Ye Feng himself froze, utterly bewildered.
Although he had not discussed accusing Jiang Yantian with Elder Long beforehand.
But from any perspective, Elder Long should have supported him.
Why was he reacting so strongly now?
"Elder Long, what do you mean?" Ye Feng communicated with him through his soul.
"Alas... there's no use saying more. You've already said it. You were too impulsive."
After saying this, Elder Long fell silent.
Gasps also swept through the crowd.
No one had expected Ye Feng to accuse Jiang Yantian of dereliction of duty at this moment.
Those who had gone to the Forbidden Ground stared furiously at Ye Feng.
They knew better than anyone whether Jiang Yantian had neglected his duties.
From beginning to end, Jiang Yantian and Luo Xingcai had essentially kept watch over their surroundings.
Without those two elders, how could the Mysterious Spirit Sect have suffered the fewest casualties of any sect?
This Ye Feng clearly bore a grudge against Elder Jiang, yet insisted on sickening him again and again.
Luo Xingcai likewise stared at Ye Feng in disbelief.
She truly could not believe how this outstanding prodigy disciple from back then had become like this.
Jiang Yantian, the accused himself, wore an indifferent expression as he waited to watch Ye Feng's performance.
Lu Ming also turned his gaze to Jiang Yantian. "Elder Jiang, is this true?"
Jiang Yantian could not even be bothered to look at that idiot sect master.
He said bluntly, "When someone falsely accuses me, you shouldn't be asking me. You should ask those who know what happened!"
Lu Ming was somewhat displeased by Jiang Yantian's retort.
But before he could speak, Luo Xingcai stepped forward first.
Her pretty face was stern as she addressed Lu Ming. "Sect Master, nothing of the sort happened. Elder Jiang performed his duties conscientiously and never slacked off."
"All those disciples can bear witness."
Ye Feng was utterly dumbfounded.
Why was even his master siding with Jiang Yantian and shielding him?
But what use was shielding him? He had evidence.
After Luo Xingcai stepped forward, the other disciples who had visited the Spirit-Imprisoning Forbidden Land also came forward one after another.
Every one of them brimmed with righteous indignation.
"Sect Master, Elder Jiang wholeheartedly protected us. We will never allow anyone to wrong him!"
"Exactly, Sect Master! As a disciple, Ye Feng has repeatedly defied his superiors and slandered an elder. His intentions deserve death!"
"If he isn't severely punished today, wouldn't that chill Elder Jiang's heart? Besides, it would be hard to satisfy everyone!"
"The Law Enforcement Hall requests that the sect master order Ye Feng's severe punishment!"
For a time, everyone condemned Ye Feng.
Their eyes held extreme disgust as they looked at her.
Jiang Yantian still said nothing more. All he needed to do now was quietly play the accused.
He would watch Ye Feng lift a rock only to smash his own feet.
Then he would slowly settle the score and make her beg him through tears to let her off.
Only humiliation like this was worthy of Ye Feng.
Under attack from so many fellow disciples, Ye Feng's expression grew very ugly.
She also realized she had been impulsive. Whatever happened, she should have done this privately, not before such a large crowd.
But now the arrow was on the string and had to be loosed. She was already riding a tiger and could not dismount; she could only follow this road to its end.
"Fellow disciples, don't rush to shield him. Since I dare say this, that proves I have solid evidence!"
Ye Feng snorted coldly and looked at Jiang Yantian. "Elder Jiang, if you admit it now, we can both retain some dignity."
"If you wait until I produce the evidence, then..."
The corners of Ye Feng's lips curved upward.
Jiang Yantian merely raised a hand in a gesture.
Seeing Jiang Yantian act like this, Ye Feng knew he had no choice but to produce it.
She waved her hand, and an Image-Recording Stone flew out, circling through the air.
After spinning for a moment, the projection within appeared.
The scene was simple: Jiang Yantian stood by the entrance the entire time, never going anywhere.
Ye Feng cupped his fists and addressed him. "Sect Master, you know Jiang Yantian and I are at odds. I also know he hates me."
"At the Forbidden Ground, he declared that he would kill me if I dared enter. I was indeed afraid, so I didn't dare venture deep into the Forbidden Ground!"
At these words, the entire crowd gasped.
Ye Feng smiled coldly. "As the Image-Recording Stone shows, I stayed by the entrance to the Forbidden Ground, while Jiang Yantian, seeking an opportunity to kill me, disregarded the other disciples' safety and utterly failed to fulfill his duties as a guardian elder."
"If even this isn't a crime, if this isn't dereliction of duty, then what counts as wrongdoing?"
Ye Feng's words rang out forcefully, each one striking the ground with a resounding clang.
The other prodigy disciples who had returned from the Forbidden Ground would not stand for it.
"Bullshit! Elder Jiang accompanied us the whole way. When did he stay at the entrance to the Forbidden Ground? Do you think we're all blind?"
"Exactly! This black-hearted Ye Feng is deliberately framing Elder Jiang!"
"Sect Master, Elder Jiang never left us. I'm willing to stake my life on it. Besides, Elder Jiang led us out of the Forbidden Ground. How could he possibly have been absent?"
Another disciple cupped his fists and refuted him. "Sect Master, there's something else. Ye Feng keeps insisting Elder Jiang wanted him dead, but the truth is that Elder Jiang disregarded his own safety and rushed into the Forbidden Ground to bring him out."
"Yet now he turns around and bites him! Everyone has the right to slay such an ungrateful wretch!"
"Exactly! Beast!"
"Animal!"
Faced with the crowd's outrage, Ye Feng found it somewhat difficult to bring things to a close.
These people were all fools. Jiang Yantian had deceived every one of them.
He was the one involved. How could he not know what had happened?
"Quiet!" Lu Ming raised his hand and pressed it down.
In an instant, the entire crowd fell silent.
Lu Ming looked at Ye Feng, then at Jiang Yantian.
He actually did intend to suppress Jiang Yantian a little.
Jiang Yantian's prestige was almost surpassing his own as sect master.
But he did not dare make it too obvious. Jiang Yantian held grudges far too fiercely.
"Elder Jiang, I believe you wouldn't do such a thing, but I would still like to hear your explanation for what's in the Image-Recording Stone."
Jiang Yantian laughed inwardly. This trash sect master really was afraid of him.
Otherwise, he would have directly made him swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao just now.
But even if he had to swear, it would not matter. Both he and the system transcended the six paths, existed outside the five elements, and stood apart from the myriad worlds.
The Heavenly Dao could not interfere with his affairs either.
"Sect Master, as you have all seen, I was indeed watching Ye Feng!" Jiang Yantian said calmly.
Everyone's eyes widened involuntarily.
Those who had gone to the Forbidden Ground grew somewhat anxious.
Luo Xingcai also sighed.
That clearly was not what had happened. Why take the blame?
Could he have become utterly disappointed in the Mysterious Spirit Sect?
"But I truly never imagined that a kind gesture of mine would be slandered like this!" Jiang Yantian began his act, sighing.
Ye Feng himself was stunned. A kind gesture? Fucking bullshit.
"Jiang Yantian, you shameless bastard!" Ye Feng said angrily.
Jiang Yantian paid no mind whatsoever to a toy's verbal attacks against him.
Instead, he said calmly, "I don't know why Ye Feng wouldn't enter the Forbidden Ground, but I couldn't disregard the other disciples for one person."
"So I left behind a shadow bearing my own presence to help Ye Feng deter the nearby evil spirits and keep him safe!"
Ye Feng sneered. This Jiang Yantian truly was shameless.
But before she could speak, she saw Jiang Yantian flick his hand.
A shadow identical to him appeared on the spot.
Even its presence was identical.
It simply could not move and possessed only his presence.
"Ye Feng, I truly never imagined the human heart could be so wicked. Yet you described my actions as dereliction of duty and personal retaliation... alas..."
Thunder exploded through Ye Feng's mind.
He thought, It's over!
How could the human heart be so wicked? She had finally seen Jiang Yantian's wickedness with absolute clarity!