The Lord of Void and Real
Chapter 1120

Chapter 1120: Chapter 1117: Four Reasons Chapter 1120: Chapter 1117: Four Reasons “Since Elder Jieyin has come over, I, Shen Luo, have a question to ask. Just now, Elders Qin Shan and Li He repeatedly accused me of stealing the Ginseng Fruit and destroying the Ginseng fruit tree, even claiming to have evidence in hand. May I know where this evidence is? Could Elder Jieyin please enlighten me?” Shen Luo looked at Jieyin Daoist and asked calmly.

“Friend Shen, there's no need to be angry. The matter has not yet been confirmed, and those were hasty words from Qin Shan and the others, I ask for your understanding,” Jieyin Daoist said with a faint smile.

“Elder Jieyin, why is it not confirmed when it's clear that…” Qin Shan couldn't help but say.

But before he could finish, Jieyin Daoist's gaze swept over him again. He opened his mouth, and the rest of the words had to be swallowed back.

Shen Luo's expression remained indifferent; he simply watched quietly, not speaking.

“Friend Shen, to be frank, another theft occurred in our pavilion last night. Two Ginseng Fruits were stolen, and the Ginseng fruit tree withered away for no known reason, as if someone had used some kind of Divine Power,” Jieyin Daoist said, looking into Shen Luo's eyes.

Although Shen Luo had already heard about this from Qin Shan and Li He, he still frowned upon hearing Jieyin Daoist recount the specific details.

“May I ask where Friend Shen was and what you were doing last night? Do you have any alibi?” Jieyin Daoist asked slowly, his gaze becoming sharp.

“I have been refining artifacts in the Sun and Moon Hall these past few days, not taking a single step outside. Last night was the same. As for an alibi, Daoist Ming Yue has been guarding outside the valley and should be aware of my whereabouts,” Shen Luo replied without any hesitation, looking at Ming Yue in the end.

Ming Yue showed a hesitant look and did not speak.

“Hmph! You used a prohibition to cage the Sun and Moon Hall; from the outside, it's impossible to see inside. Ming Yue was merely sitting in meditation outside the valley and did not constantly use Divine Sense to check the hall. If you used an Escape Technique to leave quietly, how could he have noticed?” Qin Shan retorted with a cold sneer.

Shen Luo's gaze grew colder. Although Qin Shan's words were far-fetched, they were not completely illogical.

“Regardless of whether you believe me or not, I did not leave the Sun and Moon Hall last night,” he said after a moment of silence.

“Does Daoist friend have a way to prove this?” Jieyin Daoist asked.

“I have no way to prove it, but I would like to ask Elder Jieyin why you think I stole the Ginseng Fruits and destroyed the tree? Elders Qin Shan and Li He even came directly to my door to apprehend me,” Shen Luo countered.

“We suspect Friend Shen mainly for four reasons,” Jieyin Daoist responded without refusing to answer, stretching out four fingers.

“I would like to hear them in detail,” Shen Luo said, bowing his hands.

“The first reason is that the Hundred Fruit Immortal Feast has ended, and now within the entire Wuzhuang View, aside from Friend Shen, there are no more outsiders,” Jieyin Daoist said slowly.

Shen Luo frowned, offering no retort.

“Secondly, Friend Shen has been in this Sun and Moon Hall for a period of time. The Sun and Moon Hall is very close to the Immortal Fruit Garden where the Ginseng Fruits are, and Shen, you have also asked Ming Yue about the Immortal Fruit Garden and the Ginseng fruit tree before, right?” Jieyin Daoist continued.

Shen Luo maintained his composure but inwardly sighed, rueing that his momentary curiosity that day had brought him such trouble.

“As for the third reason, after the last theft of the Ginseng Fruit, I set up a small prohibition near the Ginseng fruit tree. This prohibition has no defense or detection capabilities, its Qi is extremely faint, and its sole purpose is to record nearby images. This is what the prohibition captured,” Jieyin Daoist continued, producing a white sphere that revealed the image of a figure swiftly fleeing through it.

Shen Luo looked at it, his expression darkening slightly.

Although the figure within the sphere was incredibly blurry, it was still possible to make out its facial features–it was indeed him.

“With cultivation levels like ours, altering one's appearance is a trivial matter. If it truly were me who stole the fruit and destroyed the tree, why would I use my real appearance?” Shen Luo said in a deep voice.

“Perhaps you didn't expect Elder Jieyin to have set up such a prohibition within the garden and were careless for a moment,” Qin Shan's voice, which Shen Luo found nauseating, rang out once again.

Shen Luo gritted his teeth, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, but he didn't argue with Qin Shan.

“As for the last reason, it dates back to more than half a month ago. A Daoist friend from Great Tang Dynasty Government, Lu Huaming, visited Wuzhuang View, seeking a Ginseng Fruit to prolong Emperor Tang's life. Pavilion Master refused, saying that Emperor Tang bears the Dragon Qi and must follow the natural cycle of fate. Artificially extending his lifespan would defy the Heavenly Dao,” the Jieyin Daoist continued.

“Was there such a matter?” Shen Luo was surprised for a moment.

“And the unkempt man who stole the Ginseng Fruit a few days ago, and ultimately self-detonated and perished, we have already investigated his identity. He was named Purple Robe Thief, a servant of Great Tang Dynasty Government. The reason he came to Wuzhuang View to steal the Ginseng Fruit is self-explanatory,” said the Jieyin Daoist with a cool and indifferent gaze.

“Now that the Purple Robe Thief has failed in stealing the fruit and been killed, and the Ginseng Fruit was not taken out, Shen Luo, you have countless ties with Great Tang Dynasty Government. If one theft failed, naturally there would be a second attempt; hence, you stayed behind under false pretenses, waiting for an opportunity,” Qin Shan followed up.

Shen Luo was silent, reflecting on this series of events. His suspicions indeed were great; it was no wonder the Jieyin Daoist and the others suspected him.

However, he hadn't committed this crime. Given the current situation, someone had schemed against him, setting an incredibly cunning trap. One misstep could indeed result in him being treated as the vile thief who stole the fruit and destroyed the tree, or even dying inexplicably within the premises of Wuzhuang View.

Shen Luo took a deep breath to calm himself down.

“With so many reasons, it's inevitable for fellow cultivators to suspect me. However, I, Shen Luo, swear on the Heart Demon that I am not responsible for stealing the fruit and ruining the tree. It must be a malicious plot by someone. If you don't believe me, you may search my Storage Magical Tool.” He took off the Linlang Ring and handed it over.

The Slayer's Broken Sword was now within his body, and he had disguised the Ten Thousand Poison Mixed Element Bead as an Immortal jade, hiding it within a pile of Immortal jade using the same method as before.

Jieyin Daoist and the others showed a flicker of movement in their expressions upon hearing Shen Luo's Heart Demon Oath.

A Heart Demon Oath is no trifling matter; breaking it could bring great harm to one's future cultivation. Shen Luo making such an oath – could it be that he was truly wronged?

“Since Daoist friend Shen has spoken thus, I shall not stand on ceremony and check once more.” Jieyin Daoist took the Linlang Ring, his Divine Sense entered it, and he began to search anew.

Just like the last time, he failed to pierce the illusion of the Liangyi Micro Dust Talisman and detect the presence of the Ten Thousand Poison Mixed Element Bead, finding nothing.

“Although Friend Shen's Storage Magical Tool is clean, your suspicion has yet to be cleared. Please accompany us and wait for Pavilion Master's return from Heavenly Court,” Jieyin Daoist handed back the Linlang Ring and said.

Shen Luo's eyes darkened. Jieyin Daoist's words, though veiled, were clear to him: this was virtual imprisonment.

Qin Shan and the others moved swiftly to encircle Shen Luo, surrounding him in the middle.

“I will go with you, but before that, I would like to examine the Ginseng fruit tree,” Shen Luo fell silent for a moment. Without resisting, he made a request.

Jieyin Daoist was taken aback.

“What are you trying to do? Are you harboring some ill intention again?” Qin Shan asked coldly.

“I don't wish to be detained without cause. I want to visit the scene no matter what. My cultivation may not be strong, but I have keen eyesight, and I have cultivated several Yimu Divine Powers. Perhaps I can discern something from the fruit tree,” Shen Luo said, silently invoking the Divine Wood Grace.

Suddenly a vortex of green light appeared in the palm of his hand, and the breath of the nearby vegetation began to converge toward him, continuously merging into his body.