Chapter 782

Seeing He Pingsheng pull out a vial containing a single drop of 【Nan Ke Immortal Spring】, everyone lost their composure.

The Phoenix Clan was thrown into panic!

Feng Wanxi's brows furrowed.

In her view, He Pingsheng had never before produced a top-grade elixir—his last attempt had yielded one top-grade and eleven high-grade pills, an absurd result that could only have come from using the Nan Ke Immortal Spring.

Thus, Feng Wanxi had genuinely believed from start to finish that He Pingsheng had used the Nan Ke Immortal Spring.

So all this time, you didn't use it at all?

Before He Pingsheng produced the Nan Ke Immortal Spring, all of Feng Wanxi's witnesses and evidence were solid.

Anyone seeing this evidence would conclude He Pingsheng had used the Nan Ke Immortal Spring.

Yet now that He Pingsheng had produced this vial of Nan Ke Immortal Spring, those so-called solid proofs began to crumble.

"This doesn't make sense!"

"It seems He Pingsheng did intend to use the Nan Ke Immortal Spring—but ultimately didn't!"

"Exactly… if he didn't use it, we can't say he cheated!"

"This so-called cheating may not hold up at all!"

Many demon emperors began speaking in He Pingsheng's defense—not because they thought him wronged or out of kindness.

Some had their own prodigies who had used the Nan Ke Immortal Spring, and digging deeper would hurt them; second, the Phoenix Clan was too powerful—though other demon emperors outwardly respected them, they would never miss a chance to strike when the enemy was down.

Combined, these reasons meant more than half the demon emperors now spoke in He Pingsheng's favor.

"That's right!" said a Phoenix Clan demon emperor: "This vial He Pingsheng produced does contain a drop of Nan Ke Immortal Spring—but who knows how many drops Nan Qiqi actually gave him?"

"Maybe it was two?"

"Maybe she gave him many!"

"The key is, He Pingsheng… how do you prove you truly didn't use the Nan Ke Immortal Spring? That's crucial!"

"Exactly!" said Feng Wanxi: "He Pingsheng, if you want to prove you didn't use the Nan Ke Immortal Spring, you must present concrete evidence—otherwise, you can't clear your name!"

He Pingsheng smiled.

He now had enough confidence to clear his name.

But he still didn't want to use that method until the very last moment.

"My lords, is it not shameless to demand I prove I didn't do something?" He Pingsheng's gaze swept over the other prodigies: "If I must prove I didn't use the Nan Ke Immortal Spring, shouldn't every other prodigy who produced a top-grade elixir also prove they didn't use it?"

Gasps erupted.

His words dragged everyone into the same predicament.

None of them wanted that.

"That's too sneaky… why should we prove we didn't do it?"

"Exactly... forcing someone to prove they didn't do something is outright thuggish!"

"The Phoenix Clan is shameless!"

"You may be a divine clan, but you can't bully people like this!"

Soon, prodigies began shouting in outrage and guilt—the more guilty they felt, the louder they yelled.

Seeing the situation spiral beyond her control, Feng Wanxi hurriedly said: "He Pingsheng… I'm talking to you—this is your issue, don't drag others into it!"

"Fine!" He Pingsheng took a deep breath: "Miss Feng Wanxi, how do you prove that the spiritual ability you awakened during the second trial—the Heavenly Gang Power—was truly your own discovery, and not learned from your clan?"

This question struck the Phoenix Clan right at its weak point.

"Y-you…" Feng Wanxi trembled with rage: "This is outrageous! The hundred-year enlightenment of the second trial is long past—my awakened ability has already been acknowledged by the demon emperors! What are you trying to do by bringing it up now?"

He Pingsheng said: "If you can raise doubts, then I can raise doubts too."

Feng Wanxi said: "I, Feng Wanxi, would never stoop to such despicable tricks!"

He Pingsheng said: "How do you prove it?"

"No need to prove!" Feng Wanxi said: "I simply didn't do it!"

He Pingsheng said: "You don't need to prove it—why must I?"

Feng Wanxi: "You're not the same as me!"

"Enough!" The Golden Body demon emperor spoke from the stage: "Both of you, stop arguing… In my view, Feng Wanxi's awakening of the spiritual ability in the second trial was perfectly legitimate."

"He Pingsheng's top-grade elixir in this trial should also be legitimate—after all, he didn't use this drop of Nan Ke Immortal Spring!"

"My lords, I believe neither matter needs further investigation. Let us focus fully on preparing for the fourth trial. What do you say?"

The Golden Body demon emperor's three words: "Patch things up."

Digging deeper would hurt everyone.

But how could the Phoenix Clan simply let this go?

If they accepted a truce now, what would happen?

Others would assume Feng Wanxi had cheated in the second trial and was now backing down out of fear!

Absolutely not!

Moreover, their goal was to strip He Pingsheng of his competition eligibility—absolutely no letting him ascend the Stone Platform Ladder.

Otherwise, if He Pingsheng's name overshadowed the centuries-old top-ranked name—【Phoenix Beichen】—the Phoenix Clan's fortune and reputation would be crushed.

This the Phoenix Clan would never allow.

"Absolutely not!" said the Phoenix Clan demon emperor, taking a deep breath: "Since this matter has been brought to light, we must settle it clearly—otherwise, others will think the Phoenix Clan is easy to bully!"

"Here's my proposal: He Pingsheng, if you can prove you didn't cheat, I will make Feng Wanxi prove she didn't cheat either!"

"What do you say?"

The Phoenix Clan demon emperor was certain He Pingsheng had no proof.

Yet He Pingsheng bowed to the Golden Body demon emperor: "Elder Golden Body, to prove my innocence, I request another set of materials to refine another elixir!"

"To prove my innocence!"

"What do you say?"

Though phrased as a question to the Golden Body demon emperor, it was also directed at the Phoenix Clan.

Before either the Phoenix Clan or the Golden Body demon emperor could respond, the Great Lun Emperor spoke: "I believe this is a valid approach—if He Pingsheng can produce a top-grade elixir, it proves he truly possesses the ability. If he has such ability, why would he need to resort to the Nan Ke Immortal Spring?"

Seeing He Pingsheng's unwavering confidence, the Phoenix Clan demon emperor felt uneasy.

Without sufficient confidence, He Pingsheng would never have made this demand.

Should he agree or not?

Hmm… agree.

After all, in his previous five trials, he had only produced one batch containing a top-grade pill—this sixth trial, he had no guarantee of producing a top-grade elixir.

He Pingsheng was making his final gamble.

Perfect—if he fails, it's solid proof.

If he succeeds… hehehe…

Then I'll admit it—but Feng Wanxi won't, and you still can't prove yourself.

"Fine…" said the Phoenix Clan demon emperor, nodding: "Refine first!"