In Zhu Xian, people start to rise from plundering entries

For the next month, Tianya Peak was immersed in a peculiar tranquility.

Su Han rises every morning to practice his swordsmanship. The second move of the "Nine Swords of Tianya," "Opening Heaven," is far more complex than the first. This move emphasizes intent over power, requiring the sword to be drawn as if splitting the heavens and earth, shattering all shackles. The first move alone, "Dawn Break," requires concentrating all the stellar power in one point at the instant the sword is drawn, so that even before the sword arrives, the sword intent has already crushed the enemy's soul.

He practiced for seven whole days before he could barely get the hang of it.

What worried him even more was his senior sister's condition. Since returning from the secret realm, the Qingxin Pendant's luster had gradually dimmed, and Yuheng's voice had become increasingly weak, sometimes remaining silent for an entire day. Su Han knew that the erosion of his senior sister's soul power by evil thoughts was intensifying.

"We must find a solution as soon as possible." He stared at the Tianya Sword in his hand, his brows furrowed.

That afternoon, Elder Lin suddenly arrived at the courtyard, his expression solemn.

"Su Han, there's something I need to tell you." After sitting down, the old man pondered for a moment before speaking, "There have been some unusual developments within the sect recently, which may be related to your and Ye Wuhen's gains in the secret realm."

"Unusual activity?"

"Someone is secretly trying to find out what you obtained from the secret realm," Elder Lin said in a low voice. "Especially the news about the 'Jade Lotus Root' seems to have been leaked."

Su Han's heart skipped a beat. The Nine-Section Jade Lotus Root was a rare auxiliary spiritual medicine for the Star Palace Realm, capable of greatly increasing the purity of star power, and even benefiting cultivators at higher realms. Such a treasure was enough to attract covetous eyes.

"Who would do that?" Su Han asked.

Elder Lin shook his head: "It's hard to say. It could be someone from within the sect, or it could be an informant from an outer sect. In any case, you must be careful and try to stay on Tianya Peak as little as possible during this time. If anyone tries to probe you, just say you don't know anything."

"The disciple understands."

After Elder Lin left, Su Han pondered for a long time. He understood the principle that "a common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime." He just hadn't expected trouble to come so quickly.

The next day, sure enough, someone came to the door.

The visitor was an unfamiliar inner disciple who introduced himself as Zhao. He said he was sent by an elder to inquire about the handling of the "crocodile dragon corpse" in the secret realm. However, his tone was evasive, and his eyes kept glancing at Su Han's waist—where a storage bag was hanging.

Su Han remained calm and simply stated that all the materials from the Crocodile Dragon had been handed over to the sect, and he himself had only received a small amount of flesh and blood for cultivation. The other party clearly did not believe him, but dared not force him, and could only leave dejectedly.

In the following days, several more similar attempts came, all of which Su Han dealt with.

But the matter did not end there.

On the morning of the seventh day, news spread throughout Tianya Peak: Steward Zhang, who was in charge of guarding the spirit herb garden, was attacked last night and seriously injured; three century-old spirit herbs in the garden were stolen. Furthermore, according to eyewitnesses, the swordsmanship used by the attacker bore a striking resemblance to the "Nine Swords of Tianya"!

When the news reached Su Han's ears, he was practicing his sword in the courtyard.

"Framed?" He sheathed his sword and stood there, his eyes turning cold.

This method, though not sophisticated, is insidious enough. The Nine Swords of Tianya is the top-tier sword technique of the Qingyun Sect, and only Su Han among the younger generation has mastered it. If this matter is confirmed, not only will he be punished, but Tianya Peak will also be implicated.

Sure enough, just after noon, the people from the Enforcement Hall arrived.

Leading the group was Zhou He, the deputy head of the Enforcement Hall, a late-stage Star Palace Realm cultivator with a stern face. Behind him were four enforcement disciples, each possessing a powerful aura.

"Su Han, by order of the sect leader, you are summoned to the Hall of Enforcement for questioning," Zhou He said expressionlessly.

Elder Lin rushed over upon hearing the news, standing in front of Su Han: "Hall Master Zhou, this matter has not yet been investigated. It's hasty to take someone away based on just a few words of description." "Elder Lin, I understand your eagerness to protect your disciple," Zhou He said calmly, "but the theft of the spiritual medicine is a fact, and Deacon Zhang's serious injury is also a fact. Su Han possesses the Tianya Sword Technique, so he must cooperate with the investigation. If he is innocent, the Enforcement Hall will certainly give him justice."

"you--"

“Master, I’ll go.” Su Han stepped forward and said calmly, “The innocent will clear themselves.”

Elder Lin looked at him, finally sighed, and stepped aside.

The Hall of Enforcement, located halfway up the main peak, is a solemn and imposing hall built of black stone. Several people were already seated inside, including Sect Master Yun Qingzi, several elders, and two strangers.

One was a middle-aged man dressed in purple robes, his aura as deep as the sea; he was actually a Star River Realm expert. The other was a young man in his early twenties, dressed in brocade robes and jade belt, with an arrogant face; his cultivation was at the mid-stage of the Star Palace Realm.

"Sect Master, Elders," Su Han bowed.

Yun Qingzi nodded, his expression unreadable. He pointed to the man in purple robes: "This is the Grand Elder of the Ziyang Sect, True Person Yangyan. Beside him is his personal disciple, Luo Tianyu."

The Ziyang Sect, one of the seven major sects in the Eastern Region, has a long-standing relationship with the Qingyun Sect, but the relationship is delicate.

Master Yangyan nodded slightly, his gaze sharp as he scrutinized Su Han, as if trying to see through him completely. Luo Tianyu, on the other hand, made no attempt to conceal the scrutiny and disdain in his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Su Han, do you have anything to say about what happened at the Spirit Herb Garden last night?" the head elder of the Enforcement Hall asked in a deep voice.

“This disciple cultivated on Tianya Peak all night last night, as Master and Senior Brother Lin can attest,” Su Han said neither humbly nor arrogantly.

“Cultivation? Who can prove you didn’t leave halfway?” an elder with a sinister face said coldly. “As far as I know, Tianya Peak has no array restrictions, and people can come and go freely.”

Su Han looked at the speaker—Elder Li Xuanfeng of the Punishment Hall, who had always been at odds with Tianya Peak.

"Elder Li, you are mistaken." Elder Lin's voice came from outside the hall, and the old man strode in. "Although my Tianya Peak has no restrictions, Su Han's cultivation place is only a hundred feet away from my residence. If he had left, how could I not know?"

“Elder Lin is Su Han’s master, so his testimony is bound to be biased,” Li Xuanfeng sneered.

"you--"

"Alright," Yun Qingzi interrupted, "Let's set that aside for now. The reason I've summoned you all here today is for another matter."

He looked at Master Yangyan: "Master, you speak."

Master Yangyan slowly rose to his feet, his voice deep and resonant: "Three days ago, my Ziyang Sect's forbidden area, 'Yanyang Valley,' was infiltrated and a 'Crimson Essence Fire Lotus' was stolen. When the guardian elders pursued the thief, they fought with him and recognized that the sword technique he used was none other than your sect's 'Nine Swords of Tianya.'"

An uproar immediately erupted inside the hall.

The Nine Swords of Tianya is one of the most treasured sword techniques of the Qingyun Sect, and historically only the core disciples have been qualified to learn it. Among the younger generation today, Su Han is the only one who has openly mastered this sword technique.

"Does the Master mean that the one who stole the Crimson Fire Lotus was a disciple of my Qingyun Sect?" an elder said in a deep voice.

"I dare not make a rash judgment," said Master Yangyan calmly. "But swordsmanship cannot be faked. I have come here today for two reasons: first, to ask your sect for assistance in the investigation; and second, to see what makes your sect's young prodigy, who has mastered the Nine Swords of Tianya, so extraordinary."

Having said all that, his intention couldn't be clearer—he wanted to test Su Han's swordsmanship. (End of Chapter)