Even though the Meng Clan Leader’s favoritism was obvious, without solid evidence, no one dared raise an objection—especially with Meng Wanyue’s talent plain for all to see, and her accomplished son sitting right there.

The Grand Elder’s words brought the entire hall to instant silence. He had never been one to seek the spotlight the way the Fifth Elder was low-key—so what had gotten into him?

Why would he say such a thing?

Wasn’t this a direct challenge to the Clan Leader’s authority?

Not only were those below stunned—the Meng Clan Leader himself was caught off guard. The truth wasn’t as he’d said? Then what was it?

The timing of Meng Wanyue’s departure had indeed been suspiciously close to the disappearance of the Flowing Light Dagger. He had suspected as much before. But Old Meng Five had brought him good news at the time, swearing on his own honor that the dagger had not been stolen by Meng Wanyue.

Meng Wanyue truly had left home out of dissatisfaction with her marriage—and the Flowing Light Dagger, she claimed, had been found on the Longyuan continent!

Among his children, Old Meng Five was the most honest one. The Meng Clan Leader had believed him—otherwise, why would he have dared bring this matter before the entire family council?

What shocked the Meng Clan Leader wasn’t the Grand Elder’s sudden, unprovoked challenge—it was the implications of what this could mean.

He knew his eldest son better than anyone. Without absolute certainty, the man would never have stood up like this.

The Meng Clan Leader abruptly turned his head to look at Old Meng Five, his gaze as sharp and cold as a hawk’s. At that moment, Old Meng Five flinched and looked away, guilt written across his face.

Meng Duo’er, furious, yanked hard on her father’s sleeve, whispering, “Father, why did you lie to Grandfather? If you hadn’t lied to him, he would have found some other way to save Fourth Aunt. You’ve only made things worse!”

Jun Beiyue and Ziqing exchanged a glance. Sharp as they were, they could now be nearly certain that Meng Wanyue had indeed stolen the Flowing Light Dagger—and the Meng Clan Leader’s reaction made it clear he hadn’t known.

This was bad. With the Second and Third Elders already punished, and the Fifth Elder too weak to be propped up, if Meng Wanyue were now found guilty as well, the position of Clan Leader would have to go to the Grand Elder, whether the Meng Clan Leader wished it or not!

Ziqing couldn’t help glaring at Old Meng Five—this old fool was truly going to ruin everything!

Originally, who ended up as Clan Leader hadn’t much concerned her. Even if Meng Wanyue wanted the position, Ziqing believed she would surely have the ability to claim it once she returned.

But now, with Meng Wanyue set to lose her right of succession, and the Meng Clan Leader clearly unwilling to favor the Grand Elder, the only remaining option was…

At this thought, Ziqing couldn’t help turning to look at Jun Beiyue. The only remaining option was to hand the position of Clan Leader to Meng Wanyue’s son—Jun Beiyue!

That Jun Beiyue’s body could withstand the “Anchor” was proof enough that he was absolutely cut out for mastering barrier techniques!

What a scheme, Old Meng Five—so this was his true aim all along!

Ziqing couldn’t help but clench her fists, while Jun Beiyue’s gaze toward Old Meng Five grew colder and colder. He had shown the man deference out of respect—as his uncle, his mother’s own younger brother—but he never expected the man would presume on his seniority and push things this far, scheming right over his head.

The people of the Meng Clan never easily left the Meng Clan archipelagos, rarely left Nanzhao at all—let alone someone in the position of Clan Leader.

Wasn’t this tantamount to trapping him for life? Besides, he had no interest whatsoever in this so-called barrier technique!

As for the truth of the matter, only Ziqing and the others had seen through it. The Grand Elder, meanwhile, still looked smug, and seeing the astonished expressions around him, he couldn’t wait to lay out the truth.

“Clan Leader, as for the truth—summon one person, and you’ll know,” the Grand Elder announced loudly.

It had to be understood—by this point, the entire Meng Clan, young and old alike, was holding its breath. Even if the Meng Clan Leader wished to shield his daughter, he was now powerless to do so.

“This matter concerns the Fourth Elder’s reputation, and it concerns the honor of our entire Meng Clan. You had better have solid proof,” the Meng Clan Leader could only warn, though he was also curious as to why the Grand Elder seemed so certain.

“Solid proof, without question. Bring the person forward!” the Grand Elder ordered at once.

Soon, a guard captain was brought into the hall. Ziqing’s heart gave a small start—wasn’t this the very guard who managed the formations atop Xuyu Peak?

Not just Ziqing—everyone present recognized this man. Xuyu Peak’s summit was the Meng Clan’s forbidden ground, and this very captain led a group of disciples to guard it.

Back then, the Flowing Light Dagger had been stored in the Xuyu Palace atop Xuyu Peak. But this captain—he was not the guard captain from that era!

What was the Grand Elder playing at?

“Tell everyone exactly what you saw,” the Grand Elder said coldly.

“Yes!” The captain accepted the order, turned, and bowed deeply to the Meng Clan Leader before speaking. “Reporting to the Clan Leader—this morning, Prince Yao and his party landed their beast mount at the forbidden grounds of Xuyu Peak. This subordinate had set up formations to apprehend them, but Prince Yao and his companions somehow saw through the formations and proceeded smoothly all the way to Xuyu Hall.”

The moment these words left his mouth, no explanation was needed—the entire hall erupted in astonished murmurs.

The Meng Clan Leader was rendered utterly speechless, glaring venomously at Old Meng Five, so furious that the teacup in his hand shattered in his grip.

While he had been waiting at the harbor, it was Old Meng Five who had reported the affairs of the main island to him—and Old Meng Five had only mentioned that they’d reached Xuyu Hall, without saying a word about what had happened at Xuyu Peak!

It had to be understood—the ability to see through the formations at Xuyu Peak was called “Breaking,” and it wasn’t a talent, but rather a form of inheritance. If a parent had mastered “Breaking,” their child would be highly likely to inherit it as well.

Jun Beiyue had never trained in barrier techniques—which was proof enough that this ability of his had been inherited from Meng Wanyue!

A parent might have it and the child might not; but conversely, if the child has it, it must have been inherited from the parent—meaning the parent must possess this ability too.

In other words, Meng Wanyue had mastered “Breaking”—she could see through the formations protecting Xuyu Peak’s forbidden grounds!

No wonder the Flowing Light Dagger had vanished without a trace back then, with not a single disturbance across the whole of Xuyu Peak, no sign of anything broken—as if the thief had simply walked in and taken it as though the place were empty!

The Meng Clan Leader himself had never mastered “Breaking,” and it had never occurred to him that Meng Wanyue could have achieved it at such a young age. So even though the timing was suspiciously close, he had never seriously connected Meng Wanyue’s departure to it, treating the dagger’s disappearance instead as an unsolvable mystery.

So this was the truth of it!

With her mastery of “Breaking,” stealing the Flowing Light Dagger would have been child’s play for Meng Wanyue.

At first, Ziqing and Jun Beiyue hadn’t quite understood, but once they overheard the murmurs of the Meng Clan disciples behind them, they immediately grasped what was going on!

So this was where the problem lay!

Only now did Ziqing understand why the Grand Elder had questioned her so meticulously about how she had walked out of the formation earlier. She, who knew almost nothing about the Meng Clan, could hardly have grasped the seriousness of the matter at the time.

Old Meng Five—how vicious of you!

It had always been Jun Beiyue and Ziqing who outmaneuvered others—never had they imagined being outmaneuvered like this by Old Meng Five. Between the two of their expressions combined, they could have frozen the entire hall solid.

Even Baili Weisheng, sitting off to the side as a guest, narrowed his eyes at Old Meng Five, grinding his teeth viciously.

He had always known the Meng Clan’s rules, had always known Old Meng Five wanted to keep them there—but he never expected Old Meng Five would pull off a stunt quite like this.

Just as expected!

The bold fear the reckless; the reckless fear those unafraid to die; and those unafraid to die fear the shameless!

You old bastard—if you want to keep Jun Beiyue here, go right ahead. But if you drag Ziqing into it too, I’ll be even more shameless than you!