Chapter 154: Issues with the Tuo She Ancient Emperor’s Jade

Upon hearing Yan Jin's words, Lei Ying furrowed his brows and spoke in a deep voice, "Yan Jin, are you doubting me?"

"No..." Facing Lei Ying's questioning, Yan Jin shook his head and said, "I don't doubt you, or anyone else. I just want to understand the truth."

"So... Lei Ying, are you sure you didn't swap the Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade?" Yan Jin looked at Lei Ying. His strength was not inferior to Lei Ying's, so he was the only one who dared to question Lei Ying. The others didn't have the strength or the courage to do so.

Lei Ying said, "Yan Jin, let me make it clear to you. I, Lei Ying, am not that kind of person and I wouldn't stoop to such actions."

Lei Ying's words were filled with excitement. If it weren't Yan Jin, someone who was on par with him, Lei Ying would have lost his temper. 

Damn it, this was an insult to his character.

Was Lei Ying the kind of person they were suggesting? No... he wasn't.

He knew how to distinguish priorities and what needed to be done.

Compared to the temptation of the Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade, he was more hopeful that the Gu Clan and the Gu Yuan could join their alliance and exterminate the Soul Clan together. 

Wasn't that cake more delicious than the Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade?

...

In the face of Lei Ying's denial, Yan Jin continued, "Lei Ying, can you swear?"

Lei Ying looked at Yan Jin.

He stared at Yan Jin tightly, remaining silent.

Yan Jin met Lei Ying's gaze head-on, showing no fear.

Several tens of seconds passed.

"Phew..."

Lei Ying exhaled and glanced at the other clan leaders before finally speaking, "There's no problem!"

"I, Lei Ying, swear..."

After taking the oath, Lei Ying looked at Yan Jin and said, "Is it clear now? Can it prove my innocence?"

"Alright."

Yan Jin nodded.

Lei Ying had sworn.

Ling zhi zun had also sworn.

This meant that both of them were telling the truth, and it should be true... Then why would the Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade be fake when it reached Gu Yuan's hands? It shouldn't be like this.

After thinking for a while, Yan Jin looked at Lei Ying and asked, "Lei Ying, can you be certain that Gu Yuan didn't swap the Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade?" 

"You should know that Gu Yuan is a peak powerhouse at the Nine-Star level. He has the ability to swap it right under your nose."

Lei Ying shook his head and said, "The Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade never left my sight. It's simply impossible for Gu Yuan to swap it!"

"Then the lead is lost!"

...

Ling Zhi Zun guaranteed that the Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade he presented was genuine.

Lei Ying didn't encounter any problems in the process.

Why... would the Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade be fake when it reached Gu Yuan's hands?

Which link in the chain went wrong?

It was incomprehensible!

The five individuals in the hall remained silent, with no one speaking.

...

Yan Jin spoke up, "Let's put this matter aside for now! The most important thing at the moment is to win over the Gu Clan and have them join our Soul Annihilation Alliance. But for that... a clan must present the Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade."

After Yan Jin finished speaking, his gaze fell upon Shi Po Ting, the leader of the Shi Clan. Not only Yan Jin, but even Lei Ying, Yao Dan, and Ling Zhi Zun all looked at Shi Po Ting.

The meaning was clear.

To win over the Gu Clan, they must present the Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade.

The Ling Clan was impossible.

They could only rely on the Shi Clan, the weakest among them.

"Sigh..."

Feeling the multitude of gazes upon him, Shi Po Ting couldn't help but let out a sigh. He recalled the days when their ancestor, Shi Hao, was still alive, and how spirited the Shi Clan used to be.

But now...

There was no need to say anything!

Realizing that escape was futile, Shi Po Ting stood up and said, "Please wait, everyone. I'll be back soon!"

With that, Shi Po Ting split into a clone and left the hall.

Yan Jin and Lei Ying exchanged a glance with each other.

In secret, clones were also sent to follow Shi Po Ting.

The incident involving Ling Zhi Zun served as a lesson. They had to keep an eye out.

...

Shi Po Ting's clone returned to the Shi Clan and arrived at the ancestral hall. He took hold of the Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade that was placed there and promptly made his way back.

In the shadows...

Accompanying Shi Po Ting's clone were clones of Lei Ying and Yan Jin. They saw that Shi Po Ting had retrieved the Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade from the ancestral hall.

Both of them nodded in secret.

In their eyes, Shi Po Ting wasn't playing any tricks!

...

Shi Po Ting's clone returned, holding the Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade in his hand. It was currently the Shi Clan's only valuable item, and now it was about to be handed over.

To be honest...

Shi Po Ting felt reluctant in his heart!

But... he didn't have the right to choose.

After holding it in his hand for a while, Shi Po Ting reluctantly handed the Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade to Lei Ying and said, "Brother Lei Ying, I entrust the Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade to you."

"Understood!"

Lei Ying received the Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade from Shi Po Ting's hand and nodded slightly.

This time...

Lei Ying didn't leave immediately; instead, he carefully examined the Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade in his hand. 

After the previous incident, Lei Ying became even more cautious. Even though they had their clones following Shi Po Ting to retrieve the Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade, which couldn't be fake, it was still better to exercise caution.

He didn't want to go to the Gu Clan again, present a piece of fake Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade, and be humiliated by Gu Yuan once more.

"Hmm?"

Shi Po Ting, displeased by Lei Ying scrutinizing the Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade, spoke up, "What? Does Brother Lei Ying suspect that this Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade is fake?"

He had the courage to present the Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade. How dare Lei Ying question its authenticity?

Shi Po Ting's expression darkened.

Lei Ying said, "It's always better to be cautious."

"Understood!"

As Lei Ying examined the Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade, something suddenly happened. He looked at Shi Po Ting, who met his gaze. Shi Po Ting asked, "What is it, Brother Lei Ying? Did you find any problems?"

Lei Ying didn't answer Shi Po Ting's question.

Instead, he handed the Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade to Yan Jin, who took it and began examining it. Eventually, Yan Jin also noticed an issue with the Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade. 

With a glance exchanged between Yan Jin and Lei Ying, they came to a conclusion. This Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade, which they could be certain was taken from the Shi Clan's ancestral hall, was indeed fake. 

Despite having the same aura as the real Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade, there was no denying that it was a forgery.

Indeed...

After Lei Ying and Yan Jin carefully examined it, they reached a conclusion. The Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade was fake. Although it possessed ninety percent of the authenticity, it was still a forgery and couldn't be considered genuine.

Seeing the expressions on Lei Ying and Yan Jin's faces, Shi Po Ting felt a jolt in his heart and wondered, "What does the expression on these two fellows' faces mean? Could it be... there's really something wrong with this Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade?"

"Brother Lei Ying, Brother Yan Jin, won't you speak up? What's wrong with this Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade?" Yao Dan asked at this moment, curious as to why the two remained silent.

Their curiosity was left hanging!

Why wouldn't they speak up about whether or not there was an issue with the Tuo She Ancient Emperor Jade?

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Early Access: p@treon.com/gfdsa