Chapter 327 - 296: Why They Came, a Sense of Crisis

Chapter 327: Chapter 296: Why They Came, a Sense of Crisis

"Fellow Daoist Red Fox, my apologies for the poor reception. May I ask what brings you here?"

As the host of this place, Helian Shiping asked in a measured tone.

"You’re too kind, Fellow Daoist Helian. I just so happened to be passing by on some business and heard the commotion. I came over on a whim to see what all the excitement was about. I hope you all don’t mind."

Venerable Red Fox said with a faint smile.

’Just passing by? Came over on a whim to see the excitement?’

’Who’s he trying to fool!’

Helian Shiping, Huyan Sea, and He Daozhen couldn’t help but scoff internally.

’Even though three Venerables were gathered here, they hadn’t caused any real stir yet.’

’Venerable Red Fox probably arrived nearby long ago and had been waiting for who knows how long.’

’Seeing the three of them together, he must have worried about being late and decided to finally reveal himself.’

But that begged the question: why had Venerable Red Fox come here?

’Could he have heard about the Vermilion Bird Divine Beast from another source and come to get a slice of the pie?’

’But he’s an outsider with no connection to this affair. On what grounds could he possibly interfere?’

’With the three of them, all Venerables, and He Daozhen—a Third Realm expert on the verge of ascension—present, there was no way they would just give Venerable Red Fox a share for nothing.’

But since Venerable Red Fox didn’t state his intentions, Helian Shiping decided to feign ignorance.

Without Venerable Red Fox present, the three of them would have already been speaking frankly.

However, with the sudden appearance of this outsider, Venerable Red Fox, the three of them kept their mouths shut until they could figure out his purpose.

And so, the four Venerables sat there in the woods, waiting in silence.

The disciples from the Helian Family and the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect standing nearby didn’t dare to breathe too loudly.

Before long, Ge Fangrong also appeared with two disciples from the Divine Wood Sect, waiting quietly to the side.

A long while later, at noon the following day.

In the clearing before them, a brilliant light emerged, and a figure stepped out from within it.

Jiang Zuo was already on high alert, so he was startled to sense four Venerables in the vicinity.

But when he saw Ge Fangrong nearby, Jiang Zuo calmed down considerably.

"Greetings, Elder Ge."

Jiang Zuo said respectfully.

"It’s good you’re alright. This is the current Sect Leader of our Divine Wood Sect, Sect Leader He."

Ge Fangrong nodded and continued.

"I pay my respects to Sect Leader He!"

Jiang Zuo said respectfully once more.

"Gu Changqing, do you admit your guilt?"

Helian Yuyang demanded coldly.

"Young Master Helian, are you playing the victim here?"

"Your Helian Family lured me into the Secret Realm to try and steal my Beast Taming Secret Technique! I haven’t even called you to account for that, and now you have the gall to turn the tables on me?"

Jiang Zuo retorted angrily.

"Changqing, you can’t just slander people’s good name. Do you have any evidence for these claims?"

Ge Fangrong said calmly.

"Of course I do, Elder Ge."

With that, Jiang Zuo waved his hand, and eight corpses appeared on the ground.

These bodies were all at least at the Three Flowers Realm. Even though Jiang Zuo had buried them for nearly a year, they looked almost the same as when they had just died after being exhumed.

Helian Shiping’s eyes turned cold upon seeing the six corpses of his family members.

His expression grew even more grim as he looked at Helian Anwen’s body in particular.

"Changqing," He Daozhen said, "tell us in detail everything that happened inside the Secret Realm."

"Yes, Sect Leader."

"It happened like this. After entering the Secret Realm and discovering the Vermilion Bird was already a fifth-tier Demon Beast, I informed the four fellow daoists from the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect and the Helian Family that I couldn’t tame the Vermilion Bird Divine Beast."

"Afterward, we went to a valley where Fellow Daoist Miao Yongshan suddenly attacked me, trying to forcibly seize my Beast Taming Secret Technique..."

Jiang Zuo recounted the events in a clear voice. The Helian Family didn’t try to stop him; with He Daozhen present, any attempt to do so would be pointless and only make them look foolish.

The Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, however, seemed to have other ideas.

"Master Gu, don’t make baseless accusations! How could a disciple of our Ten Thousand Beasts Sect possibly do such a thing!"

You Changheng interjected.

"Elder You, I am not making this up."

"A member of the Helian Family, someone at the Dao Fruit Realm, escaped the Secret Realm alive. Miao Yongshan died by his hand! As for whether Miao Yongshan did as I said, just bring that person out and ask him. The truth will be revealed in an instant!"

Jiang Zuo shook his head, arguing his case vehemently.

"Ignore him. Continue your story."

He Daozhen said calmly.

"Yes, Sect Leader."

Jiang Zuo continued, quickly summarizing the events in a few sentences.

"You two have heard his account of what happened. Is there anything you have to say?"

He Daozhen asked, looking toward Helian Shiping and Huyan Sea with a placid tone.

"The dead can’t bear witness. That boy, Yongshan, was always kind and amiable in our Ten Thousand Beasts Sect. He would never have done something so despicable!"

Huyan Sea said, shaking his head.

"But it’s undeniable that he was killed by someone at the Dao Fruit Realm. You can’t possibly claim he died at the hands of our Changqing, can you?"

He Daozhen couldn’t be bothered to bicker with the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect.

Huyan Sea fell silent and looked over at Helian Shiping.

He had never anticipated things would develop to this point.

He hadn’t known the Helian Family was pulling strings behind his back; one of his own men had been killed by them.

As for the Helian Family, even though they now knew what had transpired.

But they hadn’t known that this Master Gu was actually from the Divine Wood Sect and had the backing of He Daozhen.

Now the situation was incredibly awkward. No matter how thick-skinned he was, Huyan Sea couldn’t claim to have a shred of reason on his side.

As for the Helian Family, that went without saying. If word of this got out, their reputation would be dragged through the mud.

While the Cultivation Realm ultimately came down to whose fist was bigger, having right on your side still gave you grounds to argue.

But now, they had neither right on their side, nor the bigger fist. How could they possibly contend?

If they tried to argue illogically, it would mean tearing away all pretense of civility.