12: Chapter 12 dazzled a bunch of idiots: the master of the illusion took Xu Ruyu's hand?

"Boom—!"

The remains of the shattered jade archway were scattered across the ground. The pink mist had not yet fully dispersed, and the air was filled with an indescribable, ambiguous scent.

There was a moment of deathly silence in the square, followed by an uproar more intense than before!

"The illusion... shattered?!"

"The Great Fox Illusion was actually destroyed?!"

"How is this possible?! That was an illusion personally set up by Madam Qingli!"

After the brief shock came boundless anger.

One must know that for the Hehuan Sect, the "Great Fox Illusion" was far more than just a simple entrance examination.

It was the ultimate trial ground where generations of Hehuan Sect Disciples tempered their will and honed their Charm Arts.

Countless Disciples had faced their desires and overcome their fears within it to advance further on the Dao of Enchantment.

Even many Elders and deacons often entered the illusion, using Madam Qingli's methods to consolidate their Dao Hearts and break through Heart Demons.

This illusion was a critical site for the Hehuan Sect to Cultivate its Disciples!

More importantly, it was a significant symbol of the friendly relationship with the Taihu Clan!

But now, it had actually shattered!

Destroyed by a "trash" who had just entered the Sect and didn't even have a Spiritual Root!

"Xu Ruyu! How dare you!"

Elder Li was the first to react. Shaking with rage, he pointed at Xu Ruyu and shouted sternly, "You dare to destroy a vital Sect location!

This is a grave crime!

According to Sect rules, your cultivation should be crippled, and you should be expelled from the Sect!

No... for such a major crime, you should be sacrificed to the formation to appease the spirit of the illusion!"

"Yes! He must be severely punished!"

Another deacon stepped forward, his face full of fury. "The Great Fox Illusion is one of our Sect's Foundations, which many Disciples rely on to Cultivate!

Now that it's destroyed, the loss is immeasurable!

This boy deserves ten thousand deaths!"

"Sacrifice him to the heavens! We must sacrifice him to the heavens!"

In the crowd, Lei Xuan's shouts were the shrillest, his face filled with schadenfreude and satisfaction.

Let's see you show off now!

Let's see the Sect Master value you now!

Now let's see how you die!

More voices joined in.

"Destroying our Sect's vital location is unforgivable!"

"We ask the Sect Master and the Grand Elders to judge clearly and punish this scoundrel severely!"

"If this boy is not eliminated, where is the Sect's dignity?!"

The waves of sound rose higher and higher, nearly drowning out Xu Ruyu.

Countless gazes like sharp swords, filled with anger, accusation, and schadenfreude, pierced toward him.

Xu Ruyu knelt on the ground, his face pale.

He hadn't fully recovered from the chaotic and intense experience in the illusion just now, and facing this overwhelming condemnation, he felt his mind was in a state of Chaos.

Destroyed the illusion? He did indeed... seem to have caused the illusion to collapse.

But that was an accident!

He simply couldn't control that rampaging power within his body!

He subconsciously looked toward Xiao Nianyin on the high platform, his eyes carrying a hint of bewilderment.

Xiao Nianyin slowly stood up.

Looking at the agitated scene below and at Xu Ruyu, who was being accused by everyone and left without help, she pursed her red lips slightly.

She knew she had to stand up now.

Regardless of the reason, Xu Ruyu was now her Disciple in name, and more importantly, the key to her restoring her cultivation.

He couldn't die here.

"Silence."

Xiao Nianyin's voice rang out coldly, carrying a unique authority that instantly suppressed the noisy crowd.

Everyone's eyes turned toward her.

Xiao Nianyin's gaze swept over the crowd below, finally landing on Elder Li: "Elder Li, the matter hasn't been investigated yet. There is no conclusion as to why the illusion shattered.

Isn't it too arbitrary to sentence someone to death based on mere speculation?"

Elder Li was stunned; he hadn't expected the Sect Master to speak up directly for Xu Ruyu.

He braced himself and said, "Sect Master, judge clearly. Under the eyes of everyone, the illusion shattered, and Xu Ruyu and Madam Qingli fell out at the same time. This matter is inextricably linked to him!

Moreover... moreover, Madam Qingli's current state... clearly indicates she suffered..."

He glanced at the disheveled Madam Qingli and didn't dare say the rest, but the meaning was clear—Xu Ruyu had not only destroyed the illusion but had likely committed an improper act against Madam Qingli!

This was simply a monstrous crime!

"That's right, Sect Master!"

Another deacon who belonged to the Third Elder's faction took the opportunity to say, "Madam Qingli is an honored guest of our Sect and a powerhouse of the Taihu Clan!

If she is wronged within our Sect, how can we explain it to the Taihu Clan? This matter must be strictly investigated to give Madam Qingli an explanation!"

"We ask the Sect Master to handle this impartially!"

"Severely punish Xu Ruyu!"

Echoing voices rang out again. Many Elders and Disciples who were originally neutral now looked at Xu Ruyu with disgust.

Destroying a vital Sect location and possibly offending an honored guest indeed violated a major taboo.

Xiao Nianyin's brow furrowed slightly.

She knew many of these people were using the topic to strike at her authority or were simply jealous of Xu Ruyu.

But her current state was special, and she couldn't use force to suppress them, otherwise, once a fight broke out, her true condition would be easily exposed.

Just as she was thinking about how to respond, a female voice, somewhat lazy and seductive yet containing boundless authority, suddenly rang out:

"Oh? I haven't spoken yet. Since when is it the turn of you people from the Hehuan Sect to make decisions for me?"

The voice wasn't loud, but it seemed to ring softly in everyone's ears, carrying a magic that pierced straight into the Divine Soul.

The entire square fell silent instantly.

Everyone turned their heads in shock toward the source of the voice—Madam Qingli, who had been sitting on the ground looking quite disheveled.

Madam Qingli had slowly stood up at some point.

Her torn white gown fluttered without wind, and streaks of light flashed across it. The damaged areas were actually repairing and closing at a speed visible to the naked eye, returning to a pristine, dust-free state in an instant.

She raised her hand and casually tidied her messy long hair, her movements elegant and composed.

The previous hint of dishevelment and shame had long since vanished, replaced by a noble air that looked down upon all living beings.

Most startling were her eyes—the originally charming and affectionate gaze was now as deep as an ancient pool. Wherever her gaze swept, it seemed to see through everyone's heart.

And the aura radiating from her was like a dormant volcano suddenly awakening—vast, majestic, and unfathomable!

"Buzz—!"

An invisible pressure erupted from Madam Qingli as the center!

This pressure wasn't aimed at the Physical Body but directly at the Divine Soul!

Everyone present, whether they were candidates in the Qi Refinement Stage, deacons and Elders at the Golden Core or Nascent Soul Stage, or even the several Grand Elders of the Hehuan Sect standing in the air, felt their Divine Souls tremble violently at this moment, as if gripped tightly by an invisible hand, making even breathing difficult!

The Disciples with lower cultivation in the square turned pale, their legs weakening, and they almost collapsed to the ground.

Lei Xuan let out a muffled groan, a trace of blood leaking from the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with unbelievable terror.

Only now did he truly feel what a terrifying existence this seemingly young and beautiful woman was!

Xiao Nianyin's pupils constricted slightly as the remaining power in her body instinctively circulated to resist this pressure.

She was secretly shocked: This Qingli's cultivation seems even more profound than the rumors... she's likely not far from that step.

The pressure came quickly and left just as quickly.

It lasted for only three breaths before receding like a tide, as if it had never appeared.

But those three breaths left everyone with a layer of cold sweat on their backs, their gazes toward Madam Qingli filled with deep awe.

In that moment just now, they had truly felt the terror of having their lives and deaths out of their own control.

Madam Qingli acted as if she had done something insignificant. She moved with lotus steps toward Xu Ruyu, who was still kneeling on the ground.

Everyone's hearts rose into their throats.

What was she going to do? Personally deal with this audacious boy?

Under countless gazes, Madam Qingli walked up to Xu Ruyu, bent down, and reached out her slender jade hand.

She didn't attack or scold him; instead... she gently took Xu Ruyu's wrist.

Xu Ruyu's body stiffened, and he looked up blankly.

Madam Qingli gave him a radiant smile.

This smile was like spring returning to the earth, like a hundred flowers blooming. Her exquisite beauty and the sudden burst of charm made the hearts of many male Cultivators present skip a beat.

But her voice clearly spread throughout the square:

"Get up, the ground is cold."

With a gentle pull, she helped Xu Ruyu up from the ground and even reached out to brush away non-existent dust from his robes.

Her movements were natural, as if she were taking care of a close Junior.

The entire audience was dumbfounded.

This... what is going on?!

Where was the imagined thunderous rage? Where was the imagined bloody revenge? How had it become... so gentle and considerate?!

Elder Li and the others gaped, unable to close their mouths for a long time.

Lei Xuan's eyes were almost popping out of his head, wondering if he was having a hallucination.

Madam Qingli held Xu Ruyu's hand—yes, she just naturally held it, turned to face the crowd, her smile unchanged, but her voice carried an unquestionable certainty:

"Regarding the matter of the illusion today, it has nothing to do with this child."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over those who had just been clamoring for Xu Ruyu's punishment, a faint trace of mockery flashing in her eyes:

"Or rather, this was entirely my own decision."