Chapter 60: The Unflappable Grand Elder

However, when Li Jianzi mentioned expulsion from the sect, Ye Tian’s expression instantly turned cold. Ye Tian remained motionless for a long time before Li Jianzi pressed him again, “Ye Tian, do you realize the gravity of this matter? Are you not going to explain yourself?”

At that moment, Ye Tian seemed to make a momentous decision. He deliberately avoided Chu Xier’s gaze and declared resolutely, “I truly have no knowledge of this matter!”

Upon hearing his words, Chu Xier’s body seemed to lose all strength; tears streamed from her eyes, and despair was written across her face.

The Grand Elder spoke coldly then: “There’s no need to drag this out any longer. In my view, Chu Xier wanted to keep the Nine-Turn Pill for herself to use later—there’s no mysterious mastermind, it’s simply the young sect leader trying to protect this girl. But since the young sect leader is impulsive and youthful, I won’t pursue it further. However, Chu Xier must be severely punished. Guards, take her outside and execute her!”

As soon as the Grand Elder finished, several fierce-looking men came forward and seized Chu Xier, dragging her out from both sides.

Li Jianzi quickly shouted, “Stop!”

The men glanced over in confusion and, seeing it was Li Jianzi, froze in place.

Li Jianzi ignored them, strode forward, and pulled Chu Xier back. “The truth is not yet clear—who dares lay a hand on her?”

Seeing this, the Grand Elder directly questioned Li Jianzi, “Young sect leader, are you planning to cover up for her?”

“I said the matter is not yet clear!” Li Jianzi replied coldly. “Grand Elder, you’re so eager to execute—could it be you’re involved in this, or perhaps she’s seen some secret of yours?”

With just a few words, Li Jianzi left the Grand Elder speechless.

“I… of course not!” the Grand Elder stammered. When did this young man’s words become so sharp?

Li Jianzi then turned to Chu Xier and spoke softly, “Junior sister Xier, rest assured—as long as I’m here, I won’t let you suffer injustice.”

“Senior brother Li, I misjudged you before… You don’t have to concern yourself with me,” Chu Xier said, tears of gratitude streaming down her face, gazing at Li Jianzi with deep affection.

“If I don’t care for you, who will?” Li Jianzi replied.

Hearing this, the despair in Chu Xier’s eyes eased into a trace of comfort, and she managed a bittersweet smile.

Summoning her courage, Chu Xier said, “I can reveal the truth, but I need a moment.”

With that, she walked up to Ye Tian.

Ye Tian grew flustered as Chu Xier approached, his eyes darting about, unable to meet hers. “Chu Xier, you’ve brought such trouble upon yourself—better stay away from me now.”

Chu Xian’er stared into Ye Tian’s eyes. For her young master, she was now disappointed, yet she still couldn’t let go. “Young master, do you truly know nothing about this?”

“Even though the young sect leader said that if you reveal the truth you can save me, and the price is only expulsion from the sect—even so, you claim ignorance?”

Li Jianzi hadn’t expected Chu Xier to still harbor feelings for Ye Tian.

Alas, is she still blind to the situation?

Ye Tian glanced around and saw everyone’s eyes fixed on him. After a brief hesitation, he spoke heartlessly, “Do you want me to take the blame for your misdeeds? I cannot betray my conscience!”

Upon hearing Ye Tian’s response, a determination finally shone in Chu Xier’s eyes.

She no longer spoke to him but stepped back and addressed the assembly: “I don’t know what the Nine-Turn Pill is, what it does, or where it’s hidden. I have no knowledge of it.”

At her words, the Grand Elder suddenly barked, “What do you mean? If you know nothing, how did you steal the Nine-Turn Pill?”

Li Jianzi intervened, “Grand Elder, let her finish.”

Chu Xier continued, “What I want to say is that I was indeed instructed by someone to do this—the mastermind is not me.”

She glanced at Ye Tian, and all eyes followed hers toward him.

Li Jianzi sighed inwardly—at last, this scoundrel’s true colors would be revealed.

Ye Tian, seeing the situation, hurriedly knelt and cried out, “I am innocent! Elders, please see the truth—this has nothing to do with me!”

Li Jianzi smiled faintly. “No one here has accused you—why are you so flustered?”

Ye Tian was stunned, bowing his head in silence.

Chu Xier looked at Ye Tian, clenched her little fists, and hesitated for a long while. As everyone grew impatient, she finally relaxed her fists, raised her head, and said, “He was the one who instructed me to do this. He told me where the pill was hidden!”

Ye Tian lifted his head and glared at Chu Xier, shouting, “You’re lying—I did not!”

“What else do you have to say?” Li Jianzi demanded.

“I didn’t—I'm innocent!” Ye Tian protested.

Li Jianzi replied coldly, “Now the person involved has accused you, and the evidence is clear. Execute Ye Tian at once!”

“Does anyone object?” Li Jianzi scanned the assembly.

All the elders nodded slightly, acknowledging that the young sect leader had truly changed and was now capable of bearing responsibility.

Ye Tian, seeing this, looked hopefully toward a certain spot. Following his gaze, Li Jianzi realized he was looking directly at the Grand Elder.

Previously, Li Jianzi had focused on clearing Chu Xier’s name and overlooked one question: How did Ye Tian know where the Creation Pill was hidden?

Just then, Li Jianzi announced, “Wait, I have another question!”

Hearing this, the Grand Elder’s heart tightened. “Isn’t the truth already clear? What more does the young sect leader want?”

“The truth? I’d say it’s a case of light dawning after darkness,” Li Jianzi replied, glancing at the Grand Elder before turning to Ye Tian. “The Nine-Turn Pill is such a precious treasure, not even the elders know its location—how did you know so clearly?”

“I…” Ye Tian faltered at Li Jianzi’s question.

Li Jianzi pressed sternly, “Speak quickly, or no one can save you!”

Frightened by Li Jianzi’s threat, Ye Tian dared not speak.

Seeing Ye Tian’s silence, Li Jianzi warned again, “If you don’t speak, you’ll be executed immediately.”

Yet Li Jianzi’s threat seemed to have no effect—was this boy truly unafraid of death? Or did he believe his master could save him?

Impossible. Given his master’s current state, he could barely protect himself—how could he possibly save Ye Tian?

Could it be that the pill had restored his master’s strength?

At that moment, Li Jianzi caught a mocking smile on Ye Tian’s face, and suddenly felt he’d hoisted a stone only to crush his own foot.

He recalled that Ye Tian had been watching Elder Wei all along.

Could it be that his reliance wasn’t his master, but the Grand Elder?

No—there’s something wrong with the Grand Elder.

Li Jianzi’s heart jolted: In a life-or-death crisis, a person’s eyes will instinctively seek out what matters most to them.

Ye Tian kept looking at the Grand Elder—could it be…