Li Heng let out a cold laugh. "Lin Ya, I want to see—who can you call on now? Who can save your life? With me here, I represent the Demon-Slaying Alliance. Even the Heavenly King himself would have to give way. You... can die now."
The seal above surged with immense force, crashing down.
A smirk tugged at the corner of Li Heng's mouth.
Lin Ya, of course, had no connection to the demonic path, but if Li Heng claimed he did, then he did. Once Lin Ya was dead, there would be no one left to refute it.
Zhao Wuji's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
He had once dreamed of defeating Lin Ya through his own power, but why bother? He was born to stand above others. Someone like Lin Ya, with no background, could work all he wanted—he'd still only ever be worthy of kissing Zhao Wuji's heels.
"Xiao Jun, wait for me. Lin Ya will be joining you soon.
And then the rest of Tianjian Peak. One by one, they'll all follow.
Last will be that Yun Jin. I'll take my time with her, letting her die in endless regret and agony."
Lin Ya's brow was damp with sweat.
Oh gods. Had he just outplayed himself?
His eyes instinctively shut.
But just as the seal was about to land on his head, it stopped—suddenly and completely.
Lin Ya's eyes shot open, joy flickering in them.
He was saved.
Some senior must have intervened.
Li Heng's expression darkened. He snapped, "Who's there? Hiding in the shadows, too afraid to show yourself?"
In the air above, Cang Li stepped forward, his gaze frosty.
"Li Heng, quite the authority you're wielding."
Yun Jin's expression shifted slightly.
She recognized him—wasn't this the Cang Li from her ring?
He wasn't supposed to appear until later in the book. Why was he showing up now?
She glanced at Yue Zhao and the others, only to find that none of them seemed surprised.
Yun Jin's thoughts raced. So Cang Li must have met with the seniors already. They knew he was here, which explained their calm.
So she was the only one panicking this whole time?
A soft chuckle escaped her.
"How dare you! Who are you, barging into Tianxing Sect uninvited?" Zhao Wuji, robbed of Lin Ya's imminent death, exploded with rage.
Hatred flared in his eyes as he launched a full-force attack at Cang Li.
Cang Li didn't move. He merely gave Zhao Wuji a cold look.
Just one look.
Zhao Wuji trembled. It felt like he'd been locked onto by an unmatched divine sword.
He immediately regretted his reckless strike.
But it was too late.
The attack reached Cang Li.
Cang Li stood motionless, surrounded by a violent aura of sword qi. Before the strike even touched him, it was shredded to dust.
Still calm, still composed.
Li Heng's face went pale.
Zhao Wuji might not know him, but he certainly did.
This man was no ordinary cultivator—he was a true powerhouse.
But why was he here?
And why had he suddenly acted to save Lin Ya?
Li Heng's expression shifted repeatedly until he finally managed a forced smile. "Brother Cang Li, I just discovered a human cultivator who has colluded with the demonic path. I was about to execute him. Since you're here, perhaps you'd prefer to handle it yourself?"
Cang Li narrowed his eyes. "You're certain he's colluded with the demonic path?"
What did he mean by that? Had he seen through something?
Li Heng's thoughts spun rapidly, but he insisted, "Naturally. Everyone sensed that foul aura. As a hall master of the Demon-Slaying Alliance, I was simply fulfilling my duty."
Cang Li laughed in disbelief. His tone was icy. "Li Heng, seems Lin Ya was right. With tactics like these, who knows how many innocent people you've falsely accused. Someone like you has no place in the Demon-Slaying Alliance."
Cang Li drew his sword, pointing it directly at Li Heng.
Sweat gathered at Li Heng's nose.
If this became a real fight, he would stand no chance. The gap between him and mid-tier sect Tribulation cultivators was wide, but the gap between him and Cang Li was even wider.
This was a true prodigy.
Still, Li Heng clung to his act. "Brother Cang Li, you must have been misled by Lin Ya! I haven't cultivated any demonic technique. Even if I wanted to frame him, how could I have faked that sinister aura? That clearly came from him!
Besides, his sudden recovery and rapid progress are clear signs of demonic cultivation. Tell me, what did I do wrong to deserve such accusations from you?"
His voice even carried a note of grievance.
Cang Li's gaze turned colder.
He knew Li Heng was framing Lin Ya. But he wasn't skilled in illusion or spiritual manipulation, so the exact method escaped him.
"Brother Cang Li, if you claim I'm framing him, then bring proof. Otherwise, even if we report this to the Alliance Leader, I've done nothing wrong." Li Heng looked as righteous as ever.
High above, Qing Yun chuckled.
See what I mean? Sword cultivators—power in their arms, air in their heads.
Cang Li couldn't see through Li Heng's trickery, but Qing Yun had.
Perfect.
Now that Lin Ya had seen how useless Cang Li was, it was time for him to shine.
Straightening his robes, Qing Yun prepared for a grand entrance.
Then—
"Brother Cang Li, surely you haven't been fooled by such a crude trick?" a voice called out.
Shen Yanye stepped out, beating him to it.
Qing Yun: "???"
What the hell?
Are we just jumping the queue now?
His eyes narrowed.
Beastmasters, with all their spirit beasts, were a versatile lot. If Shen Yanye exposed Li Heng's trick first, where would his value be?
Qing Yun grew flustered, though he tried to maintain a serene expression as he emerged as well.
"Indeed. Just a petty trick. I saw through it immediately," he declared, conjuring a swirl of mist at his feet to enhance his otherworldly image.
His entrance complete, he couldn't help but glance over at Yun Jin.
Look, disciple! Is your master not dashing?
Yun Jin blinked at him in confusion.
Qing Yun felt momentarily crushed, but composed himself.
He hadn't shown his skills yet.
Soon. She'd be amazed soon enough.
Li Heng's face shifted again at the sight of Shen Yanye and Qing Yun.
He recognized Cang Li—everyone did. The man was legendary.
Shen Yanye and Qing Yun, however, were strangers to him.
But if they were standing at Cang Li's side, they couldn't be simple figures.
"Senior Qing Yun, perhaps you could leave this to me," Shen Yanye said. "I have a Heart-Seeking Beast. It can discern truth from lies. Once summoned, no one can hide the truth."
Senior Qing Yun?
The name sounded... familiar.
Li Heng frowned in thought. Then, as realization struck, his face went stiff.
Qing... Qing Yun?
That Qing Yun from Xuandan Gate?
No, no—impossible!