Chapter 524: Xuangang Soul Seizing

Yun Xin Yue's hands clenched tighter and tighter, almost crushing his bones, and sweat streamed down his forehead. He raised his head and, with immense willpower, said, "Patriarch... I am not afraid, but I am unwilling! I, Yun Xin Yue, am utterly sincere. Why must I publicly undergo Soul-Snatching Profound Energy because of an outsider's baseless words? Is it just because... he is your adopted son, Patriarch? If, after the Soul-Snatching Profound Energy, it is proven that I am innocent, will this matter simply be over, and your adopted son will at most receive a reprimand... will he? I am unwilling... Patriarch, what you are doing will cause our entire clan to lose heart... I am unwilling."

"Unwilling?" Yun Qinghong chuckled faintly. "In that case, I, the Patriarch, shall make you willing... Che'er!"

"Adoptive Father," Yun Che responded.

Yun Qinghong said solemnly, "The matter of Yun Xin Yue needing to undergo Soul-Snatching Profound Energy is entirely due to you. After the Soul-Snatching Profound Energy, if he is indeed involved in harming Xiao'er and Number Seven Under Heaven, then you will have helped my Yun Clan eliminate a hidden menace, which is a great service. At that time, the Elders' Council will naturally reward you handsomely, and the entire Yun Clan will acknowledge you. However, if Yun Xin Yue is innocent... then you will have maliciously slandered a Yun Clan disciple. Even if you are my adopted son, I will never let you off lightly! At that time, you must immediately sever all your meridians as atonement... Do you dare to agree? If you do not dare, then this Soul-Snatching Profound Energy will not be necessary!"

Severing all one's meridians... this extremely cruel consequence sent a chill through everyone present. Many Yun Clan members had initially thought Yun Qinghong's sudden outburst was to favor Yun Che, but once he uttered those words, no one harbored such thoughts anymore; they even felt Yun Qinghong was incredibly harsh towards his adopted son.

Although Yun Qinghong had nearly absolute confidence in Yun Che, he still left a way out for him... Severing all meridians, to any profound practitioner, even an Emperor, was terrifying. However, he and Mu Yurou had their meridians crippled for over twenty years, yet Yun Che could fully heal them within two months. Even if Yun Che genuinely severed all his meridians at that point, recovering on his own should not be too difficult.

"Good!" Yun Che nodded without hesitation and declared loudly, "If Yun Xin Yue is proven innocent under the Soul-Snatching Profound Energy, I will immediately sever all my meridians... If I go back on my word, anyone present may act on my behalf, and I will not resist!"

Yun Qinghong slowly nodded. "Yun Xin Yue, do you have anything more to say now?"

With matters having reached this point, and Yun Qinghong having spoken to this extent, it would truly be abnormal if Yun Xin Yue still resisted. Yun Xin Yue's chest heaved violently, and his legs trembled faintly. He gritted his teeth and took one step forward, but could not take a second... because he knew better than anyone the consequences of undergoing Soul-Snatching Profound Energy.

"Hmph!" Yun Qinghong's face showed anger as he said gravely, "Elder of Law Enforcement, how should one be dealt with if they deliberately defy the Patriarch's command while not violating the Yun Clan's overall interests?"

The Elder of Law Enforcement was startled and quickly replied, "Reporting to the Patriarch, defying the Patriarch's command... lightly, it's confinement; severely... severely, it's the abolition of all profound cultivation and expulsion from the clan."

"Yun Xin Yue, do you want to become a cripple and be expelled from the clan, or step onto this Sacred Cloud Platform to prove your innocence? If you don't even know how to make such a simple choice, then it can only prove that what Yun Che said was not false!"

Yun Xin Yue still didn't move. His mind was now on the verge of collapse, and in his terror and confusion, he could barely hear Yun Qinghong's words.

"Since you still don't wish to step onto this Sacred Cloud Platform, I can only have someone help you up." Yun Qinghong turned to face the three Grand Elders, his expression showing a hint of respect. "Three Grand Elders, I must trouble you with this matter. Only with the three Grand Elders personally undertaking it will it be most convincing."

Yun Jiang, Yun Xi, and Yun He were profoundly experienced. Yun Xin Yue's current state had already made the subtle signs clear to all of them. As soon as Yun Qinghong finished speaking, Grand Elder Yun Xi soared up, instantly appearing above Yun Xin Yue. Before Yun Xin Yue could even react, a profound energy as vast as the sea enveloped his entire body. He didn't even have time to form a shred of resistance before his vision went dark, and his mind completely fell silent.

Even his body appeared on the Sacred Cloud Platform in a kneeling posture.

The Grand Elder's profound energy was immensely powerful. People barely saw what happened before Yun Xin Yue appeared at the center of the Sacred Cloud Platform, completely motionless, eyes open but unfocused, as if his soul had been taken.

With a flash, Grand Elder Yun Xi was back in his seat. He said indifferently, "His consciousness has been taken by the Soul-Snatching Profound Energy and will last for about a quarter of an hour. Patriarch, you may ask him any questions you have."

Watching his proud son kneel like a criminal before everyone's eyes, and seeing that the Grand Elder's actions and words clearly sided with Yun Qinghong, Yun Waitian trembled all over. He roared in anger, "Good... good... Ask all you want, just ask!! My son is innocent and fears no slander! Yun Qinghong, remember what you said before: if my son is innocent, this Yun Che... must sever all his meridians! And today's humiliation... I will never forget!"

"Grand Elder, please calm yourself. Right now, aren't we about to prove your son's innocence? You should be more at ease." Yun Qinghong nodded to Yun Che. "Che'er, push me up. I want to hear every word he says clearly."

"Yes," Yun Che responded, jumping down from the platform. He then took Yun Qinghong's wheelchair, returned to the Sacred Cloud Platform, and stopped in front of Yun Xin Yue.

"Your Highness, what should we do?" Venerable Rock Dragon said in a very soft voice from behind Prince Huiye.

Prince Huiye's face was ashen. He gripped his folding fan, hooked his index finger slightly, and made a subtle gesture.

"Grand Elder, Yu Bai, both of you may step down. Elders, keep a close eye on the Grand Elder; do not allow him to jump onto the Sacred Cloud Platform on his own. As for Prince Huiye, he may do as he pleases," Yun Qinghong said unhurriedly, looking at Yun Xin Yue in front of him.

"Hmph." Prince Huiye let out a soft snort but did not leave the Sacred Cloud Platform, his eyes fixed on Yun Qinghong's back.

Mu Yu Bai and Yun Waitian both left the Sacred Cloud Platform as instructed. Yun Waitian said angrily, "I don't need to be watched! My son is absolutely innocent! Yun Qinghong, just wait until you regret this!"

"Heh heh," Yun Qinghong chuckled faintly. "Yun Waitian, don't assume that just because you are his father, you know everything about him. However, I am willing to believe that you were unaware of the things he has done. Che'er, you are the one who said Yun Xin Yue was involved in harming Xiao'er and Number Seven Under Heaven, so you should question him yourself. Since you were able to find clues, you'll at least know how to question him better than we do."

"Alright," Yun Che nodded. When his gaze met Yun Qinghong's, they involuntarily exchanged a smile.

In today's assembly, Yun Qinghong had initially remained silent, so silent that people almost forgot his presence. But the moment he spoke, the entire situation completely fell under his control, extinguishing Prince Huiye's authority, leaving Helian Peng speechless, making the emotions of all Yun Clan members shift with his every action and word, silencing all indignant voices on behalf of Yun Xin Yue, and even, with just a few words, getting the Grand Elder to personally subdue Yun Xin Yue...

Yun Che rarely admired anyone. He had initially thought he would be the protagonist of this Yun Clan assembly today, but unexpectedly, the true protagonist's role was easily taken by Yun Qinghong. A sigh of admiration rose in his heart... No wonder I'm so outstanding; turns out I have such an amazing father!

It was evident how brilliant he once was!

While all Yun Clan members were being led by what seemed like a flawless script, Yun Qinghong saw through everything in silence. When the entire audience was questioning and mocking Yun Che, he chose to believe... and trust, or lack thereof, inherently requires sufficient wisdom.

Yun Che stepped forward. As his body came level with Yun Qinghong's, he wanted to warn Yun Qinghong to be careful of someone suddenly attempting to silence him, but the words caught in his throat before he could speak them. He believed that with Yun Qinghong's wisdom, he didn't need any warning.

"What is your name?" Yun Che stood before Yun Xin Yue and asked earnestly.

"Yun Xin Yue..." Yun Xin Yue's voice was slow and listless, but clearly audible.

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-seven years old..." As Yun Xin Yue spoke, a stream of drool trickled from the corner of his mouth and fell to the ground.

"What type of girls do you like most?"

"Big... bottoms..."

"Oh! I didn't realize we had a little something in common." Yun Che's eyes widened. "Which girl did you sleep with most recently?"

"Miss Ju Hua from Drunken Xiang House..."

"Pfft"... Spits of laughter and spluttering immediately erupted from the audience below.

"Scoundrel!!" Yun Waitian's beard bristled. He pointed at Yun Che and cursed, "What kind of nonsensical questions are you asking?! You... you... you're clearly feeling guilty and afraid, deliberately stalling!"

Yun Che quickly waved his hand. "Grand Elder Yun, please calm down. This is also my first time witnessing the legendary Soul-Snatching Profound Energy, so I wanted to test if it really answers whatever is asked, just like the legends say... Hmm, I've tested enough. This Soul-Snatching Profound Energy is indeed marvelous, and it's time to get to the main point. However, this, this... the esteemed son of the Yun Clan's Grand Elder actually needs to visit a brothel when he wants a woman... Oh! To prefer visiting brothels rather than forcibly seizing and occupying decent women, unlike some noble clan disciples, truly earns my admiration. It's just that Miss Ju Hua... it sounds like Young Master Yun's tastes are a bit... unconventional."

"You!!" Yun Waitian trembled all over, his eyes fierce, looking as if he wished he could rush up and fight Yun Che to the death.

"Oh! Right away, right away!" Yun Che coughed heavily, casually glanced at Prince Huiye's face, which had been silent for a while, then asked earnestly, "Yun Xin Yue, I ask you, two months ago, why did you know that Yun Xiao and Number Seven Under Heaven would meet outside the city?"

Yun Che didn't ask "Did you know," but "Why did you know." Yun Waitian snorted coldly, disdainfully saying, "Under Soul-Snatching Profound Energy, all words come from the depths of the soul; there won't be a shred of falsehood! Do you think he'll fabricate a reason just because you guide him like that?"

However, as Yun Xin Yue began to speak, Yun Waitian's expression instantly froze.

"That day... I was passing by Yun Xiao's courtyard... and accidentally overheard Yun Xiao sending a voice transmission to Number Seven Under Heaven... arranging to meet at ten in the morning the next day... at Rain Cloud Pavilion, seventy li outside the city..." Yun Xin Yue answered slowly and clearly.

"Oh!" Yun Che nodded. "Just as I expected, you indeed eavesdropped on Yun Xiao's voice transmission."

"This... this... ah..." Yun Xiao's tongue became a bit tied. He remembered that on the first day he met Yun Che, Yun Che had asked him if he always used voice transmission to invite Number Seven Under Heaven, and if that particular transmission had been overheard by someone...

A flurry of whispers immediately erupted from the audience. Yun Che's first formal question and Yun Xin Yue's answer made those who had already started to feel doubts instantly sense something amiss.

Yun Waitian's expression instantly turned ugly, but then he quickly roared, "So what?! Xin Yue merely overheard it by chance... Just because he unintentionally heard this voice transmission, does that make him the villain who ambushed them?!!"