Chapter 394 - 305: A Talk of Devouring the Master

Chapter 394: Chapter 305: A Talk of Devouring the Master

Tong Yuanzheng spoke eloquently. As he continued, Zhu Zhengping listened quietly, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

"It sounds a bit absurd, I know. To deal with a group of Foundation Establishment brats, our Dark Stream dispatched three Golden Core cultivators. Even if they were the weakest of Golden Cores, we still have no idea what methods the brats used to turn the tables and kill them."

As Tong Yuanzheng spoke, his eyes filled with disbelief. There was no anger, only a sense of marvel.

"And this incident was the trigger the Wanxiang Sect used to launch their investigation into our Dark Stream, as you well know. What you may not know, however, is that our Dark Stream members weren’t the only ones at Huishui Mountain. Your beloved disciple, Yan Ta, was there as well."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhengping’s eyes darkened. His brow furrowed as he stared at Tong Yuanzheng, his face expressionless. "When did your organization get its hooks into my disciple?" he asked calmly. "Don’t you think you were overstepping your bounds?"

"He is your disciple, after all. We wouldn’t have dared to approach him rashly," Tong Yuanzheng said with a dismissive wave and a chuckle, refusing to accept the accusation.

"It was your beloved disciple who approached us. And over the years, out of respect for you, we’ve done quite a few things for him. It’s just a shame... I, too, regret how things ended for him."

At this point, Tong Yuanzheng let out a timely, heavy sigh, his tone laced with a hint of sorrow that was impossible to discern as genuine or feigned.

Zhu Zhengping watched Tong Yuanzheng quietly, showing no reaction to the performance. After the display of emotion was over, his expression remained noncommittal as his lips twitched slightly.

"Why?"

"’Why?’" Tong Yuanzheng seemed taken aback, then shook his head with a smile. "Your disciple was quite ambitious. And as I said, since he was *your* disciple, serving him wasn’t out of the question."

Zhu Zhengping fell silent, looking at Tong Yuanzheng intently. Tong Yuanzheng, in turn, resumed his beaming expression and stared back, perfectly still.

"Regardless, he has perished now. Continue. Who killed him?"

"I’m not clear on the details myself. Several disciples from the Wanxiang Sect entered Huishui Mountain during that period. However, when I compared the time Yan Ta’s Soul Lamp shattered..."

Tong Yuanzheng paused, exhaling slowly. His smiling expression vanished, replaced by a grave look.

"Although it’s just a guess, I believe the killer is most likely a Wanxiang Sect Inner Elder Disciple, Yu Changsheng."

"Yu Changsheng?..."

Zhu Zhengping’s brow furrowed, and he murmured the name softly. After a moment, he looked at Tong Yuanzheng and continued, "Tell me about him. What’s his situation, and what conflict did he have with Yan Ta?"

"How would I know?"

Tong Yuanzheng pursed his lips in a slight smile. "Of course, I have no concrete evidence for any of this. I don’t know the exact details."

"What’s his cultivation?" Zhu Zhengping asked in a tight voice, ignoring the implications of Tong Yuanzheng’s words.

"Somewhere between late-stage Foundation Establishment and its peak," Tong Yuanzheng answered honestly.

"Foundation Establishment?" Zhu Zhengping let out a laugh of disbelief. He gave Tong Yuanzheng a look of astonishment, the implication of his expression perfectly clear. 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

In response, Tong Yuanzheng’s reply was simple. "I know what you’re thinking. But remember what I said. Three of my Dark Stream’s Golden Core cultivators were killed by them. Even if Yan Ta was a Golden Core, who can guarantee something unexpected wouldn’t happen?"

"The chances of that are too slim." Zhu Zhengping shook his head, his expression returning to calm. "But you have a point. This Yu Changsheng is indeed someone to watch out for."

"However..."

As Zhu Zhengping spoke, he paused. His gaze turned abruptly cold and sharp as he stared at Tong Yuanzheng. His previously placid aura instantly surged forth, a terrifying pressure bearing down on Tong Yuanzheng.

"However, this is all a matter for my Slaughter Mountain. Tong Yuanzheng, aren’t you being a bit too meddlesome? Or did you think a few words were all it would take to incite a conflict between me and the Wanxiang Sect?"

"If that’s the case, then you are sorely mistaken."

Tong Yuanzheng pursed his lips, shook his head, and quickly waved his hands with a smile. A dark look flashed in his eyes, gone in an instant.

"I never said that. These are all things you can easily investigate for yourself if you wish; I have no need to deceive you with them. I am merely stating facts."

Zhu Zhengping remained unmoved. A dark glint flickered in his eyes as he stared at Tong Yuanzheng. After a long moment, he spoke in a low voice.

"I know what you’re plotting. But in recent years, your Dark Stream has indeed been overreaching. You, in particular, have been acting with utter recklessness. I’m not the least bit surprised by the situation you find yourselves in today."

"Right now, countless powers on the Martial Continent see you as a thorn in their side. At a time like this, it would be unwise for you to expect my Profound Yin Sect to help. Besides, is it only now that you remember who the master is? This little lesson you’re receiving is something you brought upon yourselves."

Zhu Zhengping’s voice was cold and detached, betraying no particular emotion. His fingers tapped lightly on the coffee table as his eyes narrowed, watching Tong Yuanzheng’s every move.

Tong Yuanzheng fell silent. After a moment, he took a deep breath and spoke in a low voice, "Right now, it can be said that my Dark Stream is beset by enemies on all sides within the Martial Continent. For years, you’ve disliked how brazenly the Dark Stream has acted, fearing we would stir up trouble. But how much of that did you tacitly approve of?"

Tong Yuanzheng sneered. His body remained as steady as a rock in the sea, utterly unmoved by the pressure Zhu Zhengping exerted on him as he continued to speak.

"When it comes to profits, didn’t the greatest benefits ultimately flow into your Profound Yin Sect? Now that the Dark Stream has run into this... setback, can you really bear to just cast us aside?"