Chapter 655: The Rise and Fall of the Eleven Great Witches
Zhang Yuelu raised an objection. “Though the Longevity Stone Heart is deeply connected to the original Longevity Stone, it is still a later creation. By the time the Daoist Order began the creation project, Ancient Wuism had long been extinguished, and the Lingshan Paradise had already vanished. Even if one stumbled into Lingshan by sheer luck, the opportunity they gained should have been a Longevity Stone, not the later Longevity Stone Heart.”
Yao Pei paused, seemingly deliberating her words. “Once this record is submitted, the Great Sages will understand. It’s not at all surprising for the Lingshan Paradise to contain a Longevity Stone Heart.”
Zhang Yuelu immediately took the hint. “You mean that after the Daoist Order began the creation project, someone had entered the Lingshan Paradise and left behind certain creations. While most people are unaware of this, the Great Sages know the truth. That’s why you’re so sure we don’t need to explain anything and that we can just submit the record to the Golden Tower Council as is. Any seeming inconsistency will make it appear that we haven’t tried to protect Tian Yuan, thereby making the report more credible. If we go out of our way to explain things, it would only be gilding the lily.”
“Qing Xiao, you are indeed as sharp as they come.” Yao Pei smiled. “In that case, I’ll be frank with you. The second-generation Earthly Preceptor had once entered the Lingshan Paradise.”
Since the revival of the Daoist Order, the count for the preceptors has been reset. Thus, the first Earthly Preceptor was Shangguan Wan, and the second Earthly Preceptor was an ancestor of the Yao family.
Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu instantly understood why Yao Pei knew so much about the Lingshan Paradise and why she was so certain that it could indeed contain a Longevity Stone Heart.
Zhang Yuelu picked up Yao Pei’s notes and said, “Great. I’ll bring this to Acting Deputy Hall Master Li, Superintendent Lu, and Special Envoy Han. If they have no objections, I will submit it to the Golden Tower Council immediately so Tian Yuan can be exonerated as soon as possible.”
Yao Pei had no objections.
After Zhang Yuelu left, Qi Xuansu intended to follow, but Yao Pei blocked his path.
Facing this sober version of Yao Pei, Qi Xuansu could not help but feel uneasy. He straightened his posture and asked warily, “Daoist Yao, is there something else?”
Yao Pei said bluntly, “I can say with certainty that when Madam Qi left the Yao family, she did not take the Longevity Stone Heart with her.”