44: The biggest joke of Qingxin Palace!

Inside Yaoguang Hall, Zhang Wanyi's face was as dark as water, and the ominous premonition in her heart grew heavier.

Xiao Ce had missed their appointment for no reason.

The aura of the jade pendant had vanished strangely at the edge of the cliff.

All signs pointed to one possibility—Xiao Ce had likely met with an unfortunate end!

And the first suspect to surface in her mind, without any suspense, was Wang Ming!

In the entire Qingxin Palace, he was the only one who had recently been in conflict with Xiao Ce!

"That little bastard!"

A cold light burst from Zhang Wanyi's eyes.

She gave a cold snort, and with a flash of her figure, she headed toward Qingxin Hall.

She had to report this matter to the Palace Master immediately. Even without solid evidence, she would use the Palace Master's power to first detain Wang Ming for a rigorous interrogation!

However, she had only just stepped out of Yaoguang Hall for a short while when she vaguely sensed something was off.

The Disciples and Deacons she encountered along the way would still stop and bow to her, calling her Grand Elder.

Their attitude remained respectful.

But beneath that respect... there seemed to be something desperately suppressed yet uncontrollably leaking out... a sense of strangeness?

Those looks were more like they were watching... something uncomfortable yet irresistibly curious?

There were even a few young female Disciples who quickly lowered their heads and whispered after bowing.

When they glanced up at her, a flash of disdain quickly crossed their faces.

Zhang Wanyi's heart skipped a beat.

What was happening?

What exactly had happened in the palace this past night?

Why were everyone's looks toward her so bizarre?

Was it because the news of Ceer's disappearance had already spread?

Forcing down her growing unease, she quickened her pace and headed straight for Qingxin Hall.

Inside Qingxin Hall, the atmosphere was solemn.

Palace Master Shen Lanxin sat in the main seat, her face as still as water, showing no emotion.

Below her, Ouyang Yaoxi was bowing her head and reporting something. Hearing footsteps, she turned around.

When she saw that the newcomer was Zhang Wanyi, Ouyang Yaoxi's delicate body visibly trembled, as if she had seen something filthy, and her face was instantly filled with disgust!

She instinctively took two steps back, distancing herself from Zhang Wanyi, and even turned slightly to the side, as if she didn't even want her gaze to be tainted.

Zhang Wanyi was stunned by Ouyang Yaoxi's abnormal reaction, and that ill omen in her heart began to grow wildly again.

This child, Yao Xi... why did she look at her like that as well?

But she was currently burning with anxiety and couldn't spare the thought to look deeper into a Disciple's rudeness.

"Palace Master! I have an important matter to report!" Zhang Wanyi stepped forward quickly, her voice carrying a suppressed urgency. "Xiao Ce, he..."

"Grand Elder."

Shen Lanxin suddenly spoke, cutting her off.

Her voice was calm, but it carried an unprecedented distance and a faint coldness.

Zhang Wanyi's words faltered.

Shen Lanxin raised her eyes, her gaze falling on her face.

"I ask you," Shen Lanxin asked slowly, "do you still remember the foundation upon which our Qingxin Palace was built?"

The foundation?

Zhang Wanyi was taken aback by the sudden question and instinctively replied, "Heart for the world, compassion for all living beings, aiding those in crisis, and upholding righteousness."

She recited it fluently, but her heart grew increasingly uncertain.

Why was the Palace Master suddenly asking this?

"So... you still remember."

Shen Lanxin nodded slightly, the mockery and coldness in her tone becoming even more apparent.

She stopped looking at Zhang Wanyi and instead reached out, picking up a dusty-looking stone from the desk.

A Recording Stone!

Zhang Wanyi's pupils suddenly constricted!

With a flick of Shen Lanxin's finger, the Recording Stone flew lightly toward Zhang Wanyi, hovering in mid-air.

"See for yourself."

Zhang Wanyi's heart instantly sank to the bottom!

The moment she saw the Recording Stone, she realized that one of her secrets must have been discovered.

But for a moment, she wasn't sure which one it was.

She had many secrets.

Most were harmless, but a very few, if exposed, would surely lead to her eternal ruin.

"I hope... it's not one of those few." With trembling hands, she took the Recording Stone and injected a trace of spiritual energy into it.

Instantly—

A Quiet Room, candlelight, a twisted punishment... "Boom—!!!"

Zhang Wanyi felt as if a thunderclap had exploded in her mind!

Her vision went black, and her ears buzzed!

Every limb and bone in her body was trembling violently and uncontrollably!

What was recorded inside this Recording Stone was actually her and Xiao Ce... last night in the Quiet Room of Yaoguang Hall... how was this possible?!

How could someone have recorded it?!

And even made it into a Recording Stone?!

"Palace Master, may I ask where this Recording Stone came from?" Zhang Wanyi asked, her face as dark as water.

Since the matter had been exposed, there was no way to talk her way out of it.

Now, she only wanted to know who had recorded this stone!

If she found them, she might find the one who killed Xiao Ce!

That person killed Xiao Ce and then used this Recording Stone to cause a disturbance, diverting everyone's attention.

It all made sense!

As long as she found the killer, she could shift the blame for this matter onto them!

Shen Lanxin said indifferently, "Just last night, Recording Stones like this one suddenly appeared throughout the Sect. By a rough estimate, there are no fewer than a thousand copies."

"By now..."

Shen Lanxin looked at her. "Probably everyone in Qingxin Palace, whether they should have or shouldn't have, has... seen it."

No fewer than a thousand copies?!

Spread throughout the entire Sect?!

They've all... seen it?!

"Pfft—!"

Zhang Wanyi's vision went dark, and in her extreme agitation, she suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.

She finally understood!

Why the Disciples along the way had looked at her with such strange eyes!

Why Ouyang Yaoxi had avoided her with such disgust!

She, Zhang Wanyi, the Grand Elder of Qingxin Palace, had become the biggest joke of the entire Sect overnight!

At that moment, Shen Lanxin suddenly said, "If this hadn't spread yet, considering the many contributions you've made to the Sect over the years, I could have shown some leniency. But as it stands, this matter has already spread throughout the Sect."

"If I don't take any action, wouldn't the foundation of my Qingxin Palace become a joke?"

"How would the many Disciples view our Qingxin Palace?"

Zhang Wanyi's face was ashen. "Palace Master, I..."

"No need to say more. Grand Elder, this is the last time I will call you that. Since you committed such acts that violate human morality, you should have expected this day!"

Shen Lanxin glanced toward the shadows beside her.

Immediately, a figure shrouded in black mist, whose features could not be clearly seen, stepped out.

"Shadow Guard!"

Zhang Wanyi recognized the other's identity, and her expression changed drastically.

Before their death, every Palace Master of Qingxin Palace would voluntarily use a certain secret technique to refine themselves into a Puppet, retaining at least seventy percent of their strength!

To become an aid to the new Palace Master!

In this way, they would protect Qingxin Palace for all eternity!

And the Shadow Guard before her was none other than the previous Palace Master, Du Yue!

Her strength was at the Great Perfection of the Core Formation Stage!

Even with only seventy percent of her strength, she was not someone a mere Early Stage Core Formation cultivator could handle!

Zhang Wanyi's face was grim. "Shen Lanxin, are you really going to be this heartless!"

Shen Lanxin shook her head, about to speak.

A brilliant sword light came streaking from the direction of the hall's entrance!

"Shattering Moon!"

...