Chapter 100: Whitewashing
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Zhou Xuanhong’s actions were astonishing, but what was even more shocking lay ahead. Logically, crushing the teleportation jade talisman should have triggered the teleportation, yet there was no sign of him being transported away at all! The fragments of the talisman fell into the grass, having no effect whatsoever. Although the teleportation array patterns inside were genuine, it seemed this particular talisman had never been connected to the Five Elements Confinement Array from start to finish.
Yan Xueying covered her mouth to laugh softly at the scene, but she showed no intention to speak. Instead, her eyes, brimming with seductive charm, fixed intently on Zhou Xuanhong, radiating an overwhelming allure.
With a swift movement, Zhou Xuanhong ascended to the very top of the Five Elements Confinement Array, raised his hand, and a source formation appeared on his palm. He pressed it firmly against the array’s wall.
After a moment, an incredible sight unfolded!
This array had been laid out by a fifth-rank array master of the Taiyin Jishi Sect. Although it was a fourth-rank array, both in power and the profound mysteries within, it far surpassed ordinary fourth-rank arrays. Yet now, Zhou Xuanhong had managed to break a small opening in it!
The hole was about the size of a bowl’s mouth, and judging by its gradual healing, it was temporary. Nonetheless, this clearly showed Zhou Xuanhong possessed the ability to breach a formidable fourth-rank array—he just chose not to exert it fully.
Bowing slightly to Yan Xueying with a cheerful smile, he said, “Sect Leader Yan, shouldn’t you give this junior a proper explanation? Could it be that because the look in my eyes lacks even a trace of infatuation, you deliberately make things difficult for me?”
His words were harsh, implying she was petty and narrow-minded, tarnishing her image. Even the other cultivators within the array paused in their actions.
Yan Xueying had not expected Zhou Xuanhong to act so boldly, nor did she anticipate he had the strength to do so. With such mastery over array formation, his future ascent to the rank of fifth-rank array master was inevitable.
If his cultivation level kept pace, even higher realms were possible. If he could not be brought under control, given their existing conflicts, the Taiyin Jishi Sect was bound to suffer eventually.
Her heart seethed with murderous intent, yet on the surface, she maintained a smiling, graceful demeanor, mirroring Zhou Xuanhong’s cheerful countenance—both were smiling tigers, capable of luring others into traps with mere words.
“You speak amusingly, young one. But such reckless claims are unacceptable. Who knows if you yourself tampered with the array source inside? What about the others? Are theirs damaged?” she retorted.
At this, Zhou Xuanhong’s smile grew even brighter as he nodded in agreement. “Good idea. I suspect these batches of teleportation jade talismans are faulty. I suggest everyone try theirs. After all, the Taiyin Jishi Sect is large and wealthy; these minor expenses are negligible, right, Sect Leader Yan?”
Silently cursing him as a sly fox, Yan Xueying still responded magnanimously, “The Taiyin Jishi Sect naturally guarantees every guest’s safety. Since this young friend suspects the teleportation talismans pose a risk, everyone may test theirs. If needed, our sect will provide a new batch. How does that sound?”
Zhou Xuanhong clasped his hands in thanks. “Sect Leader Yan, your generosity is unmatched. No wonder your sect is the richest, strongest, and most dominant in the Nameless Region. I never saw such magnanimity when I served as a guest cultivator in the Shangguan family.”
Yan Xueying looked down at Zhou Xuanhong with a teasing smile. “The current head of the Shangguan family, Shangguan Ba, and I share common interests. That man? I know him well—he’s extremely stingy!”
Her words revealed why she was targeting Zhou Xuanhong: Shangguan Ba had informed on him. Did he not fear the consequences of breaking his sacred oath?
Soon, the cultivators who had been eliminated retreated beyond the plain. Then, the remaining over eight hundred cultivators inside the array crushed their teleportation jade talismans one after another and were transported to the edge of the plain. Even Ye Haoxuan took the chance to escape the clutches of that madwoman with great relief.
When all were transported out, only Zhou Xuanhong remained inside the array, facing Yan Xueying. Though she was a fully realized Nascent Soul practitioner, Zhou Xuanhong appeared calm and unruffled.
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Yan Xueying looked at Zhou Xuanhong with playful amusement. “Young friend, look at yourself. You claim you didn’t tamper with things. What’s your purpose then? Just to waste some teleportation jade talismans?”
Zhou Xuanhong took another jade talisman from his storage pouch, smiling. “Senior, you think the talisman I crushed earlier was the one you gave me? Such good evidence, how could I not keep it? Senior, this talisman bears the spiritual imprint of your Taiyin Jishi Sect’s array master. Surely it’s not forged?”
Yan Xueying was momentarily stunned, then her smile faded. She knew better than anyone whether the teleportation talismans were faulty. She had always toyed with others, yet today, she was the one being toyed with—by a mere Golden Core cultivator. Anger flared within her.
“You, a lowly Golden Core rogue cultivator, even if a guest of the Shangguan family, dare to mock the Taiyin Jishi Sect?”
Zhou Xuanhong hastily withdrew his hand. “Sect Leader Yan, you misunderstand. As I said, I am but a lowly rogue cultivator. How dare I offend your noble sect? I merely suffered unfair treatment and could no longer remain silent in the name of justice!”
Yan Xueying scoffed as if hearing the biggest joke, pointing at Zhou Xuanhong with disdain. “You? For justice? You, who betrayed your master, slaughtered your companions, and defied the orthodox path, dare to speak of justice? If I recall correctly, your name is Zhou Xuanhong, once a true disciple of the Xingyan Sect. You destroyed a small world of our Taiyin Jishi Sect, yet we have not dealt with you—yet you come seeking trouble with us here? Do you really think, before so many witnesses, we dare not act against you?”
Her words shocked many cultivators present; none had expected this to be the once infamous figure of the Nameless Region seven years ago. Though his reputation was poor, his character and strength were undeniable. To see him here was astonishing.
“No wonder he could breach this array with just the first stage of Golden Core cultivation! So that’s who he is!”
“Whether true or not, with his mastery of arrays, he’s nearly invincible!”
“I heard his former wife was the Taiyin Jishi Sect’s First True Disciple. Could his visit be related to that?”
...
The cultivators buzzed with speculation. Nearby, Shangguan Liming and his Dao companion Yin Qimeng exchanged knowing looks. No wonder fate had placed them at the Destruction Cave with Zhuge Jiangniao—he was Zhou Xuanhong himself.
In truth, Shangguan Liming had suspected Zhuge Jiangniao’s identity but lacked proof and intended to observe further. Now, Yan Xueying had inadvertently revealed the truth.
Elsewhere, Shangguan Yixin felt oddly empty inside, finally understanding why Zhou Xuanhong wanted him to investigate Zhu Xiaona’s whereabouts at the Taiyin Jishi Sect. She was his wife!
Zhou Xuanhong gazed toward the Taiyin Jishi Sect’s mountains and shook his head. “Senior, we are both intelligent. You know my purpose—I only wish to see my wife. The Xingyan Sect was not destroyed; only the Xu family was. That was after the Xu family plotted against me, attempting to usurp my body. How does that equate to betraying one’s master and abandoning the orthodox path?”
Yan Xueying sneered and produced a Memory Stone. A massive image appeared before everyone: footage of Zhou Xuanhong slaughtering his fellow disciples in Lingbei Village.
“How do you explain this? Willing to do anything to achieve your goals, a ruthless person like you only brings disaster wherever you go!”
After the projection, Zhou Xuanhong smiled faintly. From his Sea of Consciousness, a tiny insect emerged—it was one of the bloodthirsty bugs that once monitored him within the Isolation Array after Yi Xia and two others demanded spirit artifacts in Lingbei City.
His vast spiritual awareness delved into the insect’s memories, extracting the relevant fragment and embedding it into a Memory Stone, which he then played aloud.
“These three were scoundrels of the Xingyan Sect, intent on theft and my life. If it were you, Sect Leader Yan, would you let them live? I merely used them slightly. What wrong is there in that?”
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Upon seeing this, the crowd fell silent. Zhou Xuanhong’s words were indeed truthful. Were they in his place, they would have struck down those three without hesitation.
Yan Xueying finally understood why the Black Ghost Elder had spread that Memory Stone. It was all part of Zhou Xuanhong’s plan—to have a chance to clear his name. After all, many knew of his betrayal during the sect war.
True to rumors, he was cunning and scheming. Could even the intelligence from Shangguan Ba be part of this?
Realizing this, Yan Xueying’s composure shattered; her gaze sharpened, piercing Zhou Xuanhong as if trying to see through him completely.
“Zhou Xuanhong, I admire you... but your request is impossible for our sect. Zhu Xiaona, our First True Disciple and the last disciple of Ancestor An Ao, is currently in seclusion. However, our sect can notify her. Whether she agrees to meet you depends on her own will.”
If this were elsewhere, Yan Xueying would have slapped this troublemaker down. But now, with so many witnesses, as a sect leader, reckless cruelty or bullying would bring severe consequences.
“Thank you, Senior!” Zhou Xuanhong said.
Yan Xueying produced a Telepathic Jade Talisman and imprinted a message within it. She activated it, sending it into the sect’s mountain gate.
After a moment, a jade talisman flew back into her hand. After checking its contents, she smiled slightly and tossed it to Zhou Xuanhong.
“Don’t say I used tricks. You should recognize her voice and spiritual fluctuations. See for yourself.”
Zhou Xuanhong caught the talisman, his eyes unusually filled with excitement and nervousness. His divine sense probed inside, only to be met with two cold words:
“Not seeing you!”
The voice was icy, utterly devoid of emotion.
Like two arrows of frost piercing Zhou Xuanhong’s heart—painful and chilling.
His face instantly paled, as if all his strength had drained away. Even the greatest trials he had faced before did not weigh on him as heavily as these two cold words.