Bing Li quietly sent a voice transmission to remind Yunxi of the identities of those gathered in the grand hall.
"The one seated firmly at the place of honor is Chen Yebai Zhēnzūn of Yixian Gate. He is a master who cultivates the Dao through medicine. His temperament is famously gentle, and he has deep connections everywhere in the Spirit Domain. Most cultivators are willing to give him a great deal of face in their dealings, since no one can ever guarantee they won't need Yixian Gate's help with healing or specialized medicines one day.
Indeed, plenty of cultivators currently owe Yixian Gate various favors; consequently, when the beast tide suddenly broke out in the Wolong Mountain Range, many came from far and wide to provide their support.
The first male cultivator seated below him on the right is Hua Ye Zhēnzūn from Huaxian Gate. Their relationship with Yixian Gate has always been exceptionally good, so they rushed over as soon as they received the news of the trouble.
Opposite him is the female cultivator dressed in the elegant lotus pink robe, Yuan Shuang Zhēnzūn of Liucui Pavilion. She is a powerful Mahayana Zhēnzūn who specializes in body refinement techniques. It's said that Liucui Pavilion was originally formed as the exclusive guard force of Yixian Gate in the distant past, though they later became independent and established their own sect.
Hao Ran Zhēnzūn doesn't need an introduction for you. The refined man seated across from him, whose presence is full of a quiet scholarly air, is Xiao He Zhēnzūn. He entered the Dao through the elegant paths of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting; furthermore, he is extremely popular with the various female cultivators throughout the Spirit Domain."
With Bing Li's all-knowing introduction guiding her, Yunxi gained a solid basic understanding of everyone present in the hall. She cupped her hands respectfully toward the group and said, "This junior is Ran Xi of the Haoran Sect. Greetings to all the esteemed Zhēnzūn gathered here."
Li Li, perched in her arms, raised her two front paws and cupped them together as well. She squinted her grape-like eyes as she bowed to the five Zhēnzūn, looking especially obedient and harmless.
Ancestor Hao Ran chuckled at the sight and said, "Ran Xi, have your internal injuries recovered from the battle?"
"Thank you for your concern, Ancestor. This junior's injuries are no longer an issue after several days of rest."
Ancestor Hao Ran waved his hand dismissively and said, "Sit down and let's talk."
"Yes."
Yunxi saluted once more and took her seat directly below Ancestor Hao Ran.
A faint, practiced smile also appeared on Bing Li's delicate face as she stepped forward. She followed up the introduction with a respectful salute and said, "This one is Bing Li, known as the well-informed. Greetings to all the esteemed Zhēnzūn."
Chen Yebai Zhēnzūn, seated comfortably at the head of the hall, spoke up. "This time, we really must thank Bing Li Xiaoyou. If you hadn't spread word to the surrounding areas ahead of time that something was wrong at Wolong Mountain, Yixian Gate might not have been able to prepare our defenses in advance."
Bing Li clasped her hands with a flattered expression on her face and said, "Zhēnzūn is too kind. This was merely what Bing Li should have done. Otherwise, how could I accept those generous cultivation resources as payment?"
"Even if Yixian Gate paid spirit stones for the information, our thanks are still owed for the promptness," Chen Yebai said gently.
After Bing Li sat down again in her place, everyone's gaze shifted as one toward Yunxi.
Chen Yebai cleared his throat lightly to gather his thoughts and said, "I have heard that Ran Xi Xiaoyou obtained the Yixian Gate inheritance from the Weiyu Realm. Is this report true?"
Only then did Yunxi raise her eyes to meet his and nod. "That's true. This junior passed the many difficult trials set by Yixian Gate's Ancestor in that realm and became a successor to the line. In order to keep Yixian Gate's inheritance in the Weiyu Realm from being cut off after my departure, this junior opened a separate peak within the Haoran Sect to pass down the traditional alchemy techniques. It can be considered fulfilling the promise I made to that Ancestor at the time."
After hearing this explanation, Chen Yebai said with a look of visible relief, "To be honest, back then, the sect elders arranged for outstanding disciples to ascend to the Spirit Realm precisely to preserve the core of Yixian Gate. At the time, we were heavily targeted by evil cultivators, all because of the rumors surrounding the Yinxi medicine."
Yunxi immediately knew the key point of the discussion had arrived and went along with it. "Zhēnzūn is right. Ever since this junior obtained Yixian Gate's inheritance, I have also been targeted by evil cultivators. They have attacked me again and again without rest, using both brute force and coercion, trying to pry the Yinxi medicine formula from my hands.
But this junior is truly wronged in this matter. That specific Yinxi medicine formula was already destroyed by the Ancestor guarding the sect long ago. It isn't included in Yixian Gate's inheritance at all.
That Ancestor said Yixian Gate was wiped out precisely because of that cursed Yinxi medicine, so the source of disaster couldn't be passed on to a junior like me. To keep me from following the same tragic path, he destroyed the formula outright before handing me the rest.
Unfortunately, those evil cultivators never let go of any chance to invade the Weiyu Realm for profit. In the end, they still found me and even tried to threaten me with the lives of my various clan members. Thankfully, the sect stepped in to protect us, and those evil cultivators were all exterminated.
After that incident, I was repeatedly hunted by evil cultivators across the realms. Luckily, I still had some luck on my side, so I managed to escape the danger each time."
Yunxi paused here for a moment, glanced at Chen Yebai's thoughtful expression, and continued her explanation.
"After ascending to this realm, I stayed in seclusion in the Chuyue Mountain Range the entire time to stabilize my foundation. I only left recently to travel. While traveling, I heard that evil cultivators used Yinxi medicine to infiltrate various sects and clans in the Spirit Domain perfectly, hiding their true nature. On top of that, they pointed the origin of this new Yinxi medicine straight at me.
Not to mention that I don't have the formula at all; even if I did, I wouldn't hand it over to evil cultivators. I'm utterly incompatible with them by nature.
From the moment I have achieved my cultivation and stepped out of the sect doors, I have been fighting evil cultivators for hundreds of years. Instead of claiming I would willingly hand over the Yinxi medicine formula to them, it would be more believable to say I would betray my own sect."
Ancestor Hao Ran glared at her after hearing that bold statement. "What nonsense are you talking about, girl?"
"Ancestor, it's just an analogy to prove my point," Yunxi said quickly.
After soothing Ancestor Hao Ran's irritation, she finally looked back at Chen Yebai and said, "Zhēnzūn, if the appearance of this Yinxi medicine has nothing to do with me, then it can only have leaked from your own sect."
"Ran Xi, don't speak recklessly about matters without having clear evidence," Ancestor Hao Ran interrupted at the right moment to maintain order.
"Ancestor is right," Yunxi replied obediently.
Yuan Shuang Zhēnzūn, Hua Ye Zhēnzūn, and Xiao He Zhēnzūn, who hadn't spoken until now, exchanged glances at the sharp back and forth between Yunxi and Ancestor Hao Ran. Hua Ye Zhēnzūn was the first to speak.
"Ran Xi, these are all just your words. How do you prove that the Yinxi medicine leak has nothing to do with you?"
Yunxi wasn't about to fall into a self-proof trap that would put her on the defensive and instead countered, "Then what evidence do the Zhēnzūn have to prove that the Yinxi medicine came from my hands?"
Everyone turned their gaze toward the head of the hall. Chen Yebai stroked his long, snow-white beard and said, "Then what evidence does Ran Xi Xiaoyou have to prove that the Yinxi medicine leaked from Yixian Gate?"
Yunxi had been waiting for that exact question to be asked. She stood up from her seat and cupped her hands firmly. "Zhēnzūn, this junior has evidence."
The grand hall fell into an extremely quiet stillness. No one had expected her to actually have proof prepared.
Chen Yebai withdrew his hand from his beard and said, "Ran Xi Xiaoyou, then present your evidence to us. Otherwise, the matter of the Wolong Mountain beast tide won't be easily resolved."
Yunxi nodded. "This junior understands the gravity of the situation. Earlier, I accidentally saw a direct disciple of Yixian Gate in contact with the evil cultivator Han Qingwen during my travels. After that meeting, this disciple deliberately approached me and Bing Li Daoyou under a false pretense. She personally said that the Yinxi medicine came from Yixian Gate."
"Who was it?" someone asked from the side.
"Xia Yiwan."
Chen Yebai frowned at the mention of the name. "She was gravely injured by a cultivator who infiltrated the sect to steal the sect-guarding spirit plant. She is barely clinging to life right now and could fall at any moment."
Yunxi thought for a moment and said, "Then we will search her soul to find the truth."
"No!"
A powerful female voice rejected Yunxi's suggestion outright before she could finish.
Yunxi looked at the late Unity stage female cultivator who flashed into the hall with a surge of energy. Her eyes flickered with recognition, but she didn't speak further to the newcomer.
The woman shot Yunxi an unfriendly look, then cupped her hands to everyone present and said, "You Zisang greets all the esteemed Zhēnzūn. I'm Xia Yiwan's master, and I don't agree to soul searching my disciple."
The hall was extremely quiet once more. Everyone could understand You Zisang's protective stance over her disciple's well-being.
Yunxi sighed softly, the sound barely audible in the quiet of the hall, and said, "If that's the case, then we will change the method to soul questioning instead."
"Soul questioning?"
You Zisang clearly doubted the method she proposed. Bing Li's eyes turned toward her as she sent a private voice transmission. "Ran Xi, you even know soul questioning? This is the first I have heard of you possessing such a technique."
"I don't," Yunxi replied.