"Elders," Zhao Wuji said with a righteous expression, "we all believe in Peak Lord Lin. However, matters involving the demonic path are of great importance. My Uncle Li is carrying out his duty. Investigating Peak Lord Lin is part of that responsibility. Besides, now that suspicion has been raised, wouldn't a thorough investigation help clear his name instead of leaving him with the stigma of possibly colluding with the demonic path? A proper investigation would only prove his innocence, would it not?"
The expression on the three Supreme Elders grew increasingly sour.
They wanted to speak up but couldn't say what was truly on their minds.
After all, they couldn't outright accuse Li Heng of trying to frame Lin Ya. With his status, such an accusation would only give him more justification to act out.
The cold, elegant woman among the three elders took a breath. "Very well, Peak Lord Lin, allow Senior Li to examine your cultivation techniques. Relax. As someone from a Holy Land, and as a Hall Master of the Demon-Slaying Alliance, Senior Li will certainly uphold the reputation of both his sect and the alliance. He will conduct the inspection fairly."
She was trying to nudge Li Heng through subtle implication. Don't go too far.
Li Heng caught the meaning, but simply gave her a lazy, amused glance.
Oh? Trying to pressure me with the name of Qingxiao Pavilion and the Demon-Slaying Alliance?
But reputation only matters if someone can prove he's doing wrong.
And with the tricks he had in mind, how could they possibly see through it?
They wouldn't. Which meant that if a problem appeared, then Lin Ya was clearly guilty.
If he could label him a traitor to the human race, he would only be praised. What crime could there possibly be?
"Then I shall begin," Li Heng said calmly.
He placed his hand on top of Lin Ya's head.
In the next moment, a white mist rose from Lin Ya's crown.
Within the mist, a faint sword appeared—this was the technique Lin Ya primarily cultivated.
Soon after, various phantom-like silhouettes began to take shape, one by one. Each represented a technique Lin Ya had practiced. They flickered in and out, briefly visible in the mist.
The onlookers were mildly astonished.
Everything matched. All of Lin Ya's techniques were accounted for.
It seemed Li Heng truly was conducting an honest inspection.
However, on Tianjian Peak, the expressions of Yun Jin and her peers remained tense.
They knew—Li Heng had something planned.
What exactly, they couldn't yet guess.
Yun Jin's heart hung in her throat.
If Li Heng took it too far, could the three Supreme Elders hold the line?
The white mist revealed Lin Ya's cultivation like flipping pages in a book. Technique after technique emerged, none showing any sign of deviation.
As the mist began to fade, the Supreme Elders exhaled subtly in relief.
Perhaps this time, Li Heng really was just doing his job.
Everything had matched up. There was nothing resembling an evil technique, nothing to connect Lin Ya with the demonic path. This should be enough to clear him.
However—
Before they could finish that breath of relief, something changed.
The fading mist abruptly turned black.
From the thickening darkness, a black sword emerged, radiating twisted energy. Black smoke hissed from the blade's edges, a sinister aura pouring into the air.
What—
Everyone from Tianxing Sect stared, eyes wide.
Was that an evil cultivation technique?
That aura—it wasn't righteous. That was unmistakable.
And they saw it clearly. The energy came from within Lin Ya himself.
How could this be?
Had Li Heng not been falsely accusing him after all?
Was Lin Ya's rapid recovery truly due to collusion with the demonic path?
Demonic cultivators! Evil arts!
These words had become terrifying in the cultivation world.
The crowd instinctively took a few steps back, alarmed.
They'd heard stories. Practitioners of evil arts could go mad at any time. Lin Ya, already in late Unity stage, would be unstoppable in a frenzy. Few would survive.
"Peak Lord Lin!" Zhao Wuji turned to him, shocked. "How could you do such a thing? How could you truly collude with the demonic path? Have you forgotten? Your family, your people—weren't they all slaughtered by the demonic path? And now, for the sake of your cultivation, to keep your position, you throw aside that hatred and turn to them? I'm truly disappointed in you!"
He looked utterly heartbroken.
The Supreme Elders' expressions shifted subtly.
They didn't believe Lin Ya had colluded with the demonic path.
But the evidence before their eyes—
This aura was real. They could feel it.
Still, they didn't want to believe.
"Lin Ya, have you nothing to say?" Li Heng asked with a half-smile. "If I hadn't used my unique methods, that technique would've remained hidden. You nearly fooled us all."
Zhao Wuji looked on with barely concealed excitement.
He was eager to see Lin Ya crumble. They all knew Lin Ya was innocent. So did Li Heng. Perhaps even some of the crowd didn't truly believe it. But what could anyone do?
The proof was right there.
Today, Lin Ya would die.
Zhao Wuji was inwardly elated.
Lin Ya had plotted in the shadows for so long, patiently waiting and maneuvering—worthy of admiration.
But so what?
No scheme could overcome absolute strength.
Surely now, Lin Ya must be trembling in fear, desperate to beg for forgiveness.
Too late.
Yet something unsettled Zhao Wuji.
Lin Ya was not panicked. His face was still calm.
He stared at Li Heng and said coldly, "When you want to accuse someone, any excuse will do. Senior Li, whether or not I colluded with the demonic path, I'm sure you already know in your heart."
Li Heng sneered. "The truth is plain to see. Of course I know."
Lin Ya raised his voice. "The Demon-Slaying Alliance and the Demon-Slaying Token were created to protect the human race from demonic forces. I doubt the founders ever imagined a day would come when these things were used to frame fellow cultivators. Senior Li, you seem quite skilled at this. I imagine this isn't your first time. How many innocents have you condemned to death under this false charge of demonic collusion?
Someone like you, no matter your cultivation, is nothing but filth. You're unworthy of that token."
He stared directly at Li Heng, voice firm.
Heh.
Was he supposed to be scared?
He wasn't.
Not today.
He had someone behind him.
Li Heng's expression darkened.
"You dare insult me, even now? You dare deny the evidence? You slander others without repentance. Very well. As Hall Master of the Demon-Slaying Alliance, I now execute judgment on Lin Ya. All present shall bear witness!"
With a wave of his hand, a seal appeared in the air, growing in size as it hurtled downward toward Lin Ya.
The force it released shook the mountain beneath Tianxing Sect.
"Wait!" the three Supreme Elders shouted, stepping in front of Lin Ya. "This matter is not yet settled. It requires further—"
Before they could finish, Li Heng swept his sleeve.
The three of them were blasted backward, unable to resist.
Their faces twisted in shock.
They were in the Tribulation stage, but the difference between them and someone from Qingxiao Pavilion was too vast.
Even combined, they couldn't withstand a single strike.
Still, they couldn't just let him act with impunity.
The elders exchanged looks.
The woman spoke sharply. "Form the array!"
They nodded, preparing to act—
But suddenly, Lin Ya shouted from beneath the descending seal, "Elders, don't worry about me!"
They froze.
Was he ready to sacrifice himself so they wouldn't be implicated?
The elders were moved, their resolve only strengthening.
And then—
From beneath the falling seal, they heard a scream like a slaughtered pig:
"Help! Seniors, save me! I don't wanna die yet!"
Everyone: "???"
First he says not to interfere, then he's screaming for help?
Was Lin Ya… going mad?