93: Chapter 93 Search!

Wang Ming spoke righteously, immediately causing many Disciples to nod in agreement.

"Senior Brother Wang Ming is right, the Sect's safety is paramount!"

"Exactly, a righteous person fears no slander. If one truly hasn't done anything wrong, what's the harm in letting someone investigate?"

Facing the crowd's discussions, Chen Ye merely sneered: "'For the Sect!' What noble words! Then I must ask you, since you say all Disciples are the same and must make way for the greater good of the Sect..."

He paused, then asked word by word, "What about yourself?"

The entire venue instantly fell silent.

Everyone's gaze focused on Wang Ming.

Wang Ming's lips curved into a cold arc: "I am naturally no exception."

"Senior Sister Gu Qingyi can testify, my Storage Artifact has already been personally searched by Senior Sister."

As he spoke, his gaze subtly drifted towards Gu Qingyi in the crowd.

Gu Qingyi's delicate body trembled slightly.

She naturally wouldn't forget Wang Ming's impropriety at that time!

In fact, she could never forget it in this lifetime!

That damn Wang Ming!

She snorted inwardly and walked out from the crowd.

She bowed slightly to Palace Master, then turned to the crowd and said in a clear, cold voice, "Indeed, Junior Brother Wang Ming's Storage Artifact was searched by me, and there was nothing amiss."

"Since Junior Brother Chen Ye is so resistant."

Wang Ming's tone shifted, "Then how about this?"

He scanned his surroundings, raising his voice a few octaves so everyone present could hear clearly.

"I will personally search your Storage Artifact. If any clues related to the thief are found, it proves you have a guilty conscience, and you shall confess and submit to the law."

"But if..."

Wang Ming paused, his gaze falling on Chen Ye, his smile deepening, "If nothing is found, proving Junior Brother you are innocent, and I, Wang Ming, have wronged you, then I will personally pay you one thousand Spirit Stones as spiritual compensation, how about that?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire venue erupted in an uproar, followed by gasps of astonishment.

"One thousand Spirit Stones?! Senior Brother Wang Ming is too generous!"

"Indeed! This is a resource that even Core Formation Stage Cultivators need to be frugal with during their Cultivation!"

"Senior Brother Wang Ming is truly benevolent and righteous. Not only does he give Junior Brother Chen Ye a chance to prove his innocence, but he is also willing to offer so many Spirit Stones as compensation. We admire such breadth of mind and demeanor!"

"Too generous! If it were me, being suspected and then proven innocent, I'd still feel wronged. Senior Brother Wang Ming's move directly takes care of Junior Brother's Face and dignity!"

The Disciples' gazes towards Wang Ming became even more filled with admiration.

In their eyes, Wang Ming's actions were both decisive and compassionate, simply perfect.

However, not everyone was fooled by these words.

Gu Qingyi stood in the crowd, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, her gaze towards Wang Ming filled with suspicion.

She knew Wang Ming too well.

This person never made a losing deal.

Such a generous wager must hide deeper calculations.

"What is he trying to do again?"

Gu Qingyi pondered inwardly.

What could be in Chen Ye's Storage Artifact?

Even if there was a secret, how could Wang Ming be so certain he could find it?

She vaguely felt that Wang Ming was brewing some wicked scheme again, but she couldn't pinpoint what it was.

"Alright, since Senior Brother Wang Ming is so sincere, then I, your Junior Brother, will fulfill your wish!"

Chen Ye sneered, without a trace of fear in his eyes.

He abruptly removed the Storage Ring from his finger, tossed it casually, and threw it directly towards Wang Ming.

"Open your dog eyes and see clearly if there are any of your so-called clues inside!"

Wang Ming raised his hand and steadily caught the ring, the smile at the corner of his mouth deepening.

However, before he could make a move, a graceful figure instantly appeared beside him.

Palace Master's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, and she directly took the ring from Wang Ming's hand.

"Since a search is involved, as the Palace Master, I shall personally preside over it to ensure fairness."

Her voice was clear and cold.

Of course, her stance was naturally unconditionally biased towards Wang Ming.

It's just that...

Wang Ming was too confident!

It made her unable to help but suspect whether there truly was stolen goods hidden within the ring.

If there were, it would be the bellybands of almost all the female Disciples in the entire Sect!

What if Wang Ming, a man, saw them and got a sty?

It was better for her to do it!

Wang Ming was slightly stunned, but said nothing, merely stepping aside.

He only wanted the result; as for the process, it didn't matter who carried it out.

The entire venue held its breath, everyone's gaze focused on the ring in Palace Master's hand.

Palace Master's jade finger lightly flicked, and a gentle Divine Sense slowly probed into the ring's interior.

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

One second, two seconds, three seconds...

Palace Master's brows furrowed slightly, her Divine Sense repeatedly scanning the inside of the ring three times.

Indeed, there were only a few changes of clothes and some low-grade Medicinal Pills, not even a slightly valuable Magical Artifact, let alone any stolen goods or clues.

She withdrew her Divine Sense, and the expression on her Face became somewhat strange.

She looked up, her gaze complex as she met the expectant gaze of Wang Ming, then gently shook her head.

"This Palace Master has completed the inspection."

Palace Master's voice echoed throughout the venue.

"There is nothing suspicious within the ring."

Chen Ye's eyes lit up, and he suddenly leaped from the ground, his previous slump completely gone.

"Excellent!"

He strode up to Wang Ming, extended his palm, a brilliant smile on his Face: "Senior Brother Wang Ming, since the Palace Master has declared me innocent, shouldn't we fulfill our wager?"

"One thousand Spirit Stones, not a single one less!"

He deliberately raised his voice, as if afraid the people around wouldn't hear.

"Senior Brother Wang Ming, you're not trying to renege on your debt, are you?"

As soon as these words came out, the surrounding Disciples immediately became displeased.

"Chen Ye, don't push your luck!"

"Exactly! What kind of status does Senior Brother Wang Ming have? Would he renege on such a small amount of Spirit Stones?"

"Senior Brother Wang Ming is willing to compensate you because he thinks highly of you; don't be ungrateful!"

"One thousand Spirit Stones are merely a drop in the bucket for Senior Brother Wang Ming, but for you, it's an astronomical figure! Don't you know how to be grateful?"

In the crowd, several of Wang Ming's supporters immediately jumped out to speak for him.

"Chen Ye, that's enough!"

"Senior Brother Wang Ming is willing to offer you Spirit Stones as compensation for the greater good of the Sect, and now you're here haggling over every penny? What kind of behavior is that?"

"Exactly! He has no sense of the bigger picture!"

The Disciples criticized Chen Ye one after another, their gazes towards him filled with disdain.

"The matter of the Spirit Stones, let's not rush it."

Wang Ming waved his hand.

He looked at Chen Ye and slowly said, "Junior Brother Chen Ye, a Storage Ring is a Storage Ring, but if you hid the stolen goods elsewhere, wouldn't merely searching this ring fail to truly clear your name?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding Disciples nodded in agreement.

"Senior Brother Wang Ming is right, just searching the ring is indeed not thorough enough."

"What if the stolen goods are hidden in his Immortal Cave? That's the main point!"

"Exactly, if we're going to search, let's search thoroughly. Only then can Junior Brother Chen Ye be proven innocent!"

Everyone chimed in, agreeing vociferously.

Wang Ming nodded in satisfaction, then changed the subject: "How about this, we'll go to your Immortal Cave and search it. If it's truly as you say, that a righteous person fears no slander, then Junior Brother Chen Ye surely won't refuse, right?"

Everyone's gaze once again converged on Chen Ye.

Upon hearing this, Chen Ye's smile grew even wider.

He crossed his arms, his eyes revealing a sense of confidence.

"Search my Immortal Cave? Heh, I thought you were going to search somewhere else."

Chen Ye scoffed, looking directly into Wang Ming's eyes: "Fine, let alone searching my Immortal Cave, I'll even accompany you if you want to search my person! Since Senior Brother Wang Ming is so eager to give away money, I'll fulfill your wish and make you lose convincingly, even betting your underwear!"