49: framing

"What did you say?!"

Jian Wuhen froze on the spot.

"Qin Tian killed me!!"

Jian Qi experienced a final burst of lucidity, his hand tightly clutching Jian Wuhen's sleeve as he roared toward the heavens with all his might.

As the voice echoed, Jian Qi's eyes bulged, his face contorted in a hideous expression, before the Divine Soul within his body completely dissipated... Dead silence followed... Everyone present fell into a hush... Qin Tian's heart sank as he instantly connected all the dots.

The earlier appearance of Liu Ruyan was merely a lead-in, intended to let everyone know that "Qin Tian's strength is extraordinary," before having Jian Qi appear on the verge of death to identify him with his dying breath... As the recognized kendo Genius of Ancient Sword Peak, no one would have originally believed that someone in the Dao Entry Realm could push Jian Qi to such a state!

However, the scene of him fighting forty-seven Cultivators of the same Realm alone just now was still fresh in their minds.

If someone said Qin Tian could kill Jian Qi, no one would refute it.

Furthermore, of the Disciples who entered the Fallen Dragon Grotto, some were dead and others were injured; only Qin Tian's group was completely unscathed.

Everything pointed directly at Qin Tian.

Qin Tian's gaze gradually grew cold.

Moreover, as the direct Disciple of Jian Wuhen, Jian Qi possessed countless life-saving Magic Treasures.

He indeed had the confidence to slay Jian Qi, but he could not silently scatter his Divine Soul without leaving any external marks of injury.

Only one person could have done this.

That was Jian Qi himself!

True, there was friction between him and Jian Qi, but it would never reach the point of using death to slander him.

That left only one explanation.

Like Liu Ruyan just now, his Divine Soul was incomplete, and he was being controlled.

And one didn't even need to guess who the person behind Jian Qi was.

However, now that Jian Qi's Divine Soul was entirely gone, the evidence had died with him... Jian Wuhen raised his hand, gently brushing over Jian Qi's eyes, closing those unwilling lids forever.

"Seven'er, your Revered Master will avenge you!"

"Qin Tian!!!"

Sword Qi whistled into the sky, condensing into a giant hand that lunged toward Qin Tian!

"Stop!" Chu Xiong Yi, the Head of Pill Cauldron Peak, was about to step forward.

The Head of Dao Peak also stood up.

But a white shadow was faster than anyone!

Boom!

The giant hand of Sword Qi suddenly stalled!

Yun Xi appeared in front of Qin Tian at some point, her jade palm lightly raised, blocking the Sword Qi.

"Revered Master!"

"Yun Xi, are you going to shield him?!" Jian Wuhen roared.

"He is my Disciple. I will not allow anyone to harm him."

"Fine! Very well! Yun Xi, you can protect him for a moment, but do you think you can protect him forever? You'd better stay by his side every second, otherwise..."

Yun Xi's eyes turned cold. "Jian Wuhen, Jian Qi was not killed by Tian'er. If you still harbor murderous intent, don't blame me for being impolite!"

"We have been with Senior Brother the whole time. We never even encountered Senior Brother Jian, so how could we have killed him?" Su Ningying explained.

"Exactly, we can all testify for Senior Brother!" Bai Xiyin took a step forward.

"Humph!"

"What a protective Divine Firmament Peak!"

"Are you implying my Disciple used his life just to slander Qin Tian? What a joke!"

Jian Wuhen snapped, "Perhaps you all were accomplices in Seven'er's murder!"

"I can also serve as a witness!"

You Ruoli shed her disguise, revealing her true face.

Everyone present was stunned.

"Who are you?!"

"I am the Great Qian Empress, You Ruoli!"

"I traveled with Qin Tian the entire way. I can swear upon my national destiny that Jian Qi was not killed by Qin Tian."

Boom! Heavenly thunder rolled, symbolizing that the oath had been sealed.

Jian Wuhen's expression faltered slightly.

Qin Tian stepped forward and spoke slowly, "Junior Martial Uncle Jian, I am just as pained as you by the death of Junior Brother Jian Qi."

"But he was not killed by me."

"Senior Martial Uncle said just now that Liu Ruyan's Divine Soul was incomplete and she was under someone's control."

"Junior Brother Jian Qi must have been the same."

"Humph! You know Seven'er's Divine Soul has dissipated, yet you still dare to concoct such an absurd excuse!"

Qin Tian shook his head. "Though Junior Brother Jian Qi's Divine Soul is gone, it is not impossible to prove he was controlled before his death."

"What did you say?!" Jian Wuhen's brow furrowed, his eyes flashing with sharp light.

The crowd was taken aback.

"The Divine Soul is gone, the person is dead through and through. What's left to prove?"

The Heads of the various peaks were also somewhat puzzled. Just as they were about to ask, the spatial portal of the Fallen Dragon Grotto fluctuated again!

A figure rushed out, covered in charred scars.

"Revered Master, you must seek justice for me!"

Accompanied by a mournful cry, Xiao Chen flashed to Jian Wuhen's side.

"Qin Tian not only stole my family's heirloom treasure, but he also threw me into a sea of fire, nearly killing me!"

"I survived by a hair's breadth to be able to return..."

Xiao Chen lowered his head and saw Jian Qi nearby.

"Senior Brother Jian Qi!"

"What happened to you, Senior Brother Jian Qi! Revered Master, Senior Brother Jian Qi, he..."

"He is dead," Jian Wuhen's voice was filled with grief.

"No—!"

"Senior Brother Jian Qi, you said you would help me find Qin Tian to get my treasure back. How could you die?"

"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have let Senior Brother Jian Qi go! Otherwise, he wouldn't have died...!"

Xiao Chen wept bitterly, lamenting incessantly.

Qin Tian watched with cold eyes.

Xiao Chen's appearance was too coincidental.

Just as Jian Wuhen was gaining a bit of patience, Xiao Chen came out to add fuel to the fire.

Now, it was likely that no amount of explanation would work... After hearing Xiao Chen's words, the fury in Jian Wuhen's eyes could no longer be contained.

"Qin Tian!"

"You are very good!"

"Killing my Disciple and stealing his family heirloom, yet you still try to use flowery words to argue your way out!"

"Today, no one can protect you!" Jian Wuhen's Sword Qi surged as he lunged for Qin Tian.

"You dare!" Yun Xi snorted coldly and met him head-on.

A strange glint flashed in the depths of Xiao Chen's eyes as he sneered inwardly, "Fight. The more intense the fight, the better."

"With Yun Xi protecting Qin Tian like this, I'm afraid he might still be able to stay in the Dao Seeking Immortal Sect," the voice inside the heaven swallowing seed spoke.

"Revered Master, it would be best if Qin Tian leaves the Dao Seeking Immortal Sect, but even if he doesn't, it doesn't matter much."

"Oh? Do you have another objective?"

"Humph, my purpose for coming to the Dao Seeking Immortal Sect has only ever been one thing," Xiao Chen smiled inwardly. "Now that Yun Xi and Jian Wuhen are fighting, the true person in charge of the Dao Seeking Immortal Sect should be appearing."

Boom!

Sword Qi ravaged the sky as Yun Xi and Jian Wuhen engaged in a fierce battle.

The other Peak Heads stepped forward to persuade them, but it was to no avail.

"Sigh, one has a violent temper, the other is overly protective..."

"If they keep fighting like this, the final result will surely be one dead and one injured..."

The Head of Dao Peak sighed and lightly ignited a talisman paper.

"Stop!"

A world-shaking voice came from the direction of the Dao Seeking Immortal Sect, and a mysterious power transformed into a rainbow light, blocking the space between Yun Xi and Jian Wuhen.

Both of them stalled simultaneously, their bodies frozen in place.

"This is... the Creation Heavenly Monarch!!"

Everyone was startled and gazed toward the Dao Seeking Immortal Sect.

Plant the dao seed, obtain the Dao Fruit. Only those who have plucked the Dao Fruit can achieve the Creation Realm and be honored as a living Heavenly Lord!

Every Heavenly Lord possesses a Dao unique to them, elusive and with unfathomable strength.

Even from thousands of miles away, they could instantly restrain two Cultivators at the Reflecting Nine Heavens.

This was the power of a Heavenly Lord!

"This matter can be clarified after returning to the sect."

The booming voice rang out again, bringing the conflict between Yun Xi and Jian Wuhen to a close.

Jian Wuhen retracted his Sword Qi and, taking Xiao Chen and Jian Qi's corpse with him, headed straight back to the Dao Seeking Immortal Sect without looking back.

Yun Xi came to Qin Tian and said softly, "In the coming days, do not stray too far from your Revered Master."

Qin Tian nodded. "Revered Master, I didn't..."

Before Qin Tian could finish, Yun Xi interrupted him.

"I believe you."

"Let's go. Since the Grand Elder has acted, it's time for your Revered Master to end her seclusion as well..."

...