As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present was shocked, their drunkenness instantly vanishing.
“The Chen family has lived in Beiyang City for generations, their reputation is well-known inside and out.
How could they possibly collude with demonic cultivators or betray the country? Ninth Princess, your words are so vague—what exactly do you mean?”
“The Ninth Princess comes from the imperial city, maybe she has access to information we don’t know about.
Besides, she killed a demonic cultivator recently—maybe she found some clues then.”
Facing the doubts, the Chen family head’s face turned extremely ugly, his heart in turmoil.
“Impossible!”
“I secretly supported demonic cultivators, plundered resources near Beiyang City, and contacted Jinxiang Kingdom to plot for spiritual veins—only I in the whole Chen family know about this.
How did the Ninth Princess find out?!”
But this shock only lasted a moment before he put on a look of anger and surprise, pretending not to know.
The Chen family head stared straight at the noble girl at the head of the hall and said coldly, “My Chen family has been loyal to the Great Xia for generations, loyal to the court, loyal to Beiyang City.
How could we do something so treacherous and heartless? Ninth Highness, please take back your words, or else Old Chitong’s monthly group 694936135 will have to go to the capital himself and appeal to His Majesty in person!”
Hearing this, the others in the hall looked uncertain.
“Ninth Highness, is there some misunderstanding here? The Chen family has lived in Beiyang City for over eighty generations, always loyal and righteous.
How could they collude with demonic cultivators and betray the country?”
Facing the doubts, Xiao Minghuang said calmly, “Whether it’s true or not, we’ll know after checking.”
As she spoke, her gaze turned cold and she glanced at the person who tried to mediate.
That person was from one of the four great families of Beiyang City, always closely tied to the Chen family.
“You’re speaking up for the Chen family like this—are you also in league with the demonic cultivators, or maybe colluding with Jinxiang Kingdom?”
“I’m not, I swear I’m not!” The man hurriedly denied it, not daring to say another word.
Xiao Minghuang snorted coldly and turned her gaze back to the Chen family head.
“Demonic cultivators have demonic arts.
Even if they disguise themselves, their dantian can’t lie.
City Lord Lin, please check the Chen family head’s dantian.
The truth will be clear with one look!”
Hearing this, Lin Zhengquan stepped forward, a hint of doubt in his eyes as he looked at the Chen family head.
“I’ve known Old Chen for years.
He’s sharp-tongued, but to say he’s a demonic cultivator is hard to believe.
Could it be that Ninth Highness just wants to seize the Chen family’s Buyuan Dan and made up an excuse?”
Lin Zhengquan’s eyes lit up as he realized this was a great chance to show his loyalty.
No matter if the Chen family head was a demonic cultivator or not, he had to declare him one after his inspection!
“Old Chen, don’t blame me.
An innocent man gets into trouble just for having a treasure…”
As Lin Zhengquan was about to probe the Chen family head’s dantian with spiritual power, everyone watched, waiting to see what the Chen family head would do next.
Facing Lin Zhengquan’s approach, the Chen family head’s expression flickered.
No matter what the Ninth Princess’s goal was, he wouldn’t escape today.
In an instant, he made his decision.
“I didn’t expect that after hiding for so many years, a little girl like you would see through me and ruin all my plans.
Go to hell!”
The Chen family head’s face twisted with rage.
With a furious shout, spiritual power surged from his body, and a ghostly blue saber over a meter long appeared in his hand, carrying a force like a landslide and tsunami as he slashed at Xiao Minghuang.
Buzz!
The saber hummed, as if the air itself was trembling.
The blade was about to fall on Xiao Minghuang, about to cut the beautiful girl in two.
But just then—
A spear flew through the air and blocked the saber.
Boom!
The moment spear and saber collided, sparks flew, spiritual energy exploded, and the white jade floor cracked inch by inch.
The whole hall shook violently, as if it would collapse at any moment.
Seeing things go south, Xiao Minghuang reached out and wrapped her arms around Ye and Lin’s waists, flashing away from the center of the battlefield.
The other guests reacted slower, fleeing the hall in a panic, choking on dust.
Boom!!!
Xiao Minghuang emerged from the hall and landed in an open space.
As soon as she let go of Ye and Lin, a deafening crash sounded behind her.
She turned to see the entire hall collapse.
The two magic treasures clashed inside, and the spiritual power they unleashed reduced the whole hall to ruins!
Everyone present started talking at once.
“I can’t believe the Chen family head was a demonic cultivator.
How could something so evil happen in Beiyang City?”
“If not for the Ninth Princess, we’d still be in the dark.
We’d probably be harmed by demonic cultivators in the future.
The Ninth Princess is truly a great benefactor to Beiyang City!”
“Old Chen turned out to be a demonic cultivator.
Brother Liu, Brother Li, what should we do about this?”
The heads of the other three great families looked grim and uncertain.
Their families had always been closely tied to the Chen family.
Now that the Chen family head’s identity was exposed, if the court investigated, they wouldn’t escape blame either.
As the hall collapsed, the dust quickly settled, revealing Lin Zhengquan and the Chen family head.
“A battle between two Yongquan Realm experts can cause such destruction…”
Xiao Minghuang narrowed her eyes, scanning the ruins.
The two Yongquan Realm experts—one with a spear, one with a saber—were locked in a fierce contest of spiritual power, neither side gaining the upper hand.
But if you looked closely, Lin Zhengquan’s spiritual power was more solid.
Lin Wanqiu had drunk too much, couldn’t stand straight, her face flushed as she leaned against Xiao Minghuang, gazing at the collapsed hall and murmuring, “That spear is my family’s ancestral treasure, a top-grade Yellow-rank called the Duanjin Spear.
It’s extremely lethal, nothing can withstand it.”
“The saber in the Chen family head’s hand is the Youlan Saber, a mid-grade Yellow-rank treasure.
He shouldn’t be a match for my father.”
Xiao Minghuang didn’t bother watching the fight between the two Yongquan Realm experts.
For her, that was a realm she’d soon reach herself—nothing to be curious about.
Her gaze shifted to Chen Yu, who was standing not far away, watching the fight.
At this moment, Chen Yu stood apart from the crowd, staring at the Chen family head’s demonic figure, panic in his eyes.
“How could the family head be a demonic cultivator?”
“No way! Absolutely not!”
“This must be a setup.
I don’t believe it!”
While he was lost and helpless, Xiao Minghuang quietly appeared in front of him.
“Chen Yu, I’ll give you a chance.
Hand over the Buyuan Dan, and I’ll only hold the Chen family head responsible.
The rest of your family can go free.”
In the correspondence between the demonic cultivator and the Chen family head, only the head was mentioned.
The rest of the Chen family seemed unaware.
Xiao Minghuang had no intention of punishing the whole family—her goal was the Buyuan Dan, and taking down the Chen family head was just a bonus.
Chen Yu snapped out of it at her words, suddenly looking up at her with anger in his eyes.
“You’re talking nonsense! How could the family head collude with demonic cultivators? You’re just making things up to steal our Buyuan Dan… That’s it! That’s definitely it!”
Chen Yu’s eyes were full of hatred, as if he wanted to tear the beautiful girl in front of him to pieces.
“What a venomous woman.
Just for a single pill, you want to destroy our whole Chen family.
People like you deserve to go to the eighteenth level of hell!”
Before Xiao Minghuang could respond to the curses, Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu couldn’t hold back anymore.
They moved at the same time, one from the left and one from the right, their dainty feet flashing like afterimages as they kicked Chen Yu more than ten meters away.
Even after kicking him, Ye Ruoshui still felt unsatisfied.
Her face full of anger, she chased after him, stomped on his chest, and was about to crush him to death…
“Wait, don’t kill him.”
Behind her, Xiao Minghuang’s voice sounded.
Ye Ruoshui turned back, her face unhappy.
“Sis, why not let me stomp this bug to death?”
Xiao Minghuang walked over, gently squeezed Ye Ruoshui’s hand, signaling her to calm down.
Then she looked down at the barely-breathing Chen Yu and said, “Hand over the Buyuan Dan, and your family’s crime will be offset.
The Chen family head’s actions won’t implicate the rest of you.”
Even lying on the ground with a foot on his chest, Chen Yu glared up and cursed, “Venomous woman, you’ll die a horrible death! Even if I become a ghost, I won’t let you go!”
Hearing this, Xiao Minghuang finally lost her patience.
Her original goal was just the Buyuan Dan—dealing with the Chen family’s demonic cultivator was just a side task.
But Chen Yu kept provoking her again and again.
There was no need for the Chen family to exist any longer.
If you don’t pull out the roots, the weeds will grow again in spring.
“Ruoshui, I’ll leave this to you.”
Xiao Minghuang tossed out the words casually and turned to leave.
After receiving the order, a look of disgust flashed across Ye Ruoshui’s pretty face.
She ignored the filthy words coming from Chen Yu’s mouth and stomped hard on his chest.
