremony was abruptly interrupted, and everyone's eyes turned to the disciple. Immediately, it was like a pot had been boiled over, with discussions rising and falling.
"The Cloud Sea Pearl has been stolen? That's the most prized treasure of the Laoshan Sect!"
"Who on earth is this person who dares to be so audacious?"
Many Taoists and cultivators in Taiqing Palace were discussing the matter animatedly, and even the experts on the high platform frowned and looked solemn.
Mo Shengjie, who was sitting in the front row, suddenly stood up, raised his eyebrows, and shouted angrily in a deep voice: "Who is so bold as to steal the treasure of my Laoshan Sect?"
The disciple pointed angrily at Liu Feng and shouted, "It was him! Last night I saw him sneaking into the Treasure Pavilion and stealing the Cloud Sea Pearl!"
This accusation instantly plunged the atmosphere in the hall to freezing point, making it incredibly tense and oppressive.
All eyes turned to Liu Feng, as if trying to see right through him.
Those cultivators who originally had a favorable impression of Liu Feng now looked either surprised and uncertain or filled with anger.
Fan Yao from the Astronomical Observatory frowned, her gaze towards Liu Feng filled with disappointment and doubt. She had initially held Liu Feng in high regard, but now she couldn't help but begin to question his character.
Sun Yi shook his head slightly and whispered to his companion beside him, "This matter is suspicious. Liu Feng doesn't seem like the kind of person who would do such a thing."
The Long siblings, Long Yunhan and Long Yuhan, exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment. They turned to Tong Miao and asked in a low voice, "Master, what should we do about this?"
Tong Miao smiled slightly and said calmly, "Don't be impatient, Junior Uncle knows what to do."
Everyone stared intently at Liu Feng, awaiting his response.
Liu Feng slowly stood up. Facing the overwhelming doubts and anger, his voice remained unusually calm: "I have never stepped into the Treasure Pavilion, nor have I ever seen any Cloud Sea Pearl. How can you convict me based solely on your fabricated claims?"
"Yeah?"
Just then, several more disciples of the Laoshan School marched into the main hall in neat formation.
The leader held a brocade box steadily in both hands, his expression cold and a mocking sneer on his lips: "Liu Feng, this is the evidence we found in your room just now. We have both witnesses and physical evidence. Do you still want to deny it?"
After saying that, he opened the brocade box, and there lay a round, translucent bead, surrounded by a misty haze, lying quietly inside.
The appearance of this bead caused another uproar among the crowd.
"They actually found it in his room?" The exclamation was tinged with disbelief.
"With such irrefutable evidence, how can he possibly argue back?" Some cultivators already showed indignation and harbored a growing hostility towards Liu Feng.
Mo Shengjie seized the opportunity to step forward, a smile flashing in his eyes, but he feigned a pained expression, shaking his head and sighing, "Brother Liu, I thought you were an upright and honest person, but I never expected you to do such a despicable thing! If you don't give everyone an explanation today, I'm afraid it will be difficult to convince the public!"
Then, he turned his head slightly to look at Yu Jingya, his eyes filled with regret: "Fairy Yu, such a beautiful woman, yet you fail to recognize her true character. What a pity, what a pity."
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