Clang!
Before Xu Taiping could answer, Third Prince Chu Yinan suddenly drew his sword, pointed it at Xu Taiping, and demanded:
"Xu Taiping, did you have anything to do with the death of my honored master, Sword Immortal Qionghua?"
As he spoke, his sword gang, mingled with murderous sword intent, washed toward Xu Taiping like a surging river.
Chu Yinan's swordsmanship had improved tremendously compared with sixty years ago.
Swish!
But after Chu Yinan drew his sword, Peak Lord Meng Qingqiu also unsheathed hers and stepped in front of Xu Taiping.
At the same time, Sect Master Zhao Qian transformed into a streak of fierce sword light with a whoosh, appearing beside Meng Qingqiu as though using instantaneous movement.
Although they had both doubted Xu Taiping after the Mysterious Female True Lord produced those two Moonshadow Stones, they ultimately decided to trust him once more.
Of course, aside from their faith in Xu Taiping's character, Zhao Linglong's earlier voice transmission and the many suspicious points surrounding this Sword Inquiry were also reasons they had chosen to stand with him.
With his back to Xu Taiping, Zhao Qian said without turning:
"Taiping, from this moment on, don't say anything. We'll discuss everything once we return to Qingxuan."
In his view, with the crowd's anger running high, any explanation Xu Taiping offered might invite criticism.
It was better to say nothing.
Seeing this, the Mysterious Female True Lord, who had pursued them from nearby, immediately rebuked them:
"You people of the Azure Profound Sect truly are snakes and rats in the same nest. Not one of you is any good!"
As the Mysterious Female True Lord spoke, a longsword was drawn from the waist with a swish.
In an instant, a surging wave of sword intent crashed toward Xu Taiping's side.
But