“Senior, what are you talking about? I don’t understand at all,” Lu Ming said, looking at the Tiansheng Sect Ancestor with a face full of confusion.
Internally, however, he was startled. Had this man really discovered that he was the one who stole their immortal spirit water?
That shouldn’t be possible. His cloak of invisibility had never failed him before!
Or was it simply unable to hide him from a Mahayana cultivator?
He felt a cold sweat break out on his stomach. He didn’t dare let it show on his forehead or back, fearing someone would notice!
Wait, no!
If the Ancestor actually knew he had stolen the water, would he be acting this polite?
Even if they were wary of the Qingshan Sect’s former strength, they wouldn't be this civil. After all, the Qingshan Sect hadn't brought any experts along on this trip!
‘This old man is wicked. He’s trying to trick me.’
Realizing the other party was likely bluffing, Lu Ming couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.
The Tiansheng Sect Ancestor stared at Lu Ming and continued his bluff, “My divine sense swept over the area today. I saw you go to the Immortal Pool, kidnap Xiao Chen, and bottle up all the immortal spirit water inside!”
“What?!”
“How is that possible?!”
“Woof woof! Old man, you’re framing us...”
...
As soon as the Ancestor finished speaking, the group—Big Yellow, the turtle, and the rest—erupted into a noisy protest.
Lu Ming also feigned shock!
While Big Yellow and the others were making a scene, they were internally shocked by how bold Lu Ming had been. He had actually stolen all of their immortal spirit water!
“Your immortal spirit water is gone?” Lu Ming asked with a look of pure astonishment, his eyes carrying a hint of gossip-seeking curiosity.
He looked exactly like someone who just wanted to enjoy the drama, with none of the panic of a thief who had been caught.
The Tiansheng Sect Ancestor fixed Lu Ming with a sharp, piercing gaze. ‘Could it really not be him?’
“Lu Ming, stop acting. My divine sense also caught you stealing the water!” the Grand Elder added, backing up the Ancestor.
It didn't matter who was blamed for the theft, as long as no one accused his own grandson.
Lu Ming looked at Grand Elder Xiao playfully. “If you caught me stealing, why didn’t you stop me? And why didn’t you save your grandson?”
The Grand Elder froze. Why wasn't this kid following the usual script? Why would he question the Ancestor like that?
While the Grand Elder was dazed, Lu Ming’s voice rang out again, filled with grievance.
“Ah, one really must be born into a good family. If Grand Elder Xiao wants to frame someone, he just frames them. Unlike me... my life is bitter. I can only be the Saint of the Qingshan Sect, and I even managed to lose the sect itself...”
The members of the Tiansheng Sect were collectively thinking: ‘Are you a master of sarcasm or what?’
The position of Saint of the Qingshan Sect was something countless people envied. And what on earth did he mean by ‘losing the sect’?
In their lives, they had seen people lose face, lose magical artifacts, lose spiritual herbs, and even lose immortal spirit water. But they had never seen someone lose an entire sect.
The Grand Elder’s face darkened, his aura surging with anger. This damn Lu Ming was clearly targeting him.
Just then, a sound transmission talisman suddenly appeared before him.
The Grand Elder was startled. It couldn’t be from his grandson, could it? He raised his hand, intending to intercept and destroy it.
Boom!
But before he could act, he was blocked by the Tiansheng Sect Ancestor.
The Ancestor looked at the Grand Elder with cold eyes. He had been suspicious of the outsiders, but now his suspicion shifted to the Grand Elder. Was it truly an inside job?
The Tiansheng Sect Leader and the others also turned their gazes toward the Grand Elder.
Stunned by the collective scrutiny, the Grand Elder felt a sense of dread. ‘I’m screwed...’
In the tense silence, Xiao Chen’s voice rang out from the talisman.
“Grandfather, the Sect Leader knocked me unconscious at the Immortal Pool! He even dumped me near the Danji Sect...”
As soon as the message ended, everyone’s eyes snapped toward the Tiansheng Sect Leader.
“I knew it! The culprit is always the person you’d least expect...” Lu Ming chimed in.
The Tiansheng Sect Leader was completely bewildered. ‘What is going on? How did this get pinned on me?’
“It wasn’t me! I’ve been in my residence all day, I haven’t even stepped out the door!”
Meanwhile, the Grand Elder’s face turned an ashen shade of black. He had been offending people, muddying the waters, and trying to protect the thief because he thought it was his own grandson. He never imagined that after all that work, he was actually helping someone else get away with it!
Thinking of the bottles of immortal spirit water hidden among the pots and pans in his storage bag, the Grand Elder was so furious he nearly spat blood. ‘Damn it, he used me!’
“Gu Yanming, you wretched thief who stole the water!” the Grand Elder roared, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at the Sect Leader.
The Tiansheng Sect Ancestor said grimly, “Little Gu, what do you have to say for yourself?”
“Ancestor, Xiao Chen is framing me! I didn’t go to the Immortal Pool at all today!”
The Ancestor turned to the Grand Elder. “Have Xiao Chen return immediately so we can settle this face-to-face.”
The Grand Elder didn't dare delay and quickly sent a sound transmission talisman to Xiao Chen.
A moment later, a flash of light appeared. Xiao Chen emerged from the teleportation array.
Seeing Xiao Chen’s bruised and swollen face, everyone turned to look at the Sect Leader with speechless expressions. ‘You really didn’t hold back!’
The Tiansheng Sect Leader thought desperately: ‘It wasn't me!’
Lu Ming’s mouth twitched when he saw Xiao Chen’s state. He hadn't intended to beat him into such a mess; he was just worried the boy would wake up too soon, so he had added a few rounds of turtle fists for good measure.
“Xiao Chen, why are you framing me?” the Tiansheng Sect Leader shouted, rushing toward him before the boy could even speak.
Startled, Xiao Chen quickly retreated to the Ancestor’s side. “Framing you? I saw your Cloud-Piercing Halberd hit me right in the head with my own eyes! Look, this bump is the proof!”
“Hiss...” Xiao Chen couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air from the pain.
“I never expected you to be this kind of Sect Leader.”
“Sect Leader, the Tiansheng Sect has treated you well!”
“Sect Leader, sigh... you’ve truly disappointed me!”
The Second Elder and the others began their accusations immediately.
“Enough!”
The Ancestor let out a cold huff, staring intently at the Sect Leader. After all his precautions against outsiders, it really was a case of a thief within the house!
Seeing the disappointed looks from everyone, the Sect Leader felt his heart sink. “Ancestor, I am truly being framed! As the Sect Leader, it’s easy for me to get a chance to enter the pool. There’s no reason for me to steal! It was him! He must be the one who stole the water and pinned it on me!”
The Sect Leader pointed a trembling finger at Xiao Chen.
The Ancestor frowned. If it were an outsider, he could just perform a Soul Search. But this was one of their own; he couldn't risk turning a core member into an idiot with a Soul Search.
He turned back to Xiao Chen. “You said the Sect Leader knocked you out. At what time?”
Xiao Chen replied without hesitation, “It was during the Hour of the Snake this morning. I had just entered the pool when he struck me!”
The Grand Elder’s heart skipped a beat. ‘Wait...’
Something was wrong. His grandson was lying. At that exact time, the Grand Elder had gone to the Sect Leader’s place to return some spirit stones. To save a bit of face, he had even stayed to drink two cups of tea with him!
Hearing the time, the Sect Leader shouted excitedly, “At that time, Grand Elder Xiao was with me returning spirit stones! He can testify for me!”
But as soon as he said it, the Sect Leader realized he had spoken too soon. ‘Damn it, they’re family! Why would he testify for me? If anything, he’ll testify that I wasn’t there!’
Sure enough, the Grand Elder’s voice rang out.
“Ancestor, I never went to see the Sect Leader at that time...”
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