Chapter 522: Angry Rebuke

"What did you say!?" Yun Waitian was enraged once more. "You want my son to undergo 'Soul Stealing'? That's outrageous, utterly preposterous!!"

"Profound Gang Soul Stealing" is indeed a unique application of the Yun family's Profound Gang energy. Ordinary soul-searching methods carry extreme risks; if they backfire, the consequences are unimaginable, and even if successful, they can cause significant damage to the subject's mind, potentially turning them into an imbecile. However, Profound Gang Soul Stealing, even if it fails due to the target's strong mental energy, has no side effects, and if successful, it causes no harm to the target's mind. Yun Che, when he assaulted Burning Heaven Clan, had used Profound Gang to extract others' memories, so he was very familiar with this ability of Profound Gang. Over twenty years ago, Yun Qinghong and his wife were able to discover Yun Canghai's place of imprisonment in the Profound Sky Continent precisely through memory extraction using Profound Gang Soul Stealing.

"Heh heh," Prince Huiye said with a faint smile, "Yun Che, is this your so-called evidence? What about besides this, do you have any other proof?"

"This one piece of evidence is enough," Yun Che stated directly.

"I see, very well..." Prince Huiye slowly nodded, a faint, mocking smile flickering across his face. He turned to Yun Xinyue and said, "This prince has heard of the Yun family's Profound Gang Soul Stealing ability more than once. I understand it causes no harm to the subject's mind. Now, someone claims you harmed a fellow clan member and the Princess of the Tianxia family, and suggests using Profound Gang Soul Stealing as proof... Yun Xinyue, do you dare to undergo Soul Stealing here, before everyone, to prove your innocence?"

Yun Xinyue stood up, his face dark, his body subtly trembling. He was clearly furious. He suppressed his rage with immense willpower and said, "Why would I not dare! I, Yun Xinyue, know my heart is as clear as a mirror. I am utterly devoted to my family and to everyone; I have never harbored any ill will towards anyone. In my life, only now do I understand the fury and humiliation of being framed and slandered. Even if I die, I would never bear such disgrace... Under Profound Gang Soul Stealing, there can be no falsehoods, and it is the best way to prove my innocence! I ask the family elders to perform Soul Stealing on Xinyue, to prove my purity!!"

Yun Xinyue's words were angry and resolute, without the slightest hesitation. The crowd already disbelieved Yun Che's claims, and now, with Yun Xinyue's attitude—showing no resistance or hesitation towards Yun Che's suggestion of Profound Gang Soul Stealing—they truly had not even a shred of doubt left. Instead, they felt even greater anger and indignation towards Yun Che.

"Good!" Prince Huiye nodded, his voice turning cold. "Being publicly slandered is indeed very unpleasant. I can understand your anger and your eagerness to prove your innocence, but your reply has truly disappointed this prince."

Yun Xinyue was startled. "This... Your Highness, please elaborate."

"Hmph!" Prince Huiye snorted heavily, his voice deep. "I thought this Yun Che could produce some real evidence, but it turns out his only proof is Profound Gang Soul Stealing—what an absolute joke! To demand someone use Profound Gang Soul Stealing to prove their innocence, based on nothing but a few utterly ridiculous accusations that even an imbecile wouldn't believe—where in the world is such an absurd thing done?! If such a thing can be allowed, then this prince could also, without any evidence, declare in a single sentence that your entire Yun family is rebelling. Would you then all have to undergo Profound Gang Soul Stealing to prove your innocence?"

"Furthermore, who are you? You are the son of the Yun family's Grand Elder, the soon-to-be Patriarch of the Yun family—what a noble and proud status. And this Yun Che is merely a wild brat who appeared from who-knows-where. He demands you undergo Profound Gang Soul Stealing, and you willingly agree... Do you have any pride or dignity left as a son of the Yun family? If you truly undergo Profound Gang Soul Stealing, you might prove your innocence, but from this day forward, everyone in the Illusory Demon Realm will know that the esteemed new Patriarch of the Yun family had to prove his innocence under public scrutiny using Profound Gang Soul Stealing, all because of a groundless accusation from an unknown brat... Hahahahaha! What a huge joke! Do you want to bring shame upon the entire Yun family, and make the entire Illusory Demon Realm look down on your Yun family? From now on, will any child or beggar be able to make a casual remark and force the Yun family's Patriarch to use Soul Stealing to prove his innocence?"

Prince Huiye's words were resounding, awakening all the Yun family disciples, who were immediately filled with righteous indignation. Many young disciples immediately roared, "His Highness Huiye is right! Yun Xinyue absolutely cannot undergo Profound Gang Soul Stealing, otherwise, wouldn't our Yun family become a laughing stock?"

"Brother Xinyue's immediate willingness to undergo Profound Gang Soul Stealing just now proves he has a clear conscience! Who does Yun Che think he is? He should be thrown out immediately! To slander Brother Xinyue like this, crippling him on the spot wouldn't be excessive!"

"We all know Brother Xinyue is absolutely innocent; he doesn't need to prove himself. This Yun Che is truly despicable and loathsome."

Yun Xinyue's body trembled violently. After a brief moment of stunned silence, he lowered his head and said remorsefully, "What His Highness Huiye taught me is true. Xinyue was too eager to prove his innocence and didn't consider things thoroughly, nearly bringing shame upon the entire family due to my own self-interest."

"Heh heh," Prince Huiye said with a faint smile, "I understand your feelings. However, your willingness to accept Profound Gang Soul Stealing just now is already enough to prove your innocence."

Yun Che's lips twitched, and he inwardly sneered, "This little act of theirs is truly seamless; I almost believed it myself."

Yun Waitian bowed deeply to Prince Huiye and said excitedly, "What Your Highness Huiye said just now perfectly aligns with my thoughts. My son's innocence cannot possibly be equated with the Yun family's reputation. Even if he were to bear the stigma of harming a fellow clan member for his entire life, he absolutely must not undergo Profound Gang Soul Stealing... I thank Your Highness Huiye for enlightening my son. Your Highness Huiye is only a few years older than my son, yet your understanding of how to conduct oneself in the world is far beyond anything my son could achieve."

Prince Huiye smiled and said, "Grand Elder, you flatter me. Yun Xinyue is directly involved, and under such anger, it's inevitable for his mind to be in turmoil and for him to not think comprehensively. As an observer, this prince can naturally see things more clearly."

"Hehehehe." No sooner had Prince Huiye's words fallen than a discordant, piercing sneer rang out. Prince Huiye shot a sidelong glance at Helian Peng, who had sneered, and said, "Elder Helian, what are you laughing at?"

Helian Peng stood up, his face full of sarcasm, and said, "Your Highness Huiye, don't you find this laughable? Although the Yun family has declined, it is still one of the Twelve Guardian Families. Yet, the grand assembly of such a prestigious Guardian family has been thrown into utter chaos by an unknown brat. What's even more ridiculous is that even now, this brat is still standing there unharmed... Hahahahaha! If this were my Helian family, merely for his slanderous words—let alone slandering the soon-to-be Patriarch, even if it were just a regular disciple—he would have long since been crippled, or worse, executed on the spot. But this Yun family...hehehehe, it's truly a pathetic and laughable sight. They have lost all semblance of the dignity and power of a Guardian family. It's hard not to laugh, hahahahaha..."

Although Helian Peng's words were harsh, they struck a raw nerve, immediately causing the Yun family elders and disciples to flush with anger and glare furiously at Yun Che. Yun Waitian immediately stepped forward and roared, "Elder of Enforcement, seize this treacherous scoundrel at once!"

Upon hearing this, the Elder of Enforcement swiftly flew onto the platform, ready to charge at Yun Che. At that moment, a calm voice with a hint of quiet authority rang out, "Stop."

The voice wasn't loud, nor did it carry much emotion, yet it caused the Elder of Enforcement's movements to freeze. This was because the voice belonged to Yun Qinghong.

"Yun Qinghong, you finally spoke! I thought you were going to just watch the show indefinitely!" Yun Waitian sneered, even directly calling out Yun Qinghong's name. "What, are you going to protect this audacious, reckless so-called adopted son of yours?! Or is it that his actions were truly orchestrated by you?"

"You are correct, I am indeed going to protect him," Yun Qinghong said, looking directly at Yun Waitian with an utterly calm expression. Yet, that calm gaze inexplicably made Yun Waitian feel an oppressive power he shouldn't have felt, causing his body to involuntarily tense up.

"Elder of Enforcement, step down," Yun Qinghong ordered.

The Elder of Enforcement was startled by the command, then looked at the Grand Elder. Seeing that he did not move, Yun Qinghong's brow furrowed, and his voice immediately deepened. "Step down!!"

These two words weren't weighty, yet they resonated like a clap of thunder in the ears of all Yun family disciples. All the elders looked at Yun Qinghong with astonishment... For over two decades since he was crippled, Yun Qinghong had lived a secluded life, rarely concerning himself with family matters, and had never reprimanded anyone. For the younger disciples, it was the first time they had heard the crippled Patriarch issue such a commanding order.

The Elder of Enforcement's body trembled, and he responded with a nearly flustered "Yes," then quickly retreated.

Yun Qinghong's gaze shifted, sweeping over Yun Xinyue, and he spoke in a calm, unquestionable tone, "Yun Xinyue, go onto the platform and prepare to undergo Profound Gang Soul Stealing."

As soon as Yun Qinghong's words left his lips, everyone was stunned, and the atmosphere immediately grew restless. Prince Huiye's brow twitched, and he said with a hint of anger, "Patriarch Yun, what is the meaning of this?"

"What is my meaning? It's not for you to manage!" Yun Qinghong said coldly, "This is an internal affair of my Yun family; your interference is not needed."

The entire plaza instantly transitioned from uproar to dead silence. Everyone was dumbfounded, almost wondering if their ears were deceiving them. Yun Qinghong... was actually scolding Prince Huiye, and doing so without any regard for his status. Prince Huiye's face immediately darkened, then he sneered, "Patriarch Yun, you... you are actually so disrespectful to this prince!"

"Hmph!" Yun Qinghong, however, sneered, "What if I am disrespectful to you? Since you entered my Yun family's grounds until now, have you ever shown any courtesy to this Patriarch? I am of the same generation as your father, and my father was the 'Demon King' who shook the world. In terms of royal titles and status, he was on par with your grandfather. Back then, when your father saw me, he would respectfully call me 'Elder Brother'. It is only right and proper for this Patriarch to reprimand a junior like you. Yet you, a mere junior, entered my Yun family without paying respects to this Patriarch, and in front of me, you continually interfered in my Yun family's affairs with unchecked arrogance, and now you have the gall to question this Patriarch's disrespect?"

"Is this how your father usually teaches you? Hmph, you have truly shamed your father, your grandfather, and the entire Illusory Demon Royal Family."