From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 138 The Great Momentum Takes Shape and Dawn Approaches

Senior Brother Lin stepped forward and supported my trembling shoulders. "Junior Sister, are you alright?" I shook my head, suppressing my surging emotions, and looked at Elder Xuanfeng, who was slumped on the ground. He looked utterly disheveled, but his eyes flashed with a venomous light that sent chills down my spine.

"Xiao Yao! You wait! I won't let you get away with this!" Elder Xuanfeng roared hoarsely, like a trapped beast.

I gave a cold laugh. "I'll be waiting."

I thought that defeating Elder Xuanfeng would settle things, but I never expected that this was just the calm before the storm. He actually spread rumors that I colluded with the demons, working from within and without, which led to the heavy losses suffered by the immortal sect. This absurd rumor spread like wildfire, and many disciples' gazes towards me changed, from admiration to suspicion, and even... disgust.

Junior Sister Chu, the woman who had once made things difficult for me in every way, was now jumping around the most excitedly. She had somehow obtained some dubious "evidence," embellished it, and fabricated a story, printing it into notices and posting them in every corner of the Immortal Sect. On the notices, the scene of me drinking and conspiring with the demons to attack the Immortal Sect was so vivid that it seemed like it had really happened.

As I looked at those notices, a chill ran through me, my heart tightening and a cold shiver running from my feet to the top of my head. They had once fought and bled for the Immortal Sect, and now they had fallen to such a state—how ironic!

Elder Mingyue, who had maintained neutrality until now, also showed hesitation. Her gaze towards me was complex, containing sympathy, regret, and... a hint of doubt.

I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. I knew I couldn't give up; I had to find evidence to prove my innocence.

Senior Brother Lin stood beside me, his face also looking very pale. "Junior Sister, don't worry, I believe in you." His voice was firm, but also carried a hint of helplessness.

I forced a smile. "Thank you, senior."

Deacon Wu rushed over, his face filled with anxiety. "Junior Sister Xiao, something terrible has happened! The Sect Leader summons you!"

My heart sank. The sect leader summoned me… Could it be that even he believed those rumors?

I looked up at the sky; it was a hazy gray, without a single ray of sunlight. I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms, causing a sharp pain.

I followed Deacon Wu toward the main hall of the sect. Every step I took felt incredibly heavy, as if I were carrying a thousand-pound boulder.

Reaching the entrance of the main hall, I took a deep breath and pushed open the heavy door...

"Head..."

I had just opened my mouth when I saw an unexpected person sitting in the main hall, besides the sect leader...

Sect Leader...

I had just opened my mouth when I saw an unexpected person sitting in the main hall besides the sect leader… Wen Chen. What was he doing here? My heart sank, and an ominous premonition washed over me. Could it be that even he believed those rumors?

The sect leader's expression was solemn, and his gaze towards me held a hint of scrutiny. "Xiao Yao, do you know your crime?" His voice was low and devoid of any emotion.

My heart felt like it was being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, making it almost impossible to breathe. "This disciple does not know," I replied, trying to remain calm and enunciating each word clearly.

"Don't know?" The sect leader sneered. "You colluded with the demons, working together from within and without, causing heavy losses to the immortal sect. Now that the evidence is irrefutable, do you still dare to deny it?"

"Conclusive evidence?" Those fabricated notices flashed through my mind, and a surge of anger welled up inside me. "I'm innocent! That so-called evidence is all forged!"

"How dare you!" Elder Xuanfeng's voice came from the side. He was standing beside the sect leader, a smug look on his face. "Xiao Yao, don't try to deny it! The evidence is overwhelming, what else do you have to say?"

I whirled around to look at him, my eyes filled with rage. "Witnesses? Physical evidence? Your so-called evidence is nothing but baseless rumors! You'll stop at nothing to frame me!"

"Shut up!" the sect leader roared. "Xiao Yao, how dare you talk back to an elder! Your crime is compounded!"

I felt my blood freeze, and a wave of despair washed over me. Even the sect leader believed Elder Xuanfeng's words, what hope did I have left?

At this moment, Elder Mingyue spoke slowly, her voice tinged with hesitation. "Sect Leader, this matter is of great importance. Shouldn't we investigate it more thoroughly?"

A glimmer of hope ignited in my heart, but the next moment, Elder Mingyue's words plunged me into an icy abyss. "After all, Xiao Yao has made great contributions to the immortal sect. If we wrong her, wouldn't that chill people's hearts?" she added, but her tone seemed somewhat perfunctory.

I understand now. Elder Mingyue is also starting to hesitate about whether to remain neutral under these circumstances. I used to think she was the only one who believed me, but now it seems I was too naive.

Deacon Wu stepped forward and handed the sect leader a stack of papers. "Sect leader, these are some pieces of evidence that I have collected, which can prove that Xiao Yao is colluding with the demons."

My heart sank completely. Deacon Wu, the one who had once treated me with utmost respect, had now turned on me. I later learned that, in order to distance himself from the situation, he had provided Elder Xuanfeng with false evidence against me, and my situation was now extremely precarious.

Wen Chen remained silent, sitting there quietly with deep, unfathomable eyes that made it impossible to read his thoughts. I looked at him, hoping to gain some support from him, but he merely glanced at me indifferently before looking away.

The sect leader's face grew increasingly grim as he examined the "evidence" handed over by Deacon Wu. "Xiao Yao, do you have anything else to say?" His voice was icy, devoid of any emotion.

I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. I knew I couldn't give up; I had to defend myself. "Sect Leader, your disciple..."

Suddenly, a commotion arose outside the main hall, and a disciple stumbled in. "Report...Reporting to the Sect Leader! The Demon Clan...The Demon Clan army is pressing in!"

The atmosphere inside the hall froze instantly.

"How could this be?" The sect leader's expression changed drastically.

Wen Chen slowly stood up, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes. "It seems we've been tricked..." He turned to look at me, his gaze deep, "Xiao Yao, come with me."

Wen Chen pulled me out of the main hall, shutting out the noise, and the world seemed to quiet down. He didn't speak, but walked straight to a secluded courtyard, then turned to look at me, his eyes filled with a complex and unreadable expression. "You knew all along?" he asked, his voice low.

I took a deep breath and nodded. "I knew someone was targeting me from the moment those fabricated charges appeared. I just didn't expect them to be so impatient, even going so far as to collude with the demons to put me to death."

Wen Chen was silent for a moment, then said, "What evidence do you have?"

I was prepared. I took out a recording stone from my storage bag and infused it with spiritual power. Immediately, the scene of Elder Xuanfeng and Deacon Wu's secret meeting with the demons appeared in the stone. Their conversation was clearly audible, and even the details of how they fabricated evidence to frame me were recorded clearly.

After reading it, Wen Chen's face turned terribly grim. "How dare they!"

I put away the recording stone and said, "Now, it's time for us to fight back."

We returned to the main hall, where the crowd was still buzzing with discussion; the news of the demon invasion had thrown them into disarray. I walked to the center of the hall and announced loudly, "Gentlemen, I have something important to announce!"

My voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to everyone's ears. Everyone looked at me, their expressions varied. I took out the recording stone again, exposing Elder Xuanfeng and Deacon Wu's conspiracy to the public.

An uproar erupted in the hall. Everyone stared at Elder Xuanfeng and Deacon Wu with shock and anger. Elder Xuanfeng, his face deathly pale, pointed at me and shouted hoarsely, "You're slandering me! You're framing me!"

I ignored him and looked at Elder Mingyue, saying, "Elder Mingyue, you have always been discerning, and I believe you can certainly distinguish right from wrong."

Elder Mingyue stared at the clear image captured in the recording stone, her expression shifting. Finally, she sighed and said, "Elder Xuanfeng, is there anything else you wish to say?"

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Elder Xuanfeng still refused to give up. He walked to Elder Mingyue's side and whispered, "Mingyue, we've cooperated for so many years. Are you really going to betray me for this girl? If we join forces, we can definitely..."

Elder Mingyue abruptly interrupted him, saying sternly, "Xuanfeng, you have disappointed me greatly! I never expected you to do such a thing!" She turned around and ignored Elder Xuanfeng.

Deacon Wu was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground, weeping and begging for everyone's forgiveness.

People began to re-examine my plan, and many realized that I was the one truly thinking of the immortal sect. The voices that had opposed me before gradually disappeared, replaced by support and praise.

I know this battle is not over yet. Although I have proven my innocence and exposed Elder Xuanfeng and Deacon Wu's conspiracy, some people are still taking a wait-and-see approach. To truly restore unity and stability to the Immortal Sect, I still have a lot of work to do.

I looked at Wen Chen, and he was looking at me with a hint of encouragement and...admiration in his eyes?

"Next..." I was about to speak when suddenly, a hurried voice came from outside the hall: "Reporting to the sect leader, the demon army has breached the mountain-protecting formation!"

The news of the demon invasion struck like a thunderbolt, instantly plunging the hall into chaos. Fear, panic, and unease spread through the crowd. I took a deep breath, striving to remain calm. This was not the time to panic; the fate of the immortal sect hung in the balance.

"Everyone!" I raised my voice, using my spiritual power to amplify my words throughout the entire hall, "While the news of the demon invasion was sudden, it wasn't entirely without warning. The plan I proposed earlier to strengthen the protective mountain array and integrate sect resources was precisely to deal with such a crisis!"

My gaze swept across the crowd, and some people began to nod, their eyes gleaming with thoughtful consideration. Senior Brother Lin stepped forward and declared loudly, "Junior Sister Xiao Yao's plan is indeed far-sighted; we should implement it immediately!"

With one person taking the lead, others followed. More and more disciples expressed their support for my plan, and even Deacon Wu, who had previously remained neutral, stood up to express his agreement. Elder Mingyue even walked to my side and said firmly, "Xiao Yao, I believe in you. Whatever your plans are, just tell me, and I will fully support you!"

However, some people remain hesitant. They either harbor doubts about my plan or are afraid of the demons' power, and are reluctant to express their opinions. I know that much work still needs to be done to completely restore unity and stability to the Immortal Sect.

"First, we need to immediately activate the highest defensive mode of the mountain-protecting formation!" I decisively issued the first order. "Senior Brother Lin, you are responsible for directing the disciples to strengthen the defensive power of the formations at all locations!"

"Yes!" Senior Brother Lin accepted the order and left.

"Elder Mingyue, please immediately organize all the elders in the sect to discuss countermeasures and formulate a detailed defense plan!"

Elder Mingyue nodded and turned to walk towards the elders' seat.

I glanced around, my gaze settling on the disciples who remained hesitant. I knew their doubts, and I knew they needed time to accept reality. But time was of the essence; the demon army was already at the city gates, and we had to act quickly!

"I know some people still have doubts about me," I said frankly. "But I can assure you that everything I've done is to protect the Immortal Sect and our shared home! Now, we need to unite and fight against the external enemy!"

My words were firm and resolute, carrying an undeniable force. Some disciples began to waver, their eyes flashing with struggle.

Suddenly, Junior Sister Chu snorted coldly and said, "That sounds nice! Who knows if you're colluding with the demons, deliberately setting this trap to seize control of the immortal sect!"

Her sharp, piercing voice instantly shattered the newly established atmosphere of unity within the hall. Some disciples who had already wavered began to hesitate again, their eyes filled with suspicion as they looked at me. I knew that although Junior Sister Chu's words were absurd, they had planted seeds of doubt in the hearts of some.

I took a deep breath, about to retort, when suddenly Wen Chen walked to my side and gently took my hand. His hand was warm and strong, as if a force was flowing into my body.

"I believe you." He looked at me, his eyes firm yet gentle.

Looking at him, a warm feeling welled up inside me. I knew that no matter how bumpy the road ahead, I would not be alone.

Just then, an even more violent tremor came from outside the hall, accompanied by the disciples' terrified cries... "The mountain-protecting formation... has broken!"