Li Heng suddenly spoke, and yet no one seemed surprised. If anything, the crowd shared a collective sense of inevitability—so it begins.
He hadn't traveled all this way just to make an appearance.
Would Lin Ya and Tianjian Peak make it through this time?
A hush fell as everyone waited to hear what came next.
Li Heng looked at Lin Ya, a faint lift in his brow. "Lin Ya, let me ask you—how exactly did your cultivation recover? From what I've heard, your injuries were grave. Your dantian was shattered. In such a state, how could you possibly regain your strength?"
His tone lightened, lips curling in a half-smile. "Could it be... you consumed a Butian Pill?"
The Butian Pill wasn't considered especially rare in the Four Great Holy Lands.
But Lin Ya? A mere Peak Lord of a mid-tier sect?
How could he have obtained such a divine medicine?
Zhao Wuji interjected, "Uncle Li, surely you don't mean—no, that can't be. Lin Peak Lord is an upright man. Even if he didn't use a Butian Pill, I'm sure he recovered through legitimate means. I trust him on that."
Li Heng gave him a look of disappointment. "Wuji, you're far too trusting. Lin Ya was gravely injured, yet not only did he recover fully, his cultivation advanced even further. If not the Butian Pill, then it must have been some sort of demonic art."
Zhao Wuji widened his eyes in feigned shock. "You mean to say... no, that's impossible. Lin Ya would never do such a thing."
The two were putting on a show, their lines delivered like practiced actors.
Everyone saw through it.
Everyone knew Zhao Wuji was pretending.
Everyone knew Li Heng was stirring trouble.
And yet...
A strong fist silences all logic.
What could Lin Ya possibly say in defense?
Li Heng had no intention of letting him speak. He stared coldly at him and said, "It's well known that the Demon Race, to increase their power, has modified their cultivation techniques into heretical arts that even humans can use. These arts advance quickly, grant swift boosts in strength, and crush opponents in the early stages. They're shortcut techniques.
But everyone knows the price—those who practice such methods inevitably lose their reason, fall into madness, and descend into the demonic path.
The Demon Race has grown increasingly active in the shadows. Though the cultivation world appears calm, it is teeming with hidden dangers. Anyone who's regularly taken sect missions would know this all too well."
Li Heng straightened his posture, voice ringing with righteous indignation. "Those who cultivate demonic arts are essentially sleeper agents for the Demon Race, spies hidden among us. And worse, these techniques are so well-concealed, it's nearly impossible to detect them early."
"Lin Ya's situation is highly suspicious. As Hall Master of the Demon-Slaying Alliance, I have reason to suspect he has come into contact with heretical cultivation. I will now perform a direct inspection."
As he spoke, a glowing token appeared in his hand—the Demon-Slaying Order.
It was clearly a higher-grade token than the ones Zhou Li and Zhou Dai had used. The carvings on its surface radiated solemn authority.
Zhou Li and Zhou Dai, watching from below, couldn't help but narrow their eyes.
Li Heng... was a Hall Master of the Demon-Slaying Alliance.
The Demon-Slaying Alliance, founded by the Four Great Holy Lands, was a super-organization made up of experts from countless sects. The minimum requirement to join was Golden Core realm. Promotions came through accumulated contribution points.
Its leader was Ji Wusi, famed for once slaying ten thousand demons with a single sword strike. Below him were twelve Elders, each a peak expert from a major sect. Under them were fifty Hall Lords, all of whom had at least reached Mahayana.
And under them were three hundred Hall Masters—like Li Heng—each one a powerhouse at the Tribulation level or above.
The implication was clear: Li Heng wasn't just in the Tribulation stage. He was likely among the strongest of his rank.
In recent years, the Demon Race had grown bolder, and so too had the power of the Demon-Slaying Alliance.
Li Heng had every legal right to make this accusation.
And should he find any evidence, he had the authority to kill Lin Ya on the spot.
Clearly, that was his intent.
Everyone knew it was a setup.
But so what?
The weak have no voice. They're trampled like ants.
Even this flimsy justification was more than Lin Ya deserved in Li Heng's eyes.
If he hadn't wanted to offer a reason, he could have simply acted.
Li Heng's gaze locked onto Lin Ya. "Will you resist the inspection?"
Even if Lin Ya were innocent, Li Heng would find something to pin on him.
It felt as if the outcome had already been decided.
Up in the sky.
Cang Li's gaze turned icy.
His master, Ji Wusi, was the leader of the Demon-Slaying Alliance. Cang Li himself was also a Hall Master. That much power had been granted to protect the righteous path and resist the demonic one. But what was Li Heng doing with it now?
Cang Li had no doubt his master was watching from the shadows.
And he was likely more furious than anyone else.
Cang Li's expression remained cold.
If Li Heng was merely being cautious, then fine. The inspection would clear Lin Ya, and the matter would end.
But if he tried to fabricate charges...
A gleam of killing intent flickered in Cang Li's eyes.
Li Heng would not be walking away.
His master would never tolerate such disgrace.
Lin Ya's voice remained calm. "I have not cultivated any heretical arts, nor have I colluded with the demonic path. If Hall Master truly bears no personal grudge, then I have nothing to fear from an inspection."
"Are you accusing me of bias now?" Li Heng sneered. "Sounds to me like you're just feeling guilty."
He reached out with one hand, attempting to draw Lin Ya toward him by force.
"Hold it right there!"
A sharp voice rang out.
At last, the three Taishang Elders appeared.
One was a kind-faced elderly woman, one a cold and elegant beauty, and the last a burly man with a face like a butcher's.
These were Tianxing Sect's three Tribulation-stage Elders, its final pillars of strength. They stood between Lin Ya and Li Heng. The elegant woman, who appeared the youngest, spoke first—and her presence commanded clear authority.
"Senior Li, I watched Lin Ya grow up. His village was destroyed by the Demon Race. There is no chance he's colluding with them."
"That's right. Lin Ya detests evil. He was injured during a mission involving demonic remnants," said the burly man.
"Besides, Lin Ya is a member of Tianxing Sect. If there are doubts about him, it should fall to us to investigate first," the elderly woman added.
Lin Ya had finally recovered his strength. With his talent and age, he could very well reach Tribulation stage and become one of Tianxing Sect's greatest assets. These Elders would do everything in their power to protect him.
Li Heng looked at the three Elders and chuckled. "So now you're interfering with a Demon-Slaying Alliance investigation? Have you forgotten we have the authority to intervene directly?"
"We merely believe you're being too hasty," said the elegant woman.
"Hasty? All I said was that I wanted to inspect him. How is that hasty? Unless, of course, all of you are hiding something too," Li Heng said with a scornful laugh.