Chapter 746: A Disciple of Positive Energy

When Ding Huan followed the two enforcers into the Enforcement Hall, the hall was already packed with people.

The first person Ding Huan saw was Ji Bucheng.

Ji Bucheng's expression was somewhat cold at the moment.

From the looks of it, the Goddess Sect truly feared the Jia Baihe Sword Dao — not only was the Sect Master present, but basically all the hall masters, enforcers, and elders of the various halls were there as well.

Ding Huan had never met the Sect Master, but since she sat in the Sect Master's seat, it was naturally the Sect Master of the Ancient Wasteland Goddess Sect, Meng Zhenting.

Judging by this Sect Master's looks, she could be considered a rare beauty, and her cultivation wasn't bad either — so why were the things she did so despicable?

A perfectly fine sect, yet she even set up a separate Heart-Spirit Cultivator Zone.

Despicable, utterly despicable.

Ding Huan didn't know which one was Lu Ye's master, but he did spot Da Douqi.

Da Douqi gave Ding Huan a slight nod, his expression quite normal.

As for the rest, the gazes they directed at Ding Huan were extremely cold.

"What just happened? Why did it even alarm the enforcers?" Meng Zhenting looked at Ding Huan, her tone utterly devoid of emotion.

Before Ding Huan could speak, Pang Shuxian, who had come along, blurted out eagerly:

"Wuliang heard me call him over because of the Falling Sun Arrow matter, and when he learned it was the Sect Master and the Enforcement Hall elders who wanted him to come, he chose to flee at once.

I hurried to intercept him, and in the process, I accidentally left a sword scar on his body."

Ding Huan sneered inwardly — with your level of strength, if I hadn't been willing, you could have left a sword scar on me?

Of all the shameless people he'd ever met, a woman as shameless as Pang Shuxian was truly a first.

At this moment, not only was Da Douqi, who knew Wuliang's strength, staring at Pang Shuxian in shock, but even Sect Master Meng Zhenting was looking at Pang Shuxian with puzzlement.

In their eyes, Wuliang's God King realm foundation was deep and solid, his Dao charm crystal clear.

Pang Shuxian had only just advanced to God King — compared to Ding Huan, the gap between them was worlds apart.

How could she possibly have wounded him?

"Wuliang, do you have anything to say?" Meng Zhenting looked at Ding Huan, her tone icy.

Ding Huan, however, breathed a sigh of relief inwardly — no one here had seen through his disguise, and that was the most crucial thing.

Ding Huan bowed: "Wuliang greets the Sect Master, greets all the hall masters and elders, and greets Elder Da Douqi. After hearing Junior Sister Shuxian's words, my first instinct was to come see the Sect Master and the Enforcement Hall Master.

But I don't understand why Junior Sister Shuxian turned a deaf ear to what I said, and instead opened her mouth to claim I was trying to flee, and then attacked me.

In my heart, everyone in the Goddess Sect — from the Sect Master down to every senior sister and junior sister — is one of our own. I never once imagined that Junior Sister Shuxian would suddenly launch a sneak attack on me…"

"You're lying…" Pang Shuxian immediately cut in, interrupting Ding Huan.

Tears welled in her eyes, as if she might burst into sobs the next moment from Ding Huan's brazen distortion of the truth.

Ding Huan's words showed that he had trusted Pang Shuxian greatly, which was precisely why her sneak attack had succeeded.

No one spoke.

Whether or not he was lying, Ding Huan would explain himself.

Not let it be judged by Pang Shuxian's tears and words.

Ding Huan didn't continue speaking, but instead produced a crystal orb and tossed it into the air.

The crystal orb activated, and the images of Ding Huan and Pang Shuxian immediately appeared clearly in the void.

At the sight of this image orb, Pang Shuxian's face changed drastically, and she raised her hand to slam it.

"Crack!" The image orb shattered instantly.

Ding Huan didn't move, and none of the others moved either — they all stared at Pang Shuxian as if looking at an idiot.

"Sect Master, honored elders, I was worried he would use a fake image orb to deceive everyone."

Pang Shuxian's face was pale, and her heart was filled with regret.

She knew she had made another mistake — she should not have shattered that crystal orb.

Meng Zhenting said coolly, "Whether it's fake or a lie — it's not as if you're the only one here with eyes, and it's not your place to lecture everyone."

As she spoke, Meng Zhenting waved her hand, and a strand of Dao laws wrapped around the crystal orb.

The next instant, the crystal orb was restored to its original state, and the images in the void appeared once more out of thin air, completely unaffected.

There was no need for Ding Huan to produce another one.

"If you're afraid, you may go on shattering them." Meng Zhenting's icy tone carried a fierce killing intent.

"This disciple was wrong." Pang Shuxian dropped to her knees with a thud.

She truly couldn't fathom — in such an ordinary, casual conversation, how could anyone think to record an image crystal orb?

Does this guy have persecution paranoia?

But at this moment, no one paid Pang Shuxian any attention; every eye turned to the images in the void.

The recording began with Pang Shuxian breaking through the restrictions on Ding Huan's cave abode, followed by Pang Shuxian explaining what had happened to Lu Ye.

After that came Ding Huan, upon learning the news, immediately declaring his intention to go see the Sect Master and the Enforcement Hall Master.

Ding Huan had clearly said he was going to see the Sect Master and the hall master, yet Pang Shuxian acted as if she hadn't heard a word, and asked Ding Huan if he was planning to leave the sect.

Ding Huan showed confusion and asked what leaving the sect was about — he still intended to help Junior Sister Lu Ye clear her name, since this wasn't Lu Ye's fault.

And Pang Shuxian's reaction was even more laughable…

"Wuliang, I'm afraid you won't be leaving. Today you must come with me to see the Enforcement Hall elders — otherwise, you'll have to step over my corpse." Pang Shuxian suddenly summoned her longsword and slashed straight at Ding Huan…

Ding Huan's reaction clearly showed he hadn't expected Pang Shuxian to suddenly strike — proof of his trust in her — and as a result, he was grazed by her sword.

There was no need to watch the rest of the recording; everyone understood what had happened.

This was plainly a frame-up.

"Guards, take Pang Shuxian to the Enforcement Hall and lock her up, to await interrogation." Meng Zhenting's killing intent was utterly undisguised.

Ding Huan didn't even have the slightest interest in finding out why this woman had tried to harm him — she had nothing to do with him.

"Wuliang, explain why you helped Lu Ye trade away the Sunset Arrow." This question came from the Head of the Enforcement Hall.

This was the ugliest woman Ding Huan had ever seen from the Divine Woman Sect—a face the size of a millstone, topped with two pea-sized green eyes.

I truly don't know how this woman got into the Divine Woman Sect.

Ding Huan could only reply respectfully: "It was Ding Xiaotu who learned that Lu Ye possessed the Sunset Arrow and voluntarily offered to exchange it for a Fate Stone."

I informed Lu Ye of this, and she was extremely eager for the Fate Stone, so I helped Sister Lu Ye make the exchange."

Every single word is perfectly accurate!

No one objected to Ding Huan's words, because Lu Ye had previously given the same account.

We simply hadn't found Ding Xiaotu yet.

"Wuliang, as an official of the Ancient Desert Divine Woman Sect, you擅自 helped Lu Ye trade away the Sunset Arrow, violating sect rules.

Now, I shall strip you of your cultivation. But before I do, you must bring Ding Xiaotu here…"

The Head of the Enforcement Hall's voice sounded like an owl's cry—chilling.

Ding Huan bowed his fist and spoke clearly: "Master, all Hall Heads and Elders. I, Wuliang, am also a disciple of the Ancient Desert Divine Woman Sect, but I do not believe I did anything wrong.

The Sunset Arrow was originally Sister Lu Ye's personal property; her decision to trade it was her right, and no one has the right to object.

As a disciple of the Ancient Desert Divine Woman Sect and Lu Ye's senior brother, it is my duty to assist her in matters within my ability."

"But Lu Ye clearly knew that Brother Ji needed the Sunset Arrow, yet she still traded it away—doesn't that harm the bond between our two sects?"

The Head of the Enforcement Hall, enraged that Ding Huan dared to argue, flew into a fury.

Ding Huan spoke calmly: "The reason our Ancient Desert Divine Woman Sect has endured to this day is because of the countless efforts of our predecessors. They sacrificed too much to secure even this sliver of existence for us.

Not through begging others, nor by sacrificing the freedom of our own disciples.

I joined the Ancient Desert Divine Woman Sect because here there is freedom and aspiration. If one cannot even dispose of one's own belongings simply because someone else covets them, then this sect is not the place I desired."

"If our Ancient Desert Divine Woman Sect needs the Sunset Arrow, I will exhaust every means to recover it.

Not because someone else needs it, that we must grovel to please them. Master Ge, you can do these things—I cannot."

The Head of the Enforcement Hall turned livid with rage at Ding Huan's words.

"Good!" Da Douqi loudly agreed, making the Head of the Enforcement Hall even angrier.

But Meng Meng Zhenting, the sect's Master, nodded and said: "Wuliang speaks truly. The Sunset Arrow is Lu Ye's personal property; she has the right to dispose of it.

Someone, go release Lu Ye."

After saying this, Meng Meng Zhenting turned to Ji Bucheng: "Brother Ji, if you still wish to form a Dao Partner bond with our disciple Lu Ye,

our Ancient Desert Divine Woman Sect will certainly offer a treasure worthy of your approval as a betrothal gift…"

Before Meng Meng Zhenting could finish, Ji Bucheng stood up: "Master Meng, all Elders, let us forget the matter of forming a Dao Partner bond with Lu Ye. I take my leave."

Saying this, Ji Bucheng turned and walked away.

Ding Huan watched, deeply moved—how effortlessly graceful others could be. That was true confidence.

His cultivation was nearly equal to Ji Bucheng's, yet he had to deceive even himself just to barely survive.

After Ji Bucheng left, Meng Meng Zhenting paid no mind, but turned to Ding Huan: "Wuliang, if you were to search for Ding Xiaotu, how confident are you?"

Wuliang immediately replied: "I am ten percent certain."

"Oh? How so?" Meng Meng Zhenting stared at Ding Huan in surprise.

Not only Meng Meng Zhenting was surprised—all others were equally astonished.

They had searched for Ding Xiaotu for a long time without success. How could Wuliang claim ten percent certainty?

Ding Huan spoke calmly: "I know Ding Xiaotu well. He is not entirely without affection for Lu Ye—there is indeed some.

But it is far from as genuine as he claims. More likely, he came solely for the Sunset Arrow.

Since Ding Xiaotu came for the Sunset Arrow, he may know its whereabouts—or even possess the Heaven and Earth Bow…"

Ding Huan knew that even if he didn't say it, others could guess this.

Indeed, Ding Huan's words drew no surprise from anyone.

"Continue," Meng Meng Zhenting said, looking at Ding Huan with clear appreciation.

"Yes." Ding Huan continued: "Ding Xiaotu loves to gain advantages. I guarantee he will appear during the Divine Vein Competition.

Once Ding Xiaotu shows himself, I have a hundred percent chance of locating him."

Meng Meng Zhenting nodded. Wuliang had exchanged his Fate Stone with Ding Xiaotu—if he hadn't left a Divine Mind Mark on Ding Xiaotu, that would be strange indeed.

(Today is New Year's Eve. Wishing all readers of "Mythology After" a Happy New Year, good fortune in all things, and robust health! Fellow Daoist, good night!)

(End of Chapter)