After nine lifetimes of reincarnation, the yandere villainous heroine descends.

In the small courtyard on the west side of the Holy Maiden Temple, Elder Chu, the head of the Punishment Hall, was frozen in place by a shout of "Get out!"

Elder Chu's face instantly turned ashen. He stared intently at the old man who had spoken, scrutinizing him repeatedly.

A moment later, he seemed to suddenly recognize the person, his expression slightly surprised: "You are... the Supreme Elder? So old?"

Upon hearing this, the old man opposite him snorted coldly in dissatisfaction: "I didn't expect that there would still be someone in the Qingxuan Holy Land who recognizes me. I thought that there was no place for me in this Holy Land long ago."

This old man is the owner of the Spirit Bamboo Forest on the west side.

He was originally one of the Supreme Elders of the Qingxuan Holy Land. He was severely injured in the battle to besiege the Burial God Palace, and his cultivation level dropped. He was removed from his position as Supreme Elder.

After that, she faded from public view and lived in seclusion beside the Holy Maiden Temple. Apart from the Holy Lord Feng Wujiang, no one else knew about this.

At this moment, Elder Chu truly recognized the former Supreme Elder who had been silent for many years.

What are you doing here?

His aged gaze turned cold as he looked at Elder Chu, who had been radiating murderous intent just moments before.

"Eliminate the heretics from the Qingxuan Holy Land," Elder Chu replied in a deep voice, his expression calming slightly.

"An outlier?"

The old man frowned slightly. "What strange being is there in the Holy Maiden's Palace?"

"The Holy Maiden's disciple is an anomaly. He is a demonic spy planted in my Qingxuan Holy Land by the Heavenly Saint Sect."

Elder Chu's tone was icy.

In the backyard, Shen Shuchou had already heard the commotion and slowly walked out.

Upon hearing this, the old man remained calm: "Do you have any proof?"

"Of course."

Elder Chu said.

"Bring it here."

The old man spoke softly.

Upon hearing this, Elder Chu's expression shifted almost imperceptibly.

He hadn't expected the old man to insist on seeing the evidence, and it was clear that this former Supreme Elder was intentionally protecting Shen Shuchou.

At that moment, he could only briefly recount what had happened in the desolate ancient land.

Before the words were even finished, the old man suddenly retorted, "Ridiculous! To conclude he's a spy for the demonic path based on just a single statement?"

"Isn't that enough?"

Elder Chu's face darkened.

"That was admitted by Youji herself! If he had nothing to do with the Heavenly Saint Sect, why would Youji risk her life to protect him?"

The old man snorted coldly: "I have lived in Qingxuan my whole life and have never seen a rule that can convict someone based on just a single sentence."

"If I were to accuse you of colluding with the demonic path now, wouldn't you then be a spy planted in the Holy Land by the demonic sect?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the old man suddenly turned his head and looked into the courtyard: "Boy, stop hiding and peeking from behind. Come out and tell me, are you a member of the demonic path?"

Shen Shuchou no longer hesitated, slowly stepped forward, and bowed to the old man, saying, "Senior."

He then said in a deep voice, "I grew up in the mortal realm and have never had any connection with the Heavenly Saint Sect."

"Nonsense!"

Elder Chu interrupted sharply.

"Then how do you explain your affair with the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Saint Sect? I have already ascertained that you were adopted by her when you were a child!"

Upon hearing this, the old man frowned slightly and looked at Shen Shuchou.

Shen Shuchou said calmly, "This disciple did not know his identity beforehand, and only truly learned it when we arrived in the desolate ancient land."

"Boy, this matter cannot be cleared up by a single sentence. Whether you are a spy for the demonic path or not, come with me first."

Elder Chu sneered and was about to forcibly take the person away.

But before he could make a move, the old man coldly stopped him: "Enough."

"Without solid evidence, no one can take him away."

"Old man, this matter is not my own decision, but Elder Ye's own. As Elder Qingxuan, do you still insist on protecting a traitor from the demonic path?"

Elder Chu's expression turned cold, and he immediately invoked Elder Ye's name to exert pressure.

The old man spoke calmly: "Even if Ye Qing comes in person, she still needs to produce solid evidence."

Before the words were finished, a cold, sharp female voice suddenly came from outside the hall.

"You surnamed Cang, I thought you were no longer in Qingxuan, but it turns out you've been hiding here all this time, living a life of ignominy."

Upon hearing this voice, Cang Ming immediately retorted coldly, "Since you, Ye Qing, haven't left, why should I leave?"

"Cang Ming, are you truly determined to go your own way and protect this child?"

Ye Qing's voice drew closer again.

"I'm just being reasonable and following the rules."

Cang Ming sneered: "The laws of the Qingxuan Holy Land have never stipulated that a crime can be committed based on a single statement."

"And where is the Holy Maiden? I wish to see her."

Cang Ming continued to ask.

"The fact that the Holy Maiden accepted a disciple violated the sect's rules. Now she has voluntarily gone to the Qingxin Hall to recuperate and reflect on her mistakes."

Ye Qing's voice was cold and hard as iron.

Upon hearing this, Cang Ming's expression changed drastically: "Ye Qing, how dare you! The Holy Maiden's status is so noble, how could she be under your jurisdiction? What right do you have to allow her to go to the Qingxin Palace?"

"The matter of the Holy Maiden is the matter of Qingxuan!"

Ye Qing refused to budge an inch.

"Now that the Holy Lord is absent, I will take charge of Qingxuan's affairs. Cangming, I will spare you the punishment for overstepping your bounds because you were once a Supreme Elder. Now, get out of my way!"

"Insolence! Let's see who dares to make a move!"

Cang Ming roared, and his aura suddenly surged.

However, as soon as he finished speaking, Shen Shuchou stepped forward and bowed deeply to Cang Ming: "Thank you for helping me out, senior. This matter was caused by me, and I should take responsibility for it. I am willing to go to the Hall of Punishments with Elder Chu."

Upon hearing this, Cang Ming quickly reached out and pressed him down, saying in a deep voice, "Boy, I'm not here to help you out, I just can't stand people forcibly convicting you without distinguishing right from wrong!"

Even with Cang Ming's explanation, Shen Shuchou was unwilling to put him in a dilemma.

He already knew in his heart that this calamity was unavoidable no matter what, and moreover, everything was developing in the direction indicated by the system.

With this thought in mind, Shen Shuchou gently pushed away Cang Ming's hand and walked straight to Elder Chu, his expression calm and composed: "Thank you for your trouble, Elder."

Elder Chu's eyes flashed with surprise, followed by a barely perceptible sneer. He said coldly, "Boy, once you're in the Hall of Punishments, no matter what excuses you have, you won't escape your punishment!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Elder Chu's palm suddenly erupted with true energy, firmly locking down Shen Shuchou's meridians and controlling him.

Cang Ming witnessed this scene and, though he did not forcefully stop it, warned him with every word: "I'm telling you this now, if this brat loses a single hair in the Hall of Punishments, or suffers the slightest injustice, I will risk my old bones to seek justice from you!"

Elder Chu's expression changed slightly, but he dared not openly disobey. He merely gave a sinister snort, then turned and left with Shen Shuchou in tow.

"Qingxuan would never wrong any of his disciples."

Ye Qing's voice was clear and cold, devoid of any emotion.

A moment later, Shen Shuchou was escorted by Elder Chu to the east side of the Qingxuan Holy Land, and finally entered the solemn Hall of Punishment.

The moment he stepped into the hall, Shen Shuchou glanced around and suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure.

That was Qi Yuan, a dark-skinned boy who had fought alongside him in the Holy War.

Qi Yuan also happened to see Shen Shuchou, and his expression froze slightly. When he saw Elder Chu being escorted, he quickly bowed and greeted him: "Palace Master."

"Take this kid to Broken Wind Cliff and whip him ten times with the Soul-Slaying Whip."

Elder Chu, with a cold face, pushed Shen Shuchou forward.

Upon hearing this, Qi Yuan's expression changed drastically.

His surprised gaze swept over Shen Shuchou, then turned to Elder Chu, and hesitantly asked, "Palace Master, what... what crime has this Senior Brother Shen committed? Why is he being sent to Broken Wind Cliff and subjected to the Soul-Striking Whip?"

Broken Wind Cliff is a hellish place that all disciples of the Qingxuan Holy Land fear.

A fierce, biting wind howls day and night between the cliffs, each blade as sharp as a knife, piercing straight through flesh and gouging deep into the marrow.

Even disciples with strong physical cultivation could not hold out there for long.

If the torment at Broken Wind Cliff was merely physical pain, then the Soul-Striking Whip was the ultimate fear capable of annihilating all disciples.

This whip does not damage the physical body, but it can penetrate directly through the muscles and strike the soul fiercely.

Ordinary disciples, let alone endure ten lashes, would most likely lose their minds on the spot after just one lash.

If one cannot withstand it, one's soul will dissipate, one will become mentally impaired, or one may even perish on the spot.

"Just go when I tell you to! Stop with the nonsense! This boy is colluding with the Demonic Sect. If you dare show mercy, I'll punish you as well!"

After Elder Chu finished his stern rebuke, he suddenly leaned close to Shen Shuchou's ear and whispered menacingly.

"Boy, don't think that just because you're the Holy Maiden's disciple you're immune to my power. You killed my beloved disciple, and today I'll make you taste the power of the Soul-Striking Whip."

Shen Shuchou's expression remained calm as he simply asked, "Elder, aren't you afraid that one day the consequences of your actions will backfire and fall upon you?"

"You dare threaten me when you're about to die?" Elder Chu sneered. "You'd better get out of Broken Wind Cliff alive first!"

Shen Shuchou's face instantly darkened.