30: I can't give this explanation.

In the ruins of Lin Fan's small courtyard, a deathly silence reigned.

He was curled up on the ground, his body convulsing violently, a roar tearing from his throat.

Inside the ring, the old man's ethereal soul projection watched this scene silently, the last sliver of hope finally dissipating completely.

The old man did not try to persuade him further; he simply withdrew his gaze in silence.

"Boom!"

A world-shaking aura suddenly erupted from Lin Fan's body!

Lin Fan slowly rose from the ground.

Seventh Realm Soul Transformation Late Stage!

Just one Medicinal Pill allowed him to leap from Sixth Realm Nascent Soul Early Stage, crossing an entire major Realm and even reaching Seventh Realm Soul Transformation Late Stage!

"Power... this is power..." Lin Fan felt the unprecedentedly powerful spiritual energy within his body and burst into laughter.

"Hahahahaha! Jiang Chen!"

"One month later! Holy Land Grand Competition! I want you dead! I will make sure you die!"

At the same time, the events that transpired at Tingxue Pavilion, after several days of fermentation, had already spread throughout Hongtian Holy Land, giving rise to countless versions.

Some said that the Saint Jiang Chen and the Su family's Fairy were having a secret rendezvous at Tingxue Pavilion, which was discovered by Xu Ying, and the Saint, enraged, killed him to silence him.

Others claimed that Xu Ying had intended to commit an indecent act but was instead purged by the Saint.

Even more, some wove Lin Fan, Su Qinger, Xu Ying, and Jiang Chen into a thrilling drama of love, hate, and revenge, which storytellers would embellish and divide into three parts: upper, middle, and lower.

But no matter the version, Xu Ying's demise became a recognized fact.

This news naturally reached the ears of Xu Ying's Revered Master, Daoist Tian Xuan.

Hongtian Holy Land, deep within Elder Peak.

The stone door of an Immortal Cave, shrouded by layers of Restrictions, exploded with a bang!

"Roar!"

A roar filled with endless fury, like thunder from the Nine Heavens, echoed throughout the entire Elder Peak area.

A terrifying pressure belonging to a Ninth Realm Saint Late Stage Cultivator swept out like a mountain collapse and a tsunami.

"Who! Who killed my Disciple!!!"

An old man with disheveled hair and beard, wearing a scarlet Daoist robe, floated in the air, his eyes blood-red.

It was none other than Hongtian Holy Land's Third Elder, Daoist Tian Xuan!

He had no children in his life and had long regarded Xu Ying, who was exceptionally talented and knew how to please him, as his own, imparting everything he knew.

Now, hearing of his beloved Disciple's tragic death, how could he tolerate it!

A steward responsible for guarding the Immortal Cave flew forward tremblingly, knelt in mid-air, and stammered, "Reporting to Third Elder, according to... according to rumors, Senior Brother Xu Ying... was killed by... by the Saint... at Tingxue Pavilion!"

"Jiang Chen?!"

Daoist Tian Xuan's rage intensified upon hearing that name.

The Saint's lineage and their Elder lineage had been openly and secretly contending for many years.

He had long disliked that overbearing and unmotivated Saint.

"Good! What a Saint! What a Jiang Chen!"

Daoist Tian Xuan laughed in extreme anger, his laughter filled with chilling killing intent, "Killing my Disciple, and daring to let it be known to all! This is clearly not putting me, Tian Xuan, in his eyes!"

"Does he think that just because he is the Saint, this old man wouldn't dare to touch him!"

Before his words finished, Daoist Tian Xuan transformed into a scarlet rainbow piercing through the heavens and earth, rushing directly towards Holy Son Peak without the slightest hesitation!

He didn't even bother to verify the truth of the matter, nor did he seek out the Holy Lord for an explanation.

In his opinion, his Disciple was dead, and the culprit pointed to Jiang Chen; that was enough!

Today, he would personally cripple this so-called Saint and demand justice for his beloved Disciple!

The entire Hongtian Holy Land was startled by this sudden development.

Countless Divine Senses, countless pairs of eyes, all converged on its target, Holy Son Peak.

On Holy Son Peak, Jiang Chen was sitting on a recliner by the cliff, leisurely sipping the tea Jiang Jiu had just brewed.

Feeling the undisguised Saint's pressure rushing straight towards him, he didn't even bother to lift an eyelid.

"Tsk."

He gently blew on the hot steam in his cup, "The tea was just brewed, and he delivered himself to my doorstep. How disappointing."

The scarlet rainbow tore through the sea of clouds, carrying the terrifying might of burning mountains and boiling seas, and arrived above Holy Son Peak in an instant.

Daoist Tian Xuan's pressure as a Saint Late Stage Cultivator poured down without reservation, causing the entire Holy Son Peak to hum.

"Jiang Chen! Get out here and die!"

The angry roar was like a tangible sound wave, causing ripples in space.

However, the expected scene of Holy Son Peak's Formations fully activated and ready for battle did not appear.

The entire mountain peak was silent; the young man in white, whiter than snow, by the cliff was still comfortably lying on his chair, slowly sipping his tea.

This extreme disregard infuriated Daoist Tian Xuan more than any resistance.

"Little beast! How dare you insult me so!"

He roared, raising his hand and striking down with a palm.

A colossal hand formed by fiery spiritual energy appeared in the sky, carrying power capable of smashing mountains, and pressed down towards Jiang Chen's head.

Just then, a ghostly figure appeared silently in front of Jiang Chen.

Jiang Jiu simply raised his right hand calmly and threw a punch.

There was no earth-shattering display of power, just such an ordinary punch.

That giant palm, which would have driven ordinary Eighth Realm Mahayana Cultivators to despair, began to shatter inch by inch, annihilating.

"Hmm?!" Daoist Tian Xuan's pupils suddenly constricted.

He stared intently at the black-robed man.

Tenth Realm Harmonization Stage!

Moreover, he was definitely not merely an initial Hedao Realm Cultivator!

When did Jiang Chen acquire a Guardian of this Rank?

Jiang Chen slowly put down his teacup, sat up from the recliner, and stretched lazily.

"Third Elder, why are you so agitated? Have you been in seclusion for too long and can't hold it in, coming to me to vent?"

His voice was not loud, but it clearly spread throughout the entire mountain peak, and also reached the ears of countless people who were peeking with their Divine Sense.

Daoist Tian Xuan's face darkened, and he sternly shouted, "Impudent child! You conspired to murder a fellow Disciple, using cruel methods, acting like a Demonic Path Cultivator! Today, this old man shall act on behalf of the Dao and purge the Holy Land!"

Jiang Chen stood up, his gaze calmly meeting Daoist Tian Xuan's.

"Third Elder, do you even believe what you're saying?"

"Xu Ying set up the Joyful Union Sect forbidden medicine, spirit-bewitching incense (forbidden medicine), in Tingxue Pavilion, intending to commit an indecent act against the Su family's Young Miss. There are witnesses and material evidence."

"The Su family's Young Miss is my invited guest. Xu Ying's actions were discovered by me, and he, enraged, attacked me, committing insubordination. I executed him on the spot. This is called purging the Holy Land; how does it become me framing him in your mouth?"

Jiang Chen's voice was unhurried and articulate.

"You!" Daoist Tian Xuan was momentarily speechless.

After emerging from seclusion, his anger had overwhelmed him, and he hadn't bothered to understand the details. Now, being called out by Jiang Chen in public, he was at a loss.

"What about me?"

Jiang Chen's gaze suddenly turned cold, "Or, Third Elder, do you think it was perfectly reasonable for your precious Disciple to harbor ill intentions? And for me, as the Saint, to uphold the Holy Land's reputation, that becomes a crime?"

"Nonsense!"

Daoist Tian Xuan vehemently argued, "My Disciple Xu Ying is of noble character and gentle demeanor; how could he do such a despicable thing! It's clearly you who coveted the Su family's girl and deliberately framed him!"

"Noble character?"

The sarcasm on Jiang Chen's lips grew stronger, "A fellow who has an unclear relationship with a Joyful Union Sect demoness and secretly possesses forbidden medicine, in your mouth, becomes of noble character? Third Elder, your eye for judging people is not very good, is it?"

Jiang Chen's words were like a resounding slap across Daoist Tian Xuan's face.

The surrounding people who were peeking with their Divine Sense were also in an uproar.

Although they had long suspected it, getting confirmation from Jiang Chen still caused a considerable stir.

Especially the words 'spirit-bewitching incense (forbidden medicine)' and 'Joyful Union Sect demoness' instantly shattered Xu Ying's image as a gentleman.

"Silver-tongued!"

Daoist Tian Xuan roared, "No matter what you say, it's a fact that you killed my Disciple! Today, you must give this old man an explanation!"

"An explanation?" Jiang Chen's eyebrows furrowed, "What kind of explanation do you want?"

"Very simple!" A murderous glint flashed in Daoist Tian Xuan's eyes, "Crippling your cultivation, so you can also taste my Disciple's pain!"

"Oh." Jiang Chen nodded, thought seriously for a moment, and then smiled.

"I can't give you that explanation."