Ye Qing’s furious tirade left Mo Zhentian visibly embarrassed.
“You insolent brat, stop spouting nonsense!”
“The Xuanyuan Sword is one of the two Supreme Imperial Artifacts of the Great Qi Dynasty, merely entrusted to your Ye family for safekeeping.”
“Now that your Ye family’s strength has declined and demons run rampant, for the greater good, you should offer the Xuanyuan Sword to the royal family!”
Ye Qing sneered, “Bullshit!”
“The Xuanyuan Sword is a Supreme Imperial Weapon forged by my Ye family ancestors, who gathered the finest iron from across the land, spent three generations refining it, and tempered it with the will of Emperor Xuanyuan.”
“From its forging to its tempering, it has nothing to do with your Qu imperial family. So where does Qu Qingyan get the nerve to come and seize it by force?”
“Qu Qingyan’s wolfish ambition is known to all—she’ll latch onto anyone who benefits her and never acts without gain.”
“How could she care about the countless contributions my Ye family, loyal and righteous for generations, has made to the Great Qi Dynasty?”
“How could she know how many of my Ye family members have died on battlefields, buried in foreign lands, their bones never returning home?”
“You old fool, as an elder of Great Qi, instead of correcting Qu Qingyan’s mistakes, you help her commit evil deeds. What right do you have to lecture me, Ye Qing?!”
After these words were spoken, the entire scene fell into a brief silence.
Then, from the surrounding crowd, someone timidly spoke up.
“That’s true…”
“The Ye family’s achievements are well-known to everyone.”
“During the last invasion by the Demon Tribe, the defenders of the Ancient Great Wall were completely wiped out.”
“If not for the Ye family members who went to guard the Great Wall’s defenses, the imperial capital might have fallen long ago.”
“And it seems none of those Ye family members returned alive.”
“Would the descendants of the Ye family stoop to petty theft?”
However, before the words even finished, someone immediately retorted.
“So, are you saying Prime Minister Qin framed the Ye family?”
“It’s true that the Ye family is indeed loyal and righteous.”
“But Prime Minister Qin is a model for scholars across the land, renowned for his noble character.”
“I believe Prime Minister Qin would never slander anyone!”
…
From time to time, complex gazes fell upon Qin Rou.
Today’s events had started because of her.
If Qin Rou hadn’t provoked the conflict in the first place, how could things have come to this?
Feeling the stares of countless people, Qin Rou turned pale and trembled uncontrollably, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to hide in.
When her father had appeared earlier, she thought the situation was under control.
But who could have imagined that her attempt to teach Ye Ling’er a lesson would lead to such constant upheaval?
Who could have guessed that Ye Ling’er’s father, that drunken Prince Xiaoyao whom everyone scorned and mocked, was actually an Ascension Realm Great Power?
Even the elder was no match for him…
Mo Zhentian, at this moment, was flushed with anger, trembling all over.
As an elder of the Great Qi Dynasty, this was the first time he had suffered such humiliation.
Faced with a junior, he couldn’t defeat him in a fight, nor could he out-argue him.
At this moment, he was left speechless by Ye Qing’s scolding.
Seeing the elder losing ground, Qin Ru hurriedly spoke up coldly, “What’s the use of all your talk?”
“I can vouch with my character that my Rou’er would never falsely accuse your daughter.”
“What you call framing, humiliation, and scheming for your Ye family’s Xuanyuan Sword are nothing but your own delusions.”
“But Ye Ling’er’s crimes of harming fellow disciples and betraying her master are ironclad facts.”
Ye Qing said disdainfully, “You vouch for her?”
“What gives your character the right to vouch?”
“Because I am the Prime Minister of Great Qi, a model for all scholars in the world!”
Qin Ru declared righteously, “My character is known to all. Does Prince Xiaoyao not believe it?”
“I do not.”
Ye Qing shook his head. “Your character is worthless in my eyes.”
“You!”
Qin Ru gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing with fury.
The surrounding crowd murmured and discussed among themselves.
Unconsciously, the onlookers had split into two groups.
One believed the Ye family was loyal and righteous through generations, and would never raise a descendant who stole and cheated.
The other believed Qin Ru was a paragon of scholars in the world, and would never frame a young girl.
Just as everyone held their own views, deadlocked and unable to discern the truth, Yao Yue finally arrived at the scene with Su Lingfu.
Seeing three Ascension Great Masters present, Yao Yue showed a look of surprise.
Su Lingfu blinked her large, watery eyes and, noticing Ye Qing holding the Xuanyuan Sword, whispered, “Master, isn’t he the senior who saved us that day?”
Back then, the senior had not revealed himself, merely using a single Sword Qi to slay the Demonic Dragon.
Thus, over the years, Yao Yue could only rely on Sword Intent to search for her benefactor.
“Indeed, it should be him.”
Listening to the discussions around her, Yao Yue quickly understood the cause and effect of the situation, murmuring, “It seems today’s dispute stems from the benefactor’s daughter being framed…”
Su Lingfu clenched her small fists, indignant. “Master, can we help the benefactor?”
“Of course.”
Yao Yue nodded with a smile. “Although our Holy Land has rules against using force recklessly outside, helping our benefactor uphold justice and clear his name is naturally no problem.”
…
As Ye Qing and Qin Ru remained deadlocked, a beautiful woman slowly stepped forward.
“Prime Minister Qin, Senior Ye, please calm your anger.”
Qin Ru, his mind in turmoil, said coldly, “This is none of your business. Get lost.”
“What did you say?”
Yao Yue was momentarily stunned, her expression suddenly darkening.
“How dare you!”
Her aura erupted, instantly forcing Qin Ru back several steps, shaking him to his core and trembling his soul.
“What?!”
Qin Ru’s face was filled with disbelief and horror. “You… you’re also an Ascension Realm Great Power?!”
Good heavens.
Another Ascension Realm.
Wasn’t the Ascension Realm a rarity second only to Immortals?
Why were they popping up one after another like cabbages today?
“Fellow citizens, I am Yao Yue, the Grand Elder of the Jade Pool Holy Land.”
Yao Yue said calmly, “Passing by today, I have come to resolve this karma.”
Hearing this, the surrounding crowd instantly grew excited.
“The Jade Pool Holy Land… that’s one of the Seven Great Holy Lands!”
“Good heavens, I never expected even someone from the Seven Great Holy Lands to join the commotion.”
“Today’s chaos is getting more and more exciting!”
After Yao Yue announced her identity, both Mo Zhentian and the Fire Phoenix King showed her respect.
Ye Qing asked with interest, “May I ask, Elder Yao Yue, how do you plan to resolve this karma?”
Yao Yue smiled faintly. “I happen to have an Imperial Artifact with me, called the Mirror of Clarity.”
“Though it cannot compare to the Supreme Imperial Artifacts in your hands, it is still my Innate Soul Treasure, capable of deducing heavenly secrets, restoring the past, and divining the future.”
“All lies are laid bare under the Mirror of Clarity.”
“Perhaps… we shall use this Mirror of Clarity… to expose everything!”