Cultivation Begins with Daily Intelligence Reports

292: The bright moon appears on Zhantai.For a time, various fabricated “evidence” and deliberately misleading “accusations” poured down on Lin Jingyu like filthy mud, attempting to drown him in the venom of public criticism.

More and more Disciples were drawn over, pointing and gesticulating at Lin Jingyu, who stood encircled in the center with an unnaturally calm expression.

Their gazes were filled with suspicion and disdain, and many were openly gloating.

After all, compared to Zhou Hao, who was quite well-known among the Inner Sect Disciples, had reached the Peak of Ninth Level Qi Refining, and was a certain Foundation Establishment Genius...

Jingyu was a complete stranger, virtually unknown. In many people’s preconceived notions, the weaker party was often the easier one to accuse.

”Tsk tsk, he looks decent, but he’s actually a petty thief!”

”To dare to steal the Inner Sect robes of our Qinglan Sect and sneak in to commit larceny—what audacity!”

”It’s a good thing Senior Brother Zhou Hao exposed him with his sharp eyes, otherwise who knows how many more fellow Disciples would have suffered!”

The smug look of a successful schemer was practically spilling off Zhou Hao’s face. He pressed closer, his voice carrying undisguised threats, attempting to crush Lin Jingyu with his Aura:

”Lin Jingyu! The evidence is conclusive, and you were caught red-handed. What do you have to say for yourself?

Now, obediently hand over the Medicinal Pill, cripple your cultivation, and get out of the Qinglan Sect. Perhaps, since this is your first offense, I, Zhou, can still beg for mercy from the Senior Brothers of the Law Enforcement Team and leave you a way out!

Otherwise... once the Law Enforcement Team arrives, they will extract your soul and refine your spirit, leaving you unable to live or die!”

He deliberately emphasized “Law Enforcement Team” and “extract your soul and refine your spirit.” His sinister tone, combined with the Spiritual Pressure of the Peak of Ninth Level Qi Refining, attempted to completely shatter Lin Jingyu’s psychological defenses.

However, facing the surging accusations and threats, although Lin Jingyu’s heart was churning with rage like subterranean magma, his eyes grew colder and calmer, deep as an ancient, unmelting cold pond, showing not a single ripple.

He understood instantly that this was absolutely not a casual conflict, but a meticulously planned, despicable conspiracy targeting him!

The mastermind behind this, aside from the narrow-minded Feng Yaoyao, who harbored resentment because of the Thunder Mountain incident, could be no one else!

To dare to frame and entrap someone so brazenly in broad daylight within the Qinglan Sect—they were utterly lawless and reckless to the extreme!

They had undoubtedly targeted him because he was a newcomer with a shallow Foundation, assuming he couldn’t resist, intending to completely trample him into the mud and ensure he could never rise again!

However, these people overlooked one key point—he, Lin Jingyu, was not some petty sneak who had slipped in secretly.

Instead, he was an existence who had been formally introduced by Outer Sect Elder Xuan Yunzi, had met Sect Master Yun Lan Immortal Master, and had personally been granted the status of an Inner Sect Disciple! This relationship alone meant he was far from someone they could casually manipulate!

Just as Zhou Hao’s Aura was at its Peak, the surrounding Disciples’ chatter reached a crescendo, and Feng Yaoyao curled her lips into a malicious arc, believing her scheme had succeeded...

A clear, melodious voice, carrying undeniable authority, seemed to pierce through the clamor and clearly enter the ears of everyone present:

”What is all this commotion about?”

Everyone looked toward the source of the sound, only to see a young man slowly entering the Mission Hall entrance. He wore a moon-white brocade robe, possessed a tall and straight figure, eyes as bright as stars, and an extraordinary and refined demeanor.

His face was handsome, and a subtle smile played on his lips, but when his eyes opened and closed, they carried an inherent air of arrogance. Who else could it be but the True Disciple Zhan Tai Mingyue?

Zhan Tai Mingyue’s gaze swept indifferently across the scene, finally landing precisely on the blue-robed youth who was encircled by the crowd yet stood straight as a pine tree. The smile on his lips immediately transformed into genuine joy!

He had come specifically for Lin Jingyu. As a True Disciple, he naturally heard the news immediately when a major event like Ascending the Immortal Ladder occurred within the Sect.

He just hadn’t expected it to be Lin Jingyu, with whom he had shared a slight connection during the Thunder Mountain Dao Debate several days prior.

”Brother Lin! You truly came to the Qinglan Sect!”

Zhan Tai Mingyue laughed heartily, strode forward, and completely ignored Zhou Hao and the others whose expressions had drastically changed. He warmly patted Lin Jingyu’s shoulder, his tone extremely familiar.

His attitude and that address, ”Brother Lin,” were like a sudden clap of thunder, instantly silencing the entire Mission Hall!

The smugness and arrogance on Zhou Hao’s face instantly froze, like a toad caught in ice, replaced by unconcealed panic and disbelief.

The surrounding Disciples who had just been shouting the loudest were now silent and terrified, their faces pale, subconsciously shrinking back, wishing they could crawl into a crack in the ground.

Zhan Tai Mingyue! A top-tier existence among the Qinglan Sect’s True Disciples, a famous figure on the hidden dragon ranking list!

His status was far beyond what these Inner Sect Disciples could compare to. Yet, he was so warm and friendly toward Lin Jingyu, even treating him as an equal? What exactly was Lin Jingyu’s background?

”Senior... Senior Brother Zhan Tai.”

Zhou Hao forced out a smile uglier than a cry, stepped forward, and bowed, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

Zhan Tai Mingyue acted as if he had just noticed him. His gaze shifted from Lin Jingyu and fell upon Zhou Hao, becoming bland, distant, and carrying a hint of coldness:

”Oh? It’s Junior Brother Zhou. I seemed to hear a commotion here just now, and it involves my Fellow Daoist Lin. What exactly is going on?”

His tone was calm, yet it possessed the inherent coercion of a superior, making Zhou Hao’s scalp tingle.

Lin Jingyu sneered inwardly, but his expression remained calm. He briefly recounted what had just happened, finally stating plainly:

”...This Senior Brother Zhou insisted that I stole his Tier 2 Medium Grade ningyuan pill, provided ’witnesses and physical evidence,’ and was about to ’handle’ me according to Sect rules.”

Hearing this, Zhan Tai Mingyue’s pale purple eyes instantly chilled, becoming like an ice lake in the depths of winter. His sharp gaze pierced Zhou Hao like a physical object.

Under that gaze, Zhou Hao felt a chill rush straight from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. His blood seemed about to freeze, his legs uncontrollably went weak, and he nearly collapsed on the spot.

”You accuse Fellow Daoist Lin of stealing your Medicinal Pill?”

Zhan Tai Mingyue’s voice was not loud, but it carried an invisible, suffocating pressure that made the air in the entire Mission Hall seem to solidify.

”Y-yes... Senior Brother Zhan Tai, the evidence... the evidence is conclusive...”

Zhou Hao braced himself and repeated his previous claims with a trembling voice. At this point, he was past the point of no return and could only commit fully, hoping that Zhan Tai Mingyue was merely passing by and wouldn’t investigate further.

If he admitted to the slander now, his fate would only be worse.

”Conclusive evidence?”

Zhan Tai Mingyue curled his lips into a cold, deeply mocking arc. ”Based only on your baseless claims? Based on these few worthless ’witnesses’? Zhou Hao, do you take this Immortal Master for a fool, or do you believe the eyes of every fellow Disciple in this hall are blind?”