Volume One, Chapter Six: The Mirror of Conscience

“Murong Xue!”
“The chief of Ice Lotus Peak!”
“Who would have thought Qin Feng could really summon someone from Ice Lotus Peak!”
“Not only that, Murong Xue is even stronger than rumored—she subdued the Thirteenth Elder with just one move!”

The entire hall was stunned, while Qin Feng turned to Murong Xue.
“I have a favor to ask of you.”
Murong Xue replied, “There’s only one chance. Are you really going to use it on him?”

Naturally, she was referring to the Thirteenth Elder.
Perhaps to the outer disciples, the outer elders wielded great power.
But in the eyes of the seven peaks of the Inner Sect of the Eternal Sect, they were still considered outsiders.
Therefore, it was not surprising that Murong Xue looked down on the Thirteenth Elder.

Qin Feng understood what he needed now.
“I want you to help me summon the Mirror of Conscience from the Celestial Peak to completely settle this trouble.”

Murong Xue’s brows furrowed slightly.
Her hesitation wasn’t because Qin Feng’s request was troublesome, but rather somewhat unnecessary.
Given Ice Lotus Peak’s status within the Eternal Sect, settling this matter would be as simple as a word from them.
But Qin Feng insisted on going to the Celestial Sect to request the Mirror of Conscience.
Though the Mirror of Conscience was not a top-tier magical artifact, it was essential in the Law Hall’s interrogation of low-level cultivators.
If Ice Lotus Peak intervened, they could skip these steps and immediately classify this matter as a minor conflict.

Of course, since it was Qin Feng’s request, Murong Xue did not ask further.
She quickly nodded in agreement.
“I will handle this.”
Then she turned to the Thirteenth Elder.
“All involved, come with me to Celestial Peak.”

As her words fell, the frost covering the Thirteenth Elder dissolved.
When he landed on the ground, an unwilling expression appeared on his face.
Clearly, he still harbored resentment for not having killed Qin Feng.
But now, he no longer had the chance.
With Ice Lotus Peak’s intervention and Murong Xue’s display of power, any further action would only bring disgrace upon himself.

Qin Feng glanced at the Thirteenth Elder and then followed Murong Xue.
In truth, he had the power to kill the Thirteenth Elder just moments ago.
But if he did, he would no longer be able to stay in the Eternal Sect.
So even if he wanted to kill him, he couldn’t leave any evidence, lest he be trapped by others.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have spent the favor left by Yue Qingxian to have Ice Lotus Peak, whose influence was growing, intervene directly.

---

Celestial Peak, Law Hall!

Outside the solemn hall, a crystal-clear treasure mirror floated above the main entrance.
As the initiator of the matter, Qin Feng naturally had to undergo the first round of interrogation.
A black-robed elder of the Law Hall stood coldly on the steps, expressionless, and asked sharply, “Qin Feng, why did you slaughter your fellow disciples?”

Qin Feng responded, “Liu Hanyan coveted the treasures belonging to me and my master, conspired with Xiao Yun to harm me, intending to kill and seize the treasure!”
After speaking, he tore open one side of his robe, revealing fierce scars on his chest.

The black-robed elder glanced at the unreactive Mirror of Conscience and nodded slightly.
If Qin Feng had lied, the mirror would have projected the truth automatically.

The Thirteenth Elder’s face darkened upon hearing this.
Evidently, he never expected Xiao Yun to have done so much behind his back.

The black-robed elder continued, “Why didn’t you clarify this when the outer elder appeared?
If you had explained, the subsequent conflict could have been avoided.”

Qin Feng cupped his fist respectfully, “I was weak, and there was no senior to oversee Jade Flower Peak, so I was worried about my master’s dying wish being affected.”
He then took out an ancient jade slip.
“This is what my master found during his travels.”
“Before his death, he instructed me to abandon my cultivation and restart using this ground-level cultivation method.”
“Once my cultivation recovers and everything returns to normal, I am to submit this method to the sect.”
“But somehow, Liu Hanyan learned of this and tried to take credit for it.”
“So I begged the elder of Ice Lotus Peak to lend the Law Hall’s Mirror of Conscience to thoroughly settle this matter. I ask for the elder’s understanding.”

After Qin Feng finished, the Mirror of Conscience remained silent.
Qin Feng felt a slight relief in his heart.
Clearly, he was telling the truth.
Or rather, the truth with some omissions.

For example, the jade slip was genuinely found by Yue Qingxian during her travels.
The instruction to abandon cultivation and rebuild from this foundation was true.
He just didn’t reveal that his true opportunity to restore his cultivation came from the Wild Sword Tower.
The rest was also true.
But because the sword bone was critical and Liu Hanyan was unaware of the jade slip’s true details, she ignored its existence when talking to Xiao Yun.
However, her casually taking the jade slip gave Qin Feng a reason to conceal the truth.

“As expected, the Mirror of Conscience only reacts when lies are told,” Qin Feng thought helplessly.
If circumstances allowed, he wouldn’t have risked coming to the Law Hall.

---

As he had said before, Jade Flower Peak had no seniors to protect it, making him vulnerable to predation within the sect.
So he had to find a reasonable excuse to quell the previous trouble and throw out a juicy morsel to attract attention, thereby buying time and space to grow.

Perhaps Qin Feng’s approach was only a temporary fix, and sooner or later, someone would still target him.
But he believed that as long as he had time, he could handle any number of predators.

Returning to the matter at hand.
Qin Feng’s words failing to trigger the Mirror of Conscience’s reaction proved his honesty.
The few key details he omitted were naturally overlooked due to the jade slip’s presence.

The black-robed elder nodded again and asked several more questions.
However, once Qin Feng produced the jade slip, the elder ceased to focus on the matter’s right or wrong.
The facts proved Qin Feng was not at fault.
Furthermore, the value of a ground-level cultivation technique far exceeded that of two outer disciples, so the elder’s desire to resolve the matter quickly was understandable.

Sure enough, before long, the black-robed elder gave his verdict:
“Liu Hanyan and Xiao Yun harmed fellow disciples, attempted murder and theft, but were killed in self-defense!”
“Qin Feng is innocent!”
“Yang Yun’s disciples behaved improperly and are hereby fined two years of salary and demoted to officers!”

As soon as the black-robed elder finished, a red-robed elder stepped forward.
“Qin Feng, the treasure you presented must be appraised by the Scripture Repository!”
“You must wait a few days; the reward will then be delivered to you.”

The red-robed elder’s appearance was due to the black-robed elder’s notification.
After all, a ground-level cultivation technique was a serious matter, requiring involvement from the Scripture Repository.

“Thank you, elders!” Qin Feng said before taking his leave.
The Thirteenth Elder returned to the outer sect, dejected.

No sooner had Qin Feng descended the mountain than Murong Xue approached him.
“The previous request was too simple. The peak master has decided to do you another favor.”

Qin Feng was wary inside but showed no expression.
“What favor?”

Murong Xue replied, “The reward from the Scripture Repository will be fully delivered to you.”
“Also, if you wish to transfer to another peak, the peak master will assist in the arrangements.”

Qin Feng shook his head, “I must thank you for the first.”
“But the second is unnecessary.”