In Elder Lei’s opinion, Lin Xuan was not a Swordsman and naturally had nothing to do with Jin Ze’s death.
However, Gu Xinghe quickly said, "It’s not like that. I just received news that Lin Xuan had a duel with Wang Li. During the battle, he used only a single leaf to injure Wang Li’s copper skin and iron bones. It’s said that the leaf was imbued with powerful Sword Intent. This guy is a master of the Sword Dao."
Elder Lei was utterly shocked. "A flying leaf can injure someone! Are you sure about this?"
Gu Xinghe nodded. "I’m certain. Many people saw it. We all underestimated this Lin Xuan. Who knew his Swordsmanship was so strong, and that he even mastered Sword Intent?"
"Plus, he previously held a grudge against Jin Ze, and he was nearby when Jin Ze fell," Gu Xinghe continued. "So I suspect it’s highly likely he was the one who did it."
"It’s indeed possible." Elder Lei stood up, a trace of excitement in his eyes. To be honest, he was extremely displeased with Lin Xuan because the young man had caused him to lose face and publicly embarrassed him. However, he had no reason to target Lin Xuan. Additionally, Lin Xuan was currently riding a wave of popularity, so he had no way to move against him. But now things were different. If Lin Xuan really killed Jin Ze, then he could justifiably crush the boy.
"I need to investigate this personally." Elder Lei walked out of the palace to discuss this matter with the Vice Dean, who also took it seriously. Before long, they summoned Lin Xuan.
In the main hall, the Vice Dean and many elders were present. Elder Lei stared icily at Lin Xuan. The Vice Dean said in a deep voice, "Lin Xuan, we’ve heard you have mastered Sword Intent. Show us."
Lin Xuan nodded and waved his hand, his Sword Intent emerging. The Vice Dean and other elders immediately probed it and exclaimed in amazement, "Such strong Sword Intent! Unexpectedly, this kid really is a master of the Sword Dao!"
When Elder Lei felt this power, he snorted coldly. He slapped the table and stood up. "I heard you can injure people with a flying leaf," he said coldly. "That technique is nearly the same as the Sword Control Technique. Tell me, did you kill Jin Ze?"
At these words, the hall instantly fell silent as countless eyes fell on Lin Xuan.
I knew displaying my Sword Intent would arouse suspicion, Lin Xuan thought. But I’m not worried. When I killed Jin Ze, I specifically used the Great Sacred Land’s unique Sword Control Technique to frame them. There’s no way I would admit it now.
He quickly shook his head and said, "How could that be? Elder Lei, don’t speak so recklessly. How could I possibly have killed Jin Ze?"
Elder Lei snorted. "Why not? You were at the scene when Jin Ze died. He was killed by a Flying Sword. And you can injure someone with a flying leaf. Naturally, you could also kill with a Flying Sword! Moreover, you hold a grudge against Jin Ze, giving you every reason to do it."
Hearing this, quite a few elders nodded slightly. They too now found Lin Xuan very suspicious.
Lin Xuan, however, remained very composed. He shook his head and said, "Elder Lei, I know you hold a grudge against me because the matter of the false Saint Body made you lose face, but you cannot frame me. Everyone knows how Jin Ze died. He wasn’t just killed by a Flying Sword; he was killed by the Sword Control Technique. I can control a Flying Sword, but I do not know the Sword Control Technique. Only people from the Great Sacred Land know the Sword Control Technique. Surely you don’t think I know it, do you?"
Indeed, the other elders began to discuss this among themselves again. "From this perspective, it seems it wasn’t Lin Xuan."
Elder Lei, however, snorted coldly. "Who’s to say you don’t really know the Sword Control Technique?"
"How could I?" Lin Xuan replied. "I’m not a disciple of the Great Sacred Land, so how could I possibly practice the Sword Control Technique? I ask the Vice Dean to see the truth and clear my name."
Hearing this, the Vice Dean and the other elders consulted in low voices. Finally, they looked at Lin Xuan and said, "After our analysis and judgment, it seems you did not do it. You may go."
"Unacceptable! This boy is very suspicious," Elder Lei said quickly.
However, the Vice Dean shook his head. "Old Lei, Jin Ze was indeed killed by a Sword Control Technique. It has nothing to do with Lin Xuan. You should not bring this matter up again."
"This disciple bids farewell." Lin Xuan saluted, turned, and left. Elder Lei watched Lin Xuan’s departing back, a cold glint in his eyes.
「On the other side,」
Lin Xuan walked out of the palace and heaved a sigh of relief. Fortunately, I passed. Although Elder Lei suspects me, there’s no evidence. As for the other elders, they probably won’t suspect me anymore. I just need to be careful. As long as I don’t use the Sword Control Technique, I shouldn’t be discovered. With this in mind, Lin Xuan quickly returned to the Supreme Hall.
「On the other side,」
The people of the Star Alliance also received this news and informed Shen Tang. After hearing it, she said with great regret, "What a pity. It would have been great if we could have proven that brat killed Jin Ze." Previously, Lin Xuan’s victory over Wang Li had truly frightened Shen Tang, and she hadn’t dared to go out for the past few days.
However, she was not convinced. Why is Lin Xuan so strong? I must defeat him! Even if she couldn’t do it herself, she had the Star Alliance and could use its power to target him. But since Lin Xuan had acted so decisively in defeating Wang Li, no one in the Star Alliance dared to challenge him one-on-one for the time being. So, Shen Tang took a different approach. She found another genius in the Star Alliance, Zhao Yue. This Zhao Yue was an alchemy prodigy, currently a fourth-grade Alchemy Master.
Shen Tang said to Zhao Yue, "You’re quite familiar with Steward Zhang of the Pill Pavilion, aren’t you? Could you ask him to suppress the elixir supply for the Supreme Hall and make its members receive their elixirs later?"
Zhao Yue nodded. "A small matter. With me on the case, it’s guaranteed to work."
"Really? That’s great!" Shen Tang was extremely excited. "I’ll thank you properly after it’s done."
Naturally, Zhao Yue wanted to win Shen Tang’s favor. After all, her brother, Shen Xing, was a top-ten genius on the Qingyun Rankings. Pleasing Shen Tang was akin to pleasing Shen Xing, which would bring him endless benefits. He quickly went to the Pill Pavilion, found Steward Zhang, and asked for his help in holding back the elixir supply for the members of the Supreme Hall. He offered Steward Zhang some benefits, and the steward readily agreed.
The disciples of the Sacred Institute receive many cultivation resources. For example, they can collect several bottles of elixirs each month for cultivation, and the Pill Pavilion is the place where these are distributed.
On this day, it was once again time for the elixir distribution. Zhang Shaochu and other members of the Supreme Hall went as a group to the Pill Pavilion to collect their supply. Each person could receive two bottles of elixirs: one to enhance their cultivation and the other to enhance their soul. Both types were very precious; in the outside world, any Grandmaster would fight to the death for them. But in the Sacred Institute, every disciple received two bottles a month. Of course, if they wanted more, they would have to use points to exchange for them.
Zhang Shaochu and the others queued outside the Pill Pavilion. The disciples ahead of them received their elixirs without a problem, but when it was Zhang Shaochu’s turn, Steward Zhang, who was responsible for the distribution, simply spread his hands. "Sorry, the elixirs are all gone," he said. "You’ll have to wait."
"Gone?" Zhang Shaochu and his group were stunned. "What’s going on?"
Steward Zhang explained, "For some reason, the Pill Master hasn’t finished refining the elixirs yet, so you have to wait."
"How long do we have to wait?" Zhang Shaochu and the others frowned. Elixirs were critically important to them. A day’s delay in receiving them meant a day’s delay in cultivation, which would cause them to fall behind everyone else.
Steward Zhang shook his head. "I’m not sure. Maybe three to five days, or perhaps ten days or so. Anyway, you’ll be notified when they’re ready. You can come back to pick them up then."
"Alright." Zhang Shaochu and the others sighed, seeing as there was nothing they could do. They turned to leave, but at that moment, another group approached from behind, led by Shen Tang. Zhang Shaochu merely glanced at them and paid them no mind. He naturally knew about the enmity between Shen Tang and Lin Xuan, which meant the Supreme Hall and the Star Alliance were rivals.
Those from the Star Alliance must be here for elixirs too, he thought. But tough luck, they’re all out. They won’t be getting anything.
Just as he was thinking this, Shen Tang led her group to the Pill Pavilion. "We’re here to collect our elixirs," she announced.
The moment Steward Zhang saw Shen Tang, his face broke into a wide smile. "Your elixirs have already been prepared for you," he said. With a wave of his hand, he produced the elixirs and gave them to Shen Tang’s group.
Zhang Shaochu and the others were dumbfounded. What is going on? Weren’t the elixirs all gone? Soon, their expressions turned grim. They rushed forward and roared, "Didn’t you say there were no elixirs left? Why did you give them to them?"
"Yeah, why not us?"
Steward Zhang said, "These are the last of the elixirs."
"We were here first!" another disciple yelled. "Why did you tell us there were none, yet they came later and got them?" The disciples from the Supreme Hall were furious once again.
Steward Zhang’s face darkened. "Why give them to them? Because they have a fourth-grade Alchemy Master backing them," he said coldly. "Do you? If you have a fourth-grade Alchemy Master with you, I’ll give them to you immediately. If not, then go back and wait." After saying that, he waved his sleeve, dismissing them.
As Shen Tang, Zhao Yue, and the others took their elixirs, they shot a mocking look at Zhang Shaochu’s group. "Still want elixirs? In your dreams. Just wait." With that, they swaggered off.
"Damn it! They’re going too far!"
"They did that on purpose!"
The members of the Supreme Hall gnashed their teeth. Zhang Shaochu’s expression was as dark as thunder. "Let’s go. Back to the Hall." They immediately returned to the Supreme Hall and told Lin Xuan what had happened.
Before long, Zisu and the others arrived, their expressions just as unpleasant. "We didn’t get any elixirs either."
All the disciples of the Supreme Hall had returned, and not a single one had managed to get their supply. They said furiously, "That Steward Zhang at the Pill Pavilion is doing this on purpose! He’s specifically withholding elixirs from us. Everyone else who goes gets them, even the new disciples. But when we from the Supreme Hall go, suddenly there are none. This is blatantly targeting our Supreme Hall!"
Zhang Shaochu added, "It must be that Shen Tang’s scheming again."
Hearing this, Lin Xuan’s expression darkened. It seems the lesson I taught Shen Tang last time wasn’t enough. She actually dares to make another move. Looks like this time, I’ll have to teach her a truly severe lesson.
He said to the assembled disciples, "Come. I’ll take you to get your elixirs."
However, the disciples didn’t follow. "Hall Master, it’s no use," they said. "Even if you go, it won’t work."
"That’s right," another added. "That Steward Zhang made it clear. Unless a fourth-grade Alchemy Master goes with us, he won’t give us the elixirs right away. Otherwise, we just have to wait."
Although this Steward Zhang wasn’t an elder, his status was higher than that of an ordinary disciple. He represented the Sacred Institute, so they didn’t dare act rashly this time and could only swallow their anger. As for a fourth-grade Alchemy Master, none of them were one, nor could they possibly invite one over. After all, they were just insignificant newcomers.
Lin Xuan, however, just said, "Don’t worry. I will definitely get the elixirs. Because I am a fourth-grade Alchemy Master."