This Is What a Villain Is Like

Chapter 166: Chapter 92: This Duplicitous Woman Colludes with the Blood Immortal Sect, a Flower Crushed into Mud

"I knew it. Those disciples from the Jasper Pool Sect always claim to follow the righteous path, so pure and holy, but in secret, they’re more hypocritical and filthy than anyone."

"As the Saintess of the Jasper Pool Sect, Ling Zhuyun brazenly brought a strange man along with her a while back. I heard that at the tea-brewing gathering, she even confronted that person from the Prime Minister’s Mansion for his sake..."

"Hmph, it’s all just for show. In secret, who knows what her relationship with that strange man really is. Only common fools like you would worship her like that."

Inside the great hall, an uproar erupted, filled with the sounds of debate and denunciation. The crowd was truly incensed.

Some of the younger, beautiful female cultivators spoke with open mockery, their faces filled with sneers and schadenfreude.

They had always despised Ling Zhuyun’s pure and holy demeanor. ’We’re all women, so why is she the one who gets all the praise and adoration?’

’Serves her right. Now that her hypocritical mask has been torn off, it turns out she was secretly colluding with the Blood Immortal Sect. What right does she have to show her face in public anymore?’

Qi Heng’s words also struck a sore spot for many people.

Many young disciples from various sects and Dao Lineages had arrived in groups of more than ten, but now only two or three remained. They had suffered heavy losses outside the Purple Mist Mountain Range. Some were still injured even now, their faces pale and weak.

Faced with a level of danger far beyond anyone’s imagination, whether they could leave safely this time and return to their sects had become an uncertainty.

Qi Heng’s words also served as a sobering wake-up call for many.

’Even if we’re lucky enough to win the opportunities and inheritance here, we won’t get out alive to enjoy them.’

Not to mention, the remnants of the Blood Immortal Sect were still lurking in the shadows, ready to strike and wipe them all out in one fell swoop.

Of course, there were also some lucky cultivators who hadn’t been attacked by anyone from the Blood Immortal Sect, and they felt fortunate.

Even powerful Immortal Sects like the Ancient Inquiring Sect, Biyou Grotto Heaven, and the Human King Hall had not been spared. This was enough to demonstrate how arrogant and audacious the Blood Immortal Sect had become.

Still, many people found it hard to believe Qi Heng’s claims. They refused to believe that Ling Zhuyun, the Saintess of the Jasper Pool Sect, could collude with the remnants of the Blood Immortal Sect to harm everyone.

They all knew Ling Zhuyun to be holy and otherworldly, dedicated to helping all living beings. She traveled the world, upholding justice, punishing the strong, and helping the weak. When she saw evil, she showed no mercy, not even to the disciples of the Nether Abyss Sect.

Many of them had received her help before and couldn’t believe she was capable of such a thing.

"Qi Heng, you failed in your pursuit of her, and now you harbor malicious intent, deliberately slandering Saintess Zhu Yun! Do you have any proof for these claims?"

A member of the younger generation snorted coldly. He was dressed in brocade robes, with a handsome, righteous face, and a Jade Flute hung at his waist. He was also from a great and famous sect, the Illusory Sound Sect, and was followed by many of his fellow disciples.

His words earned the agreement of many. They all turned to look at Qi Heng, believing his accusations were baseless slander.

It was a classic case of unrequited love turned to hate, making him want to destroy Ling Zhuyun.

Qi Heng said coldly, "Proof? We saw it with our own eyes. How could it be fake? I can swear on my Dao Heart that not a single word I’ve said is false. We witnessed it all."

"That man with Ling Zhuyun, Ye Ming, is a member of the Blood Immortal Sect."

"We saw him colluding with people from the Blood Immortal Sect with our own eyes. They even called him ’Senior Brother.’ That strange array outside was set up by an expert from the Blood Immortal Sect."

In the corridor outside the great hall, Jiang Lan and his group arrived.

Ling Zhuyun had already heard the angry shouts from within.

Her expression beneath the veil showed no trace of emotion.

But Jiang Lan noticed her fair, delicate hands, hidden within her sleeves, clench involuntarily before relaxing again.

Her heart was clearly not as calm as her expression suggested.

Li Daoyi, Luo Ying, Ao Xu, and the others all frowned. They looked at Ling Zhuyun with doubt and suspicion, wondering when she had started colluding with the Blood Immortal Sect.

’Could there be more to the incident where Jiang Lan was taken away?’

Seeing them all staring at Ling Zhuyun with wariness and suspicion, a faint, oppressive aura began to spread from them, enveloping her.

Seeing this, Jiang Lan waved his hand and said, "There’s no need to be tense. I know better than anyone that Saintess Zhu Yun is innocent."

"Yes, Sir."

At this, Li Daoyi and the others relented and averted their gazes.

Ling Zhuyun glanced softly at Jiang Lan. She tried her best to maintain a calm expression, but her mind was in turmoil.

’She never expected that, out of nowhere, she would be branded a sinner who colluded with the Blood Immortal Sect.’

’And be blamed for the tragic deaths of the younger generation from factions like the Ancient Inquiring Sect, Biyou Grotto Heaven, the Human King Hall, and the Celestial Demon Hall, all of whom perished here.’

’And was Ye Ming really colluding with the Blood Immortal Sect? Qi Heng and his followers were even willing to swear on their Dao Hearts.’

The sounds of angry refutations continued to pour out from the great hall. ’It’s right in front of me. I could walk in and silence them in just a few steps.’

Yet at this moment, she felt caught off guard and stood frozen in place.

After a moment, she took a soft breath.

Ling Zhuyun strode forward. An invisible pressure radiated from her, and a gentle force spread out, pushing aside the many cultivators in her path.

"Who’s that?"

a cultivator snapped in annoyance. But then he noticed the approaching woman and froze on the spot, unable to believe his eyes.

"The Saintess of the Jasper Pool Sect... Ling Zhuyun?" he choked out.

Soon, many other cultivators noticed Ling Zhuyun. They never expected her to suddenly appear at a time like this, let alone enter the great hall.