143: Chapter 143 The sect was shaken, and the evidence was irrefutable.

"This place is not suitable for a long stay, let us return."

Yun Qinghan lightly waved her sleeve, and a warm, gentle force instantly enveloped Zhao Ruoan.

The next instant, the space beneath the two figures twisted and folded, and the surrounding scenery rapidly transformed.

In merely a single breath, they crossed thousands of miles of rivers and mountains, returning once more to the peak of Qinghan Peak, which was wreathed in clouds and mist and filled with ethereal Immortal Qi.

As for the Pill God Immortal Cave deeply hidden beneath the ground of Luoyun Marsh, the moment the two of them left, it collapsed with a roar, completely buried by a sky-filling mudslide, erasing all traces of its existence as if it had never appeared in this world.

...

Qingxuan Sect, Discussion Hall.

Master Xuanyang, the Sect Master, sat upright in the primary seat, with the peak masters and ruling Elders of various peaks all seated in attendance. The atmosphere in the massive hall was dense to the extreme, oppressive enough to make one unable to breathe.

Everyone's gazes were locked dead onto the center of the hall.

There, a slender and dim Primordial Spirit figure was tightly bound by several golden chains, kneeling on the ground and unable to rise. It was precisely the ruling Elder of the Disciplinary Hall, Elder Liu Changfeng.

By his side quietly lay a cold, rigid Physical Body, which was the corpse of the Blood Fiend Sect's Nascent Soul Elder Xue Tu.

"Everyone, take a clear look."

Master Xuanyang's face was as gloomy as water, his voice suppressing towering fury.

He raised his hand and tossed out a memory crystal, which floated in mid-air and suddenly burst forth with a pearlescent white light.

A three-dimensional, vivid light-and-shadow image slowly unfolded, clearly presenting the entire process of Zhao Ruoan interrogating Elder Liu Changfeng's Primordial Spirit inside the Pill God Immortal Cave.

From Elder Liu Changfeng personally admitting that he was the internal mole "Shadow", colluding with the Blood Fiend Sect to leak Sect intelligence in exchange for Cultivation resources, to his greed arising and his delusional attempt to seize Zhao Ruoan's Opportunity, all these crimes had iron-clad evidence and were indisputable.

As the image came to an end, dead silence filled the hall.

The various Elders were filled with shock, anger, and disbelief, remaining silent for a long time.

"Elder Liu Changfeng! The Sect treated you with immense kindness as heavy as a mountain, yet you are so wolf-hearted and dog-lunged, colluding with the Demonic Path and betraying the Sect!"

An Elder with a fiery temper pointed a finger at the Primordial Spirit, trembling all over with anger.

"Beast! You are simply an ungrateful beast!"

"In the past, I called you brother, but thinking of it now, it is utterly ridiculous!"

Sounds of furious rebuke and cursing rose and fell, echoing through the hall.

Elder Liu Changfeng's Primordial Spirit collapsed and knelt on the ground, his face ashen like dead ashes, his eyes hollow, saying not a single word.

With iron-clad evidence before him, any defense was pale and powerless.

He was completely finished.

Master Xuanyang's gaze slowly swept across the crowd, finally landing on Zhao Ruoan, who stood quietly behind Yun Qinghan.

The youth's posture was upright and his expression calm, as if this storm that shook the entire Sect had nothing to do with him.

Master Xuanyang's heart was filled with a mixture of emotions. Aside from gratification and admiration, there was even more deep-seated apprehension.

This child was far too astonishing.

Leaving aside his rapid cultivation progress in less than a year since entering the Sect, this level of mindset, strategy, and boldness far surpassed ordinary people.

Setting a trap with his own body and laying down a fatal game to eradicate the Sect's internal mole in one fell swoop, and even taking the Opportunity to slay a Nascent Soul Stage Demonic Path behemoth!

Such battle achievements and such methods made even those of them who had lived for hundreds of years feel inferior.

Especially when recalling Elder Xue Tu's miserable state of death with shattered bones and severed Meridians, Master Xuanyang's shock was even greater.

Nascent Soul Cultivators had strong physical bodies and monstrous battle strength, and could by no means be crushed by ordinary Formations.

This meant that Zhao Ruoan, or Yun Qinghan behind him, grasped terrifying strength sufficient to easily crush Nascent Soul Cultivators!

Since when did the Qingxuan Sect gain such a terrifying mighty figure?

"Ruoan." Master Xuanyang collected his thoughts, his tone gentle and carrying full appreciation, "This time you have established immortal merits for the Sect, purging the traitor and slaying the Demonic Path, and you deserve a heavy reward."

"Speak your mind without hesitation; Cultivation Technique, Magic Treasure, Medicinal Pill, Opportunity—as long as the Sect possesses it, this seat will satisfy you entirely."

These words carried extremely heavy weight, and the Elders throughout the hall successively cast envious gazes.

Zhao Ruoan slightly bowed, neither humble nor pushy, his voice clear and bright: "Reporting to Sect Master, as a Disciple of the Qingxuan Sect, purging villains and resisting the Demonic Path for the Sect is my innate duty, and I dare not claim credit."

"This Disciple has only one matter to earnestly request."

"Speak." Master Xuanyang's eyes grew even more interested.

Zhao Ruoan raised his gaze, his eyes clear and firm, every word clanging: "This Disciple earnestly requests the Sect Master to thoroughly investigate this case! Although Elder Liu Changfeng has been brought to justice, there may still be accomplices and remaining evils behind him! The Blood Fiend Sect's heart to destroy our Qingxuan Sect remains unextinguished, and their tricks emerge endlessly; we must never lower our guard!"

"I earnestly request the Sect Master to take this as a warning, purge the filth of the Sect, and return a clear and bright universe to our Qingxuan Sect!"

These words were righteous and resounding, moving the crowd of Elders immensely.

Not coveting credit, not admiring profit, keeping the Sect's safety in heart, his framework and breadth of mind far surpassed his peers—he was truly the fortune of the Sect!

"Good! Well said!" Master Xuanyang clapped his hands and laughed aloud, full of approval, "This seat grants your request! From today onward, the Disciplinary Hall shall combine with various peaks to self-investigate and self-correct; anyone tainted with the Demonic Path or harboring disloyal intentions, once verified, shall never be tolerated!"

He pondered for a moment, his gaze falling back onto Zhao Ruoan, and announced in a loud voice: "This seat bestows upon you one Sect Master Token; seeing the token is like seeing this seat in person! The seventh floor of the Sect's Scripture Pavilion is open to you without any threshold, you may freely choose three supreme treasures from the Sect's treasure vault, and you are additionally rewarded with one million Sect contribution points!"

"Hiss—"

As his voice fell, the Elders throughout the hall simultaneously drew in a breath of cold air, their expressions shocked.

This reward was far too heavy!

The Sect Master Token was the Sect's Legacy keepsake, and apart from the Sect Master himself, historically only the designated next Sect Master had the qualification to wield it!

The seventh floor of the Scripture Pavilion sealed away the supreme Divine Abilities and top-tier secrets of the Sect accumulated over tens of thousands of years, which ordinary Elders had no fate to set foot in throughout their lives!

Choosing three items from the treasure vault and one million contribution points were even more exceptional honors.

Everyone knew very well that from this moment on, Zhao Ruoan was no longer a pure Genius Disciple, but had already stepped into the core of the Qingxuan Sect's power, enjoying the treatment of the Sect's future successor!

Right at the moment when the whole hall was shaken, an untimely, steady voice suddenly rang out.

"Sect Master, this matter is likely improper."

The crowd looked toward the source of the voice, only to see Danding Peak Master Zhang Taixu slowly walking out of the ranks.

This Grand Elder, who had always possessed the air of an immortal and remained aloof from worldly affairs, currently had a grave face and a solemn expression.

"Senior Brother Zhang, why do you say that?" Master Xuanyang's brow slightly furrowed.

Zhang Taixu walked to the center of the hall, first faintly sweeping a glance at Zhao Ruoan, then cupping his hands toward Master Xuanyang with a stern expression: "Sect Master, Disciple nephew Zhao has established great merit, and rewards are only natural. However, the Sect Master Token is a heavy artifact of the Sect's Legacy. To rashly bestow it upon a Disciple who has entered the Sect for less than a year is far too hasty and will be difficult to convince the masses."

His words changed direction, his gaze growing several degrees sharper: "Furthermore, Disciple nephew Zhao used Foundation Establishment cultivation to slay a Nascent Soul Demonic Path Cultivator; this matter is full of doubts. The bizarre Formation he utilized has transcendent might and is not our Qingxuan Sect's Legacy art. Before investigating his origins and the details of his Cultivation Technique, rashly bestowing supreme honors may invite wolves into the house and harm the Sect."

As these words came out, the hall instantly broke into an uproar.

Zhang Taixu actually publicly questioned Zhao Ruoan, even hinting that his identity was questionable and that he might be a second Elder Liu Changfeng!

Just as the crowd was discussing spiritedly, an icy-cold voice that chilled to the bone suddenly resounded through the entire hall, suppressing all miscellaneous noises.

"Zhang Taixu, when you want to investigate my Disciple, have you ever asked me whether I agree or not?"

Yun Qinghan slowly stood up, her cold eyes gazing calmly at Zhang Taixu. Without a shred of pressure leaking out, she caused the temperature of the entire hall to plummet abruptly.

Meeting her gaze, Zhang Taixu's body suddenly stiffened, and ultimate trembling and fear welled up from the depths of his Soul, as if he were directly facing an entire cold and vast starry sky, making even breathing difficult.

Dense cold sweat beaded on his forehead. Forcing himself to steady his posture, his voice was dry: "Yun... Junior Sister Yun, this old man... this old man is entirely considering the overall situation of the Sect and harbors no malicious intent."

"For the Sect?" Yun Qinghan's gaze was indifferent, her tone domineering and leaving no room for question, "My Disciple, I shall naturally discipline him. His origins, his cultivation, his Cultivation Technique—it is not up to outsiders to make irresponsible remarks. If you insist on investigating, get past my barrier first."