Chapter 888: Xia Xingchen Kills a Foe

Within the purple moon illusory realm, outside Yu'er's hall for secluded cultivation, Xiao Nanfeng's avatar examined Yu'er's body as his expression turned dark.

"Nanfeng, your expression is frightening. What's going on?" Yu'er murmured.

Xia Xingchen and Xia Zi likewise seemed puzzled. They were uncertain why Xiao Nanfeng's expression had changed so abruptly.

Taking a deep breath, Xiao Nanfeng replied, "Mountain Lord Xia, based on my initial assessment, Yu'er's condition isn't caused by the Yuqing yin pillar. Rather, there's been deliberate interference—someone has placed a curse on her."

"What did you say? A curse?" Xia Zi exclaimed in shock.

"How could that be? How could I have been cursed?" Yu'er asked incredulously.

Xia Xingchen narrowed his eyes. He asked seriously, "What makes you think it's a curse? How confident are you?"

"I'm at least 80% certain. I deduced it from the small dots on Yu'er's earlobes," Xiao Nanfeng said.

Xia Xingchen immediately turned to Yu'er's ears. Sure enough, each of her earlobes had three small, barely perceptible purple dots arranged in a triangular formation.

"Small dots?" Yu'er immediately took out a mirror and checked her earlobes. As she glanced at the dots, her eyes widened in disbelief. "Impossible! How could I have missed them?"

"Mountain Lord Xia, Yu'er has been under your supervision all along. How could someone have had the opportunity to curse her?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, confused.

Xia Xingchen's face turned dark. Although Xiao Nanfeng wasn't entirely confident, Xia Xingchen himself was almost certain that this was a curse, after all. Anger blazed in his eyes.

"Father, could it be...?" Xia Zi frowned.

"What happened?" Xiao Nanfeng pressed.

Xia Zi frowned slightly, as if reluctant to speak.

Yu'er, on the other hand, wasn't quite so reserved. "It was when the hierarch brought the Yuqing disciples into the purple moon illusory realm. He claimed he would help the twelve selected holy maidens advance their cultivation so that we could better absorb the Yuqing yin pillars."

"Advance your cultivation? How?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"There was a large formation in the hierarch's residence. He had the twelve holy maidens sit around the formation, then activated the piece of golden jade that supplied energy to it. Powerful waves of energy surged into our bodies. My father and the other Mountain Lords were present to assist with the formation. Our cultivation did improve, but for some reason, we all passed out afterwards," Yu'er explained.

Xia Xingchen recalled, "The hierarch said that the formation was designed to work this way—that the holy maidens falling unconscious was part of the process to enhance the absorption of energy. When Yu'er woke up the next day, everything seemed fine, and her cultivation had indeed improved. After that, she began to absorb the Yuqing yin pillar. It wasn't long before her body started to repel others as well."

"Didn't you say that Yu'er had already refined one Yuqing yin pillar before? She didn't experience anything like this back then. Did you not suspect Shi Tianbei?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.

"I did, but there was also the possibility that the first pillar might have been different from the others. Besides, all twelve holy maidens had the same issue, so I dismissed the thought," Xia Xingchen admitted, regret evident in his tone.

"Shi Tianbei? How dare he!" Yu'er fumed.

"Father, not only did the hierarch try to force Yu'er into marrying into the Southeastern Aquatic Palace, he's even cursing her now. He's clearly targeting us!" Xia Zi exclaimed in anger.

Xia Xingchen's face was stormy, but he ultimately said, "Don't jump to conclusions. We don't have concrete proof that the hierarch was responsible. Show some respect."

"What's there to doubt?" Xia Zi exclaimed, frustrated.

"Exactly, Father! You're being far too soft. Shi Tianbei is clearly out to get us!" Yu'er added indignantly.

"Enough! We cannot be certain," Xia Xingchen barked, silencing his children.

Xia Zi and Yu'er glanced at each other. They were visibly upset and were just about to speak up when Xiao Nanfeng interjected, "Mountain Lord Xia is simply worried that you'll act rashly and alarm the culprit."

"Oh?" Yu'er and Xia Zi frowned.

They immediately grasped the situation now that Xiao Nanfeng had pointed it out. After all, Shi Tianbei was the Yuqing hierarch. If they were to act on impulse now, especially without any evidence, Shi Tianbei might be able to cover up his tracks or even retaliate.

"Father, couldn't you just have explained everything to us earlier? Do you always have to be so cryptic?" Yu'er demanded.

"Exactly!" Xia Zi echoed.

Xia Xingchen glared at his children, but didn't refute Xiao Nanfeng.

"Mountain Lord Xia, regardless of the circumstances, I think we need to keep Yu'er away from Shi Tianbei. I'd like to leave with her for the time being. Would you proceed with the investigation here?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

Yu'er's eyes lit up. "Great idea! Father, let me go with Nanfeng. You can investigate while we're gone.

Xia Xingchen eyed Yu'er. He didn't object, but if only his daughter would show a little more reserve...

Just then, a group of figures descended from the sky and stopped short before them. A huge gust of wind caused the surrounding grass and trees to sway violently.

"How did you get in here, Xiao Nanfeng?" their leader demanded.

Everyone turned to see a group of Yuqing disciples dressed in green robes. Their leader was staring coldly at Xiao Nanfeng.

"This is Sage Qingyun, one of the twelve Mountain Lords of the Yuqing holy land. He's a Boundless Immortal, and one of Shi Tianbei's lackeys," Yu'er whispered into Xiao Nanfeng's ear.

Though Yu'er spoke softly, everyone present was powerful enough to hear her clearly. Sage Qingyun glowered.

"Senior Brother Xia, is your daughter attempting to insult me?" Sage Qingyun demanded.

In the past, Xia Xingchen might have attempted to keep up appearances and have Yu'er apologize, but he was extremely upset about the curse that had been discovered.

He ignored Sage Qingyun's question and demanded, "Junior Brother Qingyun, what are you doing here?"

Sage Qingyun glared at Yu'er before replying, "Senior Brother Xia, I heard that an outsider had barged into the purple moon illusory realm. I'm here to expel him on the hierarch's orders."

"From whom did you hear this?"

"The battle at Chiyang Peak earlier caused a significant commotion. Quite a few disciples saw Xiao Nanfeng then."

"While I was in secluded cultivation, some disciples tried to barge into Chiyang Peak and sabotage my breakthrough. Did you hear about that, too?" Xia Xingchen demanded.

"Is that so?" Sage Qingyun feigned ignorance.

"When a Mountain Lord is attempting a breakthrough, if any disciples attempt to hinder the breakthrough in an attempt to sabotage the Mountain Lord, what is their due punishment according to Yuqing law?" Xia Xingchen demanded.

Sage Qingyun frowned. "Death, of course. I shall investigate this matter thoroughly."

"There's no need. After all, I see them right here. Since you've confirmed that the punishment is death, Junior Brother, I won't hold back," Xia Xingchen said.

He glanced coldly at the Yuqing disciples that had appeared alongside Sage Qingyun, causing them to shrink back in fright.

"Senior Brother Xia, what are you doing?!" Sage Qingyun exclaimed.

"Killing them!" Xia Xingchen spat out.

He drew his sword and struck at a man beside Sage Qingyun.

"How dare you, Xia Xingchen!" Sage Qingyun shouted, throwing a punch at him.

The fist technique struck the sword in an explosion, but the resulting storm was completely absorbed by the Yuqing yin pillar.

Sage Qingyun was forced back. A shockwave of energy bit into the disciple that Xia Xingchen had targeted, severing his arm.

The injured disciple shrieked in agony and fled.

"Xia Xingchen, have you gone crazy?!" Sage Qingyun shouted.

In the past, though Xia Xingchen was hardly a doormat, he had been reserved and had never dared to disobey an outright order from the hierarch. How could he dare to attack Yuqing disciples in public now?

"You're the one who's crazy, Junior Brother Qingyun. Or do you really think I'm that clueless? You're the one who has been sending disciples to disrupt my cultivation. Do you really think I'm such an easy target to bully? I'll settle my score with you later. As for these disciples of yours, whom you dispatched, I'll kill them right now. It's clear some people need a reminder that Yuqing laws are to be enforced," Xia Xingchen shouted.

Xia Xingchen shot toward the fleeing disciple as he swung his sword.

"Stop this madness!" Sage Qingyun yelled.

He drew a longsword and countered Xia Xingchen as a fight unfolded in the heart of the Sieve of Heaven of the purple moon illusory realm.

The Yuqing disciples of other peaks rushed over. The commotion had drawn the attention of the other Mountain Lords and holy maidens as well.

"Die!" Xia Xingchen roared.

He shook Sage Qingyun aside and cut down the fleeing disciple.

"Xia Xingchen, how dare you!" Sage Qingyun roared.

"I am merely upholding Yuqing's laws. Why wouldn't I dare do so? Now, who's next?" Xia Xingchen roared.

Those disciples who had attempted to cause trouble at Chiyang Peak shuddered in fear as they fled, but Xia Xingchen wasn't to be deterred. He immediately struck down the fleeing disciples. They fell to the ground, grievously injured.

"Hold it!" Sage Qingyun thundered.

Though Xia Xingchen had just reached the Boundless Immortal realm, he was shockingly strong. He easily shook off Sage Qingyun.

By then, the other Mountain Lords had arrived.

"Calm down, Xia Xingchen! Let's talk things over!"

"Qingyun, don't make a move. We're all brothers in cultivation here. What's with all this fuss?"

The Mountain Lords stepped forward in an attempt to calm the two cultivators down. Of course, during the process, the fleeing disciples were all restrained as well.

"Qingyun, Xia Xingchen, what's the meaning of this? Stop this nonsense!" a commanding voice thundered from the distance.

Everyone turned to see a man in purple robes holding a horsetail whisk striding toward them.

"Hierarch!" the Yuqing disciples exclaimed.

Xia Xingchen frowned. Xiao Nanfeng's eyes narrowed. Yu'er and Xia Zi exchanged a glance with each other, their eyes growing cold with anger.

Yu'er suddenly sent Xiao Nanfeng a mental transmission. "Nanfeng, Qingyun was targeting you. I'm sure the hierarch will be intent on causing you trouble as well. You won't be able to leave, so just stay here and stall them for the moment. I'll be back in no time."

Though Xiao Nanfeng was confused about Yu'er's plan, he nodded.

Yu'er turned to Xia Zi. "Brother, follow me. Hurry!"

Xia Zi blinked. Where were they going? They were right about to confront the hierarch!

However, Yu'er seemed resolute. She continued to urge Xia Zi, who glanced at his surroundings and ultimately nodded. They retreated to Chiyang Peak together and quickly vanished from sight.