“Cold Scale Sacred Hand always covers his face with a black veil and secludes himself in the alchemy room all year round. He rarely interacts with the outside world, so as long as he controls a person of similar size, it would be difficult for others to detect.”

     Jiang Xi frowned and said, “So you mean Guyue’ye’s Hua Binan is fake?”

     “Sometimes it’s real, sometimes it’s fake. If you want to avoid being discovered, the best way is to mix true and false.”

     Jiang Xi thought, then said, “If that’s the case, Shi Mingjing should be able to use the Zhenlong Chess Formation. However, the medical sect’s spiritual power isn’t strong enough, so it’s unlikely that we can master this kind of technique.”

     “Sect Leader Jiang is right. The Zhenlong Chess Formation requires a great deal of spiritual power. Hua Binan is familiar with the technique, but because of his weak spiritual power, he can’t use it alone. So he had to conspire with Xu Shuanglin before…”

     Jiang Xi shook his head. “That’s not right. Xu Shuanglin once said that the person behind the scenes was his friend. He was unwilling to betray his friend, so he didn’t tell us who the person was, even until death. If it’s as you said, and Shi Mei is Hua Binan, Xu Shuanglin should recognize him. So why did Xu Shuanglin still not betray him after Hua Binan destroyed the Rebirth Formation?”

     Mo Ran said, “Because Xu Shuanglin didn’t know that Shi Mei and Hua Binan were the same person.”

     Master Xuan Jing, who was beside them, said, “Since they’re close friends, how could he not know such a big thing…?”

     “Xu Shuanglin regarded Shi Mei as a close friend,” Mo Ran said. “But Shi Mei couldn’t really be his friend. On this chessboard, Xu Shuanglin was just an important chess piece, that’s all.”

     He paused, then continued, “When Hua Binan was injured at Mount Jiao’s main hall, he took off his veil. His face was extremely ugly. Now that I think about it, it was probably just an exquisitely made human skin mask. As for Xu Shuanglin, he may have only seen the first face of his ‘close friend’ in his entire life—that is, the one that belongs to Shi Mei. He would never have associated Hua Binan with Shi Mei at all. So, even until his death, he didn’t think he was being framed or used by his partner. Naturally, he wouldn’t have revealed the truth.”

     Jiang Xi said, “According to what you’re saying, when Shi Mingjing and Hua Binan appeared at the same time on Mount Jiao, one of them was a controlled chess piece?”

     “That is one theory. But there is a second possibility.”

     “What?”

     Mo Ran shook his head. “I want to talk about that matter later.”

     Master Xuan Jing said, “Even if Mo-shizhu’s first guess is correct, this monk still feels that there’s still something that doesn’t make sense. Hua Binan has no reason to interrupt Xu Shuanglin’s Rebirth Formation. Does he have a grudge against Xu Shuanglin? Could it be that letting Xu Shuanglin get his wish and allowing Luo Fenghua to be reborn would hurt him in some way?”

     Mo Ran sighed. “Has Master forgotten the final result of Xu Shuanglin’s spell?”

     The old bald donkey didn’t react for a moment and shook his head.

     Mo Ran said, “Judging from the crack in the sky that opened that day, Shi Mei didn’t teach Xu Shuanglin the real Rebirth formation at all.”

     “Ah…”

     “He had been deceiving Xu Shuanglin the entire time. Xu Shuanglin went to great lengths, thinking he was setting up a Rebirth formation, but in fact, he was creating another formation for Hua Binan, who didn’t have enough spiritual power.”

     “Then what did Hua Binan teach him…?”

     “It’s the most forbidden technique in the world.” Mo Ran paused, then finally said, “What he taught Xu Shuanglin was the Gate of Time, Space, Life, and Death.”

     “!”

     Those who participated in the battle on Mount Jiao couldn’t help but recall the black hole that opened in the sky at that time and how thousands of mysterious cultivators came from it…

     Was that actually the Gate of Time, Space, Life, and Death?

     Mo Ran said, “This is the second possibility I mentioned. As long as the Gate of Time, Space, Life, and Death is in play, both Hua Binan and Shi Mei could be real; it’s just that one belongs to this mortal world, and the other comes from another mortal world, another cultivation world.”

     After hearing this, everyone was silent. Then someone slapped his leg and laughed. “Mo-zongshi, are you trying to coax a child to sleep with a story like this? You’re using this mythical forbidden technique to scare people. Two Shi Mingjings… hahahaha! I’m dying of laughter!”

     “That’s right. How is that possible? It’s a forbidden technique that has been lost for thousands of years… Who can learn it?”

     “The most important scroll of the Gate of Time, Space, Life, and Death is said to have been sealed in the Flame Emperor’s Divine Wood long ago. Even if someone studied this forbidden technique, the most they could learn is space, not time. Otherwise, if one world overlaps with another, wouldn’t the world be in chaos?”

     Instead of arguing with them, Mo Ran told them all of his thoughts. He knew that this was probably his last confession as Mo-zongshi. After today, these people may not give him a chance to explain anything.

     He used his confession as a bargaining chip in exchange for a little calmness from those who demanded his life, hoping only to tell everyone present what he knew and suspected. Regardless of whether they believed it or not, what he said was a warning bell. If there was trouble in the future, some people would more or less remember his warning today. Perhaps it wasn’t too late.

     “Everyone, think about it. If I were Hua Binan and I mastered the essence of the Zhenlong Chess Formation and the Gate of Time, Space, Life, and Death but was born with insufficient spiritual power and no position to take action, what should I do?”

     Most of the people here had a grudge against Mo Ran and weren’t willing to listen to his advice.

     However, Jiang Xi admired Mo Ran because of some previous events, and he himself had doubts about the murder in Guyue’ye, so after thinking seriously for a while, he said, “...I’d get someone to help.”

     “Who would help you?”

     “No one.”

     Mo Ran said, “Yes, there would be no one, so he can only lie—deceive someone like Xu Shuanglin, who had a great desire in his heart, to help him complete his plan step by step.

     Master Xuan Jing said, “Mo-shizhu is ridiculous. There’s no way the magical formation can be anything else? The Gate of Time, Space, Life, and Death isn’t something that ordinary people can learn. For thousands of years, no one has ever learned it. The most important part of the manual has already been lost. Who would be able to learn it?”

     “That’s right. This is simply a fantasy.”

     “You may as well say that the great god Fuxi has descended to the world. This would be no different from the Gate of Time, Space, Life, and Death opening.”

     “It’s so absurd that even storytellers don’t dare to say it.”

     At last, someone sneered and said, “Mo-zongshi, you have been laying the groundwork for a long time. Are you going to tell us that the one who killed all the heroes in Guyue’ye that night was the other you, who came to this world through the Gate of Time, Space, Life, and Death?”

     Mo Ran: “...”

     Seeing that he remained silent, someone in the hall burst out in laughter. “Terrific, really terrific. In order to exonerate himself, Mo-zongshi is really willing to make up anything.”

     “So, after beating around the bush for such a long time, it’s just to clear your name?”

     Jiang Xi couldn’t stand the noise. He turned around, flicked his sleeves, and said angrily to the people leading the crowd, “Just speak clearly. Why are you being sarcastic?”

     Master Xuan Jing put his palms together and said, “Sect Leader Jiang, it’s not that we’re being sarcastic; it’s just that Mo-zongshi’s words are too unbelievable. In this old monk’s opinion, it would be better to invite him to Tianyin Pavilion for interrogation before making a decision.”

     “Yes, the Tianyin Pavilion Master will be here soon. When she arrives, let Mo-zongshi go with her.”

     Before Jiang Xi had a chance to say anything, Xue Zhengyong spoke. Although he had mixed feelings, he still said, “I think what Ran-er said makes sense. Maybe the Gate of Time, Space, Life, and Death has already been opened. Tianyin Pavilion is a place where heinous criminals are interrogated. He can’t leave before we find out the truth.”

     “That’s right!” A disciple from Sisheng Peak stood up. “On Mount Jiao, the line between life and death was thin. If Mo-shixiong hadn’t saved you, would you be able to stand here now? If he wanted to overturn the cultivation world, he could’ve just trapped everyone on Mount Jiao!”

     Master Xuan Jing was stunned. “This…”

     Someone said, “That’s true. At that time, everyone was trapped in Mount Jiao’s tunnel. It was Mo-zongshi who managed to get us out. If he wanted to harm people, he could have done it then.”

     These words were true. Many people thought about this issue and were silent for a while.

     But silence didn’t mean agreement. Many people present were still wearing mourning robes at this moment. Their relatives and friends had just died, and they felt extremely sorrowful. What’s more, the survivors of Mount Jiao had also seen Mo Ran kill people in Flower Hall with their own eyes.

     Among the witnesses, other than Mei Hanxue, who expressed doubts about the situation, everyone was sure that it was Mo Ran himself. Under such circumstances, it wasn’t easy for them to give up their pursuit of Mo Ran’s life and instead believe in the Gate of Time, Space, Life, and Death, which had only appeared in myths.

     So, soon enough, someone retorted, “But I don’t know about this matter. Don’t you remember? On Mount Huang, Mo-zongshi’s control of the entire situation and the Zhenlong Chess Formation was very precise. He says Shi Mingjing knows the Zhenlong Chess Formation, but I feel that the person who knows a great deal about this forbidden technique is himself.”

     “That’s true.” After the rebuttal, someone else immediately echoed, “There’s one more thing. Don’t you think it’s strange? Why could Mo Ran open Mount Jiao’s boundary? He’s not a descendant of the Nangong family.”

     At this time, a woman’s voice suddenly came from outside Loyalty Hall.

     “There’s nothing strange about this. Because the blood flowing through Mo-zongshi’s body is the blood of the Nangong family.”

     Everyone suddenly looked back, only to see a group of guards dressed in silver and green outfits and wearing silver medallions with the Heaven “天” character on their waists charging right in. The leader was a beautiful woman who looked to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old.

     She had bright eyes and lovely hair. She was extremely beautiful and could even be compared to Song Qiutong, the most beautiful woman in the cultivation world at that time. However, although she was beautiful, her temperament was very cold.

     When everyone saw her, most of their expressions changed. Even a few of the sect leaders had a look of awe on their faces.

     Only Jiang Xi didn’t have much of a reaction and only nodded. “The Pavilion Master is finally here.”

     This elegantly dressed woman was none other than Mu Yanli, the Pavilion Master of Tianyin Pavilion, who had been absent from the cultivation world for a long time.

     Mu Yanli was in charge of Tianyin Pavilion. All the serious unresolved cases in the upper and lower cultivation worlds would eventually fall into her hands, and she would preside over the trials.

     However, there weren’t many cases that required Tianyin Pavilion’s involvement, so the Tianyin Pavilion Master usually didn’t show up in public for ten to twenty years.

     Because she didn’t go out often, Mu Yanli’s skin was very fair, and the light blue veins under her skin could be seen faintly. She walked into the hall and stopped, saying lightly, “Sorry to keep you waiting for so long.”

     Master Xuan Jing asked, “Pavilion Master came a little later than expected. Was there a delay at the pavilion?”

     Mu Yanli shook her head. “No. Tianyin Pavilion can never apprehend people without evidence. So, before coming here, our pavilion was thoroughly investigating some of Mo-zongshi’s past actions at Sisheng Peak.”

     She paused and looked at Mo Ran coldly with her almond-shaped eyes before her red lips moved slightly. “After this investigation, we found that things weren’t as simple as they seemed. Mo-zongshi’s identity… is actually related to an old case in Xiangtan from many years ago.”

     Everyone looked at each other in confusion. “What old case?”

     Only Mo Ran’s face paled as his palms began to sweat.

     He didn’t expect that this matter would be revealed at this moment.

     Mu Yanli was like an executioner. She looked at the man kneeling in front of the hall and said coldly, “Mo-xianjun, let’s not gossip. You know your own background and your own mind. Do you want to tell the public yourself, or do you want me to invite a witness to the hall?”

     “...” Mo Ran closed his eyes.

     As early as the beginning of his rebirth, he knew that if he wanted to have a carefree life, there were a few people in this world he would have to kill to prevent trouble in the future. But at the beginning, he didn’t have the strength nor the opportunity. Later, when he gained this strength and ability, he was no longer willing to take the lives of others for his own personal gain.

     In his previous life, he had killed enough people in order to hide his own background and hold all the bargaining chips in his hands.

     Seeing that he was silent, Mu Yanli said, “It seems that Mo-zongshi doesn’t intend to confess.”

     After she finished speaking, a hint of undisguised contempt appeared on her cold and beautiful face. Then she turned around and faced the crowd. Her voice was like a bell, piercing people’s hearts.

     “Then let me tell you. Listen, everyone—this famous Mo-zongshi was already a murderer responsible for dozens of lives before he advanced to Sisheng Peak. Such a vicious person should have been brought to justice a long time ago!”

     “What?!”

     “He had already killed dozens of people before joining the sect?”

     Xue Meng’s eyes were wide, full of confusion. He murmured, “Ge…?”

     His voice was neither soft nor loud, but it just happened to fall into Mu Yanli’s ears. Mu Yanli glanced at the Young Master of Sisheng Peak and said indifferently, “Brother?”

     Xue Meng: “...”

     The rain and snow outside was getting heavier and heavier as the sky grew darker and darker. Even though the hall was brightly lit, it weighed down on him to the point he could hardly breathe.

     Mu Yanli looked at Mo Ran with contempt and looked at Xue Meng with ridicule. “Xue-shaozhu really is pitiful to recognize your enemy as your brother.”

     Xue Meng obviously didn’t react to the meaning of this sentence, but there was already a thunderstorm in his mind, as if the earth were splitting and the sky was collapsing. He opened his clear eyes and stepped back. “What… what do you mean by recognizing my enemy as my brother?” His entire body trembled. “What nonsense are you talking about…?”

     Mu Yanli no longer paid attention to him. She turned around and said, “Mo Weiyu is not Sect Leader Xue’s nephew at all.” She paused, and her pair of beautiful and ruthless eyes were like sharp knives, sweeping over Xue Zhengyong and Madam Wang’s faces as she she said, not without fairness and not without cruelty:

     “Sect Leader Xue’s nephew died at Mo Ran’s hands eight years ago!”