Chapter 817: I Believe He Is Innocent

The clear sky met the lifeless, gray expanse of the Grand Void Realm, making the entire Kaiyuan Prefecture feel like a grotesquely torn landscape.

Yet compared to this scene, what stunned everyone even more was that this Grand Void senior brother was still alive.

He had fought three opponents at once, two of whom were the top disciples of the Immortal Lineages; the third, though a child, was known to all familiar with the Three Immortals Sect—how formidable one’s innate talent must be to be accepted as a disciple beneath a Golden Immortal, and how much longer such a child’s lifespan and time spent with the Patriarch granted him an edge; in actual combat, ordinary top disciples were often no match for these children.

But now, two of them were dead… To be precise, if the two Golden Immortals hadn’t intervened in time, seeing how You Yao had her throat crushed with no resistance, she too would have been moments from death.

The disciples who had just moments ago spoken up in Shen Yi’s defense now fell utterly silent; when they looked again at that white-robed figure, their eyes brimmed with deep reverence.

At the same time, their glances toward the Pure Light Immortal were laced with suppressed fury, too afraid to voice it.

His disciples could act without restraint, openly bringing friends to murder fellow disciples before everyone’s eyes, yet when she suffered, no one dared touch her.

Must the disciples of Pure Light Mountain be considered superior to us all?!

“… ”

Master Qixian slightly opened his mouth; he had once met Shen Yi.

Back then, he’d thought the man seemed quiet, but in truth was arrogant and haughty, brushing off his goodwill with a careless word.

But if all this before him were true, even he had to admit that back then, the man had still endured enough to respond at all, refraining from an outright confrontation—truly a patient disposition.

But how could this possibly be true!

That was You Yao!

As one of the three equally famed, his understanding of this woman surpassed even her own sectmates.

Master Qixian struggled to steady his spirit, and on the distant Li Shan’s face, he saw the same disbelief.

Not to mention these juniors—even Shen Yi’s nominal master, Lingxu Zi, now wore a strange expression; he had personally witnessed Shen Yi’s inner Dao Fruit, and that path was not even worth comparing to You Yao’s—let alone Yun Miao, that useless waste, who surpassed the man by far.

Under equal cultivation levels and an inferior Dao path, achieving such a feat could only come from divine techniques or magic treasures.

But Lingxu Zi couldn’t recall ever teaching this young man anything so powerful.

As for the possibility that Shen Yi brought skills from the Southern Continent... what divine techniques could possibly exist in a place dominated by monks?

Looking again at the corpses in midair, they were clearly slain by the Wuwei Sword.

Eliminating divine techniques and magic treasures as causes, the only remaining explanation was that this youth was truly extraordinary, forcibly defeating three peers of equal realm solely through the Grand Void Realm.

Absurd!

Lingxu Zi subtly clenched his palm—had all his life’s efforts been poured into Yun Miao, that traitorous worm, until Heaven itself could no longer bear it, and sent him such an astonishing prodigy?

Just moments after losing his disciple, the old man’s face betrayed a faint trace of joy.

At that moment, a roar suddenly shattered everyone’s thoughts.

“How dare you!”

Qingguang Zi swept You Yao up in his sleeve, inspected her closely—and found his disciple had no life left; her vitality had been utterly destroyed by sword intent.

Enraged, he shed all previous celestial dignity, immediately summoning Tribulation Power to seize Shen Yi, who stood within the Grand Void Realm.

The youth, already nearly drained, turned pale under the Tribulation Power, letting out a muffled groan—but offered no plea, only tightly pressing his lips as he stared unflinchingly at Qingguang Zi, that towering, supreme Golden Immortal.

Earlier, within the Grand Void Realm, when You Yao cursed him in her final moments, Shen Yi’s response had not been dismissive or humble.

To survive was simple: escape the Tribulation, shed all burdens, and live in seclusion among wilds.

But if one chose another path, if one wished to act, one inevitably fell into situations beyond control… after all, he was merely a Golden Immortal; outside, he stood above the world, yet within this Tribulation, even with all his cunning, he could never fully control anything.

Outside: the Great Liberation Pure World Bodhisattva; inside: Pure Light Mountain, his mortal enemy; to break through required vast imperial qi and demonic lifespans—but acquiring these would only deepen the conflict, creating a dead end.

To wish to act yet refuse to bear any cost—such a thing did not exist in this world.

All Shen Yi could do was strive to increase his chances of survival; the rest, he left to Heaven’s will.

For instance, his current expression, seen by his fellow disciples, stirred even the most cowardly among them with a sense of shared understanding.

“Senior Sister You Yao is dead…”

Whispers spread among the disciples; they felt no sorrow, and instead, remembering her arrogant, domineering behavior—how she had never treated them as human—now felt a strange sense of satisfaction.

Good riddance!

Amidst that satisfaction, they quickly noticed the current state of the Grand Void senior brother.

Today, You Yao had stormed Tian Ta Mountain, as if unrelated—but next time, if it were them who were attacked over a Dao Hall, would even self-defense be forbidden?

“Senior Uncle Qingguang, it was Senior Sister You Yao who struck first.”

Finally, a disciple swallowed hard, forcing his body upright to whisper.

“Pathetic.”

Qingguang Zi whirled around, his icy gaze making the disciple tremble, limbs weak, forcing him to lower his head.

Only then did he turn back to Shen Yi: “If my disciple had truly come with murderous intent, with three of them, you’d be dead now—she merely intended to teach you a lesson.”

“But you—no wonder you came from a demonic lineage—your heart is cruel and ruthless. You killed my disciple, slew my child-disciple, and even turned your blade against your own senior brother. How could the Three Immortals Sect tolerate such a demon?!”

Two simple sentences revealed to all disciples what true perversion of truth and inversion of right and wrong meant.

Such brazen shamelessness was astonishing.

Though the disciples remained silent, their complex expressions spoke volumes.

“Senior Brother, you’re exaggerating!”

Lingxu Zi had been focused entirely on Shen Yi and hadn’t noticed You Yao was already dead.

To reason: the woman was dead, and Shen Yi still hadn’t shed the killing intent in his eyes—proof enough of how fierce the battle had been. In such a situation, this wasn’t an elder disciplining a junior; both were peers of equal realm. To demand he protect himself while also carefully holding back, ensuring he didn’t kill You Yao—wasn’t that asking too much?

Lingxu Zi looked at You Yao’s corpse, deeply troubled, yet unwilling to let such a promising disciple be destroyed by his brother.

He forced a smile: “After all, it was You Yao and my eldest disciple who were immature and instigated this conflict…”

“Is disciplining the same as murder?” Qingguang Zi replied coldly, showing no respect to his brother: “Or do you intend, before all disciples, to shield your little pupil—even if Yun Miao died by his hand?”

“Th-this is absurd,” Lingxu Zi was silenced, his aged face flushing with embarrassment.

“Regardless, someone is dead—this must be handled according to sect rules!”

Qingguang Zi swept his sleeve, cutting off Lingxu Zi’s words: “Life for a life. Do you object?”

“Life for a life…”

The disciples’ faces turned ashen; their senior uncle hadn’t spoken this way before—he’d said they’d be taken back to the mountain for discipline. So this rule could be changed at will, depending on his whim?

“Of course it must be handled.”

Lingxu Zi panicked, darting to Qingguang Zi’s side, gripping his arm with a forced smile: “I understand your grief over losing your disciple—how could I not feel the same? But this matter requires careful deliberation. Let’s return to the mountain to discuss it—don’t let the juniors witness this disgrace.”

Everything could be negotiated; to preserve Shen Yi, his only usable disciple, he gritted his teeth—he could afford to pay Qingguang Mountain a sufficient compensation.

But how could such matters be discussed before all disciples? Behind closed doors, anything could be settled.

Saying this, Lingxu Zi suddenly turned and snapped at Shen Yi: “Apologize to your senior uncle!”

“Don’t play that game with me.”

Before anyone else reacted,

Qingguang Zi violently wrenched his arm free and glared coldly at Shen Yi: “It’s not a mistake—it’s a crime! Do you admit your guilt?!”

“You—”

Lingxu Zi had never imagined such disrespect. True, in combat he was no match for Qingguang Zi, but they were both disciples of the Supreme Lord of Shangqing—should things escalate, who knew which side the Sect Master would favor?

His lips moved, yet he dared not fully break ties, frantically composing words in his mind, searching for any possible way to salvage the situation.

At that moment, a calm laugh echoed from the heavens.

“I believe this youth is innocent.”

The voice struck like thunder, freezing everyone—after Qingguang Zi had so blatantly discarded all dignity, who would dare stand up?

They all looked upward, seeing rolling crimson clouds approaching.

Qingguang Zi’s face turned livid; as the figure emerged from the clouds, he barked: “Brother Chi Yun, what business is this of yours?”

“None at all. I merely uphold the order of this Tribulation for our sect.”

Chi Yun Zi stepped down from the cloud stairs, casually releasing the Tribulation Power binding Shen Yi. He seemed oblivious to Qingguang Zi’s furious expression, continuing calmly: “This Tribulation exists to select the Immortal Emperor who will govern the mortal realm, requiring young ones of great resolve to fight fiercely, so one may claim the throne and inherit our great legacies.”

“Not a game.”

“If all of you act as you do, who among the juniors will dare compete? Everyone will cower, afraid to act—how will this Tribulation progress?”

“What do you say, Brother?”

Chi Yun Zi walked to Qingguang Zi’s side, a serene smile on his face: “Even if You Yao were to be revived, she wouldn’t blame her Grand Void senior brother—after all, she herself admitted it.”

“In my view, let him return to his quarters for a few days of reflection.”

Saying this, Chi Yun Zi glanced at Shen Yi: “Go, quickly.”

“… ”

Even Shen Yi hadn’t expected a great immortal to suddenly appear in his defense—this implied You Yao had offended many.

Though he’d chosen this path and prepared for death, to stay and die would be foolish.

He bowed respectfully to the three Golden Immortals, then turned without hesitation and stepped into the Grand Void.

“Stop, right there!”

Qingguang Zi lunged with his palm—but his fingers had barely extended when Chi Yun Zi lightly slapped them back.

Then he stepped directly before Qingguang Zi, whispering into his ear: “If he’s innocent, then all are innocent. If you refuse to accept this, I won’t mind stretching my limbs.”

“After all, this Tribulation in the Northern Continent has nothing to do with my Chi Yun Cave anymore—I’ve been bored lately.”

“… ”

Qingguang Zi stared fixedly at the face before him, then glanced at Lingxu Zi, who now beamed with relief.

As elder, his magic treasures and divine techniques surpassed both of them—but to fight both at once… he wasn’t that fleeing worm-disciple.

“If killers go unpunished, the rules will collapse, Chi Yun Zi—wait for the Sect Master to summon you!”

Qingguang Zi swallowed the bitter pill, unwilling to remain and further humiliate himself; he seized You Yao’s corpse and stormed away.

When only the two other Golden Immortals remained.

“Thank you, Master Chi Yun, for your assistance,” Ling Xu Zi sighed bitterly, bowing to him.

“No need. This is between him and me.” Chi Yun Zi gave him no favorable look; after a moment of silence, he said coolly, “Thank my disciple for me.”

The True Master Tai Xu, atop Tian Ta Mountain, slew five Bodhisattvas in fury. Though forced into action, it was also vengeance for the fallen Mao Feng and the others.

“It was nothing,” Ling Xu Zi waved his hand, feigning magnanimity. “He was merely doing what he ought. No need to mention it.”

“Hmph.”

Chi Yun Zi glanced at the old man, unwilling to say more, and turned away, summoning his red clouds to depart.

Only now did the surrounding disciples burst into cheers. Whether Tai Xu Brother lived or died was no longer his own matter—what mattered most was crushing Qing Guang Mountain.

“Don’t say it, this kid’s fortune really is impressive.”

Qi Xian Shang Ren arrived beside Li Shan with a cold, false smile. For him, the best outcome today would have been the death of both the True Master Tai Xu and You Yao on Tian Ta Mountain.

Now that You Yao is gone, a far stronger opponent has taken her place.

The Eastern Pole Emperor’s lineage has always been weak in the Northern Continent; their chance of seizing the Immortal Emperor’s throne has grown even slimmer.

But judging from what just happened… this man’s strength is great, yet he has no solid backing. Ling Xu the Great Immortal’s earlier hesitation clearly wasn’t the attitude one shows toward a beloved disciple, and Chi Yun the Great Immortal seemed more like he was sulking at Qing Guang Mountain than coming for the boy’s sake.

There may be something more to it.

“...”

Li Shan’s expression grew grim. He did not wish Shen Yi dead—more accurately, he didn’t care whether Shen Yi lived or died. What concerned him was this great calamity.

Though Master Qing Guang’s actions contradicted his words and were repulsive, his final words were true.

If killers go unpunished, this precedent is set—the chaos will erupt!

Thinking of this, Li Shan looked around at the cheering disciples and suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

He seemed to see disciples slaughtering one another, showing not the slightest mercy.

This chaos was sparked by You Yao. She failed to bring it about—but somehow, through the hand of that Tai Xu Brother, it was accomplished by accident.

Could this be fate? Could this truly be how the great calamity was meant to unfold?

(End of Chapter)