Transmigrated into the villain? Watch my epic comeback in the ethereal fairy realm!

Chapter 13 Dark Clouds Gather Over the Demon Palace, Suspicion Looms Again

Pushing open the heavy palace door, Dai Yao saw Elder Mo Yu holding a black fragment that shimmered with a ghostly light in his hand.

Inside the main hall, the atmosphere was heavy, and the air seemed to freeze.

The gazes from those around her were filled with scrutiny, suspicion, and even schadenfreude, like countless needles pricking Dai Yao, making her feel incredibly oppressed.

She thought that after turning the tide and exposing the traitor last time, she could finally clear her name and live peacefully in the Demon Palace. But who knew that the dark clouds of the Demon Palace would once again hang over her like an inescapable nightmare.

"Dai Yao, do you know what this is?" Elder Mo Yu's voice was as piercing as an ice pick, and the black fragment in his hand exuded a chilling aura.

Dai Yao's heart sank. She had never seen this fragment before, but its eerie aura made her feel uneasy.

"Elder, this disciple does not know." She tried to remain calm and spoke respectfully.

"Hmph, you don't know? This fragment was found near your bedchamber, and the demonic energy remaining on it is extremely similar to the demonic techniques used by the traitor recently!" Elder Mo Yu rebuked sharply, his eyes flashing with cold light.

"Elder, please understand! I have never cultivated such demonic arts. The appearance of this fragment near my sleeping quarters is perhaps a deliberate frame-up!" Dai Yao argued vehemently. She knew that if she could not prove her innocence today, she would likely find it difficult to escape.

"Framed? Who do you think would go to such lengths to frame a mere disciple like you?" Elder Mo Yu sneered, his tone filled with disdain.

The shadow assassin behind him was expressionless, but the murderous aura emanating from him made Dai Yao feel suffocated.

The people inside the hall whispered among themselves, their gazes toward Dai Yao becoming even more complicated.

Zi Ling huddled in a corner, trembling. She was already timid and afraid of trouble, and now, seeing this tense scene, she was even more frightened and dared not utter a sound.

“Elder, words are meaningless. How can you determine that your disciple is related to the traitor based on just a fragment?” Dai Yao took a deep breath, trying to suppress her anger. She knew that at this moment, anger would only make her more passive.

Ling Hao stood aside, a cold smile playing on his lips. He had been waiting for an opportunity to bring down Dai Yao, and now that he saw her in trouble, he felt secretly pleased.

"Are you questioning this elder's judgment?" Elder Mo Yu's eyes widened in anger, and a powerful pressure instantly enveloped the entire hall.

Dai Yao met Elder Mo Yu's gaze without fear. "This disciple dares not question the elder, but this disciple requests to see all the evidence. Furthermore, this disciple requests that the Demon Palace thoroughly investigate all matters related to this disciple to prove my innocence!"

Upon hearing this, the hall erupted in uproar. No one expected Dai Yao to be so bold as to demand a thorough investigation of the Demon Palace.

Elder Mo Yu was stunned for a moment, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, "You..."

"Elder, let's begin," Dai Yao said calmly, her gaze resolute.

"You..." Elder Mo Yu laughed angrily, "Fine, what a sharp-tongued girl! Since you're so confident, I'll give you the chance! Guards, bring all the evidence!"

Several disciples of the Demon Palace carried in several heavy wooden boxes. When the boxes were opened, they were filled with all sorts of items: fragments tainted with demonic energy, stones engraved with strange runes, and even a torn and incomplete manual... Each item exuded an unsettling aura, seemingly silently accusing Dai Yao.

Dai Yao remained completely calm. She carefully examined each piece of evidence, her eyes sharp as a hawk's.

She picked up a fragment tainted with demonic energy, sniffed it, and then gently rubbed it with her fingers, her brows furrowing slightly.

“This demonic energy, although similar to the demonic art used by the traitor, is not exactly the same.” Dai Yao pointed to the demonic energy on the fragment and said calmly, “Elder, please look, this demonic energy contains a trace of barely perceptible coldness, while the demonic art used by the traitor is extremely yang and strong. The two cannot possibly coexist.”

Elder Mo Yu's expression changed slightly. He carefully observed the demonic energy on the fragments and indeed found the chilling energy that Dai Yao had mentioned.

He couldn't help but feel a little shaken. Could it really be that someone deliberately framed him?

“And this incomplete manual,” Dai Yao picked up the manual and pointed to a page, saying, “Although the text on it looks like a forbidden technique from the Demon Palace, a closer look reveals that the strokes are slightly different. This is clearly someone deliberately imitating it to confuse the public!”

The people inside the hall began to whisper among themselves, and the way they looked at Dai Yao changed.

Previously, they all believed that Dai Yao was undoubtedly a traitor, but now they began to suspect that perhaps Dai Yao was really wronged.

Ling Hao's face darkened. He hadn't expected Dai Yao to be so perceptive, able to notice these subtle differences.

He originally thought he could finally bring Dai Yao down, but he didn't expect that she would find an opportunity to turn the tables instead.

Dai Yao surveyed the crowd, her gaze resolute. "This evidence could all have been deliberately fabricated to frame me! I demand that the Demon Palace thoroughly investigate all matters related to me and find the real mastermind behind it all!"

Elder Moyu pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Alright, I agree. Shadow Killer..." He turned to look at Shadow Killer, only to find that Shadow Killer had already left the hall at some point.

"Where's Shadow Assassin?"

“Shadow Assassin has always been a loner,” Ling Hao said sinisterly, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible sarcasm. “Perhaps he was on some secret mission when the elders called him, which is why he didn’t hear them.” Ling Hao’s words seemed to be an explanation, but in reality, he was adding fuel to the fire, linking Shadow Assassin’s disappearance to Dai Yao’s previous claim of “colluding with traitors.”

Dai Yao snorted coldly, "Secret mission? I think it's more like an escape. Elder, since the traitor's whereabouts are so elusive, I suspect that Shadow Killer and Ling Hao's remnants are still operating in the shadows. How about I reinvestigate?"

Elder Moyu frowned. Although he still had doubts about Dai Yao, Ling Hao's explanation was too far-fetched, and the disappearance of Ying Sha was indeed strange.

After much deliberation, he said in a deep voice, "Granted. But you must produce evidence within three days, otherwise..." He gave Dai Yao a meaningful look, the unfinished words carrying even greater intimidation.

Dai Yao accepted the order and left, knowing that these three days would be a critical period for her life and death.

Stepping out of the main hall, Dai Yao took a deep breath and secretly activated her special ability to sense fortune.

Strands of fortune flowed before her eyes, like tiny streams weaving together into a vast network that enveloped the entire Demon Palace.

She closed her eyes, sensing the flow of energy, searching for any sign of anything unusual.

Suddenly, in a secluded corner in the northwest of the Demon Palace, she sensed a chaotic aura, swirling like a vortex and devouring everything around her.

Dai Yao felt a chill run down her spine. This chaotic energy was somewhat similar to the demonic energy she had sensed from the traitor.

Could that be the hiding place of the traitor's remnants?

Following the guidance of fate, she arrived at that secluded corner.

This is a desolate garden, overgrown with weeds and entwined with vines, a scene of bleak desolation.

The chaotic energy emanated from an abandoned pavilion deep within the garden.

Dai Yao cautiously approached the pavilion. She could feel a chill emanating from it, which made her shiver involuntarily.

The entrance to the pavilion was obscured by dense vines, making it impossible to see what was inside, which added to its mystery.

She reached out and pushed aside the vines that were obstructing her view, revealing the entrance to the pavilion.

Just then, a cold voice came from inside the pavilion: "You've finally arrived..."

Dai Yao sneered, her gaze as sharp as a knife.

trap?

Dai Yao has never been afraid!

She wanted to see what kind of demons and monsters were hiding in this pavilion.

She scanned the area with her divine sense to confirm there were no ambushes before calmly stepping into the pavilion, a mocking smile playing on her lips: "Playing tricks, thinking you can scare me away? This young lady has seen it all." Inside the pavilion, the light was dim, and the air was filled with a nauseating stench of decay.

A dark figure stood in the shadows, his face obscured, only his chilling laughter echoing through the pavilion: "Is that so? Then let's see!" As soon as the figure finished speaking, several dark figures darted out from all directions, surrounding Dai Yao.

Dai Yao's eyes sharpened, and spiritual energy surged in her hands as she prepared to attack. Just then, a familiar voice rang in her ear: "Don't move, it's me." Dai Yao was startled; that voice… it was Ying Sha!

He slowly emerged from the shadows, holding a blood-dripping dagger in his hand, on which was clearly engraved the character "Ling".

He threw the dagger at Dai Yao's feet expressionlessly, his voice low and hoarse: "Ling Hao is dead."