Under Wan Quan's fury, a terrifying wave of energy swept across the entire hall, causing all low-cultivation disciples to retreat in fear, not wanting to become collateral damage.
Changyue Real Man deeply looked at Yang Zhen and stood in front of him as he spoke to Wan Quan, "Shifu Wan, matters should rely on evidence. Based on your disciples' one-sided words, expecting our Shangyuan Sect to respond to you is a bit too domineering."
Bang!
The Changyue Real Man's body similarly erupted with a torrent of True Essence, confronting Wan Quan.
The horrifying waves of energy that both erupted were like stormy tornadoes, clearly distinguishable, leaving people horrified.
Yang Zhen couldn't see through the cultivation of the two, only feeling that under such power fluctuations, he seemed to have no power to fight back.
This feeling was a bit uncomfortable; indeed, he needed to hurry and practice.
Two massive waves of energy surged and plummeted within the hall, contending against each other while not yielding to one another. The rest of the crowd watched in astonishment, their hearts filled with terror.
Lu Chenghui raised his hand, a terrifying energy wave like a dragon separated the two's momentum. He smiled like an old fox, Yang Zhen secretly practicing other Cultivation Methods and Martial Skills was a major taboo in the sect. However, learning someone's Martial Skill to their face was not a taboo but a huge merit.
"Shifu Wan, don't be too hasty. This matter is too strange. Even if you and I watch others countless times, we still can't learn their Cultivation Methods and Martial Skills. Let's hear what Yang Zhen has to say?"
With the precedence of the Dayan Wind and Thunder Sword, Lu Chenghui indeed held high expectations for Yang Zhen. To him, this incident was indeed too strange. However, seeing how Wan Quan and Duan Langcai were enraged made him feel a little relieved. If he wasn't keeping a straight face, Lu Chenghui might have burst out laughing.
Even so, his face twitched slightly.
Wan Quan also knew that he wasn't going to get anywhere by himself here, so he retracted his aura and coldly glanced at Yang Zhen, saying, "Then let him explain himself. If he really stole our sect's Ghost Shadow Sword, I'm sure Lu Chenghui knows what to do."
Lu Chenghui snorted faintly, and with a peculiar look on his face, asked Yang Zhen, "Yang Zhen, go ahead, what happened? Don't worry, if you're innocent, no one can harm you in the Shangyuan Sect!"
As the sect leader of the Shangyuan Sect, Lu Chenghui did indeed possess a certain aura. His words were firm and forceful, which made Wan Quan's face turn ashen, but he couldn't vent his anger.
Yang Zhen was waiting for these words, now that he had the entire Shangyuan Sect at his back, he was no longer afraid of Wan Quan's anger.
If Lu Chenghui had acted without looking into the matter, Yang Zhen would have had no choice but to fight his way out. Though he might get severely injured or even die, he would absolutely not tolerate any humiliation.
Even if he died, Yang Zhen was confident that he could bring a few old guys with him. The power of True Essence self-explosion was not a joke.
Now that Lu Chenghui was willing to risk offending the Sword Servant Sect to protect him, Yang Zhen felt a sense of belonging in the Shangyuan Sect for the first time.
With everyone watching him, Yang Zhen, with an innocent face, said, "I unintentionally entered a cave a few days ago and found Spirit Marrow Cleansing there. I planned to harvest it and return, but who would have expected Senior Brother Duan to barge in and without proof, accused me of stealing..."
"Nonsense!" Wan Quan shouted, "Without reason, would Langcai call you 'boss'?"
Yang Zhen, with an innocent face, mumbled, "Senior Brother Duan is eccentric, everyone knows about his character, who could predict his actions?"
"Utter nonsense!" Wan Quan sneered, "Let me ask you, how did you gain control over the Ghost Shadow Sword?"
Yang Zhen blankly said, "What Ghost Shadow Sword?"
Seeing this, Duan Langcai pointed at Yang Zhen and said, "Yang Zhen, do you dare to act but not admit it? You impersonated the ancestors of my Sword Servant Sect, deceived me and stole the Ghost Shadow Sword. My injuries are caused by the Ghost Shadow Sword. No matter how you argue, this is an irrefutable fact."
Having said that, Duan Langcai turned to Wan Quan and said, "Master, Yang Zhen definitely knows the Ghost Shadow Sword. Everything I said is true. If I am lying, I am willing to suffer the pain of a thousand deaths and my life and soul will be obliterated."
As his words ended, there was suddenly a rumbling sound of thunder in the air, and a terrifying heavenly aura spread out.
Yang Zhen jumped, swallowing back the poisonous oath he was about to make. Lightning really struck. From then on, he knew he could not carelessly make such oaths.
Seeing that Duan Langcai could even make such a vicious oath, everyone's faces immediately turned sour, all of them turning to look at Yang Zhen.
"Yang Zhen, have you learned the Ghost Shadow Sword?" asked Lu Chenghui, frowning.
Yang Zhen laughed coldly, saying, "Master, the Ghost Shadow Sword of the Sword Servant Sect is nothing but a piece of garbage martial skill on the ground level. I, the disciple, don't even consider it worthwhile."
Upon hearing these words, everyone drew a sharp breath. If a ground-level martial skill did not catch his interest, then what kind of martial skill would?
Duan Langcai chuckled coldly, looking nervously at the sky overhead. Seeing that no thunderbolt had struck, he sneered at Yang Zhen and asked, "Would you dare make a poisonous oath?"
Yang Zhen replied with a laid back smile, "Why wouldn't I dare? If I've cultivated the ground-level Ghost Shadow Sword of Sword Servant Sect, let me bear the pain of a heavenly punishment thunder tribulation, with my spirit soul utterly destroyed and unable to recover for all eternity!"
Heavenly punishment thunder tribulation! Spirit soul utterly destroyed!
The dreadful consequences that all practitioners of Nether State mainland feared tumbled out of his mouth, each word sounded like thunder, which horrified everyone and drew a collective gasp.
"You..." Duan Langcai pointed at Yang Zhen, his eyes fixed on the sky. He seemed perplexed as to why the heavenly punishment thunder tribulation did not strike this bastard dead.
After a long wait, when the heavenly punishment thunder tribulation did not show up, Duan Langcai plopped onto his knees before Wan Quan, wailing, "Master, the injuries on my body were undoubtedly left by the Ghost Shadow Sword, you need to stand up for me, please, Master, force this insidious and cunning Yang Zhen to reveal his Ghost Shadow Sword."
Seeing Wan Quan's darkening face, Lu Chenghui knew that they couldn't figure out this matter if it continued in such an unruly exasperation. He simply asked Yang Zhen, "Yang Zhen, let me ask you, did you cultivate any martial skill similar to the Ghost Shadow Sword?"
Wan Quan snorted coldly, looking at Lu Chenghui and retorted, "How naive can Lu Sect Master's question be! If Yang Zhen has cultivated the Ghost Shadow Sword, would he dare admit it?"
Yang Zhen displayed a look of grievance, giving an apologetic expression. Pretentiously, he said to Lu Chenghui, "Master, I actually cultivated a martial skill that is nearly similar to the Ghost Shadow Sword!"
Dare not admit?
Not only did I dare to admit, but I could even goof you all!
Spit!
All the people sprayed in astonishment, leaving a pool of saliva on the ground as they joyously turned their gaze towards Wan Quan.
This was a slap in the face, a stark and loud slap that struck Wan Quan's cheek.
The expression on Wan Quan's face was a real spectacle, the rage evident in the changing colors of his face.
Duan Langcai, too excited to notice Wan Quan's expression, pointed at Yang Zhen and said, "He admitted it! Master, he admitted! Please, kill him!"
"Shut up!" Wan Quan trembled in anger; he sternly glared at Duan Langcai, his mind throbbing with frustration.
Even though Wan Quan was infuriated, he knew it wasn't the time to reprimand Duan Langcai. He stared intently at Yang Zhen and asked, "Where did you learn this martial skill?"
All eyes in the Great Hall were on Yang Zhen as an eerie silence hung in the air.
Everyone present knew that how the incident would progress depended on Yang Zhen's answer.
Only Liu Ruoning watched Yang Zhen with a strange look on her face, desperately holding back her laughter.
Yang Zhen took a deep breath. His face reflected a pensive mood. In a low, slow voice, he began, "It was a stormy night, and I was wandering around the mountain behind..."