Chapter 84

Jiuyan Sect. Sᴇaʀch* Thᴇ NovᴇlFɪre .ɴᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.The bell at the main peak tolls loudly, echoing throughout the sect.

In less than a moment, the high-ranking members gather in the Sect Master’s hall.

In addition to the Peak Masters and the Hall of Enforcement, there is also an elder with a slightly pale face and fluctuating breath.

He sits above the Sect Master’s seat, closing his eyes as if dozing off.

Once everyone is present, Elder Li Fadu from the Hall of Enforcement steps forward and begins.

“Sect Master, Jiang Chen piloted a spiritual boat and destroyed Lingshan Town, damaging over twenty of their sect’s store and affecting hundreds of cultivators, with three dead. This act violates the ‘indiscriminate killing’ rule of our sect! He must be severely punished!”

“Furthermore, as the Eldest Senior Brother of the Ninth Peak, Jiang Chen allowed his junior brothers and sisters to act wildly and harm others, which also goes against the righteous path,” another elder from the Hall of Enforcement adds.

“The Ancient Pill Tower has always had a good relationship with our sect. Jiang Chen’s actions have damaged the bond between our two sects. If we do not punish him severely, the Ancient Pill Tower may join forces with other sects against us,” a third elder from the Hall of Enforcement steps forward.

Their arguments are clearly premeditated.

The crime Li Fadu mentioned is merely harming external cultivators, but the other two elders from the Hall of Enforcement have escalated the charge to damage the unity of the sect and bring disaster upon it.

Although the charges are serious, no one else joins the discussion.

For a time, the entire hall is silent, and the atmosphere is somewhat delicate.

Aside from Xiao Hongyi who snorts coldly, the other Peak Masters remain silent.

Sword Peak’s Master Zhang Lingfeng has a wandering gaze as if lost in thought.

The Weapon Peak’s Master, a bearded man, is fiddling with a newly forged spiritual weapon.

The Beast Taming Peak’s Master seems to be communicating with a demon beast sitting at the entrance through a contract.

The seat of the Elixir Peak’s Master remains empty, as he has not yet returned.

The other Peak Masters also seem indifferent, even bored.

It’s not surprising they act this way, as everyone understands that today’s matter will likely come to nothing.

The reason is simple.

Xiao Hongyi has brought out her grandfather!

It is none other than the elder sitting deep within the hall, currently resting with his eyes closed!

It is clear that today Xiao Hongyi is determined to protect Jiang Chen.

“Jiang Chen, do you have anything to say?”

Glancing at the elder behind him, Sect Master Gu Changqing asks.

“Nothing to say,” Jiang Chen replies instantly.

Gu Changqing is speechless, grumbling internally.

You could at least argue a bit!

I could use that to downplay the situation, and this would all blow over, okay?

How am I supposed to handle this if you don’t speak anything?

Gu Changqing turns to Xiao Hongyi and asks while rubbing his forehead, “Junior Sister, what do you think we should do about this?”

“Sect Master Senior Brother, you decide. You’re the Sect Master of Jiuyan Sect,” Xiao Hongyi replies lazily, stretching her body.

Gu Changqing is speechless again.

You want me to decide? Then send your grandfather away!

Being Sect Master is truly frustrating.

“Sect Master, we must punish him severely!”

Li Fadu insists with a bow, “Our Jiuyan Sect is a righteous sect, and Jiang Chen’s actions are akin to indiscriminate killing, no different from the demonic path!”

After speaking and seeing that Gu Changqing still does not respond, he adds, “Sect Master, the Ancient Pill Tower and other major sects are paying close attention to this matter. If we do not punish him severely, not only will our sect’s reputation be at risk, but we will also be ridiculed by other righteous sects, and even the demonic path!”

Hearing this, Gu Changqing’s eyebrows raise.

He has just taken over the position of Sect Master, and if he allows Jiuyan Sect’s reputation to plummet and become the laughingstock of other sects, it would indeed be a dereliction of duty.

“Jiang Chen, our Jiuyan Sect has always been reasonable. If you have been wronged, feel free to speak up,” Gu Changqing says with a stern expression.

“There’s no injustice. I did it,” Jiang Chen admits readily.

After all, Lin Feng has already joined the Jiuyan Sect. At worst, he would be expelled from the sect.

What is there to fear?

If Jiuyan Sect wants to cripple his cultivation, he’ll just leave forcefully! Although the plot would become chaotic, there’s no way he would submit.

He’s explained himself for nine lifetimes, and that is already more than enough.

“‘Has always been reasonable.’ What a good saying!” Xiao Hongyi, however, had something to say.

At her words, everyone’s eyelids twitch, sensing that trouble is coming.

Xiao Hongyi slowly stood up, moved to the center of the hall, and looked around before saying,

“Last year, the Sword Peak’s Master had a contest with the Grandmaster of the Seven Luminaries Sword Pavilion. The residual sword intent affected thousands of li, impacting countless lower-level cultivators! At that time, where was the reasonableness?”

Sword Peak’s Master Zhang Lingfeng’s mouth twitches.

“Several months ago, the Weapon Peak’s Master went to the Red Flame Sea to obtain spiritual fire for refining a superior grade spiritual weapon but caused the sea to erupt in flames, instantly engulfing dozens of cultivators. At that time, where was the reasonableness?” Xiao Hongyi asks a second time.

The Weapon Peak’s Master quickly lowers his head.

“Just a few days ago, the Beast Taming Peak’s Master went out and his contracted demon beast mistakenly devoured three cultivators, thinking they were from the demonic path. At that time, where was the reasonableness?” Xiao Hongyi asks a third time.

The Beast Taming Peak’s Master gives an awkward smile, and the demon beast at the door covers its face.

After the three questions, Xiao Hongyi turns to Li Fadu.

“…I didn’t do anything!” Li Fadu’s heart skips a beat, and he quickly interjects.

“Li Fadu, although you are in charge of the Hall of Enforcement, you did not report to the Sect Master, nor did you have my permission, Jiang Chen master’s permission, when you arbitrarily arrested the true disciple of the Ninth Peak. Was this reasonable? Was it according to the rules?” Xiao Hongyi asks with a cold smile.

Li Fadu’s face turns red with embarrassment.

Seeing Xiao Hongyi staring at him, Sect Master Gu Changqing quickly says, “Junior Sister! Calm down, this matter is slightly different. What you mentioned were accidents, whereas Jiang Chen acted intentionally.”

“But the outcomes are the same!”

Xiao Hongyi retorts, her words resounding firmly, “We cultivators naturally operate on the principle of the survival of the fittest. It’s good that Jiuyan Sect follows the righteous path, but if that means we are hamstrung, we might as well cripple our cultivation and hide in the mountains to live meekly!”

After speaking, she adds, “You say Jiang Chen killed indiscriminately, but why didn’t he use the Heaven-Swallowing Red Python Cannon? Just one shot would have turned the entire Lingshan Town to ashes!”

“This is sophistry!”

Li Fadu refuses to accept, “If Jiang Chen had destroyed Lingshan Town in a contest, I would have nothing to say! But he allowed his subordinates to wreak havoc in Lingshan Town first and then destroyed it when stopped in a fit of rage! Such behavior is no different from the demonic path!”

This time, Xiao Hongyi falls silent.

Her anger stems from this point.

After all, besides wanting Jiang Chen to take on the heavy responsibility of the Ninth Peak, she also wanted him to follow the righteous path.

But Jiang Chen, relying on the power of the Jiang family, caused unrest in the entire Lingshan Town, an ironclad fact that cannot be disputed.

Although she wouldn’t completely lose hope in Jiang Chen because of this, her annoyance remains.

“In my opinion, we should imprison Jiang Chen for half a month to set an example! How about that?” Gu Changqing seizes the opportunity to make a decision.

Xiao Hongyi does not respond but takes her seat again.

Undoubtedly, she has tacitly agreed to Gu Changqing’s decision.

Seeing this, everyone breathes a sigh of relief and looks at Jiang Chen with an expression that says ‘you’re lucky’.

Everyone knows that Jiang Chen would have been severely punished if it weren’t for Xiao Hongyi’s determined protection.

Although being imprisoned for half a month is no small punishment, it is undoubtedly a stroke of luck compared to being expelled from the sect.

But even so, Jiang Chen is unwilling.

Think of punishing him?

No way. In this life, no one but Xiao Hongyi can do it!

And this is under the condition that he is willing to let Xiao Hongyi be disappointed!

And just as he is about to say something.

“Silence. Let bygones be bygones.” The elder sitting in the depths of the hall suddenly opens his eyes and stands up to speak.

“Ah?”

Everyone is stunned and bewildered.

Even Jiang Chen finds it unbelievable.

He was ready to stand his ground!

“Supreme Great Elder, isn’t this a bit too biased…” Gu Changqing cautiously probes after regaining his senses.

“Indeed, it is biased,” the elder nods but then says helplessly.

“But it’s not me who said it. It is the ancestor’s decree!”

The ancestor’s decree?

Everyone is shocked and dares not say another word.

They all stand up and bow, “We will follow the ancestor’s decree.”

After the bowing, Li Fadu, not satisfied, asks, “May I ask the Supreme Great Elder, did the ancestor say anything else?”

“He did,” the elder nods.

“Oh? May I ask what that is about?”

“The ancestor said… too noisy, all of you get lost!”

As these words were spoken, everyone was stunned and exclaimed in their hearts:

The ancestor seems rather irritable today…

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