At that moment, a third figure emerged from the cave. Shen Mo strode out of the Qingxuan Cave with large steps.
He took a few deep breaths of the fresh, cool air outside, feeling extremely refreshed.
Upon seeing Shen Mo, Song Junjie became even more terrified and shrank further behind Song Chaofeng.
His appearance caused Liu Yuanfeng and Song Chaofeng's hearts to sink. In the crowd, Xiao Fan and Liu Fei's expressions also changed drastically.
Shen Mo wasn't supposed to leave the Qingxuan Cave. How was he able to come out alive?
Moreover, Liu Yunxuan was severely injured, and Song Junjie looked as if he had seen a ghost, while Shen Mo was perfectly fine and seemed to have even advanced in his cultivation.
What on earth had happened? Xiao Fan felt like his brain had turned to mush.
He believed Liu Yuanfeng and Song Chaofeng were equally puzzled.
With a sullen face, Song Chaofeng immediately berated, "Shen Mo, what did you do to my son?!"
The invisible pressure of a Core Formation stage cultivator pressed down on Shen Mo, intending to instill fear.
Murong Yue snorted coldly, stepped forward, and stood in front of Shen Mo, shielding him from Song Chaofeng's pressure.
"Grand Elder, what kind of tone is that? Are you interrogating my disciple as if he were a criminal?" The beautiful sect leader's voice turned icy cold.
'No matter what, my disciple is definitely not at fault. Even if he is, he's still right! How dare you speak to my disciple so harshly? I'll retort without hesitation.'
Shen Mo is the sect leader's disciple? Since when?
What kind of extraordinary potential does Shen Mo have to make the sect leader, who has never accepted a disciple, take him in personally?
Shen Mo suddenly smiled, "Grand Elder, I can explain, but are you sure you want me to do so in front of everyone?"
"Speak! Why wouldn't I dare to hear it? What's there that can't be said?" Song Chaofeng shouted angrily, "You must give an explanation for scaring my son like this!"
Murong Yue turned to look at Shen Mo, her beautiful eyes flashing with a questioning look.
Shen Mo glanced at her and gave a barely noticeable nod. Seeing this, Murong Yue felt reassured.
Shen Mo then smiled faintly, "Alright, since the Grand Elder insists, I'll speak loudly."
"A few days ago, when I finished my cultivation and was preparing to return to the entrance of Qingxuan Cave, I encountered a trap halfway."
"Grand Elder, can you guess what kind of trap it was? It was crossbows and special arrows designed to pierce spiritual power."
Upon hearing this, Song Chaofeng's expression changed drastically.
Murong Yue also seemed to have thought of something, her eyebrows furrowing.
Liu Yuanfeng's eyes flickered, pondering something.
Shen Mo reached into his storage ring and pulled out two crossbows and several arrows, throwing them on the ground.
"I don't know who set up such a trap on my way back to the cave entrance. I'm guessing it wasn't Brother Liu or Brother Song, right? It must have been some senior disciple who entered the cave fifty years ago."
Shen Mo flashed a brilliant smile, looking at Liu Yuanfeng and Song Chaofeng. Murong Yue gestured, and the crossbows and arrows floated in front of her.
Her eyes flickered with recognition. As the sect leader, she was well aware of the trademarks of the Five Sects of Xuanjing prefecture.
Verdant Vine Sect was known for its poisons and the special venom of the Spirit-Breaking Flower.
These crossbows were also produced by Verdant Vine Sect.
However, the mark of Verdant Vine Sect on the crossbow handles had been erased.
Murong Yue's icy gaze swept over Liu Yuanfeng and Song Chaofeng, "You two, you need to give me an explanation."
It turned out that the beautiful sect leader, who rarely got angry, was extremely terrifying when enraged.
Even though she was holding back her anger, the fire in her eyes made Liu Yuanfeng and Song Chaofeng tremble with fear.
"I know nothing of this," Liu Yuanfeng immediately shook his head. Song Chaofeng also gritted his teeth, "I don't know either."
"Summon all the elders for a meeting!" Murong Yue commanded sharply.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Thunderous bell tolls echoed throughout the Qingxuan Sect. Shen Mo and the others did not participate in the meeting. There was no need for them to.
As soon as he took out the crossbows and arrows, the evidence was enough for Murong Yue to seize the opportunity and pressure Song Chaofeng into compromising and yielding significant benefits.
Unless Song Chaofeng intended to rebel against the sect, he would have to give in. Shen Mo deliberately produced these items in front of everyone to maximize the impact.
"That old guy still has some brains, but unfortunately, his son is an idiot."
Shen Mo sneered.
If he had indeed been left in the Qingxuan Cave, no one would have known about the crossbows and arrows from Verdant Vine Sect.
Fifty years later, even if someone discovered these items, the poison would have long dried up and been impossible to identify.
The poison on them would have long dried and become unrecognizable. Unfortunately, they miscalculated.
Through his life panel, Shen Mo had seen everything clearly.
When Shen Mo, Liu Yunxuan, and Song Junjie walked down from the cave entrance, all the disciples' eyes were on Shen Mo.
Liu Yunxuan and Song Junjie, these two direct disciples, had become insignificant.
Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, Zhao Rou, Zhang Weihu, and other acquaintances quickly approached Shen Mo.
Luo Shengnan greeted him with a punch to the chest.
"You, you're quite something!"
Shen Mo laughed heartily. Luo Shengnan was surprised.
Her strength was significant, enough to make even a disciple at the major achievement stage of Foundation Establishment Realm wince.
Yet, Shen Mo didn't even blink.
Zhao Ting whispered, "Did you get the treasure?"
Shen Mo smiled, "What if I say no?"
"Don't joke around. Look at Song Junjie; he doesn't look like a victor. As for the heavily injured Liu Yunxuan, he couldn't have gotten the treasure either," Zhao Ting said, his eyes deep with thought. "The final winner must be you."
Shen Mo smiled. He hadn't expected Zhao Ting, who appeared rough and burly, to analyze so meticulously.
"Well, it's a sect secret, hard to say, hard to say. Let's just say Song Junjie got the treasure; he deserves it!" Shen Mo laughed heartily.
Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, and Zhao Rou all rolled their eyes.
The distant Song Junjie, who was leaving alone, heard the mocking laughter behind him and felt even more desolate. He quickened his pace, looking like a defeated dog.
Liu Yunxuan left with the help of Xiao Fan and Liu Fei. Before leaving, he gave Shen Mo a deep, lingering look.
...
As night deepened, the heated discussions in the main hall continued. Disciples passing by the hall could see various lights shooting into the sky.
This was the power inadvertently released by the emotional Core Formation stage cultivators.
Throughout the day, the disciples chattered endlessly about the incident. Wu Huairen walked nervously on the path to the inner sect disciples' courtyard.
The inner sect disciples he encountered greeted him respectfully on the surface, but mocked him behind his back after he passed.
The extent of this outer sect elder's despicable behavior was well known.
Any inner sect disciple who wasn't particularly talented would find their rewards secretly deducted by him.
If he could even deduct rewards for newly promoted inner sect disciples, there was nothing he wouldn't do.
Wu Huairen couldn't bother with the inner sect disciples' mocking behind his back.
He was almost walking on instinct. Before long, he arrived at an unremarkable small courtyard.
To his surprise, there was someone at the gate.
Judging by the attire, it was a steward from the Library Pavilion.
"Elder Wu... you're here too?" The Scripture Pavilion steward said in surprise.
Wu Huairen muttered, "Yes... I have some business with Shen Mo..."
"Me too. Why don't you go first..." The steward said awkwardly.
"No, you go first. My business isn't urgent," Wu Huairen showed a rare display of grace.
"No, no, Elder Wu, you should go first. You are, after all, an elder, and respect should be given to seniors."
"No, no, you go first. I never take advantage of my age..."
At that moment, the courtyard door opened.
Shen Mo frowned, staring at the two of them, "What are you doing? Disturbing my cultivation?"
Both of them were instantly embarrassed.