When the group from Lingxu Peak returned.
As soon as Ye Zhaozhao opened her door, she saw True Immortal Lingxu waiting for her with a grim expression.
"Master." Ye Zhaozhao quickly put on a fawning smile, then eagerly stepped forward to massage True Immortal Lingxu's shoulders.
In the past, True Immortal Lingxu loved her attentive and diligent manner, but this time, True Immortal Lingxu merely waved his hand and said indifferently, "That's enough."
Ye Zhaozhao's heart sank, and she stood obediently to the side.
"Zhaozhao." True Immortal Lingxu looked at her and suddenly asked, "I'll ask you one last time. On the snowy mountain, who exactly picked that Heavenly Mountain Snow Lotus?"
Ye Zhaozhao's heart immediately skipped a beat.
"Master! The Heavenly Mountain Snow Lotus was naturally picked by Junior Sister." Chang Le'an grew anxious. He couldn't help but say, "How could Junior Sister lie?"
As he spoke, he looked at Shengyuan and Shen Yue.
According to the normal procedure, Shengyuan and Shen Yue should both step forward to speak up for Junior Sister now.
However.
This time.
Shengyuan and Shen Yue both looked somewhat hesitant.
They all looked at Ye Zhaozhao, appearing to be waiting for her answer.
Chang Le'an couldn't help but feel annoyed: "Senior Brother, Second Senior Brother! What's wrong with you two? Have you also been influenced by that Li Shuang? She's always been jealous of Junior Sister, so it's normal for her to say anything. Don't we know what kind of person Junior Sister is?"
Shengyuan was silent for a moment, then he asked softly, "Junior Sister. The snow monster on that snowy mountain was not weak in cultivation."
He had heard Li Shuang's words.
Although Ye Zhaozhao's cultivation was higher than Li Shuang's, in terms of actual strength, Ye Zhaozhao was far inferior to Li Shuang.
He also realized that Ye Zhaozhao wasn't being modest; she truly had no knowledge of swordsmanship.
If that was the case, how did she manage to escape from the snow monster's encirclement unscathed?
When Ye Zhaozhao returned, she looked severely injured, but upon closer inspection, they were merely superficial wounds.
And when Li Shuang returned...
Shengyuan trembled slightly.
He remembered Li Shuang's words again: "Soul-shredding and bone-scorching, but it's just a redo."
Senior Sister... why did she say such things, why did she suddenly switch to the Path of Ruthlessness, and why did she suddenly become so cold towards them?
Thinking about it carefully, there were too many suspicious points.
When Shengyuan asked this, Ye Zhaozhao's face instantly turned pale. She said somewhat aggrievedly, "Senior Brother, I am also at the Nascent Soul stage of cultivation, and that time I barely escaped with my life. Is Senior Brother saying this to condemn me, to think that I lied?"
As Ye Zhaozhao spoke, she suddenly knelt before True Immortal Lingxu, tears streaming down her face: "Master, Zhaozhao has absolutely not lied about the snowy mountain incident. She is now twisting facts and speaking nonsense, isn't it just because no third person saw what happened on the snowy mountain? I, I have no other way to prove my words now. What others in the Sword Sect say doesn't matter. If even Master and my senior brothers doubt me, I might as well just bash my head against a wall and die."
As Ye Zhaozhao spoke, she suddenly stood up and lunged towards the wall.
True Immortal Lingxu looked at her resolute appearance and sighed slightly. He waved his hand, and spiritual energy protected Ye Zhaozhao, preventing her from hitting the wall. Ye Zhaozhao then looked pitifully at True Immortal Lingxu.
True Immortal Lingxu said slowly, "I will not ask about the snowy mountain incident again."
He wouldn't ask again.
However, True Immortal Lingxu planned to investigate the matter secretly.
His heart was a little agitated.
The reason he had driven Li Shuang out of Lingxu Peak was because of this snowy mountain incident. He was now unable to distinguish between Li Shuang's and Ye Zhaozhao's accounts, unable to tell who was telling the truth and who was lying.
If Ye Zhaozhao was telling the truth, then it was fine; he hadn't driven out the wrong person. Moreover, as long as he found evidence proving that Li Shuang was such a despicable person who disregarded the lives of her fellow disciples, with Lin Qingling's righteous and hate-filled nature, she probably wouldn't tolerate Li Shuang either.
If Li Shuang was telling the truth... True Immortal Lingxu's heart suddenly skipped a beat. Then he would truly be a great fool.
He could have had a genius disciple, but now, he had unwittingly helped someone else!
True Immortal Lingxu hated Lin Qingling's recent attitude whenever he thought of it.
Just wait, the truth about the snowy mountain incident would eventually come to light.
"Shengyuan." True Immortal Lingxu suddenly looked at Shengyuan: "The Sect Master wants me to return all of Li Shuang's cultivation resources from these years, which amounts to two thousand high-grade spirit stones. I'll pay half of these spirit stones, and the rest, you and your junior brothers and sisters can pool together. After all, most of her cultivation resources were distributed among you."
Shengyuan was stunned, his lips trembling: "Master, these spirit stones, we... we truly cannot afford them..."
He had already spent all his wealth to pay Ye Zhaozhao's fine; where would he have any spirit stones left!
"It's alright. I'll pay your portion for now." True Immortal Lingxu glanced at Chang Le'an: "You are about to enter the Langya Secret Realm. The items you bring back this time, according to custom, half will be handed over to the sect, and the rest will be privately owned. Whatever you bring back, just hand it directly to me, like last time. If the value is sufficient, it can offset a lot."
Chang Le'an's lips moved. He wanted to say that they were really short on spirit stones now. If they handed everything over, what about their cultivation...
But.
Seeing Ye Zhaozhao's tear-streaked face, Chang Le'an worried that Ye Zhaozhao would be harshly criticized again, so he readily agreed: "If this disciple gains anything, I will naturally hand it over to Master."
Only then did True Immortal Lingxu nod in satisfaction: "Alright, then you all prepare well."
True Immortal Lingxu left directly.
The remaining few couldn't help but look at each other.
Actually.
True Immortal Lingxu had always been so fond of money, but before, with Li Shuang supporting them, these junior brothers and sisters hadn't felt too much pressure from True Immortal Lingxu.
They all still felt that their Master was kind and protective, and treated them the best.
But now.
Li Shuang had left Lingxu Peak.
After personally experiencing True Immortal Lingxu's love for money, they all fell silent for a moment.
"Third Junior Brother, try to gain more from this Langya Secret Realm," Shengyuan said, looking at Chang Le'an.
If they gained enough, perhaps True Immortal Lingxu would still leave some for them.
Shengyuan also had a headache. For Ye Zhaozhao, he had even misappropriated some cultivation resources from ordinary disciples, which needed to be replenished as soon as possible!
Otherwise, these disciples would definitely have complaints.
Chang Le'an nodded confidently: "Senior Brother, don't worry. With my luck, even Yan Fan can't compare to me. It's only natural that I'll return with a full harvest."
Only then did Shengyuan feel a little relieved.
Three days later.
True Immortal Lingxu dragged it out until the last moment, then reluctantly handed over the spirit stones to Li Shuang.
For the next few days, Li Shuang concealed her appearance and, at different times, went to the market several times.
These high-grade spirit stones were quickly exchanged by her for treasures containing various spiritual energies.
After preparing everything.
Li Shuang sat down cross-legged with some anticipation.
This time, could she open the Heaven and Earth Furnace in one go?