Lin Xinyang's expression shifted erratically, changing several times.
He was seriously considering Chen Yan's words, and the conclusion he ultimately reached was that Chen Yan was right.
For Gu Qin to infiltrate the outer court, and even secure a spot among the disciples stationed on Heavenly Summit Mountain, it would have been impossible without help from someone inside the outer court.
In other words, regardless of whether the mastermind behind the scenes came from within or outside the Kongshan Sect.
The traitor could absolutely not be Gu Qin alone.
"Then, Junior Sister Qin's death was also done by a fellow disciple?"
Lin Xinyang seemed to be asking Chen Yan, yet also seemed to be asking himself.
"Perhaps."
Chen Yan said.
On Heavenly Summit Mountain, the cultivators belonging to the Kongshan Sect with cultivation at the Passable God Realm or above totaled eight people.
The elders of the seven major peaks, and the Delegation Envoy, Zhong Yin.
Counting Wen Hongli, Bai Qiming, and He Furen who arrived later, that made a total of eleven people.
"Next group, Kongshan Sect, Yuanhua Mountain Peak direct disciple, Lin Xinyang!"
A voice imbued with thick true energy came from the arena.
"Let's put all this aside for now, Senior Brother Lin."
Chen Yan said:
"Don't let these trivial matters disturb your Dao heart."
Lin Xinyang let out a turbid breath, then nodded, stood up, and began walking towards the direction of the arena stage.
When a disciple from one of the Five Great Sects appeared, everyone's gaze fell upon Lin Xinyang.
And after Lin Xinyang left, only Chen Yan and Chu Xiyao remained on this side.
"What does Chief Disciple Chen think?"
Chu Xiyao said lightly:
"Do you believe Lin Xinyang truly knows nothing at all?"
"What does Senior Sister Chu think?"
Chen Yan asked with a smile in return.
"After all, Lin Xinyang is He Furen's personal disciple, and moreover, Chief Disciple Chen, you have always been wary of him, haven't you?"
Chu Xiyao said.
She was not wrong.
"It seems Senior Sister Chu knows quite a bit."
Chen Yan said.
"I haven't learned much."
Chu Xiyao shook her head:
"I only know that Elder He once sent people to ambush and kill you, and then failed."
"Did Elder Fu tell you that?"
Chen Yan asked.
"Mm."
"What else did Elder Fu tell you?"
"He didn't say anything else."
Chu Xiyao denied:
"However, I can roughly guess."
He Furen's purpose in sending people to ambush Chen Yan could only be one, and that was for Song Mingde's list.
This also meant that Song Mingde's death was likely also related to Elder He.
Song Mingde was killed by Gu Qin.
Following this logic, Gu Qin targeting Chen Yan's life was also likely orchestrated by He Furen.
This was Chu Xiyao's speculation.
"What about the matter of the list?"
Chen Yan continued to ask.
"No, the elder didn't mention a single word about it."
Chu Xiyao replied.
"I see."
Chen Yan nodded.
Fu Qian kept the secret contained within that list hidden in his heart alone, not revealing it to anyone.
He must have his own plans as well.
Arena Three, second group.
Lin Xinyang slowly stepped onto the stage, his demeanor gentle and refined, and his aura filled with righteousness.
On the other side of the arena, Lin Xinyang's opponent was a young man from a certain second-rate sect, dressed in tight-fitting martial attire.
"Senior Sister Chu, I've been thinking about a question."
Chen Yan slowly began speaking to Chu Xiyao beside him.
"What?"
Chu Xiyao asked.
"A Passable God Realm cultivator wanting to kill a Martial Spring Realm cultivator has ten thousand methods to make the Martial Spring Realm cultivator vanish without a trace."
Chen Yan said:
"But the murderer specifically chose the method most likely to provoke the Kongshan Sect's fury, nailing Junior Sister Qin's corpse onto the Heavenly Summit Palace. Tell me, why would the murderer do this?"
"...Provocation."
After pondering for a moment, Chu Xiyao arrived at this conclusion.
On the arena, Lin Xinyang and the martial artist in tight-fitting attire bowed and clasped fists to each other, after which Lin Xinyang first made a "please" gesture.
Signaling for the other to attack first.
The martial artist in tight-fitting attire was slightly taken aback at first, then he cupped his fists towards Lin Xinyang again.
He didn't feel at all that Lin Xinyang's courtesy towards him was looking down on him.
Because he had heard of Lin Xinyang's reputation.
He was the personal disciple of Yuanhua Mountain's Dignity Elder of the Kongshan Sect, and it was said his natural talent was in no way inferior to Yuanhua Mountain's Chief Disciple Li Haowen.
Only his personality was gentler, so he wasn't as famous as Li Haowen.
"Provocation?"
Chen Yan smiled and nodded:
"That's what I initially thought too, but I've been struggling with this: what benefit does provoking the Kongshan Sect on Heavenly Summit Mountain bring to the murderer?"
Indeed, aside from inciting the Kongshan Sect's wrath, provoking the Kongshan Sect offered almost no tangible benefits.
"Perhaps."
Chu Xiyao said.
The martial artist in tight-fitting attire tapped his toes on the ground, leapt high into the air, then formed his hand into a tube shape and placed it before his mouth.
Boom!
A massive tongue of flame surged from the man's mouth, completely engulfing Lin Xinyang.
"And then, someone chose to make a move against me at this juncture."
Chen Yan paused briefly, then slowly said:
"Or perhaps, a third attempt."
Chu Xiyao gave Chen Yan a sidelong glance.
"You really do suspect Elder He Furen."
"Zhang Xishun is Elder He's man, those two Martial Spring Realm cultivators who ambushed me that day were too, including this time's Gu Qin..."
Chen Yan said:
"Although there's no concrete evidence to prove it, Senior Sister Chu also knows perfectly well that the one who wants my life is Elder He, isn't that right?"
"That is indeed the case."
Chu Xiyao replied.
On this point, she truly could not deny it.
As the flames slowly dissipated, amidst the swirling dust and black smoke, Lin Xinyang's figure gradually became visible.
He still stood there, gentle and refined, not even a single corner of his clothing stained with the slightest bit of dirt.
"But, Elder He had countless opportunities to want my life. He could have created various coincidences, or hired assassins..."
Chen Yan continued:
"But he specifically chose to make a move against me on Heavenly Summit Mountain. Don't you find that strange, Senior Sister Chu?"
"What does Chief Disciple Chen mean?"
Chu Xiyao asked.
"I can't understand why he would make a move against me on Heavenly Summit Mountain."
Chen Yan shook his head.
He was, after all, the Chief Disciple of Kongyuan Mountain. If anything truly happened to Chen Yan, the Kongshan Sect would definitely not let it go.
He Furen couldn't hide.
Moreover, if Chen Yan were killed, even Huo Mu behind He Furen would likely not escape implication.
Although the sect probably wouldn't shake the status of a Divine Ability Realm powerhouse over a minor figure like Chen Yan, Huo Mu's prestige within the sect would definitely suffer a significant blow.
And the power of the Imperial Law Court under his control would also be greatly affected.
Chen Yan still couldn't figure it out.
Why would He Furen choose to make a move against him on Heavenly Summit Mountain?
He raised his head and looked towards the sky.
Suspended two thousand zhang above their heads was that Heavenly Summit Palace made entirely of white jade, and above that was the bowl-shaped barrier, covering the entire Heavenly Summit Mountain like an inverted bowl.