Chapter 380: Other Motives

The three advanced possessed cultivators from Chenyuan stepped out of the ruins and did not attack Su Che again. The commotion was already significant enough to attract all the Yuan Ying cultivators in the vicinity.

In such a critical time, someone dared to create chaos in Juechen Valley. Everyone would be curious and surely come to take a look.

In just a dozen breaths’ time, figures rushed in swiftly. Nearly 200 Yuan Ying cultivators hovered high in the air within hundreds of feet, exuding overwhelming pressure—a truly spectacular sight.

Among them were the five top Yuan Ying cultivators from Juechen Valley, who arrived together. Only Yuan Jing recognized Su Che. He was the first to land in the courtyard and asked loudly, “Fellow Chenyuan, fellow Xuan Yu, what happened?”

Yuan Jing could see that the three led by Chenyuan were confronting Su Che from afar, clearly involved in some dispute, to the point where they couldn’t hold back and attacked even during this special time when everyone should be working together.

What kind of conflict or dispute could lead to such a situation?

After all, the entire cultivation world of Mulan Planet was facing the disaster of demonization. During these six months when the strongest cultivators from Juechen Valley gathered, even long-time enemies would set aside personal grudges to face the imminent threat together.

Two people who hated each other fiercely might just exchange glances and then go their separate ways silently. Though they couldn’t get along amiably, they could at least control their emotions.

These four in the courtyard should have had no prior interactions or grudges—so why would they destroy the house?

The Yuan Ying elders who arrived were all secretly astonished and filled with doubts.

In response to Yuan Jing’s question, Chenyuan spoke first, “Fellow cultivators, I suspect this Xuan Yu, who arrived last in Juechen Valley, has an unknown background and ulterior motives. He might be a demonized person controlled by higher-level demons.”

Upon hearing this, everyone was slightly stunned. They thought, “Although Xuan Yu is indeed a new Yuan Ying cultivator whose origins are unclear, he seems gentle and rational—definitely not like a possessed person after demonization.”

Others thought, “No wonder he attacked! In such a sensitive time, if someone accused me of being possessed, I’d also turn on them immediately. It’s understandable for this young Xuan Yu to be impulsive.”

Yuan Jing thought the same way and said solemnly, “Daoist Chen Yuan, such words must not be spoken carelessly. Three days ago, when Daoist Xuan Yu came to Jue Chen Valley, it was I who welcomed him. I had a very good conversation with him during that time. It’s hard for me to believe that he is someone possessed by evil forces.”

Su Che bowed to Yuan Jing in gratitude.

The others also nodded, all feeling that Xuan Yu, this newly risen Yuan Ying, had a very amiable presence and gave off an aura of integrity. If someone possessed by evil could disguise themselves to such an extent, it would indeed be terrifying and unimaginable.

“Just my word alone might not be enough to convince anyone,” Chen Yuan said, gesturing to his two companions before addressing everyone, “But Daoist Jiang Li and Daoist Su Feng can testify for me. The three of us witnessed Xuan Yu’s strange behavior.”

“That’s right. The three of us saw with our own eyes that Xuan Yu’s actions were bizarre and highly suspicious. We can even be certain that Daoists Jia Qi and Lian Qiu have been deceived by Xuan Yu and are missing—their fate unknown,” Jiang Li said loudly, with Su Feng agreeing. On the surface, it was indeed impossible to tell that they were actually two human puppets controlled by demonic toxins.

“Oh?”

Including Yuan Jing, all the Yuan Ying cultivators present were astonished.

Chen Yuan, Jiang Li, and Su Feng were all established Yuan Ying cultivators in the cultivation world of Mu Lan Star, belonging to the Immortal Path and enjoying a good reputation. Moreover, they were neither disciples nor well-known friends. Therefore, if their accounts were consistent, their credibility would be very high.

On the other hand, Su Che had only one person speaking for him, whose background was questionable, so his credibility was certainly lower than that of Chen Yuan and the others.

Yuan Jing frowned and asked, “Daoist Chen Yuan, please explain the whole incident in detail. I hope you avoid adding personal opinions and stick to the facts, so that we can all make a judgment together.”

“Alright.”

Chen Yuan nodded in agreement. He then recounted how Jia Qi and Lian Qiu entered Su Che’s room over half an hour ago and have since disappeared without a trace. Of course, he didn’t hesitate to exaggerate, describing Su Che as extremely strange and highly suspicious…

Everyone listened quietly, while Su Che remained silent, able to stay calm no matter how badly they tried to smear his reputation.

Only after Chen Yuan fell silent did Yuan Jing nod and turn to Su Che, asking, “Xuan Yu, do you have any explanation for what Chen Yuan said?”
Su Che spoke calmly, “From the start, I told them that Daoists Gachi and Lian Qiu had already left. Moreover, their claim that someone had been waiting in the courtyard the whole time is completely untrue. My spiritual sense isn’t impaired—how could I not sense whether there’s anyone in the courtyard?”
“Besides, I’m just a newly transformed Yuan Ying. How could I silently murder two senior Daoists like Gachi and Lian Qiu? Not to mention me, which of the other Daoists here has such ability?”
Upon hearing Su Che’s words, everyone nodded in agreement: Indeed, he was just a newly transformed Yuan Ying. Even if he tried to ambush two experienced Yuan Ying cultivators, he couldn’t do it silently. Moreover, Gachi was at the middle stage of Yuan Ying cultivation and was well-known in the cultivation world as someone hard to provoke—how could he be easily assassinated?
Chen Yuan replied, “We don’t know how you did it. That’s exactly what we want to figure out.”
His words were clearly double-meaning—intended not only for others but also as a hint to Su Che: If you don’t clarify this, we’ll keep pestering you, leaving you no peace…
At this moment, Yuan Jing, the temporary judge, spoke up, clearly siding with Su Che. He said seriously, “I also can’t understand how Xuan Yu could accomplish all this. I even dare assert that no one in the entire cultivation world of Mu Lan Planet could do it.”
“That’s right!”
“Exactly.”
The other Yuan Ying cultivators nodded in agreement. They were all people who had lived for hundreds of years and had never heard of anyone in the cultivation world possessing such formidable strength as to silently take down two Yuan Ying cultivators in a short time. Such power was comparable to that of powerful cultivators in the Spirit Realm.
Even several high-level Yuan Ying cultivators, including the master of Jue Chen Valley, privately confirmed that they themselves would definitely not be able to do it.
The situation clearly favored Su Che, but Chen Yuan and his two companions remained calm, seemingly having other solid evidence or some other ulterior motives.

At this moment, Su Che was also pondering, “Logically, these advanced possessed beings lurking in the Dust-Free Valley should operate quietly, sneaking up on others to increase the number of Yuan Ying demon seeds. It shouldn’t be necessary to risk exposure and escalate things to this extent. What exactly do these demon insects want?”
In the Immortal Prison, the old demon Bai made use of his extensive experience and wisdom to deduce, “Assuming their main target is neither other Yuan Ying cultivators nor you, then they must be after something even more important. Could it be, as Gachi mentioned earlier, that it’s indeed related to that mysterious valley inside the Dust-Free Valley’s entrance?”
“Possible, but who can really guess what these demon insects are thinking…” Su Che replied in his heart.