Chapter 1051: Truth Fall Palace Forbidden Grounds

Ye Mo said to Qinghan and the others, “Thank you for your friendship, but I’m not afraid of her Heaven Star Sect.” If the Clear Dream Mosque girls hadn’t intervened, the Heaven Star Sect’s nascent soul state cultivators wouldn’t have let Ye Mo go easily. However, these girls’ obvious closeness to Ye Mo would only exacerbate the situation if they intervened now. A conflict between the Heaven Star Sect and Clear Dream Mosque was something they couldn’t manage.

“No, Martial Brother Xiaoma, we will stand firmly by your side! We know you’re a good person; they’ve misunderstood you because they don’t know you,” Qingyi said immediately.

“Martial Sister Qinghan, Ning Xiaoma used his nascent soul state cultivator power to rob Heaven Star Sect’s golden core state disciple, Martial Sister Yu, of her level six spirit herb. That’s why Martial Sister Pandie wants to teach him a lesson. Come back first,” Ling Xiaoshuang said.

“I don’t believe it. I trust Martial Brother Xiaoma wouldn’t steal a golden core state disciple’s spirit herb. As for the accuser, who knows if she’s telling the truth?” The shy Qingyue spoke this time, glaring coldly at Ji Yu.

Ling Xiaoshuang was stunned. She now suspected even more that Ye Mo had placed her sister under a spell. Otherwise, why would the usually quiet Qingyue speak up for Ning Xiaoma?

“This woman is lying,” another voice announced.

Ye Mo recognized Guo Qifan. A mere 5-star sect member, yet he’d come to help; he was quite brave.

Guo Qifan stepped forward, declaring loudly, “My two martial brothers and I found two crisp green vines guarded by a level six spirit beast. Four people from the Heaven Star Sect arrived and we agreed to kill the beast together and each take a vine.”

Ji Yu’s eyes showed worry, but she dared not interrupt Guo Qifan.

Guo Qifan looked at Ji Yu contemptuously. “The red-backed wolf proved unexpectedly powerful. It killed two of my brothers before dying, and one from the Heaven Star Sect as well. This female cultivator, however, took both vines, claiming her friend’s death entitled her to them. I disagreed, and she nearly killed me. Luckily, Xiaoma qian bei arrived. He inquired about the situation and asked her to return a vine. She refused and left. Xiaoma qian bei didn’t retaliate because she left.”

Guo Qifan raised his voice. “My life was saved by Xiaoma qian bei; I must help him prove this woman’s lies. I know I’m a 5-star sect member, and I may die for this, but I must speak the truth.”

Qinghan sneered, “Tell us your name and sect. I doubt they’d dare harm you or your sect. I’ve heard of ‘the thief crying thief,’ but this is the first time I’ve witnessed it.”

“He’s Guo Qifan of the Cultivation Cauldron Sect; I know him,” someone in the crowd confirmed.

Qinghan simply said, “Okay.” Her meaning was clear: she remembered the sect's name, and any retribution would fall on the Heaven Star Sect.

Ling Xiaoshuang didn’t stop Qinghan; she believed Guo Qifan and disbelieved Ji Yu.

Yi Pandie turned to Ji Yu, asking, “Martial Sister Yu, is he lying? We’re only an 8-star sect, but we’re not easily intimidated.”

Yi Pandie was clearly displeased by Qinghan’s dominance, but she remained reasonable, delaying judgment. If Ye Mo were guilty, she would kill him even with Qinghan's support.

“I…” Ji Yu looked down, silent. She knew lying and provoking inter-sect conflict would be fatal.

That single word was enough for Yi Pandie. She realized Ji Yu had wronged Ning Xiaoma. Her face soured.

“Give them,” she ordered Ji Yu.

Ji Yu produced the two crisp green vines. Yi Pandie took one and tossed it to Ye Mo. “I acted impulsively; I’m sorry. Here’s your vine back.”

Ye Mo gave the vine to Guo Qifan without comment. Yi Pandie’s apology lacked warmth.

Wen Caiyi, who’d planned to cause trouble for Ye Mo, abandoned her intentions.

Ling Xiaoshuang yearned to question her sister, but the public setting prevented it.

Suddenly, two sword lights arrived. Ye Mo saw a short, bulky man and a thin, dark-faced man—both hollow spirit state level one cultivators. He knew his chances of obtaining the bitter bamboo were even slimmer now.

Qinghan approached Ye Mo, introducing the newcomers. “One is Ku Xin of Jin Gong Temple, the other is Duan Jiuyang of God Wind Valley. I’ll greet my sister. Will you join us?”

Ye Mo shook his head; he most wanted to avoid Ling Xiaoshuang.

Understanding, Qinghan, recalling her sister's words, simply took her sister to meet the newcomers.

Everyone greeted the two hollow spirit state cultivators.

The short, bulky man stood before the level six formation, observing. “Jiuyang, is this the Truth Fall Palace forbidden grounds?”

Duan Jiuyang examined it, nodding. “It should be. I didn’t expect the forbidden grounds to reappear after a thousand years. Is this good or bad?”

Ye Mo had never heard of the Truth Fall Palace forbidden grounds.

Guo Qifan, noticing Ye Mo’s frown, whispered, “Xiaoma qian bei, when the Truth Fall Palace appeared, the forbidden grounds always appeared with it. For the last thousand years, however, they haven’t.”

“What are the Truth Fall Palace forbidden grounds?” Ye Mo asked, confused.

Guo Qifan explained, “Legend says countless treasures lie within, but nineteen out of twenty who enter die.”

Ye Mo mused, If this place is so dangerous, why do people still go?

Guo Qifan continued, “Since the forbidden grounds vanished, people researched those qian bei who ascended to the immortal realm. They all visited the Truth Fall Palace forbidden grounds. South Peace State hasn’t seen an ascension in a millennium. People suspect a connection.”

Ye Mo looked at the excited cultivators and understood. Ascension was every cultivator’s dream.

“And…” Guo Qifan glanced at the hollow spirit state cultivators, “I heard people found immortal cultivation homes within and took them out.”

Ye Mo was genuinely shocked. This was equivalent to his golden page world, though he knew no immortal cultivation home could compare. No wonder so many sought entry.

“Each sect forms its own squad; we’ll attack this restriction together,” Duan Jiuyang declared.

With numerous nascent soul state cultivators and two hollow spirit state cultivators, the level six formation wouldn’t last long.

Fifteen minutes later, a rumbling sound announced the formation's destruction. A vibrant red light appeared.