Chapter 101: Matriarchal Cultivation World (Twenty-Two)

Liu Changning was not surprised by Qiu Runyu’s reaction, and raised her eyes to scan the crowd.

At this moment, everyone present was dumbfounded, with expressions of extreme fear on their faces.

In the Spirit Realm, there hadn’t been another Elder at the Tribulation Crossing stage for 50,000 years. It was only in the last 500 years that a once-in-a-century talent like Pei Ziyuan appeared.

And Liu Changning’s performance today, with such cultivation, yet no one had heard of her name, was already enough to make people’s hearts tremble.

What was most worrying was that just now, black qi had spread over the soul lamp, providing irrefutable evidence that she was most likely a “Demon Race” spy.

If the Demon Race had such a spy comparable to the Tribulation Crossing stage, how many more talents like this did the Demon Realm have?

And how much power did the righteous path of the Spirit Realm have to counter them? They were all completely unaware.

At this moment, the palms of the ten Elders were already covered in a fine sweat, and their scalps were tingling.

While everyone was still in a daze, Qiu Runyu, who was the first to react, let out a harsh shout, startling the crowd out of their stupor.

“No, she’s at the Yuan Ying stage cultivation!”

Although spiritual sense could be disguised, cultivation level couldn’t be hidden for long in front of high-level cultivators.

After stabilizing her mind, Qiu Runyu circulated her mental technique and discerned the truth.

She floated into mid-air, her white hair flying behind her, and coldly laughed at Liu Changning: “What a good female demon cultivator, you almost fooled us all. With mere Yuan Ying stage cultivation, you dare to act so arrogantly here. Today, I’m afraid you won’t be able to escape even if you grow wings. If you confess honestly, this Venerable One might still spare your life. Speak, who sent you here? What connection do the Demon Race have with Pei Ziyuan of the Secluded Immortal Palace?”

Coming back to her senses and regaining her usual immortal demeanor, Qiu Runyu questioned with a righteous face, subtly steering the topic towards the relationship between Pei Ziyuan and the Demon Race.

The other Elders were all old monsters who had lived for thousands of years, and by now they had caught a hint of something. The Sect Master of Blacke Gate, Qiu, seemed to have ulterior motives, overtly and covertly establishing a connection between Pei Ziyuan and the Demon Race, which had various benefits. All being people in high positions, after careful thought, their eyes glinted with sharp light.

“How utterly shameless.” The little black bird, with its bean-sized eyes, stared fixedly at the old Taoist in front, coldly snorting. A wave of heat rolled through Liu Changning’s sea of consciousness.

“You… your current cultivation is probably no match for hers. Why don’t we let the Old Ancestor deal with her personally?”

Liu Changning placed the little black bird on her shoulder, her expression solemn: “Elder, have you forgotten what you promised me earlier? You are originally the servant of the Immortal Pei… the Palace Master. If people discover your presence here, I’m afraid… it would confirm Qiu Runyu’s baseless accusations.”

In mid-air, Liu Changning was already secretly mobilizing her spiritual power, her cold gaze falling on the Taoist in hemp clothes, her aura not diminishing in the slightest.

The small bird on her shoulder half-lowered its eyes, seemingly about to argue.

However, Liu Changning didn’t give it a chance to speak, transmitting a message with her spiritual sense: “If Elder appears, my standing out to cover for you today would be meaningless.”

She changed the subject, pondering for a moment before saying: “Has the Old Ancestor considered that taking down a mere Qiu Runyu would be no problem, but today’s situation seems to have been prepared by someone with ulterior motives. First Wood Yun, then Qiu Runyu. One hammer after another, you and I barely have any chance to argue. Has the Old Ancestor thought about what would happen if that old hag is just someone else’s pawn, and their true purpose is to have both of us surrounded by the righteous path? What will you do then? What will become of the Secluded Immortal Palace?”

Stunned by the question, Pei Ziyuan’s bean-sized eyes gradually deepened in color. He inconspicuously glanced at the crowd in the trial grounds.

He said in a low voice: “I say you’re stupid, but in this matter, you’re as clear as a mirror. But… why do you trust me… my master, that he has nothing to do with this? The scene in the Breath Concealment Stone just now couldn’t be faked. What if my master is indeed from the Demon Race?”

Liu Changning tilted her head, inconspicuously tugging at its soft, limp tuft of feathers, and transmitted: “I trust him. What ‘what if’?”

The little black bird’s expression froze, a flash of complexity passing through its bean-sized eyes as it looked at her calm and unruffled expression.

It suddenly felt a bit angry: “Just because your master prophesied, you believe him, regardless of right or wrong. This love and trust seems to come too inexplicably.”

“Perhaps it’s engraved in the depths of the soul, a bond lasting three lifetimes, who knows? Has Elder ever loved someone? To love them is to trust them completely.”

Her voice was light and clear, without dense deep emotion, yet it made Pei Ziyuan freeze on her shoulder, his bird body stiffening.

He confusedly opened his bean-sized little eyes, finding the female cultivator before him increasingly unfathomable.

Although she spoke frivolous words that seemed like jokes not to be taken seriously, he didn’t know why, but all the senses in his body were tingling with a hint of warmth. The face hidden under the black feathers showed visible emotion, and that tingling sensation in the bottom of his heart came again, unfamiliar yet making one tremble constantly.

Old Ancestor Pei inexplicably felt a great sense of panic, his wings fluttering helplessly a few times. Raising his eyes to see the current deadlock of being surrounded by everyone, he finally diverted his attention and suppressed that faint feeling of fear in the bottom of his heart.

A cool and steady reassurance came from beside his ear: “Don’t worry, I’m originally just a carefree cultivator. If I can clear a pure land for that person, it’s no big deal to temporarily bear this villainous name. When you regain your true form, it won’t be too late to clear my name.”

The little black bird half-squinted its eyes, leaning close to her ear, its long beak lightly pecking her earlobe.

It replied: “Alright, the grudge of Blacke Gate’s coercion today, this Venerable One will surely repay tenfold for you in the future…”

Liu Changning chuckled lightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.