Upon uanding the reason for being summoned, Lin Hao remained calm, his expression as serene as a still ke, without a hint of disturbance.

  With his master bag him, all he o do was argue his case logically.

  "I'll say this upfront: if my disciple is found colluding with the Demon , I will personally shatter his soul. But if he is being falsely accused, the accuser must kneel and apologize to him!"

  Lin Hao uood that his master's words were meant to deter the petty-minded and prevent anyone from sndering him.

  It was heartwarming.

  "Lin Hao, do you know Cui Qing'er, one of the key figures in the Demon 's chaos this time?"

  "I do."

  Lin Hao answered frankly, as many people were aware of his retionship with Cui Qing'er, so there was o hide it.

  His did attitude pleased Sect Leader Ouyang, but that didn't mean he was cleared of suspi.

  "Cui Qing'er infiltrated the Demon Lock Tower to release the demons, which required prior pnning. Since you are close to her, did she ever mention this to you?"

  "She did not."

  Lin Hao khat if he told the truth, he would be accused of withholding information, and the Discipline Elder would certainly make a big deal out of it.

  "Impossible!"

  The Discipline Elder jumped out, pointing a fi Lin Hao.

  "Your retionship with that woman is closer than that of Dao panions, and you cim to know nothing?"

  "I think you're clearly hiding something."

  Buzz!

  A scorg sword aura sshed the Discipline Elder out of the hall.

  A hint of disdain fshed in Feng gyue's eyes as she coldly said, "This is a question from the Sect Leader to my disciple. Is it your pce, old fellow, to interrupt?"

  Though the Discipline Elder's fa was annoyed by Feng gyue's domineering behavior, they couldn't argue because she was right.

  It was inappropriate for an elder to interrupt when the Sect Leader was questioning someone.

  Sect Leader Ouyang shook her head slightly and then said, "Lin Hao, did that demoruly not reveal anything to you?"

  "No."

  Lin Hao lied. Although he felt some guilt over the sect's camity, it wasn't his doing. He had merely been passive.

  He wasn't so foolish as to fess everything.

  Admitting it would be akin to a death sentence, and not even his master could save him.

  Lin Hao's cise response frustrated those eager to pin a crime on him, but they had no grounds to refute him.

  Sihe Sect Leader didn't pursue the matter further, insisting on it would backfire.

  "In that case, the demoness caused chaos in the Demon Lock Tower using her owy token, and you were exempt from punishment at the time, so this matter indeed has nothing to do with you."

  Sect Leader Ouyang already believed that Lin Hao had little to do with this; the real culprit was someone high up in the sect, so she wao shift the versation.

  But before she could speak, the master of Ethereal Peak, Wang Taihang, stepped forward.

  "Sect Leader, perhaps Lin Hao didn't know about the demoness's pn. But his ambiguous retionship with her and the previous i with the witch are both suspicious. What's really going on here? Who guara?"

  What an old dog! When did I offend you, that you target me like this?

  Lin Hao looked coldly at Wang Taihang. He hadn't even spoken a word to the master of Ethereal Peak, yet he was being targeted like this, which was baffling.

  The Discipline Elder limped bato the hall, first casting a fearful g Feng gyue before speaking, "Wang Zunzhu has a point. The instigators of the chaos caused by demons and witches are all closely reted to Lin Hao. Is he truly i? Or what secret does he harbor that attracts these women to him?"

  This sdrel is ruthless, determio pin a crime on me!

  Lin Hao sneered inwardly, maintaining his posure as he said, "Sect Leader, I met them because I practiced dual cultivation teiques, unaware of their demoniature."

  A flicker of delight crossed the Discipline Elder's face as he excitedly said, "You admit to practig demonic arts?"

  Lin Hao frowned, "I practice dual cultivation teiques, which do not viote sect rules. On what grounds do you call it demonic?"

  "I've never heard of any dual cultivation teique requiring union with hundreds of female cultivators."

  "Sect Leader, I strongly suspect Lin Hao has embarked oh of a demonic cultivator, f female cultivators in the sect to dual cultivate with him for the sake of practig demonic arts."

  "I have never forced any female cultivator into a retionship with me. Aren't you afraid of your mouth rotting from spewing such lies?"

  "Heh."

  The Discipline Elder chuckled sinisterly, coldly saying, "I knew you wouldn't admit it, but I have witnesses."

  "Rep to the Sect Leader, I have witnesses who prove Lin Hao forced female cultivators in the sect."

  A hint of surprise fshed i Leader Ouyang's eyes as she calmly said, "Bring the wito front Lin Hao."

  The Discipline Elder was indeed prepared. As soon as he sent a message, someoered the hall.

  Lin Hao gnced over and reized an acquaintance.

  It was Shui Ling'er's suitor, whom he had beaten up before.

  They had a grudge, and now the other party was here to accuse him, making it a tricky situation.

  Liu Yulou gred at Lin Hao with hatred, gritting his teeth. You dared to steal my woman; watch me ruin you!

  He was about to utter some harsh words when he heard the calm voice of the Sect Leader from above.

  " you prove Lin Hao forced female disciples to dual cultivate with him?"

  This was Liu Yulou's first time speaking with the Sect Leader, and he was instantly excited.

  "Rep to the Sect Leader, I personally withis sdrel Lin Ha Shui Ling'er, a direct disciple of Little Bamboo Peak, into a retionship."

  Sp!

  A crisp sp echoed in the hall.

  "You little brat, how dare you tarnish the reputation of a female disciple from Little Bamboo Peak?"

  Murong Qinxue's eyes were filled with killing i, her face covered with a yer of icy murderous aura.

  Liu Yulou clutched his swollen cheek, trembling with fear.

  Wang Taihang stepped forward, his smile not reag his eyes as he said, "Junior Sister Murong, whether Liu Yulou's words are true or not, summon the female disciple from Little Bamboo Peak to front him. What do you mean by striking my Ethereal Peak disciple?"

  "Is this the kind of disciple you teach, Wang Taihang, one who bites indiscriminately?"

  Seeing the two peak masters about to csh.

  Sect Leader Ouyang intervened, "Both peak masters, please don't let this harm your harmony. To uhe truth, let the three of them front each other."

  With the Sect Leader's decision, the two peak masters had to suppress their anger and step back.

  Moments ter, Shui Ling'er ehe hall.

  The crowd's expressions varied.

  Shui Ling'er first g Lin Hao, her eyes filled with plex emotions, and then spoke coldly, "Sect Leader, have I been summoned because of Lin Hao?"

  Sect Leader Ouyang nodded slightly.

  The Discipline Elder forced a smile, his face like old tree bark crag open.

  "Liell everyone how you were wronged, and I will ehe culprit is brought to justice!"

  Liu Yulou hurried over, excitedly saying, "Junior Sister Shui, tell us how Lin Haed you! With the Sect Leader and the peak masters here, they will surely stand up for you!"

  "Rest assured, after this matter is resolved, I still bee your Dao panion. I don't mind your past."

  Peerjun