676: Chapter 676 Lu Xueqi and Biyao (55)

Over the next month, Tianya Peak was immersed in a peculiar calm.

Su Han rose every morning at dawn to practice his swordplay. The second form of the Tianya Nine Swords, "Opening the Heavens," was far more complex than the first. This strike did not emphasize power but rather Concept; it required the sword to be swung as if creating the world, slashing through all shackles. The first move alone, "Daybreak," required condensing the body's entire Star Power into a single point at the moment of the strike. Before the blade even arrived, the Sword Intent would already be crushing the enemy's soul.

He practiced for seven whole days before barely managing to grasp the basics.

What worried him even more was his Senior Sister's condition. Since returning from the Secret Realm, the luster of the heart-clearing pendant had grown dimmer by the day, and Yu Heng's voice had become increasingly weak, sometimes remaining silent for an entire day. Su Han knew that the erosion of Senior Sister's Soul Power by evil thoughts was intensifying.

“I must find a way as soon as possible.” He stared at the tianya sword in his hand, his brow furrowed.

One afternoon, Elder Lin suddenly came to the small courtyard with a solemn expression.

“Su Han, there is something I must tell you.” The old man sat down and hesitated for a moment before speaking. “There have been some unusual movements within the Sect recently, likely related to what you and Ye Wuhen obtained in the Secret Realm.”

“Unusual movements?”

“Someone is secretly investigating what you two brought back from the Secret Realm.” Elder Lin lowered his voice. “Especially the news regarding the ‘green jade lotus root’; it seems to have leaked out.”

Su Han’s heart tightened. The Nine-Section green jade lotus root was a rare auxiliary Spirit Medicine for the Star Palace Realm, capable of significantly increasing the purity of Star Power and even benefiting Cultivators of higher Realms. Such a treasure was enough to attract greed.

“Who would do such a thing?” Su Han asked.

Elder Lin shook his head. “It’s hard to say. It could be someone within the Sect, or perhaps a spy from an outside Sect. Regardless, you must be careful. Try to avoid leaving Tianya Peak during this time. If anyone tries to probe you, simply claim you know nothing.”

“This Disciple understands.”

After Elder Lin left, Su Han sat in deep thought for a long time. An ordinary man is innocent, but possessing a treasure makes him guilty—he understood this logic. He just hadn't expected trouble to arrive so quickly.

The next day, someone indeed came to his door.

The visitor was an unfamiliar Inner Sect Disciple who claimed his surname was Zhao. He said he was sent by a certain Elder to inquire about the disposal of the Crocodile Dragon corpse from the Secret Realm, but his tone was evasive, and his gaze frequently drifted toward Su Han’s waist—where a Storage Pouch was hanging.

Su Han remained composed, stating only that all Crocodile Dragon Materials had been handed over to the Sect, and he had only received a small amount of flesh and blood for his Cultivation. The other party clearly didn't believe him but didn't dare use force, leaving resentfully.

Over the following days, several more similar probes occurred, all of which Su Han dealt with.

But matters did not settle there.

On the morning of the seventh day, a piece of news spread through Tianya Peak: Deacon Zhang, who was responsible for guarding the Spirit Medicine Garden, had been attacked last night and was seriously injured. Three century-old Spirit Medicines in the garden were stolen. Furthermore, according to eyewitness descriptions, the sword technique used by the attacker bore a striking resemblance to the Tianya Nine Swords!

When the news reached Su Han’s ears, he was practicing his sword in the courtyard.

“A frame-up?” He sheathed his sword and stood still, his gaze turning cold.

The method wasn't clever, but it was insidious enough. The Tianya Nine Swords was a top-tier sword technique of the Qingyun Sect, and among the younger generation, only Su Han had learned it. If this was pinned on him, not only would he be punished, but even Tianya Peak would be implicated.

Sure enough, just after noon, people from the Law Enforcement Hall arrived.

The leader was the Vice Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall, Zhou He, a Cultivator at the Late Stage of the Star Palace Realm with a cold expression. Behind him followed four law enforcement Disciples, each possessing a robust aura.

“Su Han, by order of the Sect Master, please come to the Law Enforcement Hall for questioning,” Zhou He said expressionlessly.

Elder Lin rushed over upon hearing the news and blocked the way in front of Su Han. “Hall Master Zhou, this matter hasn't been investigated thoroughly yet. Taking someone away based on a few descriptions is a bit hasty.”

“Elder Lin, I understand your eagerness to protect your Disciple,” Zhou He’s tone was flat. “But it is a fact that the Spirit Medicines were stolen, and it is a fact that Deacon Zhang is seriously injured. Since Su Han possesses the tianya sword technique, he must naturally cooperate with the investigation. If he is innocent, the Law Enforcement Hall will naturally give him justice.”

“You—”

“Master, I will go,” Su Han stepped forward and said calmly. “An innocent person has nothing to hide.”

Elder Lin looked at him and finally sighed, stepping aside.

The Law Enforcement Hall was located halfway up the main peak, a solemn and majestic palace built of black stone. Several people were already seated inside; besides Sect Master Yun Qingzi and several Elders, there were also two strangers.

One was a middle-aged man in purple robes with an aura as deep as the ocean—he was actually a powerhouse of the Star River Realm. The other was a young man in his early twenties, dressed in fine silk and jade belts, with an arrogant face and a Cultivation at the Middle Stage of the Star Palace Realm.

“Yun Qingzi, Elders.” Su Han bowed.

Yun Qingzi nodded slightly, his expression unreadable. He pointed to the purple-robed man. “This is the Grand Elder of the Ziyang Sect, Venerable Yang Yan. Beside him is his Personal Disciple, Luo Tianyu.”

The Ziyang Sect was one of the seven major Sects of the Eastern Region. It had long-standing dealings with the Qingyun Sect, but their relationship was delicate.

Venerable Yang Yan nodded slightly, his gaze like a torch as he scrutinized Su Han, seemingly trying to see through everything about him. Luo Tianyu made no effort to hide the scrutiny and contempt in his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“Su Han, do you have anything to say regarding the incident at the Spirit Medicine Garden last night?” the presiding Elder of the Law Enforcement Hall asked in a heavy voice.

“This Disciple was Cultivating on Tianya Peak all last night; my Master and Senior Brother Lin can testify to that.” Su Han was neither humble nor arrogant.

“Cultivating? Who can prove you didn't leave midway?” an Elder with a sinister face said coldly. “As far as I know, Tianya Peak has no Formations or Restrictions; one can come and go freely.”

Su Han looked at the speaker—the Punishment Hall Elder, Li Xuanfeng, who had always been on bad terms with Tianya Peak.

“Elder Li's words are incorrect.” Elder Lin's voice came from outside the hall as the old man strode in. “Although my Tianya Peak has no Restrictions, the place where Su Han Cultivates is less than a hundred feet from my residence. If he had left, how could I not know?”

“Elder Lin is Su Han’s Master; his testimony is bound to be biased,” Li Xuanfeng sneered.

“You—”

“Enough,” Yun Qingzi interrupted. “We will set that matter aside for now. The reason everyone was summoned today is for another matter.”

He looked at Venerable Yang Yan. “Immortal Master, you tell them.”

Venerable Yang Yan slowly stood up, his voice resonant. “Three days ago, someone infiltrated my Ziyang Sect’s Forbidden Ground, the ‘Burning Sun Valley,’ and stole a ‘Crimson Essence Fire Lotus.’ When the guardian Elder pursued, they exchanged blows with the thief and recognized the sword technique used as your Sect’s Tianya Nine Swords.”

The hall immediately erupted into an uproar.

The Tianya Nine Swords was one of the Qingyun Sect's foundational sword techniques, and historically, only core true Disciples were qualified to practice it. Currently, among the younger generation, Su Han was the only one who had openly learned this sword.

“Does the Immortal Master mean to say that the one who stole the Crimson Essence Fire Lotus was a Disciple of my Qingyun Sect?” an Elder asked in a heavy tone.

“I do not dare to make a rash judgment,” Venerable Yang Yan said calmly. “But the sword technique cannot be faked. My presence here today is firstly to ask your Sect to assist in the investigation, and secondly, to see for myself what kind of extraordinary qualities this young talent of your Sect, who has learned the Tianya Nine Swords, possesses.”

Having said this much, his intention was obvious—he wanted to test Su Han’s swordplay. (End of Chapter)