Chen Tieshan: What a Sin

Inside the grand hall of the Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion, Molingzi clutched his singed beard, adding vivid embellishments as he reported the tragic state of the Heaven-Breaking Sect to Pavilion Master Yun Canghai.

Spit flying from his mouth, he described how the Fentian Palace colluded with the Heaven-Breaking Sect to launch a sneak attack and how he had fought a bloody battle.

However, he kept his mouth firmly shut regarding the details of how his beard caught fire.

"Pavilion Master! That old scoundrel Yan Cangyun is too arrogant! I was wondering how he dared to provoke our Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion, but it turns out he joined forces with the Heaven-Breaking Sect!"

Molingzi roared, slamming his hand on the table.

Yun Canghai tapped his fingertips against the desk, his gaze profound. "Are you certain you saw the Fentian Palace colluding with the Heaven-Breaking Sect?"

Molingzi swore solemnly, "It is absolutely true! I saw Yan Cangyun plotting with the Sect Master of the Heaven-Breaking Sect with my own eyes!"

Yun Canghai did not press further; a wisp of sword energy condensed at his fingertips.

"Since they have torn off all pretenses, they cannot blame us for being ruthless. Pass down my order: from this day forth, all disciples of the Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion are to enter a state of combat readiness!"

Meanwhile, inside the grand hall of the Fentian Palace, the atmosphere was even more bizarre.

Yan Cangyun, injured by a shockwave from Molingzi's sword, was lying on his stomach on a soft couch, grimacing as he applied ointment. Lie Tianxiong lay on the opposite side, listening to him complain about the despicable acts of the Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion.

"Good, very good. The Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion, the Heaven-Breaking Sect... every single one of them wants to step on our Fentian Palace? Perfect. The Seven Great Sects Tournament is fast approaching. We will settle all our debts, both old and new, at the tournament!"

Listening to the Great Elder's tearful complaints, Lie Tianxiong rubbed the lingering palm print on his face and suddenly crushed the jade cup in his hand with a savage grin.

"That old fox Yun Canghai..."

"Go awaken those three old monsters in the Earth Fire Cave. Tell them... I grant them permission to use the Fentian Incantation."

At this time, in the Heaven-Breaking Sect, Chen Tieshan was leading the elders to clean up the mess.

Suddenly, a disciple rushed in to report.

"Sect Master, the Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion claims we colluded with the Fentian Palace, and the Fentian Palace claims we colluded with the Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion. Now, both great sects are demanding an explanation from us!"

Chen Tieshan nearly spat out a mouthful of blood and slumped onto the ruins. "What a sin...!"

As the sun rose high in the sky, brisk footsteps echoed along the bamboo path of the Purple Bamboo Peak.

Xuanyangzi, dressed in a green robe and carrying a food box, called out from afar.

"Junior Brother Changge, look at what good things I brought you!"

Gu Changge was sitting by the stone table, fiddling with a freshly picked Amethyst Fruit. Hearing this, he looked up and saw the undisguised smile crinkling Xuanyangzi's eyes.

Even his usually neatly stroked beard was slightly curled up, signaling that this old fox must have encountered something delightful.

"What has made you so happy?" Gu Changge twirled his fingers.

He immediately guessed it must be related to the Fentian Palace and the Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion.

Looking at Xuanyangzi's excited demeanor, Gu Changge feigned ignorance and asked.

Xuanyangzi took a few strides to the stone table, set the food box down, and lifted the lid to reveal the carefully wrapped spirit pastries inside.

"You have no idea. Xuanzhou has been incredibly lively lately!"

He sat down on a bamboo chair, took a large gulp from the teacup Gu Changge handed him, and recounted the recent events with animated expressions.

Xiao Ruobai, who was wiping the Nine Heavens Dragon Soul Halberd nearby, listened in stunned silence, nearly dropping the cloth in his hand.

He had originally thought that all conflicts in the cultivation world were open and honorable battles; he never expected there could be such a farcical series of misunderstandings.

He couldn't help but mutter, "It can actually be like this? That really broadens my horizons..."

Gu Changge glanced at him and said calmly, "There are many hidden tricks in the cultivation world. Go practice the Nine Forms of Heaven Defiance. Master the third form before lunch."

"Yes, Master!"

Only after Xiao Ruobai walked away did Gu Changge take out a palm-sized jade pendant from his sleeve.

Its surface was as smooth as autumn water, its edges carved with intricate cloud patterns, and a faint flowing light swirled within.

This was the reward he obtained from signing in three days ago.

When the jade pendant first fell into his hands, a message naturally surfaced in his mind: "Tests the heart and examines the soul, can distinguish loyalty from betrayal."

This was indeed a good item for cleaning up the sect.

"What is this?"

Xuanyangzi leaned over curiously and was momentarily stunned.

"A Heart-Testing Jade Pendant!"

Gu Changge gently tapped the pendant with his fingertip, and ripples instantly spread across its surface.

"This jade pendant can sense the true thoughts hidden deep in a person's heart. If someone harbors disloyal intentions toward the sect, the jade will reveal a grayish-black hostile aura.

If they are completely loyal, it will emit a golden light. Someone like you possesses a heart of absolute sincerity."

"Junior Brother Changge, can this treasure... really root out all the spies?"

His voice tightened, and his eyes gleamed like a hunter who had just spotted prey.

Gu Changge peeled a spirit tangerine unhurriedly. With a flick of his finger, the peel landed precisely in the bamboo basket thirty feet away.

"What? Does the grand Sect Master of the Qingxuan Sect lack the courage to clean house?"

"Bullshit!"

Xuanyangzi slammed the stone table, causing the teacups to jump.

"I have waited a hundred years for this day!"

Over the years, the Qingxuan Sect appeared stable on the surface, but hidden currents surged beneath.

Spies from the Fentian Palace, informants from the Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion... It was just that they hid too deeply, and he had never been able to purge them.

This Heart-Testing Jade Pendant was simply a timely rain!

"Its usage is simple."

Gu Changge handed the jade pendant to him.

"You only need to get close to the person and focus your mind for a moment to know the result. But remember, do not easily show this treasure to others, lest you alert the snake in the grass."

Xuanyangzi held the jade pendant, his fingertips trembling.

He stood up abruptly and gave Gu Changge a deep bow. "Junior Brother Changge, on behalf of the Qingxuan Sect, I thank you for this grand gift!"

"Don't be so quick to thank me." Gu Changge picked up his teacup.

"Keep a low profile when dealing with the spies; don't cause unnecessary panic among the disciples. After all, some may have only been momentarily misguided."

"I know what to do!"

Xuanyangzi carefully stored the jade pendant in his storage ring and patted the food box.

"These spirit pastries were freshly made by the Pill Cauldron Peak using millennium snow lotus powder. Keep them as a snack. I'll head back now and start investigating the elders first!"

Having said that, he walked down the mountain with brisk steps. Just as he reached the corner of the bamboo path, he turned back and shouted, "By the way, should I lock up the spies I find and wait for you to pass judgment?"

Gu Changge waved his hand. "You are the Sect Master. You can make the decisions on such matters yourself."

Watching Xuanyangzi's eager back, a faint smile curled at the corners of Gu Changge's mouth.

With this Heart-Testing Jade Pendant, it was time to thoroughly cleanse the murky waters of the Qingxuan Sect.

Just as Xuanyangzi's figure disappeared into the clouds and mist, Gu Changge flicked his finger. The Amethyst Fruit on the stone table turned into a streak of light and landed precisely in the beak of the little black bird on his shoulder.

"Chirp—"

The little black bird fluttered its wings, its beady black eyes full of playful mockery, as if laughing at Xuanyangzi's eager appearance of having found a treasure.

Gu Changge bent his finger and flicked its head, his gaze looking toward the direction of the Qingxuan Sect's main peak.

Xuanyangzi walked down the Purple Bamboo Peak with the Heart-Testing Jade Pendant tucked away. His steps were brisk, but his mind was heavy.

Rubbing the smooth surface of the jade pendant with his fingertips, its icy touch helped his chaotic thoughts settle slightly.

The treasures brought out by Junior Brother Changge had never failed, but the matter of spies concerned the very foundation of the sect; he could not afford to be the slightest bit careless.