Abolished Cultivation and Expulsion from the Sect

Seeing this, all the third-generation disciples in the plaza were stunned. At the same time, they thought Skyler Ling was doomed—after all, the gap in cultivation was too great. One was only at Qi Refining third layer, the other had already reached Qi Refining tenth layer.

"Bang!"

The next moment—

The flying sword slammed into Skyler's chest, but didn't pierce his body. A ring of emerald light flared up around him, blocking the sword.

"Lacey, what are you doing?"

A stern voice rang out—it was Aunt-Master Serena Xue, who had just returned.

"Clang!"

A fiery red flying sword shot through the air, knocking Lacey's black sword away from Skyler's chest. Serena Xue appeared at Skyler's side, asking with concern, "Skyler, are you alright?"

The third-generation disciples didn't know Skyler had the Spirit-Link Body, but Serena Xue knew perfectly well. Plus, Skyler was favored by Senior Azure; if he died here today, she'd be held responsible. So at this moment, she was deeply shaken—thankfully, Skyler had a defensive artifact, or he might've died under Lacey's sword.

"Aunt-Master Serena, I'm fine," Skyler said, putting on a look of lingering fear.

"Good, I'm glad you're alright!"

Seeing Skyler safe and sound, Serena Xue finally relaxed. She turned a cold gaze on Lacey. "What is wrong with you? Why did you attack so viciously?"

Faced with Serena's questioning, Lacey's expression changed dramatically. She protested, "Please be fair, Aunt-Master. Skyler slapped me first— I only lashed out in anger!"

"Is that true?" Serena Xue swept her gaze over the surrounding third-generation disciples.

Those she looked at all reflexively nodded.

Serena's heart sank. Had Skyler really struck Lacey first?

She turned to Skyler and asked, "Skyler, did you hit her first?"

"Yes," Skyler nodded.

Serena's expression changed slightly. She asked again, "Why did you hit her?"

"She called me a little bastard!" Skyler said angrily.

"Is that so?" Serena Xue looked at Lacey.

"Aunt-Master, don't listen to his nonsense—I never insulted him! If you don't believe me, ask everyone here. Did anyone see or hear me curse him?" Lacey argued.

So Serena asked the crowd again, and everyone claimed they hadn't heard Lacey insult Skyler.

Seeing this, Lacey couldn't help but feel smug.

Serena Xue, on the other hand, looked increasingly grim and fixed Skyler with a cold stare. "Skyler, do you have anything else to say?"

Skyler's face darkened. He glanced at Lacey and said, "Just because no one heard her doesn't mean she didn't insult me. Besides, I'm not crazy or sick—why would I slap her instead of anyone else?"

Hearing this, Serena's expression softened a bit, but she was still troubled. Skyler didn't seem like he was lying, but there was no proof. Helpless, she decided to leave the matter to the sect master, since it involved two seed disciples.

A quarter of an hour later, in the Jade Maiden Sect's main hall.

When Lana Snow and the elders learned that Second Fool nearly died under Lacey's flying sword, they were badly shaken. Abbess Yvonne and the other Golden Core seniors also hurried over, and their gazes toward Lacey turned cold and unfriendly.

Feeling the stares from Abbess Yvonne and the others, Lacey started to realize her situation was getting dangerous.

Serena Xue first laid out the sequence of events. Then Sect Master Lana Snow looked at Skyler and Lacey and said, "I don't care who's right or wrong. As long as you both confess truthfully, I can lighten your punishment. Who wants to go first?"

Thud!

Lacey dropped to her knees and cried out, "Sect Master, I've been wronged! If Skyler hadn't slapped me first, I never would've lost my temper and almost hurt him. Please punish me!"

What a schemer!

Seeing Lacey's act, Skyler found it amusing. Did she really think everyone was an idiot?

Sure enough, Sect Master Lana Snow wasn't fooled. She looked at Skyler and asked, "Skyler, what do you have to say?"

"Sect Master, she insulted me first—otherwise I wouldn't have hit her!" Skyler said, putting on a wounded look.

Bang!

Lana Snow slammed her hand on the armrest and snapped, "Looks like neither of you will tell the truth! If that's the case, I'll expel you both from the sect!"

"Ah!"

Hearing that she might be expelled, Lacey was utterly shocked.

Suddenly, Abbess Yvonne spoke up. "I have a way to tell whether they're telling the truth!"

"Then I'll leave it to you, Elder," Lana Snow said happily.

Abbess Yvonne nodded and walked to the center of the hall. She took out a fist-sized transparent crystal from her storage ring. It looked ordinary, but gave off a special aura.

She placed the crystal on her palm and continued, "This is a Truth-Seeking Crystal I found on my travels. If someone holds it and lies, it glows red. If they tell the truth, it stays clear."

Everyone present looked surprised.

Lacey, clever as she was, looked doubtful.

Abbess Yvonne seemed to read Lacey's mind and said, "I'll show you how it works!"

She gripped the Truth-Seeking Crystal and said, "I've reached the Nascent Soul stage!"

Immediately, a burst of vivid red light exploded from the crystal.

"It's real!" Seeing this, panic flickered in Lacey's eyes.

"Skyler, you go first!" Abbess Yvonne handed the Truth-Seeking Crystal to Skyler. "Hold it and say: Lacey insulted you first, and that's why you hit her."

"Alright!"

Skyler took the Truth-Seeking Crystal, gripped it, and declared loudly, "Senior Sister Lacey insulted me first, so I hit her!"

The Truth-Seeking Crystal didn't react. Seeing this, Lacey's face turned ghostly pale.

"Lacey, do you still want to try?" Abbess Yvonne fixed her with a cold stare.

Thud!

Lacey knelt again and begged, "Grandmaster, Sect Master, I was wrong—it was me who insulted Junior Brother Skyler first. Please forgive me!"

Everyone shook their heads, and their looks toward Lacey were tinged with disappointment.

Especially the five Golden Core elders, who looked at her with clear dissatisfaction.

"Sect Master, according to sect rules, what should be done in this situation?" Abbess Yvonne asked coldly, glancing at Lacey.

Lana Snow thought for a moment. "By the rules, her cultivation should be abolished and she should be expelled. But since she didn't actually harm a fellow disciple, we can show some leniency."

Abolish her cultivation?

Expelled from the sect?

Boom!

Lacey felt her mind explode, her head buzzing. Panic-stricken, she cried, "Sect Master, please don't abolish my cultivation, don't expel me! I'm begging you!"