Proving His Innocence

Chapter 13: Proving His Innocence. Faced with the crowd's accusations and attacks, Mu Chen felt anger, but above all, he remained calm. He moved like lightning, weaving through spiritual energy attacks that fell like raindrops, his gaze fixed on that familiar, suspicious figure. He knew that person might be the key to unraveling this conspiracy. "You're being used, and you don't even realize it!" Mu Chen shouted to the cultivators around him as he dodged. "If I stole the treasure, why wouldn't I find somewhere safe to hide instead of getting trapped here in a desperate fight? This clearly makes no sense!" Yet most of them were still blinded by anger, and their attacks did not stop. Spotting an opening, Mu Chen charged toward the suspicious figure. The figure's expression changed at the sight of Mu Chen pursuing him, and he turned and ran. His reaction only confirmed Mu Chen's suspicions: he was one of the conspirators. "Trying to run? Not so easy!" Mu Chen pushed his movement technique to its limit, spiritual energy racing through his body, each step stirring a rush of wind. The distance between them steadily narrowed, and the surrounding scenery flew past. During the chase, Mu Chen noticed unusual marks on the ground. They were not naturally formed; they looked more like directions someone had deliberately left behind. A thought stirred in his mind. These might be clues left by the people framing him. Perhaps, to ensure their plan was foolproof, they had arranged an escape route and a place to hide the evidence beforehand. "Hmph, I'll expose your conspiracy sooner or later!" Mu Chen sneered and followed the marks. The suspicious cultivator seemed somewhat panicked. Though he was fast, his mounting anxiety gradually exposed weaknesses in his movements. After pursuing him for some distance, Mu Chen arrived at the Hidden Valley. A thin mist filled the valley, with faint fluctuations from a spiritual energy restriction rippling through it. The suspicious man slipped into the valley, and Mu Chen followed without hesitation. The moment he entered, Mu Chen sensed a familiar spiritual energy fluctuation, similar to that of the treasure used to frame him earlier. Delight stirred within him; he knew he had found the right place. "This is where you hide your evidence, isn't it?" Mu Chen called, his voice echoing through the valley. Suddenly, a group of cultivators surged out from every direction. All of them had taken part in framing Mu Chen. The black-robed cultivator and the woman in white were among them, staring at him with surprise and anger in their eyes. "Mu Chen, you really do have a knack for staying alive. You actually managed to find this place," the black-robed cultivator said viciously. "But now that you're here, don't expect to leave alive!" "You think this is enough to trap me? I've already seen through your conspiracy. Today, I'll show everyone your ugly true faces!" Fearless, Mu Chen clenched his fists, spiritual energy surging fiercely within him. "Hmph, so what if you've seen through it? This will be your burial ground!" The woman in white waved her hand as she spoke, and the surrounding cultivators unleashed their spiritual energy, launching even fiercer attacks at Mu Chen. Mu Chen darted about, employing the spiritual energy techniques he had grasped in the secret grounds. He compressed his spiritual energy to the utmost, then released it in a sudden burst, turning it into waves of spiritual energy that hurtled toward his enemies. Each shock wave carried tremendous power, colliding with their attacks in thunderous, sky-shaking booms. As he fought, Mu Chen studied the valley. He discovered a cave on one side, its entrance guarded by a powerful spiritual energy restriction. The familiar fluctuations from the treasure were coming from inside. He suspected the real evidence lay in that cave. "You're so afraid of letting me near that cave. There must be secrets inside that you can't afford to reveal!" Mu Chen moved toward the cave while fending off their attacks. Seeing this, the conspirators attacked him even more frantically, trying to stop him from approaching. But Mu Chen's strength exceeded their expectations. He wove nimbly through their attacks, steadily advancing toward his target. At last, Mu Chen reached the cave. Facing the spiritual energy restriction at its entrance, he drew a deep breath, gathered his spiritual energy into his hands, and struck it. His spiritual energy collided with the restriction in a dazzling burst of light. Gritting his teeth, Mu Chen poured in more and more energy, trying to break through. Under his efforts, cracks began to appear in the restriction. The conspirators were horrified. They knew that if Mu Chen broke through and obtained the evidence inside, their conspiracy would be completely exposed. "Don't let him succeed!" the black-robed cultivator roared. He personally charged at Mu Chen, wielding a weapon that radiated powerful spiritual energy, and slashed viciously at him. Mu Chen sidestepped and swung a fist back, striking the black-robed cultivator's weapon. The tremendous impact forced both of them several steps backward. "Your conspiracy won't succeed!" Mu Chen shouted, attacking the restriction again. Under his full-strength assault, it finally shattered, and a powerful surge of spiritual energy poured from the cave. Mu Chen entered and found many treasures inside, including the one used to frame him. There were also jade slips and letters recording the plan to frame him. He picked up the evidence, relief settling over him. "Take a look at these!" Mu Chen emerged from the cave and displayed the evidence to the other cultivators. "This is proof that they framed me! Out of jealousy, they stopped at nothing to put me to death!" The cultivators who had been incited against him froze at the sight of the evidence. They began to realize they had been used, and anger toward the conspirators filled their hearts. "How could you do something like this? Framing someone for your own selfish desires!" one cultivator accused angrily. "We nearly became accomplices and wronged an innocent man!" another said. Seeing their conspiracy exposed, the conspirators turned deathly pale. They knew they could no longer escape, and terror spread across their faces. "You think you can escape punishment?" Mu Chen stared coldly at them. "You'll pay for what you've done!" Amid the crowd's condemnation, the conspirators tried to flee, but the surrounding cultivators would no longer let them have their way. They encircled them, preparing to hand them over to the administrators of the Spirit Road. After this upheaval, Mu Chen successfully proved his innocence. Far from suffering damage, his reputation earned him even greater respect among the cultivators. They admired his ability to remain calm in adversity and expose the conspiracy through wisdom and courage. "Mu Chen, we're sorry. We wrongly accused you," some of the cultivators who had accused him apologized. "It's all right, as long as the truth has come to light. I hope you won't let others use you so easily in the future," Mu Chen said with a smile. Though the conspiracy had plunged Mu Chen into a grave crisis, it had also earned him greater trust and friendship on the Spirit Road. He knew that this challenging path would hold still more hardships and conspiracies, but he had the confidence and ability to face them all. After resolving the incident, Mu Chen continued exploring the Spirit Road. His resolve had grown firmer, and his goals had become clearer. He wanted to keep improving his strength, unravel the Spirit Road's secrets, and search for clues to his mother's disappearance. With renewed conviction, he ventured deeper into the Spirit Road. Along the way, he met several like-minded cultivators. Having heard of his deeds, they admired him greatly and expressed their willingness to travel with him. Through conversations with these new companions, Mu Chen learned more about the Spirit Road and cultivation techniques. Together, they explored ancient ruins, challenged powerful magical beasts, and shared their experiences and resources. During one expedition, they reached a mountain peak wreathed in clouds and mist. An ancient palace stood atop it, radiating a mysterious aura, as though it concealed enormous secrets. "There's more to this palace than meets the eye. We need to be careful," Mu Chen warned his companions. They cautiously approached the palace. As they drew near, they discovered powerful spiritual energy restrictions surrounding it, more complex than any Mu Chen had encountered before. "This restriction will be difficult to break. We need to study it together," one companion said. Mu Chen and his companions gathered around the restriction, observing and analyzing it. They discovered that it consisted of many different spiritual energy runes, each representing a different power and rule. "We could start by looking for patterns in these runes and find a way to break it," Mu Chen suggested. They began carefully studying the runes' patterns. In the process, they discovered that the runes were closely linked to the natural forces within the Spirit Road. Some, for instance, were connected to the power of wind, while others were linked to the power of water. "We could try using the natural forces around us to break the restriction," one companion said. Following this idea, they began trying to draw upon the surrounding natural forces. Using the cultivation method he had learned from the ancient scroll, Mu Chen merged his spiritual energy with the forces of nature, then directed it at the restriction's runes. Through their combined efforts, the restriction began to loosen. With a faint hum, an opening appeared. "We did it!" his companions cheered. They entered the palace through the opening, and the sight inside opened their eyes to new wonders. Countless gemstones and crystals adorned the palace walls, radiating a dazzling array of colors that lit the palace as brightly as day. At its center stood an enormous stone platform, upon which rested a crystal orb emitting powerful spiritual energy fluctuations. A tiny world seemed to exist inside it, complete with mountains, rivers, flowers, grasses, and trees, as though it held the mysteries of the universe. "This crystal orb must be a treasure. We need to be careful," Mu Chen warned his companions. As they approached the orb, a group of guardian beasts suddenly surged out from the palace's corners. They resembled lions, their bodies covered in golden scales, each scale radiating powerful spiritual energy. Their eyes burned like flames as they stared at Mu Chen and his companions, letting out low growls. "Prepare for battle!" Mu Chen shouted. He and his companions quickly took up formation to face the guardian beasts. Mu Chen attacked first, gathering spiritual energy in his hand and transforming it into a sharp streak of sword light that thrust toward one of the beasts. His companions unleashed their own skills, engaging the guardian beasts in fierce combat. The battle was a magnificent spectacle, spiritual energy light and roars intertwining in a heart-shaking display. During the fight, Mu Chen discovered that although the guardian beasts were powerful, there were weaknesses in their coordination. Seizing the right moment, he directed his companions to adopt flexible tactics. "Attack their flanks and throw their formation into chaos!" Mu Chen shouted. Following his instructions, his companions attacked the guardian beasts from the sides. The tactic worked, and the beasts' formation began to fall into disarray. Mu Chen seized the opportunity to intensify his attacks. He unleashed a full-strength strike, sending spiritual energy crashing toward a guardian beast like surging waves. Struck in a vital spot, the beast let out a pained cry and collapsed. His companions also succeeded in their attacks, and through their combined efforts, all the guardian beasts were defeated. "Is everyone all right?" Mu Chen asked with concern. "We're fine, thanks to your directions," one companion replied. They approached the stone platform and gazed at the crystal orb atop it. Its allure was overwhelming; all of them could sense the tremendous power it contained. "What should we do with this crystal orb?" one companion asked. "Let's not act rashly. It might be dangerous. We need to study it further," Mu Chen said. They gathered around the orb to observe and study it. During their investigation, Mu Chen discovered tiny runes on its surface, similar to those in the surrounding spiritual energy restrictions. "These runes may be the key to controlling the crystal orb. We need to decipher them," Mu Chen said. They immersed themselves in studying the runes once more. They encountered many difficulties along the way, but they did not give up. After a long period of effort, they finally found a way to unravel the runes. Mu Chen carefully followed the method they had devised. The runes on the crystal orb began to flash, then gradually disappeared. As the runes vanished, the orb's light softened. They sensed that the power within it was no longer threatening; instead, they could absorb and use it. "We could try absorbing the crystal orb's power to improve our strength," one companion said. "All right, but be careful, everyone. Don't be greedy," Mu Chen cautioned. They began absorbing the orb's power. As they did, they felt their strength steadily increase, their spiritual energy grow more robust, and their meridians expand further. After absorbing the crystal orb's power, they continued exploring the palace. They discovered ancient texts and cultivation methods, all of them precious treasures. "These texts and cultivation methods will be a great help to our cultivation. We need to preserve them carefully," Mu Chen said. They stowed the texts and cultivation methods, then left the palace. This expedition had yielded a rich harvest: they had not only improved their strength but also acquired valuable resources. In the days that followed, Mu Chen and his companions continued exploring the Spirit Road. They encountered more challenges and opportunities, meeting each successfully through wisdom, courage, and unity. Throughout this journey, Mu Chen continued to grow, drawing ever closer to his goals and becoming a brilliant rising star on the Spirit Road.