While Feng Xi was still speechless, Li Nanshi said, "Feng Xi, although I've learned some things about Nameless City before, there are still some details I'm unclear about. Why don't you explain them to me more thoroughly?"
Feng Xi nodded, "Sure. After we entered Nameless City that day…"
Saying this, a painful expression suddenly appeared on her face and her body curled up like a little shrimp.
"Protector Li, my dantian hurts badly. Let me rest a bit before I continue!"
Seeing her state, it's also not appropriate for Li Nanshi to ask any further.
Feng Xi was carried back to the guest quarters. The others also returned to rest, as both the trial disciples and the melon-eating onlookers were completely exhausted.
Soon, only the four of them, master and disciples, remained in Feng Xi's room.
Feng Xi said to Xiao Baidao, "Master, don't worry. I'm fine.
I was afraid I might say something different from what others already told them, so I pretended I was unwell.
What exactly did we tell the demons before?"
Only then did Xiao Baidao let out a breath of relief, he repeated what Qin Shifeng had said earlier.
Feng Xi nodded, "Alright, I know how to handle it.
Master, I discovered an earth-shattering secret…"
She immediately recounted what had happened beneath the abyss, of course, omitting certain things she couldn't disclose.
She only said that after placing the sword into the skeleton's hand, she was teleported out.
Xiao Baidao was stunned, "You mean the formation beneath the abyss was suppressing some kind of gray mist?
And that the Human-Eyed Azure Moth and Ghostfire Xuanming Aphid escaped from that abyss?"
After Feng Xi confirmed it, Xiao Baidao said, "This is too serious, I must summon Sect Master Baili and the others immediately!"
Baili Muchen and the other two quickly arrived.
Feng Xi repeated her account.
All three of them were shocked!
Although they didn't know what that gray mist was, if it could force Feng Xi into a soul state and required a formation to suppress it, it was definitely not anything good.
Logically speaking, as the leaders of the four major sects, they should know many secrets, but that wasn't the case at all.
In the past, Yunxiao Sect had been the super sect of the Northern Region, whether resources or ancient texts, they were all in Yunxiao Sect's possession.
After Yunxiao Sect's sudden destruction, countless records were also lost.
Therefore, a massive portion of the Northern Region's history was now missing.
None of them suspected Feng Xi of lying, because her "character setting" was simply too solid!
Even Baili Muchen had no doubts. Although he knew Feng Xi was greedy, crafty, and thick-skinned, on major matters this brat would never fabricate such an outrageous lie.
Feng Xi hesitated, then said, "Master, esteemed sect masters, I have a speculation. I'm not sure if I should say it."
Hu Wankui waved casually, "Child, we're all on the same side here, if you have something to say, just say it, don't be so polite."
Only then did Feng Xi continue, "Based on logic, the skeleton's hand should've originally held a sword, but where's the sword now?
It couldn't have grown legs and run away, right?
I've heard some people from Hunyuan Sect say that ever since Shen Zhilan obtained the Feihong Sword, strange incidents have occurred at Sword Mountain, wailing sounds, shadowy apparitions drifting about.
I suspect those disturbances happened when the Human-Eyed Azure Moth and Ghostfire Xuanming Aphid escaped from the abyss.
So I believe Shen Zhilan's Feihong Sword is the very sword that was originally in the skeleton's hand.
As for whether she acted intentionally or unintentionally, that would require further interrogation.
If it was unintentional, then at worst that just means she's a jinx.
But if it was intentional, then that would be a big problem!
She could even pose a greater threat to us than the Demon Clan. After all, the abyss contained not only human corpses but also many demon corpses.
That tells us that the gray mist is very lethal whether you're a human or a demon.
Of course, I have personal grievances with Shen Zhilan, so it's very hard to not carry any personal bias in what I said. You should carefully discuss this amongst yourselves."
Baili Muchen's first instinct was that Feng Xi was slandering Shen Zhilan!
But upon reflection, the strange happenings at Sword Mountain did begin after Shen Zhilan got the Feihong Sword.
Also, the way she obtained the sword had indeed been unusual. Before she even began comprehending sword intent, a rainbow appeared in the sky, and suddenly a sword was in her hand.
And the Feihong Sword's radiance had been so dazzling that no one saw where it came from.
Did it really flew up from the abyss?
He gritted his teeth, "These are merely speculations. Stepping back a bit, even if the Feihong Sword really was the one from the abyss, it definitely has nothing to do with Zhilan.
The sword chose her of its own accord."
Feng Xi merely smiled without saying anything.
Jun Wen muttered under his breath, "Then why didn't it choose someone else? Flies don't land on seamless eggs."
Before Baili Muchen could flare up, Xiao Baidao barked, "Silence! This isn't your place to speak!"
Jun Wen shrank his neck and fell silent.
He had said what needed to be said anyways.
Lu Zhenkuan cleared his throat, "Sect Master Baili, this is a serious matter. Regardless of whether the Feihong Sword came from the abyss, we should summon Shen Zhilan and ask her."
Baili Muchen had no choice but to have someone call her over.
As soon as Shen Zhilan entered, Feng Xi grabbed the initiative and coldly sneered, "Shen Zhilan, the Feihong Sword originally lay within the abyss, how did it end up in your hands?
Speak! Who instructed you to take it?"
A flash of panic crossed Shen Zhilan's face, "T-The Feihong Sword chose its master on its own, what does that have to do with me?!"
Baili Muchen's heart sank.
Her answer clearly showed that she already knew the Feihong Sword came from the abyss.
Only then did Shen Zhilan realize she had been tricked by Feng Xi's words, and hurriedly explained, "Master, I only began suspecting recently after hearing about Sword Mountain's strange incidents. I planned to report this to you after the demons left.
If you don't believe me, I can swear to Heaven that I wasn't instructed by anyone to seize the Feihong Sword.
If I violate this oath, may I be struck by five bolts of heavenly lightning and die a miserable death!"
Feng Xi burst into laughter, "What an interesting oath! You only swore you weren't instructed by others, you didn't swear whether you deliberately took the Feihong Sword!"
Shen Zhilan gritted her teeth, "Feng Xi, you're splitting hairs!
You obstructed me in the Heaven-and-Earth Banner from obtaining the Heavenly Dao qi mechanism, and now you slander me. What are your intentions?"
Baili Muchen's face darkened, "Enough! Stop arguing!"
He looked at Shen Zhilan with complicated eyes.
Whether she intentionally took the Feihong Sword or not, she had nearly caused a catastrophe!
His expression grew grim, "Zhilan, you just obtained the Heavenly Dao qi mechanism from the Heaven-and-Earth Banner, so you will enter seclusion for this period of time!"
This was effectively placing her under house arrest.
Shen Zhilan bit her lip, nodded, and left with reddened eyes.