86: Deterrence

Xiao Chen couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Trying to trap him into proving his own innocence? Not a chance.

"The suspicion you speak of is nothing but your own unfounded speculation. As for that nonsense about me murdering for profit, it's utterly ridiculous.

A mere azure spirit grass? I never gave it a second thought. I only picked a few hundred stalks, and most of them were left for my fellow Junior Brothers and sisters in Outer Sect District Three."

At this moment, Chen Feng stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Honored Elders, I can testify. This azure spirit grass was discovered by us Disciples together with Senior Brother Xiao."

"That's right! Several hundred of us Disciples discovered it together!" Another Disciple from Outer Sect District Three also stepped forward to echo the statement.

"Yes! We discovered it together!"

"Yes! We discovered it together!"

"Yes! We discovered it together!"

For a moment, the thousands of Outer Sect Disciples below all responded like a roaring tide, voicing their support for him.

Xiao Chen was slightly surprised in his heart. He never thought that giving them a little worthless azure spirit grass could actually earn him their support.

Not bad!

All the Elders were stunned, looking at each other in confusion. They had originally thought they would leave Xiao Chen unable to defend himself, but they never expected so many people to testify for him.

"I wonder if the Honored Elders have any further questions? If not, I need to rest. After all... a spring night is worth a thousand pieces of gold."

Xiao Chen wrapped his arm around Song Shuting's waist and, in passing, threw a provocative glance at Li Yulin.

Li Yulin's eyes nearly burst with rage. Watching their intimate posture, flames of fury seemed to erupt from his gaze, as if he wanted to incinerate Xiao Chen on the spot.

"You little bastard! Do you have the guts to let us inspect your qiankun ring?"

Xiao Chen shot him a disdainful glare and said calmly, "Who the hell do you think you are! My qiankun ring contains my personal belongings. How could I possibly let you inspect it just because you say so?"

"You don't dare? That proves you have a guilty conscience!"

"Exactly! If you don't dare to show your qiankun ring, it proves you have a guilty conscience!" Ling Tianxiao and the other Elders behind him also chimed in.

Jiang Wanling had been watching Xiao Chen from beginning to end without saying a word, but she had a vague suspicion in her heart.

Her younger cousin was usually arrogant and domineering, relying on his father's connections to repeatedly violate Sect rules.

This time, it was very likely he had crossed Xiao Chen, but she only had a suspicion, no concrete evidence.

"Just based on you lot? You're not qualified to make me show my qiankun ring."

These Outer Sect Elders, accustomed to respect in their daily lives, had never been treated with such contempt. These words undoubtedly ignited their fury in an instant.

They were all seething with anger, glaring furiously.

Chen Kangjian was practically bristling with rage, his horsetail whisk pointing directly at Xiao Chen. "You little brat! This old man never wanted things to come to this. If you just obediently accept the inspection, this matter will be over!

But you have repeatedly shown us no respect. Today, this old man will make you understand the consequences of disregarding your superiors!"

Song Shuting hurriedly stepped forward, cupped her hands, and said, "Elder Chen, before the matter is fully investigated, please do not act impulsively;

Xiao Chen's temper is a bit hasty, but he is absolutely not someone who kills indiscriminately. He would definitely not... over mere azure spirit grass..."

"Enough!"

Chen Kangjian roared, cutting her off. "Elder Song, as his Dao Companion, naturally speaks for him. Once this old man finishes inspecting his qiankun ring, he will naturally receive justice."

Xiao Chen pulled Song Shuting's slender waist close and said languidly, "Wife Shuting, don't worry! Even if I gave him a hundred times the courage, he wouldn't dare to inspect it."

Hearing this, the thousands of Disciples present all stared at Xiao Chen in shock. The confidence in his eyes didn't seem like a bluff at all.

Jiang Wanling looked at Xiao Chen, her eyes filled with complex emotions. Although she didn't know what Xiao Chen's confidence stemmed from, she inexplicably trusted him.

Li Yulin and the other nine Elders, however, all burst into loud laughter, sneering at him, their eyes looking at him as if he were a clown.

"Hahaha! This old man wants to see what ability a mere Qi Refining Stage cultivator like you has to make me afraid!"

After saying this, Chen Kangjian's figure flashed as he descended, intending to subdue Xiao Chen.

"Get lost!"

Xiao Chen roared angrily, looking at him with disdain. He raised his right hand high, his palm revealing a gleaming crimson token.

"Open your eyes wide and look clearly!"

Everyone's gaze instantly fell on the token in Xiao Chen's hand. On it were inscribed three striking large characters:

Fourth-Grade Alchemist!

And below that was Xiao Chen's name!

At this moment, everyone's eyes widened, especially the thousands of Outer Sect Disciples, whose mouths hung open wide enough to fit an egg.

Su Yufei, Su Yuqing, and Lu Yun'er were so shocked they covered their small mouths, their beautiful eyes glistening. So their man was this amazing!

When he gave them the qi gathering pills before, they thought Xiao Chen was at most a First-Grade Alchemist. Who could have imagined he was actually a Fourth-Grade!

Song Shuting was equally stunned. She had personally witnessed Xiao Chen becoming a Third-Grade Alchemist and was even afraid this Fourth-Grade Alchemist certificate of his might be forged.

After all, advancing from Third-Grade to Fourth-Grade in such a short time seemed almost like a fantasy.

Chen Kangjian and the other Elders were all frozen in place. Who could have imagined that a Fourth-Grade Alchemist would only be at the Qi Refining Stage in cultivation!

They carefully scrutinized the token, trying to find any trace of forgery.

But they found it was clearly engraved with a Nascent Soul-level Soul imprint. And this Alchemist qualification certificate could only be produced by the Hall Master of the Pill Hall.

Li Yulin's face was extremely ugly. He had personally witnessed Xiao Chen's Soul battle with Peak Master Luoxia, so he naturally knew Xiao Chen's Soul strength had already reached the Nascent Soul level.

Jiang Wanling had not uttered a single word from beginning to end. She just stared blankly at the token in Xiao Chen's hand, her beautiful eyes flickering with a glimmer of hope.

"A mere Outer Sect Elder dares to clamor in front of me? Have you all eaten the hearts of bears and leopards?" Xiao Chen glanced at them with displeasure.

"This..."

Chen Kangjian's mouth twitched slightly, at a loss. He turned to look at the other Golden Core Stage Elders, only to see them also looking at each other in confusion.

A Fourth-Grade Alchemist held a status within the Sect comparable to a Peak Master. Even Nascent Soul Stage Inner Sect Elders had to bow before him, let alone them.

"Get down here now!"

Xiao Chen roared angrily, looking up at the Outer Sect Elders hovering in the air, his gaze as cold as a blade.

Though unwilling, they had no choice. The ironclad fact was right before their eyes, and they could only descend one by one.

Moreover, with over five thousand Outer Sect Disciples witnessing the scene, showing disrespect to a Fourth-Grade Alchemist would mean they could forget about mixing in the Inner Sect later.

"This old fool failed to recognize a great person. I beg Senior... Elder Xiao to forgive my offense." Chen Kangjian was the first to bow respectfully to Xiao Chen.

Subsequently, the other Outer Sect Elders followed suit.

Only Li Yulin remained, his face ashen, frozen in mid-air, unmoving.

He had gathered all the Outer Sect Elders except Song Shuting, thinking victory was assured and that Xiao Chen would be left speechless. Who could have imagined Xiao Chen would turn the tables on him.

"What? Elder Li seems to harbor quite some resentment?" Xiao Chen shot him an unfriendly look.