When dealing with the deceitful demons, torture is indeed the only way.
Therefore, the chief of the Ibis Clan didn't object. Although Lady Lan was extremely dissatisfied, she was coaxed by her husband and could only glare venomously around, as if the whole world owed her.
Amidst the continuous shrill cries, purification nails were driven into Jing He's body, and she was successively subjected to cruel tortures.
However, she always refused to change her story and only claimed that she was instigated by Yaohua.
Tu Yang reported, "My Lord, thirteen types of demon - torturing punishments have been carried out. If we continue to torture, this demon may perish both physically and spiritually."
On the torture rack, Jing He laughed bitterly, "Yaohua, you're perfidious and will never come to a good end! Our Demon Clan has no conspiracy at all. And you, as a member of the Phoenix Clan, are more insidious and cunning than a demon—ah!"
After the shrill cry, she fainted.
Only silence remained in the hall.
Yaohua finally understood why Zhao Yue had predicted her arrival early on. Jing He had stayed in the Qingyan Secret Realm to be captured instead of fleeing earlier.
"So, you're the last link in this trap," she murmured. "Without you confusing everyone here, this matter might have been easier."
But now, she had been burdened with the charges of coveting her master and colluding with demons, while the disappearance of the two clan chiefs was overlooked.
Lady Lan said hatefully, "The evidence is conclusive. Please punish the culprit, my Lord!"
She kowtowed heavily on the ground, and blood oozed from her forehead.
Chong Ming suddenly stepped forward, "My Lord, if Yaohua had colluded with demons, why would she have brought this demon back in person? This demon must be trying to cover up her own conspiracy, so she's just slandering others."
The two sides were at loggerheads, and the God - Lord was quite embarrassed.
He pondered for a while and said, "Forget it. First, detain Yaohua in the Immortal Prison. As for the rest of you, go and investigate the disappearance of the two clan chiefs together."
Lady Lan cried, "My Lord, the evidence is conclusive. Why don't you kill that bitch? Is it because of your regard for God - Lord Chong Ming? My poor daughter—"
The God - Lord had a half - smiling expression on his face.
The chief of the Ibis Clan consoled her, "My Lady, don't cry first. As long as the two clan chiefs return safely, it will prove that Yaohua is lying, and the demon's confession is true. By then, with both witnesses and evidence, we'll convict that bitch immediately."
Lady Lan seemed to understand but was still full of panic, "Really, my husband? What if something happens to the two clan chiefs?"
"Then it will prove that the demon's confession is false. Xi Lan's death was deliberately designed by the Demon Clan to sow discord among the immortal races in the celestial realm," the chief of the Ibis Clan's eyes showed a fierce look. "Those who dare to use my daughter's life as a bargaining chip, I will surely lead the whole clan to fight through the Demon Clan!"
Lady Lan was intimidated by her husband's harshness and then sobbed, "Xi Lan... my poor daughter..."
The Immortal Prison was filled with extremely vicious criminal immortals, and it was bone - chillingly cold inside.
As soon as Yaohua entered, she shivered from the cold. She couldn't help but look back, only to see the pure - black gate slowly closing.
Divine Envoy Tu Yang was holding a lantern and walking in front of her, "You can endure it here for a few days. When the truth comes to light, you'll be able to get out."
"Does the Divine Envoy believe in my innocence?" Yaohua couldn't help asking.
Tu Yang looked back at her with pity in her eyes, "If you really hated Xi Lan, you could have simply exposed her theft of the spiritual medicine to the Three Realms, which would have been enough to ruin her reputation. Why would you have endured her whipping and sealed your own realm?"
Yaohua's nose felt a bit sour, "Thank you for your trust, Divine Envoy."
"I hope you won't let this trust down," Tu Yang said indifferently, turning her head. "I won't show any partiality to you because of my own selfishness. Everything will follow the God - Lord's order."
Despite saying so, after bringing Yaohua into the cell, she flicked her finger to cast a spell. Purple spiritual power surrounded Yaohua, healing all her whip marks.
The death of Xi Lan and the disappearance of the two clan chiefs had caused quite a stir in the celestial realm.
Two days later, the Immortal Prison opened again, and Yaohua was summoned to the God - Lord's Hall.
As soon as she entered the hall, a scroll flew out and hit her left cheek.
She touched her face blankly and heard the God - Lord's angry voice, "The two clan chiefs just accidentally fell into the secret realm. When was there any connection with the so - called demon conspiracy? Yaohua, you're full of lies. Do you know your crime?"
"What?" Yaohua almost thought she had misheard.
But the God - Lord didn't give her a chance to explain again, "Yaohua, you falsely reported military intelligence and caused the death of Princess Xi Lan. Now, I deprive you of your position as the clan chief and exile you to the Ancient Battlefield in the Southern Wilderness to reflect on your mistakes."
"No, I'm innocent," Yaohua quickly explained. "My Lord, it was the demons who stole my phoenix plume and deliberately killed Xi Lan. It's all their conspiracy."
"Bitch!" Lady Lan rushed over in a hurry, pounced on her, and tore her hair vigorously. "How dare you still argue? Exile is too lenient for you. I want you to pay with your life for my daughter!"
These days, she had been in the pain of losing her daughter, and her spirit was on the verge of collapse. Now she was just eager to eat the culprit's flesh and drink the culprit's blood.
Caught off guard, Yaohua's face was scratched by Lady Lan's sharp nails. Just as she was about to fight back, a spiritual light came from afar, pushing Lady Lan away and protecting her.
The familiar aura of spiritual power made her shed tears instantly, "Master..."
Master must have found the truth and come to clear her of her grievances!
Chong Ming reported loudly, "My Lord, the chief of the Ibis Clan and I have found the real culprit."
The God - Lord's voice came from inside the hall, "Who is it?"
Yaohua was full of expectation, but Chong Ming's next words made her feel as if she had fallen into an ice cave.
She heard him say, "This person is Feng Jing, the second young master of the Phoenix Clan!"
Yaohua felt a sudden dizziness in her head—what? How could it be the second brother?
Could it be that the second brother was taking the blame for her?
No, if so, she would rather be exiled herself!
Under her disbelieving gaze, Feng Jing calmly knelt in front of the God - Lord's Hall, "My Lord, it wasn't my younger sister who colluded with the demons, but me."
His expression was extremely calm, "At that time, my eyes weren't injured by the demons. Instead, I saved Xi Lan from the demons, but she bit me back. I couldn't swallow this humiliation. Seeing that she was always against my sister, I was possessed by evil and cooperated with the demons. Please punish me, my Lord!"
"Why didn't you say this earlier?" the God - Lord asked sternly.
Feng Jing showed a pained expression, "I didn't dare to face this fact and always hid at home. But Yaohua is my younger sister. I can't let her take the blame for me, so I came to surrender myself."
The chief of the Ibis Clan kicked him to the ground fiercely and said coldly, "My Lord, this man was bewitched by the demons. He even plucked out a phoenix plume, processed it in a special way, deceived Divine Envoy Tu Yang, and framed his own younger sister. This is an act that angers both gods and men and should be immediately executed."
"No, please don't! I'm willing to be exiled. Please spare my second brother's life," Yaohua's face was full of tears. After all these twists and turns, it turned out that it was her elder brother who had done this?
She only regretted that she hadn't noticed her elder brother's abnormality earlier!
Hearing this, Feng Jing's body trembled violently, and he choked with sobs, "It was big brother who was possessed by evil. I'm sorry for you..."