"Elder! This person deliberately spread false information and slandered my junior sister for using elixirs to boost her cultivation. His crime is unforgivable! Please, all elders, see the truth!"
Jin Bao'er was a rare genius, gaining considerable fame after the grand competition. The elders of the Law Enforcement Hall had heard of her and thus approached the matter with utmost seriousness.
"Spare me, elders! This disciple only repeated what he heard and believed it to be true! It's truly not my fault!"
The male disciple brought in was so pale with fear that he immediately tried to wash his hands of the entire affair.
Rumors without any evidence were impossible to trace back to their originators, leaving the Law Enforcement elders helpless. The senior disciple's brow furrowed, and the other senior disciples were filled with indignation.
"Are we just going to let these rumors spread?"
The Third Senior Brother's chubby face was contorted with anger; he was clearly unsatisfied with the outcome.
After a moment of silence, Jin Bao'er spoke.
"Since you heard it from someone, surely you can find out who you heard it from? I refuse to believe that in such a grand sect as the Misty Sect, we can't find the person who perpetuated this falsehood!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the disciple on the ground quickly blurted out a name, fearing he would be implicated if he delayed.
Though crude, the method proved effective. After a morning of investigation, the target was finally identified... Xiao Shi! This person directly admitted his actions in public and even arrogantly declared:
"Even with a single spirit root and ten times the effort, one cannot reach the fourth layer of Qi Refining in half a year! How Jin Bao'er gained her cultivation, does one even need to think about it?"
His words immediately made the elders of the Law Enforcement Hall hesitate. Using elixirs to increase cultivation was a severe taboo in the sect, not to mention that the peak lord of Huaming Peak happened to be an alchemist!
The disciples gathered behind them also couldn't help but doubt Jin Bao'er upon hearing this, causing the faces of her senior brothers to darken further!
Xiao Shi, as if he had grasped Jin Bao'er's weakness, became increasingly arrogant.
"What? Lost for words? Guilty conscience? Heh, after six years of cultivating in this sect, I've only just reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, and I also have a single spirit root. I don't dare slack off in my cultivation! Yet you... you've only been initiated for half a year! How is it possible for you to reach the fourth layer of Qi Refining!?"
His implication was obvious, and even the elders of the Law Enforcement Hall found it unbelievable...
Having experienced the hardships of her past life, how could Jin Bao'er be afraid of his words! Facing the suspicion of everyone, she stepped forward without hesitation, looking at Xiao Shi with cold eyes, a smirk on her lips as if she were looking at a clown.
"Is it wrong for me to be a genius? Should I be suspected just because I work hard? If you are incapable, does that mean everyone else must be like you? It was just one match you lost, Senior Brother Xiao, are you perhaps a sore loser?"
Her words instantly turned Xiao Shi's face red with anger. As the runner-up in the grand competition three times in a row, he had finally reached the first rank this year and was set to compete in the Foundation Establishment grand competition. He was almost a guaranteed first place, who would have thought a Jin Bao'er would suddenly appear!
Was it jealousy? Undoubtedly! But more than that, he wanted to avenge Su Xianzhi! How could he accept that such a beautiful girl was publicly humiliated by this wicked woman?
"Very well. Since everyone doubts my cultivation, why don't the elders examine me? Let's see if my cultivation is due to extraordinary talent or late-stage cheating!"
At these words, the elders breathed a sigh of relief. It was best that she offered herself, otherwise, she would continue to face such slander.
However, this was akin to insulting a genius, as no proud genius would willingly submit to something as intrusive as a search.
Soon, the results were out! Jin Bao'er's cultivation was all her own, her spirit root pure, her spiritual energy abundant, and she was indeed a body cultivator.
Instantly, Xiao Shi froze, his eyes filled with shock and complexity. The surrounding disciples felt thoroughly slapped in the face; a genius had been slandered by them like this! This...
"According to the sect's rules, disciple Xiao Shi for slandering a fellow disciple shall receive one hundred lashes and be punished to meditate on the Repentance Cliff for half a year!"
At this pronouncement, everyone was stunned. Xiao Shi's face turned ashen; he clearly dreaded the one hundred lashes!
Jin Bao'er nodded upon hearing this, feeling a surge of satisfaction. In her previous life, out of consideration for Su Xianzhi's feelings, she was about to leave when faced with slander and mockery, when suddenly a figure in pink rushed in, nearly colliding with her. After she dodged to the side, the girl fell to the ground with a cry!
"Elder! Please don't punish Xiao Shi, he was merely confused for a moment!"
All eyes immediately turned to the girl, Su Xianzhi! Even at such a young age, she possessed a pitiable and beautiful visage, and her pure and endearing nature brought a sense of warmth.
However, the elders of the Law Enforcement Hall were always decisive and self-disciplined. Su Xianzhi's plea was like singing to a deaf ear.
The leading elder frowned and reprimanded her sternly.
"Which sect's disciple are you? Such recklessness and disrespect! How dare you shout at this elder! What is your crime?"
Su Xianzhi seemed to be experiencing being rebuffed by a tough wall for the first time. The pitiable look on her face froze, her pupils widening slightly as if she hadn't grasped what was happening.
At this moment, a scoff of laughter suddenly came from the crowd, causing Su Xianzhi to snap back to attention, her face turning crimson with overwhelming shame! She quickly got up and bowed respectfully.
"This disciple, Su Xianzhi, seeks apprenticeship under..."
Before she could finish, the Law Enforcement elder waved his hand and interrupted her! He looked at her impatiently.
"Enough, this elder has no interest in knowing who your master is! We shall let this slide this time, but there will be no leniency in the future! You may leave!"
Her plea unsuccessful and herself reprimanded – this was Su Xianzhi's current feeling. The embarrassment on her face could have practically furnished a four-room apartment!
Seeing his beloved junior sister being scolded, how could Xiao Shi stand idly by? Regardless of which elder he was facing, he retorted:
"Junior Sister is merely pleading for me out of kindness, Elder, why must you speak so harshly! It was merely a rumor, and she, Jin Bao'er, suffered no harm. To make such a fuss over it is clearly using public office for private revenge!"
In the end, it seemed like everything was still her fault?
Before Jin Bao'er could respond, Su Xianzhi shook her head repeatedly, tears streaming down her face, looking extremely wronged.
"Sister Jin, although what Xiao Shi did was wrong, you also made him lose face in public. Can't we just let this go for now? No one can withstand a hundred lashes. I thank you for this, consider it a favor I owe you."
Her words implied that if Jin Bao'er refused, she would be ungrateful. Jin Bao'er truly had her understanding of these two people refreshed. How foolish she must have been in her past life to be so easily manipulated by them!
Jin Bao'er smiled. Just as everyone thought she would agree to let Xiao Shi go and not pursue the matter further, she suddenly took two steps forward.
"Junior Sister, you have quite the nerve! You owe me this? What right do you have to owe me? Is it because you're at the third layer of Qi Refining and don't know any cultivation methods? Or is it because of your pitiable, tear-drenched, weak facade? Heh! The path of cultivation is arduous and winding. How can someone as fragile as Junior Sister walk it for long?"
"If she doesn't have the right, then do I?"