Qingyun Sect · Council Hall.
The copper crane incense burner was giving off wisps of smoke. It was once ethereal and ethereal, but now it was like a crane strangled by its neck. The smoke was blocked in mid-air and could not descend. The elders on both sides sat upright, each with a stiff back, as if a mountain were pressing down on their backs. The mountain was sitting on the left side of the main seat - in purple robes and golden crowns, the knuckles tapped the armrests, each strike as if on the tip of everyone's heart. Lei Xiaotian, the leader of the Righteous Path Alliance, in the later stage of the spirit transformation, came to punish him.
"Elder Feng," said Lei Xiaotian, in a low voice that made the glazed tiles on the roof of the hall buzz, "I ask again - is the Qingyun Sect a person or a sect?"
Feng Qingyang, with a wine gourd in his hand, half-leaning back of his chair, half-drunk: "What do you say, Lord Lei? Qingyun Sect has not defected. Which sect is it?"
"If you don't associate with a sect, you associate with someone." With a flick of his fingertip, a golden scroll emerged in the void - "The Order to Leave the Zhengmeng Sect". "As long as it is signed, the Qingyun Sect will be removed from the seven major sects from now on, and all spiritual veins, mines, and secret realm resources will be reclaimed. The disciples traveling the world will no longer be protected by the Zhengmeng Sect."
The hall fell silent in an instant, and even the smoke in the incense burner trembled three times. The elders' faces turned pale, and many of their goatees began to tremble.
On the high position, Qingyun Sect Master Shen Huaiqiu coughed lightly, breaking the silence: "Lord of the Thunder Alliance, Chu Xuan is only a foundation establishment disciple, why is it like this?"
"Foundation Establishment?" Lei Xiaotian raised his eyes, his gaze as sharp as a knife, "If he were just establishing a foundation, would Elder Ling draw his sword for him? Old Feng will shield me for him? This one is misleading and corrupting, and keeping him will surely cause great harm to the heart."
Shen Huaiqiu frowned, as if weighing his thoughts. Below, the inner gate elders exchanged glances, but none dared to speak first. Resources, status, disciples' future... Too many things are weighed down by the word "eviction order".
Outside the hall, on the square, Chu Xuan was escorted by two law enforcement disciples and knelt far away to listen. Lei Xiaotian's voice pierced through the heavy door, like a muffled hammer hitting his chest, but he chuckled and murmured, "What great authority."
On the left, the law enforcement disciple Lin Hao - who had been taught swordsmanship by Chu Xuan - trembled his hand and whispered, "Brother Chu, I'm sorry."
"It's okay. You escort it and I'll kneel to mine." Chu Xuan shrugged his shoulders, his knees touching the bluestone, his back straight. "It's my duty, I understand."
Wang Zheng, the disciple on the right, snorted and deliberately tightened his bracelet: "Understood? You, a scoundrel of colluding with demonic cultivators, deserve to talk about duty?"
Chu Xuan raised an eyebrow, too lazy to argue. He had seen a lot of such people - one day they would call each other brothers, and the next day they would step on you for fear of splashing blood.
Inside the hall, Lei Xiaotian put pressure again: "Master Shen, limit it to one stick of incense." Sign, or not sign, give the leader of the alliance a good time!"
Shen Huaiqiu's fingertips trembled slightly, and his eyes subconsciously turned to Feng Qingyang. The latter took a gulp of wine and said lazily, "Don't look at me. The sect master is the boss. I only fight, not sign."
Shen Huaiqiu smiled wryly and looked at Ling Qingxue again. The woman in white stood at the end of the hall, her eyes like snow, and her voice colder: "If the master signs, please first disable my cultivation - otherwise, I will surely take the sword to rob people."
"Clear Snow!" Shen Huaiqiu drank low, "Stop talking nonsense!"
"Disciple only tells the truth." Ling Qingxue raised her eyes, chilly, "Chu Xuan is not at fault; it is prejudice that is wrong."
Lei Xiaotian narrowed his eyes and tapped the handrail with his fingertips as if calculating something. After a moment, he spoke calmly, "In that case, compromise - the Qingyun Sect can retain the seat of the main alliance, but Chu Xuan must be detained at the 'Precept Peak' and publicly tried three days later by the seven major sects to prove his innocence. If refused, the eviction order will take effect immediately."
The hall was silent again. The detention and interrogation, seemingly concessions, actually put the Qingyun Sect on the fire - handed over to the disciples, chilled their hearts; If not, the future of the sect will be ruined.
Shen Huaiqiu closed his eyes, his voice hoarse: "... All right, I'll follow the leader of the Lei Alliance."
"Master!" Ling Qingxue stepped forward but was stopped by Shen Huaiqiu raising his hand.
"Qingxue, the thousand-year-old legacy of the sect cannot be destroyed by my hands." His voice was so low that it could hardly be heard, "Chu Xuan... I'll understand."
Feng Qingyang took a gulp of wine and said nothing, but a trace of coldness flashed in his eyes.
Lei Xiaotian rose, brushed his sleeve, and said calmly, "Three days later, at the precept peak, I hope your sect will deliver the person on time." He turned around, neither too fast nor too slow, but each step felt like stepping on the hearts of the people.
Outside the hall, the law enforcement disciple received the message. Lin Hao's face turned pale, but Wang Zheng trembled with excitement: "Did you hear it? The master nodded! Chu Xuan, you're done!"
Chu Xuan was pulled up, his wrist spirit lock tucked into his flesh, but he laughed, a light-hearted smile: "Finished? In three days, it's not certain who will finish."
Wang Zheng sneered, "A dead duck is stubborn! Where is the Precept Peak? People who go in, go in upright, come out horizontally!"
"Really?" Chu Xuan turned his head to look at him, his eyes pale and gray. "Then you can take a gamble - bet if I can come out upright and take you in for a tour."
Wang Zheng was so shocked by that gaze that he felt a chill run down his spine. He subconsciously took a half step back and then, in a fit of rage and shame, gave him a hard push: "Take him away!" "Take him to prison!"
Lin Hao lowered his head, not daring to look Chu Xuan in the eyes, and whispered, "Senior brother, I'm sorry."
Chu Xuan smiled and said no more, allowing the two of them to walk through the square with countless complex gazes - pity, gloating, fear, and hidden anger.
In the distance, a figure in white stood in the shadow of the corridor, his fingertips pale from pinching. Ling Qingxue watched the figure disappear into the distance, and the snow in her eyes grew darker, eventually turning into a barely audible whisper:
"Wait for me."
Night came as promised.
Qingyun Sect · Outer Gate Prison Valley.
The moon is dark and the wind is high, and the cliffs are like knives, cutting the already cold wind into even more sharp blades. Chu Xuan was thrown into a stone chamber, and the iron door clanged and locked, shaking the wall with dust. There was only one bed and one chair in the room, and a dim soybean oil lamp was burning in the corner, with its wick twitching short as if it were counting someone's heartbeat.
"Senior brother, dinner is left here." "While it's still hot," Lin Hao pushed the food box under the fence, his voice lower than the wick.
"Thanks." Chu Xuan sat cross-legged on the edge of the bed, his wrist clanging. "What's the wind outside?"
Lin Hao glanced left and right to make sure no one was around, and then said at a very fast pace, "The heart is in a state of unease. The inner sect is divided into two factions - the conservative elder says you are a disaster star and demands immediate transfer to the Precept Peak; The young disciples privately say that you have brought honor to the sect and should not be handed over."
"Where is the master?"
"The master keeps the door shut and says, 'The review will be held in three days.'" Lin Hao paused for a moment and then said, "Elder Ling is held up by the Elders' Council and cannot show up for the time being, but let me bring a word --"
He leaned close to the fence, imitating Ling Qingxue's soft voice: 'Don't be afraid, wait for me. '"
Chu Xuan laughed, feeling as if a wisp of snow had swept over his heart, cool but reassuring, "reply to her for me -- 'I have thick skin, let her be busy with her own business first, don't rush into prison. '"
Lin Hao nodded with a wry smile and turned to leave. Suddenly, footsteps came from outside the iron gate. He quickly lowered his head and stepped aside. Wang Zheng, leading two law enforcement disciples, strode forward, carrying black iron rods and looking excited as if to say, "I'm here to catch you."
"Collusion in the middle of the night?" " Wang Zheng glared at Lin Hao, "Get out of the way and don't interfere with my patrol."
Lin Hao, not daring to push, had to retreat into the shadows. Wang Zheng opened the iron gate, the iron rod clanged in the palm of his hand, and nudged Chu Xuan: "Get up, change the place - Precept Peak to 'entertain' you in advance."
Chu Xuan raised his eyebrows slightly, "In advance? The three-day deadline hasn't come yet."
"Stop talking nonsense!" Wang Zheng struck the doorframe with a stick, sending sparks flying. "Rules are rigid, people are flexible. Lord Lei has ordered you to taste the 'way of hospitality' first, lest you be stubborn at the meeting."
Two disciples approached from left to right, and the clattering of the spirit lock. Chu Xuan's eyes turned pale and gray, but he quickly turned away - at this moment, to act, it was right in the other's heart, with the hat of 'fleeing in fear of punishment', even Ling Qingxue would be unable to handle it.
He got up slowly, brushed the dust off his clothes, and said, "Well, as the guest pleases. But if I do lose a strand of hair, remember to order a coffin for myself in advance to avoid the queue."
"To be stubborn at the last moment of death!" Wang Zheng sneered and struck Chu Xuan's shoulder blade with a stick, the sound of the wind whistling. Before the tip of the stick reached, the greyish-white chaotic energy had quietly covered Chu Xuan's shoulders and back, forming a thin layer of soft armor.
"When --"
The iron rod bounced back, making Wang Zheng's jaws tingle and the rod bent like a bow. The two disciples were stunned - the stick was enough to break the rock, but it didn't even wrinkle the corner of Chu Xuan's robe.
"Sorry, the bones are too hard." Chu Xuan smiled, revealing eight white teeth. "There are even harder ones. Do you want to try?"
Wang Zheng's face was a mixture of blue and red, a mixture of fear and anger, but he dared not do it again - if he really had inflicted obvious wounds, he would have had more than enough to cover his pockets.
"Take it away!" He gritted his teeth, waved his sleeve and turned. The sound of chains dragging echoed through the dark passageway like a string of ill-intentioned jeers.
...
Precepts Peak · Side Hall.
Brightly lit, Lei Xiaotian sat in the main seat, with steam rising from the tea cups beside him. In the center of the hall, the torture frame, chains, and photographic stones were all present, making it look like a luxurious interrogation room.
Chu Xuan was seated on an iron chair, with his hands and feet fitted with a special spirit lock, inside which runes flickered, specifically to suppress the spirit power. Lei Xiaotian raised his eyes, his tone indifferent: "Chu Xiaoyou, the leader of this alliance gives you one more chance - reveal the inside story of the demonic Elixir Hall and how Elder Ling was bewitched by you, I may consider lenient punishment."
Chu Xuan moved his shoulder and spoke lazily: "Lord Lei, I also give you a chance - withdraw the eviction order and publicly apologize to the Qingyun Sect. I consider not making your words and deeds public today."
"How presumptuous!" The deacon beside him shouted angrily, raising his hand to execute. Lei Xiaotian raised his hand to stop him, his gaze deep: "Young man, it is good to have backbone, but it is a pity that backbone cannot fill one's stomach, nor can one preserve one's cultivation."
He flicked his finger, and a wisp of spiritual pressure turned into a fine needle, piercing Chu Xuan's dantian. The greyish-white primordial energy spontaneously protected the master and collided with the spirit needle, "hissing" and annihilated simultaneously. Lei Xiaotian raised his eyebrows slightly - How could he block three parts of his power?
"It's quite interesting." He rose up, his sleeves windless, "since I don't want to speak, I'll reflect here. Remember, in three days' public review, if you still have the same attitude, the leader of this alliance will not mind personally disqualify your cultivation as a warning to others."
With these words, he turned and left, the iron door clanged shut, and the sound of the chains faded away. The lights in the hall dimmed instantly, leaving only the faint blue light of the shadow stone, like a pair of cold eyes staring at Chu Xuan.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and the primordial energy flowed quietly through the meridians - the spirit lock could suppress the spirit energy, but not the chaos. As long as he is given time, it won't be difficult to break the chains. But he cannot escape. If he does, the Qingyun Sect will be confirmed as "protecting the evil path" and will be doomed.
"We have to find a way to escape and preserve the sect..." Chu Xuan murmured, his eyes shining greyish-white like a Wolf in the night.
...
At midnight, the dew is deeper and heavier.
Behind the cliff of the Precept Peak, a white shadow quietly descends, like a crane in the snow under the moonlight. Ling Qingxue made a gesture on her fingertips, and the invisibility talisman burned into a faint mist, concealing her figure and breath.
She strode along the cliff, avoiding the patrolling disciples, all the way to the side hall window. Inside the window, Chu Xuan was locked in a chair, her eyes lowered as if asleep, and the faint shadows cast by the tousled hair on her forehead made her look like she was dozing off.
Ling Qingxue felt a slight pang in her heart, and with a touch of her finger, the window lattice opened silently. She rolled in and landed as lightly as a feather. Chu Xuan opened his eyes, a flash of grey in his eyes. Seeing the person, he raised the corners of his mouth: "Sister Xue, visiting the prison?"
"Don't be poor." Ling Qingxue quickly stepped forward and handed over a storage ring. "Invisibility Talisman, lock-breaking Talisman, Demonic map, and three bottles of Reincarnation pills - enough for you to hold up to the border of the demonic realm."
Chu Xuan raised an eyebrow: "Prison break? You're crazy, over at the Presbyterian Church --
The elders will be too preoccupied with their own affairs. Ling Qingxue said in a low voice, "Uncle Feng has secretly contacted the young disciples. In three days' review, we will force the sect master to protect you. But Lei Xiaotian is ruthless. I'm afraid he will strike ahead of time. You go first. I'll go to the Demon realm to pick you up after I defuse the crisis."
Chu Xuan was silent for a moment, then suddenly reached out and grasped her cold fingertip: "I can go, but you have to promise me - don't fight hard, don't get hurt, and don't risk your sect for me."
Ling Qingxue's eyelashes quivered and she made a soft "mm-hmm" sound. Then she interlocked her fingers with his back hand, and a wisp of ice-blue sword intent rushed into Chu Xuan's meridian through the place where they clasped and opened several locked points for him.
"The Invisibility talisman only lasts for a stick of incense. Hurry up." She withdrew her hand to the window. In the moonlight, her snow-colored figure seemed even thinner, but as stubborn as ever.
Chu Xuan rose, moved his shoulders, and grinned at her: "Sister Xue, wait for me to come back - then it will be my turn to protect you."
As the words fell, the invisibility talisman burned, and his figure gradually became transparent, leaving only a low voice: "Also protect Qingyun."
Outside the window, the night wind blew on her face. Ling Qingxue looked at the empty seat, with the warmth still lingering on her fingertips. She spoke softly, as if promising someone who had gone away:
"I'll wait for you."
The moonlight was cold, and on the peak of the precepts, there was a faint, quivering sound of the sword, like the wings of a butterfly in the snow, flapping its wings to fly.