Chapter 718: Slander

Ancient Buddha Clan.

When Futu Xuan invoked the power of the Ancestral Pagoda to activate the Blood Pact, he successfully established contact with Qing Yanjing, who had vanished from the Great Thousand World for over three years.

However, much to his dismay, Qing Yanjing did not return to the Ancient Buddha Clan as he had hoped.

Even so, there was still some "success" — through the Blood Pact's resonance, the clan managed to locate Xuan Guang and Mo Tong, who had been lost within the chaotic space currents for the same three or four years.

Their return caused an uproar.

On the day they came back, the entire high council of the Ancient Buddha Clan erupted in shock. It was also the first time that many of them learned why Qing Yanjing had disappeared so completely — as though she had been erased from existence.

It turned out she had been taken away by Qing Lian.

A man whose strength rivaled the Saint Grade itself — someone of such power could effortlessly evade both the Ancient Buddha Clan and the Ancient Maha Clan's pursuit.

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In the grand ceremonial hall, vast and majestic, the Clan Leader sat on the high seat. His aura still carried immense authority, even though the faint shadow of decline lingered in his brows.

His overwhelming presence blanketed the entire hall, compelling even the proudest of the clan to bow their heads under the weight of it.

Still, a deep furrow creased his brow, his eyes dark and unreadable — like bottomless voids.

After all, what father could remain calm upon learning his daughter had vanished with a man for four years?

That thought alone was enough to make any heart heavy.

To the side of the hall, Grand Elder Futu Xuan stood, his expression dark with fury. His icy Spiritual Pressure erupted like a storm from the frozen poles, sending shivers through every soul it touched.

"Outrageous! The purest bloodline of the Ancient Buddha Clan — desecrated by a lowly man from a lesser plane! This is an unforgivable stain upon our honor!"

"No wonder the Saintess never returned! She must have been abducted! That man must be executed to show the world that the sacred blood of the Ancient Buddha Clan is not for outsiders to defile!"

The Clan Leader, however, remained composed. He turned slightly toward Futu Xuan, his calm tone concealing faint weariness.

"Grand Elder, there's no need for such anger. Whether Qing Lian truly abducted my daughter or not remains to be seen. We cannot rely solely on the words of Xuan Guang and Mo Tong."

His sharp gaze shifted toward the two figures standing below — Xuan Guang and Mo Tong — his eyes gleaming like twin blades.

"Leaders of the Xuan and Mo Lineages… this Qing Lian once slew three Abyss Demon Emperors, two Profound Demon Emperors, and even drove a Heavenly Demon Emperor from the Great Thousand World. Such deeds have brought great merit to all beings under heaven. Would a man like that truly commit such disgraceful acts?"

"Tell me — are your words true? Did he really abduct the Saintess, speaking scornfully of the Ancient Buddha Clan?"

The Clan Leader's tone carried unshakable dominance. Though age had dimmed his body, his presence alone was enough to command the mightiest of the clan.

Even Xuan Guang and Mo Tong, both Heavenly Sovereigns of the Immortal Grade, bowed deeply before him, their bodies trembling under his Spiritual Pressure.

Their eyes met briefly — and within that fleeting exchange, both saw the same fear and venomous hatred.

'Do they even know what we've suffered these past four years?!'

They had fled into the spatial strom just to escape Liu Xi's grasp. Yet once inside, they'd lost all sense of direction, swept endlessly between shattered realms.

They'd drifted through dying planes where even Spiritual Energy had withered away, been caught amid wars between the Extraterrestrial Evil Race and the lower planes… and worst of all, they'd endured years in the endless void — an emptiness so suffocating it could drive one insane.

Now, standing before their Clan Leader, they had no truth to offer — only hatred to disguise their shame.

"Yes!" both replied in unison, their voices trembling yet firm.

Xuan Guang stepped forward first, his tone filled with righteous indignation — though it was fueled by resentment.

"That day, we had already found the Saintess and were preparing to bring her back. Then that man appeared. He saw her beauty and began speaking vilely, mocking even when I declared our identity as the Ancient Buddha Clan. He ridiculed us… and then struck without warning!"

"He overpowered us easily and seized the Saintess before our eyes! We were cast into the spatial currents by his attack — helpless to do anything but watch as the Saintess was taken away, her face pale with fear."

He gritted his teeth. "Now… who knows what fate has befallen her…"

His twisted expression mirrored fury and anguish — perfectly staged.

And though exaggerated, his words were close enough to the truth to sound believable.

Gasps filled the hall.

If their story were true, then this was not merely an insult — it was an open challenge to the entire Ancient Buddha Clan.

The Grand Elder's fury burned like wildfire, but his tone stayed cold and deliberate. "Clan Leader, the matter is clear. If we do not destroy this man, how will the Ancient Buddha Clan face the Great Thousand World?"

The Clan Leader frowned slightly. Though the story fit neatly, something still felt off.

"Perhaps there's a misunderstanding. The Saintess has already advanced to Heavenly Sovereign. If she had truly been abducted, would Qing Lian have allowed her to achieve such a breakthrough so easily?"

At those words, both Xuan Guang and Mo Tong froze.

They hadn't known.

They'd been gone too long — unaware that Qing Yanjing had already ascended.

Of course, they didn't doubt she could reach that realm eventually. Her bloodline made it inevitable — though normally, such a leap would take decades. Only those with the purest ancestral bloodlines could erode the barrier to Heavenly Sovereign so swiftly.

Which meant Qing Yanjing's strength and standing now surpassed their own — and that terrified them.

They exchanged glances once more, silently reaffirming their shared decision: 'She must never be allowed to return.'

Mo Tong lowered his head, sighing with feigned sorrow.

"Every word we've spoken is true, Clan Leader. That man has yet to return the Saintess or offer any explanation. His silence speaks for itself — surely he has foul intentions!"

He paused deliberately, then added, "The Clan Leader's condition makes it inconvenient to act personally. Why not let the Ancient Maha Clan know of Qing Lian's location? They will certainly hunt him down — and perhaps retrieve the Saintess in the process."

The implication was obvious — ruthless and venomous.

They wanted Qing Lian dead.

And if the Maha Clan took Qing Yanjing back, she would never again set foot in the Ancient Buddha Clan.

The hall fell silent.

"Humph."

The Clan Leader's cold snort broke through the tension. His eyes gleamed with killing intent as his aura surged, filling the hall with suffocating pressure.

Xuan Guang and Mo Tong trembled under that gaze, yet neither dared to beg for mercy.

They knew the truth — if Qing Yanjing ever returned, their lives would be finished anyway.

So whether by exile or death, they had already chosen their path.

(End of Chapter)

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