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The onlookers craned their necks, trying to get a closer look. Even the disciples from other arenas stopped fighting and looked over to watch the spectacle.

The referee elder's face darkened, and he said in a deep voice, "Shen Yue used banned substances; the evidence is conclusive. The Myriad Swords Sect is declared the loser of this match, and Shen Yue is immediately disqualified. Further proceedings will be decided by the Enforcement Elders Council!"

The crowd was in an uproar, never expecting that Shen Yue had actually taken banned drugs. Their gazes towards the Ten Thousand Swords Sect were filled with disdain.

The disciples of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect below the stage all looked grim, wishing they could disappear into the ground.

Sect Leader Shen looked at Shen Yue on the arena, his hands trembling for a long time before finally clenching slowly and then letting go helplessly.

Shen Yue's legs went weak, and she collapsed to the ground.

Looking at Shen Yue, who was slumped on the stage, Luo Yiyan suddenly felt a little disheartened.

He didn't feel any relief; he just felt physically and mentally exhausted.

He turned around and met Lin Zhixu's gaze. The two stood a few steps apart and silently stared at each other for a moment.

Luo Yiyan was the first to look away and bowed to the elder judge: "Thank you for upholding justice, elder."

Soon someone wanted to take Shen Yue away.

Shen Yue struggled violently, ignoring the elder referee's spiritual energy restraints, and screamed, "It wasn't me! The banned drug wasn't mine! Gu Yunxuan gave it to me!"

"I didn't know it was a banned drug. He said it was just a pill to temporarily boost cultivation, and that it wouldn't cause any harm! He said it would be enough to defeat Luo Yiyan. I was blinded by greed and believed him. I really didn't know it was a banned drug!"

Although they didn't know who Gu Yunxuan was, everyone's eyes turned to the seats of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect.

The disciples of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect subconsciously looked at Gu Yunxuan, then looked away as if they had been electrocuted, making room for him in the crowd.

Gu Yunxuan froze, even under the gazes of everyone.

He took a half step back, just as he was about to speak in his defense, when suddenly a palm strike landed squarely on his chest.

Gu Yunxuan was sent flying, crashing heavily into the stone pillar behind him. As he slid to the ground, a trickle of blood escaped from the corner of his mouth.

Sect Leader Shen stood before him, his expression a mixture of rage and heartache at being betrayed.

His voice was hoarse and trembling, almost a roar: "It was you! How dare you trick my daughter into taking banned drugs! I've always treated you well, taking you as my disciple, teaching you swordsmanship, raising you like my own son! Why did you do this?!"

Gu Yunxuan clutched his chest, looked up at Sect Leader Shen's face, which was contorted with rage, and felt that the current situation was too absurd.

He had meticulously planned this for so long, pushing Shen Yue to the front lines step by step, letting her test the bottom line of the Tianheng Sect, and letting her intensify the conflict between the two sects, while he could simply sit back and reap the benefits.

But he forgot that when a fool is driven to the brink, the first person she bites is often the one who helped her.

He took every precaution he could, but he forgot that the person he should have been most wary of was the fool beside him, whom he had used as a pawn.

Gu Yunxuan clutched his chest, a metallic taste rising in his throat, but he forced it back down.

He slowly straightened up, leaning against the stone pillar, his mind racing.

No matter how much hatred or resentment he feels right now, he cannot admit it.

Admitting it means certain death.

The only one who can save him now is Sect Leader Shen, who is standing right in front of him.

When he looked up, his expression had changed to one of wronged injustice, and his eyes were even red: "Master, I didn't! You know me, I've always been timid and have never dared to do anything out of line."

"I did give her that pill, but I really didn't know it was a forbidden drug! My junior sister said she wanted to take revenge on the people of Tianheng Sect in the competition, and asked me to think of a way for her."

"I initially refused, but she's your daughter. She threatened me, saying that if I didn't help, she would complain to you that I was disrespectful to her. I didn't dare offend her, so I had no choice but to bite the bullet and find a pill that could temporarily boost my cultivation. Master, I really thought it was just an ordinary spirit-replenishing pill!"

"You're talking nonsense!" Shen Yue shrieked, interrupting him. "When did I ever threaten you? You were the one who came to me, saying you had a way to make me win! It was you! You were the one who egged me on from beginning to end!"

"Father! Believe me, I really didn't threaten him! He did it on his own initiative. He said that as long as I beat Luo Yiyan in the competition, Senior Brother Yan would look at me differently!"

The two of them started arguing back and forth, each trying to outdo the other in volume and grievance.

The heads of the disciples watching swirled back and forth between the two like rattles.

This trip was totally worth it! I witnessed such a huge dog-eat-dog show. Even if we lost, it was still worth it!

The elder referee's face was ashen. He raised his hand and used another burst of spiritual light to trap Gu Yunxuan completely. He interrupted the two's endless accusations with a cold tone: "Enough! The elders will make their own judgment on the truth of the matter."

"Guards, separate them and detain them. After the competition, hand them over to the Elders' Council for trial!"

Shen Yue was dragged out by the disciples, her arms held tightly. She desperately turned back to look at the familiar figure, crying her heart out, "Father! Father, save me! Father, I know I was wrong! I really know I was wrong!"

Sect Leader Shen was exhausted, but after all, she was his daughter, and he couldn't just ignore her.

He turned to the elder referee, about to speak, but the elder only gave him a cold look, his gaze showing no room for leniency.

"Take them away." The elder referee withdrew his gaze, raised his hand to signal the disciple in charge to continue, and said, "The rest of you, continue the competition."

Shen Yue and Gu Yunxuan's figures disappeared at the edge of the arena, and the crying gradually faded away.

The disciples who had been watching gradually turned their attention away, still wanting more.

On the stage, Luo Yiyan and Lin Zhixu were about to leave when a hesitant shout came from behind them.

Luo Yiyan paused, turned around, and saw Yan Qinghan walking over.

"Regarding Shen Yue..." Yan Qinghan seemed to be carefully choosing his words, then took a deep breath and said solemnly, "I am very sorry. Although I never get involved in her affairs, she is ultimately a member of the Myriad Swords Sect. The Myriad Swords Sect cannot escape responsibility for what she did."

Luo Yiyan blinked, clearly not expecting Yan Qinghan to apologize first. He paused for a moment, then his tone softened: "It's alright, it's not your fault. Every sect has its scoundrels; we just need to do our part."

Yan Qinghan raised his eyes slightly upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashing in them.

He had expected Luo Yiyan to be sarcastic or indifferent to him like he had been at Tianheng Sect, but he was surprised that Luo Yiyan would comfort him. He felt a little more appreciative of Luo Yiyan.

"I've always wanted to fight you fair and square, but it seems I won't have the chance this time. When the opportunity arises, I'll visit you again at the Tianheng Sect. Please don't refuse me this time."

Luo Yiyan nodded: "If you really want to learn swordsmanship, I'm always ready."

Yan Qinghan also thought of what he had done during his time at Tianheng Sect, and his face turned red.

"I was just a little unconvinced at the time. Immortal Venerable Wucang rejected me but took you as his disciple instead. I wanted to know where I was lacking compared to you."

"I wanted to see if you were truly qualified to be the disciple of Immortal Venerable Wucang. Now it seems you are indeed a gentleman, and I am ashamed to admit my inferiority."