Public Confrontation, Irrefutable Evidence

Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal's face shifted between deathly pale and iron-blue, the hand clutching the fake jade slip trembling violently.

He suddenly smashed the jade slip onto the ground and shrieked with false bravado, "Xuan Chuan! You... you framed me! This was clearly a trap you set!"

"A trap?" Xuan Chuan descended step by step from the abyss entrance, his footsteps exceptionally clear in the silent chasm. The lightning from the Purple Lightning Hammer illuminated his cold profile.

"Uncle-Master, instead of cultivating in your cave at night, you came to Sinking Sword Abyss, broke my ward, and took my jade slip. You were caught red-handed. How is that framing?"

"I... I was merely curious! Yes, curious!"

Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal's eyes darted wildly as he hastily came up with an excuse. "I heard you had stored something important here. As your uncle-master, I came to inspect it out of concern for the sect's affairs. What is wrong with that?"

"Inspect it?" Xuan Chuan sneered, stopping less than a hundred feet away from him.

"Did an inspection require such sneaking about and breaking through my ward? Did it require you to stuff this 'important item' into your robes so eagerly?"

He no longer bothered arguing with Long-Eared Immortal. With a sweep of his sleeve—

Buzz—!

Countless fine runes suddenly lit up across the stone walls surrounding Sinking Sword Abyss! They resembled the ones he had used to set up the Lesser Heaven Cloudmist Sword Formation, but their purpose was entirely different.

They instantly linked together, forming an enormous screen of light that floated in midair above the abyss!

The Returning Light Image Formation!

Using the authority granted by the "Jie" character token, Xuan Chuan had learned this formation from the Scripture Repository and set it up in advance. It could record and replay the sights and sounds that had occurred within a designated area over a period of time!

Images began to flow across the light screen—

They showed precisely how Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal had cautiously infiltrated Sinking Sword Abyss, studied the ward, broken it, opened the jade box, and removed the jade slip—as well as his ecstatic muttering after obtaining it:

"Ha ha ha! Heaven truly favors me! That brat Xuan Chuan... I obtained something so important with such ease!"

The sound and images were crystal clear! They captured every detail of his theft, along with his unguarded, ugly display!

"This... this..." Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal went cold all over, as if he had fallen into an ice pit.

He had never imagined that Xuan Chuan would be this meticulous! Not only had he laid a trap, but he had also set up a recording formation!

What drove him into even deeper despair was yet to come.

With another thought from Xuan Chuan, the image on the light screen abruptly changed!

The scene became that secluded rocky shoreline!

On the screen appeared Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal secretly meeting with the Yellow-Robed Monk!

Though their specific conversation could not be heard, their exchange of items and their hushed plotting were plain for all to see!

In particular, Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal's movements as he accepted a Western Religion jade slip and an intelligence jade talisman, then handed over a jade talisman containing Jiejiao information, were magnified with perfect clarity!

"He's from the Western Religion!"

"Uncle-Master Long-Eared... he really colluded with outsiders!"

"Stealing our sect's secrets! This is betrayal!"

The many Jiejiao disciples who had been drawn by the disturbance, gathering on the cliffs above Sinking Sword Abyss or using divine arts to peer below, erupted into uproar!

Cries of shock and furious denunciations rang out one after another!

The evidence was conclusive! The images proved everything!

This was no longer merely theft—it was outright betrayal of the sect!

Qiu Shou Immortal, Lingya Immortal, and the others close to Long-Eared Immortal all wore unsightly expressions, rendered speechless.

With the images displayed before them, no matter how much they wished to defend him, they had nothing to say.

Yunxiao, Bixiao, and Qiongxiao stood amid distant clouds, looking at the scenes on the light screen with shock and fury filling their beautiful eyes.

Zhao Gongming's tiger-like eyes widened as he clenched his fists. He had never expected one of the highly esteemed Seven Attendant Immortals to commit such despicable acts!

"Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal!" Xuan Chuan's voice was as cold as ice, echoing throughout Sinking Sword Abyss and spreading across nearly half of Golden Turtle Island. "What else do you have to say?!"

Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal's face had lost all color, and his body swayed as though he might collapse. Before evidence as solid as iron, any excuse was feeble and powerless.

He could feel the sword-like gazes from every direction, filled with contempt, fury, and killing intent.

It's over! It's all over!

After the overwhelming terror and despair came a sudden burst of desperate madness from the depths of his heart!

He abruptly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot and his expression crazed. Staring fixedly at Xuan Chuan, he rasped in a twisted voice, "Xuan Chuan! It was all because of you! You forced me into this!!"

Before his words had even faded, the full force of his Taiyi Golden Immortal power erupted from within him!

A stream of filthy, stinking black qi burst from the crown of his head, transforming into a gigantic, vicious ghostly face that let out a silent roar!

At the same time, he unleashed a short blade gleaming with eerie light. The instant it appeared, mournful winds swept through the surroundings, accompanied by the wails of ghosts and howls of spirits. It was clearly an exceptionally sinister treasure!

"Die!!"

Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal roared as he merged with his treasure, transforming into a warped streak of spectral light. Carrying boundless resentment and killing intent, he shot straight toward Xuan Chuan! He was as fast as lightning!

Knowing that his crimes had been conclusively exposed and that death was unavoidable, he sought to exploit Xuan Chuan's seemingly unhealed injuries—or so he believed.

He launched a ruthless attack, intending to silence Xuan Chuan forever, or at the very least create chaos and seize the chance to escape!

This sudden attack caught everyone completely off guard!

"Eldest Senior Brother, watch out!"

"How dare this wretch!"

Zhao Gongming, Yunxiao, and the others cried out in alarm. They wanted to rush to his aid, but it was already too late!

The spectral short blade, carrying a vicious aura that corroded souls and bones, had reached Xuan Chuan's face in an instant!

How would Xuan Chuan deal with this mad, desperate strike?!