Chapter 1202: Chapter 361: Qi, Qi-ge... What Is Really Happening?

"Is she a scapegoat you’ve prepared for yourself?" Zhou Qing spoke, his gaze like lightning piercing towards Xuanyuan Yichen.

"Brother Zhou, what do you mean by that? I really..."

"Don’t understand?" Zhou Qing sneered, placing the teacup heavily onto the table, "The Seventh Prince of the Holy Martial Dynasty, known for his strategic prowess and duplicity, could hardly not understand my words."

Wu Zhenyue quickly tried to mediate: "Master Zhou, is there some misunderstanding between you and the Seventh Prince..."

Zhou Qing ignored him, leaning slightly forward, his gaze as sharp as a blade fixed on Xuanyuan Yichen: "Shall I describe in detail that night you wrapped yourself tightly and secretly went to meet Old Nangong Ghost?"

Upon hearing this, Xuanyuan Yichen’s fingers abruptly tightened on the armrest, but his expression remained unchanged, only a fleeting hint of panic flashed in his eyes.

"Brother Zhou, this is definitely a misunderstanding!" His voice involuntarily tightened.

"Back when we were at Yiyun Mansion, I already said, constrained by Father Emperor’s edict and the surveillance from my brothers, I dared not contact the Spirit Severing Family, let alone give Nangong Xiongba..."

"Did I ever say Old Nangong Ghost was Nangong Xiongba?" Zhou Qing’s voice suddenly grew cold, cutting him off directly.

Xuanyuan Yichen’s face instantly turned deathly pale, his lips trembling uncontrollably.

"I..." His Adam’s apple moved with difficulty, his voice dry, and cold sweat seeped from his temple.

The atmosphere in the great hall seemed to solidify, even the sound of breathing was clearly audible.

Xuanyuan Muqian bit her lip uneasily, Wu Zhenyue’s eyes narrowed, his gaze flickering back and forth between the two.

Zhou Qing leisurely observed Xuanyuan Yichen’s panicked demeanor, the corner of his mouth curved into a cold smile.

"Brother Zhou..." Xuanyuan Muqian timidly spoke, but was silenced by a glance from Zhou Qing.

He glanced indifferently at the Ninth Princess, currently there were still two slots remaining for the Heart Mirror Vision.

He originally considered using one to bind her, to see if she was also involved.

But then he thought it unnecessary, Xuanyuan Yichen was certain to die today, and a Soul Search would suffice at that point, why go through extra trouble?

"People speak openly, not in shadows." Zhou Qing’s voice was icy cold, each word carrying an air of piercing deadly intent.

"Old Nangong Ghost already told me, without your tip-off, how could he have targeted the Taiqing Sect so quickly? The reason I haven’t acted until now is that I just want to ask you one thing——"

"Why?"

As the last word fell, Xuanyuan Yichen abruptly stood up, the chair behind him crashing to the ground.

His eyes were bloodshot, fixed on Zhou Qing, no longer the gentle jade-like appearance of the past at all.

Such a scene even frightened Xuanyuan Muqian into stumbling to her feet.

She looked at her Seventh Brother, hurriedly asking: "Seventh Brother... what’s going on?"

Xuanyuan Yichen acted as if he hadn’t heard, suddenly bursting into a hoarse laugh: "Brother Zhou, what a joke!"

"As far as I know, Nangong Xiongba was severely wounded by three Spirit Severing Realm members of your sect, leaving only a wisp of soul to flee, he’s been laying low all these years."

"How could such a defeated dog possibly identify me as the mole?"

Zhou Qing simply watched him quietly.

Indeed, Old Nangong Ghost was secretly rescued by your imperial grandfather, who knows where he’s hiding now, he certainly hasn’t had the chance to tell me.

"So, you think I’m bluffing?" Zhou Qing sneered.

Xuanyuan Yichen stepped forward, saying: "I don’t know who has incited Brother Zhou, but Brother Ghost is my close friend, and Brother Zhou has frequently extended help to me."

"How could Xuanyuan Yichen be ungrateful? If I truly wanted to leak information, I could have done so when Nangong Family’s bounty orders were issued, why wait until today?"

At this moment, Xuanyuan Muqian finally understood.

After all, the rumors of Nangong Xiongba’s attack on the Taiqing Sect resulting in his downfall had already spread across the Imperial City streets the past few months.

She quickly stepped forward: "Brother Zhou, this must be a misunderstanding! Seventh Brother he..."

"Then let him swear a Heavenly Dao Oath." Zhou Qing coldly interrupted.

Xuanyuan Yichen’s pupils suddenly contracted, a gleam of coldness fleetingly appearing in his eyes.

Xuanyuan Muqian hurriedly clutched his sleeve, her voice tinged with sobs: "Seventh Brother——"

Xuanyuan Yichen gazed at Zhou Qing, the anger on his face suddenly vanished, replaced by a kind of deeply unsettling calm.

A Heavenly Dao Oath?

How laughable.

With limited talent, he’s been biding his time, enduring humiliation and burden, all for the day he could ascend to that supreme position.

As the future Emperor, he would be cultivated with all the might of his imperial grandfather and Father Emperor.

Even with mediocre talent, the Imperial Family would spare no cost, using Secret Techniques and Spirit Medicine to forcibly help him break through to Divinity Transformation Perfection.

And with that secret medicine, give him a chance to touch the Spirit Severing Realm.

Only then could he rule over this vast Dynasty with Supreme Dominance.

But once a Heavenly Dao Oath was sworn, damaging the Dao Heart, the already low probability of breaking through with secret medicine would drop even more, completely denying him that step.

Besides, Zhou Qing’s confident demeanor clearly indicated he already had irrefutable evidence.

Continuing to argue would just be self-humiliation.

"I believed I did it flawlessly..." he suddenly chuckled lightly, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light, "After all, who leaked the word?"

Hearing this, Xuanyuan Muqian shuddered all over.

She instinctively let go of the sleeve she was clutching, stumbling back two steps, her eyes filled with disbelief: "Seventh Brother... you..." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Her voice was as tiny as a mosquito’s hum, yet it carried deep disappointment and heartache.