Chapter 276: 276. Chapter 273: Such Deep Machinations

276. Chapter 273: Such Deep Machinations

Ding Huan's gaze settled on He Xinxin and Si Baiye, and he said coldly:

"It seems people really shouldn't be too kind—I was too kind, and that's why I got bitten by beasts like you."

"Ding Huan, if you can't produce evidence, don't waste everyone's time. Threatening two Qi Condensation disciples who barely escaped death—what kind of skill is that?" Shi Qiqiu shouted loudly.

Ding Huan pulled out a crystal ball and threw it forward:

"You may all watch for yourselves."

Ding Huan came from Earth—he understood better than anyone that words must be backed by evidence.

In the era of Earth, where everyone was a director, who didn't know how to record a conversation video?

Though technology here was restricted, the image crystal ball had surprised Ding Huan.

Since leaving Xifeng City, whenever he had the chance, he recorded everything onto crystal balls—whether useful or not, he just tossed them into his ring, where they took up no space.

Until today, he had rarely used any of them, yet the number of crystal balls in his ring kept growing.

Even after emerging from the Opening Heaven Battlefield, he had recorded over a dozen crystal balls.

But the crystal balls Ding Huan recorded were almost all controversial—or potentially useful.

As for the video recorded at the Blue Star Sect's assembly, it wasn't meant to guard against He Xinxin, Si Baiye, and the others who had left Tuichule Sect.

Recording this crystal ball, and its usefulness today, was purely coincidental.

He had wanted to preserve precious footage of Blue Star Sect's founding.

Perhaps many years from now, he, the founder of Blue Star Sect, would have long left the Threefold Heaven Star Continent.

But Blue Star Sect would remain here—he recorded this image crystal ball so future disciples would know how Blue Star Sect was established.

This was purely archival preservation of sect history.

Ding Huan had never imagined he'd actually use this footage here.

The image appeared in midair: during the Blue Star Sect assembly, Ding Huan clearly said:

"Everyone, if you don't wish to join Jiaruxin Sect, I won't force you. But the next meeting is only for sect disciples, so those unwilling to join Jiaruxin Sect may leave now."

"Since we are currently in mountain-sealed status, I cannot let you leave the sect immediately. I guarantee that after one year, you may depart safely."

Seeing some still hesitating, Ding Huan added:

"Those who wish to leave, rest assured—once the sect's protective formation activates, you may leave. With Elder Liu here, you needn't fear I'm deceiving you."

Then He Xinxin stepped forward:

"Thank you, Elder. Since Zixia Valley is gone, I, He Xinxin, have no desire to join another sect. When the sect lifts its seal, I will leave."

After He Xinxin, two male disciples stepped forward—one named Si Baiye, Qi Condensation Seventh Layer; the other named Chong Qu Sheng, Qi Condensation Sixth Layer.

Ding Huan said:

"Fine. You may temporarily withdraw and reside on the Outer Disciples Peak. Remember, until the sect reopens, do not leave the Outer Disciples Peak, or you'll be trapped in a confinement array."

"Yes." The three disciples bowed and immediately exited the sect assembly hall.

……

By this point in the playback, the truth was obvious.

It was not as He Xinxin claimed—that Ding Huan had slaughtered bloodily, and then she and the others hastily pretended to join Blue Star Sect.

In fact, they had never joined Blue Star Sect to begin with, yet Ding Huan generously allowed them to reside on the Outer Disciples Peak until they left.

As for Ding Huan killing sect elders, that was pure nonsense.

Blue Star Sect had just been founded—it had no elders yet. How could he kill sect elders?

If any elder from Zixia Valley had survived and tried to seize Blue Star Sect and fight Ding Huan, and was killed in the process, that was territory conflict.

Such matters are complex; everyone carries their own scale of right and wrong. This is not the place to brandish grand slogans of fairness and justice against Ding Huan.

Tell me, when has any sect ever been founded—or endured internal turmoil—without such incidents occurring?

He Xinxin and Si Baiye turned pale, beads of cold sweat breaking out on their foreheads.

They simply couldn't fathom why Ding Huan, as sect leader, had bothered to record such trivial footage.

Shi Qiqiu wanted to stand up and claim Ding Huan's crystal ball was fake.

But he knew it would only bring him humiliation.

If Ding Huan's crystal ball were fake, someone else would have exposed it long ago—how could it possibly be left to Shi Qiqiu?

"Sect Master, spare our lives! We were forced by Shi Chuncang—he made us say these things!"

He Xinxin clearly understood the gravity of the situation and had already knelt on the ground.

Geng Qianxing's voice turned cold:

"Two mere Qi Condensation disciples dare to slander the sect master?"

Shi Qiqiu suddenly snorted coldly:

"Such ungrateful traitors—what use are they? Even I nearly fell for your deception and falsely accused an innocent man."

Without hesitation, he slashed out two wind blades.

"Puff! Puff!" Two bursts of blood erupted.

He Xinxin and Si Baiye never imagined their greatest protector would kill them.

And Ding Huan, whom they had slandered and distrusted, sat in his seat without moving a muscle.

"What do you mean by this?"

Ding Huan, who had been motionless, suddenly turned to Shi Qiqiu.

Shi Qiqiu bowed and said:

"Sect Master Ding, I failed to consider this properly—I never imagined these two lowly Qi Condensation disciples would dare slander you."

Ding Huan suddenly nodded:

"You're not wrong—those who slander must die. Good."

Shi Qiqiu said with strong approval:

"If those who slander aren't killed, how can our Ascension Realm speak of fairness? How can it speak of justice? How can righteousness be upheld?"

He knew killing Ding Huan now was unrealistic; once Ding Huan left Wanbao City, the first person he would kill would be Ding Huan.

But the moment the thought arose, he saw Ding Huan suddenly summon the Parting Spear—a burst of spearlight exploded, and a violent killing intent surged toward him.

Shi Qiqiu's heart burned with rage—a mere Daoist sect leader dared to attack Shi Qiqiu? He's asking for death.

Just as he extended his domain, ready to lock Ding Huan's life force, a piercing scream rang out.

Before Shi Qiqiu could even wonder why the killing intent aimed at him had vanished, he saw Ding Huan's Parting Spear impaling a man.

The man's head had been shattered by Ding Huan's spear, his corpse hanging from the shaft, blood still dripping—drip, drip, drip.

Who else could it be but Shi Chuncang?

Shi Chuncang was far from him, with He Xinxin and Si Baiye between them; moreover, Ding Huan's initial killing intent had been directed at him, so he had no time to save Shi Chuncang.

Shi Chuncang died right before his eyes—Shi Qiqiu's eyes bulged with fury. He snatched up a white jade tablet and lunged at Ding Huan.

Ding Huan remained unmoved. So what if he was a Human Immortal? Even if he couldn't defeat him, could the man really lock his life force with a domain? Don't dream it.

"Boom!" A far stronger force swept over.

Shi Qiqiu was slammed against his chest, spewing a jet of blood, and flew backward—landing squarely in his own seat.

"Lin Zhuangzhu, what do you mean? My Changyan Academy is one of the Five Great Sects of the Ascension Realm—do you intend to declare war on us, Baiyue Shanzhuang?"

Shi Qiqiu wiped the blood from his lips, his eyes bloodshot.

His face was utterly shattered—he couldn't even handle a mere Ding Huan, and now he'd been made to spit blood.

"If you want war, then so be it," Lin Yuqi said calmly.

Shi Qiqiu's mind finally cooled.

True, Changyan Academy had great renown—but so far, it had no Earth Immortal.

If he went to war with Baiyue Shanzhuang, Lin Yuqi alone could wipe out Changyan Academy.

Just now, for the sake of this direct descendant of the Shi family, he'd lost his composure:

"Lin Zhuangzhu, everything must follow reason. Do you think your strength lets you crush all reason?"

Ding Huan just killed Shi Chuncang without cause—yet you blocked me from killing Ding Huan. What reason is that?"

"You can kill Shi Qiqiu, but you cannot kill every cultivator in the Ascension Realm."

Ding Huan chuckled:

"Shi Qiqiu, you represent all cultivators of the Ascension Realm? Get real. You might as well say you're the handsomest old pumpkin in the entire Ascension Realm—though pigs would think the same."

A cold voice came: "Ding Zongzhu speaks truly—at least he doesn't represent my Luoshen Palace."

Ding Huan looked at Liu Liu Yinyu and thought: Good, you've got some conscience—I didn't save your life in vain.

Geng Qianxing said:

"You permitted Ding Huan to kill Shi Chuncang just now."

"When did I permit Ding Huan to kill Shi Chuncang?" Shi Qiqiu's tone turned icy.

Did he think Shi Qiqiu had no allies because he'd been humiliated?

Geng Qianxing spoke calmly:

"You just said: 'If those who slander aren't killed, how can our Ascension Realm speak of fairness? How can it speak of justice? How can righteousness be upheld?'"

"I believe Ding Zongzhu killed Shi Chuncang precisely because of that statement."

"Tower Immortal Geng, you understand perfectly—I meant exactly that," Ding Huan bowed.

By convention, he should have called Geng Qianxing "Senior." But now, as Ding Zongzhu, he couldn't afford to be careless with titles.

"What proof do you have that Shi Chuncang slandered you?" Shi Qiqiu glared coldly at Ding Huan.

His words were addressed to Ding Huan, but meant for everyone in the hall.

Even Geng Qianxing was speechless at Shi Qiqiu's audacity—many had heard Shi Chuncang speak just now.

Too bad Shi Chuncang was dead; now there was no evidence here.

Ding Huan suddenly threw out another crystal ball: "Here is the proof."

The crystal ball's image materialized in midair: Shi Chuncang entering with He Xinxin and Si Baiye.

Then Shi Chuncang shouted loudly:

"Many know Ding Huan kills innocents—I also know he poisoned his sect's elder and murdered the Zixiagu Sect's leader."

"Now you all speak—point out any omissions or errors, and I'll fill them in. Even without you, I'd have revealed these things anyway."

…

When the image ended, few mocked or sneered at Shi Qiqiu.

Everyone knew Shi Qiqiu's shamelessness—and everyone had heard Shi Chuncang slander Ding Huan just now.

What chilled the crowd's spines was Ding Huan.

How terrifying was it to cross Ding Huan?

He'd captured even this detail.

In that situation, everyone would've been thinking only of escape or proving their innocence—how could anyone have had the time or thought to record a crystal ball image?

Yet Ding Huan did the one thing least likely to be done.

No wonder he'd produced a crystal ball as proof when He Xinxin and Si Baiye, two Qi Condensation disciples, slandered him before.

What a deeply scheming bastard.