Inner Demons

Chapter 127: Vicious Slander

As soon as these words were spoken, the three mortals remained relatively calm—they just stared with wide eyes and open mouths, even forgetting to eat the meat.

They naturally knew of the Lord of Dongting. Li Yunxin had guided them to talk about this topic on the boat, and the impression was now crystal clear in their minds.

Thus, they just stared blankly at Li Yunxin, finally understanding what was wrong with this man.

—He turned out to be a madman.

When he arrived, they saw that he was a skilled conversationalist and acted unconventionally, thinking it was the style of a famous scholar.

Now looking at him... isn't he just a madman!

But Cong Yunzi, after his initial shock, frowned.

Although he seemed foolish and arrogant compared to many of the best among men, as a cultivator, in terms of "intelligence" alone... there were indeed very few true fools.

He had known this "Taoist Priest Li" for some time and knew he was a mysterious cultivator—he didn't know which Grotto-heaven or School he belonged to, but his Daoist Arts were indeed profound.

But now, hearing Li Yunxin talk about some Lord of Dongting... he was not a mortal. Naturally, he had a different understanding of supernatural powers and figures. And because of this, he would seriously consider the name "Lord of Dongting."Unfortunately, he had only been in Weicheng for about twenty years. He didn't usually chat amicably with mortals, so in the end, he didn't know which deity this Lord of Dongting was.

After Li Yunxin exposed his identity, Taoist Priest Li finally stopped smiling.

He raised his hand and rubbed his face, his expression becoming solemn—he stared with wide eyes, his thin lips pursed, and his hands placed flat on the table, looking straight at Li Yunxin.

After looking for a good while, he slowly said, "When you came, this lord knew you were no ordinary person. But I could not see through your true form."

"But now... you mention your friend. Tell me, which friend of yours is it, and what enmity is there?"

Li Yunxin slowly straightened up. From the Lord of Dongting's tone and actions, he had already gotten some of what he wanted.

But he needed further confirmation. Or rather, right now, his top priority was to get away from this "Taoist Priest Li."

After all, it was just his deduction. No matter how meticulous the logic of a deduction, there was always the possibility of extremely unusual circumstances.

His reaction and performance just now were not the optimal choice, but they were the best he could think of at the moment.

He straightened up, letting his brows furrow, the corners of his mouth turn down, and his eyes narrow slightly, appearing both sad and angry.

"I am not called Li Xunhuan," he said. "My real name is Li Yunxin. I am an Artificer."

After saying these two sentences, he glanced at Cong Yunzi and counted silently in his heart...

One, two, three.

Cong Yunzi did indeed wake up from his brief shock and shouted, "What nonsense are you talking about! Li Yunxin is already dead! You are clearly—"

Li Yunxin immediately interrupted him with grief and indignation. He frowned tightly, clenched his fists, and his body trembled slightly. "I am dead! I died in your and that Liu Ling's scheme! Of course you know I'm dead!"

He took a step forward and questioned Cong Yunzi, "Wasn't it you and that Lingkongzi who schemed to kill my friend—and then had an internal conflict with a great demon?!"

Cong Yunzi was stunned again—he couldn't believe Li Yunxin could spout such nonsense right in front of him without even blinking.

But this hesitation, in the eyes of Taoist Priest Li, seemed to mean something else.

Before Cong Yunzi could defend himself, Taoist Priest Li turned to look at him. "Is this true?"

Li Yunxin shouted sternly, "The Lord of Dongting is asking if this is true! Answer the Lord of Dongting!"

He had previously mentioned "Lord of Dongting," and Cong Yunzi was already wondering about the identity of this "Lord of Dongting"—after knowing him for so long, he had no idea this Taoist Priest Li had such a hidden identity?

—So, was his association with me of good or ill intent? What are they talking about now?

His heart was filled with panic and anxiety, and his mind was in chaos.

When Li Yunxin shouted "Lord of Dongting" twice more, Cong Yunzi's mind finally became disordered, and he only wanted to understand first—

"You are the Lord of Dongting?!" He didn't answer Taoist Priest Li's question, but instinctively asked this.

Li Yunxin shouted with grief and indignation, "You didn't expect this, did you?! This is heavenly justice in action—he is. The Lord of Dongting! What else do you have to say?!"

Cong Yunzi became even more anxious and stammered, "I, I, I, I am not... I—I'll kill you, you bastard!"

He thought Li Yunxin was pressing him step by step, not giving him time to breathe or think, making it impossible for him to tell the truth. A rush of blood went to his head, and he waved his hand to strike Li Yunxin fiercely—kill this bastard, then we can talk!

How could Li Yunxin be afraid of him?

He now possessed the dharma body of a great demon, incomparably powerful! Although he only had the cultivation level of the Manifestation Realm and his magical power was not abundant, how could he be killed by a mere Illusory Realm cultivator!

He stood there with his head held high, full of grief and indignation, without moving!

He said passionately, "If the Lord of Dongting wishes to shield this friend of yours today, I will stand right here and have my soul scattered before your eyes!"

Cong Yunzi became even more annoyed. His arm tore through the air, glowing with the golden light of the Xuanmen, and with a whoosh, it struck towards Li Yunxin's forehead.

However, a low shout was heard from the long-silent Taoist Priest Li: "Insolence!"

With that one shout, an unstoppable and powerful demonic energy instantly swept through the entire hall! In the blink of an eye, this demonic energy broke the Illusion Technique on Li Yunxin, revealing his true face. It also forcefully pushed back Cong Yunzi's hand that was striking at Li Yunxin's forehead, even forcing him back three or four steps, and he slammed into a wooden pillar behind him!

Looking again at this "Taoist Priest Li"—

What an imposing presence!

He was no longer the plainly dressed Taoist Priest Li, but a revered god in red armor, enveloped in a green light!

This Lord of Dongting had a red face—his complexion was like it had been smeared with grease, shining brightly. He had a pair of large, black-pupiled eyes, spaced very far apart. Between them was a broad, wide nose, but the nostrils were small.

His wide mouth was tightly pursed, and from his upper lip hung two strands of red whiskers.

He wore a red robe, adorned with scales. A piece of brocade-like, semi-illusory, semi-real sash (Note 1) danced lightly in mid-air around his body, making this nine-foot-tall Lord of Dongting seem even more like a divine spirit!

When the Lord of Dongting revealed his dharma body, his expression immediately became much more vivid.

He frowned, waved his large hand, and bellowed in a voice like a great bell, "Is what this man said true!?"

Cong Yunzi was thrown into a dizzy spell. Seeing the true form of "Taoist Priest Li" and the true form of "Li Xunhuan," he knew that neither of them was human!

Shocked and angered, he heard Li Yunxin follow the Lord of Dongting's shout, "Villain! Look at me clearly! Am I Li Yunxin or not?!"

This cultivator wished he could spit out a mouthful of blood. He thought that two demons... two demons were conspiring against him!

He pointed at Li Yunxin, "You... you Li Yunxin, you!!"

Li Yunxin no longer looked at him, but gave a sad smile and turned to the Lord of Dongting. "Your Majesty, please restrain this evil cultivator and listen to my detailed account. After I have spoken, Your Majesty can have me confront him!"

At this point, the three mortals were so frightened they almost fainted, only knowing to lie on the ground and tremble.

The Lord of Dongting waved his hand again, and Cong Yunzi was instantly enveloped in a curtain of water light—an Illusory Realm cultivator, unable to hear, see, or speak, just stood there dumbly.

This three-thousand-year-old great demon looked at Li Yunxin. "Fellow Taoist, do not panic. You may tell this lord in detail!"

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