196: If the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will be crooked as well.

Nan Xingyao also knelt down with her.

Xiao Chen watched them silently, his heart feeling somewhat complicated; it was clear that they held great respect for this mentor of theirs.

Generally speaking, unless one achieved a Breakthrough in cultivation, it was impossible to emerge from secluded meditation. Now that Song Qingshan's comprehension had been interrupted, all his previous efforts were in vain.

"Li'er, Yao'er, both of you get up. This is not your fault. A great catastrophe is approaching, and life will be devastated; it is all fate." Song Qingshan brushed his sleeve, and a gentle breeze lifted the two of them up.

"A catastrophe?" Some Elders looked shocked, not understanding what he meant, and began to whisper among themselves.

However, the Six Peak Masters knew very well what catastrophe he was referring to.

At this moment, Sima Yi hurriedly stepped forward to fan the flames, completely disregarding the fact that it was he who had crushed the green jade and interrupted the Supreme Sect Master's meditation.

"Senior Brother, passing the position of Sect Master to her back then was simply a huge mistake. Look at how she has made the Sect so foul..."

"Enough, say no more."

Song Qingshan waved his hand, stopping his further words, and continued, "The reason I passed the position of Sect Head to Li'er back then was because I feared you wouldn't accept it. That's why I gave you the key to the Sect's most precious treasury to manage, intending for you to assist her well and manage the Qixia Sect properly. But now, you... sigh..."

"Senior Brother, this can't be blamed entirely on me! I didn't want things to turn out like this with her either. You be the judge first!"

Then, Sima Yi changed the subject and pointed at Xiao Chen: "This kid hasn't even reached the Nascent Soul Stage, yet she appointed him as Peak Master Danxia. Wouldn't you say that's the biggest joke in the world!"

"Oh?"

Song Qingshan glanced sideways slightly; he knew his Disciple best, and her standards and vision were extremely high.

For someone to be promoted to Peak Revered Master exceptionally without even reaching the Nascent Soul Stage meant this person must be extraordinary.

Song Qingshan sized up Xiao Chen for a while before beckoning him over and asking, "What is your name?"

Xiao Chen slowly stepped forward and bowed: "Reporting to the Supreme Sect Master, this Disciple is Xiao Chen."

Song Qingshan nodded slightly, "Mhm, a dignified appearance and extraordinary bearing. To reach the Golden Core Stage Perfection cultivation at the age of forty, your talent is indeed startling."

"The Supreme Sect Master overpraises me."

At this time, Nan Yueli stepped forward and said, "Revered Master, besides his startling cultivation talent, he is also a Fourth-Grade Alchemist and a Fourth-Level Formation Master!"

As soon as these words were spoken, not only Song Qingshan, but everyone present froze on the spot. They knew about Fourth-Grade Alchemists, but they had never even heard of a Fourth-Level Formation Master.

Sima Yi immediately jumped out and cupped his hands, saying, "Senior Brother, this Nan Yueli is clearly spouting nonsense..."

"Hmm? You should mind the occasion when you speak. Do I still need to teach you that?" Song Qingshan glared at him.

With all the high-ranking members of the Sect present, he actually dared to call the Sect Master by her name; it was simply a great sign of disrespect.

Seeing his Senior Brother's displeased expression, Sima Yi hurriedly said, "This Junior Brother was wrong! It's true he's a Fourth-Grade Alchemist, but we've never heard of a Fourth-Level Formation Master."

Xiao Chen looked at him like he was an idiot. I have a cheat, what can you do to me?

In the entire Cangxuan Continent, being a Formation Master was a thankless profession. People with high cultivation talent rarely wasted time studying Formations.

After all, Formations were not like Alchemy; Medicinal Pills could enhance cultivation and bring a significant boost to the advancement of Realms.

Formations were different. Once a set of Formations was created, it could be used for a long time. As long as the array core and Formation Flags were not destroyed, it could be used continuously by infusing Spiritual power.

This led to a narrow market for Formation Masters, with almost no room for survival. Even a large Sect might not necessarily have an Advanced Formation Master.

Song Qingshan ignored his Junior Brother and turned to look at Xiao Chen, asking, "You are a Fourth-Level Formation Master?"

"Yes."

"Revered Master, these are the fourth-level Formations made by Xiao Chen." As Nan Yueli spoke, the two sets of the Five Elements Spirit Gathering Formation and the Four Symbols Defense Formation appeared in her hands.

Song Qingshan only took a glance and knew the extraordinary nature of the Formations.

He had once set up a Spirit Imprisonment Array in the Trial Secret Realm, so he clearly understood such top-tier fourth-level Formations.

"Not bad! To be able to reach the top in both the Alchemic Dao and Formations at such an age is something I, having lived for over two thousand years, am seeing for the first time in my life."

Sima Yi felt a sense of unease. He had exhausted his efforts to summon his Senior Brother out of seclusion to punish Xiao Chen, so how did it turn into a commendation ceremony for him instead?

"Senior Brother, his talent in various aspects is indeed good, but his character is corrupt. He maliciously killed my excellent Disciples Liu Yi and Liu Chen; it is truly an unpardonable crime!"

Once this was said, all the high-ranking Sect members present became unsettled. Killing Core Disciples—even as a Peak Revered Master, one did not have that authority.

Core Disciples were the foundation of the Sect's future; even some generations of Sect Masters were chosen from among them.

"Is this true?" Song Qingshan asked in a flat tone.

"Yes." Xiao Chen's face was incredibly calm, without the slightest hint of panic.

"I trust you will provide a sufficient reason."

"That Liu Yi insulted and mocked me repeatedly, and even deliberately slandered me during my battle with Sima Xuan, causing me to suffer endless ridicule. Later, he even instructed his younger brother, Liu Chen, to use coercion and threats against my Dao Companion. Shouldn't he deserve to die?"

"Shut up! That's just your side of the story! You have no evidence at all!" Sima Yi immediately jumped out to accuse him.

At this time, Qi Ningxuan and Shangguan Wei immediately stepped forward and spoke simultaneously: "Reporting to the Supreme Sect Master, we can testify that what Peak Master Danxia said is true."

"Dammit!"

Sima Yi's face was terrifyingly dark, and the look he gave Qi Ningxuan and Shangguan Wei was filled with malice.

Xiao Chen spread his hands and said slowly, "Do you see? Even as a Peak Revered Master, he's starting to act shamelessly. No wonder the Core Disciples under him have such low character; they are simply Sect scum who deserve to die!

As the old saying goes, if the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will be slanted. What kind of Revered Master there is, there will be such a Disciple. It's truly not wrong at all!"

"You... you shut your mouth!"

Sima Yi pointed at Xiao Chen, his old hands trembling, his face flushed red, and the corners of his mouth twitching incessantly.

"What! Am I wrong?"

Xiao Chen glanced at him and continued nonchalantly, "When Liu Yi slandered me, hundreds of people witnessed it, and he fled afterward. As his Revered Master, you didn't hand him over to the Law Enforcement Hall for punishment but instead shielded and indulged him. It's precisely because of a Revered Master like you that such scum Disciples are taught!"

"Xiao Chen, I'll kill you!"

Sima Yi roared, his Spiritual power erupting violently as a sword qi rapidly condensed.

At this moment, he was nearly driven to madness by Xiao Chen.

"Junior Brother, don't be ridiculous!" Song Qingshan said in a deep voice. A light of Spiritual power descended from the sky, sealing Sima Yi's cultivation.

Then he looked at Xiao Chen and couldn't help but shake his head.

He could see that this young man was no pushover, especially that mouth of his—it was truly poisonous!

"This matter ends here. No one is allowed to mention it again." Song Qingshan glanced at everyone, his tone gentle yet brook no argument.

"Senior Brother, if you don't stand up for me, I'll die right in front of you!" After saying that, Sima Yi actually drew the sword from a nearby guard and held it against his own neck.

This move made the other Peak Revered Masters feel a bit of contempt; it was simply like the behavior of a woman.