I, who was turned into a woman by the Jade Maiden Master, want to rebel against the Heavenly Gang.

She spread her fiery phoenix wings and soared into the air, sixteen sharp swords appearing around her. The gleaming blades were aimed directly at the Qingyuan Sect members, ready to strike.

And she doesn't just have one casket of swords. With a mere thought, all the broken swords in the sword tomb could be unleashed in a devastating barrage. Let's fight to the death; nobody gets away with this today!

A disciple of the Jade Maiden Sect at the Qi Refining stage actually used the Taihua Sword Sect's [Ten Thousand Swords Technique]... Everyone present was dumbfounded.

The people of Qingyuan Sect have already begun to activate their spells in preparation for war.

Yang Jiuzhen could no longer contain herself. Her eyes widened as she roared, "Qin Rufeng! Are you insane?" She was about to draw her sword as she spoke.

Yun Yishui quickly pressed her down, saying, "I'll do it!" Then he used the Mirror Flower Water Moon technique to summon a water clone puppet, which flew up and kicked Qin Rufeng down, interrupting her Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix.

At this moment, Yun Yishui's true form was behind Yan Qingping.

Yan Qingping was able to move again. Yun Yishui whispered in her ear, "My sister risked her life for you!" Then he poured his true energy into Yan Qingping's body again.

Actually, even without Yun Yishui's reminder, Yan Qingping knew what to do. It's just that she didn't have the ability to do so just now.

Now, with Yun Yishui's spiritual energy flowing into her, she turned and glared at Tao Yuening. An invisible sword aura shot straight for her throat!

With a clang, the sword energy was blocked.

Others might not be able to react, but Yan Yu of the Taihua Sword Sect had been keeping a close eye on Yan Qingping. The moment she made a move, Yan Yu recognized it.

The scene was deathly silent... but it was like the calm before the storm.

Tao Yuening said with a wronged expression, "You witch, you want to kill me to silence me? Heh, too bad I'm not meant to die..."

"Pfft!" Before she could finish speaking, her head was severed...

This time, there was no magical protection. Blood spurted two feet high from her neck, and her head rolled wildly on the ground. Finally, it stopped face up. Tao Yuening's eyes rolled back; she was dead.

It was still "Ambush from Ten Sides" that took her head, but it was Qin Rufeng who made the move.

Yan Yu of the Taihua Sword Sect looked at Qin Rufeng with a surprised expression. She couldn't understand...

It wouldn't be too far-fetched for her to learn the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix skill, but how could she learn the Ambush from Ten Sides skill in such a short time?

However, regardless of the circumstances, killing someone in front of you completely changes the nature of the crime.

Yan Qingping stepped forward, pointed at the bloody head, and shouted, "This demoness colluded with demonic cultivators and slandered us. It is our duty to eliminate demons and protect the righteous path, and we have now killed her."

PS:

This chapter counts as today's.

Thank you all for your support. I will continue to work hard. Your support is my greatest motivation.

Thank you all, orz

Chapter 54 Truth

"I'll take responsibility for my own actions. If you have any grudges or grievances, come at me!" Yan Qingping's eyes widened in anger, her brows furrowed with righteous indignation.

Many people at the scene could tell that the second sword aura was unleashed by Qin Rufeng. However, since the sword aura of "Ambush from Ten Sides" is invisible, it could be interpreted in any way.

Now that Yan Qingping has taken the blame, even though Tao Yuening has lost her head, the Qingyuan Sect has not directly pointed the finger at the Jade Maiden Sect.

However, Qin Rufeng couldn't let Yan Qingping bear the burden alone; now she was ready to take action regardless of the consequences...

Yun Yishui grabbed Qin Rufeng, who was about to step forward, and said in a very firm tone, "Leave it to me! Trust me! Just leave everything to me!"

Qin Rufeng still trusted her adopted older sister, so she suppressed her anger for the time being.

Then Yun Yishui pressed down on Yang Jiuzhen's hand, which was about to draw his sword, and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. Leave this matter to me; everything is still under control."

Yang Jiuzhen asked in a low voice, "Is it too late?"

“There’s enough time,” Yun Yishui nodded and said. “It’s more appropriate for me to make a move than for you.”

At this moment, Yan Yu of the Taihua Sword Sect had already leaped into the air, unleashing a flying sword that shot straight at Yan Qingping. Although it was only a single sword strike, the spiritual energy it contained was extremely powerful.

Yan Qingping was prepared to take the blame and die, but Yun Yishui pushed her away.

Yun Yishui formed hand seals and chanted an incantation, using magic to create a water sphere in front of him. Yan Yu's flying sword pierced the water sphere, instantly slowing it down.

It seemed like the attack had been blocked, but the water sphere burst a moment later. The sword pierced through the mist and struck Yun Yishui squarely in the chest, passing right through him!

"Sister!!" Qin Rufeng was furious when she saw this. She was about to fight back when Yang Jiuzhen stopped her.

Seeing Yang Jiuzhen's calm expression, and then looking at Yun Yishui... not a drop of blood had been shed. Remembering how clever and resourceful his older sister was, and how she never suffered a loss, Qin Rufeng regained his composure.

Regardless, Yan Yu had accidentally injured Yun Yishui. Since Yun Yishui neither retaliated nor questioned her, Yan Yu had no way to continue and could only stop for the time being.

At this moment, the people from Qingyuan Sect stepped forward one after another. The leading Taoist, Qingxuzi, said, "Hall Master Yun, I'm afraid you can't handle this matter. That Yan Qingping dared to kill my disciple in front of us. There is absolutely no reason for us to let this go."

Qingxuzi's tone was very firm, "Although this matter has nothing to do with your Jade Maiden Sect, your junior colluded with Yan Qingping to kill a member of my sect. Please hand her over to us for disposal. Then we can let this matter pass and avoid damaging our relationship."

After hesitating for ages, he finally flipped the table...

The attitudes of the Taihua Sword Sect and the Qingyuan Sect are very clear. Several other sects have also joined their side and echoed their sentiments.

Hidden Moon Valley even disregarded the fact that their disciple was clearly hollowed out by Gu worms, but instead insisted on the fact that he was dismembered by a chaotic sword attack, and insisted that Yan Qingping was a sinner.

Qin Rufeng could sense the power struggle between the various parties, but he couldn't understand the motives behind it... He just thought they were all a bunch of lunatics.

However, it's clear that Tao Yuening's death itself wasn't important; what was more important was that she was killed in front of the Qingyuan Sect.

Qin Rufeng couldn't help but recall the plot of "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer". Fei Bin, the Great Songyang Hand of the Songshan Sect, was killed by Master Mo Da. Zuo Lengchan did not want revenge, but used this incident to force Master Mo Da to agree to the merger of the five sects.

As long as you agree, we'll still be good brothers. It's just a human life, like nobody else has one.

Qin Rufeng understood that neither he nor Yan Qingping necessarily had to die. However, protecting them would require the Jade Maiden Sect to pay a heavy price.

The disciples were killed on the spot, and the Qingyuan Sect, occupying the moral high ground, dared to openly demand a price.

Moreover, Qin Rufeng knew he had really messed up the sect. The Jade Maiden Sect, which was originally unrelated, was inexplicably dragged into a power struggle.

Now that the balance of power has shifted, Yang Jiuzhen is in a difficult position... Although Yun Yishui doesn't seem to be in any danger, he is just panting heavily and doesn't say a word.

Bei Mingkun, the master of Seven Star Island, seems more like a peacemaker. His demands and bottom line are unknown, but he doesn't appear to be stopping the fighting between other sects. The line he just drew was more like a whistle announcing the start of the match.

Just at this critical moment, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind... "Who dares to hurt my disciple!"

Qin Rufeng turned his head and saw a figure in white, as white as snow, gracefully approaching on ice lotus.

"Master? Master!!" She could hardly believe her eyes; Liu Bailian had actually come!

With his master's arrival, Qin Rufeng felt as if a thousand-pound burden was no longer on his shoulders...

The taut string snapped with a "crack." My legs immediately went numb, and I felt the world spinning before I collapsed.

Liu Bailian flashed forward and hugged Rufeng tightly. "Rufeng... your hands! My disciple, you've suffered so much."

Qin Rufeng had lost the fierce courage she had shown moments before, the kind that would risk everything to confront the Qingyuan Sect. She had been as solid as ice, but now, nestled in Liu Bailian's arms, she had melted into water. She had been a valiant tiger, but now she had become a soft, yielding cat.

Qin Rufeng breathed a sigh of relief, while Liu Bailian felt a pang of heartache. Yan Qingping, watching the master and disciple's expressions, saw everything. Although happy, she was also filled with mixed emotions.

Not only Liu Bailian arrived, but also the Vermilion Bird Saintess Ji Xuelan. The usually arrogant Nangong Yue, upon seeing her master, burst into tears and buried her face in Ji Xuelan's arms.

Even if someone is exceptionally talented, they are still just a newcomer to the sect.

Yun Yishui's body instantly turned into flowing water, and the sword that pierced her chest fell to the ground with a clang.

This was merely a water clone; Yun Yishui's true form slowly emerged from behind Yang Jiuzhen.

Qin Rufeng finally understood where Yun Yishui's confidence came from. It was probably because she immediately tried to contact her master after the entrance to the secret realm disappeared.

Liu Bailian handed Qin Rufeng over to Yun Yishui, then stepped forward and shattered the ice lotus. The chilling aura beneath her feet instantly spread, overwhelming the entire area. She didn't even give Bei Mingkun any face.

Although no move was made, the mere release of a chilling aura was already enough to overwhelm some of the younger disciples from various sects.

Ji Xuelan, while channeling spiritual energy into Nangong Yue, inquired about the ins and outs of the matter.

Liu Bailian surveyed the crowd and asked sternly, "Who dares to injure my disciple? Step forward if you dare!"

Everyone frowned, knowing that this person wasn't there to "reason" but to fight.

Liu Bailian's angry expression said it all. Her motives were very simple... You all have your own agendas, but I only care about my disciple. You use your disciple's life as a bargaining chip for personal gain, but I only cherish my disciple like a precious gem.

Like teacher, like student. After Liu Bailian shattered the ice lotus and released freezing energy, Qin Rufeng's previous reckless behavior seemed to be forgiven by everyone much more...

Yan Yu of the Taihua Sword Sect seemed about to say something. Liu Bailian was reckless but not stupid; she immediately preempted Yan Yu and questioned, "Was I, the Hall Master of Kan Shui, injured by you?"

Yan Yu looked at Yun Yishui and said, "She's not injured."

Liu Bailian turned to Yun Yishui and asked, "Are you injured?"

Yun Yishui nodded. "Reporting to Your Majesty, I am injured."

Liu Bailian turned to Yan Yu angrily and said coldly, "She's injured!" As she spoke, several ice lotuses surrounded her.

Seeing this, Qingxuzi of the Qingyuan Sect stepped forward and said, "Those who cultivate the righteous path should prioritize reason in all things. Does the Holy Maiden intend to use her numbers to bully the weak?"

With numbers, there is power... to bully the few... Qin Rufeng realized, so this is the truth.

The Four Saints of the Jade Maiden Sect are second only to the Sect Master, holding a prestigious position and possessing formidable strength.

Now three of the four holy maidens have arrived: the Northern Black Tortoise, the Southern Vermilion Bird, and the Western White Tiger... Although we're missing the Azure Dragon to make a full mahjong table, we can still play some cards.

The other sects weren't lacking the strength to contend with the three Holy Maidens, but rather they lacked the resourceful Yun Yishui.

Yun Yishui was afraid that if something happened to Qin Rufeng, he wouldn't be able to explain it, so as soon as the secret realm gate encountered problems, he immediately tried to notify Liu Bailian. Liu Bailian naturally attracted Ji Xuelan, so the two of them came together.

They only just arrived since the secret realm gate disappeared, so it's definitely too late for other sects to call for reinforcements.

At this moment, Ji Xuelan stepped forward and said in a gentle tone, "Fellow Daoists, please calm down. I am already aware of the general situation, and I believe there must be some misunderstanding."

"May I ask, fellow Daoists, has anyone seen Han Ying of the Blood Shadow Sect?"

The Qingyuan Sect members were speechless, and Yan Yu of the Taihua Sword Sect had nothing to say either. Ji Xuelan continued, "Since no one witnessed it with their own eyes, what makes you say that Yan Qingping colluded with the Blood Shadow Sect?"

Qingxuzi said, "It was witnessed by my own sect members. Yan Qingping has already killed them to silence them! Your sect's disciples are still protecting the murderer. Is this the behavior of the righteous path?"

After hearing this, Ji Xuelan asked Yan Qingping sternly, "Have you ever colluded with the Blood Shadow Sect? Tell me the truth."

Yan Qingping bowed and said, "Reporting to Senior, there is absolutely no such thing. It was Tao Yuening of the Qingyuan Sect who surrendered to the Blood Shadow Sect and became an accomplice of the wicked."

"Thanks to the combined efforts of all the senior sisters of your sect, that demoness Han Ying was defeated. Although my cultivation level is low, I fortunately did not cause any trouble. I absolutely did not collude with demonic cultivators."

Ji Xuelan then asked Nangong Yue, "Is what she said true? Is she colluding with demonic cultivators? Is your junior sister Qin in league with her?"

Nangong Yue unleashed a torrent of fury at Qingyuan Sect, venting all the anger she had been holding back.

Then Ji Xuelan asked Xia Bailing and Qin Rufeng in a serious tone. Finally, she calmly said to Qing Xuzi and Yan Yu, "It seems that you have misunderstood this matter."

Qingxuzi's eyebrows trembled with anger. "You...you're crying wolf! What can you possibly find out by questioning yourselves? You've all conspired together, using your numbers to bully the few. Where is the justice in this?"

Chapter 55 passed just like that.

Ji Xuelan smiled and said, "Master Qingxu, don't be anxious. Right and wrong will be judged in its own way. Of course, it's not necessarily true that the more people there are and the louder their voices are. But it's also not necessarily true that the fewer people there are and the weaker their voices are."

"The side with more people might collude, but can't the side with fewer people just have one side of the story?"

"The disciples of the Qingyuan Sect are all of noble character and do not lie. Does that mean the disciples of my Jade Maiden Sect are of low character and speak nonsense?"

Qing Xuzi was about to speak but stopped...

Ji Xuelan immediately changed to a gentler tone and said, "That's why I said there must be a misunderstanding."

"Those Blood Shadow Sect are so cunning, they can even control people with Gu worms." She frowned as she looked at the corpse of the yellow-robed disciple from Hidden Moon Valley. "Then what's so surprising about them doing things that sow discord? We mustn't fall into the trap of these demonic cultivators."

Qingxuzi then said, "There may still be questions about this matter. How will you explain Yan Qingping killing my disciples?" He was referring to Yan Qingping, but his eyes were fixed on Qin Rufeng.

Ji Xuelan's attitude suddenly became serious, "A woman's innocence is being slandered, who can tolerate that?!"

“I think your sect’s disciple must have misunderstood, which is why I didn’t bring it up. If it’s a deliberate slander…” she said, looking at Liu Bailian, “I will definitely help my junior sister get justice for her disciple.”

Ji Xuelan cleverly avoided the "big problem" of colluding with demonic cultivators and instead shifted the focus to the "small problem" of "her daughter's innocence".

This problem may seem minor to the sect, but it is significant to the individual. Therefore, the conflict shifted from sectarian antagonism to personal conflict.

Everyone looked at Liu Bailian... and couldn't help but frown.

So you should listen carefully to what Ji Xuelan has to say.

Ji Xuelan continued, "Demonic cultivators are skilled in techniques of love, seduction, and illusion. Your sect's disciples must have been deceived by Han Ying's trickery."

"That demonic female cultivator used a vicious scheme to cause us righteous disciples to kill each other... How wicked is that?"

"The fault lies with Han Ying, not Yan Qingping. Your sect's disciple has already been harmed and tragically died by the demonic cultivator. If we knowingly commit a heinous act and still punish Yan Qingping, then the demonic cultivator's scheme will have harmed two people."

"If we were to do something that would hurt our loved ones and please our enemies, that demonic cultivator and witch would be laughing in her dreams."

At this moment, Chu Zhongtian of Qingyuan Sect stood up and retorted: "Indeed, Yan Qingping and Liu Ruyan are shameless and have corrupted the discipline of righteous sects."

Qin Rufeng felt depressed...

Although she and Yan Qingping had an accident, Chu Zhongtian and his group didn't actually see it; they were just trying to smear her.