Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

Bai Tianyu was taken aback: "Shen Lang, what nonsense are you talking about?"

Shen Lang: "By order of the Heavenly Venerable, I am investigating the case of the traitor within Blackwater City. Qi Yinshang is a prime suspect, and I am conducting a thorough interrogation. Unexpectedly, I have been obstructed by Sect Leader Bai."

Therefore, Shen has ample reason to suspect that the Xuantian Sect is also involved in colluding with the imperial court's henchmen. He requests Sect Leader Bai's cooperation in coming to accept the investigation.

Upon hearing this, everyone was startled and involuntarily turned their gazes toward Bai Tianyu.

Bai Tianyu's pupils contracted, and his anger erupted uncontrollably.

"Shen Lang! What tricks are you playing? My Xuantian Sect is loyal to the Heavenly Venerable. How could we possibly betray Blackwater City and collude with the imperial court?"

"Every guilty person will claim innocence, but Shen only learned this after handling the case."

No one is truly innocent. I urge Sect Leader Bai to abandon unrealistic fantasies and assist me in uncovering the truth.

"Hahaha, A Lang, you don't think this is the Jingwei Division you know, where you can do whatever you want, do you? You think you're qualified to investigate me, Bai Tianyu?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Lang smiled slightly at him and said, "Then I will tell you now whether I am qualified or not."

As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Lang's figure vanished from the spot.

Bai Tianyu immediately drew the short sword from his waist.

But in the end, he was a step too slow. Just as the sword was halfway out of its sheath, it was forced back by a tremendous resistance.

The next moment, Shen Lang's icy, bone-chilling face appeared before him.

"you……"

click-

Before he could utter a single word, Shen Lang twisted his hand, breaking Bai Tianyu's arm.

"Dislocated bone hand?"

Cold sweat slid down Bai Tianyu's forehead, and intense pain filled every corner of his nerves.

"Very knowledgeable."

After praising him, Shen Lang grabbed Bai Tianyu's sternum and pressed down on it again.

A crisp cracking sound echoed as Bai Tianyu's ribs broke.

"Uh……"

After a muffled groan, Bai Tianyu felt a strong sense of powerlessness throughout his body and knelt down in front of Shen Lang with a thud in front of everyone.

This scene terrified the other sect leaders.

Bai Tianyu is a martial artist at the late stage of the Innate Realm. Although he is not considered the top level in the martial arts world, he is still a first-class expert.

But now, in just one exchange, he was subdued by Shen Lang and forced to kneel on the ground. Just how strong is Shen Lang?

From that moment on, no one dared to underestimate Shen Lang anymore.

Although I had heard that Shen Lang's strength was unfathomable, I could only truly appreciate it after witnessing it firsthand.

"Shen Lang, you son of a bitch!"

Kneeling on the ground, Bai Tianyu looked up at Shen Lang with resentment, his expression suggesting he wanted to tear him to pieces.

Shen Lang ignored him completely, instead scanning the stunned crowd around him and asking calmly, "Is there anyone who wants to speak up for him?"

The scene was deathly silent.

"Since no one has spoken, I'll take the person with me."

After saying that, Shen Lang kicked Bai Tianyu directly, sending him flying to Qi Yinshang's side.

"stop!"

Just as he was about to continue his underhanded tactics, Tuoba Ying's voice rang out from behind him.

"Shen Lang, are you aware that doing this will cause great unease in Blackwater City?"

Shen Lang turned around: "If we don't find the traitor, it won't just be a matter of unease; you should know what will happen."

Tuoba Ying: "Never mind, the Heavenly Venerable has ordered you to go to the main hall for a meeting."

“Perfect timing, I also happen to have something to discuss with the Celestial Venerable.”

He glanced at Bai and Qi, then said, "I'll trouble you to take these two to the main hall as well."

After saying that, he flicked his cloak and strode toward the main hall of Blackwater City.

When passing by others, everyone involuntarily makes way for them.

……

Inside the main hall, Jiang Yue sat on the dragon throne with her arms crossed, looking down at the viewer.

In the center of the hall, Tuoba Ying and Shen Lang stood on the left and right respectively, while two dejected figures knelt on the ground in the middle, namely Bai Tianyu and Qi Yinshang.

Besides them, there were two other people standing there: Qingxuan Daoist nun and Murong Wei.

Shen Lang spoke first: "Heavenly Venerable, the matter you asked me to investigate has yielded results. The investigation reveals that Qi Yinshang is a prime suspect."

Furthermore, Bai Tianyu's attempt to obstruct Shen's investigation during the day strongly suggests he was an accomplice.

"You bullshit!"

Bai Tianyu, clutching her aching chest, loudly retorted.

"I only spoke up to stop you because I saw that your methods were too cruel."

Shen Lang snorted lightly: "There were so many people present at the time, and no one raised any objection to what I did."

Why were you the one to speak up and stop me? Were you afraid I'd find out something damaging to you?

"you……"

Bai Tianyu stared at Shen Lang in shock, so angry that she didn't know how to refute him.

Taking advantage of the situation, Shen Lang continued, "I was almost able to get some leads from the interrogation, but at this moment, Sect Leader Bai interrupted me..."

Did the Celestial Venerable really think this was just an accident?

"Nonsense, you're talking nonsense!" Bai Tianyu exclaimed anxiously. "Heavenly Venerable, you absolutely cannot let him speak nonsense. He has some personal grudges against me and is trying to take this opportunity to settle his personal score!"

Shen Lang immediately interrupted, "Heavenly Venerable! Sect Master Bai has already admitted to colluding with the imperial court, just like Qi Yinshang, and is an inside agent lurking in Blackwater City!"

"When did I admit it? Don't make false accusations!"

Bai Tianyu stared at Shen Lang in utter shock, his eyes practically spitting fire.

Shen Lang replied, "Just now, Bai Tianyu said he had a personal grudge against me, and that I planned to settle this score under the guise of public office. And what's the best way to get revenge on me? Naturally, it's to frame someone."

Since entering the North, Shen has never been trusted by you all, and some still suspect that he is an inside agent sent by the imperial court.

This Sect Master Bai harbored a deep resentment towards Shen because of the civil unrest in the capital years ago, when Shen ordered the killing of his beloved disciple.

Therefore, he had every reason to collude with the court's henchmen to frame Shen. Perhaps Sect Leader Bai did not intend to betray Blackwater City, but the charge of colluding with the court was still established.

"I beseech Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly and restore my innocence."

"You, you, you, you brat, how dare you!"

Bai Tianyu's eyes were bloodshot. He could come up with such an absurd reason, directly accusing himself of being an inside agent of the imperial court.

Absurd, absolutely absurd.

"Bai Tianyu, now that things have come to this, what do you have to say?"

Jiang Yue's (Jiang Mengxuan's) cold voice rang out in the main hall, her tone carrying a hint of anger and an unquestionable majesty.

“Heavenly Venerable, you must not believe his one-sided story. The Xuan Tian Sect is absolutely loyal to you.”

"What I'm asking you now is whether you colluded with the court to frame Shen Lang? Do you have any personal grudges against Shen Lang?"

"Yes……"

As soon as Bai Tianyu finished answering, he realized it was inappropriate and quickly changed his answer.

"No, no, I didn't!"

"Does it exist or not?!"

Jiang Yue's question was extremely leading; normally, Bai Tianyu wouldn't have been caught up in it, but now, in his anxiety, he was incoherent.

"I...no, I did not betray Blackwater City!"

"Didn't you ever think of framing Shen Lang?"

"I've thought about it, I have... No, I haven't, I haven't, Heavenly Venerable..."

In an instant, Bai Tianyu was completely bewildered.

Jiang Yue shook her head upon seeing this: "You have truly disappointed me. Shen Lang, these two are yours to deal with."

Shen Lang replied loudly, "Thank you for your trust, Heavenly Venerable."

After saying this, his eyes turned cold, and he struck out with two palms, instantly sending the two men to their deaths.

This happened so fast that neither Murong Wei, Qingxuan Daogu, nor even Tuoba Ying could react in time.

Looking at the two corpses lying on the ground, Shen Lang coldly said, "In chaotic times, severe punishments must be used. It is better to kill the innocent than to show leniency."