38: She did it willingly.

Night fell, and the summit of Purple Cloud Holy Land was brightly lit, with celestial music drifting through the air.

This was the highest and most sacred place in the entire Purple Cloud Holy Land. Usually, only the Sect Master and a few Grand Elders were qualified to set foot here. Yet tonight, a grand banquet was held here specifically for one man.

At the banquet, a distinct and peculiar scene had quietly formed.

On one side, it was Xiao Qingxue's corner.

She was still sitting at the head of the table, her temperament as cold as snow, but her surroundings appeared desolate. Only a few Junior Sisters with whom she had the closest relationship were huddled around her, keeping her company cautiously, the atmosphere oppressive and dull.

In the past, on any occasion, she was the undisputed center, pursued and looked up to by countless people. But tonight, the cup of Spiritual Tea in front of her, which had long since gone cold, seemed to be telling a story of forgotten loneliness.

On the other side was Lin Chen's world.

He was surrounded by layers upon layers of Inner Sect Disciples who had previously disdained him, forming a fiery "storm center." These female Disciples, who usually held their heads high, were now like the most docile kittens, their eyes alluring and smiles sweet, trying every possible method just to speak one more word to this newly appointed "Saint."

"Senior Brother Lin, my name is Wang Yanran. I have long heard of your great name. Seeing you today, you truly are a Dragon among men!"

"Senior Brother Lin, I have an ancestral [Spirit-Condensing Jade Pendant] here. It has miraculous effects for stabilizing the Divine Soul. Please... take it as a welcoming gift for you."

"Senior Brother Lin, be careful in your battle against Xiao Qingxue tomorrow! I have a High Grade Spiritual Artifact here, the [Golden Silk Soft Armor]. Although its defensive power is average, it is comfortable to wear close to the body, warm in winter and cool in summer..."

Precious Magic Treasures and Medicinal Pills were treated as "gifts" and scrambled to be presented to Lin Chen.

The intentions of the female Disciples were obvious.

Since this man's strength was too powerful to use "coercive" means to make him a "Cauldron," then... using "soft" tactics, actively throwing themselves into his embrace to become his women and share his powerful Chaos Dao Body Bloodline, wouldn't that be better?

Anyway, in this world, powerful men were naturally supposed to have countless partners!

Xiao Qingxue coldly watched the man who was surrounded by countless women, handling them with ease, and even showing a "satisfied" smile at certain "gifts" from time to time. Her jade hand, holding the wine cup, tightened involuntarily.

(Men! They really are all the same kind of trash! Relying on an unknown Magic Treasure to luckily win one match, and now he is getting carried away, forgetting his own name!)

(Fine... let you enjoy your last night of glory tonight.)

(Tomorrow, on the Arena Platform, I will personally crush everything you have obtained today, along with your ridiculous dignity, into pieces!)

She drank the cold Spiritual Tea in her cup in one gulp!

That cold murderous intent climbed to its peak against the backdrop of the fiery atmosphere!

However, right at this moment.

A voice full of provocation and resentment, which no one expected, suddenly resounded throughout the banquet!

"Lin Chen! You despicable and shameless villain! You are not worthy of sitting here at all!"

Everyone looked towards the source of the sound.

They saw Liu Ruxu, who should have been recuperating in the confinement room, staggering in with a deathly pale face!

Her eyes were filled with unwillingness and madness!

"I don't accept this!"

She pointed at Lin Chen and screamed shrilly: "You didn't win against me with your own strength! You relied on underhanded tactics! You relied on some evil Magic Treasure you obtained from who knows where!"

"Today, I will expose your true colors in front of everyone!"

As her voice fell, she disregarded everything, burning her remaining cultivation power to turn into a stream of light, launching a suicide attack towards Lin Chen!

Facing Liu Ruxu's suicidal attack, as if possessed by madness, the entire banquet hall instantly fell into chaos!

"Quick! Stop her!"

"Senior Sister Liu has gone mad! She actually dares to make a move at the banquet set by the Sect Master!"

Several nearby Inner Sect Disciples hurriedly tried to step forward to stop her.

However, Liu Ruxu, who had long been blinded by jealousy and unwillingness, was now moving several times faster than before!

She bypassed everyone's obstruction, like a streak of bloody lightning, and instantly rushed in front of Lin Chen!

"Go to hell!"

Her pretty face, twisted by anger, was filled with the madness of mutual destruction!

And those female Disciples who were smiling sweetly around Lin Chen a second ago were now terrified, screaming and retreating, afraid of being caught in the crossfire.

In an instant, a large space cleared around Lin Chen.

He sat there alone, facing the life-or-death strike of a Golden Core Genius, appearing so... "helpless."

On the main seat, Sect Master Yun Yun's Phoenix eyes narrowed sharply!

She did not make a move.

She wanted to see how this mysterious man, after losing that "mysterious Magic Treasure," would handle this sudden situation!

This was the best opportunity to test him!

On the other side, a cold sneer appeared on Xiao Qingxue's face.

(Trash is trash after all. Without the Magic Treasure, what do you have left?)

Under everyone's gaze.

Facing the fierce attack that was enough to tear him to pieces.

Lin Chen still sat there.

He didn't even raise his eyelids.

He just slowly picked up the wine cup in front of him and took a gentle sip.

It was as if the crazy woman rushing towards him didn't exist at all.

Was this... giving up resistance?

Or was he scared silly?

Just the moment before Liu Ruxu's claws, burning with the fire of life, were about to touch Lin Chen's crown.

"Presumptuous!"

A cold and majestic feminine shout, like thunder from the Nine Heavens, exploded!

It did not come from Sect Master Yun Yun!

But from... the audience!

The next second!

A purple figure, fast to the extreme, appeared in front of Lin Chen like a ghost!

She stretched out a slender, jade-like hand and slapped forward, seemingly casually!

Bang—!!!

Liu Ruxu's desperate attack shattered instantly under this palm, as if it were made of paper!

Her whole body was like being hit head-on by an ancient divine mountain, flying backward faster than she had arrived!

With a "pfft" sound, blood sprayed wildly, and she slammed heavily into a distant beam, passing out on the spot, life or death unknown!

One palm!

Just one palm!

It swatted away a desperate Golden Core Genius like a fly!

The entire venue fell into deathly silence again!

Everyone stared with ghost-seeing eyes at the purple figure who had suddenly appeared and blocked in front of Lin Chen!

It was a... woman wearing a purple veil, with an alluring figure, and a noble and mysterious temperament!

Radiating from her was the authentic... terrifying pressure of an Early Nascent Soul Stage cultivator!

"Na... Nascent Soul True Monarch?!"

"She is... Who is she?! Since when did our Holy Land have another Nascent Soul Elder?!"

The whole place exploded!

Everyone was stunned!

On the main seat, Sect Master Yun Yun stood up abruptly the moment she saw the person's face, her face filled with unbelievable shock!

"Luo... Luo Bingli?!"

"You... How could you... break through to Nascent Soul?!"

That's right!

The person who arrived was none other than City Lord Luo, who was supposed to be in Qingyang City handling the aftermath!

No!

Should call her... Nascent Soul True Monarch, Luo Bingli!

Luo Bingli ignored everyone's shock.

She slowly turned around, knelt on one knee respectfully towards the man who was still leisurely sipping wine!

Then, she said loudly in a voice full of fanaticism and worship:

"Master, you have been startled. Your servant has arrived late to protect you!"

Boom—!!!

Mas... ter?!

Ser... vant?!

These two words exploded in everyone's minds like ten thousand nuclear bombs!

A newly promoted, authentic Nascent Soul True Monarch actually... called that man they looked down upon... Master?!

And called herself... servant?!

This...

What the hell is going on?!

Is this world crazy?!

After a brief silence, the entire banquet hall exploded instantly!

"Illusion! This must be an illusion! How could Junior Martial Uncle Luo..."

"I know! It must be the Demonic Path! This man must be a spy sent by the Demonic Path! He planted the most vicious [Heart-Linked Gu] on Junior Martial Uncle Luo! Controlling her mind!"

"That's right! It must be so! Men's Heart-Nature is inherently weak, most easily seduced by the Demonic Path! On the surface, he is a Genius of the Righteous Path, but in reality, he is a despicable and shameless Devil Head!"

For a moment, everyone was incensed!

Almost everyone, in an instant, found the most "reasonable" explanation that fit their inner prejudices for this scene that subverted their worldview!

— Lin Chen is a Devil Head!

— Luo Bingli is being controlled!

On the main seat, Sect Master Yun Yun's pretty face, which had turned pale with shock, was instantly covered by a layer of cold murderous intent!

(So that's it! I was wondering how a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator could have such bizarre methods! It turns out he cultivated a Demonic Technique and used the [Heart-Linked Gu] to control Bingli!)

(What a good little devil! Daring to set his sights on my Purple Cloud Holy Land! Truly, seeking death!)

She slammed the throne and shouted sternly: "Audacious Devil Head! Daring to use such underhanded means to control my Sect's Elder! Simply deserving death!"

"Someone! Set up the [Purple Heaven Sky-Locking Formation]! For this Seat, suppress and kill this Devil Head on the spot!"

Boom!

In an instant, several powerful auras rose from all directions of the great hall!

A huge Formation composed of purple thunder light instantly enveloped the entire banquet hall, trapping Lin Chen and Luo Bingli firmly in the center!

"Sect Master! It's not like that! Master he..." Luo Bingli's face changed greatly, and she hurriedly tried to explain.

"Bingli! Wake up!" Yun Yun interrupted her with grief and indignation, "You have been bewitched by the Devil Head, no need to say more! Once I behead this villain, I will naturally drive out the Gu poison for you!"

Watching this absurd scene, Lin Chen laughed.

He slowly put down the wine cup, looked at the queen who thought she controlled everything but was actually stupid and ridiculous, and shook his head.

"Sect Master, food can be eaten indiscriminately, but words cannot be spoken indiscriminately."

"You say I am a Devil Head, do you have evidence?"

"Evidence?" Yun Yun sneered, "Bingli bows to you and obeys your every word. If this is not evidence, then what is?!"

"That may not be so." Lin Chen's smile became even more playful, "Perhaps, it is City Lord Luo who... was conquered by this Saint's personal charm and is willingly following me?"

"Nonsense!" Yun Yun simply did not believe it, "A Nascent Soul True Monarch would willingly acknowledge a Foundation Establishment Stage as Master? Do you take me for a three-year-old child?!"

"In that case," Lin Chen spread his hands, "Then why not invite the Sect's Grand Elder to come forward and personally test City Lord Luo, how about that?"

"The Grand Elder is proficient in Soul-Searching Secret Arts and even possesses a [Mind-Questioning Treasure Mirror] that can break through all illusions. If there is really a Gu insect in her body, or if someone has placed a Restriction on her, it will definitely have nowhere to hide."

"Fine!" Yun Yun agreed without even thinking!

In her view, this brat was already a turtle in a jar, unable to fly away!

She wanted to expose his "true colors" in front of the entire Sect, and then rightfully take him... and all the secrets on him, for herself!

Soon, a white-haired Grand Elder with profound aura was invited to the scene.

Under the gaze of thousands of eyes in the venue.

The Grand Elder sacrificed the [Mind-Questioning Treasure Mirror], and a brilliant mirror light instantly enveloped Luo Bingli's entire body.

At the same time, her vast Divine Thought also carefully probed into Luo Bingli's Sea of Consciousness.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the moment the "truth" would be revealed!

The corner of Yun Yun's mouth had already curled into a cruel sneer!

However.

One breath, two breaths, three breaths...

Time passed second by second.

The expression on the Grand Elder's face, however, changed from initial solemnity to... confusion?

Then, it was... shock?

Finally, it turned into... horrifying astonishment, as if she had seen a ghost!

"Wha... What's the matter? Grand Elder?" Yun Yun's heart "thumped," and a sense of ominous foreboding rose.

The Grand Elder slowly retracted the treasure mirror and Divine Thought. She looked at Yun Yun, then looked at the calm Lin Chen, her lips trembling for a long time, before she announced the result that was enough to subvert everyone's cognition in a dreamy, trembling voice:

"Re... Reporting to the Sect Master..."

"In the Sea of Consciousness of... Junior Martial Nephew Luo, it is completely clear, the Divine Soul is stable, there is no trace of... being controlled by any external force!"

"She... She is... willing!"