73: Chapter 73: Storming the Palace with the Order, Face-to-Face Confrontation

Lin Ye no longer hesitated and said to Chu Yun and Su Waner, "Senior Brother, Senior Sister, do not panic. I have my own plan for this matter. You go and contact Elder Li and other trustworthy people, and wait outside the Law Enforcement Hall to support me. I will go to the Law Enforcement Hall now and meet that Zhao Kun!"

After speaking, he adjusted his robes, solemnly wore the lingyun token with the sword mark in the most conspicuous place on his waist, and slightly released his own Qi Refining eighth-layer cultivation and the Aura of the "Lingyun Sword Intent" seed, causing it to carry a stern and inviolable sword Dao majesty.

Then, he strode toward the Law Enforcement Hall with his head held high.

The Law Enforcement Hall, a towering black palace, exuded a stern and murderous Aura.

The Law Enforcement Disciple guarding the door wanted to stop Lin Ye when they saw him, but upon seeing the special-styled lingyun token emitting a faint Sword Intent at his waist, as well as the sharp Aura on his body that was vastly different from the past, they were all stunned and dared not step forward.

Lin Ye looked straight ahead, walked directly to the palace gate, gathered his spiritual power, and shouted loudly:

"Core Disciple Lin Han, holding the Sect Master's lingyun token, has an urgent matter to see the Elder in charge of the Law Enforcement Hall! It concerns the safety of the Sect, the Disciple's innocence, and the grievance of Elder Liu. Please report immediately!"

The voice was loud and clear, carrying the penetrating power of Sword Intent, echoing in the Law Enforcement Hall square, causing many passing Disciples to stop and look over.

Soon, a commotion came from inside the hall. Several Law Enforcement Deacons with strong Auras walked out quickly, and the person leading them was none other than Deacon Li, who had gone to Liuyun Pavilion with Zhao Kun earlier.

Seeing Lin Ye, he frowned: "Lin Han? Why are you making a racket here? The matter of Elder Liu is handled by the Dark Hall and the Law Enforcement Hall. How can you interfere here? Leave immediately!"

"Deacon Li." Lin Ye's expression was calm, but his voice carried an unquestionable power. "This Disciple bears the lingyun token personally bestowed by the Sect Master and has the right to report matters directly to the Sect Master. Now that treacherous people have framed loyal and good people and slandered my Pill Formula, how can this Disciple sit idly by? Please ask the Elder in charge of the Law Enforcement Hall to come out and meet me. Otherwise, this Disciple will take this token and go straight to Lingyun Peak to meet the Sect Master!"

As he spoke, the lingyun token at his waist flashed slightly, and the sword-shaped mark faintly revealed a vast Sword Intent, causing Deacon Li and the others to change their expressions. They naturally recognized this token and felt the ancient majesty contained in the sword mark, which seemed to come from the Sword Tomb.

"You..." Deacon Li's face changed. Although he was Zhao Kun's confidant, he did not dare to openly stop a Core Disciple who held a special lingyun token and seemed to be related to the Sword Tomb. Especially since Lin Ye was now imposing, with his cultivation clearly having greatly advanced, it was even harder to easily manipulate him.

Just as they were at a stalemate, a cold voice came from inside the hall: "Let him in." It was none other than Zhao Kun!

A cold smile curled on the corner of Lin Ye's mouth, and he walked into the Law Enforcement Hall with his head held high.

Inside the hall, the atmosphere was heavy. Zhao Kun sat high in the main seat, his face as gloomy as water. On both sides below, several Law Enforcement Elders and Deacons were standing, including that Dark Hall Deacon. Elder Liu was not here, clearly already imprisoned.

"Lin Han, what great audacity! Trespassing into the Law Enforcement Hall and roaring in the public court, what is your crime?!" Zhao Kun took the initiative to strike first, shouting sternly.

"Elder Zhao." Lin Ye was neither humble nor arrogant, cupping his hands in a salute, "This Disciple is not trespassing, but holding the Sect Master's token to seek justice for a grievance and expose a traitor! What crime is there?"

"Grievance? Traitor?" Zhao Kun sneered, "Elder Liu Changqing colluded with the Yinkui Sect, and the evidence is conclusive! The Pill Formula you offered has been investigated and is tainted with the evil pills of the Yinkui Sect, and you yourself cannot escape the blame! I have not looked for you yet, but you delivered yourself to my door! Men, take Lin Han down and interrogate him together with Elder Liu Changqing!"

Law Enforcement Disciples on both sides immediately stepped forward.

"Who dares!" Lin Ye suddenly stepped forward, the lingyun token at his waist shining brightly, and the majestic Sword Intent containing the Aura of the Sword Tomb burst forth, mixed with his own Qi Refining eighth-layer Spiritual Pressure and the sharpness of the "Lingyun Sword Intent" seed, actually forcing the several Law Enforcement Disciples who stepped forward to retreat repeatedly!

"Hmm?!" A trace of shock and anger flashed in Zhao Kun's eyes. He did not expect Lin Ye's strength to have improved so quickly, nor did he expect his lingyun token to have such a change.

"Elder Zhao keeps saying there is conclusive evidence, may I ask where the evidence is? Elder Liu has spent his life refining pills and educating people for the Sect, working conscientiously, so how could he collude with the Yinkui Sect? The Pill Formula this Disciple offered is the Righteous Path Legacy of the ancient Flame Lord; what does it have to do with the Yinkui Sect? Although the geocentric fire lotus and the Yinming Fire Lotus are similar in appearance, their medicinal properties are vastly different. Anyone with a little knowledge of Alchemy can distinguish them; how can they be confused? Are these far-fetched words the basis for the Dark Hall and the Law Enforcement Hall to investigate the case? It is chilling!"

Lin Ye's voice was clear and loud, every word like a sword, pointing straight to the point.

"As for this Disciple," he swept his gaze over the Dark Hall Deacon and looked at Zhao Kun, "In the Sword Tomb, this Disciple was recognized by the Ancestral Master's Lingyun Sword Intent and was granted the sword mark. This can be testified by the Guardian Spirit of the Sword Tomb! May I ask, if this Disciple had ulterior motives and was involved with the Yinkui Sect, how could the Ancestral Master's Sword Intent tolerate me? How could the Guardian of the Sword Tomb bestow me with a token?!"

As he spoke, his mind moved, and he actively activated the "Lingyun Sword Intent" seed in his brow. Hum! A pure, vast, silver Sword Intent carrying Lingyun's arrogance and the Aura of severing all falsehoods emerged from Lin Ye's brow. Although it was not strong, its quality was terrifyingly high, instantly covering the entire hall!

"This is... Ancestral Master's Sword Intent?!" "Sword Tomb Legacy?!" Everyone in the hall, including Zhao Kun and the Dark Hall Deacon, changed their expressions greatly and exclaimed in shock!

As high-level members of the Lingyun Sword Sect, how could they not recognize this Ancestral Master's Sword Intent gift, which could only be obtained by those who have made huge contributions to the Sect or received the core recognition of the Sword Tomb? This cannot be fake!

Lin Ye had actually received the Sword Tomb Legacy and obtained the Ancestral Master's recognition?! The meaning of this was completely different! A suspect Disciple who might be "involved with the Yinkui Sect" and a Core Disciple who has received the recognition of the Sword Tomb Ancestral Master and bears the orthodox Sword Dao Legacy of the Sect are worlds apart in significance!

Zhao Kun's face instantly became extremely ugly. He had calculated everything, but he did not expect Lin Ye to obtain such an Opportunity from the Sword Tomb! This completely disrupted his plan!

The Dark Hall Deacon's eyes flickered, and his gaze towards Lin Ye was also full of suspicion and scrutiny.

"This Disciple has received the Ancestral Master's favor and was bestowed with the Sword Intent, and I feel an even greater responsibility to protect the Sect and distinguish loyalty from treachery." Lin Ye put away the Sword Intent, his voice turning cold, "However, there are now treacherous people in power who frame loyal and good people, slander my Legacy, and disrupt our Sect! Elder Zhao, you keep talking about evidence; do you dare to confront this Disciple face-to-face, make the so-called 'evidence' public, and ask the Sect Master, the Grand Elders, and all the Disciples of the Sect to judge together?!"

He stepped forward, his Aura compelling: "Or are you saying that you cannot produce conclusive evidence at all, and are just fabricating charges based on personal grievances to put us to death, so as to clear obstacles for your 'nephew' Chi Yang, who is of unknown origin and is currently being detained and investigated by the Dark Hall, and for some ulterior motives of your own?!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole hall was in an uproar! This was directly tearing off the mask, accusing Zhao Kun of putting personal interests above public duty, and possibly even plotting wrongdoing!

"You... you are making false accusations!" Zhao Kun was trembling with anger, pointing at Lin Ye, but he was speechless for a moment. He really could not produce ironclad evidence; the so-called "evidence" was mostly far-fetched and could not stand public scrutiny. Chi Yang being detained by the Dark Hall was his weakness.

"Whether I am making false accusations, one investigation will reveal it." Lin Ye stopped looking at him, turned to the Dark Hall Deacon, and saluted: "Deacon, this Disciple earnestly requests the Dark Hall to make public the investigation results of Chi Yang and re-examine the case of Elder Liu. If Elder Liu is truly guilty, this Disciple is willing to be punished with him! If someone has framed us, please also ask the Dark Hall to handle it impartially, restore the innocence of my master and me, and purge the treacherous people from the Sect!"

He kicked the ball to the Dark Hall. The Dark Hall had a transcendent status and was directly responsible to the Sect Master. Now that Lin Ye had shown his identity as an inheritor of the Sword Tomb, the attitude of the Dark Hall was crucial.

The Dark Hall Deacon was silent for a long time before slowly speaking: "Lin Han has received the gift of the Ancestral Master's Sword Intent from the Sword Tomb, which is no small matter. There are indeed doubts in the case of Elder Liu Changqing. The investigation of Chi Yang... is not yet finished."

He glanced at the livid Zhao Kun and continued: "I will immediately report this matter to the Sect Master and the Dark Hall Master. Before the Sect Master's new decree is issued, Liu Changqing will be temporarily detained, but no torture is allowed, and his safety must be guaranteed. Lin Han, you return to Danxia Peak, must not leave the Sect, and be ready to be summoned at any time."

This was temporarily shelving the dispute and reporting the matter up.

Although Zhao Kun was unwilling, the Dark Hall Deacon had already spoken, and Lin Ye's status was different now, so he did not dare to force anyone again, and could only grit his teeth and say: "Then follow the Deacon's words! Lin Han, you had better behave yourself!"

Lin Ye sneered in his heart, knowing that the situation had been temporarily stabilized. Elder Liu was safe for the time being, and he had room to maneuver.

"This Disciple obeys. But I ask the Deacon and Elder Zhao to find out the truth as soon as possible, return innocence to the innocent, and punish the treacherous to rectify the Sect rules! This Disciple will wait for good news at Danxia Peak!"

After speaking, he saluted the Dark Hall Deacon, glanced coldly at Zhao Kun again, turned around, and strode out of the Law Enforcement Hall.

The sunlight outside the hall was dazzling. Chu Yun, Su Waner, Elder Li, and many Danxia Peak Disciples who heard the news and rushed over, and even Disciples from other peaks who were paying attention to this matter, were gathered in the square. Seeing Lin Ye walk out safely, they all breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing his extraordinary Aura and the faint sword mark of the lingyun token at his waist, there was even more discussion.

"Junior Brother Lin, are you okay?" Chu Yun stepped forward.

"No major problems for now. Elder Liu is also safe for the time being." Lin Ye nodded and saluted Elder Li, "Thank you, Elder, for coming to support me."

Elder Li looked at Lin Ye, his eyes shining with brilliance, and said in a low voice: "Good boy, you actually obtained the Sword Tomb Legacy... In this way, it will not be so easy for Zhao Kun to touch you. However, you must not be careless. The Dark Hall is deep, the Sect Master's attitude is unclear, and Zhao Kun will never give up."

"This Disciple understands." Lin Ye nodded. He knew that today was just temporarily forcing back Zhao Kun's edge, and the real contest might have just begun.

Returning to Purple Bamboo Court, Lin Ye did not relax. On one hand, he continued to Cultivate to consolidate what he gained from the Sword Tomb, and on the other hand, he secretly collected more information about Zhao Kun, Chi Yang, and the Dark Hall through Chu Yun, Su Waner, and his newly acquired Core Disciple authority.

He knew that he must find conclusive evidence as soon as possible, or... create an Opportunity for Zhao Kun to never recover.

Three days later, unexpected news arrived. The Dark Hall Deacon came to Purple Bamboo Court in person to convey the Sect Master's decree: "Core Disciple Lin Han, go to the 'Lingxiao Courtyard' on Lingyun Peak immediately. The Sect Master wants to see you."