The Immortal Questioning Bell could be used to assess the heart. When truth was expressed from the heart, the bell would toll, as it had just now in response to Ningyan’s declaration.0

Ningyan’s act of standing was part of the process of an internal transformation. Then he struck the bell. As it tolled, his soul experienced a baptism. It was a brutal baptism, like that of a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. Blood oozed out all over him. His five yin organs and six yang organs trembled, and it was only with great effort that he managed to look up in the direction of the palace hall. He could just barely see the emperor seated inside, his face completely expressionless.0

“I didn’t do it,” Ningyan said hoarsely. As everyone looked on, he slumped and then passed out.4

Xu Qing grabbed him before he fell and gently lowered him to the ground. Xu Qing’s heart was pounding. Despite whatever evidence pointed to Ningyan as the culprit, Xu Qing didn’t believe that Ningyan was responsible. Unfortunately, he didn’t have the ability or opportunity to prove that. He felt certain that the emperor wouldn’t overlook important evidence, and yet... the emperor’s actions were clear.0

That said, based on everything Xu Qing had experienced in life, he felt certain that in most situations, there was more than met the eye. And that was...0