Profound Heaven Soul Sovereign

The moment Elder Dong’s right hand rested on Zhen Li, a look of terror appeared on Zhen Li’s face, as if he’d just seen something horrifying.

At the same time, the crowd could clearly see the Scorching Commerce Fire Martial Soul above Zhen Li’s head begin to flicker violently and unravel bit by bit—the telltale signs of a Martial Soul collapsing.

Across from him, Elder Dong wore a bewildered expression. He was clearly shocked and seemed to be attempting to do something, but the Scorching Commerce Fire above Zhen Li’s head didn’t stop collapsing.

In the recording, Zhen Li abruptly stood up, seemingly saying something in anger while his gaze toward Elder Dong was filled with horror and fear.

The recording came to an abrupt end there...

The hall fell silent.

Everyone was replaying the scene they had just witnessed, each of them inwardly stunned.

"Master Zhen Li, why don’t you tell us what exactly happened," Qi Liming said with a cold snort.

"Yes." Zhen Li glared at Elder Dong with resentment and said through gritted teeth, "A few days ago, I accidentally injured my Martial Soul while cultivating, so I came to Profound Light Pavilion to seek treatment from a master. I trusted Profound Light Pavilion’s reputation, so I let my guard down completely. I did as this Master Dong Boson asked, releasing my Martial Soul and awaiting his treatment."

At this, a look of terror crossed Zhen Li’s face as he continued angrily, "But who would have known? The moment this so-called Master Dong Boson’s right hand touched me, a sinister and bizarre surge of Soul Power shot out from his palm and invaded my Martial Soul. I couldn’t react in time. By the time I came to my senses, my Martial Soul was already collapsing."

"That is the scene you saw in the recording."

"I thought Dong Boson was trying to kill me, so I fought back. But then he actually did attack me viciously. My Martial Soul was collapsing, and I had to use every ounce of my strength to escape. You all know what happened next."

"That’s bullshit!" As soon as Zhen Li finished, Elder Dong retorted furiously, "I didn’t use any Soul Skill on you whatsoever! When I placed my hand on your shoulder, I hadn’t even channeled my Soul Power yet. Your Martial Soul started collapsing for no reason! I tried to stabilize it, but then you suddenly attacked me, so I had to fight back."

"Hahaha, for no reason?" Zhen Li said, his voice dripping with resentment. "You’re a Soul Refiner yourself. Don’t you find your own words childish? My Martial Soul was perfectly fine, so why would it suddenly collapse? And it just so happened to start collapsing the very moment your right hand touched my shoulder? The truth is now plain for all to see, yet you still dare to make excuses?"

"That..." Elder Dong was at a loss for words. Even now, he couldn’t figure out why Zhen Li’s Martial Soul had suddenly started to collapse.

’Unless... there’s only one other possibility. Zhen Li did this on purpose.’

’But Zhen Li isn’t a Soul Refiner. It would be extremely difficult for him to do something like that.’

Just as this doubt surfaced in Elder Dong’s mind, Zhen Li suddenly voiced the exact suspicion. "Are you thinking I might have collapsed my own Martial Soul? Think about it. Do you really believe that’s possible? Let’s not even get into whether I *could* do it. Even if I could, what would be my motive? To frame you? Would I really risk my own future, my prospects, and even my life for that? Do you think anyone is that stupid?"

The surrounding crowd began to whisper among themselves.

Admittedly, Zhen Li had a point. For those who had harbored some doubts about him, their suspicions now weakened considerably.

A Martial Soul’s collapse was no small matter. First, it was extremely difficult to recover from; no Soul Refiner would dare claim they could guarantee a full recovery for a collapsed Martial Soul.

Second, the consequences were severe. At best, one’s cultivation level would plummet, making future breakthroughs nearly impossible. At worst, it could be fatal.

Profound Light Pavilion had indeed taken business from the Ancient Pill Tower, so the latter had a motive for a setup.

But the idea that the Ancient Pill Tower would risk the life and safety of its own head Alchemist just to frame the Profound Light Pavilion seemed inconceivable to the crowd.

Su Xiuyi and the others looked on with grim expressions, listening to the murmurs of the surrounding Martial Artists, unsure how to argue back.

For a moment, the Profound Light Pavilion was caught in an impossible situation.

"This is a den of villainy that schemes to murder and harm the innocent! How can we stand by and let them continue their evil ways? Today, the Ancient Pill Tower will eradicate this Profound Light Pavilion and restore justice to the people of Celestial Capital Prefecture!"

Qi Liming declared this with righteous conviction, his face a mask of fury.

CLAP. CLAP. CLAP. CLAP.

"Well said! Wonderfully said! Master Qi of the Ancient Pill Tower is truly a paragon of righteousness, a saint of compassion. So selfless, willing to sacrifice until the very end."

Just then, the sound of applause suddenly rang out, exceptionally jarring in the tense hall.

Along with the applause came a cool, detached voice, laced with a hint of mockery that was impossible for anyone to miss.

"Who?"

Qi Liming’s face was livid. He whipped his head around in a rage, only to see a young man emerging slowly from the crowd. A faint smile played on his lips, and his eyes were as deep as the stars.

It was Ye Xuan, who had been watching from the sidelines for some time.

"Master Qi Liming, this is that Xuan Ye," Master Hongde sent via voice transmission, his expression grave.

’He is Xuan Ye?’ Qi Liming’s pupils contracted, but a savage sneer crept onto his lips.

"Young Master Ye!" Su Xiuyi and his men were overjoyed, calling out as if they were grabbing onto a lifeline.

The sudden shift in their demeanor stunned everyone present.

The crowd began to murmur again. Ye Xuan’s name had spread since the opening of the Profound Light Pavilion. Those with reliable sources of information knew that the true master of the pavilion was not its former head, Pavilion Master Su of Xiuyi Pavilion, but this young man known as Xuan Ye.

"Young Master Ye, about what happened with Zhen Li of the Ancient Pill Tower..." Elder Dong hurried forward, his expression full of shame.

Ye Xuan waved a hand. "I know. Be patient."

He then turned to the group from the Ancient Pill Tower and sneered. "Master Qi of the Ancient Pill Tower, what an impressive display of authority. And you, the fraud Master Hongde, and Vice Master Xi Yichun. Long time no see. What, have you come to cause trouble at my Profound Light Pavilion again?"

"Cause trouble?" Qi Liming’s gaze went cold. "Sir, you had best look clearly. We are here to demand justice."

"Oh, so that’s how it is," Ye Xuan said nonchalantly. "It seems I’ve misunderstood you all. Heh. I heard what happened. This must be the so-called Master Zhen Li, yes? Tsk, tsk. Master Zhen Li, you are certainly a careful one. To come to my Profound Light Pavilion to have your Martial Soul treated by a Soul Refiner, and you even thought to record the process with a Crystal Ball. Tsk, tsk. It makes me curious... surely Master Zhen Li is aware of the consequences of being distracted while one’s Martial Soul is being repaired?"

Ye Xuan chuckled, his tone dripping with mockery and disdain, his words full of insinuation.

Everyone present was taken aback. ’That’s right,’ they thought. ’Master Zhen Li came to the Profound Light Pavilion to have his Martial Soul repaired. Why would he deliberately record the process with a Crystal Ball? Everyone knows that during a soul repair, the patient must be completely focused. The slightest lapse could easily cause the procedure to fail.’

"You..." Zhen Li’s face paled. He had realized this loophole himself. Thinking fast, he said, "Hmph, so what of it? I am in the habit of keeping a record of my affairs. I do the same even when I’m performing Alchemy."

"As for the consequences, I am naturally aware of them. However, as a Seventh Grade, Lord Level Alchemist, multitasking is hardly an issue for me. It wouldn’t affect the repair of my Martial Soul in the slightest."

Zhen Li said with an air of arrogance.

Ye Xuan acted as if he had a sudden epiphany. "Oh, so that’s how it is. It seems I’ve underestimated Master Zhen Li. But you know, the one I admire even more is the Ancient Pill Tower’s Master Qi..."

Ye Xuan turned to Qi Liming and chuckled derisively. "Tsk, tsk. A moment ago, Master Zhen Li hadn’t said a single word, yet Master Qi already knew that he had recorded the collapse of his Martial Soul. Not only that, you even knew exactly what part of the event was recorded. Heh heh, Master Qi, you truly are omniscient."

Qi Liming’s face instantly went pale.

He suddenly realized it. Zhen Li hadn’t said a thing earlier, yet he had directly told him to produce the Crystal Ball. ’This...’

Qi Liming’s expression flickered several times before he let out a cold snort. "Master Zhen Li is an Alchemy Master of my Ancient Pill Tower. I know his habits and personality quite well. I knew he had a habit of keeping records, which is why I spoke up. This proves nothing! You’re just talking in circles, trying to cover up the evil deeds of your Profound Light Pavilion with pointless quibbles..."

"Oh, is that so?" A roguish smile played on Ye Xuan’s lips. "So, let me get this straight. Master Zhen Li from your Ancient Pill Tower comes to my Profound Light Pavilion for treatment, and it just so happens that you—the Master of the Ancient Pill Tower—along with your Vice Master and numerous other experts, are all here at my Profound Light Pavilion, arriving at the exact same time. That’s just another coincidence, is it?"

His words caused many in the crowd to frown. They were starting to sense that something was off. Indeed, there were far too many "coincidences" involving the Ancient Pill Tower. Could there be more to this? After all, too many coincidences cease to be coincidence at all.

A flash of anger crossed Qi Liming’s face. He hadn’t expected this seemingly young man, Ye Xuan, to have such a sharp and logical mind. With just a few simple sentences, he had already turned the crowd’s suspicions around.

He finally snapped, "I’m done wasting my breath on you! You harmed Master Zhen Li of my Ancient Pill Tower. I am now acting on behalf of the Celestial Capital Prefecture to seal this Profound Light Pavilion! If you resist, the Prefecture itself will send someone to investigate the truth! Men, seal this place!"

As his voice fell, a group of powerful experts surged forward, each one unleashing a terrifying aura as they surrounded the Profound Light Pavilion.

"What an impressive show of authority," Ye Xuan said, his gaze turning icy and revealing a bone-chilling killing intent.

"Hmph. With both a witness and physical evidence, no amount of sophistry can save you from the laws of the Celestial Capital Prefecture. Surrender obediently!"

A cold glint flashed in Qi Liming’s eyes as he suddenly shot forward, his hand reaching for Ye Xuan’s neck as if he were snatching a helpless chick.