"Ye Wushuang is an Evil Demon. He has already tacitly admitted it himself. Have I wronged him?" Upon seeing Yangg Qing’er step forward, Anx Shijie’s eyes grew cold and sharp.

"That’s right, young lady. Ye Wushuang is speechless, which is a clear admission that he’s an Evil Demon. Don’t be deceived by his appearance."

"Indeed. This boy is vicious by nature—not one of us. Kill him!"

The other elders coldly echoed Anx Shijie, clearly determined to see Ye Wushuang dead.

"Vicious by nature? Have any of you seen Brother Ye act viciously with your own eyes?"

"Brother Ye broke through to the Body Tempering Ninth Layer in a single month, so you all insist he’s cultivating an Evil Skill. But do any of you actually know the truth?"

Yangg Qing’er mustered her courage, lifting her chin to directly confront the gathered elders.

Dii Qingxue looked toward Yangg Qing’er, taken aback. Such a forceful line of questioning... this was clearly not the meek Yangg Qing’er she once knew.

Ye Wushuang also turned his head to look, completely surprised. ’I can’t believe she’s standing up for me at a time like this.’

The elders’ faces darkened. Being questioned by a young girl only fueled their anger. "Are you saying we’re wrong? Ye Wushuang is a mere mortal with ordinary talent. How could he possibly go from the Body Tempering Second Layer to the Body Tempering Ninth Layer in a single month? If he didn’t take a shortcut by cultivating an Evil Skill, are you suggesting he did it through sheer diligence?"

"That’s not it!"

Yangg Qing’er thought of the boy’s desperate, agonizing struggles to grow stronger. Her eyes reddened, and her voice choked with emotion. "It wasn’t just diligence! He put his very life on the line to get stronger!"

"To advance his Cultivation, he tempered his body every single day under the colossal waterfall at Flying Waterfall Peak! His skin would split open and bleed endlessly, but he never gave up."

"He had no Cultivation Resources, so his only choice was to risk his life in the Fierce Demon Cave, fighting Fierce Beasts to the death just to get what he needed."

"To obtain the Blood of Fierce Beasts, he challenged a Tenth-Level Fierce Beast! He even killed a Demon Beast Level Fierce Demon, leaving him covered in wounds!"

"And... and to get stronger as fast as possible... he... he even stepped into the Thunder Pool, using the thunderbolts to refine his body! Flesh and blood flew everywhere... I don’t know how much he bled, but he never made a single sound."

"He earned his Cultivation by risking his own life! What right... What right do you have to say he took shortcuts? What right do you have to deny his accomplishments? What right do you have to frame him for cultivating an Evil Skill?"

Yangg Qing’er grew more and more agitated as she spoke, her eyes welling with tears until she finally broke down sobbing.

She had been by Ye Wushuang’s side through it all. She saw how much blood he shed and how much he suffered. It moved her, and her heart ached for him. She had even come to see Ye Wushuang as her role model.

Her impassioned words plunged the great hall into a brief, stunned silence. After a long moment, Elder Wuu frowned and asked, "Is what you’re saying... true?"

"Every word of it!" Yangg Qing’er wiped away her tears with her sleeve. "Qiu Mo from the Fierce Demon Cave knows! And Senior Sister Qingxue! Many people know that he relied only on himself!"

At her words, all eyes turned to Dii Qingxue.

Dii Qingxue said coolly, "I have only seen him tempering his body beneath the waterfall."

BOOM!

It was true!

Dii Qingxue’s confirmation struck the elders like a monstrous tidal wave, sending a shock through their very beings. Tempering his body in a waterfall, refining it with thunder... that wasn’t Cultivation. That was putting his life on the line.

Breaking through seven minor realms in just over a month wasn’t the result of some shortcut with an Evil Skill—it was something he had earned by risking his life.

In that instant, the elders felt as if they’d been brutally slapped across the face. The humiliation was a stinging pain that went straight to their hearts.

Ye Wushuang, however, remained completely unconcerned. ’The path of a Cultivator is one of defiance. Ahead lie mountains of corpses, seas of blood, and tribulations of endless slaughter. To defy the heavens and reach the Peak, one needs more than just talent. One needs a relentless drive and an invincible will.’

’Every peerless expert has risked their life, waded through rivers of blood, and climbed to the summit from an Asura Hell. Compared to those ancient tribulations, what is a little physical pain? It’s nothing to be proud of.’

"Also, during the Outer Sect examination, he single-handedly killed ten Fierce Beasts and saved everyone else," Yangg Qing’er added, revealing another truth.

"He killed ten Fierce Beasts?"

At this, an Outer Elder exclaimed, "He’s a monster!"

"A monster? What do you mean?"

The other elders were baffled.

Immediately, Elder Yunn turned to the elders beside him and began recounting the events of the Outer Sect examination.

At the head of the hall, Anx Shijie’s face was darker than ever, his eyes blazing with killing intent. He shouted, "Elders, don’t listen to her! This boy, Ye Wushuang, is incredibly cunning. He must be using some kind of Blinding Technique to deceive you all!"

With that, murderous intent flared in Anx Shijie’s eyes. He impatiently commanded Chen Kun, who was standing there stunned, "Chen Kun, what are you waiting for? Kill this Evil Demon now and rid the Sect of this scourge!"

’To be honest,’ Anx Shijie thought, ’I’m shocked too. Ye Wushuang is too terrifying. If he’s allowed to mature, his power will be unimaginable.’

’Kill him! I must kill him!’

Anx Shijie was utterly venomous, his heart filled with an unprecedented killing intent.

Chen Kun understood this all too well. He knew Ye Wushuang’s vengeful nature; he repaid every slight. Once Ye Wushuang was strong enough, Chen Kun would likely be the first one he’d come to kill.

BOOM!

Suddenly and without warning, Chen Kun unleashed a deadly palm strike. Immense True Qi condensed into a terrifying Palm Seal that seemed to shatter the very air as it shot like lightning toward Ye Wushuang’s head, utterly merciless.

Ye Wushuang’s eyes went cold. He unleashed the Eight Kills of Battle, moving like a Violent Ape as a tyrannical, domineering Fist Seal rose to meet the attack.

"Wretch! You dare resist? Then I will cut you down myself!"

Seizing the opportunity, Anx Shijie roared as an overwhelming killing intent enveloped Ye Wushuang. His vast, majestic True Essence threatened to overwhelm the entire Cyan Profound Hall. He clearly intended to kill Ye Wushuang first and sort things out later.

"You think I’m afraid of you?!"

A ruthless look entered Ye Wushuang’s eyes. He focused his Divine Sense, preparing to unleash the Evil Moon Thunder Order.

"Stop."

Suddenly, the Star Robed Elder called out softly. Though his voice was quiet, it carried a vast majesty, striking everyone’s minds like the toll of a great bell. A faint pressure, like that of an Ancient Divine Mountain, settled upon their hearts.

BOOM!

In an instant, the lethal attacks from Anx Shijie and Chen Kun vanished like a receding tide.

"Star Elder!"

The elders immediately turned, bowing to the Star Robed Elder with fear and trepidation. Only they truly understood the status this old man held within the Ancient Spirit Sect.

The Star Robed Elder stepped forward. He gave Dii Qingxue a fond smile before turning his head. "You are Ye Wushuang?" he asked.

"Greetings, Elder." Ye Wushuang cupped his fists in a salute. The closer he got to the Star Robed Elder, the more he felt an immense pressure, like a mountain pressing down on his soul, making resistance seem impossible. ’No wonder the other elders are so deferential.’

’This is what a true expert is.’

A yearning immediately rose in Ye Wushuang’s heart. ’If I had the Star Robed Elder’s terrifying strength, who would dare to pass judgment on me?’

’No one.’

’Judgment is a shackle for the weak. The strong have long since broken free to do as they please, forcing others to prostrate themselves in awe. Anyone who dares to challenge them will surely die!’

At this thought, Ye Wushuang’s gaze became exceptionally firm, his indomitable will soaring. ’One day, I will become an expert like that, and all will bow before me in awe.’

"Good."

The Star Robed Elder’s eyes lit up. He watched Ye Wushuang quietly for a brief moment and uttered that single word. Then he continued, "I believe what young Qing’er said. What happened today is not your fault."

"Therefore, Elder Anx, let this matter be. The Sect will compensate you for the death of your grandson."

"As the Star Elder decrees!"

Anx Shijie was drenched in sweat, a chill running to his very soul. The pressure from that will forced him to suppress all his hatred. Now that the Star Elder had intervened, he knew he couldn’t possibly hold Ye Wushuang accountable today.

The others also understood. Since the Star Elder had spoken, the matter was closed. The truth about Ye Wushuang and the Evil Demon accusations had come to light, and no one dared to utter another word.

"Wait."

But at that very moment, Ye Wushuang’s voice suddenly rang out.