Xu Taiping, I must remind you of something. The Heart-Reflecting Mirror has confirmed that you indeed lied. You are to be taken to the Hall of Seven Laws for interrogation. If it’s proven that you falsely claimed merit, it won’t just be you who’s punished; even your Seventh Peak will suffer, to the extent that you may be disqualified from participating in this year’s Seven Peaks competition.

Elder Sun couldn’t help but warn Xu Taiping.

“You should think it over carefully. If you admit it now, only you will be punished.”

He added another piece of advice.

Upon hearing this, Elder Lu looked at Elder Sun with some impatience, as if annoyed by his meddling. Nevertheless, he feigned magnanimity and nodded:

“Elder Sun is right. You had better consider your options carefully.”

Hearing this, the confusion in Xu Taiping’s heart was dispelled.

So, it’s not just me you’re targeting, but our Seventh Peak as well.

Being unable to participate in the Seven Peaks competition is a significant loss for all peaks of the Qingxuan Sect, because even the last place allows for a share in the redistribution of Yunlu Mountain’s resources. But if you don’t participate, your share will be divided among the Sixth Peak and the others.

Thus, the Qingxuan Sect may seem unified, but upon closer inspection, it’s more like seven distinct sects.

“I can do it,” Xu Taiping nodded, then turned to Elder Lu and asked, “If the Heart-Reflecting Mirror proves I did not lie, Elder Lu, what will you do?”

“What should I do?” Elder Lu seemed to hear a great joke.

“Yes, Lu Zimu, if my Seventh Peak disciple Xu Taiping did not lie, and you have falsely accused him, shouldn’t you make amends?”

Just as Elder Lu was about to scold Xu Taiping, a familiar voice suddenly rang out from outside the hall.

Everyone looked up to see a portly middle-aged man striding into the great hall.

Who else could it be but Zhao Qian, the Peak Master of the Seventh Peak?

Following behind Zhao Qian was a tall and handsome young man, naturally Xu Taiping’s second Senior Brother Qingxiao.

“Peak Master, Senior Brother Qingxiao,” Xu Taiping greeted them with a hint of surprise.

Zhao Qian merely nodded slightly at Xu Taiping, then raised his head and walked straight towards Lu Zimu.

Qingxiao patted Xu Taiping on the shoulder with a smile, “You’ve had a tough journey.”

“It was alright,” Xu Taiping replied with a smile.

Hearing this, Qingxiao chuckled and whispered, “We’ll talk about the rest back at the Seventh Peak.”

Xu Taiping nodded in agreement.

“Lu Zimu, Elder Sun, how about we let today’s matter rest? I’ll take Xu Taiping back with me,” Zhao Qian said, arms crossed, looking at Lu Zimu and Elder Sun.

“What, Peak Master Zhao, do you also think your disciple lied?” Lu Zimu asked with a cold smile.

“If you have any issues, come at me directly. Don’t mess around with these trivial matters. If you want to escalate this, I, Zhao Qian, am ready to oblige!” Zhao Qian glared at Lu Zimu.

He was furious. If he had realized there was an issue with this cultivation task earlier, he would never have allowed Xu Taiping to leave the mountain. He wouldn’t just have stopped Xu Taiping from leaving; he would have confronted Jin Yue about it.

“Peak Master Zhao, such fiery temper,” said Jin Yue, the Peak Master of the First Peak, as he entered the Merit Hall with two disciples.

“Peak Master Jin, your timing is impeccable,” Elder Lu said, his face lighting up as he bypassed Zhao Qian to greet Jin Yue.

In the Qingxuan Sect, the Peak Master of the First Peak is akin to the deputy sect leader, with the authority to manage all sect affairs in the absence of the sect leader, a status much higher than that of an ordinary Peak Master.

“Do you remember the task related to the White Tree Nation?” Elder Lu asked.

“Of course, I remember,” Jin Yue replied, his eyes flickering before he nodded.

“Some days ago, we received news from outside the Black Vulture Nation that the Sixth Princess of the White Tree Nation died in the palace while attempting to assassinate the Emperor of the Black Vulture Nation. Yet this youngster dared to come here with this token to claim merit,” Elder Lu said, looking at Xu Taiping with a hint of disdain.

“This disciple not only failed to complete his cultivation task but also dared to lie blatantly to the elders of the Merit Hall and falsely claim merit. I think we should petition the Hall of Seven Laws to send him back down the mountain,” Elder Lu added sternly.

Xu Taiping met Elder Lu’s gaze with a calm look, thinking to himself, “It seems everyone has arrived.”

With Jin Yue’s arrival, all the puzzles in his mind about this cultivation task were suddenly solved.

“Xu Taiping, why did you lie?” Jin Yue looked at Xu Taiping with an expression of deep regret.

“Reporting to Peak Master Jin, I have never lied,” Xu Taiping replied with neither servility nor arrogance.

“Peak Master Jin, listen carefully, my disciple has not lied,” Zhao Qian stepped forward, shielding Xu Taiping behind him.

Qingxiao also subtly shifted his stance, standing shoulder to shoulder with Zhao Qian to protect Xu Taiping in the middle.

“In that case, let’s call for the Heart-Reflecting Mirror,” Jin Yue said to Elder Lu, but his gaze was fixed on Zhao Qian.

“We haven’t lied, why should we call for the Heart-Reflecting Mirror?” Zhao Qian, arms still crossed, met Jin Yue’s gaze head-on before turning to pat Xu Taiping on the shoulder, “Let’s go, back to the Seventh Peak.”

He didn’t care whether Xu Taiping had lied or not; today, he was determined to take Xu Taiping with him.

“Zhao Qian, do you really think the Qingxuan Sect’s Hall of Seven Laws is just for show? If you dare to take him away today, your peak will be disqualified from the Seven Peaks competition,” Jin Yue snorted coldly.

“Disqualified then,” Zhao Qian replied indifferently, glancing back at Jin Yue.

After hearing this, Xu Taiping felt touched and decided to take the risk and reveal the matter about Haitang and Xiang Nantian to the people present.

He knew that his Senior Brother Qingxiao and Senior Sister Linglong had been preparing for the Seven Peaks competition for many months. It would be a pity to be disqualified now.

Considering the timing, Haitang and Brother Xiang should have almost left the Black Vulture Nation by now. Speaking out now should not affect them.

With these thoughts in mind, Xu Taiping turned to Zhao Qian and said, “Peak Master, I truly did not lie. The Sixth Princess is still alive.”