“The culprit used devious methods and acted with extreme caution, leaving behind not a single trace of spiritual energy fluctuation. It just so happened to pour with heavy rain yesterday, washing away any remaining clues completely.”
After conducting a meticulous inspection, Lu Liuru ultimately shook her head helplessly.
When even the well-traveled female cultivator could deduce nothing, Fu Jinyue was entirely at a loss. She walked around the perimeter of the field once, then twice, finding that the number of spiritual plants that could be salvaged was pitifully small.
It was tragic that after finally clinging to life following a lightning strike, they had inexplicably suffered this unwarranted disaster.
Fu Jinyue crouched down and picked up a green spiritual fruit, noting the cracked flesh. The inside was green and hard—clearly a variety that was difficult to pry open, yet someone had forcefully stomped and split it, refusing to stop until it was ground into the dirt.
Such profound hatred.
“Junior Sister Jinyue.” Seeing her silence, Lu Liuru comforted her, “You have been wronged in this matter. The Sword Sect will certainly investigate until the truth comes to light.”
Fu Jinyue, however, remarked, “Forget it.”
She stood up, letting the spiritual fruit in her palm drop back down, splashing a few specks of mud.
Though a thin layer of rage coated her face, the corners of her lips hooked up into a smile: “Senior Sister, I took a look around, and I haven’t actually lost a single item myself.”
Hearing this, Lu Liuru was startled: “You haven’t lost anything?”
“Correct,” Fu Jinyue nodded. As an outsider, she couldn’t point fingers or name names directly, so she merely stated this fact.
Lu Liuru caught her drift and pondered, “That person went to great lengths to break through the barrier and trespass here, yet did not steal a single one of the numerous rare spiritual plants. They merely smashed everything to pieces. It seems their objective was nothing more than venting their rage.”
The female cultivator sank into thought: “Sneaking in under the cover of night, specifically choosing the time when the sect was casting rain, leaving no traces and no residual spiritual energy—this person’s actions were certainly well-deliberated. Most of those coming and going on this peak are disciples of the sect, and sect regulations strictly forbid trespassing into barriers at will, let alone committing such an act. This person…”
Lu Liuru paused, her face filled with disbelief: “How could they harbor such an ingrained, bone-deep hatred for you, Junior Sister?”
Fu Jinyue let out a laugh: “I wager this person must cross paths with me quite frequently.”
If they didn’t see each other day and night, how could such a massive amount of hatred be nurtured?
Lu Liuru frowned: “Spiritual Medicine Peak is not open to outsiders. Those who frequent it are either the stewards responsible for management or disciples who have taken on tasks. The number of people coming and going is vast. If we were to search through them one by one, it would likely be a difficult endeavor.”
Fu Jinyue cast a Body-Cleansing Art, erasing the mud splattered on the hem of her skirt, and said softly, “Which is why I said, forget it.”
Lu Liuru also nodded: “True, if this matter is to be investigated, I indeed do not possess the authority to make the decision. It is best to report it to the Sect Master as soon as possible.”
Fu Jinyue smiled; she knew Lu Liuru would share her sentiments. Unexpectedly, the female cultivator rather awkwardly took her hand, appearing self-conscious due to the intimate gesture, yet she still comforted her in a soft voice: “It is fine, Junior Sister. The Sect Master will certainly compensate you. Do not be sad, hm?”
The volume of her voice dwindled at the end. Faced with such warm comfort, Fu Jinyue surprisingly felt a slight blush creep onto her face.
She felt the other party’s sincerity.
Delayed slightly by this matter, by the time the two flew on their swords to the Qiling Platform, the vast platform was already completely packed with disciples.
Each and every one of them assumed a meditative posture upon their futons, focusing intently on the sermon delivered on the high stage.
Evidently, the sermon meeting had already been underway for a short while.
Ruan Jiang stood upon the high stage, gently relating her thoughts and realizations one by one. At difficult points, she would deliberately incorporate her own experiences, utilizing simple and easily comprehensible examples.
Most of the disciples remaining within the sect were present here. The rest, who were responsible for guarding and maintaining minimal operations, would watch via a Recording Stone later, and the sect would also provide them with compensation.
Faced with such a grand occasion, You Feichen also sat in the rear to guard against any unforeseen circumstances.
Blade cultivators were mostly straightforward and hearty; she sat with a commanding posture, her face bearing a joyful expression. However, upon hearing of this matter when the two arrived in a hurry, her smiling face gradually grew solemn, and by the end, she even raised an eyebrow.
You Feichen spoke coldly, “I truly did not know that there were individuals of such depraved character within my sect.”
Lu Liuru said with some embarrassment, “In truth, only a few people within the sect knew that Little Friend Fu obtained the spiritual fields for the sake of treating the Elder, and I was also very careful not to leak the news.”
“Unexpectedly, some disciples within the sect observed in secret for many days and concluded that Little Friend Fu is a schemer who latches onto power and influence. Despite increased regulation, the rumors spread even wider instead. Therefore, a portion of the disciples—ahem, mostly outer court disciples whose cultivation has stalled—harbor profound jealousy and hatred toward Little Friend Fu.”
You Feichen, however, remarked, “But for someone to truly steel their resolve to take action requires far more than mere jealousy to drive them.”
A subtle gleam flickered in Fu Jinyue’s eyes.
Yes, jealousy was one thing.
This was also the riddle she had been unable to figure out all along.
Initially, she hadn’t cared much about the rumors, knowing that people just liked to complain to vent their discontent when life felt unfair. Rarely would anyone truly commit such an radical act because of it.
Unless…
After a good while, Lu Liuru said dumbfoundedly, “Sect Master, do you mean to imply…”
She didn’t dare speak the full thought aloud.
You Feichen voiced it for her: “Yes, I suspect someone behind the scenes is instigating this.”
“Whether it be ordinary disciples or elites, the barriers within the sect are not something they can easily break open, let alone leave absolutely no trace afterward. I fear there are more clues behind this matter, and we must capture the culprits to make them confess who the mastermind is.”
Though Fu Jinyue was furious, she remained calm, quickly analyzing, “That person acted stealthily at night, so during the day they will surely behave normally to avoid drawing suspicion. It just so happens that the sermon meeting has no restrictions. Not wanting to give themselves away, the opponent will certainly come along with everyone else. Looking at it this way, today’s Qiling Platform is a perfect opportunity to catch a rat in a jar.”
Her gaze was profound, her face entirely cold: “When the time comes, I hope Sect Master You will not be soft-hearted.”
You Feichen laughed heartily: “I shall naturally hand the culprit over to you for disposal, Little Friend!”
Their exchange was extremely rapid, and their actions were swift and decisive. In a few moves, they finalized the strategy. After transmitting the plan to Ruan Jiang on the high stage, fearing they might startle the snake, they only informed Yu Ning of the matter separately.
Yu Ning had come to accompany his Dao companion, and upon hearing of this, he immediately agreed.
Everything was prepared.
As the sermon drew to a close, Ruan Jiang actively brought up the matter of her tribulation, placing heavy emphasis on the assistance of a certain hidden sect.
Fu Jinyue had consulted with her beforehand, so she did not hurriedly call out her sect’s name.
To proceed step-by-step, Fu Jinyue intended to first spread a ambiguous name before solidifying it. Though it was a slow process, given her current notorious reputation, it was truly a necessary measure.
Turning a reputation around required a gradual approach.
Even though her failure in the tribulation had caused her realm to regress, Ruan Jiang remained a figure beyond reach. Guided by her, the gazes of the entire crowd involuntarily turned toward Fu Jinyue.
There stood a plain, unremarkable cultivator at the sixth layer of the Foundation Establishment stage.
She wore an ordinary, plain-colored outfit, and aside from her attractive features, nothing special could be seen. The crowd was filled with doubts, and a few high-cultivation individuals inevitably revealed contempt in their eyes.
At this moment, the number of disciples on the Qiling Platform was at least ten thousand, if not several thousand. Their gazes gathered all at once, each reflecting a different sentiment. If any other Foundation Establishment cultivator stood here, they would certainly feel immense pressure. Fu Jinyue, however, was not flustered in the slightest, standing there with a half-smile, neither servile nor overbearing.
Standing so upright, she lowered her eyes, making the smile within them difficult to discern.
For some reason, the crowd began to feel apprehensive. They reasoned that she was, after all, a savior personally designated by a great figure; even if her cultivation was insufficient, there had to be something extraordinary about her. Or perhaps she was one of those great figures who enjoyed suppressing their cultivation to experience mundane training?
The disciples of the Sword Sect secretly trembled in their hearts, and looking closer, they actually perceived a trace of the extraordinary. Gaging her for long enough, those bright features faintly carried a profound, unfathomable coldness, and the aura of a hidden sect rushed over them.
Only a handful of disciples revealed expressions of doubt and unease; they had clearly seen her before, and some had even orchestrated the rumors against her. Among them, a few individuals had slightly distorted expressions, which were quickly captured by You Feichen and Yu Ning, who had quietly expanded their divine senses.
Fu Jinyue casually scanned the dark mass of the crowd below. She had initially thought she could find Xi Chuan’s silhouette, but with thousands of faces pressed before her eyes, she actually grew dizzy from looking.
Right at this moment, she heard You Feichen’s voice transmission. While her heart relaxed, she immediately let out a cold laugh.
Excellent, she had finally caught the fellows who destroyed her hard work.
Outside the Qiling Platform.
Within the dispersing crowd, two individuals silently vanished.
The darkness before them suddenly brightened. Before the two disciples could clearly discern what was in front of them, they felt a wave of pressure descend. Just as their knees knocked against the ground, a voice interrogated them head-on:
“Weren’t you two incredibly capable last night?”
These words striking them head-on caused the two, who had been feeling guilty since the sermon, to go weak. They blurted out questions asking who it was, while their minds frantically sought a counterstrategy.
But as the mist before their eyes gradually cleared, the first thing they Sighted was the smiling face of You Feichen.
“Sect… Sect Master You…”
One person’s face was filled with panic, his mouth stumbling over his words: “We… we are wronged.”
Sighting this situation, Lu Liuru, who had taken the lead to interrogate them, saw no further need to ask. She immediately lowered her eyelashes and took half a step back.
This retreat revealed the person standing behind her.
Fu Jinyue watched as the words these two originally wanted to use to plead their innocence were completely swallowed back into their stomachs. Expressions as if they had seen a ghost appeared on their faces, and they collapsed limply onto the ground.
“How is it you!” one cried out.
The other’s eyes darted around, and admitting defeat, he prostrated himself to kowtow: “Senior Fu, do not blame us. This junior was also forced by someone. I was coerced and forced by someone!”
Fu Jinyue asked, “Forced by whom? Coerced into what?”
The disciple who had been the first to admit his error was a male, somewhat plump. Seized by fright, he couldn’t help but pant, saying, “This… this junior cannot say…”
“Is it that you cannot say, or that you are unwilling to say?”
Fu Jinyue retrieved an item from her spatial pouch and tossed it before the two of them.
The round object rolled a circle and stopped. Its outer layer was coated in wet mud, and the green inside was shattered into pieces. It was precisely one of the ruined spiritual fruits.
Fu Jinyue spoke with a half-smile, “I see you two had quite a pleasant time making a mess last night.”
The two were drenched in cold sweat, yet they trembled their lips and refused to speak.
You Feichen caressed the sheathed blade at her waist: “Cut the small talk. You two have violated a total of twelve sect regulations, each of which is punishable. Do you have any last words?”
“Sect… Sect Master, this is lynching!” shouted the leaner male disciple.
The corners of You Feichen’s mouth twitched slightly: “It only counts as lynching if it is discovered. If I wish, a Soul-Search is not out of the question.”
With this threat pressed against their necks, they hadn’t expected the Sect Master of the Sword Sect to be someone who spoke even more recklessly than an evil cultivator. It was still that same plump male disciple who had been the first to admit his error; he gnashed his teeth, assuming an air of staking everything.
Imploring for mercy, he said, “I’ll speak, I’ll speak. It was an Elder, an Elder forced me to do it.”
Listening from the side, Ruan Jiang furrowed her brows: “Which Elder?”
The plump male disciple said, “It is Tian…”
Before his words could be finished, blue veins suddenly erupted. Terrifying veins bulged all the way from his neck up to his face, turning a purple-black color like crawling black insects.
“Not good,” Ruan Jiang reacted with extreme speed, instantly tapping a finger against this person’s forehead. Yet this male disciple threw his head back and emitted a hoarse, scraping sound, his skin swarming with a chaotic mess of purple-black meridians that pulsed with a brilliant red light. With a loud hong, he actually burned into a pile of ashes right before everyone’s eyes.
On the other side, the leaner male disciple, who was shrinking back in terror, also suddenly paused. His eyes rolled back, revealing a turbid white, and his expression turned eerie, looking as if he had been possessed.
You Feichen and Ruan Jiang both stepped forward, shielding Fu Jinyue and Lu Liuru, whose cultivation was low, behind them, leaving them to Yu Ning, who had been watching silently.
Probably realizing that they were outnumbered, the leaner male disciple showed no intention of attacking. He merely pulled up the corners of his mouth weirdly, letting out a sigh.
“Truly boring,” he remarked.
“Discovered so quickly.”