321: Chapter 322 This person must have a secret!

Yet now, in just a few short years, he has grown to this extent. Based on the potential he has displayed, he has hopes of achieving Core Formation in the future, and there is even a possibility of forming a True Core!

By then, relying on the attraction of that wisp of spiritual Qi within her body, the two of them might be able to complement each other, both ascending to the Golden Core stage, or perhaps even reaching the Nascent Soul stage...

Meng Qingcheng's heart skipped a beat as she thought of this.

But the next moment, the words "sixty-seven descendants" flashed across her mind.

She instantly dismissed this thought.

If she were to truly become his Dao Companion, wouldn't she be pestered by him to have a few children as well?

No, that's not right—what is she thinking?

She is a Core Formation True Person of the Lingxiao Sect, the Hall Revered Master of the Law Enforcement Hall, and Revered Master to Xia Qingyue. How could she have any connection with this... this "stud"?

Meng Qingcheng squeezed her eyes shut, casting that absurd thought out of her mind.

She opened her eyes again, and a sense of clarity had returned to them.

Yet, that inexplicable irritation in her heart could not be suppressed no matter what.

There was not a ripple in Meng Qingcheng's beautiful eyes, and her voice was as cold as frost:

"Deacon Li Su, as a Deputy Envoy of the Law Enforcement Hall, you should know that our Law Enforcement Hall prioritizes the word 'rules' above all else. A case can only be filed with concrete evidence, and an investigation can only be conducted once suspicion is established. Yet you, relying solely on the words of Outer Sect Elder Meng Tiande, listed him in the registry and even sent people to disturb Longmai Mountain."

She paused, her tone becoming even colder:

"If everyone acted as you do, where would the dignity of the Law Enforcement Hall be?"

Deacon Li Su's body trembled, and he kowtowed repeatedly:

"Hall Revered Master, please calm your anger! This subordinate knows his mistake! This subordinate only... only considered that Outer Sect Elder Meng Tiande is of high standing and virtue, and is also a Pseudo-Core Cultivator. His great-grandson died a tragic death, and he was momentarily overcome with indignation... so this subordinate..."

"So you broke the law for personal reasons?"

Meng Qingcheng cut him off with a cold laugh:

"As a Sect Elder, Outer Sect Elder Meng Tiande ought to strictly abide by the Sect rules and set an example. Instead, his own great-grandson went out to cause trouble and was killed; instead of reflecting on himself, he used his position to frame others. Such conduct cannot be summed up by the words 'favoritism'."

She stood up, her wide sleeves fluttering gently, and the Spiritual Pressure of the Core Formation Stage surrounding her was released slightly, making the air in the entire hall seem to freeze.

"Deacon Li Su, go and accept your punishment yourself; head to the Profound Yin Cave to reflect on your actions for three years."

Deacon Li Su's face turned deathly pale, but he dared not offer a single word of rebuttal, and could only kowtow:

"This subordinate... obeys."

"Outer Sect Elder Meng Tiande, as a Sect Elder, has engaged in corruption, knowingly broken the law, framed an innocent Cultivator, and disrupted the official business of the Law Enforcement Hall. His crimes are compounded; he is to be cast into the Profound Yin Cave for ten years to reflect on his actions."

There was no room for negotiation in those eyes.

Outer Sect Elder Meng Tiande opened his mouth, but ultimately lowered his head and said dejectedly:

"...This subordinate obeys."

Meng Qingcheng withdrew her gaze and sat back down.

The hall was silent for a moment.

Her fingers tapped unconsciously on the armrest, producing a monotonous sound.

"As for Ye Changge..."

Meng Qingcheng frowned slightly when she reached this point.

She was thinking about how to handle this.

Although she was very displeased with Ye Changge's conduct—especially those "sixty-seven descendants"—and felt stifled in her heart.

But he truly hadn't offended her much.

Not only had he not offended her, but back then... he had saved her.

That time she had been poisoned by a sneak attack and, in a delirious state, had forced herself upon him. Although she had been the dominant one, in the end, it was the other party who had not taken advantage of her when she was at her weakest, but instead... endured those days and nights of torment.

Although she had given him a foundation establishment pill and spiritual items as compensation afterwards, how could a life-saving grace be repaid with a few Medicinal Pills?

Furthermore, that wisp of spiritual Qi...

Thinking of this, Meng Qingcheng's feelings became even more complicated.

In this situation, the other party had made no obvious mistakes, so if she were to punish him simply because she didn't like him, it wouldn't seem justifiable.

Moreover, if the punishment were too light, it would seem like a joke; if it were too heavy, it would be excessive.

What's more...

The other party seemed to have a close relationship with her precious disciple, Xia Qingyue.

She used to be cold as ice, but now she occasionally revealed a bit of a young girl's coquettishness.

Although there had indeed been a Breakthrough in her cultivation, but...

Whenever Meng Qingcheng thought of Xia Qingyue spending all day with Ye Changge, that "stud", she felt somewhat agitated.

That Ye Changge, with wives and concubines in droves, descendants everywhere, and such skillful methods...

Her own disciple was so pure and had feelings for him; wouldn't she be completely taken advantage of?

The more she thought about it, the more improper she felt it was.

No, she had to make Xia Qingyue stay away from him.

But... if she actually said that, the girl would likely be unhappy.

Meng Qingcheng rubbed her temples, feeling a surge of irritation in her heart.

In the end, she took a deep breath, suppressed the surging emotions in her heart, and slowly spoke:

"Since this Ye Changge has not violated Sect rules, and there is no concrete evidence to prove he is involved with demonic Cultivators, we should just handle things normally according to the rules."

She paused, then added:

"Remove him from the suspect registry; the Law Enforcement Hall will no longer investigate him. As for the personnel previously sent to Longmai Mountain... just recall them."

"Let this matter end here."

Deacon Li Su, kneeling below, breathed a secret sigh of relief upon hearing these words.

Yet he also had some doubts in his heart.

What exactly was the relationship between the Hall Revered Master and that Ye Changge?

If they were just close friends of Xia Qingyue, surely she wouldn't be this concerned or caring, right?

She was personally asking about intelligence and reviewing the detailed registry...

Deacon Li Su's thoughts turned a thousand times, but he dared not show the slightest bit of it on his face.

"This subordinate obeys!"

He kowtowed to accept the order, his face full of bitterness.

He hadn't expected that he would be cast into the Profound Yin Cave to reflect on his actions for three years today because of such a trivial matter.

The Profound Yin Cave was one of the ten great punishments of the Lingxiao Sect.

Every day, one had to endure the pain of the yin wind in the cave scraping against one's bones and Soul Refining, which was extremely agonizing. Let alone three years, even three months would be enough for anyone to suffer.

But at this moment, since the Hall Revered Master of the Law Enforcement Hall had already issued the order, and her words were final, he naturally had nothing to say.

After all, Outer Sect Elder Meng Tiande, a Pseudo-Core Cultivator, had been cast into the Profound Yin Cave for ten years.

Compared to that old fellow, his three years... didn't seem too heavy.

Deacon Li Su comforted himself, but he dared not show even a hint of relief on his face, and simply obeyed honestly.

Outer Sect Elder Meng Tiande was even more ashen-faced, his lips trembling, wanting to say something, but ultimately not speaking.

He knew this Hall Revered Master's temper well.

She was a person of her word, and impartial and incorruptible.

Pleading for mercy would only make the punishment heavier.

Meng Qingcheng waved her hand:

"You may all withdraw."

"Yes..."

The room returned to silence.

Meng Qingcheng sat alone at the head, not moving for a long time.

Meng Qingcheng closed her eyes, feeling her temples throbbing.

She had lived for over a hundred years and had seen countless Cultivators—some who cultivated diligently, some who were indulgent, some who were pure and desireless, and some who were addicted to female beauty.

But someone like Ye Changge, who had wives and concubines in droves and descendants everywhere, yet whose cultivation soared and Foundation was stable...

She truly had never seen one before.

"This person must have secrets."

Meng Qingcheng muttered to herself, a flash of deep thought passing through her eyes.