"Chen Yuxuan," Yu Chen snarled through gritted teeth, each word laced with venom. His sharp glare bore into Chen Yuxuan like daggers. "You can tarnish my name all you want, but you will not speak ill of my mother!"
Chen Yuxuan raised an eyebrow, his fan snapping open with a flick of his wrist. "In this dire situation, you're more concerned about defending a dead woman?" he scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. "But the truth remains: her origins lie with the demons. Deny it if you must."
"But that doesn't prove he's a mixed blood!" Wei Yu suddenly interjected, his voice cutting through the tension. He stepped forward, his expression defiant. "Just because his mother was taken to the Demon Realm doesn't mean she had demonic blood! For all we know, she could've been a human enslaved by demons."
Wei Yu tilted his head, his lips curving into a playful smirk as he stared Chen Yuxuan down. "Am I wrong?"
Chen Yuxuan's eyes flickered, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "My, my. You've grown sharper, truly worthy of being Yu Chen's disciple." He let out a soft chuckle before his expression hardened. "Then let us settle this dispute. Bring forth the proof."
Elder Zhou, who had been silent, cleared his throat awkwardly. "There is a way to determine the truth. Guards!" he barked, his voice steady. "Bring the Bowl of Truth!"
The room buzzed with muted whispers as two guards entered, carrying an opulent golden bowl adorned with diamonds and intricate carvings. It glittered under the light, a relic that seemed as ancient as the heavens themselves. Wei Yu's eyes lingered on the object, curiosity flickering in his gaze.
"This bowl," Elder Zhou began solemnly, "was a gift from the Heaven Sect—a tool of irrefutable judgment. It reveals the truth of one's bloodline." He gestured toward the shimmering artifact. "If the diamonds turn red, it indicates the presence of mixed blood. If they remain green, the blood is pure."
All eyes turned to Yu Chen. "Yu Chen," Elder Zhou said firmly, "it's time to end this. Pour your blood into the bowl."
Yu Chen did not hesitated for even a brief moment, his pride and anger warring with his sense of duty. Without a word, he stepped forward. The room fell silent as he bit into his thumb, letting a drop of crimson fall into the golden bowl.
Everyone held their breath as the diamonds shimmered, catching the light. Slowly, the green hue of the stones remained unchanged, casting a faint glow throughout the room. A collective exhale swept through the gathering.
"It's negative," Elder Zhou announced. "Yu Chen is not a mixed blood."
Relief washed over Wei Yu, but before he could relax, Chen Yuxuan let out a derisive laugh. "Well, well. How fortunate for Yu Chen." He turned, his piercing gaze locking onto Wei Yu. "But that leaves us with another suspect, doesn't it?" his eyes glared at Wei Yu.
Wei Yu froze, his blood running cold. "Me?" he managed, his voice shaking slightly despite his effort to appear calm.
Chen Yuxuan's smile was sharp as a blade. "You're always so eager to defend your shizun. Perhaps a little too eager. And tell me, Wei Yu, where exactly does your lineage trace back to? Your abilities have always seemed… peculiar for someone of ordinary bloodlines."
The accusation hung in the air, thick and suffocating. Elder Zhou frowned, his gaze shifting uneasily between the two disciples. "Chen Yuxuan, do you have any proof to support this claim?"
"Proof?" Chen Yuxuan echoed, his voice icy. "He's admitted to having no clear knowledge of his mother's heritage. A convenient mystery, don't you think?" His smirk widened. "Besides has he not reached the final stage of foundation establishment in a mere five years? Quite faster then most of the talents."
"That's because he possess the celestial Mist roots, and he is hardworking, this is only common!" Yu Chen interjected. "Chen Yuxuan. Do not slander my disciple!"
Chen Yuxuan's smirk only widened, "Well, we all know the Bowl of Truth never lies. Let's test him."
Wei Yu's mind raced, his heart pounding against his ribs. He clenched his fists, trying to quell the storm within him. He knew the truth—he was a mixed blood. He had discovered it by accident years ago, a secret he had buried deep. But why was Chen Yuxuan pressing so hard? And what would happen if he exposed himself now?
What Yu Chen do, who believed his every single word? Would he feel betrayed?
Yet he couldn't refuse. Doing so would only confirm the suspicion. With trembling hands, he stepped forward. His shizun's eyes bore into him, filled with a quiet, unspoken worry but a sense of trust.
"I'll prove it," Wei Yu said, his voice steady despite the turmoil within. He bit into his thumb, the sting barely registering as blood welled up. Slowly, he let a single drop fall into the bowl.
The diamonds shimmered, their glow intensifying. The room felt suspended in time as all eyes focused on the artifact. But to Wei Yu's shock—and everyone else's—the green hue remained unchanged.
"Negative," Elder Zhou declared, his voice breaking the tension. "Wei Yu is not a mixed blood."
Wei Yu blinked, unable to comprehend what had just happened. He was certain of his bloodline. Then why had the bowl rejected the truth?
Chen Yuxuan's expression tightened, suspicion flickering in his sharp gaze. "Interesting," he murmured, though his voice held no conviction. He waved his fan dismissively, hiding whatever thoughts raced through his mind. "It seems I was mistaken."
"Wait! What is this strange phenomena!" Elder Zhou exclaimed, his eyes wide in shock. Wei Yu took a look at the diamonds and got stunned, The color of the diamonds, they were continuously changing, from light green to orange and the yellow and so on!
Wei Yu looked at Yu Chen who was equally confused. Chen Yuxuan took advantage of the situation, "Elder Zhou what happened?"
"There must be an error with the artifact."
"How can that be? It's an artifact since ancient times. It has never been wrong!" Chen Yuxuan exclaimed.
While all of them were filled with tension, Mrs. Jiu let out a scream. Everyone's attention diverted towards Chen Jiu who's lips were stained with blood. "Cut your nonsense! My husband is dying for god sake! and all you care about are stupid bloodlines!" She screamed, Chen Yuxuan was fast to react and yelled, "Someone Help! Call the doctor!"