Longhua Zhenren held the jade token, her expression stunned, as if she were merely a shell with its soul extracted.
The other elders looked at the inconspicuous jade token, their faces filled with confusion.
"Great Elder! Great Elder!"
Longhua Zhenren slowly blinked her eyes, as if waking from a dream.
She glanced at the jade token in her hand, then at Xu Yi, suddenly remembering what the other party had said about inheriting from Old Ancestor Yuan Ming.
So that was what she had meant.
Longhua Zhenren gave a bitter smile, then respectfully returned the jade token to Xu Yi with both hands. "We did not know of the esteemed presence of the Xuanji Sect's Old Ancestor. We hope Old Ancestor Xu will forgive our rudeness."
"The Xuanji Sect's Old Ancestor? She's the Xuanji Sect's Old Ancestor!"
Cheng Yue Zhenren shrieked, her pupils trembling violently.
Not only the people of Mingyue Pavilion, but Zhan Fei and Chi Xiaoxi of the Fire Talisman Sect were also stunned by this explosive news.
Zhan Fei had long guessed that Xu Yi's origins were extraordinary, but he had never imagined that Xu Yi would be the Old Ancestor of the Xuanji Sect.
The Xuanji Sect, one of the five great sects! The sect with the most peak power on the Nine Continents Continent!
And what concept was a sect's Old Ancestor? They were existences held high above by everyone.
It was no exaggeration to say that if anyone dared to harm a single hair of a sect's Old Ancestor, they would be considered an enemy of the entire sect.
And Xu Yi, by herself, represented the entire Xuanji Sect!
Zhan Fei felt that the decision he had made earlier was incredibly wise.
As long as Chi Xiaoxi could curry favor with Xu Yi, she would never have to worry again for the rest of her life.
Chi Xiaoxi and Wen Yi's thoughts were much simpler than Zhan Fei's.
Senior Xu was actually a sect's Old Ancestor!
She was truly, truly, truly amazing!
"Great Elder, could you be mistaken? How could she be the Xuanji Sect's Old Ancestor at such a young age!"
Cheng Yue Zhenren could not believe this fact.
She harbored both hatred and jealousy towards Xu Yi, who was younger and stronger than her.
Now, upon learning of Xu Yi's even more distinguished identity, it became even more difficult for her to accept.
"What nonsense are you talking about? This jade token not only bears the Xuanji Sect's imprint, but also the spiritual sense of the Xuanji Sect Master and Old Ancestor Xu's aura. It cannot be fake!"
Longhua Zhenren sternly reprimanded Cheng Yue Zhenren, but she knew that her own shock was no less than Cheng Yue Zhenren's.
After all, this news was simply too incredible.
When did the Xuanji Sect gain such a young Old Ancestor? They hadn't heard the slightest whisper about it before.
Had the information channels of Mingyue Pavilion become so isolated?
Longhua Zhenren's heart was filled with mixed emotions, yet she still had to show utmost respect to someone who was likely many years younger than her.
"It is understandable for Cheng Yue Zhenren to be suspicious. After all, at my request, the Xuanji Sect did not publicize this matter. However, you should all receive the news soon."
Xu Yi retracted the jade token and said indifferently.
This jade token was given to her by Ji Buwang when they parted last time, and it could be used to prove her identity.
This was because they had discussed whether to make Xu Yi's identity public at the time.
Xu Yi had deliberately requested secrecy before because she felt her strength did not match her title. However, now that she had the confidence to stand in front of everyone, she no longer resisted.
Although the original plan was to announce it to the public after Xu Yi returned to the Xuanji Sect, given the urgent situation, Xu Yi had to reveal her identity prematurely.
The words of a Xuanji Sect disciple might lack credibility, but the words of the Xuanji Sect's Old Ancestor were something the Mingyue Pavilion had to take seriously.
Xu Yi revealing the jade token was also equivalent to stating her stance.
She would investigate the cause of Jing Qiu Zhenren's death to the end.
"Senior Xu, are there really demons causing trouble again?" Longhua Zhenren asked worriedly.
"It is still only my speculation. Besides Mingyue Pavilion, several other sect masters and elders in Ang Province have consecutively died. I do not believe this is a coincidence." Coldness flickered in Xu Yi's eyes.
The demons' actions were clearly a provocation to all the righteous paths on the Nine Continents Continent.
Xu Yi could not allow the situation to continue developing.
"What, it's actually like this."
As the Great Elder of a sect, Longhua Zhenren was certainly not foolish. She immediately understood the seriousness of the matter.
"Senior Xu, please follow me."
She quickly led Xu Yi towards the back of the mourning hall, her dragon-headed staff striking the ground with rapid sounds.
Behind the mourning hall was a sealed room, its door affixed with three yellow talismans.
Longhua Zhenren imbued her palms with spiritual energy, stepped forward, and removed the three talismans one by one before pushing open the door.
"Sect Master Jing Qiu's spirit coffin is inside."
Xu Yi stepped into the room and immediately saw a black spirit coffin in the center.
Xu Yi sighed softly and looked at Longhua Zhenren. "Longhua Zhenren, I need to offend Sect Master Jing Qiu's true body."
Xu Yi's intention was clear: she wanted to open the coffin for examination.
Longhua Zhenren and the other elders looked pale.
Mingyue Pavilion had always valued its reputation, but the events that had transpired today had been like tearing down their reputation and trampling it underfoot.
Yet, they were helpless.
"Old Ancestor Xu, you, you may proceed."
Longhua Zhenren turned away, no longer wishing to watch.
The other elders followed suit, all turning their backs.
Wen Yi, however, fell to her knees with a thud, tears streaming down her face.
Xu Yi mentally apologized to Jing Qiu Zhenren and stepped forward, using her spiritual energy to slowly push open the coffin lid.
The next moment, Xu Yi's expression changed.
"Jing Qiu Zhenren is gone."
"What!"
Longhua Zhenren, who had been facing away from Xu Yi, cried out in alarm. She rushed to the coffin and indeed found it empty. Even the spiritual items she had placed inside to preserve the spirit body were gone.
"What is going on! Where is Sect Master Jing Qiu, where has Sect Master Jing Qiu gone!"
The arm holding the staff trembled uncontrollably, and her mind went blank.
She was the one who had placed Jing Qiu Zhenren's body in the coffin, but now the corpse had vanished without a trace.
What in the world was happening?
Wen Yi crawled forward, supporting herself by the coffin and peering inside, before collapsing to the ground and murmuring, "Master is gone, Master is gone."
The members of Mingyue Pavilion were all disheartened and at a loss, not knowing what to do.
Xu Yi had now recovered her composure, and a sharp glint flashed in her eyes.
Jing Qiu Zhenren's body disappearing must be the work of the culprit behind the scenes, and the incident must have occurred within the last few days.
Xu Yi thought of something, quickly took out her communication disk, found the soul imprint of a certain person, and immediately sent a message.
A few breaths later, she received a positive reply, felt a sense of relief, and said to everyone, "Jing Qiu Zhenren's death was not an accident. I have found help. Once he arrives, we will go search for Jing Qiu Zhenren's whereabouts."
"Old Ancestor Xu, you must help us find Sect Master Jing Qiu, you cannot let her remains be scattered!"
Longhua Zhenren looked at Xu Yi with tear-filled eyes, filled with even greater regret.
If she hadn't been so careless that day, perhaps Jing Qiu Zhenren's body would not have been stolen?
She had no face to face the ancestors of Mingyue Pavilion!
"I will."
Xu Yi replied firmly.