144: Chapter 144 Self-harm to Prove Innocence: The Elders Stage Self-Inflicted Injuries

Outside the mountain gate, Xiao Nianyin remained in a standoff with Situ E.

She was in no hurry to strike, instead giving Situ E a moment to catch his breath.

It wasn't out of mercy.

Rather... it was to let everyone see clearly.

See clearly her, Xiao Nianyin's, strength, and see clearly who the true master of the Hehuan Sect was.

And also to see clearly... how those clowns would perform.

"Sect Master! Sect Master!"

A weak voice came from within the mountain gate.

Xiao Nianyin glanced slightly to the side and saw the Second Elder, Zhao Wuji, stumbling out of the mountain gate, supported by several Disciples.

His face was deathly pale, his chest was covered in bloodstains, and his aura was so withered it seemed he might stop breathing at any moment.

"Sect Master... this old man... I have arrived late!"

Zhao Wuji collapsed to his knees with a "thud," tears streaming down his face:

"I was previously out adventuring and accidentally entered an ancient ruin. I was heavily injured and had been in closed-door cultivation to heal.

I only just heard of the disturbance at the gate and forced myself out of seclusion... unfortunately, I am still a step too late, and have caused the Sect Master distress!"

He spoke with such tearful sincerity, it was as if he truly were a loyal official who was "heavily injured yet still concerned for the Sect."

Xiao Nianyin watched him quietly, without saying a word.

The tip of her luoyun sword still pointed at Situ E, without moving an inch.

Zhao Wuji felt uneasy under her gaze, but since the play had begun, he could only grit his teeth and keep acting. He struggled to his feet and glared at Situ E:

"Situ E! You dare invade my Hehuan Sect? Today, even if I have to sacrifice this old life, I will take you down with me!"

As he spoke, he made a show of "forcing his True Essence," looking as if he were about to charge forward and fight to the death.

"Second Elder, wait!"

Another voice called out.

The Fourth Elder, Chen Xuanfeng, also "weakly" walked out of the mountain gate, supported by Disciples. His face was sallow, blood still clung to the corner of his mouth, and he coughed three times for every step he took, looking as if he might collapse at any moment.

"Sect Master... Xuanfeng previously had a Qi deviation during cultivation, damaging my Meridians, and I have been recuperating... I just heard the Sect was in trouble and forced myself out of seclusion, but I was still too late..."

He bowed deeply to Xiao Nianyin, his tone full of "remorse":

"Xuanfeng is guilty; I ask the Sect Master for punishment!"

Xiao Nianyin still didn't speak.

She merely glanced indifferently at Chen Xuanfeng, her gaze like an ice pick that made his heart tremble.

Immediately after, the Sixth Elder and Seventh Elder also arrived "in a sorry state."

Both had tattered clothes and were covered in wounds, looking as if they had "just been through a fierce battle."

"Sect Master! The Sixth and Seventh Elders have arrived late!"

The two spoke in unison, kneeling on the ground:

"The two of us were previously ordered to go out on patrol and were attacked by mysterious Cultivators on the way. We fought bitterly for three days before we could escape!

Hearing that the Sect was in trouble, we rushed back overnight. We beg the Sect Master's forgiveness!"

They spoke with great sincerity, and the wounds on their bodies were "incredibly real"—they had beaten each other up, striking quite ruthlessly, even breaking a few bones.

For a moment, a whole group of "wounded" Elders knelt before the mountain gate, each looking miserable yet fiercely loyal.

To an outsider, it might seem as though the entire Hehuan Sect was united as one to resist a foreign enemy.

But in reality...

Xiao Nianyin sneered in her heart.

These old foxes were acting quite convincingly.

If she hadn't already seen their previous actions through the Ice Mirror, she might have actually been fooled by them.

"All of you, stand up."

Xiao Nianyin finally spoke, her voice calm and without a ripple.

"You Elders have shown your concern."

She didn't say "you are forgiven," nor did she say "you have done well"; she only gave a faint "you have shown your concern."

But it was this understated sentence that made the kneeling Elders' hearts tighten.

They heard the underlying meaning—

I already know what you're thinking.

Zhao Wuji and the others' expressions changed slightly, but they didn't dare show it. They could only stand up with "tearful gratitude" and retreat to the side.

Xiao Nianyin stopped looking at them, her gaze falling back onto Situ E.

"Situ E."

She spoke slowly, her voice like eternal ice:

"Previously, for the sake of us both being Demonic Path Sects, I was quite tolerant of you.

But you have harassed me time and again, and today you even led your Sect's experts to surround my Hehuan Sect..."

She paused, slightly raising the tip of her sword:

"Speak. What exactly do you want?"

"If you can't give me a proper explanation today, don't even think about returning to your Jile Sect."

Xiao Nianyin's voice suddenly turned sharp, carrying a chilling killing intent:

"The green mountains surrounding my Hehuan Sect have quite nice scenery. I'll just find a place to bury you; consider it a final resting place!"

As her words fell, the world changed color!

With Xiao Nianyin as the center, a terrifyingly cold ice Sword Intent swept out in all directions!

Within a thousand-foot radius, the temperature plummeted below freezing. Thick frost formed on the ground, and even the air seemed to be frozen!

Those Jile Sect Cultivators with weaker cultivation were instantly frozen into ice sculptures!

Those with higher cultivation were also shivering, their True Essence circulation becoming sluggish!

Situ E's expression changed drastically, and he said urgently:

"Xiao Nianyin! A misunderstanding! It's all a misunderstanding!"

"A misunderstanding?" Xiao Nianyin sneered. "Leading three hundred Cultivators to surround my mountain gate for three days, forcibly attacking the Mountain Protection Array, and wounding my Sect's Elders—you call this a misunderstanding?"

"This... this was all that bitch Liu Rurao tricking me!"

Situ E quickly explained:

"She said you took in a male Disciple and even let him stay in Ningyin Hall, and even accessed the Heavenly Charm Mysterious Maiden Heart Sutra for him... I got anxious as soon as I heard, that's why..."

"Oh?"

Xiao Nianyin raised an eyebrow, a cold light flashing in her eyes:

"So, you listened to Liu Rurao's instigation and came to my Hehuan Sect to run wild?"

"Yes... yes!" Situ E gritted his teeth. "That bitch lied to me and said something happened to you, so I... Sect Master Xiao, I am willing to compensate! The Jile Sect is willing to compensate for all the losses of the Hehuan Sect!"

"Compensate?"

Xiao Nianyin laughed.

That smile was incredibly beautiful, yet so cold it made one's heart freeze.

"Situ E, do you think... I lack your little bit of compensation?"

She slowly raised her sword, the tip pointing at the center of Situ E's brow:

"Three hundred years ago, I spared your life and only cut off one of your arms, thinking you would learn your lesson."

"But instead of repenting, you have become even more outrageous."

"Today, I will let you know—"

Xiao Nianyin's voice, like a proclamation of death, echoed between heaven and earth:

"My Hehuan Sect is not a place where you can come and go as you please!"

As her words fell, she slashed out with her sword!

This strike was no longer a casual swing like before.

It was a true killing move!

"Ice Soul—Mysterious Maiden Sword!"

The sword light was like snow, the coldness piercing to the bone!

A hundred-zhang-long ice-blue sword light tore through the sky. Wherever it passed, space froze and time stood still!

Within the sword light, the phantom of a Mysterious Maiden faintly appeared, holding an ice sword, her gaze cold as she looked down upon all living things!

Situ E's pupils constricted as he felt the threat of death!

He could not block this sword!