264: Chapter 263 A cornered dog will jump over the wall

On the Sword Discussion Platform, Han Qing's corpse lay across the center of the arena, his eyes wide open, and the corner of his mouth hooked in that eerie smile.

The letters and Jade Slips he had thrown toward the viewing gallery now lay quietly in the hands of Grand Elder Xuanjizi. Every letter and every Jade Slip was ironclad evidence of Cold Frost Master's collusion with the Ten Thousand Gu Sect and the Silver Wing Family.

A deathly silence hung over the viewing gallery of Heavenly Sword Peak.

Cold Frost Master sat at the very front, his face as pale as paper and his hands trembling slightly. Beside him, two Inner Sect Elders had ashen faces and remained silent. Behind them, the once-arrogant Disciples of Heavenly Sword Peak now lowered their heads; some looked terrified, some had shifting gazes, and some had even begun to quietly retreat.

Grand Elder Xuanjizi unfolded the letter in his hand, his aged face devoid of any expression. However, his voice, bolstered by spiritual energy, clearly reached the ears of everyone present:

"Cold Frost Master, what else do you have to say?"

Cold Frost Master's lips quivered, but he could not utter a single word.

Grand Elder Xuanjizi continued, "These letters clearly record your correspondence with Master Kurong of the Ten Thousand Gu Sect. In your capacity as an Elder of Heavenly Sword Peak, you sold the Dragon Abyss Palace's mountain-protecting array diagrams, the movements and intelligence of Inner Sect Disciples, and the Sect's secret Cultivation Techniques and records to the Ten Thousand Gu Sect. In return, the Ten Thousand Gu Sect helped you refine Sword Gu, assisted you in nurturing Han Qing, and even helped you secretly deal with Master Xue Mu of Red Fire Peak."

He paused, his gaze as sharp as a blade. "Do you, or do you not, confess?"

Cold Frost Master's face grew even paler, and his body swayed unsteadily.

But he did not confess.

He simply stood up slowly, a hideous smile appearing on his aged face.

"Confess?" His voice was raspy, like sandpaper rubbing together. "Why should I confess? Based on a few forged letters? Based on the one-sided testimony of that dead man, Han Qing?"

He raised his right hand and pointed at Han Qing's corpse in the center of the arena. "Han Qing is already dead. Dead men tell no tales. You can frame me however you want. But let me tell you, my Heavenly Sword Peak acts openly and uprightly; we will never tolerate your slander!"

"Slander?" Master Xue Mu gave a cold laugh as he stood up from the viewing gallery. "Cold Frost Master, have you forgotten that those letters include secret messages written in your own hand? Your handwriting, your personal seal, and your True Intent brand are all ironclad evidence. Did you think that by destroying Han Qing, you could destroy this evidence?"

Cold Frost Master's expression changed slightly.

Master Xue Mu continued, "Besides, do you think only Han Qing had evidence? In all those years you colluded with the Ten Thousand Gu Sect, you left behind too many traces. Li Daoyuan of the Alchemy Hall, Inner Sect Elder Liu He of Heavenly Sword Peak, and those Outer Sect deacons who ran errands for you—they have all confessed."

Cold Frost Master's pupils constricted violently.

"You..." His voice trembled. "You already..."

"Indeed," Master Xue Mu said indifferently. "From the day you instructed Li Daoyuan to tamper with the spirit essence pill's auxiliary materials, I have been investigating you. You thought you hid well, but you forgot that there is no wall in this world that does not leak wind."

Cold Frost Master's face changed completely.

A flash of madness crossed his eyes, and a terrifying surge of spiritual energy suddenly erupted from within his body. That fluctuation was not the aura a Dragon-Elephant Intersection Realm should have, but a more violent, eerie, and evil power.

It was the evil art of the Ten Thousand Gu Sect, the Soul-Devouring Blood Sacrifice.

He intended to forcibly extinguish Han Qing's remnant soul, kill Han Zhou, and then flee in front of everyone's eyes.

"Since you are forcing me, then don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Cold Frost Master bellowed and reached out toward Han Qing's corpse in the center of the arena. A black blood-light surged from his palm, transforming into a blood-red hand about ten feet wide that clawed toward Han Qing's body.

The blood hand contained the Origin power of the Soul-Devouring Blood Sacrifice. As long as it touched Han Qing's corpse, it could completely erase the remnant soul lingering within, turning the final testimony in those letters and Jade Slips into a case with no witnesses.

Simultaneously, his other hand pressed toward Han Zhou from a distance. A black blood-arrow shot out from his fingertip at extreme speed, aimed straight for Han Zhou's heart.

He wanted to kill to silence the witnesses.

He wanted to destroy all the evidence.

He wanted everyone to know that an Elder of Heavenly Sword Peak was not someone to be trifled with.

But Master Xue Mu was faster than him.

The moment Cold Frost Master moved, Master Xue Mu's figure had already vanished from his spot. A burst of crimson-gold flames erupted from the Void Realm, transforming into a ten-foot-wide wall of fire that blocked the path in front of Han Zhou.

The flames were as blazing as the sun, containing thirty percent of Master Xue Mu's Peak Pure Yang True Intent. The black blood-arrow struck the fire wall, making a sizzling sound as it was scorched, evaporated, and purified layer by layer by the flames.

After three breaths, the blood-arrow dissipated into nothingness.

At the same time, Master Qingxuan also moved from the Bibo Pool viewing gallery.

He did not stand up, but simply raised his right hand and gave a gentle push.

A water-blue light surged from his palm, transforming into a ten-foot-wide water hand that collided head-on with Cold Frost Master's blood-red hand.

The water hand and the blood hand stalled in mid-air, the water-blue light and black blood-light intertwining and emitting a piercing grinding sound. The water hand was as flexible as water, wrapping around, enveloping, and dissolving the blood hand layer by layer.

Under the entanglement of the water hand, the blood hand crumbled inch by inch, turning into specks of black light that dissipated into the air.

Cold Frost Master's face shifted drastically.

He had not expected Master Xue Mu and Master Qingxuan to act simultaneously. Even less did he expect their coordination to be so seamless—one fire and one water, one hard and one soft—perfectly neutralizing his Soul-Devouring Blood Sacrifice.

"Cold Frost Master," Master Qingxuan's voice was as calm as water, yet it contained an indescribable chill, "you used an evil art in front of the entire Sect. Do you still wish to deny it?"

Cold Frost Master's lips trembled, unable to say a word.

Beside him, the two Inner Sect Elders had stood up, but their faces were equally pale, their eyes filled with terror. They knew that Cold Frost Master was finished. Heavenly Sword Peak was finished.

What they had to consider now was not how to save Cold Frost Master, but how to save themselves.

A massive uproar broke out in the viewing gallery.

"Cold Frost Master has gone mad! He actually used an evil art in front of the entire Sect!"

"That was the Ten Thousand Gu Sect's Soul-Devouring Blood Sacrifice! He really did collude with the Ten Thousand Gu Sect!"

"Heavenly Sword Peak is finished... completely finished..."

Amidst the discussions, Grand Elder Xuanjizi slowly stood up.

His gaze fell upon Cold Frost Master, his aged face showing no expression. However, his voice carried an indescribable pressure:

"Cold Frost Master, you colluded with the Ten Thousand Gu Sect, betrayed Sect secrets, framed your fellow Disciples, and used evil arts. Your crimes are inexcusable. In the name of the Grand Elder of the Dragon Abyss Palace, I hereby strip you of your position as an Elder of Heavenly Sword Peak. You are to be apprehended immediately and thrown into the Sky Prison to await your sentence."

As his words fell, he raised his hand and pressed it toward the Void Realm.

A golden light surged from his palm, transforming into a ten-foot-wide golden hand that clawed toward Cold Frost Master. That golden hand contained the pressure of Xuanjizi's century of cultivation and the power of the Peak Dragon-Elephant Intersection Realm, pressing down so hard that the entire Sword Discussion Platform trembled.

Cold Frost Master's face was as pale as paper, and his body swayed.

He wanted to flee, but he could not. Xuanjizi's golden hand blocked all his paths of retreat; no matter which direction he ran, he would be caught by that hand.

He gritted his teeth, and the remaining power in his body erupted in full force as he tried to resist.

But the golden light was too strong.

So strong that he simply could not resist.

The moment the golden hand landed on him, the Meridians, Dantian, and Sea of Consciousness within his body were all suppressed by an indescribable power. His cultivation was sealed, his blood and Qi were locked, and his Divine Soul was forbidden.

He collapsed to the ground, unable to move.

"Take him," Xuanjizi said indifferently.

Two Inner Sect Elders from Tianji Peak flew out from the viewing gallery, flanking Cold Frost Master and hoisting him up to escort him toward the Sky Prison.

As Cold Frost Master was dragged away, his aged eyes were full of madness and resentment. He struggled and roared, trying to say something, but only raspy whimpers came from his throat.

Behind him, a deathly silence filled the Heavenly Sword Peak viewing gallery.

Those once-arrogant Heavenly Sword Peak Disciples now lowered their heads; some looked terrified, some had shifting gazes, and some had even begun to quietly retreat.

They knew that Heavenly Sword Peak was finished.

From this day forward, Heavenly Sword Peak's status in the Dragon Abyss Palace would plummet.

But what they did not expect was that the matter was far from over.

Grand Elder Xuanjizi turned around, his gaze sweeping across the Heavenly Sword Peak viewing gallery, his voice calm but unquestionable:

"Disciples of Heavenly Sword Peak, hear my command."

The Disciples of Heavenly Sword Peak all raised their heads to look at Xuanjizi, their eyes filled with fear.

"Cold Frost Master colluded with the Ten Thousand Gu Sect and the Silver Wing Family, betrayed Sect secrets, framed fellow Disciples, and used evil arts. His crimes are inexcusable. Among you, those who participated in his conspiracy, those who did work for him, and those who knew but did not report—step forward now, and this Grand Elder may show leniency."

His voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached the ears of every Heavenly Sword Peak Disciple present.

"If you wait for the Sect to investigate and find out, your punishment will be doubled."

The entire area fell into a dead silence.

That silence lasted for five full breaths, and then—

An Inner Sect Disciple of Heavenly Sword Peak stood up, his face pale and his body trembling slightly.

"Grand Elder," his voice was raspy, "I... I delivered letters for Cold Frost Master... to people from the Ten Thousand Gu Sect... but I was forced... I didn't know it was the Ten Thousand Gu Sect..."

As soon as his words fell, another Heavenly Sword Peak Disciple stood up.

"Grand Elder, I... I tracked Elder Xue Mu's movements for Cold Frost Master... He said he just wanted to teach the people of Red Fire Peak a lesson... I didn't know he was colluding with the Ten Thousand Gu Sect..."

"Grand Elder, I... I helped Cold Frost Master buy medicinal materials... from the black market in Flying Fish City... I didn't know those materials were used to tamper with things..."

"Grand Elder, I..."

One, two, three.

More and more Heavenly Sword Peak Disciples stood up to testify against Cold Frost Master's misdeeds and confess the dealings they had participated in. Some wept bitterly, some were pale-faced, and some were trembling all over.

Liu He, an Inner Sect Elder of Heavenly Sword Peak, also slowly stood up at this moment.

His face was calm, showing no emotion. However, his voice carried an indescribable weight:

"Grand Elder, I have been aware of Cold Frost Master's dealings with the Ten Thousand Gu Sect for all these years. I did not stop him, nor did I report it. Because I am a man of Heavenly Sword Peak, I could not betray Cold Frost Master."

He paused and said word by word, "But I am willing to confess all the truths I know."

Xuanjizi looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then nodded. "Very well."

Liu He was taken away by two Elders of Tianji Peak to the Sky Prison for interrogation.

Wailing filled the Heavenly Sword Peak viewing gallery.

Those once-lofty Heavenly Sword Peak Disciples were now like stray dogs; some cried, some begged for mercy, and some collapsed to the ground.

They knew that from this day forward, Heavenly Sword Peak's status in the Dragon Abyss Palace would cease to exist.

Just then, a majestic voice came from above the Sword Discussion Platform:

"Enough."

The voice was not loud, yet it carried an indescribable pressure. It was the voice of the Palace Master of the Dragon Abyss Palace.

Everyone's gaze turned toward the space above the Sword Discussion Platform.

There, a golden figure slowly emerged.

It was a middle-aged man with a lean face and eyes like lightning, his entire body surrounded by a faint golden glow. He wore a golden dragon robe and a purple-gold crown, with a completely golden longsword hanging at his waist.

The Palace Master of the Dragon Abyss Palace, Palace Master Longyuan.

He stood in the Void Realm with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping across the entire field before finally landing on the Heavenly Sword Peak viewing gallery.

"Cold Frost Master colluded with external enemies and framed his fellow Disciples. His crimes are inexcusable. He is to be thrown into the Sky Prison to await his sentence." His voice was calm yet carried an unquestionable authority. "Inner Sect Elder Liu He of Heavenly Sword Peak knew but did not report; he is stripped of his position as Elder and thrown into the Sky Prison to await his sentence."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the Heavenly Sword Peak Disciples who had stood up to testify. "As for the other Disciples, those who proactively confessed will be treated with leniency; those who concealed the truth will be expelled from the Sect once discovered."

As his voice faded, the entire area fell into silence.

The Disciples of Heavenly Sword Peak all knelt on the ground, bowing their heads in gratitude.

Palace Master Longyuan's gaze turned toward the Red Fire Peak viewing gallery and fell upon Master Xue Mu.

"Junior Brother Xue," his voice softened slightly, "you have been wronged these past years."

Master Xue Mu stood up and cupped his hands in a respectful salute. "The Palace Master overstates it. Protecting the Sect is a Disciple's duty."

Palace Master Longyuan nodded and turned his gaze toward Han Zhou.

The youth stood in the Red Fire Peak viewing gallery, the tiger soul saber hanging at his waist, his expression as usual. His body was covered in wounds, his aura was weak, and his face was pale. But his eyes were as bright as the stars in the sky.

"Han Zhou," Palace Master Longyuan spoke, his voice calm.

Han Zhou knelt on one knee. "Disciple is here."

"You have been in the Sect for less than a year, yet with your Early Stage Dragon Fetus Realm cultivation, you defeated Han Qing and exposed Cold Frost Master's conspiracy, performing a great service for the Sect." A hint of gratification appeared in Palace Master Longyuan's voice. "From this day forward, you are promoted to a Core Disciple of the Dragon Abyss Palace, entitled to Core Disciple treatment. Furthermore, you are granted ten thousand Spirit Stones, one Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique, and one spirit weapon."

Han Zhou bowed his head. "Thank you, Palace Master."

Palace Master Longyuan nodded and swept his gaze over the entire assembly. "The Sword Discussion Assembly concludes here. Disciples of each Peak, return to your positions. The Sect will investigate the matter of Heavenly Sword Peak to the very end."

As his words fell, his figure slowly dissipated into the Void Realm.

On the Sword Discussion Platform, the crowd gradually dispersed.

At the Red Fire Peak viewing gallery, Master Xue Mu walked over to Han Zhou and patted his shoulder.

"You brat," his voice was a bit raspy, "well done."

Han Zhou stood up, looked at Master Xue Mu, and smiled slightly. "Master, this Disciple did not shame you."

Master Xue Mu laughed, a smile filled with gratification, pride, and an indescribable sense of relief.

"No," he murmured, "you are far stronger than I anticipated."

Behind him, Zhou Lie and Liu Ningshuang also walked over.

Zhou Lie's eyes were red as he punched Han Zhou's shoulder. "Junior Brother Jiang, you're too fierce! I've never f*cking respected anyone in my life, but I respect you!"

Liu Ningshuang did not speak, but simply looked at Han Zhou, an indescribable light flashing in her cold eyes.

It was gratification, pride, and a hint of an indescribable... sentiment.

At the Bibo Pool viewing gallery, Master Qingxuan stood up and looked at Teng Yuzhi.

"Let's go," he said indifferently. "It is time to return."

Teng Yuzhi nodded, but her gaze lingered on Han Zhou for a long time.

Then, she turned around and followed Master Qingxuan away.

At the Tianji Peak viewing gallery, Grand Elder Xuanjizi stood with his hands behind his back, watching Han Zhou's retreating figure in silence for a long time.

Then, he slowly spoke, his voice so low that only he could hear:

"This boy's future is truly limitless."

He turned and strode away.