Xu Yi's silence only emboldened "Sect Leader Jing Qiu" further.
Her cold gaze swept across the onlookers, as if selecting her next target.
Zhan Fei stepped forward, completely shielding Chi Xiaoxi, his expression solemn.
The aura emanating from the opponent felt extremely dangerous. He was already regretting bringing Chi Xiaoxi here and involving her in this mess.
"Xu Yi, it seems you truly do not care about their lives," Sect Leader Jing Qiu sneered, her figure vanishing once more. "Very well, then I shall let you witness my might."
Her voice slowly dissipated into the air, leaving an eerie silence.
The three elders of Ming Yue Pavilion held their respective treasures, their eyes betraying a flicker of uncertainty.
The opponent's movement techniques were simply too superior; they could not detect her whereabouts at all.
The sense of impending danger, like a dark cloud, hung over them, making them restless.
In the quiet environment, this unease continued to amplify.
"Gulp."
One of the Ming Yue Pavilion elders swallowed nervously, only to be startled by the sound of her own gulp.
Just as she was momentarily stunned, a dark shadow suddenly struck from her right.
Her pupils constricted. As she prepared to draw her sword to parry, she heard a clang.
*Bang!*
The dark shadow was flung violently away.
"Xu, Ancestor Xu."
The Ming Yue Pavilion elder stared in shock at Xu Yi, who stood before her, her heart filled with an indescribable awe.
Her astonishment wasn't simply that Xu Yi had intervened to save her, but that Xu Yi had perceived the opponent's trajectory and intercepted the attack.
This made her acutely aware of the vast difference between herself and Xu Yi.
Just a few days ago, she had questioned how someone as young as Xu Yi could bear the weighty responsibility of a sect's ancestor.
Now, recalling that thought, she felt only shame, her face burning with embarrassment.
Many others shared the Ming Yue Pavilion elder's surprise.
"How did you do that? Can you see me?"
Sect Leader Jing Qiu leaped up from the ground, furious. Her pristine white robes were now stained with more dirt.
She had completely lost her earlier composure, her eyes filled with disbelief and apprehension.
"A mere trick of the trade," Xu Yi replied indifferently.
At these words, Sect Leader Jing Qiu's momentarily stunned features twisted into a fearsome grimace.
Xu Yi's nonchalant remark struck her a devastating blow.
What frustrated her most was her inability to refute it, for she had already lost, utterly and completely.
"You asked me just now. Now it's my turn to ask you. Are you from Zhuzhou?"
In this moment, the roles between Xu Yi and Sect Leader Jing Qiu had reversed.
Sect Leader Jing Qiu had not anticipated such a swift defeat. Her mind was in turmoil, and she disdained Xu Yi's question.
"Xu Yi, don't you always consider yourself intelligent? Then guess. Whether you're right or wrong, I won't tell you anyway, hahaha!" Sect Leader Jing Qiu cackled.
"Heretics still dare to be so arrogant. They deserve to die," True Person Long Hua spat coldly.
Sect Leader Jing Qiu turned to True Person Long Hua, her eyes venomous. "You old hag on her last legs are not fit to speak before me. If she weren't here, I would kill you all! Leave not a single one alive!"
"You!" True Person Long Hua gripped her dragon-headed crutch tightly, her face flushing red.
"Do you know how your sect leader died? She was scared to death by the inner demon I created!"
Sect Leader Jing Qiu suddenly beamed, looking triumphantly at Xu Yi, and declared loudly, "Xu Yi, wasn't your name the last thing this sect leader uttered before her death! Tell me, what evil deeds have you committed to become her greatest fear!"
Upon hearing this, the people of Ming Yue Pavilion instinctively looked at Xu Yi, their expressions complex.
Xu Yi was also taken aback. So, True Person Jing Qiu's inner demon was herself?
Initially, Xu Yi found it amusing, but upon further thought, it seemed plausible.
True Person Jing Qiu of Ming Yue Pavilion had cultivated for a century, and her journey was far from smooth. She must have faced numerous trials and tribulations.
Her ascension to sect leader was a testament to overcoming those hardships.
Being crushed by Xu Yi and having the Nine Dragon Cauldron stolen became the insurmountable knot in her heart.
Unless she could defeat Xu Yi and reclaim the Nine Dragon Cauldron, this knot would remain buried deep within her soul, never to dissipate.
The demonic entity that killed Sect Leader Jing Qiu exploited cultivators' inner demons to commit wicked acts.
And Sect Leader Jing Qiu's inner demon happened to be Xu Yi.
Learning the truth behind Sect Leader Jing Qiu's death, Xu Yi sighed inwardly.
While this incident wasn't directly her doing, it was indirectly influenced by her.
A cold glint appeared in her eyes as she stared directly at Sect Leader Jing Qiu, "Since this matter concerns me, then I shall be the one to end it."
Sect Leader Jing Qiu's eyes widened.
Xu Yi's expression made her realize that Xu Yi was not joking in the slightest.
Furthermore, she sensed that Xu Yi harbored killing intent towards her, a desire to eliminate her swiftly. She began to panic.
"Xu Yi, you wanted to know my origins, didn't you? We can..."
Before she could finish speaking, the Admonishment Ruler in Xu Yi's hand transformed into a stream of light and struck towards her.
Sect Leader Jing Qiu hastily dodged, but the Admonishment Ruler seemed to possess eyes, as it effortlessly tracked her every move, pursuing relentlessly.
The Admonishment Ruler was entirely black, yet it was enshrouded in a dazzling layer of azure flames, emitting an astonishing heat.
It was easy to imagine the tragic fate that awaited anyone struck by this ruler.
Initially, Sect Leader Jing Qiu tried to persuade Xu Yi to stop. Seeing Xu Yi's unyielding resolve, she shifted her plea to Ming Yue Pavilion.
"People of Ming Yue Pavilion, don't you want to know what Xu Yi did to your sect leader! She intends to silence me! Why aren't you stopping her!"
True Person Long Hua and the other two elders exchanged glances, then tacitly fell silent.
If Xu Yi hadn't revealed her past grievances with Sect Leader Jing Qiu, they might have harbored doubts.
But now, they knew the truth and were also acutely aware of the gap between themselves and Xu Yi.
Coupled with Xu Yi's title as the ancestor of Xuan Ji Sect, how could they dare to act disrespectfully towards her, let alone question her?
"Useless! You are all useless!"
Sect Leader Jing Qiu's body faltered, and she began to curse furiously at the three from Ming Yue Pavilion.
At that moment, the Admonishment Ruler suddenly accelerated, crashing into her abdomen with a resounding impact.
"Ah!"
After a piercing scream, Sect Leader Jing Qiu's figure slowly collapsed.
Simultaneously, a blurry black shadow drifted out from above Sect Leader Jing Qiu's head, rapidly fleeing in the opposite direction of Xu Yi.
However, before the shadow could escape far, its path was blocked by a stone.
"Capture!"
Following Xu Yi's command, the stone suddenly erupted with immense suction.
The black shadow resisted for only a few breaths before, with a cry, it was drawn into the stone.
Xu Yi beckoned, retrieving the Pixiu Stone. Looking at the black shadow thrashing within the stone, the corners of her mouth curled into a cold arc.
"I've been waiting. Just waiting for you to take the bait."