Chapter 889: Whose Purple Moon Illusory Realm?

At the base of Chiyang Peak, within the purple moon illusory realm, the commotion had drawn the attention of numerous Mountain Lords and holy maidens. Their combined efforts finally stopped the battle between Xia Xingchen and Sage Qingyun. However, the two men were still glaring at each other with hostility.

"What are you doing? Do you intend to start an internal war within the Yuqing holy land?" Shi Tianbei demanded.

"Perfect timing, Hierarch. I've been in secluded cultivation while attempting a breakthrough, but a group of Yuqing traitors repeatedly attempted to assassinate me in hopes of causing a deviation in my cultivation. Now that I've emerged from seclusion, is it wrong for me to deal with these traitors?" Xia Xingchen demanded.

He didn't mention the curse on Yu'er, knowing that without any proof, he wouldn't be able to indict Shi Tianbei. It would be better to focus on Sage Qingyun's disciples and get some revenge.

"Ridiculous! Xia Xingchen, on what grounds do you accuse my disciples of this?!" Sage Qingyun retorted. He turned to Shi Tianbei. "Hierarch, Xia Xingchen is deliberately trying to malign me and my disciples. Please dispense justice!"

The Mountain Lords and holy maidens in the vicinity watched on with confusion. They had heard rumors about the trouble at Chiyang Peak recently, but hadn't intervened since Xia Xingchen didn't seek out their assistance.

Shi Tianbei took a deep breath and asked, "Xia Xingchen, you claim that there are traitors plotting against you. Do you have any evidence for that claim?"

Sage Qingyun nodded firmly. "Indeed. What evidence makes you accuse my disciples? You've been in secluded cultivation. How can you tell who's responsible?"

Xia Xingchen's expression darkened. He knew about the attackers because of Xia Zi, who had fended off two waves of assaults. Though Xia Zi hadn't seen their faces, he had sensed their auras. But could Xia Zi's testimony serve as conclusive evidence?

At that moment, Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward. "If evidence is what you're after, I have some."

"Oh?" The crowd turned its attention to Xiao Nanfeng.

"Xiao Nanfeng? What are you doing here in the purple moon illusory realm?" Shi Tianbei demanded.

"Indeed! Xiao Nanfeng, how did you enter this realm? It's under the Yuqing holy land's control, and no outsiders are permitted within," Sage Qingyun said coldly.

"We can discuss that later. Let's focus on matters pertaining to Mountain Lord Xia for now."

"Hm?" The crowd frowned, but Shi Tianbei could hardly protest too much. After all, Xiao Nanfeng had indicated that they would talk about it later.

"What evidence do you have, then?" Shi Tianbei demanded.

"Earlier, Sage Qingyun mentioned that the disturbances at Chiyang Peak caught the attention of many, and that he informed the hierarch about my presence here. The hierarch then dispatched Sage Qingyun to expel me from the realm. Is that correct?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, smiling faintly.

"Is that so?" Shi Tianbei turned to Sage Qingyun, his gaze sharp.

The implication was clear: he hadn't wanted to be dragged into the matter.

Sage Qingyun looked slightly embarrassed, but he nodded. "Yes, Hierarch."

"Good. Now that you've confirmed that, allow me to clarify. I personally stopped the individuals attempting to harm Xia Xingchen. I also left a mark on them, which serves as evidence," Xiao Nanfeng continued.

"What?" Sage Qingyun exclaimed in shock.

"See for yourselves," Xiao Nanfeng said.

With a snap of his fingers, several of Sage Qingyun's disciples suddenly clutched their necks, revealing red ropes that had appeared around them.

"When did this spiritual power latch onto me? I didn't even notice!" one disciple exclaimed.

He desperately tore at the red rope and eventually did so with a loud crack.

Even so, the crowd had seen the evidence of their crimes clearly. Xiao Nanfeng had merely snapped his fingers to trigger something hidden on their bodies. The red rope had clearly been present all along.

"Hierarch, Mountain Lords, the evidence is clear. These Yuqing traitors have violated the laws of the holy land, plotting against a Mountain Lord with treacherous behavior. If they are excused, such behavior will only propagate. Shouldn't the sect's laws be upheld? They ought to be punished as an example for others," Xia Xingchen declared.

"No! It's not true! This was Xiao Nanfeng's doing—he must have planted these ropes on us to frame us!" one disciple shouted in panic.

"Right! This is all a setup!" another disciple added.

"Master, Hierarch, please clear our name!" the disciples pleaded frantically.

Xia Xingchen remained silent as he awaited Shi Tianbei's decision. The disciples could have denied their crimes without evidence; with his red rope, their continued denial was laughable.

If Shi Tianbei were to side with the disciples, he would destroy his own credibility.

Sage Qingyun frowned, dissatisfied. The cursed spiritual power of the red rope had been hidden too well. Even he hadn't noticed the issue.

Everyone waited for Shi Tianbei to pass judgment. Shi Tianbei turned to the trembling disciples, his gaze cold. He took a deep breath. "Treason against the holy land is punishable by death. These disciples shall be executed."

He flicked his whisk at them.

"No! Hierarch, please spare us! We were only following orders from—" one disciple shouted.

His cries were cut short as beams of energy shot out of the horsetail whisk, killing the disciples instantly.

Sage Qingyun's face turned dark. His disciples had been executed on the spot. His frustration was palpable, but he didn't dare voice his objections.

Xia Xingchen and Xiao Nanfeng exchanged glances with each other, their expressions cold. They suspected that Shi Tianbei had executed the disciples to silence them. Others seemed to share these suspicions, but with the culprits dead, nothing could be proven.

𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"Are you satisfied with this outcome, Mountain Lord Xia?" Shi Tianbei asked.

Xia Xingchen nodded. "Thank you for upholding justice, Hierarch."

Since the culprits were dead, there was no point in pressing further. Feigning ignorance was the better strategy at the moment.

"As the Yuqing hierarch, it's my duty to uphold justice," Shi Tianbei replied. He turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Now, how did an outsider like you come to be in the purple moon illusory realm? Who allowed him in?"

All eyes turned to Xiao Nanfeng. Most assumed that Xia Xingchen was responsible.

"Xia Xingchen, have you forgotten about the laws of the holy land yourself? Outsiders are strictly forbidden from entering the purple moon illusory realm. All Mountain Lords have agreed to this decision. Have you broken it in secret?" Sage Qingyun accused.

Xia Xingchen sneered. "What proof do you have that I brought Xiao Nanfeng into the purple moon illusory realm?"

"Who else could it have been?"

"At any rate, I didn't do it."

"You're lying!"

Beside them, Xiao Nanfeng spoke up. "Everyone, why not ask me directly about this? Why waste time blaming others?"

"Hmm?" The crowd frowned and turned to Xiao Nanfeng.

"Xiao Nanfeng, explain how you entered the Yuqing holy land's purple moon illusory realm," Shi Tianbei demanded.

Not only did he intend to expel Xiao Nanfeng, he also wanted to punish whoever had brought him in.

"First, Hierarch Shi, allow me to correct you. This isn't the Yuqing holy land's purple moon illusory realm, but rather the Yuqing Grandmaster's purple moon illusory realm," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Hmm?" The crowd was taken aback.

Sage Qingyun scoffed. "The Yuqing holy land is the ancestral legacy of the Yuqing Grandmaster. The Yuqing Grandmaster's purple moon illusory realm naturally belongs to the holy land."

"If the Yuqing Grandmaster were truly dead, perhaps. But he's on the verge of revival, isn't he? His belongings are naturally his own, not yours. Or do you intend to steal what belongs to the Yuqing Grandmaster?" Xiao Nanfeng countered.

"You—" Sage Qingyun's face turned livid.

Shi Tianbei said coldly, "We are all disciples of the Yuqing Grandmaster. The purple moon illusory realm belongs to him, and we have the right to guard it from outsiders before his return."

"In that case, if the Yuqing Grandmaster allowed me to enter, do you intend to expel me against his wishes?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

Sage Qingyun laughed. "Nonsense! How could the Yuqing Grandmaster have possibly permitted you to enter.

Shi Tianbei replied coldly, "The Yuqing Grandmaster has yet to revive. How dare you make such arrogant claims? Are you mocking the Yuqing Grandmaster?"

Everyone glared at Xiao Nanfeng, who shook his head. "I have done no such thing. The reason I have been able to enter the purple moon illusory realm is because the Heavenly Emperor imparted me with the Yuqing Yin Body before his death. As to why he was in possession of that technique, it must have been because of the Yuqing Grandmaster. In other words, the Yuqing Grandmaster must have approved of the Heavenly Emperor granting me the technique."

He decided not to hide the fact that he had mastered the Yuqing Yin Body, reasoning that he would inevitably use it again in the future. Rather than face trouble from the Yuqing holy land about it later, it was better to reveal it now.

Furthermore, there was no need to keep it a secret. He had learned it openly and legitimately, not through theft. What could the Yuqing holy land do about it? Moreover, the Yuqing Yin Body practiced by Shi Tianbei and the other Mountain Lords had also been taught to them by the Heavenly Emperor. They had no right to criticize him.

"You're lying! The Heavenly Emperor would never do such a thing," Sage Qingyun shouted angrily.

"What evidence do you have, to question me so? What I've said today will surely be heard by the Yuqing Grandmaster once he revives. He can verify my claims then. You have no such right."

"Insolence!" Sage Qingyun roared.

"You're the insolent one here. The Yuqing Grandmaster passed the Yuqing Yin Body onto the Heavenly Emperor, who imparted it to me. Naturally, I have the right to enter this realm at will. Who are you to interfere? The purple moon illusory realm belongs to the Yuqing Grandmaster, not you. You have no authority to expel me," Xiao Nanfeng said firmly.

"You!" Sage Qingyun shouted again, glowering.

By the side, Shi Tianbei began to frown. How was he supposed to pursue this matter now? He could hardly accuse the Heavenly Emperor or the Yuqing Grandmaster of their transgressions.