Chapter 154

Chapter 154: Soul Inspection

Ye Zhao Zhao said softly to Luo Ming Yue: “Fellow Daoist Luo, to prove my innocence and clear the misunderstanding with Fellow Daoist Li, I have no choice. Please use your full strength and press your soul force on me.”

Her face was pale, but her eyes were steady.

Sheng Yuan snapped at Li Shuang: “Senior Sister Li, look at what you’ve done. You’ve driven an innocent person to this point. I know you were hurt before, but that is not a reason to hurt others.”

Li Shuang answered in an even voice: “My Heart-Questioning is clear.”

Sheng Yuan drew breath to argue again, but Ye Zhao Zhao tugged his sleeve and said with tearful eyes: “Fellow Daoist Sheng, please don’t say more. I understand Senior Sister Li’s doubts. Let me prove myself.”

Sheng Yuan’s heart softened. Since they came down the mountain, they had received much help from this Fellow Daoist Fang. Now she was forced into this, and he even felt it was his fault.

But when he saw Ye Zhao Zhao’s firm look, he clenched his teeth and turned to Li Shuang: “When the result comes out, we’ll see what you say.”

Li Shuang raised a brow, calm at heart. On this continent, the Abyssal Land was the darkest taboo. Some said it held the greatest fiends. Some said it hid the greatest manuals. No matter the tale, that place meant mystery.

Since Ye Zhao Zhao had asked to prove herself, she must be fully prepared. Under soul oppression, most who used Corpse-Seizing Rebirth would show a flaw. But Ye Zhao Zhao might not. This “self proof” was the trap she had been setting all along. Her Spirit Body would likely hold under pressure. Sheng Yuan and Shen Yue would then trust her even more. But those two did not matter. Li Shuang did not care about their opinions. Luo Ming Yue and the others would not be fooled either. Fang Qing Yu had already shown many cracks. Their senior brothers and senior sisters were suspicious. If this test showed no flaw at all, it would only make them more alert.

Luo Ming Yue glanced at the pretending Ye Zhao Zhao and said in a low voice: “Fine. As you wish.”

Ye Zhao Zhao, looking both fragile and strong, took a deep breath and stepped before Luo Ming Yue: “Fellow Daoist Luo, please begin.”

She closed her eyes. Her lashes trembled, innocent and pitiful.

Sheng Yuan could not help glaring at Li Shuang, and even Shen Yue felt a twinge of pity. After all, in their eyes, Fang Qing Yu and Ye Zhao Zhao were two different people. For Li Shuang to point at Fang Qing Yu and call her Ye Zhao Zhao felt like picking on her.

Shen Yue was calmer than Sheng Yuan. He remembered how many times he had wrongly blamed the First Senior Sister. This time, he would not judge by appearances. Even if his gut told him Fang Qing Yu was a good person, he stayed silent and waited for the result. With Soul Inspection, the result should not be wrong.

Under everyone’s gaze, Luo Ming Yue said, steady as water: “Then let’s begin.”

She waved her hand and set a Barrier Formation around them to block their aura so others would not sense anything. Anything that touched the Secret Soul Method was a top Secret Art. Luo Ming Yue did not know the Secret Soul Method, so she used the simplest soul technique she had, gathered her soul power, and forced it down on Ye Zhao Zhao.

In the next moment, a heavy soul force fell. Ye Zhao Zhao’s body trembled. With the Devil Seed, she knew she would not show a flaw. But being pressed by soul force did not feel good at all. She clenched her teeth and bore it. [To bring down Li Shuang, what is a little suffering? I will endure.]

Luo Ming Yue did not hold back. Under the full weight of her soul power, even with preparation, Ye Zhao Zhao’s face twisted and cold sweat dripped down her forehead.

This forced self proof would still damage her soul power and take real work to repair afterward. But if it could drive a wedge between Li Shuang and the people of Emotionless Peak, then the price was worth it.

Luo Ming Yue’s soul force crashed down like waves, layer after layer. Ye Zhao Zhao shook, her face growing uglier by the breath, yet there was never any sign of Soul Projection.

Luo Ming Yue narrowed her eyes, her frown deepening.

At last, Sheng Yuan could not stand it and said sharply: “Senior Sister Luo, you’ve tested long enough. Isn’t this enough to prove Fellow Daoist Fang is innocent?”

Shen Yue sighed and added: “Senior Sister Li, you really did misjudge Fellow Daoist Fang this time. You were once misunderstood. You should know how that feels. How can you now be the one who misunderstands others?”

Luo Ming Yue slowly drew back her force.

Ye Zhao Zhao staggered and fell back.

Sheng Yuan rushed up to catch her. Seeing Fang Qing Yu’s white face, he felt awful. Their Sword Sect called itself righteous, yet they had pushed an innocent person this far. They owed Li Shuang, not Fang Qing Yu. Why should Li Shuang aim at an innocent?

Sheng Yuan turned on Li Shuang and said coldly: “Li Shuang, if you have a problem, come at us. What is the point of venting on an innocent? Now the truth is clear. Shouldn’t you apologize to Fellow Daoist Fang?”

Ye Zhao Zhao said in a weak voice: “No, no need. I don’t need an apology. I only hope Senior Sister Li can set aside her doubts about me so we can get along.”

She looked at Li Shuang with pleading eyes, but a thin spark of pride hid in her gaze. She knew Li Shuang was not someone who acted. She had “exposed” herself right before Li Shuang. With Li Shuang’s temper, she would want to kill her fast. But now she had proven herself. If Li Shuang still targeted her, then everyone would be pushed to her side even faster. [Li Shuang, how will you answer this move.]

Sheng Yuan pressed on: “Fellow Daoist Fang is so generous. Senior Sister Li, do you have nothing to say?”

Li Shuang’s face was calm, and she was about to speak when Jiang Yi stepped forward.

Sheng Yuan eyed Jiang Yi warily and asked: “What are you going to do?”

Jiang Yi was of mixed Human Race and Demon Clan blood. A faint blue light flashed in her eyes, and a pressure rose from her without effort. Ye Zhao Zhao’s body tightened on instinct.

Jiang Yi said in a flat tone: “Embarrassing.”

Then she lifted her hand, as if to act.

Sheng Yuan still had no idea what she meant.

Ye Zhao Zhao, like a frightened rabbit, leaped several meters away.

Sheng Yuan stared, stunned.

Jiang Yi smiled and lowered her hand again.