16: Chapter 16: Playing a victim to deceive a chosen one.

"I have noted this favor."

The next step was figuring out how to convert this "favor" into tangible benefits.

He did not rush back to his dilapidated Immortal Cave; that would undoubtedly be walking straight into a trap.

A Disciple suffering from "serious injuries" who doesn't seek help first, but instead runs back to heal on his own?

That defies common sense and would be too easy to arouse suspicion.

True hunters often appear in the form of prey.

He deliberately chose a mountain path leading to the Sect's main peak, which was also the most frequently patrolled route for the mountain patrol Disciples, and shuffled forward with a staggering gait.

The injuries inside his body were real; the spot on his back where the Formation turbulence had struck burned with pain, and it felt as if ten thousand steel needles were darting about in his Meridians. Every step he took jarred his internal organs, making his face grow increasingly pale.

Very good. With this miserable appearance, he didn't even need to act.

But this wasn't enough. He needed "irrefutable evidence" that would leave Lin Yun with no way to defend himself.

"System," he silently recited in his heart. "Activate Cognitive Obfuscation. Target: The millennium cold marrow in my Storage Pouch. Disguise its aura as a high-grade cold poison—one that looks difficult to treat and resembles the aura of Yao Beasts from the North Sea Ice Abyss."

[Command received. Cognitive Obfuscation function activated...]

[Simulated aura selected: mystic ice evil poison. This evil poison is unique to the Tier 3 Yao Beast 'Ice Soul Mystic Snake'. Characteristics: Yin-cold and overbearing, erodes the Dantian, 93% similarity in energy fluctuation to the millennium cold marrow, 100% disguise success rate.]

An invisible fluctuation instantly enveloped Shen Xiao's Storage Pouch.

The next second, he clearly felt wisps of the disguised "mystic ice evil poison" aura, like invisible tentacles, seeping out from the Storage Pouch and wrapping around him.

It was done.

With a thought, Shen Xiao completely retracted all his internal Qi and allowed that Yin-cold, overbearing aura to run rampant within his body.

His entire body shuddered violently, his lips quickly turned blue-purple, and a fine layer of white frost even condensed on his eyebrows and hair.

He looked as if he had just been fished out of an ice cellar, trembling and unable to even walk steadily.

Very good, the effect was outstanding.

He staggered forward another few dozen meters, and at the corner of the mountain path ahead, two figures carrying spirit lamps finally appeared.

They were mountain patrol Disciples!

The timing was perfect.

The last trace of clarity in Shen Xiao's eyes was replaced by perfectly timed "weakness." As if he had exhausted his last ounce of strength, his legs went soft, a painful groan escaped his throat, and he collapsed face-first onto the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Who's there!"

"Look! It's an Inner Sect Senior Brother!"

The two mountain patrol Disciples were startled by this sudden turn of events and hurriedly rushed over with their lamps.

When the light of the spirit lamps illuminated Shen Xiao's bloodless, frost-covered face, the two gasped.

"Such heavy cold Qi! He's not going to make it!"

"Is this... Senior Brother Shen Xiao? Didn't he go to the North Sea Ice Abyss to carry out a mission? How did he get injured like this!"

"Stop talking nonsense! Quickly! Take him to the Discipline Hall! The medicinal garden was robbed, and Elder Yao gave a strict order: any suspicious person must be taken for interrogation first!"

Inside the Discipline Hall, the lights were bright.

On the dais, a middle-aged man with a square face and an imposing manner sat in the center, wearing a black robe embroidered with legal runes. He was none other than the Head of Discipline Hall, Zhou Tong.

His eyes, sharp as a hawk's, scanned everyone in the hall.

Lin Yun stood below, his face so gloomy it seemed ready to drip water.

Beside him, a sharp-featured, monkey-faced Deacon at the Golden Core Stage was spitting as he spoke to Zhou Tong; it was Lin Yun's lackey, Deacon Sun.

Just then, the doors were pushed open, and two mountain patrol Disciples walked in, supporting a person who was exuding cold Qi and appeared to have lost consciousness.

"Head of Discipline Hall, we found Senior Brother Shen Xiao on the East Mountain Path. He is severely injured and has fallen into a coma!"

Lin Yun's pupils shrank, and he stared fixedly at the "corpse" being carried in.

It's him! Shen Xiao! How could he not have died in the medicinal garden?

Without waiting for Zhou Tong to speak, Lin Yun stepped forward, pointing at Shen Xiao with righteous indignation, his voice booming like a bell: "Head of Discipline Hall! It must be this scoundrel! The medicinal garden was robbed, the Sect's Formation was broken—the commotion was so great, how could a mere Disciple at the Foundation Establishment Stage (Middle Stage) escape from Elder Yao, who is at the Golden Core Stage (Late Stage)? He must have colluded with Yao Beasts, working from the inside to steal the Sect's precious treasures!"

Deacon Sun, standing beside him, immediately understood and stepped forward, echoing him in a sarcastic tone: "Head of Discipline Hall, Junior Nephew Lin is absolutely right. In my opinion, this Shen Xiao is not only an inside traitor, but he must also be hiding some unspeakable treasure. The net cast by Elder Yao is so tight that even we Golden Core Stage Cultivators would be unable to escape, yet he, a mere Foundation Establishment... Heh, that's an utter joke! I propose we immediately conduct a Soul Search on him! The truth will naturally come to light!"

When the words "Soul Search" were uttered, the hall was in an uproar.

This was the most overbearing interrogation method in the Cultivation world; once applied, the victim would at best become an idiot, and at worst, their Soul would fly away and their Spirit would scatter on the spot.

Just at this tense moment, the "corpse" being supported suddenly began to tremble violently.

"Cough... Cough, cough!"

Shen Xiao suddenly opened his eyes, as if startled awake by their words. He struggled to stand steady, but was hit by another bout of violent coughing.

This time, what he spat out was not just blood, but black blood mixed with tiny shards of ice!

Those ice shards landed on the bluestone floor, emitting a "hissing" corrosive sound and rising wisps of white smoke.

This scene caused everyone in the hall to change their expressions.

What an overbearing cold poison!

Shen Xiao was on his last breath, as if he could die at any moment.

He did not look at Lin Yun, but instead used all his strength to cup his hands toward Zhou Tong on the dais, his voice hoarse and weak: "Head of Discipline Hall... Disciple... Disciple is wronged..."

He gasped for air, speaking intermittently: "Disciple... finished Cultivating last night and noticed unusual activity in the direction of the medicinal garden... Thinking of the Sect's property, I dared not neglect it... and went to investigate... Who knew... I would bump into a black shadow and a... a Yao Beast covered in cold Qi... stealing Spiritual Plants..."

"Disciple knew I was no match for them, so I immediately sent out... a distress talisman... but... but no one answered..." At this point, he suddenly raised his head, his bloodshot eyes staring fixedly at Lin Yun, "At that time... Senior Brother Lin Yun was on a nearby mountain peak! I would never mistake his aura! Why... why did you refuse to save me?!"

This accusation struck Lin Yun's heart like a heavy hammer.

He had indeed sensed the chaos in the medicinal garden at the time, and he had also detected Shen Xiao's aura!

But he thought Shen Xiao was dead for sure, and he had been hoping for him to be killed on the spot by Elder Yao—how could he possibly have saved him?

"Nonsense!" Lin Yun panicked inside, but on the surface, he flew into a rage and denied it vehemently: "I didn't receive any distress signal at all! You thief, don't try to slander me and divert attention!"

He spoke with absolute certainty, but the flash of shock and panic deep in his eyes did not escape the sharp eyes of Zhou Tong on the dais.

Zhou Tong frowned slightly, said nothing, and just watched quietly.

Seeing this, Shen Xiao revealed a miserable, wretched smile on his face, as if he had lost all hope.

He turned his head away, no longer looking at Lin Yun, and shouted to Zhou Tong with his last ounce of strength: "Head of Discipline Hall! Disciple knows my words are insignificant and I cannot fight against a Child of Destiny! To prove my innocence, Disciple... is willing to accept a spiritual power examination! I only ask that the Head of Discipline Hall... uncover the truth and grant me justice!"

After saying this, his vision went black, and he "fainted" once again.

"Summon Elder Liu!" Zhou Tong finally spoke, his voice as steady as a mountain.

Soon, an Elder with a gentle aura who specialized in medical treatment was summoned.

He walked to Shen Xiao's side, extended two fingers, and placed them on Shen Xiao's wrist, slowly probing his body with a wisp of pure spiritual power.

A moment later, Elder Liu withdrew his fingers, his expression becoming extremely grave.

He stood up and cupped his hands to Zhou Tong: "Head of Discipline Hall, the examination is clear. This Disciple's Meridians have multiple ruptures, and his internal organs have all suffered heavy damage. The traces of spiritual power collision... perfectly match the characteristics of a Formation backlash."

He paused, his tone becoming heavier: "What's more troublesome is that a highly Yin-cold and overbearing evil poison is entrenched in his Dantian, continuously eroding his life force. Judging from the aura, it seems to be 'mystic ice evil poison'. If it is not cleared as soon as possible, within three days, his Dantian will be ruined, and his life will be in danger!"

Once these words were spoken, the entire hall was shocked.

This conclusion fit perfectly with Shen Xiao's account of "encountering a Yao Beast attack and being heavily injured after accidentally triggering a Formation while pursuing," confirming it completely!

Zhou Tong's face was as calm as water, his gaze like lightning as he slowly turned toward Lin Yun.

Lin Yun's face had turned from gloomy to deathly pale.

"Summon Xia Lengbai." Zhou Tong coldly spat out the three words.

Not long after, Xia Lengbai, dressed in white, walked into the hall.

She glanced at the "unconscious" Shen Xiao on the ground, then at the unsightly Lin Yun, a trace of confusion flashing in her beautiful eyes.

Zhou Tong's voice carried no emotion: "Xia Lengbai, last night at the hour of the Rat, were you on East Arrival Peak with Lin Yun? Did you sense any unusual activity in the direction of the medicinal garden?"

Xia Lengbai frowned in thought.

Having had part of her memory plundered, she found many details of that time to be blurry, leaving only a few fragmented pieces.

She tried hard to recall, and in the end, she could only answer truthfully: "Replying to the Head of Discipline Hall, I... I am not sure. At the time, Senior Brother Lin did indeed have an unusual expression and was restless, as if he had sensed something, but he... he did not take any action; he just told me not to ask any more questions."

This vague testimony became the straw that broke the camel's back.

"Not sure" meant it might have existed!

Being "restless" but taking "no action" was in itself the biggest suspicious point!

The public opinion in the hall reversed instantly!

Everyone's gaze shifted from Shen Xiao to Lin Yun, filled with suspicion, disdain, and scrutiny.

"So he really did refuse to save him!"

"My god, a fellow Disciple was in danger, and he just watched from the side?"

"And he's a Child of Destiny? His heart is so narrow-minded; he is simply a disgrace to us Cultivators!"

Lin Yun's body began to tremble uncontrollably. He wanted to defend himself, but he found that whatever he said was wrong.

Say he didn't sense it?

Xia Lengbai had already testified that he was restless!

Say he sensed it but didn't receive the distress talisman?

Who would believe that?

He had been firmly nailed to the pillar of shame for "refusing to save a life and framing a fellow Disciple" by Shen Xiao!

"Enough!"

Zhou Tong let out a sharp shout, suppressing all discussion.

He stood up, looked down at the ashen-faced Lin Yun, and pronounced the judgment word by word:

"Upon investigation, Disciple Shen Xiao was investigating a major Sect case and unfortunately encountered danger, suffering heavy injuries. His conduct is commendable, and his determination is worthy of praise! Lin Yun, as a model for the Sect, refused to save a fellow Disciple in danger, and afterwards even attempted to frame a loyal Disciple—your heart is punishable!"

"I hereby judge that Lin Yun shall compensate Shen Xiao with three thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones and three bottles of the sacred healing Medicinal Pill 'Purple Sun Pill' as compensation! Furthermore, you are sentenced to confinement in the Cliff of Reflection for one month to reflect on your actions!"

Under the disdainful gaze of the entire hall of Disciples, Lin Yun almost crunched his back teeth together. He counted out three thousand Spirit Stones and three bottles of Medicinal Pills from his Storage Pouch and handed them over to a Deacon nearby in humiliation.

The Deacon walked to Shen Xiao's side and placed the items into his arms.

The moment the cold Spirit Stones and the warm jade bottles touched Shen Xiao's body, that pleasant System notification sound arrived in his mind exactly as expected!

[Ding! Detected that the Child of Destiny's reputation has been severely damaged, and his Luck is fluctuating!]

[Congratulations to the host, successfully plundered the Child of Destiny's Luck, gained 5 points of destiny value!]

[New function unlocked: Opportunity Interception Reminder has been activated!]

Shen Xiao's eyelids moved slightly, as if struggling to wake from his coma.

He weakly cupped his hands toward Zhou Tong: "Thank... thank you, Head of Discipline Hall... for upholding justice..."

And in his field of vision, on the System map that only he could see, a brand-new red light spot marked "Heavenly Dao Scripture Pavilion" was slowly emerging at the peak of the back mountain of the Qingming Sect, flickering with an alluring glow.