Chimou’s gaze swept across the faces before him, finally landing on Xie Xuechen.
“It’s your respected Sect Leader, Xie,” Chimou said.
“Nonsense,” Fu Yuanting frowned. “You’re trying to sow discord within the Immortal Alliance.”
Xie Xuechen stared coldly at Chimou. Under that piercing phoenix gaze, Chimou felt a chill run through him and turned away, unable to meet Xie Xuechen’s eyes directly.
“I’m not lying,” Chimou said. “What bound me earlier was a magical tool of our demon race called the Judgment Vine. It’s a unique artifact crafted by our Great Priest for the Holy Maiden’s use, specifically designed to subdue demons.”
He Xianwo chuckled, “How amusing. Why would your Great Priest create a tool specifically meant to subdue demons?”
Chimou had never considered this question before. He hesitated, stumbling over his words, “It’s… it’s used to punish disobedient demons…”
Those disobedient demons had all been refined into demon pills by the Judgment Vine.
“Earlier, when Sect Leader Xie escaped from the demon realm, he took the Holy Maiden hostage,” Chimou added. “If you don’t believe me, you can ask Sect Leader Xie yourself.”
All eyes turned to Xie Xuechen.
Standing among the crowd, Xie Xuechen cut a proud yet solitary figure in his white robes.
“It’s true,” he nodded slightly.
The crowd was shocked. Chimou laughed triumphantly, “See? I didn’t lie. Your Sect Leader has been in secret communication with our demon race’s Holy Maiden. Hahaha!”
Xie Xuechen slowly moved forward, step by step, until he stood before Chimou. Chimou’s laughter seemed to be choked off by an invisible hand, stopping abruptly. The smile on his face hadn’t yet faded when it transformed into fear, making him look both strange and comical.
“Sangqi taught you to say these things, didn’t he?” Xie Xuechen’s icy voice said. “The demon race isn’t clever enough to come up with this on their own.”
Chimou’s pupils constricted, his body freezing up.
Indeed, those words had been taught to him by Sangqi through a sound-transmitting conch.
However, one person had an even stronger reaction – Su Ningzhen. Her hand gripping the Worldly Dust Whisk began to tremble uncontrollably, veins bulging on the back of her hand as her breathing quickened. She gritted her teeth and said, “Sangqi…”
Xie Xuechen glanced at her. Su Ningzhen stepped closer, demanding of Chimou, “Where is Sangqi?!”
Chimou replied, “The Great Priest naturally commands from the rear. He wouldn’t come here himself.”
Su Ningzhen laughed coldly, “That coward! Who is this Holy Maiden you speak of?”
“The Holy Maiden is the Great Priest’s disciple,” Chimou said. “Like the Great Priest, she’s half-demon. Hehe, our Holy Maiden is unparalleled in beauty. I suppose even Sect Leader Xie couldn’t resist her charms.”
Su Ningzhen suddenly recalled a person – that mortal woman who resembled Gao Qiuyun somewhat, but whose beauty could be described as nation-toppling. No wonder Gao Qiuyun had mentioned sensing a demonic aura from her several times. That woman was indeed peculiar! But what Su Ningzhen hadn’t anticipated was that this person’s identity was Sangqi’s disciple!
Su Ningzhen abruptly opened her six senses and seven apertures, sensing Mu Xuanling’s location. In the next moment, her figure vanished from its original spot, flying towards Mu Xuanling. Su Ningzhen suddenly appeared before Mu Xuanling. When Mu Xuanling had used the Judgment Vine earlier, she had already prepared herself mentally for being discovered. She quickly retreated, avoiding Su Ningzhen’s first strike. Su Ningzhen immediately lashed out with the Worldly Dust Whisk, attacking Mu Xuanling’s face, but her attack was blocked by a sword, forcefully deflected.
Su Ningzhen’s eyes were bloodshot, her hatred evident. She looked at Xie Xuechen who had stepped in front of Mu Xuanling, and said through gritted teeth, “So Sect Leader Xie is indeed protecting that demon woman.”
Xie Xuechen had blocked Su Ningzhen’s path with his Juntiansword.
“She just saved you all by binding Chimou with the purple vine,” Xie Xuechen said coldly. “If not for that, Chimou would have already possessed one of you.”
Su Ningzhen was very wary of Xie Xuechen. She was now deeply aware of the gap between them, but she still couldn’t easily let Sangqi’s disciple go.
“Half-demons are cunning, and demons are cruel. Who knows what their true intentions are? This apparent rescue could be a ruse hiding ulterior motives!” Su Ningzhen said angrily. “Sect Leader Xie, as the leader of the Immortal Alliance, how can you be so easily deceived by demons and monsters?!”
The onlookers who had rushed over frowned secretly upon hearing Su Ningzhen speak so disrespectfully to Xie Xuechen.
Gao Qiuyun had also arrived after hearing the news. She heard Su Ningzhen’s words and saw Mu Xuanling hiding behind Xie Xuechen.
“Master, she is a demon…” Gao Qiuyun said resentfully. “I didn’t wrongly accuse her!”
Mu Xuanling coldly surveyed her surroundings. She somewhat regretted intervening earlier – whether these people lived or died was none of her concern. She had only acted to prevent these weaklings from causing trouble for Xie Xuechen.
Mu Xuanling removed the jade bracelet artifact from her wrist, giving up on concealing her aura. Immediately, the qi of a half-demon and the aura of the demon race were exposed to everyone present.
“What Chimou said is true…” Fu Yuanting’s eyes flickered as he began to calculate inwardly how to speak and act in a way that would most benefit the Bixiao Palace.
He Xianwo was merely surprised. He didn’t discriminate against half-demons, and although the young woman before them had the aura of demons and monsters, it wasn’t turbid. She probably wasn’t a vicious and cruel demon.
The most intense reaction came from the Mirror Flower Valley.
Su Ningzhen’s attitude was resolute: “Sect Leader Xie, this half-demon is Sangqi’s disciple. She must be killed without mercy!”
Xie Xuechen said, “She saved my life.”
Su Ningzhen retorted, “Her kindness is false. She has ulterior motives for approaching you. We absolutely cannot trust her!”
Xie Xuechen said, “She has never killed anyone.”
Gao Qiuyun shook her head and shouted, “No, she wanted to kill me!” She recognized the figure before her and gnashed her teeth, “Master, the demon woman who tried to kill me in Xiao City was her. At that time…”
Gao Qiuyun’s words trailed off abruptly.
At that time, a man with a sword had stopped this demon woman. That man had no spiritual power, so he shouldn’t have been able to stop her.
That figure slowly overlapped with the person standing before her now, completely matching.
Gao Qiuyun’s face gradually paled as many images flashed through her mind.
— Sect Leader Xie truly cares for this demon woman.
— She shouldn’t have run away at that time.
Su Ningzhen had no interest in Gao Qiuyun’s thoughts at the moment. She only needed to know one thing: Mu Xuanling had killing intent. A half-demon sorceress who would kill must die! Moreover, she was Sangqi’s disciple.
Su Ningzhen said, “Sect Leader Xie, the Immortal Alliance is not yours alone. If you insist on your way, I’ll have no choice but to request a council to decide this demon woman’s fate!”