Chapter 943

Gōngzhǎng, now that the truth is out, please swiftly bring the culprit to justice, to console the spirits of Junior Sister Yang and others.

The speaker was Su Luo Qiu, a flash of malice crossing her eyes.

She could hardly wait to see Ye Qingran apprehended and then beheaded in public, blood spraying everywhere!

As soon as she finished speaking, other disciples of the White Tiger Academy chimed in, repeating her words.

Disciples from the other academies followed suit, and in an instant the clamor denouncing Ye Qingran swelled into a torrent that echoed through the clouds.

Gōngzhǎng, give the order!

Lóu Tíng spoke with a sinister tone.

Seeing Wànjì Zǐfēng unmoved, Lóu Tíng continued: "Gōngzhǎng, what are you hesitating about? Just now everyone heard you say you wouldn't show favoritism—how can you now go back on your word?"

The other palace masters' gazes all fell on Wànjì Zǐfēng.

They weren't worried that Wànjì Zǐfēng would go back on his word; in fact, they hoped he would. After all, as the academy's palace master, he had made a promise before so many disciples—if he broke it, he'd lose all credibility in the academy.

"When did I say I'd show favoritism?"

Wànjì Zǐfēng suddenly gave a mysterious smile, which made Lóu Tíng's guard rise; he narrowed his eyes and said in a low voice: "Please, Gōngzhǎng, quickly order the capture of Ye Qingran, behead her publicly to set an example!"

"I'm afraid not!" Wànjì Zǐfēng said, smiling and shaking his head.

Lóu Tíng's face darkened completely; if before he wore a false mask, now he had torn it away entirely.

"Wànjì Zǐfēng, since you're shielding a criminal, don't blame us for being ruthless!"

Having spoken, he turned to the three palace masters and proclaimed loudly: "Wànjì Zǐfēng is guilty, sheltering the murderer Ye Qingran—will you few palace masters help me seize them and give the academy's disciples an explanation?"

"Good!"

"No problem!"

"Mm!"

The three palace masters gave their answer at the same time.

At the same time, a domineering aura burst from the four palace masters, the majesty of an emperor spreading forth, accompanied by a vast Spirit Jade Power!

The disciples were enveloped by this terrifying pressure and power, their faces turning pale and their hearts racing.

"Is this… a change of heaven?"

Who could have imagined that the Wànlíng Xuégōng would be thrown into such turmoil over a single murder case?

The three palace masters stared at Wànjì Zǐfēng, while Lóu Tíng lunged toward Ye Qingran.

One was the academy's newly arrived Sweeping Maid, the other the palace master of the White Tiger Academy, one of the Four Spirit Academies—the gap in their strength was like a chasm.

Ye Qingran's fate seemed self-evident!

As Lóu Tíng drew ever closer to Ye Qingran, a harsh shout suddenly rang out.

"Lóu Tíng brat, you've got a lot of nerve!"

That voice pierced through space like a blade into everyone's ears, especially Lóu Tíng, who felt as if two swords had been thrust into his ears, pain making his complexion change and his whole body crash heavily to the ground!

When they heard that voice, the faces of the other three palace masters all changed in unison.

The disciples might not know who the voice belonged to, but they did.

"Sword God, how did he come back?"

As the words fell, a cold gleam appeared in everyone's sight; beneath the Celestial Dome, Sword Qi crisscrossed, the wind grew increasingly biting, as if an invisible blade were slicing the skin.

After a few breaths, everyone could faintly see a figure arriving on sword, bearing an immortal aura and ethereal demeanor.

"The old man's not here—are you plotting rebellion?"

That person 'whoosh' arrived right before them, his sword hovering in midair, looking down from above upon the crowd.

His appearance also became clearly visible to all.

He was seen wearing tattered clothes, unkempt, with a large gourd tied at his waist, looking like a mere old coot—making the earlier immortal aura seem like an illusion!

Who is he?

A question rose in the hearts of many disciples.

Soon, someone answered that question.

"Sword, Sword God senior? How could you be here?" Lóu Tíng could hardly believe his eyes.

How could the Sword God appear in the academy? Wasn't he wandering the four directions?

Sword God?

Upon hearing Lóu Tíng's address, all the disciples present were stunned.

As disciples of the Wànlíng Xuégōng, they could not possibly have never heard of the Sword God's existence.

The Sword God senior is the guardian deity of the Wànlíng Xuégōng, his power unfathomable; especially devoted to the sword way, he wields a single blade with divine mastery, invincible in the spiritual realm, and the world venerates him as Sword God!

Perhaps disciples from decades ago had once been fortunate enough to see the Sword God in person, but these young disciples now have no such chance.

One had expected the Sword God senior to be a specially dignified, lofty figure, but instead he turned out to be… a decrepit old coot?!

"Huh?"

Ye Qingran also froze.

Isn't this old coot the one who sweeps the academy's thatched rooms?

But she wasn't overly surprised: "So he's actually the Sword God!"

"Hmph, if I don't come back, the Wànlíng Xuégōng won't even know what disaster you lot will wreak upon it!"

Actually, the Sword God has indeed been wandering abroad these years; he just happened to return to the Wànlíng Xuégōng recently, and only Wànjì Zǐfēng knew of this.

"Sword God senior, we dare not—we're merely seeking justice for a few disciples!"

Lóu Tíng bore the Sword God's pressure while desperately defending himself.

"Whose justice are you seeking?"

Lóu Tíng hastily pointed at the three corpses on the ground: "Sword God senior, Ye Qingran brutally murdered three of my White Tiger Academy disciples; the evidence is solid, and we intend to bring her to justice!"

Sword God glanced at the three corpses on the ground, a dark glint flashing in their eyes.

"How outrageous! To dare commit murder in my Wànlíng Xuégōng—you deserve death ten thousand times!"

Lou Ting let out a breath of relief, a look of surprise and joy appearing on their face.

If Sword God senior takes action, Ye Qingran will surely die today!

"You say the murderer is her?" Sword God pointed at Ye Qingran.

"Exactly, it's her!" Lou Ting nodded heavily.

"What?!"

Sword God glared angrily, jumped down from the sword, and strode straight toward Ye Qingran, the sword behind them automatically returning to its sheath.

Seeing this, Su Luo Qiu and the others flashed a strange light in their eyes.

Is Sword God about to act against Ye Qingran?

"Best if Sword God cuts Ye Qingran into ten thousand pieces with one strike!" Su Luo Qiu awaited eagerly with evil intent.

"Ye Qingran is doomed this time!"

"Who made her luck so bad, just happening to meet Sword God senior returning?"

"But she deserves it! Who made her ruthlessly kill so many people!"

……

The other disciples shook their heads, feeling that Ye Qingran was doomed this time.

Sword God stood before Ye Qingran with a menacing aura, pointed at them, wearing an expression hard to describe.

His next words left everyone dumbfounded.

"You, you—others frame you, and you don't know how to fight back?"

What?

"No, Sword God senior…"

"Shut up!" Sword God shouted, Lou Ting not daring to even fart.

"Aren't you usually arrogant in front of this old man? How come you're being framed and can't say a word?" Sword God wore a disappointed expression, "You just bully the strong and fear the weak!"

What?

Ye Qingran felt a bit dazed.

First, when had she been arrogant in front of this lousy old man?

Moreover, what does "bully the strong and fear the weak" mean?