Jun Moxie was utterly dumbfounded: Was this really the action of a Saint Emperor? This was straight-up hooliganism!

Bai Qifeng was still unwilling to accept it, searching everywhere; a thought stirred in Jun Moxie’s mind, accompanied by a silent, wicked grin: I was just fretting over how to stir up trouble without any living things around. You’ve arrived just in time!

Thinking this, he silently extended his right hand, flicking out a strand of powerful wind without a sound. With a sharp bang, it struck the bronze mirror on the wall dead center. Never mind the thickness of the force, the resulting sound was exceptionally loud.

Bai Qifeng, who was bent over rummaging beneath the bed, was startled by the sudden noise. He rapidly pulled back, and without even looking, he flipped over, intending to escape through the window.

Just then, a sinister, chilling voice spoke from right behind him, impossibly close: "You dump a tray of trash and think you can just leave? Bai Qifeng, is that all you’re capable of? Do the people of the Misty Illusory Mansion truly only possess such paltry skills?"

Bai Qifeng roared in anger and spun around, shouting, "So what if I dumped it... Huh?" Only upon turning did he realize there was no one behind him. A cold sweat instantly broke out across his back, drenching his heavy robes. As he spun around again, desperate to flee, it was already too late.

With a resounding thud, Hai Wuya entered from the doorway while He Zhi Qiu entered simultaneously from the window. They had been in the next room, intently focusing their cultivation to monitor the sounds there, only to be shocked by the commotion erupting from the other side. They rushed over immediately, catching Bai Qifeng just as he was vaulting toward the window!

For a moment, the three men stared at each other, completely unsure of how to proceed! They were all frozen. Bai Qifeng was stunned and deeply ashamed; Hai Wuya and He Zhi Qiu were simply filled with disbelief!

The Saint Emperor... was stealing?

A strange, indescribable odor instantly permeated the room, perhaps no less foul than the stench near a slop bucket. He Zhi Qiu’s face was grim as still water, utterly devoid of expression, yet he was the first to move. He walked over step by step and violently yanked back the quilt on the bed. Instantly, the soup, water, and leftover scraps spilled out entirely. A complete chicken head, eyes wide open, rolled down and spun around the base of Bai Qifeng’s foot, tilting its face skyward.

Then, as He Zhi Qiu’s gaze swept the room, his expression shifted again: his own satchel, which he had placed by the head of the bed, had vanished without a trace!

He sharply turned, looking at Bai Qifeng, and let out a cold, dry laugh: "Good! Very good! What a Bai Saint Emperor, truly open and upright! The people of the Misty Illusory Mansion are indeed all first-rate talents! Not only do you entertain guests with leftovers late at night, but you also take a keen interest in Mr. He’s belongings, keeping them safe for the old man for safekeeping... Heh heh, Bai Qifeng, you’re something else. My sincere thanks to you."

Bai Qifeng’s face was flushed crimson, his mouth agape. He was still clutching the plate of leftovers in his right hand, completely forgetting to set it down. Even now, he couldn't fathom why the bronze mirror on the wall had suddenly chimed when there was clearly no one else in the room, nor who had spoken just moments ago.

He had felt aggrieved and merely intended to play a prank to vent some spleen, not harbor any real malice. But given how the situation had now twisted, it was catastrophically bad...

The commotion here was considerable, and Cao Guofeng and the others immediately concluded their meeting. All six Saint Emperors instantly arrived, and upon seeing the scene, they too froze, each one as stiff as a wooden stake!

With Bai Qifeng’s world-shaking prowess, how could he be caught red-handed while performing such a trivial, petty act? What in the world was going on?

And in that exact instant, the invisible Jun Moxie slipped away soundlessly. Of course, he had no intention of leaving immediately; he went straight to Hai Wuya’s room. With a soft whoosh, Hai Wuya’s satchel also disappeared into the Hongjun Pagoda. He then returned without a sound, watching the unfolding drama with great interest.

Such a ready-made opportunity—doing this ten times a day wouldn't be too many times. As for a grand spectacle like this, the more the better. Since the performers were all Saint Emperor level powerhouses, it would be a shame not to watch closely...

The true culprit, the instigator of all this, had slipped away completely unnoticed. And all the blame was heaped squarely upon the shoulders of the Illusory Mansion’s Bai Saint Emperor, leaving him reeling. Young Master Jun’s skill at framing others had clearly seen a significant advancement!

Indeed, this was the reality.

The Bai Saint Emperor next door was truly beside himself with anxiety...

"Saint Emperor Cao, concerning tonight’s events, should the Illusory Mansion not offer Mr. He an explanation?" He Zhi Qiu said slowly, his face like still water.

"Uh... cough cough cough... Qifeng, what exactly is going on here? What are you up to?" Cao Guofeng asked, trying to maintain an air of righteousness.

"What else could be going on? It’s right here before your eyes; what more needs to be said? These two esteemed masters from the Holy Lands clearly look down on us. Should Bai have to swallow their contempt?"

Cornered, Bai Qifeng suddenly adopted a stiff demeanor, jutting his chin out: "This is the situation, plain and simple. You’ve all seen it. I did it, so what of it?"

Hai Wuya and He Zhi Qiu’s expressions darkened simultaneously.

"Bai Qifeng, we are all well advanced in years; none of us are callow youths. You must take responsibility for your own actions! As a Saint Emperor, one of the foremost experts of our age, you engage in such pointless mischief, and you feel no shame? And you remain so obstinate?" He Zhi Qiu pressed him heavily.

"Shame? Obstinance? Hah! He Zhi Qiu, let me ask you: you two are colluding together, coming here to spy on us, attempting to eavesdrop on our conversation—are you not ashamed?" Bai Qifeng snorted, replying, "Against a gentleman, I naturally employ forthright and honorable methods. But for the likes of you two scoundrels, hehe, there's no need for such niceties, is there?"

Hai Wuya let out a cold snort and said, "Bai Qifeng, you had better explain yourself clearly!"

Bai Qifeng shrugged. "So what if I explain? So what if I don’t? You think I must explain just because you demand it? Who do you think you are?"

He Zhi Qiu stood with his hands behind his back, stating coldly, "We don’t presume to think who we are, nor do we think we are some grand, important figures. But we can honestly say we would never stoop to such petty, thieving, dirty work, nor would we dump a basin of leftovers into someone else’s bedding! Saint Emperor Bai Qifeng, do you agree?"

Bai Qifeng’s face turned deep purple, and he roared, "He Zhi Qiu, enough with the nonsense! I’ve long found you detestable. Come on, then!"

He Zhi Qiu gave a dismissive smile and said lightly, "Saint Emperor Bai, if you want a fight, fine. But, might you first return my weapon? Is this how the people of the Illusory Mansion fight? Hiding other people's weapons first?"

"Weapon? What weapon? Who took your weapon?" Bai Qifeng started, a faint sense of foreboding creeping in.

"You truly are... utterly shameless..." He Zhi Qiu sneered disdainfully. "Is this the way the Misty Illusory Mansion operates? Very well, Saint Emperor Bai, I shall meet your Qifeng Tujie Wanhun Lin barehanded!" Saying this, he extended a hand, and with a swish, the hem of his robes lifted in the air without wind before tucking neatly into his belt.

"Wait!" Bai Qifeng roared, his voice shaking the air. "I will own up to what I did. I did indeed dump a basin of leftovers into your bedding, but I swear I did not take your damn weapon! This point must be made clear!"

He Zhi Qiu laughed in exasperation, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "Excellent. You didn't take it, so you didn't take it? There was no one in the room, my satchel was right by the bedside just now, and only you, Saint Emperor Bai, were here. Then my satchel and the weapon inside it grew legs and ran off. Is that your meaning, Saint Emperor Bai? Is that how you see it? Are you satisfied with my understanding?"

"I, Bai Qifeng, am not the sort of petty coward who dares to act but fears to take responsibility! He Zhi Qiu, stop smearing my name! You placed your items in Hai Wuya’s room, and now you turn around to falsely accuse me! You are so shameless!" Bai Qifeng’s beard trembled; he was deeply grieved and indignant, so choked with indignation he felt he might vomit blood.

"Oh? If that is the case, follow me!" He Zhi Qiu drifted effortlessly across the space, and the group proceeded into Hai Wuya's room.

He Zhi Qiu still kept his hands behind his back, looking calm and detached. "Do you see clearly now, Saint Emperor Bai? In this room, there is only Brother Hai’s satchel, not mine. What else do you have to say?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Hai Wuya suddenly cried out, "Where is my satchel? How has my satchel... also vanished!" Hai Wuya spun around abruptly, looking at Cao Guofeng and the men from the Illusory Mansion. A cold, furious laugh escaped him: "Saint Emperor Cao, having more people really is convenient, isn't it? You send one or two people to do a job, and it turns out so cheaply for you. But... doesn't Saint Emperor Cao feel that doing this is utterly shameless? The Misty Illusory Mansion truly lives up to the name 'Misty' and 'Illusory,' after all."

The faces of Hai Wuya and He Zhi Qiu turned ashen! Their satchels contained not only their personal weapons but also the tokens of gratitude they had just received from Zhan Mubai... Now, with the mission failed, the gifts were gone...

This was truly too much humiliation!

Both men were boiling with rage...

Cao Guofeng roared, "Hai Wuya, have you no end? Bai Qifeng was just trying to pull a prank. We have centuries of friendship; this is hardly a grave insult, but you insist on pursuing it relentlessly, even dragging the entire Illusory Mansion into it!"

He glared with furious eyes: "Today, Zhan Mubai of the Secluded Immortal Palace falsely accused us, and the Dream-like Blood Sea and the Supreme Gold City acted unreasonably afterward. Do you think the people of our Misty Illusory Mansion are such easy targets? Everything has a limit! Pushing things too far will only harm yourselves and others, leading to regret later!"

Hai Wuya let out a cold snort and said, "I don't know about the rest, but I know Bai Qifeng entered here, and conveniently, our things disappeared. And none of your Illusory Mansion members lost anything. Isn't that enough evidence?!"

Upon hearing this, Cao Guofeng was suddenly startled. He turned and snapped an order: "Go check our satchels." The Saint Emperor expert bringing up the rear responded with a nod and turned to leave.

Hai Wuya threw his head back and laughed loudly, looking thoroughly delighted. "Cao Guofeng, you truly are a fine actor. Even now, you haven't forgotten to put on a show! Will your satchels go missing too? Thieves entering the residence of the Nine Great Saint Emperors and stealing all their satchels—what a world wonder!"

Cao Guofeng pursed his lips, remaining silent. Not long after, the expert returned and shook his head slightly at Cao Guofeng. The meaning was perfectly clear: nothing was missing from the Illusory Mansion's side!

Cao Guofeng’s face instantly darkened. In Cao Guofeng's mind, those two satchels had indeed been taken by Bai Qifeng. But Bai Qifeng was his own brother, and with relations between the three Holy Lands and the Mansion so tense, how could he discipline his own brother in front of the enemy?

Not only Cao Guofeng and the others understood, but even Hai Wuya and He Zhi Qiu grasped the situation.

The two Saint Emperors were so enraged their hair seemed to stand on end: You clearly took them, yet now you feign an inspection, and after checking, you brazenly declare