Chapter 27: This Isn’t Me!

The scene shifted.

At the very heart of the Qingyun Secret Realm stood a colossal and mysterious tree.

It bore a rare fruit known as the Essence-Refining Persimmon.

On the outside, the fruit was a lustrous crimson, translucent like carved jade. Within it pulsed immense energy.

Anyone who consumed a single one could not only enhance their cultivation but also dramatically strengthen their physical body.

But its power was most effective only the first time.

Repeated consumption yielded diminishing results.

Moreover, after eating it, one had to sit and refine the energy on the spot for several hours to fully absorb its essence.

Even so, every time this fruit appeared, the four great clans of the secret realm would inevitably clash in bloody combat.

For good reason: the Essence-Refining Persimmon was not guaranteed to appear whenever the realm opened.

Its existence was a matter of chance—sometimes appearing once in ten years, other times absent for two or three decades.

The last time it had shown itself was sixty full years ago.

Now that the fruit had reappeared, another cataclysmic battle was destined to erupt!

Beneath that massive tree in the central region of the realm, the ground trembled with dust and surging spiritual energy.

The Xiao Clan and the Li Clan had already locked themselves in fierce combat.

Spells and weapons collided in dazzling bursts of light, shaking the very air, sending waves of chaos rippling outward.

At the forefront of the battlefield, two figures clashed ferociously.

One wielded his sword like fire—fierce, relentless, blazing without pause.

The other’s fists struck like thunder—sharp, unyielding, unstoppable.

Xiao Yan and Li Daming had already exchanged dozens of blows without a clear victor.

“Brother Li,” Xiao Yan chuckled as he parried with his sword, “I didn’t expect you to be hiding this deeply. To think you’ve also reached the peak of Foundation Establishment.”

Li Daming’s expression remained stoic. His fist surged with energy, driving Xiao Yan back several steps. His voice rumbled low:

“Enough nonsense! Today, these persimmons will belong to the Li Clan.”

“Tch, such arrogance.” Xiao Yan steadied his stance. “So you’re set on thinking the Xiao Clan is nothing but a stepping stone for you?”

Li Daming snorted coldly, qi spiraling into his fists, rumbling like muffled thunder.

“And if we are?”

“Then fight on!”

With that, Xiao Yan stamped down, his figure blurring into a streak of motion, sword cleaving forward.

Li Daming did not retreat. His steps pounded into the earth, fists surging forward to meet the oncoming blade head-on.

Sword light and fist shadows collided again and again, sparks and shockwaves scattering shattered stone in every direction.

Xiao Yan’s assault was swift and fluid, sword energy raining down like storm tides, forcing Li Daming backward step by step.

Li Daming’s face tightened, yet he clenched his teeth and pressed forward, weaving hidden force into his blows. Each strike aimed to break Xiao Yan’s rhythm and force him to defend.

Just as their battle reached fever pitch, a low, angry voice rang out across the field:

“Li Daming—do you know how long I’ve been looking for you?”

Before the last syllable fell, a figure descended, striding into the fight with a crushing aura. His gaze locked squarely onto Li Daming.

Li Daming froze.

He turned to see none other than Luo Chen, young master of the Luo Clan.

Behind him stood Luo Yuanshan and Luo Yan, along with Su Clan’s Su Zimo and Su Xinyuan.

Trailing them were two more Luo clan youths and several Su clan disciples. Together, they formed an imposing front, their killing intent palpable.

At this sight, both Xiao and Li clans paused their fighting.

Xiao Yan sheathed his sword, grinning with amusement. “Brother Li, this doesn’t look good. Did you do something behind our backs to make enemies of them?”

Li Daming, utterly confused, frowned deeply.

He turned toward Luo Chen. “Luo Chen, what do you mean? I haven’t provoked you at all, have I?”

Luo Chen ignored the question, taking another step closer. His voice was icy.

“You know perfectly well what you’ve done. Or do you want me to spell it out right here, right now?”

Li Daming stared blankly. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Yes, he admitted—the Li Clan had indeed entered the secret realm with the intention of suppressing the Luo Clan.

But he himself? Since stepping foot inside, he had been with his clanmates the entire time, searching for opportunities.

He hadn’t even seen a single Luo clansman.

How could he possibly have offended them?

And yet here Luo Chen was, charging in like an avenger, eyes blazing with murderous intent, as if Li Daming owed him blood.

And what was with the Su Clan’s presence?

Were they here to cheer the Luo Clan on, or to add their own accusations?

None of this made sense!

Seeing Li Daming’s silence, Luo Yan stepped forward.

“Li Daming, a true man, admits what he’s done. And you still want to feign ignorance?”

Luo Yuanshan added coldly: “After committing such heinous acts, do you still wish to play the innocent?”

Su Zimo flicked open his folding fan, voice calm but sharp: “Brother Li, one must know restraint. If you’d confessed earlier, perhaps things could’ve ended differently.”

Su Xinyuan’s voice was quiet, almost pitiful. “Young Master Li, Luo Chen is giving you a chance to explain yourself. Please… stop the performance.”

The Luo clan disciples chimed in as well:

“Yeah, quit pretending!”

“Everything you did was recorded!”

Li Daming: ???

He couldn’t help it—their righteous accusations were so detailed, so self-assured, that even he began to wonder if he had somehow done something without realizing it.

Could it be…

Did he have a second personality?

Maybe a “Li Daming Number Two” sneaked off behind his back to do evil deeds, leaving him to take the blame?

No, no. That was ridiculous. Impossible.

Shoving aside the absurd thought, Li Daming fixed Luo Chen with a hard stare.

“Fine. Then tell me exactly what I supposedly did.”

Luo Chen sneered. “Still denying? Good. Since you refuse to confess, I’ll speak plainly.”

He raised his hand, finger pointing directly at Li Daming.

“Luo Jiutian has joined the Li Clan.”

The battlefield fell silent.

Li Daming blinked. “Huh?”

Luo Jiutian?

Joined… the Li Clan?

When? How?

And why didn’t he know about it?

But Luo Chen pressed on, ignoring Li Daming’s stunned face.

“You even personally struck down four of my clan’s disciples to shield him.”

“You can deny it all you want.” He pulled a memory stone from his robes, its surface gleaming. “But I have evidence.”

Infusing it with qi, Luo Chen activated the stone. Light flared, projecting an image into the air.

There, as clear as day, stood Li Daming.

His face was cold, voice sharp: ‘You tried to kill him before. That means you’ve chosen to make the Li Clan your enemy. I’m here now to demand justice for him.’

The scene continued, showing him striking, slaughtering Luo disciples with ruthless efficiency.

Li Daming’s jaw dropped.

He was both furious and shaken.

Furious because this was blatant slander.

Shaken because the figure in the projection—other than not being him—looked exactly like him in every conceivable way.

He jabbed a finger at the recording.

“This isn’t me! From the very moment we entered the secret realm, the Li Clan has acted together. When would I have had the chance to sneak off and kill your people? If you’re going to frame me, at least come up with something believable!”

Off to the side, Xiao Yan seized the chance to stir trouble, grinning ear to ear.

“Brother Li, your own clansmen can’t be considered witnesses, can they? After all, you call the shots among them. Why not just admit it? Save everyone the awkwardness.”

Li Zhongjie, his own younger cousin, even chimed in:

“Yeah, big brother, maybe just confess. Otherwise, it really looks like they’re about to beat you up.”

Bam!

Li Daming lost all patience.

He reached out and flicked Li Zhongjie hard on the forehead, sending him yelping.

“Whose damn side are you on, huh!?”