Three Purples Confront Each Other, Each Playing Their Own Hand

After Elder Xuyunzi and the others were stunned for a moment, they immediately reacted. Chuyunzi was targeting Li Jing because of a past incident from his early years.

Chuyunzi came from a poor family that had been farmers for generations. When he was fifteen, a rare drought caused a complete crop failure. The corrupt officials in the area not only embezzled relief funds but also demanded that the starving populace pay taxes equivalent to previous years. This led to widespread grumbling, widespread suffering, and even cannibalism.

Chuyunzi's parents and relatives starved to death in that man-made disaster. He, on the brink of death from starvation, led a raid on the county granary. After failing and being captured, he was sentenced to death. If his master hadn't happened to pass by and save him, Chuyunzi would have been beheaded and his life extinguished long ago.

From then on, Chuyunzi hated all the bureaucrats of the Li imperial dynasty, let alone the Third Prince Li Jing, who was from the royal family. Li Jing's attire was too conspicuous, making him instantly recognizable.

When Chuyunzi had achieved some success in his studies, he knelt before his master for three days and three nights, begging to be allowed to go down the mountain for revenge. Finally, he received the sect's approval, issued an immortal decree, and demanded that the imperial dynasty hand over all the officials involved in the incident to be executed.

If not for the sect's rules, Chuyunzi would have already rushed to the palace with his talisman sword and slaughtered the entire Li clan.

Despite his displeasure, Li Jing still bowed to Chuyunzi and said, "Elder, may I ask where this disciple spoke incorrectly?"

Chuyunzi snorted coldly and reprimanded, "No matter how incompetent Yuan Shanhu is, he is still at the Immortal Seedling Realm Third Leaf stage. How could Qin Haoxuan, who has only been cultivating for two days, defeat him? I think this matter is not that simple! Qin Haoxuan might be a spy from another immortal sect, or perhaps a transformed demon."

When Chuyunzi presented this argument, even the other elders found it unreliable. Qin Haoxuan hailed from Xiaoyu Mountain, and his background was verifiable. Even if Chuyunzi was targeting Li Jing, the spy theory was too far-fetched. As for being a transformed demon, what kind of incompetent demon would transform into a weak disciple?

Everyone thought Chuyunzi was talking nonsense, but Zhang Kuang agreed wholeheartedly. He stepped forward to testify, "Qin Haoxuan is from my hometown, and I know him very well. Before he joined the Taichu Sect, he often went up the mountain to gather herbs and would frequently bring back many rare medicinal herbs. Many old herb gatherers couldn't match him. Do you think the son of an ordinary hunter could have this ability? At least I couldn't."

"That's because you're not as good as me," Qin Haoxuan, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up, a hint of mockery in his smile. "Not only can I collect herbs that you can't, but I can also beat you up until you're worse than a dog whenever I feel like it."

Li Jing clapped and laughed incessantly, "Junior Brother Zhang, did you hear what Junior Brother Qin said? I think he's absolutely right. Your words only prove Junior Brother Qin's capabilities. Just because you can't do something, does that mean no one else can?"

"Junior Brother Li! You..." Zhang Kuang's face flushed, and he wanted to speak, but for a moment, he didn't know what to say.

At this moment, Chuyunzi spoke again to rescue Zhang Kuang, his words pointedly aimed at Li Jing, "Li Jing! Qin Haoxuan! This is the Enforcement Hall! How dare you speak so casually? Zhang Kuang was merely using an example to prove Qin Haoxuan's abnormality. What is your intention in distorting the meaning?"

As he spoke, his eyes blazed with fury, as if he wished he could tear Li Jing to pieces and grind his bones to dust.

If any other disciple were so unfairly treated by an enforcement elder, they would have been terrified into silence. However, Li Jing remained unfazed, cupped his hands, and said, "Senior Brother, I am merely discussing the matter at hand. Why must Junior Brother be so sensitive?"

They addressed each other as junior brother while calling themselves senior brother, and the conversation grew increasingly tense. To prevent further escalation, Xuyunzi quickly interrupted, "Let us elders deliberate for a moment and then pass judgment." With a wave of his hand, a light yellow barrier that blocked sound enveloped the four of them. They could be seen moving their lips, but nothing they said could be heard.

"Senior Brother Xuyun, what is there to deliberate? Shouldn't we just pass judgment as we previously agreed?" Chuyunzi said with clear displeasure.

Xuyunzi ignored Chuyunzi, who was blinded by hatred, and said to the other two elders, "Now that Qin Haoxuan has two Purple Seed disciples standing by him, we should re-evaluate the situation."

"What is there to re-evaluate! I wasn't suspicious before, but now that Li Jing from the Li imperial dynasty is defending him, I can see that Qin Haoxuan is not a good person! Otherwise, why would he come to his aid? I think Qin Haoxuan is either a spy from another immortal sect or a transformed demon!"

Chuyunzi openly expressed his hatred for the Li imperial dynasty and Li Jing, and his animosity extended to Qin Haoxuan as well.

Xuyunzi and the others found it difficult to suppress their smiles and persuaded, "Li Jing is also a Supreme Purple Seed. His future achievements will surely surpass ours. His intervention to help Qin Haoxuan this time is not as simple as it seems; his true intention is to win over Xu Yu, who is beside Qin Haoxuan. If he gains Xu Yu's support through this, his chances of becoming Sect Master in the future are very high! If we pass the original judgment, we will offend two Purple Seed disciples at once. This... is perhaps not appropriate?"

"We'll deal with future matters in the future! If you don't want to be the bad guy, then let me pass the judgment. If Li Jing truly becomes the Sect Master, I will take full responsibility for today's events and will not implicate the three of you. I believe Zhang Kuang's future achievements will definitely surpass theirs."

Xuyunzi and the others still felt it was inappropriate. Even if they weren't the ones passing the judgment, the outcome was decided by the unanimous agreement of the four elders! Offending two Purple Seed disciples simultaneously would not bode well for them in the future.

"How about this!" Xuyunzi pondered for a long time. "Even excluding Li Jing, Qin Haoxuan still has Xu Yu on his side! We must give her some face. Furthermore, according to our understanding, this incident was initiated by Yuan Shanhu and the other two, and it's possible Zhang Kuang instigated it from behind. Therefore, I have decided to send Yuan Shanhu and the other two to Ice Cliff for fifteen days of reflection! Qin Haoxuan will be sent to the Lava Cellar for seven days of reflection! As for whether Qin Haoxuan is a spy from another immortal sect or a demon, further investigation is required. Once there is evidence that Qin Haoxuan is not benevolent, regardless of who tries to shield him, he will be dealt with according to sect rules and doctrines. Do the three junior brothers have any objections?"

Xuyunzi's decision was final, logical, and the punishment was appropriate. The other two elders nodded in agreement. Any further objection from Chuyunzi would be futile, so he could only accept the reality.

After the deliberation, the light barrier dispersed. Xuyunzi cleared his throat, scanned the crowd, and announced, "Yuan Shanhu, Zhang San, and Li Si maliciously harassed Qin Haoxuan, harming fellow disciple camaraderie. They are to be banished to Ice Cliff for fifteen days of reflection. They are to reflect seriously, and any future transgressions will be severely punished! Qin Haoxuan, after Yuan Shanhu and the other two ceased their aggression, still severely injured them. This is considered private fighting, which violates sect rules. He is to be sent to the Lava Cellar for seven days of reflection as a disciplinary measure! The Taichu Sect upholds both rewards and punishments impartially; no one is an exception. We hope all disciples will take this as a warning!"

After Xuyunzi finished his pronouncement, the enforcement disciples standing in two rows on either side of the hall suddenly roared three times at the top of their lungs: "Mighty! Mighty! Mighty!"

The twenty roars were perfectly synchronized, deafening, and the sound waves seemed to threaten to blow off the roof of the Enforcement Hall, causing dust to rain down from the beams.

Li Jing didn't care about the outcome of the judgment. He had intervened simply to show goodwill to Xu Yu and try to win her over. In fact, the heavier Qin Haoxuan's sentence, the happier he would be.

Zhang Kuang was very unhappy with the result. He had intended to follow Chuyunzi's lead and make a fuss about the spy and demon theories, but the judgment made no mention of it. Naturally, he was dissatisfied, as he had wished for Qin Haoxuan's utter ruin. However, since the elders had made their decision, he could only endure it, as he was outnumbered and outpowered.

Li Jing, having just joined the sect two days ago, was already trying to win people over. It seemed that in the future, when dealing with Qin Haoxuan, he would have to try to avoid Xu Yu as much as possible. If he truly pushed her to Li Jing's side, his path to becoming Sect Master would become even more arduous.

Zhang Kuang endured it, but Xu Yu was still unhappy. Li Jing had been the victim throughout. Thinking that Qin Haoxuan would be confined in the Lava Cellar for seven days, her eyes instantly reddened.

The Lava Cellar, just hearing the name sounded terrifying.

"The elders' judgment is unfair! I'm going to find the Sect Master to seek justice for you!" Xu Yu said, tears welling up in her eyes, her voice filled with indignation and resolve.

Qin Haoxuan was touched, but he shook his head slightly. "Forget it. Out of sight, out of mind. It's good to stay away from them. I can focus on my cultivation without anyone tripping me up."

Xu Yu thought Qin Haoxuan was comforting her, but she didn't know that Qin Haoxuan was speaking from the heart. During the hearing in the Enforcement Hall, he had been tormented by the restless spiritual energy within him, yet he couldn't show it. He just wished for a quiet environment to meditate and cultivate, unlike in the Spirit Field Valley where so many people tried to hinder him.

The kind-hearted Xu Yu didn't know this. Her phoenix-like eyes swept over Zhang Kuang, Yuan Shanhu, and the others, and she said coldly, "I will go and request an audience with the Sect Master now! When my cultivation reaches great heights, I will surely seek justice for you!"

As she spoke, her gaze also swept over the four enforcement elders. Hearing Xu Yu's oath and feeling the hatred in her eyes, the four elders couldn't help but feel uneasy. As the saying goes, it's better to be robbed than to be targeted by someone who holds a grudge, especially when that someone is a Purple Seed disciple.

If it were any other disciple, these elders might have found a way to set a trap for them to make a mistake and have them expelled from the mountain.

A Purple Seed? The elders didn't dare to set a trap... The Sect Master wasn't foolish. If he found out the truth, he might actually kill the entire family. They would definitely need to communicate and explain things properly from now on.

The elders thought about how, at their age, they still had to explain themselves to a newcomer who had just joined the sect. They felt extremely bitter but helpless. Who could they blame when she was a Purple Seed?

Xuyunzi had already planned to find Xu Yu immediately after this, to assure her that Qin Haoxuan would not be bullied in prison and that he would even provide her with spiritual medicine to help her cultivate while imprisoned, hoping to resolve this conflict.

Yuan Shanhu and the other two were so terrified that their bodies went cold. Lying on the ground, they tried to huddle closer to Zhang Kuang, as if that would make them feel safer.

Just as the enforcement disciples were about to escort the four of them to their confinement locations, Zhang Kuang leaned close to Qin Haoxuan and sneered, "You think being confined will let you escape me? We'll see."

Qin Haoxuan sighed inwardly. His bad temper had caused trouble for him back in his village, and now it was time to pay the price. But if he were to bow down to Zhang Kuang? That was absolutely impossible!

After Qin Haoxuan and the others were taken away, Xu Yu regained her usual calm demeanor. She walked up to Li Jing and said, "Thank you, Senior Brother Li, for speaking up for Senior Brother Qin. I will remember this."

Li Jing's face immediately lit up with joy. A young girl is indeed a young girl. A little trick and she's already in my hands. He was about to say some polite words to solidify his good impression when Xu Yu ignored him and left directly.

The Enforcement Hall returned to its usual calm, but no one's heart was truly at peace.