But in the end, Shui Hanyi continued intermittently, "Our sect's strongest techniques are... 'Blazing Sun Burning the Heavens', 'Great... Great Curse Technique', 'Heavenly Mystery Fate Plate', and... 'Lightning Seven Swords'..."
After saying this, he paused for a long time before finally stating his cultivation level—Ninth Stage Spirit King.
The moment his words fell, the entire venue erupted.
Everyone was stunned.
The Sect Master of the Primordial Holy Land had cultivated to the Ninth Stage of Spirit King, and possessed four of the most formidable techniques. How terrifying! Apart from his renowned signature move, 'Lightning Seven Swords', the other three were completely unheard of, as if deeply hidden.
Once Shui Hanyi broke through, he would enter the Saint realm.
Even in the Xuanhuang Continent, the Saint realm was a symbol of absolute power.
For above Saints was ascension to godhood!
The former Great Emperor Haotian was a Saint, and 'Great Emperor' was a title of respect; not all powerful beings at the Saint realm were called Great Emperors. Similar to 'Beast King' or 'Wood King', they were equally powerful but not referred to as Great Emperors.
While shocked, the crowd was even more astonished by the lie-detecting stone.
What a treasure! It could actually make Sect Master Shui speak the truth without concealment; otherwise, he would never have revealed his secrets.
However, Su Luo knew it wouldn't last much longer.
It seemed the Truth Serum couldn't completely hypnotize Shui Hanyi; he had been resisting, causing his speech to be fragmented.
He was simply too strong!
Without wasting any more time, Su Luo immediately demanded, "Then I ask you again, did the Primordial Holy Land collude with the Dark Demon Ridge, and did they attempt to assassinate geniuses from other forces during this Heavenly Talent Competition?"
The entire venue fell into a dead silence.
Everyone was waiting for Shui Hanyi's answer to this crucial question.
Shui Hanyi's expression was blank, but his facial muscles twitched as if he were fiercely resisting something.
Not good, he was about to break free from the control of the Truth Serum!
At this critical moment, Su Luo couldn't afford to fail. While everyone's attention was on Shui Hanyi, she secretly unleashed another Truth Serum on Shui Xuanmo beside him and shouted, "Shui Xuanmo, did the Primordial Holy Land collude with the Dark Demon Ridge?"
"Yes!"
Shui Xuanmo, still recovering from his severe injuries, had no means to resist and was immediately affected. "The Primordial Holy Land joined forces with the Dark Demon Ridge half a year ago to target this Heavenly Talent Competition, intending to eliminate geniuses from other forces."
Su Luo questioned, "Then why did you deny it earlier?"
"I was afraid, I was afraid that if everyone knew, they would join forces against the Primordial Holy Land! This is our Holy Land's greatest secret, how could I dare to admit it publicly..."
Shui Qingyue was dumbfounded. Was her brother insane to actually confess?
It was true!
The Holy Son, Shui Xuanmo, had confessed publicly. He had lied earlier, and this was the truth.
The entire crowd leaped to their feet, emitting thunderous sounds of indignation.
Scorn, curses, shock, contempt, crying... various voices arose, creating a deafening din, like a volcanic eruption, reaching its highest crescendo. No one had expected the truth to be this way, but everyone had heard it clearly, without exception.
"The truth is now revealed! It turns out the Primordial Holy Land colluded with the demonic sect and assassinated geniuses of the righteous path!"
"The Primordial Holy Land deceived everyone, utterly despicable and shameless!"
"My child, Ming'er, you must have been killed by someone from the Primordial Holy Land. Father will definitely get justice for you..."
At this moment, Shui Hanyi, who had been resisting the Truth Serum, fully regained consciousness.
Hearing the anger and cries filling the venue, his heart sank. He knew he had been tricked, but it was already irreversible. His son's public confession was an unalterable outcome.
It was all this wretched girl's doing!
Shui Hanyi glared at Su Luo with murderous intent, as if he wanted to grind her to dust.
But he didn't attack Su Luo. Instead, he crushed the 'lie-detecting stone' in his hand and roared, "Shui Xuanmo, it was you! You unfilial son, how dare you betray the Primordial Holy Land and collude with the Dark Demon Ridge! I do not have such a rebellious son. Today, I will purge my household publicly!"
The light in his palm erupted, blindingly bright.
Li Tianjue sensed great danger and immediately shielded everyone from Qingxu Heaven, retreating together. They saw Shui Hanyi's body surge with energy, his robes billowing. He lightning-fast grabbed his son Shui Xuanmo by the collar and fiercely struck the top of his head with a palm.
Boom!
Shui Xuanmo's head exploded on the spot, killed by his own father in full view of the crowd.
Everyone was stunned again.
"Rebellious son, rebellious son! I do not have a son like you!"
Before anyone could react, Shui Hanyi released his grip without mercy, tossing Shui Xuanmo's corpse to the ground. He then cupped his fists towards the four Emperors and exclaimed with feigned heartache, "Your Majesties, all Sect Masters and Family Heads present... Our sect only now realized we were deceived by this unfilial son."
"No wonder this past period, our sect found his behavior suspicious, and we thought it was due to the pressure of the Heavenly Talent Competition. Who knew he was secretly colluding with the Dark Demon Ridge, acting against righteousness, and doing such things behind our sect's back!"
Shui Hanyi suddenly stared at Shui Qingyue and asked with feigned heartbreak, "Qingyue, were you completely unaware? Why didn't you tell your father?"
Seeing her father kill her brother with his own hand, Shui Qingyue was utterly stunned.
Her face was pale, her mind in chaos. Shangguan Hanyu reacted quickly, tugging at her sleeve, which brought her back to a bit of clarity. "Father, your daughter also didn't know! Brother has been avoiding me recently, and wouldn't say anything when asked. So, he... Father, your daughter swears she didn't know!"
She knelt down with a plop, trembling all over, crying profusely.
Shui Hanyi was quite satisfied with his daughter's actions. He then berated Shui Xuanmo again and swore to the heavens in front of everyone, "Your Majesties, everyone present, our sect swears publicly that our sect was absolutely unaware of this matter. It was this unfilial son of ours who used our sect's name to commit atrocities, and our sect has already executed him."
"Fortunately, it was discovered in time and no grave mistakes were made. We beg for everyone's forgiveness..."
While speaking righteous words, Shui Hanyi inwardly detested Qingxu Heaven to the extreme.
Especially Su Luo.
He hadn't expected this wretched girl to possess such a peculiar ability; even he had almost fallen for it. If those words had come from his own mouth, the Primordial Holy Land would have been truly finished.
Fortunately, fortunately...
What a pity about his most cherished son, whom he had to kill with his own hands. Detestable!
He would never let Qingxu Heaven off!
Listening to Shui Hanyi's sincere words and earnest apologies, and his offer to compensate everyone who suffered losses, Su Luo felt utterly disgusted. She had never met such an unashamed person.
"Shui Hanyi, you committed such acts, and you think a few apologies and compensation can simply end this matter?"
Su Luo stared at him coldly. "This is not a minor issue of how many people died or what the current losses are. It is the grave crime of your Primordial Holy Land deceiving superiors and subordinates, colluding with the demonic sect, and it concerns the safety of everyone in the entire Xuanhuang Continent!"
Chu Tianshu also immediately reprimanded, "Sect Master Shui, can you deny the facts with just a few words? Shui Xuanmo is your son, how could you not know what he did? Without your authorization, would the demonic sect cooperate with him? Stop joking!"
"To clear your name, you even killed your own son. Shui Hanyi, how cruel you are!"
Lu Jixing cursed sarcastically, "Who can't see that your son is a scapegoat? You acted so quickly, and it's not to silence him? Do you think everyone is ignorant!"
"Silence!"
Shui Hanyi roared, his tone gloomy. "What is my status? Do you people dare to question me?"
An astonishing pressure emanated from his body, spreading like ripples and transforming into vast, invisible waves that gradually permeated the entire Sun and Moon Plaza.
So suffocating, so terrifying. Is this the power of a Ninth Stage Spirit King?
Shui Hanyi stood in the center of the plaza, his long hair flying, his robes billowing, his expression stern and filled with killing intent. He scanned the startled crowd around him inch by inch, like a god of slaughter from ancient times, invincible and unstoppable!
Just as the crowd's hearts were filled with dread and they were almost unable to bear it...