Chapter 925: Turn the Face

The internal organizational structure of the Immortal Alliance is extremely complex, but to put it simply, it's just interpersonal relationships; the tangled interests among the various sects and factions run so deep that, for the frontline battlefield, the Immortal Alliance's Existence is solely to better allocate resources, recruit soldiers and procure horses, and thus win the war!

From the very beginning, Yan Buji never expected Lin Qingli to actually accomplish anything.

Yan Buji lightly tapped the tabletop with his fingertip, and the tea water rose to reveal the phantom silhouettes of the Immortal Alliance's sect Elders: "The master of Ten Thousand Beasts Villa secretly harbors demon race cubs; the head of the Medicine King Hall uses living people to test poisons; the Elder of the Heavenly Sword Hall steals sect scriptures…." He lifted his gaze toward Lin Qingli, "Are these accusations sufficient to justify a righteous cause?"

Lin Qingli's ice lattice unconsciously tightened the window lattice: "Where did you get these incriminating pieces?"

"Guess how many secrets the Elders in those ice coffins whispered before death?" Yan Buji flung three Retaining Image Jade Slips from his sleeve, "Just place these 'evidence' on the Inspection Envoy's desk…"

These pieces of information come from varied sources; some Yan Buji painstakingly uncovered through numerous channels, while others he fabricated entirely out of thin air. Yet for those high‑ranking, powerful figures, the authenticity of the evidence is not the most important factor. What they need is merely an excuse that will prompt them to act.

At that moment, Yan Buji suddenly lunged forward, instantly closing the distance to Lin Qingli. His gaze was as cold as ice, staring straight at Lin Qingli as if to pierce her. Lin Qingli felt a chill surge from his eyes, even the stray hairs at her temples seemed to freeze under that cold.

"Take a guess," Yan Buji's voice was low and ruthless, "Will he choose to protect these insatiable parasites, or will he go with the flow and use this chance to wipe them out in one stroke?"

Outside the window, a dazzling bolt of lightning streaked across the night sky, instantly illuminating the entire room. In that brief flash, Lin Qingli's already pallid complexion turned even more ghastly, utterly without color.

"You actually want me to become that arsonist," Lin Qingli's voice trembled, her fingernails digging deep into her palm, "while you hide in the dark corner, reaping the fisherman's profit?"

A few days later.

Lin Qingli's fingertip traced an icy mark on the Xuan Iron Department Seal, and the scroll spread before her recorded a century's worth of spiritual beast trade logs from Ten Thousand Beasts Villa.

Yan Buji lounged lazily in the shadows, tossing a Retaining Image Jade Slip between his hands; the image showed the master of Ten Thousand Beasts Villa fastening a binding rope around the neck of a transformed demon cultivator.

"Tomorrow the Inspection Envoy will convene a council of all sects," Lin Qingli suddenly spoke, the ice lattice on the desk forming a miniature model of the Immortal Alliance's main hall, "You want me to publicly expose these?"

"Wrong," he suddenly crushed the jade throne model, "You should weep and beg for forgiveness, claiming you were misled by slander and wronged the good."

Shards of ice coalesced in the air into a new scene; Lin Qingli knelt to plead, the Elders of the various sects fumed with rage, and the Inspection Envoy was forced to publicly destroy the 'false evidence'.

Lin Qingli's pupils narrowed slightly: "Is this to force the Inspection Envoy to personally ruin his own chessboard?"

"Smart," Yan Buji's boot tip crushed the icy ground, "When he is forced to execute a few close confidants to appease the public…"

The Swallow Desire Pot suddenly flew from his waist, and the pot's spout emitted black mist that formed a scene of a Demon Race army pressing against the frontier: "The frontline battle report should have arrived."

The next day.

The Inspection Envoy once again summoned the Elders of all gates within Immortal City for a council.

"Extermination of Demons Department Head Lin Qingli, report!"

"Stinky bitch!"

Lin Qingli squinted: "Who's insulting me? Why not say it to my face? Hiding cowardly in the crowd as if they're a person?"

The surrounding Elders frowned, daring anger but not daring to speak.

The Inspection Envoy waved his hand, saying: "Extermination of Demons Department Head, take your seat. Today I have called everyone here because of the previous capture of an internal traitor within the Immortal Alliance."

The Elder of Ten Thousand Beasts Villa stood up directly, clasped his hands and said: "Inspection Envoy, your insight is clear! Our Ten Thousand Beasts Villa has been mortal enemies with the Demon Race since ancient times; how could we possibly become the Demon Race's dogs?!"

That wasn't wrong, after all the Ten Thousand Beasts Villa's beast‑taming art certainly involves capturing powerful demon beasts, seizing demon beast cubs; although the Demon Race does not admit that demon beasts share the same lineage, even if two nations are mutual enemies, when a stronger race comes along slaughtering and cannibalizing, the other nation's people certainly will not stand by idly.

Thus the Demon Race is not protecting demon beasts, but rather despises cultivators of the beast‑taming type like those from Ten Thousand Beasts Villa.

"Extermination of Demons Department Head, any words?"

"Report, my lord!" Lin Qingli took a deep breath: "Before, it was my fault!"

Hm?!

The surrounding Elders and the Inspection Envoy froze in place, looking at Lin Qingli in bewilderment.

Lin Qingli produced several investigative scrolls and placed them on the Inspection Envoy's desk: "After verification, the person who previously gave me information disliked Ten Thousand Beasts Villa and wanted to disgust them. But I am the Extermination of Demons Department Head, and I could not possibly ignore this matter…"

Three hundred coiled dragon pillars resonated with Lin Qingli's sobbing.

She knelt on both knees, her body pressed beneath the jade steps, as if the whole world weighed upon her. In her hand she tightly grasped the Ice Soul Sword, the blade held horizontally above her head, as if that sword were her last reliance.

"I, Qingli, was misled by traitors and incited, please, my lord, impose punishment!" Her voice trembled, carrying a hint of desperation and unwillingness.

The Ten Thousand Beasts Villa master, whom she had named, was about to let out a cold laugh, but at that moment the Retaining Image Jade Slip on the Inspection Envoy's desk suddenly ignited.

Flames roared, and the images within the jade slip gradually emerged in the firelight. Everyone present was stunned by this sudden scene, their eyes fixed on the burning flames, trying to discern what it displayed.

When the image became clear before the crowd, a gasp spread through the hall. In the scene, the master's son was drinking merrily with a Demon Race priest, the two appearing very intimate.

"Impossible!" the master's roar rang through the crowd, his body leapt from his seat, face full of disbelief. Yet his form froze mid‑air, as if struck by a petrification spell.

At the same time, the spiritual beast bag at his waist suddenly unfastened on its own, and a furry creature burst out. However, this was not the familiar spirit pet, but a great demon in the transformation stage bearing a demonic pattern on its forehead!

"Damned scum! This is pure fabrication! Inspection Envoy, you must not believe it lightly!" The master of Ten Thousand Beasts Villa, seeing this, felt his hatred toward Lin Qingli burn even hotter.

Lin Qingli carefully observed the Inspection Envoy's complexion shift from green to white, then took a deep breath: "Lin, the Envoy, you haven't made a mistake, have you?"

"I… I don't know." Lin Qingli forced a bitter smile and shook her head.

"Hm?! This evidence was submitted by you; you claim you don't know—could it be that someone else sent it?" the Inspection Envoy's face darkened, his cold gaze fixed on Lin Qingli.

The surrounding Elders sensed something amiss.

Isn't Lin Qingli the Inspection Envoy's dog?

Looking at this stance, could Lin Qingli be biting the master back?!

"These pieces of evidence were gathered by my subordinates; although I performed a simple verification, a large portion I have never personally seen…"

"Then you're not fabricating; how can this be!" the Inspection Envoy slapped the seat, and the surroundings violently trembled.

Lin Qingli's complexion turned pale: "If the lord does not believe, just take everyone to Ten Thousand Beasts Villa, a glance will prove it!"

"Even if it's true, you'll still be punished for negligence! Guards, lock up Lin Qingli!" the Inspection Envoy sneered, brushed his sleeve and left.

The surrounding Elders inhaled deeply.

Why?

Why did Lin Qingli dare to turn the face of the Inspection Envoy?