The villagers kneeling around couldn’t help but raise their curious eyes.

They were seeing such a fearless little girl for the first time, daring to publicly challenge the gods!

To know, every time everyone saw the statue in the past, they were too busy kneeling, let alone questioning it?

Bai Zhi’er’s beautiful black eyes watched as a few monks took a ladder and set it against the statue.

They examined it back and forth.

The statue’s attire was luxurious and bright, the lotus beneath the Bodhisattva’s seat was delicate and beautiful.

No matter where they touched, it was very solid.

The monks looked at Bai Zhi’er with eyes already carrying a faint mockery.

It seemed they were certain she would lose.

However, at this moment, a monk climbed the ladder for the final check.

He reached out to touch the Bodhisattva’s head, but in the instant he touched it, the statue’s neck area suddenly broke!

The entire head fell to the ground with a "clang," shattering to pieces!

The crowd was in an uproar!

Even the other monks were stunned, staring dumbfounded at the full ground of powder.

The Iron Cavalry were dazed: "How is this possible!"

They rushed to inspect.

Bai Zhi’er looked unsurprised, her delicate face carrying a "I guessed it" expression.

She shook her head at the astonished people, feeling quite helpless.

"I’ll teach you one more trick; this statue must have been tampered with, that’s why it wouldn’t stick."

"Otherwise, after enlightenment, the divine power would have attached to it already."

While she spoke, the Iron Cavalry had already picked up the fragments on the ground for inspection.

Indeed, at the junction of the neck and shoulder, there were marks of being burned black.

It seems this statue had been tampered with when they brought it out.

The Iron Cavalry looked up, shocked at Bai Zhi’er.

"How do you know so clearly?"

Bai Zhi’er’s eyes were bright, her black gleam mischievous.

"I... because I am familiar, my family is in this business."

"Not only do I know these, I also know that some statues, when infused with divine power, remain powerful even if damaged."

"But this one you’re carrying, doesn’t have divine power, so it’s useless even being brought to the temple."

"If the statue’s head fell off in front of the Emperor, I’m afraid you might be the ones punished?"

The Iron Cavalry also realized this possibility, their faces turning pale.

After a moment of reaction, the leading Iron Cavalry immediately ordered the others to clean up the fragments.

He then commanded them to lift the statue and take it back, not sending it to the main temple anymore.

Before leaving, he approached Bai Zhi’er.

Feng Fuce and Bai Xingye stood like two mountains, coldly staring down at him.

The Iron Cavalry man realized at once that these people were no ordinary folk.

He cupped his hands respectfully, "I was disrespectful before, my apologies to you, young master and young lady!"

"I am Yang Long, the Commander of Guards at the Prince Li Zheng Mansion. Thanks to the young lady’s righteous words today, I shall tell the Prince of today’s events."

"May I ask the young lady’s honorable name, so we may visit and thank you later!"

Bai Zhi’er shrank behind Feng Fuce at this moment.

Feng Fuce coldly said, "No name, no need for thanks."

With that, he took Bai Zhi’er’s wrist and led Guoguo, Bai Xingye away.

The Xiu Luo Envoys, in disguise, also quietly slipped away amidst the crowd.

Yang Long watched Bai Zhi’er’s departing back, knitting his brows in relief.

He nearly presented the Headless Divine Statue to the Emperor.

If that had happened, their Prince would have offended the Emperor, and the consequences were imaginable!

Yang Long dared not delay and immediately mounted his horse to return to the mansion, to report this matter.

In the distant teahouse, a pair of gloomy eyes watched all of this unfold.