Chapter 165: An Extremely Heated Debate

Chapter 165: Chapter 165: An Extremely Heated Debate

"Explain? Explain what?" Yu Haiyuan, the Sect Leader of the Wuji Sect, roared at Lü Hongshao. "He’s the sect leader of a second-tier sect, and he had an assassin kill one of our fellow sect leaders right in front of so many of us! And we’re supposed to listen to his explanation? Where does that leave us?"

"That’s right. Even if Wu Guanghai deserved to die, it wasn’t their place to kill him," Zou Yuting added.

"Exactly. Wu Guanghai was still the sect leader of one of the Six Sects and Eight Gates. Now that they’ve set this precedent, who will show the Six Sects and Eight Gates any respect?" Yu Zongding, the Sect Leader of the Lingyun Sect, who had been silent until now, chimed in.

Many of the sect leaders from second- and third-tier sects also began clamoring, one after another, for Ying Xiao and Jing’an to be dealt with.

Just then, Shi Yindi let out a sudden roar, cutting everyone off.

"What’s all this shouting about? When Red Blood Mansion was seizing your resources, even killing their way into your sects, I didn’t see any of you acting so tough! What, has preying on the weak and fearing the strong become the standard practice for the Eastern Domain’s Cultivation Sects? I don’t think Jing’an did anything wrong. Wu Guanghai absolutely deserved to be killed. In fact, every last disciple of their Fiery Fire Sect deserves to die too."

"Sect Leader Shi, what are you trying to say?" Shui Zebo glared at Shi Yindi.

"What am I trying to say? You, Shui Zebo, have the gall to ask? Back at your son’s wedding banquet, Red Blood Mansion and Chu Fan fought their way right into your Celestial Derivation Sect, and what did you do? Later, Red Blood Mansion even destroyed your medicinal fields. Why didn’t you dare to seek revenge on them?" Shi Yindi scoffed.

"Shi Yindi, are you trying to provoke me?"

"So what if I am provoking you? What are you going to do about it? Bite me?" Shi Yindi retorted with a smirk instead of anger.

"You..." Shui Zebo truly didn’t dare to make a move against her.

Shi Yindi was the notorious Female Tyrannosaurus of the Eastern Domain Cultivation Realm; she really would fight someone to the death.

Shi Yindi snatched the papers from Jing’an’s hand, tossed them into the crowd, and declared, "Take a good look for yourselves! See what the Fiery Fire Sect has been up to all these years. And after that, you should all take a good, hard look at your own sects. I, Shi Yindi, will make my stance clear right now: my Dark Moon Sect is the first to approve of Cheng Shimo’s proposal. If laws are truly established, I will volunteer to join the department that inspects the sects. If I see any wrongdoing, I will show no mercy."

"Shi Yindi, are you trying to defy the entire world?" Fan Yingbiao of the Xuanming Sect said coldly.

"’Defy the entire world?’ That’s a heavy accusation, Fan Yingbiao! What? Are only you sanctimonious hypocrites allowed to bully others, while no one is allowed to fight back?" Shi Yindi sneered.

"But that’s still no reason for them to kill Wu Guanghai in front of everyone present!" Yu Zongding said.

"For the evils committed by the Fiery Fire Sect, anyone has the right to deliver justice. Those two simply acted as the sword of justice for once. Why shouldn’t he have been killed? I say it was a good killing," Shi Yindi said.

Lü Hongshao theatrically picked up a piece of paper and looked at it. After picking up and reading another, he put on a look of utter astonishment and said, "What kind of sect was Wu Guanghai running? He really did deserve to die."

At this point, many others had picked up the papers to read them, and one by one, they fell silent.

"Within three days, the Fiery Fire Sect will be wiped from the Eastern Domain. I have spoken." Ying Xiao said this one cold sentence, then sheathed his sword. He leaned against a nearby pillar, cradling his sword, and closed his eyes.

The crowd exchanged glances, seeing confusion and horror in each other’s eyes.

Jing’an then said, "You don’t need to doubt him. When he says the Fiery Fire Sect will be wiped out in three days, it will be wiped out. I have no intention of swaying your discussions about the future of the Eastern Domain Cultivation Realm. Although my lord wishes to facilitate the unification of the Eastern Domain, he has no desire to force anyone. I was the one who ordered Wu Guanghai’s execution. If any of you are resentful, you can come and find trouble with me. Whether you choose overt schemes or covert plots, I’ll take them all on."

"Hmph. Look at how arrogant you are. If you’ve got the guts, have your ’lord’ show himself. He’s nothing but a coward who hides in the shadows."

Hu Lianshan of the Celestial Sect had visited several other sects last night. His original plan was to have others test the waters while he sat back and watched the fireworks. He just never expected Jing’an and Zhou Yi to kill someone outright.

Then Shi Yindi had to go and back them up, and the others were actually intimidated.

"Hu Lianshan, you and I actually have a private score to settle. On the night of November seventeenth, people from your Celestial Sect took part in the assassination attempt on my wife. Considering you might have repented, and that you swore an oath of fealty at the enthronement ceremony, I decided not to pursue the matter. But speaking of oaths of fealty, if I recall correctly, every single one of the Six Sects and Eight Gates submitted a written pledge to my wife. I’d like to ask everyone now: do those pledges, written in black and white, still count for anything?" Jing’an asked, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

At the time, in order to participate in that auction, the Six Sects and Eight Gates had indeed all submitted written pledges. Thus, those present with any sense of shame remained silent.

Hu Lianshan sneered, "And wasn’t that only because you forced us?"

"’Forced you?’" Jing’an asked, as if in disbelief. "Did we force you to attend the auction? Or did I force you to try and assassinate my wife?"

"Of course, if you sects are going to deny something that’s in black and white, then I have nothing more to say," Jing’an sneered.

"Well said. The Xuandao Sect never goes back on its promises. On behalf of the Xuandao Sect, I approve of Cheng Shimo’s proposal," Lü Hongshao said.

"The Cyan Cloud Sect also agrees." To the surprise of many, Wang Zhiheng had actually agreed.

However, the next person to speak left everyone utterly astonished.

Nan Chuting, the new Sect Leader of the Mixed Element Sect, who had been silent the entire time, suddenly spoke up. "On behalf of the Mixed Element Sect, I also agree."

"Little girl, are you sure you can speak for the Mixed Element Sect?" Shui Zebo asked.

"You need not trouble yourself, Sect Leader Shui. I, Chu Hong, may be young, but as the leader of a sect, I can still make my own decisions. Besides, supporting Sect Leader Cheng’s proposal brings only benefits and no drawbacks to my Mixed Element Sect."

"Nan Chuting, don’t you forget! Three years ago in Nanling County, it was this man who killed your father," said Yu Haiyuan of the Wuji Sect, pointing a finger at the closed-eyed Ying Xiao.

"Aren’t you acknowledging your enemy as your father?" said Fan Yingbiao of the Xuanming Sect.

"Indeed. I have a personal grudge with Zhou Yi. The blood feud for my father’s murder is irreconcilable. But that is my private affair. In the future, I will certainly kill him. However, the future of the Eastern Domain Cultivation Realm concerns the thousand-year legacy of my Mixed Element Sect. I, Nan Chuting, will not endanger the entire sect over a personal grudge. Since I have become the Sect Leader, I must naturally consider the future of our several thousand disciples, and I must consider the millennia-long legacy of the Mixed Element Sect." Nan Chuting’s words were resolute and powerful.

Even Ying Xiao, who had been feigning sleep off to the side, couldn’t help but open his eyes and look at Nan Chuting in disbelief.

At this, Elder Shang Jixuan of Zi Wu Gate also spoke up. "If even Sect Leader Nan can set aside her personal grudge to approve Sect Leader Cheng’s proposal, then our Zi Wu Gate has no reason to object. Ever since Red Blood Mansion appeared, the Eastern Domain has become a chaotic mess. And starting three years ago, it only got worse. The laws of this Eastern Domain are long overdue for a proper restructuring."

Just then, the most elderly man present, Li Qingyuan, coughed twice, drawing everyone’s attention.

He began to speak. "For the past two days, everyone has been arguing about this matter, and I have not said a word. My mind has been occupied with how the Eastern Domain of my childhood differs from the Eastern Domain of today. I remember when I was young, the Six Sects and Eight Gates were united as one. If any disciple descended the mountain to commit evil in the mortal world in the name of being a cultivator, they would face the harshest punishment. Even Independent Cultivators who came to the Eastern Domain wouldn’t dare cause trouble among the common people..."