The slogans echoed within the Xiaoyao Peak: "Xiaoyao Peak betrays the sect and colludes with the Demon Cult. Their crimes are unpardonable!"
Upon hearing someone discussing Xiaoyao Peak, Ye Kong furrowed his brows slightly.
"What has Xiaoyao Peak done? How could we be colluding with the Demon Cult? When the Demon Cult invaded, it was I who defeated them."
Lin Yaotiao and Xiao Bai, who were cultivating, also heard the voices and awoke from their meditation.
"Who dares to tarnish the reputation of Xiaoyao Peak?" Lin Yaotiao's brows tightened as she emerged from the pond.
"Could it be that I've been discovered?" Xiao Bai's first thought was that they were referring to him.
After all, what they said was indeed about him.
As the Demon Emperor, Xiao Bai was the leader of the Demon Cult.
"No, it's not about me. I'm just a child now, and I haven't exposed myself."
"Let's go see."
Riding on Erha, Xiao Bai rushed to the Xiaoyao Hall.
Luo Yangtian heard the slogans at the foot of Xiaoyao Peak and his face darkened.
"Second Elder!"
He had previously instructed the Second Elder to investigate, but now the rumors had already spread.
"Don't panic, nephew. I'm here!" Luo Yangtian spoke up.
"I'm not panicked, okay? I just don't understand who's spreading rumors about Xiaoyao Peak..." Ye Kong murmured to himself.
"Younger brother Ye Kong, please wait a moment. I, your senior uncle, will investigate this for you and give you an explanation," Luo Yangtian continued.
Before leaving, he also handed some resources to Ye Kong.
"Here are some cultivation resources for you."
After saying that, he descended the mountain.
Ye Kong watched Luo Yangtian leave and shook his head, putting down his fishing rod and descending the mountain as well.
After all, it involved his innocence, so he had to clarify it.
At the foot of the mountain,
Disciples from the Tianjian Peak and the Yushou Peak were leading a crowd in chanting slogans.
"Everyone, let's make a concerted effort today to expel the leader of Xiaoyao Peak from Xinghe Sect. From now on, Xiaoyao Peak will be our backyard!" said a Tianjian Peak disciple.
Once Xiaoyao Peak is disbanded, I will complete the mission assigned by the Dark Guard... the Tianjian Peak disciple thought to himself.
"Right! Xiaoyao Peak colludes with the Demon Cult and must be severely punished!" a toady agreed.
"Who's causing trouble?" A voice filled with authority came from the mountain, causing many to shiver in fear.
"Everyone, don't panic. Xiaoyao Peak is just a paper tiger!" said the Tianjian Peak disciple.
A white figure appeared, standing on the tip of a tree with one hand behind his back.
"Oh, so am I a paper tiger now, Chief?" Luo Yangtian asked softly.
"Don't panic, everyone. Kneel and bow to the Chief with me!"
After saying that, the Tianjian Peak disciple dropped his banner and knelt on one knee: "Greetings to the Chief!"
The other disciples immediately realized that only the Chief could exert such authority and knelt on one knee in unison.
"Greetings to the Chief!" Everyone knelt and greeted.
Standing on the tree tip, Luo Yangtian said slowly, "Tell me, who provoked this?"
"Chief, it's the truth!" a Tianjian Peak disciple said from below.
"If it's the truth, then bring evidence. Without evidence, everyone will be severely punished!" Luo Yangtian declared sternly.
The Tianjian Peak disciples immediately lost their courage, but after gritting their teeth, they presented their evidence.
"Chief, the Demon Cult entered through Xiaoyao Peak. That's a fact!"
"Fact?" Luo Yangtian said in a deep voice.
"When the Demon Cult invaded, someone secretly sabotaged Xiaoyao Peak's Lingmai. Only the high-ranking members of Xinghe Sect know about Xiaoyao Peak's Lingmai. He, Ye Kong, doesn't know anything about it," Luo Yangtian explained.
Ye Kong: No, I do know.
Ye Kong knew about Xiaoyao Peak's Lingmai.
After all, he had been at Xiaoyao Peak for ten years and was familiar with every inch of the land.
Lingmai was such an important thing. How could he not know about it?
However, since Luo Yangtian said he didn't know, Ye Kong pretended he didn't.
"But the incident with Xiaoyao Peak's Lingmai is evidence, isn't it?" the Tianjian Peak disciple continued.
Luo Yangtian didn't respond. They still hadn't figured out which section of the Lingmai was affected.
Upon hearing this, Ye Kong flipped his hand and took out the Xiaoyao Fan.
With a wave of his hand, the front of the Xiaoyao Fan reflected the location of the Lingmai, which was intertwined like tree roots.
There was a black spot on one of them.
"Chief, I know where the problem lies," Ye Kong said.
Upon hearing this, Luo Yangtian inquired, "Where?"
"It's at the midsection of Xiaoyao Peak. Follow me."
Leading the way, Ye Kong walked to the location of the affected Lingmai.
Although Luo Yangtian didn't understand how Ye Kong found it, as long as they could find it, there was a way to remedy it.
The location was extremely concealed. Only by digging could they discover the Lingmai underneath.
"Where is the Second Elder?" Luo Yangtian called out.
The Second Elder appeared immediately from behind.
"I'm here!"
After the Second Elder appeared, he began digging the ground.
A Lingmai appeared, emitting faint spiritual energy. There was a black spike at the bottom, piercing through the Lingmai.
"See, the leader of Xiaoyao Peak knows where the incident occurred. He must have betrayed us and joined the Demon Cult!" the Tianjian Peak disciple continued to tarnish Ye Kong's reputation.
The Second Elder looked at the location and his face changed.
Luo Yangtian looked at Ye Kong, seeking an explanation.
If Ye Kong was indeed the culprit, even Luo Yangtian couldn't protect him.
Ye Kong: ...
At a crucial moment, the First Elder arrived.
"Chief, I have something to say," the First Elder said.
"Speak," Luo Yangtian replied.
"Chief, this location was previously dug by the leader of the Yushou Peak and his disciples. I rushed to stop them at that time," the First Elder explained.
Upon hearing this, the crowd stirred.
"So this place was dug by the Yushou Peak!"
"Does this mean the Yushou Peak let the Demon Cult in?"
"Is the Yushou Peak a traitor? No way, no way!"
The Yushou Peak disciples also panicked. They had indeed dug there, and their leader had even attacked.
Now, the truth was revealed.
"Good. Have Qin Wuyi come to Xinghe Hall to see me later," Luo Yangtian said slowly.
The matter had been investigated, and now it was time to deal with the others.
"What punishment do those who incite trouble, tarnish the reputation of their teachers, and destroy someone's good name deserve?" Luo Yangtian asked coldly.
"For inciting trouble, they should reflect on their actions at Siguai Cliff for three months; for tarnishing the reputation of their teachers and destroying someone's good name, the punishment ranges from demoting their status as disciples to expulsion from the sect, depending on the severity and pending future redemption through merits!"
"With inciting trouble added, it's just enough," Luo Yangtian said slowly.
"Come on, who was the instigator? Step forward yourself."
Among the bystanders, some silently stepped back, leaving only seven or eight Tianjian Peak disciples and two or three Yushou Peak disciples, along with some toadies.
"Chief, we don't know anything. Besides, the Demon Cult disciples did enter through Xiaoyao Peak. That's undeniable," a Tianjian Peak disciple argued angrily.
"It was only because someone sabotaged Xiaoyao Peak's Lingmai that the Demon Cult had the opportunity to infiltrate. The blame does not lie with Xiaoyao Peak," Luo Yangtian said coldly.
"The leader of Xiaoyao Peak has found the damaged Lingmai and deserves a reward."
The Lingmai was like tree roots, and it was difficult to find which section was affected.
If they dug randomly, they might easily sever it.
Therefore, the Elders had been investigating for so long without success.
Now, it had been discovered by Ye Kong.
Ye Kong held the Xiaoyao Fan and fanned himself.
This Xiaoyao Fan has indeed rendered great service.
"Second Elder, take them back and perform a soul search to find out who is behind this!"
"Just a mere Foundation Establishment disciple wouldn't dare say such things!"
"I suspect they are spies planted by the Demon Cult within our Xinghe Sect!" Luo Yangtian said in a deep voice.
"Yes!" The Second Elder acknowledged and took them all away.
"Peak Master, save me!" The disciples of Tianjian Peak cried out loudly.
A flash of cold light appeared in the air, and a tall figure slowly emerged.