174: Chapter 174: Head-on Confrontation with a Nascent Soul Expert

Grand Ancestor Tie Wuji and the other two stiffened.

They originally wanted to give Xiao Yuan a harsh start and incidentally probe for the whereabouts of the dan bell.

If this brat happened to be a pushover, being coerced by people like them might scare him into spilling everything!

They never expected these women to be so tough, directly confronting them head-on!

Were they really going to fight?

The three of them at the Early Nascent Soul stage could indeed win.

But what about afterwards?

Would the Late Nascent Soul Old Ancestor of Sect Master Peak sit by and do nothing?

Would the Middle Stage Peak Nascent Soul Old Ancestor of Shui Peak stand by with folded arms?

Unlike the few of them, these women genuinely wanted to restore the glory of Jade Maiden Palace!

They took the revitalization of the Sect as their own responsibility!

As for them, they only cared about their own cultivation and their own benefits!

Grand Ancestor Tie Wuji gritted his teeth, suppressed his anger, and sneered, "Since Peak Master Yun Ruowei has put it that way, this Old Ancestor will pardon this brat's offense."

That tone was high and mighty, as if he were bestowing charity.

Listening to this, Xiao Yuan felt utterly sick to his stomach.

But even more sickening things were yet to come.

Grand Ancestor Tie Wuji changed the subject and calmly said, "However, in order to clarify the whereabouts of the Sect's dan bell, this Old Ancestor thinks... it would be best to perform soul-searching on this brat."

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of everyone present changed drastically!

Peak Master Yun Ruowei's pupils shrank sharply, and her expression instantly turned ashen!

Soul-searching?!

No matter how brilliant the soul-searching technique was, the Divine Soul of the person being searched would be damaged!

At best, it would cause memory confusion; at worst, the Divine Soul would collapse, turning them into an idiot!

This was demanding Xiao Yuan's life!

They clearly suspected that the dan bell was on Xiao Yuan. Even if the dan bell wasn't on him, killing Xiao Yuan this way would still be considered payback for his discourtesy toward them just now!

Such pettiness truly made the women of Dan Peak angry and ashamed!

Yun Qingwan trembled with rage: "Soul-searching? Is this Old Ancestor trying to take my Disciple's life!"

Leng Youyue sternly said: "After soul-searching, the Divine Soul will inevitably be damaged! You are settling a personal score under the guise of public business!"

Lin Zhirou was even more direct: "Want to search his soul? Get past me first!"

Liu Yunyan and the other two women also rebuked angrily. The eyes of all seven women turned red, like seven mother leopards protecting their cubs.

Grand Ancestor Tie Wuji remained unmoved and calmly said: "This Old Ancestor is only speaking based on the facts. The dan bell concerns the Sect's Legacy and must be thoroughly investigated. If the dan bell is not on him, this Old Ancestor will naturally compensate him after the soul-searching."

Grand Ancestor Zhou Yanzhen stroked his beard and nodded in agreement: "Brother Tie makes sense. For the sake of the Sect's righteousness, sacrificing an individual a little is also worth it."

Saying this, his tone shifted, carrying a bit of playfulness, ridicule, and a trace of banter.

"You are unwilling to let us perform soul-searching. Could it be... that you want to collude to conceal the whereabouts of the dan bell, desire to monopolize the dan bell Legacy, or want to betray the Sect?!"

Grand Ancestor Liu Xuanyin also gave a playful smile: "Peak Master Yun Ruowei, you all better think this through! The dan bell Legacy belongs to the Sect. Hiding it like this will inevitably make people think you have ulterior motives! Even if... Senior Sister comes, we haven't said anything wrong in this matter..."

The three of them sang in harmony with tacit understanding, looking at Xiao Yuan with a gaze carrying a hint of malice and mockery.

Regardless of whether the dan bell was truly on Xiao Yuan, just because of his indifferent attitude earlier, they would never let him off easily!

Peak Master Yun Ruowei shook with anger and sternly said: "Soul-searching? This Old Ancestor wants my Dan Peak Disciple's life! Since the dan bell is not on Xiao Yuan, why insist on searching his soul? You are settling personal scores under the guise of public business!"

How could she fail to hear that these people, besides coveting the dan bell, now wanted Xiao Yuan's life even more. They kept claiming it was for the Sect, but what they truly cared about was probably themselves!

What was even more infuriating was that these three actually used the Sect's righteousness, and even slapped them with the crime of betraying the Sect, forcing them to hand over the dan bell!

Grand Ancestor Tie Wuji's expression sank: "Peak Master Yun Ruowei, mind your words!"

"What's wrong with my words?" Peak Master Yun Ruowei refused to yield an inch. "When the three Old Ancestors came today, you kept claiming it was for the Sect's righteousness, but which of your actions was not for your own selfish motives? First coercion and oppression, and now soul-searching... Have you ever brought out even half an ounce of evidence to prove that the dan bell is on Xiao Yuan?"

She stared at the three of them, saying word by word: "If you cannot produce evidence, then it is a trumped-up charge! Even if this Seat stakes her life here today, she will never let you touch a single hair on him!"

The seven women neatly blocked in front of Xiao Yuan, their Aura resolute.

In the main hall, the atmosphere was taut with tension.

Xiao Yuan stood behind the seven women, looking at their slender yet firm backs, his eyes growing hot.

He took a deep breath and was about to speak...

At this moment, he only hated that his cultivation was too weak; otherwise, the Peak Revered Master, Revered Master, and five Junior Martial Uncles, as well as himself, would not have to suffer such humiliation.

He was already prepared to go all out. If it really came to it, he would expose that the dan bell was on him, and then use the Blood Spirit Escape to flee. He would directly betray the Sect!

For a Sect where Old Ancestors all schemed against each other and were selfish, there was truly no need to stay!

Right at this moment...

"Enough."

A clear and resonant voice came from outside the main hall.

The voice was not loud, but it was like an oriole singing in a valley, crisp and melodious.

However, the majesty leaking from it made the hearts of everyone present shrink violently!

Especially the three Nascent Soul Old Ancestors; the moment this voice sounded, their expressions changed drastically!

A terrifying Aura pressed down like a collapsing sky, causing the three of them to tremble slightly and almost kneel on the spot!

Everyone's gazes turned uniformly toward the entrance of the main hall.

Two figures, one after the other, walked in leisurely.

The one walking in front wore snow-white clothes like snow, with hair like a waterfall, eyebrows and eyes like a painting, and a cold, ethereal temperament.

Standing there, she seemed not to be in the mortal world, but standing above the Nine Heavens.

The most eye-catching feature was those eyes... clear as autumn water, yet bottomless, as if they could see through people's hearts at a single glance.

Late Nascent Soul stage!

Sect Master Peak Old Ancestor — Shen Qinghe!

The one behind her was seven or eight parts similar to her, also possessing a peerless appearance, but her temperament was gentler and softer, with a touch of worldly warmth between her brows that made people want to draw close.

Yet the spiritual power fluctuations faintly circulating around her body demonstrated that she was likewise an untouchable existence.

Middle Stage Peak Nascent Soul!

Shui Peak Old Ancestor — Shen Qinglian!

Standing together, the two of them were like twin lotus flowers—one cold and noble, the other gentle and delightful.

Their beauty was on par with the seven women of Dan Peak, but that noble temperament and expert demeanor refined through years of passage were far beyond what the seven women could compare to.

Xiao Yuan didn't know them, but just looking at this Aura, he knew their background was frighteningly huge.

When Peak Master Yun Ruowei saw clearly who had come, she was stunned for a moment, then quickly bowed and saluted: "Old Ancestor Qinghe! Patriarch Qinglian!"

Yun Qingwan and the other six women also saluted one after another, but their hearts were filled with terror.

It was over.

They hadn't even finished dealing with the three Nascent Soul cultivators, and two even stronger ones had arrived!

With Old Ancestor Qinghe and Patriarch Qinglian stepping out in person, were they also coming for the dan bell?

A wave of despair surged in the hearts of the seven women.

If these people also wanted to act against Xiao Yuan, then even if they risked their lives, they wouldn't be able to protect him.

These two could be considered the true representatives of Jade Maiden Palace, and their will was equivalent to the will of the entire Jade Maiden Palace Sect!