10: Framing and scapegoating, the saint returns

The atmosphere on the Martial Arts Arena shifted from noisy to silent.

Everyone's gaze was fixed on Shen Xi's motionless body.

Lu Yi parted the crowd and walked slowly to Shen Xi's side.

He squatted down and, putting on a show, extended two fingers to Shen Xi's neck to check the injuries.

The examination showed that Shen Xi's injuries appeared severe on the surface; his sternum was shattered, and his internal organs were ruptured.

However, relying on the powerful vitality of a Purple Mansion Realm Cultivator, a breath of life still remained; he had merely fallen into a deep coma.

Not dead yet? This won't do!

A flicker of ruthlessness, unnoticed by anyone, flashed in Lu Yi's eyes.

To ensure the plan was foolproof, this Shen Xi had to die!

Anyway, with his character setting, he would die at the hands of the protagonist sooner or later; rather than being mere cannon fodder, it was better to die here and serve as a tool for him.

Then, Lu Yi mobilized a trace of the Power of the Stars and silently funneled it into Shen Xi's body through his fingertips.

This power precisely and elegantly destroyed the already chaotic Meridians within Shen Xi's body.

After completely erasing his last spark of life, it vanished without a trace.

Having finished this, Lu Yi slowly let go and stood up.

He faced the surrounding Disciples who were looking his way, and with a perfectly timed expression of regret and heaviness, he gently shook his head and said:

"He's gone. He's completely dead."

These simple words were like a giant boulder dropped into a calm lake.

The crowd erupted in an uproar, and whispers quickly broke out among them.

The Deacon Disciple of the arena was the first to react, pointing angrily at Lin Tian on the stage:

"Lin Tian! You... how dare you strike such a vicious blow on the arena and murder a fellow Disciple!"

His words jolted everyone awake.

In an instant, the crowd's gazes shot like sharp swords toward Lin Tian, who was still immersed in the joy of victory.

Murdering a fellow Disciple was a major taboo in the Primordial Holy Land, not to mention that the deceased was the direct grandson of an Elder.

Having his cultivation stripped and being expelled from the Holy Land would be the best possible outcome!

Lin Tian was also completely stunned; the look of triumph on his face instantly vanished, replaced by panic and anger.

He knew better than anyone that although his palm strike was powerful, he was injured after all.

It absolutely shouldn't have been enough to kill a Purple Mansion Realm Cultivator on the spot with a single blow!

The only possibility was that someone was tampering with things!

His gaze snapped to the bottom of the stage, and seeing Lu Yi's look of regret, he instantly understood everything.

All of this must be a trap set by this guy against him!

"It's you! You're the one behind this!"

Lin Tian's eyes were bloodshot as he pointed at Lu Yi and roared with all his might in front of everyone:

"Lu Yi! It must have been you who secretly killed him and then framed me!"

His angry voice echoed across the Martial Arts Arena.

However, before Lu Yi could react, the surrounding Disciples had already erupted.

"What absolute nonsense!"

"You accidentally killed someone and yet you dare to make such baseless accusations and slander His Highness the Saint?"

"This is madness! His Highness the Saint has been standing there the whole time; when did he ever make a move?"

...A tide of accusations completely drowned out Lin Tian's complaint.

In the eyes of the crowd, Lin Tian's behavior was merely that of a mad dog lashing out because he couldn't accept the fact that he had murdered a fellow Disciple.

Seeing him like this, Lu Yi raised his hand with feigned magnanimity, signaling for silence.

Then he looked at Lin Tian and said in a calm tone:

"Lin Tian, I know your mind is in turmoil right now, but while you can eat whatever you want, you cannot say whatever you want. You say I made a secret move; do you have any evidence?"

"I..."

Lin Tian was left speechless by this counter-question.

Evidence? Where could he possibly get evidence?

He didn't even know how he had made the move just now; his accusation simply didn't hold water.

Seeing that Lin Tian was unable to speak, the crowd's accusations grew even louder.

Lu Yi gave him no further chance to explain. Leveraging the crowd's momentum, he commanded in a tone that brooked no argument:

"Guards! Seize this murderer who committed violence in public and dared to slander this Saint! Escort him to the Hall of Enforcement immediately to await judgment!"

"Yes!"

Several Deacon Disciples immediately took the order, leaped onto the stage, and closed in on Lin Tian.

"Don't come near me! I didn't kill anyone! I've been framed!"

Lin Tian struggled desperately, trying to resist, but before several Deacon Disciples of the Purple Mansion Realm, even with his Saint Body, it was futile.

Soon, he was firmly pinned down, and his spiritual power was completely sealed.

As he was dragged off the stage and escorted away, Lin Tian's hate-filled gaze glared fixedly at Lu Yi, as if he wanted to swallow him alive.

Lu Yi ignored his gaze; what use was glaring other than making one's eyes look bigger!

He waved to dismiss the lingering crowd on the Martial Arts Arena and then turned back to the Holy Son's Palace.

Just as he returned to the main hall, he happened to run into Lin Qingxuan walking out from the direction of the sleeping quarters.

She seemed to have rested well, having changed back into her original clothes, though a trace of bashfulness and shyness still lingered on her face.

Seeing her like this, Lu Yi was in a good mood. He walked forward with a smile and asked proactively:

"Well, have you rested? Have you thought things through?"

Lin Qingxuan was startled by his question, then immediately understood the meaning behind his words.

A blush rose to her cheeks, and she nodded subconsciously, but then, as if remembering something, she shook her head hesitantly.

Seeing her indecisive attitude, Lu Yi knew she still couldn't let go of that so-called "sibling affection."

Then the smile on his face vanished without a trace, replaced by a mask of coldness:

"If you haven't thought it through, then go back! Think it through properly!"

With that, he didn't even give Lin Qingxuan another glance, walking straight past her.

That sense of pressure made Lin Qingxuan's body tremble somewhat uncontrollably.

She didn't dare say more or stay, hurriedly leaving the Holy Son's Palace.

She returned to her residence on Elder Shen He's peak.

After all, it wouldn't be easy to explain to her brother why she had returned so early, and she also wanted to be alone for a while to calm down and think.

However, as soon as she returned, she keenly sensed that the surrounding atmosphere was somewhat off.

The Utility Disciples, who usually greeted her with respectful bows, were now looking at her with schadenfreude.

They gathered together, whispering and pointing at her from time to time.

From their fragmented words, she heard a piece of devastating news.

Her brother, Lin Tian, had publicly killed Shen Xi, the biological grandson of her Revered Master, Elder Shen He, on the Martial Arts Arena.

This news caused Lin Qingxuan's mind to go blank instantly.

She stumbled back two steps, barely managing to steady herself by leaning against the wall.

She hadn't expected that Lu Yi's warning in the sleeping quarters would actually come true.

For the first time, a strong sense of resentment toward her brother rose from the bottom of her heart.

Why! Why couldn't he just behave!

But the thought of saving him still stubbornly occupied her mind.

But this time, who could she turn to for help?

Her Revered Master's grandson had been killed by her brother; it would already be an act of great mercy if her Revered Master didn't kill her brother himself.

And as for Lu Yi... she had nothing left to offer as a price.

She couldn't possibly... Lin Qingxuan shook her head vigorously, unwilling to think further.

Just as Lin Qingxuan was lost and helpless, a crisp, intimate, and incredibly familiar voice, accompanied by a waft of fragrant wind, came from afar.

"Qing Xuan! I'm back! Did you miss me? Come here and let me give you a hug!"

Lin Qingxuan looked up to see a beautiful figure flying toward her.

Her best friend, the Saintess of the Primordial Holy Land—Shen Yueyao—had returned.