319: Chapter 319 Verifying Strength

"Ye Tian, have you ever cultivated a Demonic Technique that devours essence blood or plunders the Origin of others?"

"I have not."

"Your cultivation has skyrocketed; did you rely on evil methods or external forces, overdrawing your potential and Foundation?"

"No. It was gained through life-and-death struggles, epiphanies in desperate situations, and the refining of natural spiritual treasures. My Foundation is solid."

"The mixed powers and ancient, scorching resonance within you—do they originate from a demonic Legacy or possession by an evil soul?"

"They do not. They were acquired through various fortuitous encounters and environmental influences. I have already refined and mastered them; they are harmless to me."

"Was your killing of Yin Li done in self-defense?"

"Yes."

"Have you ever indiscriminately killed the Disciples of the Fellow Daoists mentioned in the accusations?"

"I have not."

...

The questions and answers were concise and clear. The clear light of the mind-clearing mirror remained steady, its surface crystalline, reflecting Ye Tian's calm and composed face without the slightest anomaly.

As the final question was answered, the clear light of the mind-clearing mirror gradually receded, returning to its ancient and simple appearance.

Xing Tiexin raised his eyes to look at Perfected Qingxu upon the high platform, cupped his hands, and said, "Reporting to the Sect Head, the mind-clearing mirror's investigation is complete. Ye Tian's mind is stable, his words match his thoughts, and the mirror's light gave no warning.

The Heart-Questioning trial is passed."

"An uproar!"

An uproar immediately broke out among the spectators. The mind-clearing mirror was an ancient treasure passed down through the Sect, and its power of discernment rarely erred.

This result undoubtedly cleared Ye Tian of the suspicions of "cultivating Demonic Techniques" and "falling into a demonic state of mind" to a great extent!

The gazes of many Disciples who had originally been skeptical immediately changed as they looked at Ye Tian.

On the high platform, Perfected Qingxu nodded slightly. Several Grand Elders also exchanged glances.

Ling Juexiao's expression remained unchanged as he kept his eyes closed, having long anticipated this. Only the coldness at the corners of his mouth deepened slightly.

He hadn't expected to secure a conviction directly through the Heart-Questioning mirror anyway; this trial was merely a setup for the subsequent challenges and a way to further pressure Ye Tian.

"The Heart-Questioning trial is over." Xing Tiexin turned to Ye Tian, his voice still icy. "Next are the three challenges. The challengers will be nominated by the accusing party and approved by me.

The three challenges are intended to verify whether your own strength and Foundation match your claims of 'life-and-death struggles' and a 'solid Foundation'.

During the challenges, you may use weapons, spiritual pets, Talismans, and all other conventional means. However, the use of consumable forbidden tools, poisons, or other insidious items is strictly prohibited, nor are you allowed to intentionally take a life.

Now, will the accusing party please name the first challenger."

As he finished speaking, everyone's eyes turned toward Ling Juexiao in the guest seating area.

Ling Juexiao slowly opened his eyes. His gaze, sharp as a sword, swept over Ye Tian in the center of the Sword Testing Platform and glanced at Gao Ling in the waiting area. He spoke indifferently, "For the first match, my attendant for this trip, Wanren Sword Pavilion Inner Sect Disciple Xiao Chen, will exchange a few Moves with young friend Ye to test his 'solid Foundation'."

An attendant? An Inner Sect Disciple? Everyone was stunned; they hadn't expected Ling Juexiao to send a Disciple from his own Wanren Sword Pavilion for the first match! While somewhat unexpected, it was reasonable since he was the accuser.

Behind Ling Juexiao, a cold-faced young man carrying a long sword on his back, who had been standing silently in Wanren Sword Pavilion inner Sect robes, stepped forward toward the Sword Testing Platform.

His aura was heavy and concentrated—he was actually at the Peak of the True Martial Ninth Stage!

"It's Xiao Chen! One of the top twenty experts among the Wanren Sword Pavilion's inner Sect!"

"I heard his sword techniques are ruthless and he specializes in rapid attacks. He has even challenged those at higher levels than himself!"

"Ling Juexiao certainly has no good intentions. He wants to give Ye Tian a show of force right from the start!"

Xiao Chen stopped ten zhang away from Ye Tian, cupped his fists, and said in a cold, hard voice, "Xiao Chen of the Wanren Sword Pavilion. I ask for Fellow Daoist Ye's guidance." His words were polite enough, but the hostility in his eyes was unconcealed.

Ye Tian returned the gesture. "Ye Tian of the Liuli Xuan Sect. Please."

Elder Xing Tiexin waved his hand to deploy a pale golden protective barrier, covering a hundred-zhang radius in the center of the Sword Testing Platform to prevent the shockwaves of the battle from harming the spectators.

"The challenge begins!"

"Clang!"

Almost the instant Xing Tiexin finished speaking, the long sword on Xiao Chen's back unsheathed, turning into a cold light. Man and sword as one, he lunged straight at Ye Tian!

The sword speed was incredibly fast and the momentum sharp; he wanted to use speed against speed to seize the initiative!

Ye Tian's eyes narrowed slightly. A sword glow flickered from his finger as he tapped the side of the incoming sword tip!

Xiao Chen's sword veered slightly, stabbing into thin air.

Taking advantage of this opening, Ye Tian closed in on Xiao Chen's left side. Lightning flickered on his left hand as he struck a palm toward Xiao Chen's ribs!

Xiao Chen's reaction was not slow either. With a sharp cry, his long sword swirled, and the sword light turned into a screen of light to protect his side as he rapidly retreated.

"Bang!"

Xiao Chen let out a muffled groan as the sword light dissipated. He retreated several steps, the blood and Qi in his ribs churning, and his protective true essence fluctuating violently.

He was horrified; the power of thunder contained in the opponent's palm strike was so overbearing that even a seemingly casual blow was this terrifying.

"Good!"

"Beautiful!"

The Disciples supporting Ye Tian couldn't help but cheer. In just one exchange, Ye Tian had not only easily neutralized the opponent's aggressive attack but had also forced him back, gaining the upper hand.

"Hmph, he has some skill." In the spectator area, Han Li's fingers paused slightly, his eyes cold.

Ling Juexiao still kept his eyes closed, seemingly unconcerned about this battle.

On the platform, Xiao Chen's face flushed red with a mixture of shame and anger. He had intended to defeat Ye Tian in one go to show off in front of the Pavilion Master, but he hadn't expected to be forced back instead.

"Take another sword strike from me!"

Xiao Chen roared, frantically pouring true essence into his long sword. The blade glowed with intense green light, instantly splitting into a rotating lotus of death that ground toward Ye Tian.

Ye Tian had fought the Wanren Sword Pavilion several times and was already intimately familiar with their Moves. Facing this familiar technique now, his calm face showed no emotion.

He changed his hand gesture, turning his fingers into a palm. In his palm, lightning blazed as he pushed it forward.

Purple-silver lightning swept forward like a fan-shaped wave, crushing the lotus of death and striking the caught-off-guard Xiao Chen squarely in the chest with undiminished force!

"Pfft!"

Xiao Chen's protective true essence shattered instantly. His chest was charred black, and he sprayed a mouthful of blood as he crashed into the protective barrier set up by Xing Tiexin, struggling but unable to get up.

Only two Moves! A Sword Cultivator at the Peak of the True Martial Ninth Stage had been defeated!

No one expected this first challenge to end so quickly!

Ye Tian hadn't even drawn his sword before easily crushing his opponent!

"He... he was defeated just like that?"

"Xiao Chen is at the Peak of the True Martial Ninth Stage!"

"The power of thunder released by Ye Tian is too terrifying! Xiao Chen was like an infant before him!"

"More than that, his movement technique is also very strange; you can't trace it at all!"

"As expected of the former number one of the Outer Sect!"

Ye Tian's powerful performance instantly shocked the entire audience! Many Disciples who had originally harbored doubts began to show wonder and awe in their eyes.

Elder Xing Tiexin waved his hand to remove the protective barrier, and two Law Enforcement Disciples stepped forward to help the heavily injured Xiao Chen away.

He looked at Ye Tian, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, before announcing, "Ye Tian wins the first challenge."

Ye Tian bowed slightly to Xing Tiexin and finally turned his gaze toward Ling Juexiao in the guest area, who still had his eyes closed but whose aura seemed to have grown a few degrees colder.

Ling Juexiao slowly opened his eyes, his gaze piercing Ye Tian like a sword's edge as he spoke slowly, "I underestimated you. No wonder you could kill Yin Li. However, it was just opportunistic, relying on elemental counter-attributes. The second match..."

He paused, turning his gaze to the waiting area and landing on Gao Ling. "Let your Sect's Martial Nephew Gao Ling, who shares a 'fellow Disciple bond' with you, experience your high-level Moves.

However, Martial Nephew Gao Ling's cultivation is at the True Martial Fifth Stage, while yours is at the True Martial Tenth Level. If you were to fight directly, it would be somewhat unfair. Therefore, I ask young friend Ye to suppress your cultivation to the True Martial Fifth Stage, so the two of you may fight at the same level!"

Gao Ling had originally been shivering with fear; after all, how could he, at the True Martial Fifth Stage, fight Ye Tian at the True Martial Tenth Level? But hearing Ling Juexiao say this, his confidence instantly surged, and his eyes filled with wild joy.

He took a step forward and walked with his head held high toward the Sword Testing Platform. Bowing deeply toward Ling Juexiao from a distance, he shouted, "Disciple Gao Ling will certainly not fail in my mission. I will clear the name of my Liuli Xuan Sect and expose this villain's true face!"

At these words, the crowd was in an uproar once again! Ling Juexiao actually designated Gao Ling, who had an old grudge with Ye Tian, to take the stage? This wasn't "verifying strength" at all; it was clearly a case of killing with a borrowed knife, inciting fellow Disciples to kill each other! His intentions were truly despicable!

Elder Tianshu's face darkened. Leng Feng, Lei Zhen, and the others glared with anger.

Ye Tian looked at the approaching Gao Ling with his head held high, the corners of his mouth curling slightly.

Gao Ling?

Very well.

We'll settle all the old and new scores together!