A useless person with five spiritual roots? I sacrificed the proud daughter of heaven.

This state of mind reminded her of someone.

Sheng He looked around and sure enough, she saw a pink skirt hem at the corner at the end of the cabin.

So, is Chu Heng now being controlled by someone, just like Xu Qingqing was back then?

So what about this time? What is Zhao Yanran planning to do this time?

Following Chu Heng's instructions, Sheng He took a few steps closer to him.

Chu Heng lowered his head and whispered in Sheng He's ear, "I know that the man in black back then was you. You wanted to kill me and Junior Sister Yanran."

Sheng He raised an eyebrow, grasped the twin pendants under her sleeve, and gently curled the corners of her lips into a smile.

So, this was Zhao Yanran's real purpose.

If she hadn't taken precautions beforehand, she might have unknowingly taken the blame for something very wrong.

Sheng He looked up, puzzled, and asked, "Senior brother, what are you talking about? What man in black?"

"Hmph!" Chu Heng snorted lightly, his tone remaining flat. "Wasn't it you who used hidden weapons to injure people in the swamp forest?"

Chu Heng took a step back: "I will personally expose you in front of the sect leader!"

Sheng He blinked: "But senior brother, I don't know any hidden weapons at all."

The fragrance in the air seemed to have faded a bit. Chu Heng ignored what Sheng He was saying and left stiffly.

Sheng He kept staring at Chu Heng's back until he reached the corner, when Chu Heng suddenly collapsed to the ground and was quickly dragged away.

Sheng He withdrew her gaze, looked at Song Jinzhi who had been standing beside her, and smiled:

"Fellow Daoist Song, can you do me a favor?"

Looking at what Sheng He handed over, a hint of confusion flashed in Song Jinzhi's eyes: "This is..."

"Just save it for me for a while."

Song Jinzhi smiled knowingly: "It seems that Fairy Sheng already has a plan."

An hour later, the flying boat landed at the entrance of the Qingyun Sect. All the disciples followed Tianyu to the Discipline Department as soon as they disembarked.

Inside the main hall of the Discipline Department, the doors were wide open. None of the disciples who were usually on duty were there. The sect leader and several elders sat at the head of the table, while three elders of the Discipline Department stood to the side holding disciplinary rulers.

As soon as Sheng He entered, he felt the oppressive atmosphere in the lobby.

The sect leader pressed his lips together, his face cold and stern. He stood up, his icy eyes sweeping over everyone present like a hawk.

"I'm sure you all know why we've come here today."

"My personal disciple Xu Qingqing perished in the Pure Moon Secret Realm. This was no accident. You are all disciples who participated in the secret realm this time. If you saw Xu Qingqing, please tell us the truth about what happened. The sect will reward you handsomely!"

After the sect leader finished speaking, three elders from the Discipline Department stepped forward and surrounded the disciples.

The disciples lowered their heads and dared not speak, but several of them simultaneously turned their gazes toward Zhao Yanran and Sheng He.

The sect leader's eyes darkened as he looked at Xuanxiao sitting to the side. Seeing that Xuanxiao's expression was normal, he pointed at Zhao Yanran.

"you."

"I remember you. You are Xuanxiao's disciple. Let's start with you."

Zhao Yanran stepped out from the crowd, bowed respectfully, and stood in the center of the hall, saying humbly and confidently, "Disciple Zhao Yanran greets the Sect Master."

"Reporting to the Sect Master, I did indeed see Senior Sister Qingqing in the Pure Moon Secret Realm. At that time, I had just entered the secret realm and was all alone. I went to the Swamp Forest to help my senior brother obtain the Green Wood Vine."

"Who knew that on the way, I suddenly saw Senior Sister Sheng and Senior Sister Qingqing fighting. Senior Sister Qingqing was injured and wanted to leave, but Senior Sister Sheng chased after her with her sword raised. I couldn't bear to see my fellow disciples fighting each other, so I stepped forward to stop them. Who knew that Senior Sister Sheng would become so angry that she slashed me with her sword."

"Fortunately, my senior brother was nearby at the time. I was saved by him, but Senior Sister Qingqing is nowhere to be found. I only found out today after leaving the secret realm that Senior Sister Qingqing...she..."

Zhao Yanran's eyes were red and swollen, as if she was extremely heartbroken and could not bear to continue speaking, so she covered her face and cried.

The sect leader narrowed his eyes, his sharp gaze lingering on Zhao Yanran for a while before turning his attention to Sheng He.

He knew about Tianyu, his newly accepted disciple.

He is diligent but lacks talent.

It was probably thanks to Jinglan's elixirs that he was able to establish his foundation; given time, he may achieve great things.

But he simply couldn't believe that a disciple with only five spiritual roots could kill Xu Qingqing, a Golden Core cultivator.

The sect leader looked at Zhao Yanran again and said in a deep voice, "Who is this Senior Sister Sheng you're talking about?"

Zhao Yanran was clearly here for her today, so before she could even speak, Sheng He stepped forward.

She first bowed to the sect leader and all the elders, then glanced at Zhao Yanran with a half-smile, and said loudly, "Disciple Sheng He greets the sect leader and all the elders."

"Reporting to the sect leader, I am the only disciple among these people with the surname Sheng, so the person Junior Sister Zhao is referring to must be me."

"Sheng He, do you agree with what Zhao Yanran just said?"

Sheng He quickly waved his hand, his face full of innocence: "Sect Master, although my surname is Sheng, I know nothing about what Junior Sister Zhao is talking about!"

"I encountered Fellow Daoist Song being chased by a group of rogue cultivators as soon as I entered the Pure Moon Secret Realm. After that, I stayed with Fellow Daoist Song, Senior Sister Mu, and Senior Sister Yun in the secret realm. They can all testify to this."

"I just don't know, Junior Sister Zhao, you keep saying that I injured you, Senior Brother, and Senior Sister Xu, but do you have any evidence?"

The sect leader seemed to only then notice Song Jinzhi, who had been standing next to Tianyu, and cast a questioning look at him.

Song Jinzhi immediately stepped forward, nodded and said, "Yes, thanks to Fairy Sheng for saving me, otherwise I would probably be dead at the hands of those rogue cultivators by now."

"Nonsense! Do you know how long your brother has been looking for you? And you just run off without a word! You're such a grown man, you're such a worry!"

The deputy sect leader also stood up, pointing at Song Jinzhi with a face full of disappointment and frustration.

Seeing that the vice sect leader was about to reprimand his nephew in the main hall, the sect leader quickly cleared his throat: "Feng Xing!"

The deputy sect leader glared at Song Jinzhi, then angrily sat back down, but his gaze towards Sheng He softened considerably.

Mu Yao and Yun Qianshan also came forward to testify that Sheng He had indeed been with them all along.

Yun Qianshan glanced at Zhao Yanran sideways and asked curiously, "Junior Sister, you just said that Xiao He injured Senior Sister Xu, but Senior Sister Xu is a Golden Core cultivator with treasures on her body. Why did she need your and Senior Brother's help to get away?"

“Yes, Xiao He has only reached the Foundation Establishment stage!” Mu Yao added, “Besides, why would she kill Senior Sister Xu when she has no grudge against her?”

Zhao Yanran, however, seemed to have been prepared. She pulled up her sleeve, pointed to the hideous sword wound on her arm, and choked back tears, saying, "That's because Senior Sister Sheng put poison on the sword!"