The cold light reflected off the green jade floor tiles. The Head of the External Affairs Hall, Zhang Guangyuan, sat in the main seat, flanked by Elders with solemn expressions.

Song Yan’s grey robe was stained with dust, and his spiritual power was unstable.

"Outer Sect Disciple Song Yesheng..."

Zhang Guangyuan slowly began, his voice devoid of emotion.

"Disciple is here."

"With all the Elders gathered, you shall recount the Secret Realm incident in detail from the beginning."

As soon as Xu Ziqing received the news, he had already returned from Jiran Valley with Qin Ying and Lu Ziye.

His expression was calm, and he added, "In the Secret Realm, Profound Origin Sect’s Disciple Wang Xi died, and two Spirit Talisman Sect Disciples died."

"All of our Cave Abyss Sect Disciples who were involved survived."

"Shao Sichao had returned to the Sect earlier but knew nothing of what happened in the Secret Realm."

"You must truthfully recount everything you saw and heard."

"Otherwise, if Profound Origin Sect’s Elders come knocking for answers later, we may not be able to protect you."

Xu Ziqing’s early return to the Sect would surely attract the attention of those with ulterior motives, and the news of Song Yan’s survival and return to the Sect would leak sooner or later.

"Yes."

Song Yan paused slightly, his thoughts shifting.

He had originally thought that the Sect would not antagonize Profound Origin Sect for an insignificant Outer Sect Disciple like himself.

But now, it seemed the actual situation was somewhat different.

Perhaps it was because Cave Abyss Sect was already impoverished and unwilling to sacrifice resources for minor matters?

He gritted his teeth, deciding to tell a half-truth about his life-and-death struggle with Wang Xi.

Song Yan lowered his gaze.

He slowly recounted how Profound Origin Sect set the trap, Wang Xi’s pursuit, Wan Songran’s ambush, and the final desperate struggle, omitting the secrets of the tao tail flute and the Dao Seed.

With a little embellishment, in his account, Wang Xi’s main target was Spirit Talisman Sect’s Wan Songran, and he himself became a secondary character in the battle that killed Wang Xi.

"Spirit Talisman Sect’s Wan Songran is a Disciple of the Wan family. Although his cultivation is only Qi Refining Stage 6, he possesses a spirit-gathering secret technique that can temporarily boost his combat power."

"He then joined forces with this Disciple, and we barely managed to kill Wang Xi."

Finally, he coughed lightly, his voice weak, "This Disciple, to protect himself, was forced to forcefully activate his spiritual power, damaging his Foundation, and was severely wounded by Wang Xi. His cultivation... has fallen to Level 1 Qi Refining."

"Wan Songran originally wanted to kill me to silence me, but he was also severely injured and at the end of his rope at the time, so we both took a step back and left on our own."

"How he died, this Disciple does not know."

"..."

A strange silence fell over the hall.

Several Elders in the hall exchanged glances, their expressions varied.

"Hmph!" one Elder, whom Song Yan had never seen before, snorted angrily, breaking the silence, and immediately cursed, "Those motherless bastards from Profound Origin Sect."

"Elder Luo! Watch your words."

Zhang Guangyuan stopped Elder Luo Haonan’s furious cursing.

"That Wang Xi, with his Level 8 Qi Refining cultivation, and as you said, powerful Spiritual Artifacts and Spirit Talismans, should have been able to kill you effortlessly..."

Yang Wenxuan’s eyes were sharp, "How did you assist the Wan family Disciple in killing Wang Xi?"

Song Yan’s heart tightened, but he remained outwardly calm.

"This Disciple did not exert much effort, merely assisting from the side."

"Moreover, this Disciple’s Divine Sense is slightly stronger than that of ordinary people, and before my cultivation was lost, I had some insights into several Spells."

Now that his "cultivation was lost," what he was like before was up to Song Yan to say.

This was also the advantage of being an Outer Sect Disciple no one paid attention to.

"Divine Sense..."

Yang Wenxuan pondered, but Xu Ziqing spoke up.

"Indeed, Outer Sect Disciple Song Yesheng, though his Spiritual Root Aptitude is mediocre, his Divine Sense surpasses ordinary people, and he has made some achievements in Alchemy."

Song Yan wondered how this Elder knew this, but at this moment, with someone speaking up for him, he was too happy to care.

"Elder Zhang!"

A Disciple requested an audience outside the hall.

"Profound Origin Sect’s External Affairs Elder Shen Yu, and Deacon Elders Zheng Xinzhi and Chang Ziyi, are here with several Disciples!"

Zhang Guangyuan and Xu Ziqing exchanged glances. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"They came really fast..."

...Zhang Guangyuan, along with several Elders, left Dragon Head Peak and flew to the Entrance Plaza at the mountain gate.

At this moment, many Disciples and deacons gathered nearby, watching from afar what was happening in the Entrance Plaza.

Zhang Guangyuan said loudly, "Elder Shen, it’s been a while."

Shen Yu raised a hand, interrupting Zhang Guangyuan.

"Elder Zhang, there’s no need to beat around the bush. We are here today seeking an explanation."

Shen Yu was in a very bad mood.

As Profound Origin Sect’s External Affairs Elder, for so many years, which Sect hadn’t been at their beck and call?

This plan actually had nothing to do with Profound Origin Sect; he purely wanted to seize a Spiritual Vein from another Sect.

As Profound Origin Sect’s External Affairs Elder, everyone was well aware of such matters.

Now, after all this effort, before even getting any benefits from the two Sects, one of his own Disciples had already fallen.

He simply couldn’t understand how Wang Xi, this good-for-nothing, had died in that Secret Realm.

"Our Sect Disciple Wang Xi died, and two Spirit Talisman Sect Disciples also perished in the Secret Realm, yet your two Cave Abyss Sect Disciples are perfectly fine."

Xu Ziqing smiled, "Cultivation is inherently unpredictable. Dying on the Dao can only be blamed on one’s own insufficient strength, not others, right?"

"..."

"That is natural, however..."

"The surviving Disciple from Spirit Talisman Sect reported seeing Cave Abyss Sect Disciple Song Yesheng acting suspiciously and secretly following our Disciple Wang Xi in the Secret Realm."

"Wang Xi, with his Level 8 Qi Refining, if he had acted cautiously, would have been safe."

"Therefore, we suspect that Wang Xi’s death may be related to Song Yesheng."

"If he is truly innocent, why not let him come out and confront us face to face."

Song Yan slowly walked out from the crowd, bowing to the several Profound Origin Sect Elders hovering in the air.

Just as he was about to speak, he was interrupted by Xu Ziqing.

"We have just questioned him and understood the situation in the Secret Realm."

Song Yan was surprised, wondering what this Elder Xu was up to.

Xu Ziqing wore a mournful expression, "Who could have known that there would be several Late Stage First-Order Demon Beasts in that Secret Realm."

"Nephew Wang Xi, seeing injustice, covered for Song Yesheng and Wan Songran’s escape, fighting multiple Demon Beasts alone, and ultimately fell due to exhaustion."

"Elder Shen, rest assured, our Cave Abyss Sect will certainly remember Nephew Wang Xi’s righteous act!"

This... Song Yan was stunned, speechless for a moment.

"Our Sect Disciple Song Yesheng was injured by a Demon Beast during the struggle. Although he fortunately escaped, his cultivation is now completely lost, and he can no longer ascend the Great Dao of Immortality."

"..."

Song Yan remained silent, only expressing sadness.

He secretly thought that the story he had fabricated was still a bit too conservative.

"Nonsense!"

"That Secret Realm is small and shallow; where would there be any Late Stage First-Order Demon Beasts?!"

"Elder Shen, you did not enter the Secret Realm; how can you make such a judgment?"

Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but retort.

"Could it be that you already knew the situation in this Secret Realm?"

Shen Yu was startled, then his expression turned grim.

Sometimes he would also wonder if he could return to the Sect, ask several Golden Core Elders to come out of seclusion together, and simply destroy Cave Abyss Sect with overwhelming force.

Such an unappreciative small Sect was truly infuriating.

"I don’t want to waste any more words with you. Let this kid surnamed Song hand over his qiankun bag. If there’s nothing of Wang Xi’s inside, then there’s no issue."

"Otherwise... hmph."

Behind him, another Profound Origin Sect Elder stepped slightly forward.

"Pushing your luck!" Xu Ziqing, instead of getting angry, laughed, "The Great Dao of Cultivation is going against Heaven. Who doesn’t have their own secret treasures and spiritual items?"

"Our Sect Disciple is to let you inspect his qiankun bag?"

"Does Profound Origin Sect perhaps think our Cave Abyss Sect can be bullied?!"

"Hmph..."

Shen Yu’s spiritual power surged around him, no longer wanting to entangle with the Cave Abyss Sect people, and his Spiritual Pressure erupted with a bang.

"So... what if it is?"

Bang!

Three immense Spiritual Pressures erupted simultaneously, the power of Late Stage Foundation Establishment sweeping down like a collapsing mountain, directly pressing towards Song Yan.

"Elder Shen, are you planning to make a move within my Cave Abyss Sect?"

Xu Ziqing flicked his sleeve, shielding Song Yan behind him.

For some reason, Shen Yu saw no trace of worry or fear in his expression.

Xu Ziqing’s lips even curled into a zealous smile.