253: Chapter 253 The Supreme Master of the Fox Clan Appears, Deciding the Fate with a Single Sentence

"You...!"

Lady Qingli was trembling with rage, but she was momentarily speechless.

The shattering of the spirit testing stone was too bizarre; even she found it difficult to explain.

Xu Ruyu looked at Lady Qingli, who had stood up for him only to be besieged, and a warm current surged in his heart, accompanied by a strong sense of self-reproach.

He stepped forward, blocking in front of Lady Qingli, and facing Elder Mo Feng and the indignant crowd, he said in a clear voice: "Everyone!

The shattering of the spirit testing stone is indeed related to me, and I will not shirk responsibility for this matter.

However, this was an unintentional mistake, and certainly not instigated by Elder Qingli.

The reason for this perhaps lies in the uniqueness of the Cultivation Technique I practice; it was by no means my intention to destroy your clan's sacred object!"

"A unique Cultivation Technique?" Elder Mo Feng sneered. "How unique could a Cultivation Technique from the Qi Refinement Stage possibly be?

Unique enough to destroy my clan's Legacy sacred object? It's an absolute joke!

Kid, no matter how silver-tongued you are, you won't escape punishment today!

Take her and the traitor Qingli down together!"

The atmosphere was tense, and a conflict was on the verge of breaking out!

Just at this critical moment—

An aged voice, as if coming from the Nine Heavens, and yet as if from the depths of everyone's Soul, leisurely rang out:

"Enough."

These two words alone seemed to contain the Laws of heaven and earth, instantly suppressing all the clamor.

Everyone present, including Elder Mo Feng, Elder Lan Yi, and even the clansmen watching from afar via the yingxi stone, felt their Divine Soul tremble. It was as if an invisible force had brushed over their hearts, instantly smoothing out most of their intense emotions, leaving only deep awe.

Immediately, a hazy, illusory figure appeared silently above the spirit testing platform.

The figure was shrouded in a faint, clear radiance; her specific features were indiscernible, only the silhouette of a female could be vaguely made out.

In her hand, she seemed to be leaning on a wooden staff with a nine-colored gemstone embedded at the top.

She simply floated there quietly. She did not emit any pressure, yet she seemed to be the center of the entire Tianyin Mountains, and even this heaven and earth.

"Su... Supreme Mage?!"

Elder Mo Feng exclaimed in shock, the arrogant aura on his face instantly vanishing, replaced by immense panic as he hurriedly bowed.

"Greetings, Supreme Mage!"

Elder Lan Yi, Lady Qingli, and all the Taihu Clan members below the platform, regardless of their previous stance, all knelt down in unison, heads bowed, not daring to look directly at her.

Even the Grand Elder, far away in the Moon Fox Palace, seemed to have sensed something through the yingxi stone and slightly nodded in greeting.

Supreme Mage!

The true anchor of the Taihu Clan, a supreme existence who had lived for who knows how many years, had long since ceased to involve herself in worldly affairs, and only appeared when the clan faced an existential crisis or major upheaval!

Her status was even above that of the Clan Chief and the Grand Elder!

Xu Ruyu also felt that absolute suppression and vastness originating from the level of life and the Origin of the Soul. He resisted the urge to kneel, instead bowing deeply to show his respect.

The moon-like figure slowly "looked" downwards. Her gaze seemed to sweep over the empty top of the stone pillar, over the crowd with their varied expressions, and finally, it landed on Xu Ruyu.

That gaze pierced through his skin, reaching the deepest parts of his Soul. It saw the distinct way energy operated within his body, saw the mysteries of the True Explanation of Taixu Source Energy, and even saw the faint thread of Karma connecting him to the Old Ancestor Qingtian...

After a long while, the Supreme Mage's aged, peaceful voice rang out once again, echoing in the depths of everyone's Soul:

"The spirit testing stone was not destroyed by a person, but by the 'Dao'."

"An old ruler cannot measure a new sky; an ancient mirror cannot reflect the star of the future."

Her words were profound and difficult to understand, yet they caused the hearts of all the Taihu Clan members to tremble violently!

Not destroyed by a person, but by the "Dao"? An old ruler cannot measure a new sky? This was... saying that the "Dao" Xu Ruyu was walking was brand new, so much so that the ancient spirit testing stone could not bear its "measurement"?

This evaluation... was terrifyingly high!

Elder Mo Feng's face instantly turned pale, and cold sweat poured down.

The Supreme Mage continued, her voice devoid of joy or sorrow: "Since the Nine-Orifice Exquisite Array has already been activated, continue."

She turned slightly toward the direction of the Grand Elder: "I shall personally preside over the subsequent examinations."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire audience was shocked once again!

The Supreme Mage personally presiding over the examination?!

This... this was something that had never happened in the history of the Taihu Clan!

Even the most stunning Prodigy in the clan rarely garnered the personal attention of the Supreme Mage!

This Xu Ruyu... how could he deserve such an honor?!

But no one dared to question, no one dared to object.

The Supreme Mage's illusory figure began to slowly fade. Her final voice came through, imprinted directly into Xu Ruyu's mind, and also clearly echoed in the ears of every Taihu Clan member present:

"The second stage, the 'Cultivation Stage', is moved to the 'Illusory Moon Well'."

"Xu Ruyu, proceed there yourself after one incense stick of time."

"The rest of you, disperse."

As her voice fell, the moon-like figure dissipated completely, as if she had never appeared at all.

But that supreme majesty, and the earth-shattering information contained in her words, were like a brand, deeply etched into everyone's hearts.

The spirit testing stone shattered because of the "Dao".

The Supreme Mage was personally presiding.

The "Dao" that Xu Ruyu practiced could actually make a sacred object that had been passed down for millions of years unable to bear its measurement?!

All the Taihu Clan members who had previously mocked, scorned, and accused Xu Ruyu and Lady Qingli were now speechless. Their faces burned, their hearts filled with endless shock, and a trace of indescribable... awe?

Elder Mo Feng's face was ashen. He knew that his plan to make an issue of the matter and attack Lady Qingli had not only failed completely, but might also cause him trouble for having disturbed the Supreme Mage.

Elder Lan Yi's gaze toward Xu Ruyu was now completely different, filled with unprecedented gravity and inquiry.

Lady Qingli let out a long sigh of relief, her stunningly beautiful face regaining its radiance. The look she gave Xu Ruyu was filled with pride and even deeper curiosity.

Xu Ruyu stood where he was, feeling the completely changed atmosphere around him. He felt no pride in his heart, only a heavy sense of pressure.

The Supreme Mage had personally intervened...

The subsequent test would likely be even more difficult and even more... profound than he had imagined.

He nodded at Lady Qingli, then turned around, and under the gaze of countless complex eyes, walked off the Star Meteorite platform alone.

He strode toward the next stage designated by the Supreme Mage—the Illusory Moon Well.

The true test was only just beginning.