"What?!"

Upon hearing Lin Qingchou’s words, everyone was stunned, and Chun Ningzhi shouted:

"You’re lying! How could my master, who is so kind, do such a beastly thing to you?!"

Seeing Chun Ningzhi displaying no concern for her, but rather anger and hatred, Lin Qingchou’s hollow eyes became lifeless, and she suddenly laughed sharply, the sound piercing like a ghost’s wail.

"Lin Qingchou, you dare to slander your elders and laugh about it? Speak the truth now!"

Chun Ningzhi was furious, but was stopped by Suxin, who helped Lin Qingchou up gently and said:

"Junior Sister Lin, what exactly happened? Please explain carefully."

Lin Qingchou gave a bitter laugh, "I admired Senior Brother Chun and sought Junior Martial Uncle Zheng’s help for matchmaking. Junior Martial Uncle Zheng said Senior Brother Chun was waiting for me outside the city and brought me here."

"Who knew, Junior Martial Uncle Zheng suddenly forced himself on me, and I... I couldn’t escape from him and was..."

"Then the Red Flame Fox appeared, Junior Martial Uncle Zheng panicked and fought it, but was burned to death by Li Fire; the Red Flame Fox was also injured and fled far away."

Chun Ningzhi shouted in anger, "You’re spewing lies! My master is your elder, how could he do such a thing? I will find my master and confront you!"

"Immortal Master Chun, I fear... you won’t be able to find him."

At this moment, Xu Jiangxing held two Immortal Swords overflowing with spiritual light, along with a few tattered pieces of clothing and a pair of shoes. Chun Ningzhi hurried forward to take them:

"These are my master’s belongings, he... he..."

Xu Jiangxing sighed, "Immortal Master Chun, our Xu Family has a talent superpower that can trace the life or death of the owner through their clothing and personal items. I have already checked, Elder Zheng has passed away."

Jian Yue pointed to the flattened ground beneath the trees, "I can sense Junior Martial Uncle Zheng’s aura before he died; he was killed there." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

The two held such high status, their words confirmed beyond doubt that Zheng Shengmo was truly dead.

In fact, upon seeing his master’s magical artifacts and torn clothes, Chun Ningzhi already had a premonition, but he couldn’t believe his master would commit such beastly acts.

"Even if Master is dead, I don’t believe he would do such a thing to Junior Sister Lin!"

Xu Jiangxing said, "How about I invite the city’s doctors to heal Immortal Master Lin? They are all women and can verify whether... what Immortal Master Lin said is true."

"No need to trouble yourselves," Suxin glanced at Chun Ningzhi and said blandly:

"I am also a medical cultivator. Peak Master Ye, and all junior sisters, please bear witness."

Jian Yue nodded, and the other female disciples all responded with a bow.

Suxin flew away with Lin Qingchou in her arms, followed by Jian Yue and a group of female disciples. Suxin threw out an array talisman and created an Isolation Array.

Shi Ying was confused, "What’s this for?"

A seasoned male disciple beside him explained in a low voice, "Senior Sister Suxin and Elder Ye are examining Senior Sister Lin to see if she has been defiled."

Someone else said, "With the cultivation of Senior Sister and Senior Sister Suxin, they should be able to detect whether Junior Martial Uncle Zheng’s..."

He glanced at Chun Ningzhi not far away, who had an iron face, and whispered:

"Essence."

Qin Gengyun looked towards the Isolation Array, silent.

Moments later, the Isolation Array disappeared, and the female disciples emerged, each with a pale face and complex expressions.

Chun Ningzhi hastened forward and asked a female disciple from Forgetful Peak, "Junior Sister Li, what is it?"

That Junior Sister Li seemed to be struck, her expression dazed. Only when she heard the question did she return to herself, looking at Chun Ningzhi with a hoarse voice:

"Senior Brother Chun, what Junior Sister Lin said... is true."

Chun Ningzhi was stunned, and others looked at each other in disbelief.

"Isn’t this impossible?"

"Junior Martial Uncle Zheng actually did such a thing to the younger female disciples?!"

"How could this be?"

"Senior Sister, Senior Sister Suxin, is this true?"

Someone couldn’t help but ask Jian Yue and Suxin, who exchanged glances and nodded silently.

"My heavens!"

Instantly, the disciples of Zhenyang Sect turned pale, some even shed tears.

As the leader of the Righteous Path, Zhenyang Sect’s Elder Zheng Shengmo was admired by thousands, serving as a model for countless cultivators.

Yet this role model committed the vile act of assaulting a younger fellow disciple from the same sect!

Such a matter is even more severe than Zheng Shengmo dying at the hands of a demonic beast!

If this spreads, Zhenyang Sect’s five-hundred-year reputation would not only be destroyed overnight, but at least it would be difficult to maintain its position as the leader of the Righteous Path.

Many disciples were heartbroken, some even felt that Junior Martial Uncle Zheng would have rather been killed by the demonic beast directly, at least that would have been more glorious!

To assault a junior followed by being killed by a demonic beast, it is utterly disgraceful!

Absolutely disgusting!

"There’s... there’s one more thing."

At this moment, Lin Qingchou stepped out from behind Suxin, her pale face filled with fear and disdain.

"When Junior Martial Uncle Zheng did that to me... he arrogantly said that he hadn’t encountered any Seventh Grade demonic beast, it was all an excuse because he didn’t want to get hurt and wanted to gain the greatest reputation at the smallest cost."

Her words further silenced the crowd, as suspicions about Zheng Shengmo had already arisen when the Red Flame Fox appeared.

After all, the Red Flame Fox is a Seventh Grade demonic beast, not like the readily available Ghost Wolf; it wouldn’t randomly appear repeatedly.

The most likely scenario was that Zheng Shengmo lied.

However, Lin Qingchou’s next words were even more shocking.

"When the Red Flame Fox appeared, Junior Martial Uncle Zheng tried to flee, but the Red Flame Fox pursued him relentlessly, Junior Martial Uncle Zheng couldn’t fight it, and before being burned to death, he seemed to have a moment of conscience, revealing a secret to me."

"He said a few days ago when he reached Qilian Mountain, he encountered Hunting Cloud, Feiyu, and Tiger Boar, three Sixth Grade demonic beasts. Just then, a team of Zhenyang Sect disciples arrived, and Junior Martial Uncle Zheng used them as scapegoats and escaped."

"Those disciples were all killed by the demonic beasts, right here."

Chun Ningzhi widened his eyes in anger and said, "Junior Sister Lin! My master indeed wronged you, but he’s dead, why fabricate such vicious lies to tarnish his reputation?!"

But the team that had been following Wei Wan was stunned, and Shi Ying suddenly said:

"That day we saw many fellow disciples’ corpses here; are they the ones Junior Sister Lin said were killed because of Junior Martial Uncle Zheng?"

Others nodded in agreement, affirming Shi Ying’s words.

"Nonsense! You’re all lying!!"

Chun Ningzhi’s eyes were red, shouting hoarsely.

"Enough!"

Jian Yue spoke coldly, suppressing all voices, her gaze sweeping across the crowd:

"Since the Red Flame Fox is injured, now is the best opportunity to kill it. All disciples, heed the order, search Qilian Mountain and ensure to kill the Red Flame Fox!"

"Yes!"

Senior Sister Ye Xiyue’s authority was comparable to Zheng Shengmo’s, and everyone responded respectfully.

Though their hearts were filled with both excitement and trepidation.

After all, this is a Seventh Grade demonic beast!

Although we are many, can we really kill it?

Instantly, Ye Xiyue and Xu Jiangxing discussed and summoned all Zhenyang Sect disciples still in the city and the elite guard troops from Zhenlian City, forming teams to search Qilian Mountain.