95: Third Life: How Am I the Villain? (59)

Three months flew by amidst tense and orderly preparations.

On this day, the Overlord Blade Sect was decorated with lanterns and festoons both inside and outside the mountain gate, filled with dense Spiritual Qi. The massive plaza had long been prepared, and guests were gathered in crowds.

Almost all the reputable Sects and Families in the Southern Region had sent representatives; either the Sect Masters or Elders came in person, or they dispatched elite Disciples from their ranks.

Friendly Sects like the Liuyun Pavilion were naturally beaming with joy as they presented generous gifts. Powers like Black Iron Mountain and Purple Cloud Pavilion maintained superficial courtesy and offered congratulatory gifts. Even the Joyful Union Sect was led by its beautiful Sect Master in person, who presented a valuable gift, though no one knew how much coldness was hidden behind that smile.

Xu Yuan was dressed in a brand-new Sect Master's robe, embroidered with the Overlord Blade Sect's unique sword patterns. Although young, his bearing was composed, and there was a natural majesty between his brows.

He stood before the main hall, calmly responding to the congratulations from guests of all sides. His demeanor was appropriate and generous, neither humble nor arrogant, causing many older generation Cultivators to nod in approval.

Xu Xingchen of the Burning Sun Upper Sect also arrived with his Sect Elders. Seeing Xu Yuan, whose elegance surpassed his past, a hint of complexity flashed in his eyes, but it was mostly sincere well-wishes as he raised his cup from afar.

Xu Yuan also smiled and nodded in response.

The atmosphere was warm, and both host and guests were delighted.

Even Luo Chen, the Sword Child of the Mystical Heaven Sword Sect, came to observe the ceremony on behalf of his Sect.

Upon seeing Xu Yuan, a burning Battle Intent ignited in his eyes, but knowing the special occasion, he suppressed his impulse, stepped forward, and cupped his hands, saying: "Sect Master Chen, congratulations! It is inconvenient to spar today, but when you are free in the future, how about you and I continue the unfinished battle from the Elite Battle?"

Xu Yuan looked at Luo Chen and smiled slightly, readily agreeing: "Since Fellow Daoist Luo has invited me, I shall certainly accompany you."

"Once matters here are settled, you and I shall have another battle; it will surely be satisfying!"

The two smiled at each other, the mutual appreciation between heroes unspoken.

The ceremony proceeded in an orderly manner, and the atmosphere gradually reached its climax.

Just at the critical moment when Qin Zhantian held the Sect Master's seal, ready to officially pass it to Xu Yuan and complete the final ritual—

"Wait!"

A voice filled with resentment and bone-chilling coldness suddenly rang out, instantly drowning out all the noise in the plaza!

An incomparably powerful Aura, far exceeding that of an ordinary Foundation Establishment Perfection, and even carrying a trace of strange Evil Qi, swept across the entire plaza like a storm, causing the expressions of all the guests present to change drastically!

A black shadow appeared at the entrance of the plaza like a ghost. The newcomer was dressed in a black robe, their face shrouded in shadows, with only a pair of eyes staring fixedly at Xu Yuan on the high platform.

It was none other than Ye Feng!

He walked forward step by step, each step seeming to stomp on everyone's heartbeats. The monstrous hatred and Evil Qi made the air almost solidify.

Qin Zhantian's face was as gloomy as water as he shouted sharply: "Ye Feng! You traitor, you still dare to return?!"

Ye Feng turned a deaf ear to Qin Zhantian's rebuke. His gaze remained locked on Xu Yuan, his voice hoarse and carrying a hair-raising tone:

"Return? Of course I must return! I have returned to take back everything that belongs to me!"

He suddenly raised his hand, pointing at Xu Yuan, his voice rising sharply as he accused him like one weeping blood:

"Chen Yuan! You despicable thief! Today, do you dare tell everyone present where the Innate Blade Bone on your body came from?!"

Once these words were spoken, the whole crowd was shocked!

It was rumored that the Overlord Blade Sect's Dao Child, Chen Yuan, possessed the two top Saber Dao talents: the Innate Blade Bone and the Innate Blade Heart, which was why he could suppress all the heroes at the Elite Battle despite coming from a small Sect!

But now, listening to Ye Feng's words, could it be that the origin of this Innate Blade Bone was suspicious?

Without waiting for the crowd to react, Ye Feng continued to roar in a voice filled with grief and indignation:

"It was you! It was you who coveted my talent back then and forcibly dug out my Innate Blade Bone to make it your own!"

"The entire Overlord Blade Sect shielded you, and even slandered me as a traitor, expelling me from the Sect, wanting to get rid of me as quickly as possible!"

He suddenly tore open the front of his robe, revealing a hideous, old scar on his chest that looked as if it had been cut open by a Sharp Weapon, and cried out mournfully:

"Everyone, look! This is the proof! This is the scar left behind when my Dao bone was dug out back then!"

"Chen Yuan! You stole my talent and killed my mentor! Only then did you achieve today's glory!"

"Ask your conscience, is that Innate Blade Bone of yours comfortable to use?!"

"Can you sit in your Sect Master's seat with peace of mind?!"

Boom—!

These words were like throwing a huge rock into a calm lake, instantly stirring up a monstrous wave in the plaza!

Everyone's eyes, filled with shock, suspicion, and disbelief, focused squarely on Xu Yuan!

Digging out someone's Dao bone and making it one's own?

Although the Cultivation world indeed practiced the law of the jungle where strength was respected, and every Cultivator who could reach the Foundation Establishment Stage had blood on their hands,

who didn't have some shady schemes and filth behind their backs?

But all of this followed a "hidden rule"!

It could only be kept in the shadows, tacitly understood!

Now, Ye Feng had actually torn this bloody accusation open in public at the Overlord Blade Sect's Sect Master succession ceremony, right in front of almost all the reputable powers of the Southern Region!

This was no longer just a personal grudge; this was trampling the face of the Overlord Blade Sect into the ground!

It was shaking the very Foundation of the Overlord Blade Sect and its reputation within the Righteous Path!

"Hiss—! Digging out someone's Dao bone? If this is true, then this Chen Yuan... his heart is punishable! The Overlord Blade Sect is even more of a place that harbors filth!"

A representative of a small Family gasped and exclaimed in a low voice.

"Hehe, this is interesting! I didn't expect to see such a good show while attending a succession ceremony!"

An Elder from Black Iron Mountain laughed sarcastically, making no effort to hide the schadenfreude on his face.

"We had heard of this person Ye Feng betraying the Sect back then; I didn't expect there to be such hidden circumstances?"

"If he was truly dug out of his Dao bone and then slandered as a traitor, then this fate... is truly miserable."

A female Cultivator from Purple Cloud Pavilion frowned slightly, her gaze toward Xu Yuan already carrying a bit of scrutiny and disapproval.

The beautiful Sect Master of the Joyful Union Sect covered her lips and chuckled, her voice not loud, but clearly reaching the ears of those around her: "Oh my, no wonder the Overlord Blade Sect has been so aggressive in recent years; it turns out they obtained such a 'fortune'. It's just that the way this fortune was obtained is a bit too unseemly~"

Xu Xingchen of the Burning Sun Upper Sect frowned tightly. He instinctively did not want to believe that Xu Yuan was this kind of person, but Ye Feng's grief-stricken posture and the scar on his chest seemed so real.

Luo Chen's gaze was sharp, staring tightly at Xu Yuan, as if wanting to see something from his face.

For a moment, the plaza was filled with discussion, suspicion, disdain, schadenfreude, cold observation...

All kinds of gazes shot like sharp arrows toward Xu Yuan and the members of the Overlord Blade Sect on the high platform.

Facing this sudden accusation, and the countless gazes of suspicion, anger, or schadenfreude from the entire audience, before Xu Yuan could speak, Qin Zhantian, the old Sect Master who had governed the Sect for over a hundred years, was the first to let out a thunderous snort of anger!

"Enough!"

He took a step forward, and the majestic Aura of his Foundation Establishment Perfection exploded, suppressing the commotion of the entire audience like a mountain!