Immortal of the Nine Realms

The crowd's expressions shifted slightly as they realized the ancestor intended to deal with Qin Feng in front of the Langya Clan. He was sending a clear message: the Immortal Qin Clan was not taking this matter lightly.

The Immortal Qin Clan head remained impassive, as if he had completely severed ties with Qin Feng and was indifferent to how the situation was handled.

"Qin Feng, do you confess to the theft of the Three Solar Fruit?" the Immortal Qin Clan ancestor asked.

"I confess," Qin Feng replied, his head hanging low.

Qin Xuan was so anxious, but she hesitated to speak.

"Who did you give the stolen item to?" the Immortal Qin Clan ancestor asked again.

Qin Feng remained silent. Although everyone already knew the truth, he was unwilling to speak it out loud.

"Feng'er, why don’t you tell the ancestor that you were coerced into stealing the Three Solar Fruit?" Chu Lan said softly.

Qin Feng shook his head repeatedly. "No one manipulated me. It was my own greed and unforgivable selfishness."

The crowd nodded. Qin Feng's willingness to admit his fault could be seen as a sign of courage. However, the gravity of his mistake meant he faced certain death.

"Husband..." Wu Wan uttered as she lightly tugged on the Immortal Qin Clan head’s sleeve, her face anxious.

She was hinting for him to speak up for Qin Feng.

The Immortal Qin Clan head remained expressionless and did not respond, maintaining his indifferent demeanor.

"Are you saying nothing, hoping we don’t know?" a Fusion Realm ancestor shouted angrily. "For a lowly person from the Langya Clan, you dare to steal the ancestor’s Three Solar Fruit? What is the blood flowing in your veins?!"

The expressions of everyone present shifted as they realized the gravity of the situation.

Chu Lan’s face turned pale, as the words spoken were clearly hinting at something grave.

At this moment, the usually impassive Immortal Qin Clan head finally spoke. "Esteemed ancestors, Feng'er is indeed of Qin blood. There is no doubt about that."

The Fusion Realm ancestor did not dwell on the topic further. He coldly fixed his gaze on Qin Feng. "Did you give the Three Solar Fruit to Langya Yu of the Langya Clan?"

Qin Feng slowly nodded. "Yes."

"Ancestor, the matter is clear. Please make your decision," the Fusion Realm ancestor said, clasping his hands in respect as he looked toward the Immortal Qin Clan ancestor.

"This is indeed treason." the Immortal Qin Clan ancestor stated. "First, imprison Qin Feng. In three days, he will be publicly executed by a thousand cuts. His soul will be shattered, and his path to reincarnation severed."

Many people gasped, their faces turning pale. Death by a thousand cuts, and even shattering his soul? Severing his reincarnation path?!

This was a decision to ensure Qin Feng would completely vanish from the world, denying him even the chance to be reborn as any creature. Such a harsh decision had not been seen in the Immortal Qin Clan for countless years…

The Immortal Qin Clan head looked shocked.

Chu Lan swayed, and Qin Xuan quickly supported her to prevent her from falling.

The Langya ancestors watching through the Heaven Profound Mirror saw the Immortal Qin Clan ancestor’s judgment and became increasingly somber. The Immortal Qin Clan was resolute in their decision to deal harshly even with their own kin. How could the Langya Clan ever resolve this grudge?

Qin Feng forced a bitter smile. "Shattered soul…."

He had not anticipated such a harsh sentence, becoming the only person in the Immortal Qin Clan in centuries to face such severe punishment.

Fang Chen glanced at him, feeling that the Immortal Qin Clan ancestor’s decision was justified. Only such ruthless measures could establish discipline.

Qin Feng’s actions were indefensible. Qin Feng did not know that the Spirit Blood Sect had been manipulating the situation from the beginning and that he was merely a pawn, but he had indeed stolen the Three Solar Fruit intended for his ancestor and given it to a woman from another tribe.

The Immortal Qin Clan head called out sternly, "Yue Long!"

Yue Long stepped forward. "At your command!"

At this moment, he was not a general of the Spirit Blood Sect but a respected elder of the Immortal Qin Clan.

The Immortal Qin Clan head’s voice was cold and commanding. "Take Qin Feng away, guard him closely, and execute him in three days. Shatter his soul!"

Chu Lan looked at the Immortal Qin Clan head with a dazed expression. "Dear, are you really going to be so ruthless?"

"Mother, I am the one at fault. I accept my punishment. Please do not blame Father," Qin Feng said softly, trying to soothe his mother.

The Immortal Qin Clan head did not meet Chu Lan's gaze. His expression remained grim as he shouted at Yue Long, "Why haven’t you taken him away yet?"

"Qin Feng... Young master, please come with me," Yue Long said, looking at Qin Feng.

Qin Xuan hurriedly spoke up. "Wait! Ancestor, I’ve had Langya Yu captured. She is the real mastermind. If not for her honeyed words, he would not have committed such a foolish act! If we kill her, it will surely appease the esteemed ancestors!"

“Langya Yu has been captured?”

The crowd was taken aback. The Langya ancestor and their members were also surprised, but they remained silent, merely observing the situation. If sacrificing a Golden Core Realm disciple of the Langya Clan could resolve the conflict, the Langya Clan would be quite willing to take the loss.

Qin Feng, who had been listless, suddenly became enraged and shouted at Qin Xuan. "Qin Xuan, this matter has nothing to do with Langya Yu! I am willing to bear the responsibility alone. Why do you involve an innocent person?"

"Brother, can’t you see you’re doing all this for a woman? Is it worth it?" Qin Xuan’s eyes were filled with tears. "Do you know how worried Mother has been for you? She is a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator, so her lifespan should be long, but have you noticed her hair turning gray?

“She’s been deceived by wicked ways and subjected to private gossip. She bore all that pressure for you, and you just want to end it all with death? What about the people still living... don’t they matter to you?"

Qin Feng was stunned into silence.

Many eyes turned to Fang Chen, realizing that the "wicked ways" Qin Xuan mentioned referred to him..

Thick-skinned, no sense of shame, some thought.

"Enough…." Chu Lan sighed softly. "Stop arguing. Let’s put an end to this matter."

She turned to the Immortal Qin Clan ancestor and cupped her hands in respect. "Ancestor, I have found another Three Solar Fruit for you. Please spare my son’s life."

The crowd erupted in surprise, exchanging incredulous glances, their eyes eventually settling on Chu Lan with expressions of shock.

The Immortal Qin Clan ancestors looked at each other, equally stunned.

The Langya Clan ancestor was visibly stunned. After exchanging glances with the others, he did not interrupt Chu Lan but continued to observe quietly. There might be a chance for things to turn around.

Qin Xuan’s eyes widened in disbelief. Did I hear correctly? A Three Solar Fruit!?

Qin Feng was also in shock.

The Immortal Qin Clan head was just as shocked, and he instinctively looked at Fang Chen, who was beside Chu Lan.

Qin Nie remained composed, but his fist tightened slowly within his sleeve.

The Immortal Qin Clan ancestor turned his gaze to Chu Lan and asked, “What are you saying?”

“I found a Three Solar Fruit through the guidance of Daoist Fang,” Chu Lan answered, taking out the fruit from her storage ring.

Qin Nie recognized the fruit immediately as the one he had lost. At this moment, his face turned ashen.

“It really is a Three Solar Fruit…”

“There’s no mistaking its aura. I remember inspecting it closely when I visited the spirit herb garden…”

“Is this person not a fraudster…?”

The crowd began whispering among themselves.

Qin Xuan looked at Fang Chen in a daze, a sense of shame slowly filling her eyes.