"Quiet!"

As the crowd grew increasingly agitated, the Sect Master had to step forward and quell the uproar.

His expression was unreadable, and his gaze on Li Rao was far from friendly.

It wasn’t just the disciples; even he believed Li Rao had deliberately framed her. After all, everyone knew Ye Chuxue would give the Elixir Pills to her fellow disciples to consume.

Besides, Song Wanning was known for her petty and calculating nature, so it wasn’t surprising that she would be behind something like this.

But the difficult part now was how to make Li Rao confess. They couldn’t just beat a confession out of her, could they?

If they did, Song Wanning would surely raise hell after she came out of seclusion.

After running through his options, the Sect Master immediately tossed the problem to Gu Qingyuan.

’No matter what, Song Wanning would give Gu Qingyuan some face. It’s been over half a year; surely her anger has subsided by now.’

"Junior Brother Gu, how do you think we should handle this matter?"

"Master, just let me accept the punishment!"

Ye Chuxue interjected, tugging on Gu Qingyuan’s sleeve.

’Over the past six months, Gu Qingyuan’s attitude toward Song Wanning has changed slightly. I can’t let Master go soft and favor Song Wanning.’

’Since she dared to make a move against me, she has to pay the price!’

"No."

As expected, Gu Qingyuan decisively refused her.

"It’s not your fault. Why should you take the blame?"

His brow furrowed slightly, his disappointment in Song Wanning growing.

’The junior sister he once knew was gone for good.’

With a cold expression, he walked up to Li Rao, his aura pressing down on her like mountains and seas.

Li Rao instantly felt breathless, her entire body seemingly locked in place as she trembled uncontrollably.

"Explain everything from beginning to end. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being ruthless."

Gu Qingyuan’s icy voice rang out from above her. Li Rao shook her head with difficulty. "I didn’t... It wasn’t me..."

’She would rather die than admit to something she didn’t do.’

"Since you refuse to confess, then don’t blame me for using Soul Search!"

A flash of killing intent crossed Gu Qingyuan’s eyes as he raised his hand, aiming to strike the top of Li Rao’s head.

The Soul Searching Skill was exceedingly cruel. Its victims were left either witless or crippled, their Immortal Path forever severed.

He wanted to frighten Li Rao into confessing on her own to avoid dragging things out. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

However, just as Gu Qingyuan raised his hand...

The sky abruptly changed.

What was a moment ago a clear, boundless sky was suddenly shrouded in dark clouds. A boundless killing intent poured down from above.

The crowd looked up in shock, only to see a colossal longsword cleaving down from the heavens, aimed directly at them.

BOOM—

The endless killing intent froze everyone in place, rendering them immobile.

In that moment, everyone felt as if a blade was pressed against their necks—ice-cold and brimming with infinite killing intent.

’The slightest movement, and they would be torn limb from limb.’

A deafening roar sounded, and a golden light flashed before their eyes. Blinded by the brilliant glare, everyone squeezed their eyes shut. When they opened them again, several people were already lying on the ground.

Ye Chuxue, Bai Yang, and An Ze had collapsed, covered in blood, with long, deep gashes across their necks...

Nearby, Gu Qingyuan was no better off. His vestment robe had been torn in two and hung loosely from his body. The jade pin in his hair was shattered, allowing his black hair to cascade down, fluttering in the wind.

More terrifying still, the gash from the sword had nearly sliced through his entire body. Ghastly bone was exposed, a truly horrifying sight.

If that sword strike had been just a little higher, Gu Qingyuan’s head would have been split in two!

The crowd was aghast, so terrified it felt as if their blood was flowing in reverse.

The Sect Master and the elders were also pale with fright. ’Thankfully, we dodged quickly, or that longsword would have certainly struck us too!’

"Bullying my disciple while I’m in seclusion. Is this how our Heavenly Inquiry Sect conducts itself?"

A voice, cold and laced with killing intent, drifted over, causing everyone’s hearts to clench once more.

Looking into the distance, they saw a figure flying slowly toward them.

The newcomer wore a long red dress. Her hair ribbon and strands of hair danced in the wind, brushing past the alluring corners of her eyes.

With every step she took, it was as if she were stepping on everyone’s hearts.

It was an intoxicating, yet deeply frightening, presence.

It was none other than Song Wanning, who had just emerged from seclusion.

"Master!!!"

Li Rao stared, dumbfounded. When she finally realized it truly was her master, her eyes instantly reddened with grievance, and she cried out as she ran to her.

’While Master was away, these people coerced her, bullied her, and even wanted to use Soul Search to destroy her!’

’Only with her master here could she find her pillar of support.’

Song Wanning looked at her young disciple’s disheveled and terrified state. Her gaze darkened as she slowly descended.

"Don’t be afraid. Master is here. No one can bully you."

Song Wanning patted Li Rao’s head and sheltered her behind her back before walking toward the crowd.

PTHOO—

At that moment, Gu Qingyuan was already kneeling on one knee, having coughed up a pool of blood. His injuries were severe.

The Sect Master hastily draped a new vestment robe over him, while Lan Le quickly administered Elixir Pills to him and the younger disciples. They were on edge the entire time, terrified that if Song Wanning launched another surprise attack, they would be next.

"Junior Sister Song, you—how could you be so ruthless? Gu Qingyuan is your fellow sect member!"

The Sect Master was so furious he felt like he could spit blood, his chest heaving as he pointed at Song Wanning.

Song Wanning wasn’t annoyed. She casually flicked the corner of her dress. "If I had truly been ruthless, Gu Qingyuan’s head would have already been split open."

"A moment ago, he was about to Soul Search my young disciple, but I didn’t see you condemn him, Sect Master. Such favoritism is truly heartbreaking."

Her gaze slowly swept over them. Although the corners of her mouth were turned up in a smile, it was a chilling sight to behold.

"COUGH, COUGH— If it weren’t for your sneak attack, how could my... my master have lost?"

Ye Chuxue struggled to sit up, her face smeared with blood, making her look all the more pitiful and helpless.

"You’re despicable!"

’Since things have come to this, we might as well drop all pretenses.’

’That Song Wanning deserves to go to hell!’

"Sneak attack?"

Hearing this, Song Wanning clicked her tongue. "You only think it was a sneak attack because you’re too weak."

"Just now, my strike was completely out in the open. He was simply too slow to react. If you don’t believe me, ask him yourself!"

Ye Chuxue didn’t believe it and immediately looked at Gu Qingyuan, only to find him staring blankly at Song Wanning, his expression dazed.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly called out, "Master."

But Gu Qingyuan didn’t respond. He continued to stare intently at Song Wanning before finally speaking. "You’ve advanced to the late-stage Nascent Soul?"

The higher one’s cultivation, the more difficult it is to advance.

Above the Nascent Soul Stage, advancing is exceptionally difficult without a great stroke of fortune. Most people might go decades or even centuries without any hope of a breakthrough.

But Song Wanning?

It had only been a little over twenty years since she reached the mid-stage, and now she had advanced again, directly surpassing him.

Gu Qingyuan’s clenched fists turned white at the knuckles. A wave of indignation and faint jealousy washed over him.

’The most outstanding person is supposed to be me!’

’How could Song Wanning possibly surpass me?’

"That’s right. And it’s all thanks to you. After we broke off the engagement, I had a great epiphany and accidentally advanced."

Song Wanning crossed her arms, a smirk playing on her lips.

She knew exactly how to push Gu Qingyuan’s buttons.