Chapter 232 - 133: Sky-Filling Divine Light Refines Flying Smoke

Chapter 232: Chapter 133: Sky-Filling Divine Light Refines Flying Smoke

In that instant, the killing intent that burst forth from Jiang Chengzi was so palpable that Baili Piaoxue and the other cultivators present felt the very air grow cold.

But even under the blanket of killing intent from the Celestial Permanence Sect’s most outstanding figure of this generation, Zhong Shenxiu, whose Magical Power was nearly depleted, simply clasped his hands behind his back and calmly replied, "And what if I say no?"

In that instant, everyone’s heart leaped into their throats, including that of Yang Biji, who stood resolutely in front of Zhong Shenxiu.

’Would Jiang Chengzi truly disregard the rules of the Celestial Waterfall Dharma Assembly, established by the Five Domains Great Sects, and strike right here and now?’

As all eyes fell upon him, the killing intent in Jiang Chengzi’s heart surged to its peak. He stared coldly at Yang Biji and demanded, "Yang Biji, is this your intention as well?"

"Sect Master." Behind Yang Biji, an elder began to speak, but Yang Biji raised a hand to silence him. In a grave voice, he said, "Fellow Daoist Zhong won these spoils of war while representing my Dragon Image Sect against the Divine Flow Sect. For Sect Master Jiang to attack without cause..."

"Enough!" Jiang Chengzi flicked his sleeve and said menacingly, "I can’t be bothered to argue with you. Since you’ve made your choice, don’t blame my Celestial Permanence Sect for being merciless and declaring a formal challenge against your Dragon Image Sect!"

At these words, all the cultivators present frowned deeply. Yang Biji’s expression darkened as well. Suppressing his anger, he said, "My sect has already fought a match against the Divine Flow Sect in this assembly. Your esteemed sect wishes to declare a challenge against mine? Fine! I shall be waiting for you in three hundred years!"

"Three hundred years? Who said anything about the next Dharma Assembly?" Jiang Chengzi sneered. "Just because you’ve fought one match means you can’t fight another? Does the Celestial Waterfall Dharma Assembly have such a rule?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Biji’s expression faltered.

Of course there was such a rule! Without it, any sect conflict would be like the snipe and the clam, where a third party—the fisherman—profits from their struggle. In that case, regardless of victory or defeat, an onlooker would always benefit. What sect would dare to declare a formal challenge at the Celestial Waterfall Dharma Assembly under those conditions?

However, this rule was not explicitly written down; it was an unspoken, mutually understood convention.

This was to prevent sects from exploiting loopholes to evade challenges. With the Five Domains Great Sects presiding over justice, it was assumed no one would dare to defy this unwritten rule.

But what if the Celestial Permanence Sect, one of the Great Sects themselves, was the one to break it?

For a moment, not only Yang Biji but also the representatives of the three other major sects wore expressions as dark as still water, each uncertainly weighing the implications.

Seeing this, a barely perceptible sneer touched Jiang Chengzi’s lips. His urgency seemed to fade, replaced by a lofty condescension. "Yang Biji, I will give you one more chance," he declared. "Return my sect’s magic treasure, and I can let this matter drop."

’At his words, many people inwardly sighed in relief. It seemed Jiang Chengzi still had some reservations. All Yang Biji had to do was accept the offered compromise, and this crisis could be averted.’

However, contrary to everyone’s expectations, Yang Biji glanced back at Zhong Shenxiu. The two seemed to exchange a look, and Yang Biji’s expression turned utterly cold.

’The Celestial Permanence Sect pushes things too far; they cannot blame me for what comes next.’ Yang Biji closed his eyes and let out a long breath. When he opened them, he spoke with righteous conviction, "As the Sect Master of the Dragon Image Sect, I am charged with helping to preside over the Celestial Waterfall Dharma Assembly. How can I allow its rules to be trampled by such lawless thugs? Even if it is one of the other Great Sects, I will not permit it!"

Everyone was stunned. Jiang Chengzi even wondered, ’Am I hearing things?’ Before he could speak again, a shout of approval echoed from the plaza. "Well said!"

’What suicidal fool dares to jump out and fan the flames at a time like this?’

Everyone who heard it immediately looked toward the source of the voice. After a single glance, peculiar expressions appeared on some faces as they muttered, "Dao Miao?"

On the tier below the Dragon Image Jade Platform, upon the Jade Platform representing Yunlan Province’s True Form Temple, a young Daoist of otherworldly grace slowly rose. He gave his white robes a shake and said with a smile, "The Dragon Image Sect is truly worthy of its status as one of the Five Domains Great Sects. The Celestial Waterfall Dharma Assembly is a grand rite for the Earth Immortal Ancestor Grandmaster, held under his very watch. How can we allow lawless thugs to break its sacred rules!"

Before Jiang Chengzi could even open his mouth, an elder from the Celestial Permanence Sect shot to his feet and bellowed, "You suicidal fool! This is no place for the likes of you to speak!"

"Suicidal?" Xuzhuang only smiled. Riding a current of clear wind, he ascended into the air and asked calmly, "Is there a rule at the Celestial Waterfall Dharma Assembly forbidding a particular sect or school from speaking?"

"Rules?" Jiang Chengzi sneered, his gaze finally landing on Xuzhuang. "Are you lecturing me about rules?"

Xuzhuang clasped his hands behind his back and said with disdain, "A frog at the bottom of a well is beneath my instruction."

"What?" Jiang Chengzi stared at the man before him and actually laughed. "Do you have any idea what you are saying?"

The elders of the Celestial Permanence Sect all felt a jolt of alarm. They knew that for Jiang Chengzi to react with laughter meant his killing intent had reached its absolute peak. They all shot into the air in unison. Seeing this, Meng Fusheng’s expression tightened, and he hurriedly rode a beam of light to appear behind Xuzhuang.

In an instant, the tension in the sky was so thick you could cut it with a knife. The members of the Dragon Image Sect, and even those of the three other major sects, suddenly found themselves reduced to mere bystanders. They could only look at one another in stunned silence.

Despite the circumstances, Xuzhuang remained perfectly composed. His gaze swept over the Celestial Permanence Sect contingent as he declared boldly, "That’s right! The Celestial Permanence Sect throws its weight around, bullies the weak, commits evil, and acts with utter lawlessness! The other fellow Daoists present may be angry but dare not speak out, but my True Form Temple dares!"

"The Celestial Permanence Sect has lost its virtue! Today, the True Form Temple will step forward and declare a formal challenge against you!"

"What?" Even when Xuzhuang was only halfway through speaking, some had already formed an absurd suspicion, though they refused to believe it. But upon hearing his full declaration, the crowd erupted into an uproar. The faces of the representatives from the three other major sects all changed in unison.

A moment ago, the other great sects had been on the verge of condemning Jiang Chengzi for breaking the rules and damaging the reputation of the Celestial Waterfall Dharma Assembly. But now, in this instant, many of them paradoxically found themselves siding with the Celestial Permanence Sect.