Even the coffin lid can't hold it down anymore.

"Celestial Pole Dao Son, what are you doing?!"

Seeing this sudden change, Bai Qingwu's pupils shrank. Shocked and angry, he retreated repeatedly, attempting to break free from the black mist.

However, this expanding mass of black matter was like a maggot on a bone, locking onto him firmly.

Wherever it passed, whether it was bones and flesh or Nascent Soul and Divine Sense, everything would be completely solidified, rendering him unable to move.

"Hehe..." Shen Wuji grinned and said indifferently, "Seeing as Falling Cloud Valley has shown enough sincerity toward Tianji Holy Land, this seat will naturally give you a return gift as a reward. Just accept it in peace."

"No... these are the methods of a Demonic Sect. You aren't Pu Genshuo!"

Bai Qingwu suddenly realized. He let out a gnashing roar, but just as he was about to risk everything, his entire body was stained pitch black, freezing him on the spot like a statue.

The intense commotion immediately caught the attention of the Disciples outside. Soon, a group of guard Disciples rushed into the hall, and they were stunned by the scene inside.

"What's going on?!"

"Sect Head!"

"What did you just do to our Sect Head? How—how did he end up like this?"

For a moment, the hall fell into chaos. All the Disciples who had rushed over were panicking, not knowing what to do.

Ordinarily, they should have immediately stepped forward to seize the criminal suspected of murdering the Sect Head.

However, over the past few days, they had been told more than once that the other party was a distinguished guest of Falling Cloud Valley with an exalted status and must not be offended.

Furthermore, those instructions had come directly from the Sect Head himself.

Distraught and confused, they lacked the courage to take action against the Nascent Soul Realm Celestial Pole Dao Son.

At this moment, Shen Wuji remained seated in the main seat, leisurely sipping tea and completely ignoring the various gazes of those around him.

Soon, more noise came from outside the hall. Yin Qingyuan, the Elder of the Dao Entry Pavilion, marched in aggressively with several other Elders.

Seeing Sect Head Bai Qingwu completely suppressed, a flash of joy crossed Yin Qingyuan's eyes. On the surface, however, he feigned great surprise and shouted:

"What are you all doing crowding around here? Haven't I told you? You must not be disrespectful to the Daozi!"

The Disciples looked at each other and could only retreat, clearing a path.

Just then, another group of Falling Cloud Valley Elders rushed in. They were horrified by the scene and stood frozen in shock.

"Sect Head!"

Once they snapped out of it, many Elders loyal to Bai Qingwu flew into a rage and immediately stepped forward to demand an explanation.

"Pu Genshuo, how dare you commit such an act against our Falling Cloud Valley Sect Head! Do you really think there's no one left in our Falling Cloud Valley?!"

"There are three thousand Disciples in the valley, as well as the Great Array left by the Ancestral Master. If you don't give us an explanation today, even if we must perish together, we swear to fight you to the death!"

"Indeed! We have served you with all our hearts and treated you with the utmost respect, yet you poisoned our Sect Head. Where is the justice in this? Even if we have to take this case to the Tianji Holy Land, we will seek justice for our Sect Head!"

Seeing the crowd's righteous indignation and the situation about to spiral out of control, Shen Wuji suddenly gave a cold laugh and said in a grim tone:

"Falling Cloud Valley Sect Head Bai Qingwu secretly practiced evil techniques and colluded with the Demonic Path. After being exposed by This Daozi, he became ashamed and enraged, eventually turning mad with hatred and attempting to murder This Daozi. That is why he was suppressed on the spot."

"With all this fuss you're making, could it be that everyone in Falling Cloud Valley is in league with Bai Qingwu?"

"If that's truly the case, I will summon manpower from the Holy Land right now to raze Falling Cloud Valley to the ground, lest more trouble arises in the future!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall fell into a deathly silence.

The dignified Sect Head of Falling Cloud Valley had actually colluded with the Demonic Path!

This accusation was far too heavy, practically absurd, but coming from the mouth of the Holy Land Dao Child, it was all the more shocking!

If the charges were proven true, not only would Bai Qingwu be ruined, but the entire Falling Cloud Valley would be implicated, potentially facing total destruction.

At this moment, even Bai Qingwu's most loyal confidants couldn't help but show hesitation, their momentum greatly diminished.

"Nonsense! My father has always been upright and hated evil as much as his own life. How could he possibly collude with the Demonic Path!"

Just then, a crisp female voice rang out, breaking the silence in the hall. Everyone looked toward the source and saw Bai Xirou walking in quickly from outside. Her face was frosty as she glared at Shen Wuji, her expression filled with grief and indignation.

"You are clearly slandering him and framing him on purpose! If you have nothing to hide, then release my father immediately and let him confront you in public. Then, the truth will be clear for all the Junior and Senior Martial Uncles to judge!"

"What a sharp-tongued little beauty." Shen Wuji sneered and teased, "If I release your father right now and prove that he has indeed cultivated a Demonic Technique, what will you do then?"

Hearing this, Bai Xirou's delicate body trembled slightly as a flicker of unease crossed her mind. However, her expression remained firm as she said word for word, "My Bai family has worked tirelessly for the Sect for generations. My father would never do something like colluding with the Demonic Path."

"If you can prove that my father has indeed cultivated a Demonic Technique, then we, father and daughter, will willingly submit to whatever punishment you see fit!"

"Hahaha..." Hearing this, Shen Wuji suddenly threw his head back and laughed. "Fine! Since you've said so, how could I let your kind intentions go to waste?"

As he spoke, he flicked his sleeve, and a magnificent, vast stream of clear Qi shot out, rapidly surging into Bai Qingwu's body.

The next moment.

As the clear Qi circulated through his body, the ink-black color on Bai Qingwu dissipated as quickly as snow under a warm sun. His forcibly frozen skin and joints also gradually relaxed.

"Father!"

"Sect Head!"

Seeing that Bai Qingwu had regained his ability to move, everyone felt a sense of relief and rushed forward to meet him.

Amidst the calls, Bai Qingwu suddenly opened his eyes. His originally dull pupils instantly turned pitch black with no whites visible, looking extremely eerie.

Bai Qingwu's once calm features gradually became twisted and hideous, and his entire body emitted a suffocating, violent Aura.

"Kill, kill, kill! I'll kill you all!"

Immediately after, he let out a beast-like roar and raised his hands to launch attacks in all directions.

Seeing this, Bai Xirou turned pale and looked at Bai Qingwu in disbelief. "Father, what's wrong with you? Wake up!"

The other Falling Cloud Valley Cultivators were also shocked and retreated one after another.

Shen Wuji sneered, "See? This is the consequence of cultivating a Demonic Technique—turning against one's own kin and losing one's mind!"

With that, a triumphant smile appeared on his face. He slowly raised his palm, and a blood-red longsword shimmering with an eerie light abruptly appeared, slashing straight down toward Bai Qingwu.

"Don't kill my father!"

Bai Xirou's face paled with fright, and she immediately rushed forward recklessly to stop him!

Suddenly.

Bang!

A streak of white light suddenly descended from the sky, forcefully shattering the blood-red longsword into a rain of light that scattered across the floor.

Who's there?

Shen Wuji frowned and squinted toward a certain direction.

"What a bunch of trash. Someone is about to kill your Sect Head right in front of you, yet every single one of you is acting like a coward."

"If Bai Yanjü saw this, he probably wouldn't even be able to keep his coffin lid down!"

Along with this huffing voice, a figure resembling a young boy slowly appeared in the hall, casually subduing the frenzied Bai Qingwu.

"Senior Array Spirit?!"

Upon seeing the boy, all the Falling Cloud Valley Cultivators in the hall were dumbstruck, their expressions filled with disbelief.

After more than a thousand years of silence, the legendary Array Spirit of the Sect's Great Array had finally appeared!