After speaking, Dao Qing sent a message talisman to Song Wanníng, telling her to return to the sect immediately and deal with the matter.
Mu Zixu glared at Dao Qing, his fury burning hotter by the second. Today, he had to use this chance to kill Song Wanníng. If he missed it, it would only get harder in the future. Even if he couldn't kill her, he had to cripple her.
And he was acting with full justification. When the time came, even the sect master wouldn't be able to say anything.
"Dao Qing, you didn't call her back for a hearing, did you? You just wanted to give her time to run, isn't that it?"
Mu Zixu narrowed his eyes, and his accusation sent a ripple of shocked whispers through the surrounding disciples. If Song Wanníng truly killed Feng San, she was done for. Hurting a fellow disciple meant abolishing one's cultivation and expulsion from the sect.
Everyone had just seen her strength, so facing this sudden fall from grace, they couldn't help feeling conflicted. But most of them still felt she had no need to kill Feng San. Even if a conflict broke out during a match, it shouldn't have escalated like this.
Yet looking at Mu Zixu's certainty, it didn't seem like he was framing her.
At that moment, Wu Wang, who'd followed behind, stepped forward with red-rimmed eyes, voice trembling with grief.
"Martial Uncle Dao Qing, the two peaks both study pill dao, so the relationship's always been tense. But we're still fellow disciples. How could Song Wanníng kill Second Senior Brother?
And now you even want to protect her? How are we supposed to understand that? How should the rest of the disciples think?
Are geniuses allowed to be shielded? Are ordinary cultivators supposed to just die?"
Wu Wang's words instantly escalated the conflict.
The disciples who'd merely been watching the spectacle began to echo him one after another. Whether Song Wanníng was a genius didn't matter. If she really killed a fellow disciple, she had to pay the price. Otherwise, wouldn't that mean ordinary disciples were doomed later?
Dao Qing watched the crowd being stirred up, his eyes turning ice cold.
"When did I ever say I'd protect Song Wanníng? I already called her back. She'll return on her own. And I'll never cover up wrongdoing. Anyone who harms a fellow disciple deserves to die!"
His voice thundered, and that upright certainty made Mu Zixu hesitate.
Something was off.
At the same time, the sect master and the elders rushed toward Alchemy Peak.
The sect master had already informed Mo Yang Xiānzūn, since Song Wanníng was someone personally brought back by Mo Yang Xiānzūn. It was only right to notify him.
Feng Jiuxiao also received the news and immediately sent a message to Song Wanníng, expression grim.
After learning the truth, Feng Jiuxiao snorted. If Mu Zixu wanted to humiliate himself, then she didn't mind watching. He wanted to use this chance to kill Song Wanníng?
Keep dreaming.
Meanwhile, after Mo Yang Xiānzūn heard, he immediately contacted Song Wanníng. Once he learned she was already returning, he had her send a location, then directly tore open space and vanished from Wuji Sect.
A moment later, he appeared right in front of her.
"Xiānzūn, so fast?"
Song Wanníng stared in shock. She'd spent ages traveling here the first time. Mo Yang Xiānzūn's speed was unbelievable.
He'd expected her to be nervous, but instead he saw excitement and admiration in her eyes. He let out a helpless sigh.
"You have spatial affinity. If you study it more, you'll be able to tear space too."
He didn't elaborate. Instead, he grabbed her wrist and tore open space again, rushing back toward Alchemy Peak.
She looked around curiously, quietly feeling the sensation of space tearing.
Seeing her so calm, Mo Yang Xiānzūn knew nothing would happen to her and finally relaxed.
…
On Alchemy Peak, Mu Zixu was still pressing aggressively.
Wu Wang and Ouyang Lin were also putting on pitiful faces, looking unbearably tragic.
Dao Qing felt it was laughable, while Lan Yue was so furious her face had gone dark. She hadn't known Song Wanníng long, but she refused to believe someone that smart would do something so foolish. Feng San wasn't worth the risk. Put simply, Feng San didn't deserve that level of attention.
Situ Yue blushed slightly from excitement, unable to hide her glee.
"Song Wanníng had dug her own grave. She actually dared to kill Feng San. That was insane.
Now it was perfect. She was dead for sure."
Her own threat would be gone. Situ Yue desperately wanted to laugh out loud. But remembering how others defended Song Wanníng, she had to swallow it down and pray she'd be killed by Mu Zixu as soon as possible.
Just as the situation spiraled out of control, the sect master and elders arrived.
The sect master groaned inwardly. These two had been fighting for years, and now the mess was even bigger. It made his head pound.
Both were highly respected pill dao grandmasters. He couldn't defend either side.
He couldn't afford to offend either of them.
He forced himself to intervene.
"Sect Master, you have to give us justice. Song Wanníng bullied us too far. She killed my disciple Feng San. If I don't avenge him, I'll never forgive myself."
The instant Mu Zixu saw the sect master, he rushed forward to complain.
"Junior Mu, are you certain Song Wanníng killed Feng San?"
The sect master frowned.
"Of course."
Mu Zixu flicked his sleeve and a projection appeared in the air, showing Feng San's final moments.
The sight of Song Wanníng's cold murderous gaze and the blood covering her face sent waves of shock through the crowd.
"No way. Song Wanníng's only mid Renxian. How could she kill Feng San?"
"Yeah, and that looks more like he was struck by thunder!"
Disciples whispered wildly. Even those who refused to believe it had to accept the truth.
Feng San really died by Song Wanníng's hand.
The sect master and elders were equally stunned. A death-trace memory couldn't be faked.
Everyone fell silent.
Dao Qing narrowed his eyes, saying nothing for a long time. "That old bastard Mu Zixu really set this up well."
"Sect Master, everyone's seen it. Was I framing her?"
Mu Zixu pressed harder, grief twisting his expression. "I know she and I have grudges. I caused her trouble when she returned. But it wasn't worth killing over.
If there's a misunderstanding, we could've talked it out. But she killed without hesitation. Will the sect still protect her?"
He fixed his gaze on Dao Qing, voice forceful. "Please investigate clearly. Right now, Song Wanníng must have her cultivation abolished and be expelled from the sect. I'll avenge Feng San even if it costs me everything."