Senior sister, stop working and go home for dinner.

Chapter 336 Deciding the Outcome Through War

As soon as He Qingyun finished speaking, the hall fell into a deathly silence.

Most people present witnessed the scene of the "Soul-Chasing and Spirit-Stabilizing Plate" emitting a crimson light that soared into the sky last night. At this moment, He Qingyun was making a grief-stricken accusation, tears streaming down his face. With his bloodshot eyes and hoarse voice, anyone could feel the deep-seated hatred in his voice.

Many representatives from neutral sects exchanged glances, their expressions wavering.

Han Bailian sighed deeply at the opportune moment, his face showing reluctance: "Nephew Qingyun, please accept my condolences. The vengeance of Zhang Tianshi is truly a tragedy for our righteous path. However..." He turned to Qi Lan and Chen Anran, his tone sincere, "Elder Qi Lan, young friend Chen, the compass reading last night was indeed accurate. Today's public discussion is to ask you two for an explanation. If it is truly a misunderstanding, it is best to clarify it in public to avoid damaging our harmony."

Qi Lan leaned back in her chair, and upon hearing this, she lifted her eyelids slightly: "An explanation? Didn't we already give you one last night? If flashing a broken plate twice is considered evidence, then does that mean my cat sneezing is witchcraft?"

"Qi Lan!" An elder with a full white beard slammed his hand on the table behind He Qingyun and stood up. "Stop making trouble! The 'Soul-Chasing and Spirit-Stabilizing Disc' is a priceless treasure passed down through generations of Longhu Mountain, refined with the blood and sweat of successive Celestial Masters. It is specifically designed to subdue evil spirits and malevolent forces! Its perception is absolutely flawless! Last night, in full view of everyone, a red light pointed directly at your 'Meow Immortal Abode,' and you obstructed it in every way. Today, you treat it with such disrespect. Is this the behavior of an innocent person?!"

Qi Lan sneered, "A treasure? Specially designed to ward off evil spirits? Then I'd like to ask—" She suddenly sat up straight, her amber vertical pupils coldly sweeping over the people of Longhu Mountain, "This treasure is so effective, why didn't it ring when Zhang Tianshi was murdered? Now that he's been dead for months, it's ringing so loudly, pointing right at my shop's doorstep? Is it that your Longhu Mountain treasures are slow to react, or... is someone deliberately making it ring only now?"

These words caused an uproar in the room!

He Qingyun's expression changed drastically, and he said sharply, "Qi Lan! What do you mean by that?! Are you trying to frame Longhu Mountain for staging this whole thing and trapping you?!"

"I didn't say that," Qi Lan leaned back, her tone languid. "I'm just curious. According to you, this plate uses the resentment of Zhang Tianshi's blood and essence as a catalyst to specifically counter that demoness. When Zhang Tianshi was murdered, the demoness was present; why didn't the plate point her out on the spot?"

She paused, her gaze sharp as a knife: "Or perhaps... the 'trigger' in this plate wasn't left behind when Zhang Tianshi was murdered, but rather someone added it afterward?"

"How dare you!" Another elder from Longhu Mountain roared in fury, his spiritual energy surging. "Qi Lan! You have insulted Longhu Mountain's most precious treasure and slandered my senior brother, the sect leader. If we don't teach you a lesson today, what face will Longhu Mountain have left?!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already moved, striking out with a palm from a distance! A fierce gale transformed into a bluish-gray palm print, heading straight for Qi Lan's face! Wherever the palm wind passed, the air emitted a piercing shriek, clearly indicating that he was attacking in anger, leaving no room for retreat!

Exclamations erupted throughout the hall!

In the blink of an eye, a figure appeared in front of Qi Lan.

Chen Anran had stood up at some point, and with a wave of his hand, the spiritual energy in the entire room seemed to be drained away, leaving nothing in the world.

It is a small Qiankun Seal that can temporarily suppress the spiritual power of a region!

Chen Anran put it in his pocket.

The fierce palm print instantly became soft and weak. The elder who made the move had his pupils shrink, withdrew his palm, and took half a step back, his face filled with surprise and uncertainty.

Chen Anran slowly lowered his hand, and the power of the Lesser Universe Seal dissipated. Then, he calmly looked at He Qingyun: "Senior Brother He, this is a place for public discussion. It might not be appropriate to take action here, would it?"

He Qingyun stared intently at Chen Anran, his eyes bloodshot and ferocious: "Chen Anran! Your Yunyin Sect is protecting evil spirits, and Qi Lan has slandered my sect. If you don't give me an explanation today, I, He, will risk my life to seek justice for my master!"

"An explanation?" Chen Anran took a step forward, facing He Qingyun across the table. "What kind of explanation does Senior Brother He want? Is it for Fellow Daoist Qi Lan to prove his innocence, or for my Yunyin Sect to open its gates and allow you to search freely?"

"Search, of course!" He Qingyun declared resolutely. "The 'Soul-Chasing and Spirit-Fixing Compass' pointing to 'Meow Immortal Abode' is irrefutable proof! Today, every inch of 'Meow Immortal Abode' must be searched publicly! If we find no demoness, I, He Qingyun, am willing to commit suicide here to apologize to the Cloud Hidden Sect and Fellow Daoist Qi Lan! If we find her—" His voice suddenly rose, his eyes revealing murderous intent, "The Cloud Hidden Sect and Maoshan must give Longhu Mountain and the righteous path of the world an explanation!"

"Nephew He!" Feng Wenyuan stood up abruptly. "Searching private property is no small matter! Even if a search is necessary, there must be solid procedures! How can we mobilize such a large force based on a few words?!"

Jiang Yan also said in a deep voice, "That's right. Nephew He, I understand your eagerness for revenge, but righteous actions must follow established rules. If we forcibly search the properties of other sect elders today because of your own words, won't everyone live in fear in the future?"

Master Tianbao and Shen Zui's expressions instantly darkened.

Feng Wenyuan and Jiang Yan's voices of dissuasion still echoed in the hall, but Chen Anran suddenly raised her hand to stop them.

The hall fell silent instantly, and everyone looked at him.

Chen Anran's expression remained calm throughout. But at this moment, this calmness revealed an undeniable hardness, like black iron forged through countless hammer blows—cold, hard, and silent, yet containing an aura capable of cutting through everything.

"Senior Feng, Senior Jiang, there's no need to persuade us any further," Chen Anran said calmly. "We've reasoned with them enough. We believe we have a clear conscience. But it seems that reason and innocence are useless to those who are determined to pin the smear charge of 'colluding with a cult' on us."

His gaze shifted to He Qingyun, his eyes sharp as a drawn sword: "Senior Brother He, you keep talking about 'ironclad evidence,' and your cries of 'revenge for your master' are nothing more than a 'search,' to solidify your accusations and, incidentally, drag our Yunyin Sect and Maoshan down with you. Isn't that right?"

He Qingyun's eyes were dark and unyielding: "Chen Anran, don't try to change the subject! Allowing the search shows honesty; refusing shows guilt! The people of the world are here, and they will judge for themselves!"

"Public opinion?" Chen Anran suddenly laughed, but the laughter didn't reach her eyes; instead, it carried a hint of cold mockery. "Fine, then today, I'll give you your 'public opinion'!"

"Want to search my resort's properties? Sure!" Chen Anran said, each word deliberate, his gaze sharp as lightning, sweeping over the people of Longhu Mountain, over Han Bailian, and over every representative present with their varied expressions. "But not based on your baseless accusations, not based on that worthless piece of paper! My Yunyin Sect's mountain gate, the properties of my Yunyin Sect's guests, are not places anyone can simply search as they please!"

He took a step forward, and a faint light seemed to flash beneath his feet, causing the entire "Cloud Sea Hall" to tremble slightly with that step.

"Search if you want! Follow the rules of the cultivation world—strength is the standard, and victory is the deciding factor!" Chen Anran's voice resonated throughout the silent hall. "You Longhu Mountain people want evidence, don't you? I, Chen Anran, will stand right here today! You are all welcome to come up, whether it's a one-on-one fight, or... if you want to try to win by numbers!"