A Saint King's Schemes, Utter Despair, and No Power to Turn the Tide

Taibai Sword Sect, Main Peak Hall.

The main hall was empty, with only the Sword Sect Master sitting high on the throne made of ten-thousand-year-old cold jade.

His brows were furrowed, his eyes were terrifyingly deep, and the shocking scene that had occurred in the secluded valley kept replaying in his mind.

"One finger... just one finger was enough to kill an elder in the Early Nirvana Realm."

The sect leader's slender fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, producing a crisp, jarring sound that seemed particularly jarring in the otherwise silent hall.

"Not even the slightest fluctuation of magical power leaked out; that domineering method that disregarded the laws and directly erased everything from the conceptual level..."

The sect leader took a deep breath, a fierce greed and deep apprehension flashing in his eyes.

"This is definitely Heaven-Grade Divine Ability! Moreover, it's highly likely that it has already been cultivated to the point of Major Accomplishment or even Perfection!"

In the Crimson Profound World, Heaven-Grade Divine Ability are supreme techniques that only exist in ancient texts and legends!

Even at the Saint King Realm, in terms of attack methods, domains are secondary, while Divine Ability are primary.

"Just who is this person?"

The sect leader's heart pounded. "If I could obtain that Heaven-Grade Divine Ability... what would the position of sect leader of the Taibai Sword Sect matter? I might even have a chance to break through to the legendary Emperor Realm and rule this Southern Wasteland Continent!"

This is why he didn't react on the spot, but instead forcefully placed Dongfang Yueming under house arrest in the secluded valley.

He needs to keep this prey in check.

Just as the sect leader was secretly making plans.

"Metropolitan!"

Outside the main hall, Abbess Jingxu's angry shouts rang out.

The sect leader suppressed the greed in his eyes and resumed his dignified and refined demeanor.

"Junior Sister Jingxu, please come in."

Abbess Jingxu, dragging her heavily injured body, staggered into the main hall. She didn't even perform the proper etiquette, her eyes fixed on the high and mighty sect leader, her gaze full of questioning.

"Sect Master! Old Ghost Song colluded with the Variants, attempting to use the Heart of the Alien Species the Heretics' to harm our fellow disciples! The evidence of this heinous and treacherous crime is irrefutable. Why didn't you search his storage ring on the spot?! Why did you still place the benefactor who saved my life under house arrest?!"

Abbess Jingxu's voice trembled. She couldn't understand why her senior brother, who was known for his fairness and impartiality, would take such a protective action!

Faced with Abbess Jingxu's probing questions, the sect leader did not get angry. Instead, he sighed and spoke with a heavy heart.

"Junior sister, please don't get agitated."

The sect leader slowly stood up and walked to the center of the hall. "Regarding Elder Song's matter, I will naturally investigate it thoroughly. But the Heart of the Alien Species is only your side of the story. How can I hastily convict someone before finding conclusive evidence?"

"One-sided account?!" Abbess Jingxu laughed angrily. "I saw it with my own eyes, how could it be false?! Just order a search of his storage ring right now..."

"Enough!"

The sect leader's face instantly darkened, and a faint pressure from the Saint King Realm emanated from him.

"Jingxu! Do you know that Elder Song is a Nirvana Realm expert of our sect! He is a precious asset that our sect has cultivated with countless resources and efforts!"

"If we rashly search the storage ring of a Nirvana Elder without solid evidence, it will surely cause great panic and turmoil within the sect! It might even discourage the other Nirvana Elders!"

The sect leader said earnestly, "For the sake of the bigger picture, this matter must be carefully considered."

"The big picture? Fundamental assets?"

Upon hearing these words, Abbess Jingxu felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over her from head to toe, leaving her feeling icy cold all over.

She looked at the senior student in front of her in disbelief, and suddenly felt that he was such a stranger.

"What a rich heritage..."

Abbess Jingxu gave a bitter laugh, her eyes filled with undisguised sorrow and heartbreak.

"Old Ghost Song is an asset of the sect; he cannot be touched."

What about me?

She pointed to her mangled body, her voice shrill, "I, Jingxu, have risked my life for the Sword Sect for hundreds of years, isn't that an asset of the sect?! I was almost turned into Variants creature by him! And you're here talking to me about the big picture?!"

The sect leader was momentarily speechless when asked the question.

He actually knew very well what kind of person Old Ghost Song was, but what he was truly wary of was the deeper network of interests that Old Ghost Song might be involved in, and what he wanted even more... the Heaven-Grade Divine Ability of that young man.

"Junior sister, you should go back and recover from your injuries."

The sect leader turned away, no longer looking at her, his tone turning cold, "I have my own plan regarding that young man's matter. Until the matter is clarified, no one is permitted to leave the secluded valley. Otherwise, they will be punished for treason."

This is already a blatant threat.

"Well done... well done, the Taibai Sword Sect!"

Abbess Jingxu was heartbroken. She knew that nothing she said would make a difference. In the eyes of this sect leader, the truth and justice were far less important than the interests of the sect and his personal calculations.

Without saying another word, she turned and, with heavy steps, left the main hall dejectedly.

A secluded valley, outside a stone cave.

Lu Qingxue, Baihu, and Hong Gui were waiting anxiously.

Seeing Abbess Jingxu return with a pale face and looking utterly dejected, Lu Qingxue quickly went to greet her.

"Master! How is it? What did the Sect Master say?"

Abbess Jingxu looked at her most beloved disciple, then at Baihu and Hong Gui standing to the side.

She opened her mouth, but didn't know how to answer.

Should they be told that the dignified Sect Master of the Sword Sect, for the sake of the so-called "greater good," actually harbored a traitor who colluded with Variants? And even intended to imprison their savior?

"Master?" Lu Qingxue noticed the nun's unusual behavior and a very ominous premonition welled up in her heart.

"Qingxue..."

Abbess Jingxu sighed deeply, a trace of deep guilt and helplessness flashing in her eyes.

She turned to look at the secluded stone chamber shrouded in an array, her tone heavy.

"Your teacher... is useless."

"The sect leader... refuses to release them."

"He didn't even pursue the crime committed by that Old Ghost Song."

Upon hearing this statement...

Lu Qingxue was struck dumb, frozen in place.

The faces of Baihu and Hong Gui instantly turned icy cold.

"Heh, what a prestigious sect." Hong Gui sneered, her eyes filled with mockery and killing intent. "It seems that the Taibai Sword Sect is nothing but a cesspool of filth."

Abbess Jingxu closed her eyes in anguish.

She felt that the person she had wronged the most in her life was the young man who was in seclusion in the stone chamber.