Chapter 187: Infiltration

Not to mention Hai Bodong—even Nalan Yanran sat stunned, and knowing the full story, Hai Bodong and Nalan Yanran both wondered if Yun Leng had been brain-damaged by the recent shockwave!

To hassle Xiao Yan over some mere Outer Deacon with Spirit Refinement cultivation who had already left Yun Lan Sect?

Or over a dead man?!

Yun Leng's relationship with Mo Cheng was so close it made people suspect they were father and son!

"The Mo Cheng killed months ago from the Mo Family in Yan City?" Jia Xingtian pondered, recalling that a report had indeed surfaced months ago.

At the time, the appearance of a Dou Huang from the Tian She Mansion had sparked a battle with Hai Bodong, drawing out the Eight-Winged Black Snake Emperor, which lured both Jia Xingtian and Yun Yun to Yan City.

Back then, Jia Xingtian and Yun Yun had heard Mo Cheng had been killed, but they never bothered investigating who did it—such a trivial matter was beneath their concern.

Only now did they learn Xiao Yan had been the one to kill him.

Hai Bodong frowned deeply, staring at the Grand Elder Yun Leng in the arena, muttering to himself: "Something's off—if Yun Leng is just trying to protect Yun Lan Sect's reputation by unjustly harassing a Fifth-Rank Alchemist, this makes no sense at all!"

"Besides, Xiao Yan has no mortal feud with Yun Lan Sect—this absolutely doesn't serve Yun Leng's or Yun Lan Sect's interests!"

Not just Hai Bodong—even Fa Ma and others sensed something was wrong; this was utterly without reason.

Not to mention Xiao Yan's terrifying talent—just his title as Alchemist Grand Meeting Champion and Honorary Elder of the Alchemist Guild should have deterred Yun Leng from provoking him!

You don't even try to curry favor—you go out of your way to offend?

This is extremely suspicious!

"Mr. Xiao Yan, you haven't forgotten that our Yun Lan Sect's Deacon Ge Ye was present at the scene, have you?" Yun Leng glanced at Ge Ye beside him and gave a subtle signal.

Ge Ye stepped forward, pointing at Xiao Yan: "At Mo Cheng's birthday banquet, Xiao Yan killed Mo Cheng despite our attempts to stop him! He not only damaged Yun Lan Sect's honor but also flouted the law!"

Xiao Yan reclined on the soft sedan chair, glanced at Ge Ye, thought for a long while, then said: "Oh, you mean that old thing who turned himself into some monstrous hybrid? Now that you mention it, he did say something before he died—something like 'Yun Lan Sect's Grand Elder won't let you off'."

"But I barely remember such a trivial matter—could you possibly be Yun Lan Sect's Grand Elder?"

Yun Leng had planned to deny Xiao Yan's denial and summon Mo Family members to detain him—but he never expected Xiao Yan would just admit it outright!

Don't you even try to defend yourself?!

The vast Guang Chang fell utterly still, as if time had frozen; every face stiffened, every gaze locked in stunned silence on Yun Leng's grim expression.

They weren't shocked that Xiao Yan had killed Mo Cheng—given his displayed power, killing Mo Cheng was trivial. They were shocked by Xiao Yan's sheer honesty!

Nalan Yanran stepped forward, then turned to Yun Leng and the others: "Grand Elder, in today's contest, I truly am outmatched—I accept my defeat wholeheartedly."

"Yanran, this isn't about the contest—step aside for now." Yun Leng waved his hand, yet his expression unexpectedly turned serious.

As Nalan Yanran was about to speak further, Xiao Yan's voice came from behind her: "Miss Nalan, I appreciate your goodwill, but our duel is already over."

Nalan Yanran turned to see Xiao Yan, calm and composed on the soft sedan chair; her expression froze, her delicate brows furrowed slightly, then after a brief hesitation, she nodded and slowly retreated to her master's side.

Yun Yun was puzzled—why was Xiao Yan so calm? Didn't he realize that if the charges stuck, he'd face the entire Yun Lan Sect?!

For a moment, the atmosphere left everyone baffled: on one side, Grand Elder Yun Leng acted like a fool, deliberately provoking a Fifth-Rank Alchemist with reckless abandon.

On the other side, even as the entire Yun Lan Sect confronted him, Xiao Yan remained as unruffled as if his parents had asked him what he'd eat for dinner—as if the one questioning him wasn't Yun Lan Sect's Grand Elder, but some beggar on the street.

"Since Mr. Xiao Yan has admitted it, you will remain with Yun Lan Sect for a while." Yun Leng snorted, flicking his sleeve, signaling Yun Lan Sect disciples to surround Xiao Yan's sedan chair.

Xiao Yan yawned lazily: "Grand Elder, Grand Elder—you're so eager you won't even ask why I killed Mo Cheng out of nowhere? Isn't that a bit too hasty?"

Several elders in the crowd couldn't help smirking—everyone could see Yun Leng was just fabricating an excuse to detain Xiao Yan—but Xiao Yan's words made Yun Leng's face flush with shame.

"That Outer Deacon Mo Dog seized members of my family and demanded their eyes—I killed him, and it was entirely justified. I haven't even demanded an explanation from you Yun Lan Sect, yet you turn around and accuse me?"

Xiao Yan sneered—he knew Yun Leng had to know the truth; so many witnesses were there, and Ge Ye had watched the entire scene.

"Grand Elder, I, Nalan Yanran, can testify that Xiao Yan speaks the truth."

Yun Leng glared coldly at Nalan Yanran: "Yanran, you are the Young Sect Master—you must not speak recklessly."

"Precisely because I am the Young Sect Master, I cannot lie falsely."

Yun Leng gave Ge Ye a look; Ge Ye, gritting his teeth, stepped forward: "Yanran, that was all Xiao Yan's word alone—the woman he mentioned never even appeared. You can't prove his story is true."

Nalan Yanran frowned—Ge Ye should have stood with her; he had followed her for years and reaped countless benefits. She never imagined he'd betray her now!

Xiao Yan waved his hand from the sedan chair: "Enough, enough. Even if you, Yun Leng, and Ge Ye are right—so what? Mo Cheng was killed by me, the Mo Family was destroyed by me—so what?"

Yun Leng smiled confidently: "Then today, I, Yun Leng, must ask Mr. Xiao Yan to stay with Yun Lan Sect for a few days, so we may thoroughly investigate—officially invite Mr. Xiao Yan to be our guest."

Instantly, dozens of Yun Lan Sect Core Disciples, all at the peak of Great Dou Shi cultivation, slowly encircled Xiao Yan.

"Don't tell me these few Great Dou Shi can hold me? I am a Fifth-Rank Alchemist—do you think you can just detain me?"

Xiao Yan lifted his Alchemist Long Robe, the silver-white Five-Grade Class Badge gleaming blindingly in the sunlight.

Yun Leng chuckled: "The Alchemist Guild isn't the most powerful organization."

At these words, many in the crowd paled—but Xiao Yan said nothing, for from the earlier exchange, he had already confirmed: Yun Leng was one of their own.

"It seems Yun Lan Sect has indeed been infiltrated by the Soul Palace."

【48】 (End of Chapter)