Chapter 59: The Truth Exposed

The next day.

When Li Jian San stepped outside, Elder Liu Nan hurriedly rushed over, breathless and anxious.

“What’s happened? Speak clearly,” Li Jian San asked, unable to help his concern as he watched Liu Nan struggle to catch his breath.

“Young Master, please go to the Hall of Punishment at once! Chu Xi’er was caught stealing the Ninefold Elixir!”

Li Jian San was stunned at the news. “What? Xi’er stole the Ninefold Elixir? That’s impossible!”

The Ninefold Elixir was the prized treasure left by the founder, famed for its ability to help a cultivator at the Golden Core stage break through to a higher realm. Even when Shengjing Sect faced countless crises, Li Qingming never dared to use it, always intending to save it for Li Jian San’s future breakthrough. But for more than ten years, Li Jian San had shown little interest in cultivation, so the elixir was kept under strict secret protection.

Such a miraculous medicine—who wouldn’t covet it?

Li Jian San was shocked at the accusation against Chu Xi’er. Her thoughts were simple and pure; how could she commit such a petty crime? Had he misjudged her? There must be something suspicious at work.

Stealing the sect’s greatest treasure was, by the rules, punishable by death. With Chu Xi’er in such grave trouble, even Li Jian San’s protection might not save her. The thought made him rush with all his strength toward the Hall of Punishment, fearing that any delay would seal her fate.

When he arrived, he saw Chu Xi’er kneeling on the ground, surrounded by several stern-faced elders, and the Grand Elder with his striking purple hair. Seeing the Grand Elder made Li Jian San’s brows furrow; the situation had grown even more difficult.

Ignoring all else, he strode to Chu Xi’er, helping her to her feet. But when he saw the evident wounds on her body, his anger surged as he glared at the elders.

“You haven’t even properly questioned her, yet you’ve already resorted to violence. Isn’t this outrageous? Who gave you such authority?”

As he spoke, Li Jian San swept his gaze over all the elders present, his demeanor radiating an imposing sense of command, like a true ruler. The elders were taken aback.

“Is this truly the infamous troublemaker Li Jian San, the one everyone says is ignorant and unruly?” they wondered, each elder struck by the thought.

Then, the Grand Elder stepped forward, speaking calmly to Li Jian San. “Young Master, we witnessed this girl stealing the Ninefold Elixir with our own eyes through the Mirror of Insight in the Treasure Pavilion. Does the Young Master doubt the truth of what the Mirror records?”

Li Jian San’s expression faltered. The Mirror of Insight could monitor scenes within a certain range, much like surveillance cameras in his previous life—its accuracy was beyond dispute.

After a pause, Li Jian San turned to Chu Xi’er. “I know you’re not wicked at heart. Were you threatened by someone?”

At his words, Chu Xi’er raised her head. When her eyes met Li Jian San’s, she seemed about to speak, hope flickering briefly in her gaze—only for it to quickly fade away.

This subtle change could never escape Li Jian San’s notice. He grew ever more convinced there was something hidden behind all this.

He then shifted the topic. “The Ninefold Elixir isn’t something just anyone can use, is it?”

An elder replied, “It is the sect’s greatest treasure—only those at the Golden Core stage can safely use it. Anyone weaker risks being overwhelmed by its power and dying from internal explosion.”

At this, a worried look crossed Chu Xi’er’s face.

Seeing her expression, Li Jian San had already guessed the truth. Once the elder finished, all the other elders fell into contemplation. Given Chu Xi’er’s current strength, it was clear she hadn’t stolen the elixir for herself. Which meant—

Li Jian San seized the moment, pressing, “Therefore, there must be someone directing her from behind!”

Upon his words, the Grand Elder frowned. “You say someone else is involved—who would it be? You have no evidence, only baseless speculation. Are you deliberately trying to mislead us, to absolve the girl of guilt?”

Several elders began murmuring among themselves.

“This girl is indeed quite pretty. Could the Young Master be trying to protect her for her beauty?”

“It’s possible, very possible. I heard just recently the Young Master left with her, and neither returned all night…”

Li Jian San cleared his throat, slightly embarrassed. “I’m only concerned with the facts.”

“If you want evidence, I’ll reason it out for you.”

“Has any elder considered this: she only joined Shengjing Sect recently, so how could she possibly know the exact location of the Ninefold Elixir? Perhaps even you don’t know where it’s hidden. Clearly, there is a mastermind behind this, someone with deep knowledge of the sect’s secrets. It’s very likely one of Shengjing Sect’s high-ranking members.”

“As for who, I have a suspect…”

“You may not know, but there was another who entered Shengjing Sect alongside her—a young man named Ye Tian.”

“And he is the one closest to her. We can bring him forward for questioning.”

As Li Jian San finished, the system’s voice sounded in his mind: “Ding! System detects Chu Xi’er’s favorability toward the host has decreased by ten points.”

Li Jian San was speechless. Despite everything, she still tried to protect that scoundrel. She must be deeply poisoned…

Everyone agreed to Li Jian San’s suggestion, and soon Ye Tian was brought forth.

Standing below, Ye Tian glanced at Chu Xi’er. A flicker of unease crossed his eyes, but he quickly returned to calm.

Li Jian San asked directly, “Ye Tian, Chu Xi’er, who entered the sect with you, has stolen the Ninefold Elixir. Are you aware of this?”

Ye Tian looked up, meeting Chu Xi’er’s gaze, but he quickly avoided her eyes and replied resolutely, “I don’t know anything about it.”

Chu Xi’er’s breathing grew rapid, then she bowed her head in disappointment, as if resigned to her fate.

Li Jian San pressed further, “You don’t know? Are you joking with me? You two are the closest in all Shengjing Sect; how could you not know?”

Ye Tian responded coolly, “I barely know her. She just followed me around shamelessly, so I brought her to Shengjing Sect out of kindness. We have no relationship. Since arriving, I’ve kept my distance.”

“I never expected she would do something like this, stealing the sect’s treasure.”

Ye Tian spoke with a blank expression, as if he truly didn’t know Chu Xi’er.

Li Jian San continued, “Ye Tian, are you aware that Chu Xi’er has committed a capital offense? If you refuse to admit the truth, she will be executed today.

You both were recruited by me. If you err, I am also at fault. I’ll give you one more chance—if you confess what really happened, I can spare both your lives. The death sentence will be waived, but you will be expelled from Shengjing Sect.”

Chu Xi’er kept her expectant gaze on Ye Tian after Li Jian San’s words. When he mentioned sparing both of them, Chu Nan’s expression changed minutely.

Everyone waited for Ye Tian’s answer, but one face among them was particularly grim—especially after Li Jian San declared, “If you confess what happened, I can spare both your lives.”

That was the Grand Elder. Seeing the change in Ye Tian’s expression, his own grew darker than ever.

This matter could not simply be swept away…