314: Chapter 314 Betrayal?

"Good! Xiao Jie, this is your Opportunity! Consolidate your Realm well and familiarize yourself with your newfound power." Ye Tian patted Hou Xiaojie's shoulder with gratification.

"Thank you, Senior Brother! Without you, I..." Hou Xiaojie's eyes reddened again.

"We are brothers; there's no need for such words." Ye Tian waved his hand, his heart also filled with emotion.

This trip to the Land of Flowing Fire, though fraught with life-and-death dangers, had yielded immense rewards.

The Dragon Ape's injuries were fully healed and its cultivation had improved; Hou Xiaojie had undergone a complete transformation and stepped into the True Martial Realm; and Ye Tian himself had broken through to the True Martial Tenth Level, his strength increasing greatly.

He walked to the cave entrance and looked out past the Silent Hills. That direction led away from the Land of Flowing Fire and... back to the Liuli Xuan Sect.

It was time to return.

Though he had only left the Sect for a few months, he had experienced life and death; it felt like a lifetime ago.

Now that his cultivation had reached the True Martial Tenth Level, his combat power was enough to slay those in the Huahai Realm, making him comparable to the top True Disciples in the Sect!

It was time to go back, settle some old scores, and see how his Revered Master and fellow Disciples were doing.

And Su Wan...

He wondered how her progress in Alchemy under Elder Xie was going.

"Little Dragon, Xiao Jie, pack up. We're preparing to... return to the Sect." Ye Tian turned and spoke to the ape and the person inside the cave.

"Return to the Sect?" A flash of thought crossed the Dragon Ape's eyes. It didn't have much of a concept of the Liuli Xuan Sect, but wherever its Revered Master went, it would follow.

"Senior Brother, are we going back to the Sect?"

Hou Xiaojie's eyes lit up. After being out for so long and experiencing so many dangers, he truly wanted to return to the Sect.

The three took a brief rest. Ye Tian inventoried and distributed the resources obtained from Yin Li, Du Ya, and the others. He then carefully studied the map and planned a relatively hidden return route that could avoid major towns and the Wanren Sword Pavilion's sphere of influence.

Early the next morning, three figures quietly left the volcanic cave they had been sheltering in.

As usual, the Dragon Ape shrank its size and perched on Ye Tian's shoulder. Its pale golden fur shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight, looking extraordinarily majestic.

They looked back one last time at the crimson Land of Flowing Fire behind them, then turned and sped off toward the Liuli Xuan Sect.

Not long after they left, several figures with terrifying auras descended upon the shores of the Sulfurous Poison Heart Lake.

The leader, his black robes billowing and his face cold, was the Pavilion Revered Master of the Wanren Sword Pavilion, Ling Juexiao!

He looked at a fragment of an extinguished Soul Lamp in his hand (belonging to Yin Li), then gazed at the still-churning surface of the poisonous sludge lake. His face was so gloomy it looked like it could drip water.

"Pass down the order: Ye Tian and his accomplices have left the Land of Flowing Fire and are suspected to be fleeing toward the northeast. Notify all branch halls and vassal forces along the way to maintain strict surveillance!

Anyone who can provide his exact whereabouts or assist this Pavilion in capturing and killing this brat will be rewarded with a Medium Grade Earth Rank Cultivation Technique or a treasure of the same rank, and can become an Honorary Elder of the Sword Pavilion! Anyone who harbors him or knows and fails to report will have their nine generations executed!"

On the outskirts of the Qinglan Mountain Range, the continuous verdant hills were shrouded in mist, and Spiritual Qi was abundant.

Nine days had passed since they left the scorching Land of Flowing Fire. Ye Tian, with Hou Xiaojie and the Dragon Ape, finally caught sight of the Liuli Xuan Sect's majestic White Jade Mountain Gate once again.

The sunset's afterglow fell upon the four large characters for 'Liuli Xuan Sect,' where Sword Intent faintly lingered. Everything was familiar, yet carried a hint of long-lost estrangement.

The closer they got, the more Ye Tian's emotions surged.

Having left the Sect for months and experienced life and death, he was returning now with a cultivation of the True Martial Tenth Level and combat power comparable to the Huahai Realm.

However, just as they stepped onto the final stretch of the Cloud-Ascending Long Stairs leading to the mountain gate, while still a hundred zhang away...

Buzz!

The brilliance of several warning and trapping formations that had been laid in ambush suddenly lit up. A pale green light shield instantly enveloped the three of them.

Figures flickered above the long stairs and in the mountain forests on both sides. Dozens of Outer Sect Disciples and inner Disciples, led by deacons from the Law Enforcement Hall, quickly appeared and formed a formation to surround them.

These Disciples looked nervous and suspicious. Their gazes toward Ye Tian were complex, and many even showed hostility in their eyes.

The three leaders caused Ye Tian's gaze to turn cold instantly.

In the center was the Vice Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall, Yan Song. He had a burly build, a square face, and sharp eyes, being at the First Stage of the Sea Transformation Realm.

To the left was Gao Ling. His face was still handsome, but the gloom between his brows was even more pronounced. A smirk of satisfaction played on his lips, and his aura had reached the True Martial Fifth Stage, a significant improvement.

To the right was Zhao Yan, staring at Ye Tian with equally unfriendly eyes. His aura was at the True Martial Fourth Stage, and he looked like he was waiting to watch a good show.

"Ye Tian!" Yan Song's voice carried the authority unique to the Law Enforcement Hall. "You left the Sect without permission for months, and your whereabouts have been a mystery. Now that you have returned, by the decree of the Sect Head and the Council of Elders, you must be taken into custody immediately and brought to the Law Enforcement Hall for investigation!

Drop your weapons at once, disperse your True Yuan, and surrender! If you dare to resist, you will be treated as a traitor to the Sect!"

Leaving the Sect without permission? Investigation?

Ye Tian's brows furrowed tightly, and clouds of suspicion rose in his heart.

Although he hadn't left the Sect with great fanfare, it wasn't a secret either. How could it be "without permission"? Furthermore, why such a display of force?

"Vice Hall Revered Master Yan," Ye Tian suppressed his doubts and cupped his hands. "I, Disciple Ye Tian, went out for experience under my Revered Master's orders and have only returned today.

I do not know which Sect rule I have violated to warrant Vice Hall Revered Master Yan and my fellow Disciples setting an ambush here. Please clarify."

"Clarify?" Gao Ling spoke first, his voice sharp and provocative. "Ye Tian, are you still playing dumb even now?

After you left the Sect, aren't you aware of how many 'good deeds' you did in the Northern Region?

Pavilion Master Ling Juexiao of the Wanren Sword Pavilion personally sent an official letter accusing you of slaughtering the innocent, snatching precious treasures, and even colluding with the remnant souls of the Demonic Path to Cultivate evil techniques, causing your cultivation to skyrocket! You have already fallen into the Demonic Path!

The evidence in the letter is detailed and has been presented to the Sect Head and the Elders! Do you still dare to quibble?"

Zhao Yan added sinisterly, "That's right! Committing murder in public at Lijian Villa, attacking fellow cultivators in the Land of Flowing Fire... your hands are covered in blood, and your demonic nature is deep! Returning to the Sect now, you must surely be up to no good!"

As their words fell, the surrounding Disciples immediately broke into an uproar!

"Fallen into the Demonic Path? Killed people from the Wanren Sword Pavilion?"

"No wonder he was missing for months; his aura is so terrifying now that he's back..."

"Pavilion Master Ling Juexiao personally sent the letter, so it must be true, right?"

"How terrifying. I really couldn't tell before..."

"A demonic person—everyone has the right to punish them!"

Discussions erupted everywhere, and gazes of suspicion, disdain, and fear shot toward Ye Tian like sharp arrows.

Only a few Disciples who were familiar with Ye Tian or had clear minds showed doubt and did not join in the chorus.

Ye Tian's heart sank as he understood instantly.

Ling Juexiao!

What a clever move to kill with a borrowed knife!

He had actually sent an official letter that distorted the truth to the Sect, pinning the label of "falling into the Demonic Path" on him. This was to make it impossible for him to stay in the Sect!

"Gao Ling! Zhao Yan! Stop your slander!"

Ye Tian's gaze was ice-cold as he swept it over the two of them. The coldness in his eyes made the two, who were only at the fourth and fifth stages of the True Martial Realm, tremble and instinctively step back. "Ling Juexiao's hatred for me is as deep as the sea; how can his words be trusted?

Those I killed were all people who wanted my life or helped a tyrant! Where is the indiscriminate slaughter? As for demonic evil techniques, that is even more nonsensical!"

"Whether it is nonsensical or not cannot be decided by your words alone!" Yan Song stepped forward, his Sea Transformation Realm pressure intensifying. "Pavilion Master Ling's letter lists your crimes, and many fellow cultivators have testified.

When you left the Sect, your cultivation was no more than the True Martial Sixth Stage, and now... hmm?" He carefully sensed Ye Tian's aura, and his expression changed slightly. He actually couldn't quite see through it, but it was clearly far beyond the ordinary True Martial Realm!

"How do you explain such an eerie progression if not for an evil technique? Martial Nephew Ye, if you have no ghosts in your heart, then follow me to the Law Enforcement Hall. Right and wrong will be judged fairly! To resist is to have a guilty conscience!"

Fury churned in Ye Tian's chest, yet he felt powerless.

The other party had come prepared with forged "evidence" and might have even bribed certain people.

If he resisted forcefully now, it would confirm the charges and also involve Hou Xiaojie and the Dragon Ape.

But if he went in, under the manipulation of those with hidden agendas, his innocence would be hard to maintain.

"Senior Brother is not wrong! Those we killed were all bad people!" Hou Xiaojie couldn't help but shout, his small face flushed red.

"Roar!" On Ye Tian's shoulder, the Dragon Ape let out a warning low growl. Its golden eyes swept around coldly, and the pressure of a Sea Transformation Realm beast spread out, causing the surrounding Disciples to turn pale with horror and retreat repeatedly.

This inconspicuous little monkey was actually a Sea Transformation beast?

"A Vicious Beast?!" Yan Song's eyes narrowed, his suspicion growing. "As expected, you are in league with a fierce Yao Beast! Take them all down!"

The atmosphere instantly became tense, with swords drawn and bows bent.

"Stop!"

"Vice Hall Revered Master Yan, wait!"

Several shouts came from within the mountain gate. Multiple figures sped toward them.