Li Heng suddenly spoke and surprisingly, no one seemed startled. Instead, everyone felt as expected.
Li Heng had traveled a great distance to come here. There's no way he came just to show his face.
This time, could Lin Ya and Heavenly Sword Peak really get through unscathed?
Everyone's heart tensed, waiting for what came next.
Li Heng looked at Lin Ya and slightly raised his brows, "Lin Ya, let me ask you, how did your strength recover? As far as I know, your injuries back then were extremely severe. Your Dantian was even shattered. In that state, how could you possibly regain your cultivation?"
Li Heng spoke with a mocking smile, "Don't tell me, you consumed a Heaven Mending Pill?"
A Heaven Mending Pill might not be that rare in the Four Great Holy Lands.
But Lin Ya was merely a Peak Master from a mid-tier sect.
How could he possibly obtain such a divine medicine?
At that moment, Zhao Wuji spoke, "Martial Uncle Li, what are you suggesting? No, no, no… you've got it wrong. Peak Master Lin is a man of upright character. Even if he didn't consume a Heaven Mending Pill, I'm sure he recovered through proper means. I, at least, believe that."
Li Heng shot Zhao Wuji a look of disappointment, "Wuji, you're far too trusting! Lin Ya suffered grave injuries, yet not only did he recover, his cultivation even advanced further! If he didn't take a Heaven Mending Pill, then he must've cultivated some demonic technique!"
Zhao Wuji put on a look of shock, "Martial Uncle, you mean… no, that's impossible! Lin Ya would never do such a thing!"
The two of them coordinated perfectly, clearly putting on an act.
The crowd listened with expressions that grew increasingly varied.
Everyone knew Zhao Wuji was pretending.
Everyone knew Li Heng was making trouble on purpose.
But still…
A strong fist trumps all arguments.
So then, how is Lin Ya going to explain?
Only, Li Heng had never planned to give him a chance to explain. He looked at Lin Ya with a calm expression, "Everyone knows that in order to strengthen themselves, the Demon Clan has modified their cultivation techniques into forms that even humans can practice. These demonic techniques are characterized by fast cultivation speed, rapid strength gain, and crushing power in the early stages. They're known as fast-track techniques."
"But we all know that anyone who cultivates such techniques will, in the end, lose their rationality, suffer deviation, and fall into the demonic path!"
"In recent years, the Demon Clan has been increasingly active in the shadows. Though the surface of the cultivation world appears calm, underneath it's been turbulent for a long time! Anyone who frequently takes sect missions will surely understand this firsthand."
Li Heng spoke with righteous indignation, "Those who practice demonic techniques are essentially the Demon Clan's reserve forces, spies planted within human cultivators! The worst part is, these techniques are highly concealable, it's hard to detect the practitioners right away!"
"Now, with Lin Ya's situation clearly suspicious, I, as a Hall Master of the Demon-Destroying Alliance, formally suspect that he has come into contact with a demonic technique. Therefore, I will conduct a personal inspection!"
As he spoke, a Demon-Destroying Token appeared in his hand.
His token was clearly far more advanced than those held by Zhou Li and Zhou Dai. Just the carved patterns alone exuded a heavy, dignified aura.
From the audience below, Zhou Li and Zhou Dai narrowed their eyes slightly.
This Li Heng was a Hall Master of the Demon-Destroying Alliance.
The Demon-Destroying Alliance was founded by the Four Great Holy Lands, uniting experts from many sects into a super-organization.
Minimum entry requirement is Golden Core Stage.
Rank advancement was based on contribution points.
Its leader was Ji Wusi, the man who once shattered ten thousand demons with a single sword.
Beneath him were twelve Elders, each a peerless powerhouse from top sects.
Below them were fifty Palace Masters, each at least at Mahayana Stage.
And beneath the Palace Masters were three hundred Hall Masters, spread across the cultivation world, all in Tribulation Crossing Stage at minimum.
And Li Heng was actually one of those Hall Masters.
That meant he wasn't just at Tribulation Crossing Stage, he was likely an elite among elites even within that realm!
In recent years, as the Demon Clan grew more rampant, the Demon-Destroying Alliance's power had only grown stronger.
And someone like Li Heng had every legal right to question Lin Ya's conduct.
What's more, if Li Heng uncovered anything suspicious, he had the right to execute him on the spot.
Clearly.
Li Heng fully intended to use that right to kill Lin Ya on the spot.
Even though everyone could tell that this was intentional.
But so what?
What could a bunch of insignificant nobodies do?
Li Heng could find an excuse and kill him openly. That alone was already giving Lin Ya face.
If he didn't even want to give an excuse, even if he just killed him directly, what could anyone do?
Li Heng stared at Lin Ya, "Now, are you going to resist my inspection?"
Even if there was nothing to find, Li Heng would make something up.
Lin Ya's fate already seemed sealed.
In the void.
Cang Li's gaze instantly turned icy cold.
His master, Ji Wusi, was the very leader of the Demon-Destroying Alliance and he himself was also a Hall Master.
The immense power entrusted to the Alliance was meant to combat evil techniques and the Demon Clan!
But now, what exactly was this Li Heng doing?!
Cang Li could guarantee that his master was definitely watching all of this in secret.
And at this moment, his master was likely even angrier than he was.
Cang Li's gaze grew even colder.
If this were simply a reasonable investigation, then fine. If the inspection cleared Lin Ya, it would prove his innocence.
Maybe Li Heng was just being overly suspicious.
But if…
If he truly intended to frame Lin Ya…
A trace of killing intent flashed in Cang Li's eyes.
Then Li Heng must die.
His master had always despised evil with a passion. There was no way he'd tolerate this kind of scum!
"I have never practiced demonic techniques," Lin Ya said calmly. "Nor have I had any dealings with demonic cultivators. If Hall Master has no personal agenda, then I naturally do not fear any inspection."
"Are you saying I do have a personal agenda?" Li Heng coldly sneered. "Clearly, you're just feeling guilty!"
He suddenly reached out and dragged Lin Ya toward him!
He was about to forcibly inspect him!
"Wait!"
An urgent voice rang out.
The Three Grand Elders finally could not remain silent.
An old woman with a kindly face, a cold and elegant woman, and a brutish man with a fierce expression.
These were the Three Grand Elders of Tianxing Sect, and its only three Tribulation Crossing Stage cultivators.
The cold and elegant woman, who seemed the youngest yet held the highest authority, stepped forward and spoke first, "Senior Li, this child Lin Ya was raised under my watch. His village was destroyed by the Demon Clan. He absolutely could not have colluded with them."
"That's right," said another. "Lin Ya detests evil. He was gravely injured precisely because of a mission related to demonic cultivators."
"Moreover," the last elder added, "Lin Ya is a disciple of our Tianxing Sect. If he is to be investigated, we should conduct our own internal inquiry first."
Lin Ya had only just recovered his cultivation. Given his talent and age, there was a real chance he'd become Tianxing Sect's next Tribulation Crossing Stage powerhouse! Naturally, they would do everything they could to protect him.
Li Heng looked at the three Grand Elders and chuckled, "So now you're trying to obstruct the Demon-Destroying Alliance's authority? Have you forgotten that we do have the right to intervene directly?"
"I just think you're being too hasty, Senior," the cold woman replied.
"Hasty?" Li Heng laughed coldly again. "I only said I'd conduct an inspection, how is that being hasty? Unless… you're the ones feeling guilty?"