Chapter 127 — House Arrest: Is Now Really the Time to Compare Who’s Higher?

At the Armillary Sphere connecting to the Pangu Illusion Realm, people had long been waiting.

Besides elders from the Returning Immortal Sect, there was also a group of people Xin Wanbai had never seen before. They stood closest to the exit, sealing it off completely.

Xin Wanbai glanced at Murong Yi not far away and saw his expression was calm.

“What’s the situation?” Xin Wanbai asked.

Murong Yi replied, “Don’t worry. The sect has sent people. They won’t be able to do anything to Lian Mu for now.”

Sure enough, after a while, several elders from the Clear Thought Sect came over, and accompanying them was Qin Yuan.

Qin Yuan stepped past the crowd and approached the Armillary Sphere, speaking gently. “Everyone, disperse. By order of the Returning Immortal Sect’s sect master, I will personally investigate this matter concerning our disciple.”

Those guarding the Armillary Sphere hesitated for a moment. Only when they saw the jade token in his hand did they finally move aside.

Qin Yuan continued, “The Returning Immortal Sect will not shelter any demon race nor wrong any disciple. I have already discussed with the Clear Thought Sect’s sect master—we will investigate Lian Mu’s identity together and give the four great sects an explanation.”

Xin Wanbai let out a breath of relief. With Qin Yuan here, at least the Clear Thought Sect would be held back for a while.

Murong Yi also stepped forward to receive their people. The pearls on the Armillary Sphere lit up. Though prepared for this, he still couldn’t help frowning slightly when he saw Lian Mu emerge with that blood-red face.

The first to come out was the Returning Immortal Sect’s chief team. As soon as they appeared, people from other sects looked over, eyes filled with rage.

However, the chief team didn’t care in the slightest. Xu Xianxing said cheerfully, “Elder, we got first place!”

Xin Wanbai smiled faintly. “Good, well done.”

“It was all thanks to Junior Sister Lian,” Guan Huailin said. “Without her cleverness, we wouldn’t have ranked so high.”

Murong Yi looked at Lian Mu. “How did you end up like this? Wipe your face.”

Only then did Lian Mu remember she hadn’t cleaned off the blood. She touched her face and was startled.

“…”

So much blood?

The belated realization of blood loss made her dizzy. She nearly stumbled, and Wen Yun quickly steadied her from behind.

“What exactly is going on with you?” Bai Li Que asked. “Why did Gu Qingyu say you’re a Heavenly Spiritual Root?”

Lian Mu wiped her face, finally revealing her true features. “I don’t know. They must be mistaken. How could I possibly be a Heavenly Spiritual Root?”

Murong Yi asked, “Are you sure?”

Lian Mu’s hand paused. She suddenly noticed the elders’ gazes felt off but couldn’t figure out why. She looked around and saw Qin Yuan, whom she’d met before at the Returning Immortal Sect, standing not far away, watching her—along with disciples and elders from the other three sects.

“…I’m sure.”

She’d reforged her spiritual root herself; she knew better than anyone.

Why ask this now?

“I’m a three-spiritual-root cultivator, Elder,” Lian Mu reminded him. “I told you before.”

Seeing her genuinely bewildered expression, Xin Wanbai guessed she probably didn’t know and said, “Go clean up. You’ll come with us to retest your spiritual root.”

She didn’t mention anything else, but Lian Mu felt something was wrong. “Elder, did something happen?”

The other chief team members also looked at Xin Wanbai. Just as he was about to speak, Qin Yuan walked over.

“It’s nothing serious,” Qin Yuan said, patting Lian Mu’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. If you’re tired, rest for a few days.”

The other three sect elders: “…” Not serious?

Cheng Ling bluntly pressed, “You’re Lian Mu? Where did you come from?”

Lian Mu didn’t know him but recognized he was an elder of the Crimson Sky Sect. “Does it have anything to do with you?”

She genuinely asked.

Cheng Ling’s face darkened. “What kind of attitude is that?”

Finally, someone lost their temper at her tone. Murong Yi smiled faintly. “She always talks like this, no malice meant. Bear with it.”

Cheng Ling snapped, “Lian Mu, you claim you’re a three-spiritual-root cultivator, but in the Illusion Realm you displayed the power of a Heavenly Spiritual Root. Who exactly are you?”

“There’s only one way a three-spiritual-root cultivator could gain the power of a Heavenly Spiritual Root—by being part of the demon race,” Cheng Ling went on. “The demon race’s corrupt energy can greatly boost cultivation in a short time but will also gradually erode the mind, turning the person into a bloodthirsty fiend.”

At these words, the disciples instantly understood what he implied.

The chief team’s expressions changed.

Wen Yun snapped, “How can you slander people like this? Where’s your proof?”

Xu Xianxing frowned. “Since when can’t a three-spiritual-root cultivator match a Heavenly Spiritual Root in strength?”

“Sure, there are stronger three-spiritual-root cultivators, but given her age and peers, she shouldn’t be able to.”

“No more arguments,” Qin Yuan cut off the two. “Sect Master Shen and I will get to the bottom of this before the next illusion realm opens. Lian Mu, go rest for now and don’t wander off. If there’s anything, I’ll send for you.”

Now Lian Mu understood why the elders were looking at her so strangely.

She said, “Investigate all you want. I am not demon race and have never dealt with them.”

Cheng Ling sneered, “This concerns the safety of White Tiger West and the other disciples. Your word alone won’t clear you.”

Lian Mu didn’t know how they planned to investigate her, but she was certain she had nothing to do with the demon race.

As for her spiritual root…

She lowered her gaze, staring at her hand.

She remembered reforging her root step by step, exactly following the secret method Feng Tianche had left behind. How could something go wrong?

Qin Yuan gestured for some people to escort Lian Mu back to rest.

He said softly, “They’re all from the Returning Immortal Sect. Don’t worry, just go with them.”

Lian Mu thought for a moment and nodded. “Alright.”

Seeing the other three sects eyeing her, she could only obey Qin Yuan for now.

Following the escorts, she returned to her quarters. The Clear Thought Sect had relocated her lodging to a separate place, isolating her from other disciples. She was now the only occupant of the entire building.

“My things?” she asked.

One of them answered, “Everything’s been moved in. Elder Qin wants you to stay here for now. Don’t worry—until this is settled, no one can touch you.”

Lian Mu glanced around. Eight people guarded the area—one from each sect.

“Alright. Thank you, senior brothers,” she said, nodding before entering the room.

Inside, she looked around. Her belongings were intact. On the table was a silver bracelet that, sensing her return, turned into a black scorpion.

Green Bean twitched its legs and crawled over, climbing up her clothes onto her shoulder.

Perhaps it smelled the blood on her; it rubbed its pincers against her neck.

On the table lay a letter—Murong Yi had written it in advance.

Opening it, she finally understood the whole story.

But compared to the demon race suspicion, she cared more about her spiritual root.

She was about to decide whether to contact Murong Yi and confess she had reforged it when someone knocked.

She tucked the letter into her sleeve and opened the door. It was Xu Xianxing and the others.

“You came too?” Lian Mu glanced outside. The guards didn’t react—they’d come in openly.

Bai Li Que closed the door behind them.

“Elder allowed us to see you one more time,” Xu Xianxing said. “Some things couldn’t be said earlier. Elder Murong sent us to tell you—

The Clear Thought Sect’s sect master has his eye on you. Once all the disciples come out, he plans to retest your spiritual root in front of everyone. Also…”

He didn’t continue speaking, but Lian Mu understood what he meant.

She thought for a moment and said, “If I’m not, will they compensate me? Being locked up here is delaying my chance to make money.”

Bai Li Que admired her peculiar focus: “At a time like this, how can you still be thinking about money… Lian Mu, be honest, what’s really going on?”

Wen Yun said, “We believe you’re not demon race, but your spiritual root…”

Lian Mu said, “I want to know too, but the truth is, I really am a three-root.”

Ji Mingyue guessed, “You didn’t hide your real age, did you? I watched the recording stone — that sword strike when you defeated the Mirror Beast, if it were an ordinary three-root sword cultivator, it would take at least four hundred years of cultivation to pull that off.”

“Impossible. I watched her grow up,” Xu Xianxing gestured at his waist. “Five years ago, she was only about this tall.”

Lian Mu said, “…You talk like you were so much older than me back then. I remember you were shorter than me, weren’t you? The bean sprouts I grew in a pot were taller than you.”

Guan Shize muttered, “…Is now really the time to compare height?”

“If it’s not an age issue, then it’s even stranger.” Ji Mingyue pondered for a while. “I’ve never heard of a case like yours.”

Xu Xianxing said, “Hasn’t Lian Mu always been different from others? Maybe other people have one Heavenly Spiritual Root, but she has three!”

Bai Li Que scoffed, “You really can come up with anything — that’s too ridiculous… Elder Murong said once the root is retested, after a while, he’ll send you back to Returning Immortal Sect and have the master of Fragrance-Attracting Peak examine you. Then we’ll know what’s going on.”

Ji Mingyue added, “My master has seen everything. He’ll know for sure.”

Lian Mu said, “The tournament isn’t over yet. I don’t want to go back to Returning Immortal Sect.”

The other five were stunned.

Ji Mingyue asked, “Why? It’s just a quick trip back. It won’t affect the next round.”

Lian Mu shook her head. “I just want to stay here. As for my body, I’ll figure it out myself.”

Xu Xianxing said, “You… Fine. I’ll tell Elder Murong what you want. Once we leave, we probably won’t see you for quite a while.”

“It’s fine. I usually stay cooped up inside anyway. I won’t get lonely.”

Xu Xianxing said, “I meant I’ll be lonely. They all think my leg’s useless — just now on the way here, they didn’t even wait for me. If it were you, you’d definitely take me along.”

Ji Mingyue said, “Who despises you? We were just in a hurry to find Lian Mu.”

Lian Mu said, “…When I get out, I’ll get you a wheelchair that goes like the wind.”

Bai Li Que stuffed a stack of talismans into her hand. “If you get bored, use these to contact us. We’ll sneak over the wall to bring you things.”

Lian Mu accepted them. “Alright. If anything happens here, I’ll let you know immediately too.”