First Immortal of the Sword - Chapter 2254 - Verbal Sparring
Chapter 2254 – Verbal Sparring
Wei Zhong picked up on Su Yi’s confusion, so he patiently explained, “Ku Zhen left for the Spirit Firmament Divine Continent under the guise of gathering information. He wanted to witness the battle at Skybright Mountain. Now that he’s dead, we naturally ought to pin the blame on Su Yi. It is, after all, the only logical explanation.”
Su Yi instinctively asked, “But Su Yi is your lineage’s ancestor’s Dao Partner. Aren’t you afraid he’ll find out about this?”
Wei Zhong coughed dryly. “With great power comes great responsibility. I’m sure that if he finds out, he’ll… understand.”
Su Yi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Still, there was no denying that Wei Zhong was right to pin the blame on him. He was, after all, really the one who’d killed Yuan Shan and Ku Zhen…
“It’s just a pity that we didn’t get to participate in the battle, so we couldn’t bear witness to his magnificence…” sighed Wei Zhong. He found it an awful pity.
Qi Wei had “protected him” on their way to Skybright Mountain, so he didn’t know the details of what happened there.
“People like us were in no way worthy of participating in a battle like that,” Su Yi said flippantly.
“It’s true. According to the reports, the aftershock alone killed numerous onlookers, including no small number of prominent experts!” A look of deep-seated dread appeared on Wei Zhong’s face. “Had we gone there, I’m afraid we’d have been in danger. A moment’s incaution, and we could have lost our lives!”
He was a One-Tribulation Master God, the lofty grand elder of Qingwu Divine Court, yet his face filled with dread at the mere mention of the battle on Skybright Mountain.
But Su Yi didn’t make fun of him. It was, in truth, just as Wei Zhong said. The battle was so large that ordinary people might perish just watching it, let alone participating in it.
When Su Yi and Wei Zhong arrived in Qingwu Divine Court a few days later, Sect Leader Liang Lingxu immediately summoned them for a meeting.
Clear Sky Divine Palace.
By the time Su Yi and Wei Zhong arrived, the hall was packed with the sect’s prominent experts. It wasn’t just Sect Leader Liang Lingxu; the other elders, like Ninth Elder Tie Wenjing, were there too.
Even some of the high elders typically in seclusion in the sect’s forbidden grounds had come, including Second High Elder Bai Liyin.
There were several of them, all of them Undying Realm Master Gods, yet now, all of them had gathered in one place. The sight was enough to make Grand Elder Wei Zhong narrow his eyes.
“Grand Elder, since you’re back, tell us: how, exactly, did Third Elder Ku Zhen and High Elder Yuan Shan die?” Liang Lingxu asked expressionlessly, his gaze icy and terrifying.
Wei Zhong sighed. “I’m afraid you cannot escape your share of blame, Sect Leader. How could this have happened if you hadn’t agreed to send the third elder on this expedition?”
Whap!
Liang Lingxu smacked the armrests of his chair and roared, “Are you blaming me for this?”
“That’s right,” Wei Zhong said flatly. “I had no idea that High Elder Yuan Shan was following Third Elder Ku Zhen in secret. Tell me, Sect Leader: why did you keep this from Vice Palace Master Xiao and me?”
Liang Lingxu was instantly at a loss for words.
Wei Zhong continued, “Now, both of them are dead, yet you’re asking me for an explanation? Don’t you think that’s over the line?”
The crowd exchanged glances. The atmosphere was instantly stifled to the extreme. None of them had anticipated that the sect leader and grand elder would immediately launch into a verbal conflict like this. They’d practically cast aside all pretenses of cordiality!
“Let’s set that aside for now. I’m just asking you this: how, exactly, did High Elder Yuan Shan and Third Elder Ku Zhen die?” Liang Lingxu glowered. “And don’t tell me they died at Skybright Mountain. To the best of my knowledge, they never even went to Skybright Mountain!”
“Ah, but isn’t that strange?” Wei Zhong laughed derisively. “They went on this expedition to gather information at Skybright Mountain, so why didn’t they go there?”
He paused, then continued, “Also, Miss Qi Wei of the Qilin Race can serve as my witness. If you don’t believe me, you’re welcome to ask the Qilin.”
He swept his gaze around the gathered sect higher-ups. “Since the high elders here, I’d actually like to take a moment to ask you a question, sect leader. Why did you send High Elder Yuan Shan on this mission without informing us?”
“And why is it that you’re asking me for an explanation now that they’re dead. Surely you don’t think I killed them?” Wei Zhong furiously interrogated the crowd.
Even Su Yi couldn’t help but be rueful. Wei Zhong’s acting skills are truly exquisite!
“Don’t be angry, Grand Elder. We just want to figure out the cause of High Elder Yuan Shan and Third Elder Ku Zhen’s deaths. We don’t have any intention of causing trouble for you,” said Second High Elder Bai Liyin. “And you’re right. Miss Qi Wei was there too. I have a bit of a connection with the Qilin, so I’ll naturally ask them myself later.”
She looked at Liang Lingxu. “Do you have anything else to say, Sect Leader?”
Liang Lingxu obviously felt stifled. Ku Zhen had been his right-hand man, yet now, he was dead. Yuan Shan had been a long-established member of his camp, yet now, he was dead too.
How could Liang Lingxu not be furious after such heavy losses?
Moreover, he was all but convinced that their deaths were connected to either Wei Zhong or to Xiao Jian!
Whoosh!
Liang Lingxu suddenly glared coldly at Su Yi, his eyes flashing like lightning. “Xiao Jian, you’re the vice palace master of Wandering Night Palace, and you were acting on Third Elder Ku Zhen’s orders. Tell me, how did he die?”
All eyes were instantly on Su Yi.
“I don’t know. Before our return, I didn’t even know that High Elder Yuan Shan had died too.” Su Yi shook his head. “Sect Leader, if you don’t believe me, you can ask the grand elder or Miss Qi Wei.”
He couldn’t be bothered to come up with a lie, so he just feigned ignorance.
“You… don’t know!?” Liang Lingxu was so angry that he laughed.
Su Yi said calmly, “The grand elder can serve as my witness.”
“That’s right, and I can swear by my reputation!” Wei Zhong said righteously. “Sect leader, don’t you think that of everyone here, you’re the one most in need of self-reflection?
“You sent High Elder Yuan Shan without telling me or Vice Palace Master Xiao, yet here you are, asking us why something happened to him. How ludicrous is that?
“Surely you don’t think we’re the ones responsible for his and Third Elder Ku Zhen’s deaths? If that’s the case, I won’t simply let this go! I demand an explanation!!”
The crowd was startled. None of them had anticipated that Wei Zhong would counterattack like this!
Only Su Yi found the whole thing awfully dull. This sort of internal conflict was nothing but verbal sparring. There was nothing interesting about it.
“Enough. This ends here.” Second High Elder Bai Liyin frowned. How could an expert of her level have missed the conflict between the sect leader and the grand elder?
She hated this sort of internal conflict, too.
“We can set this matter aside, but now that Third Elder Ku Zhen is dead, we can’t leave his position as palace master open,” said Wei Zhong. “I suggest having Vice Palace Master Xiao take over responsibility for Wandering Night Palace’s affairs.”
“Ludicrous!” roared Liang Lingxu. “It’s only been a few months since he joined the sect. How could he possibly be qualified to lead Wandering Night Palace?”
The other elders all chimed in, one after another. The high elder’s supporters supported the idea, while the sect leader’s followers objected vehemently.
All of them argued until they were red in the face, but they could reach no agreement. The grand hall was in complete chaos.
“Enough!” roared Bai Liyin, suppressing the commotion. “Xiao Jian, what do you think of all this?”
All eyes were instantly on Su Yi.
Su Yi was surprised, too. He hadn’t anticipated that Bai Liyin would ask his opinion.
But then, he quickly understood. It was most likely because of his connection to Qi Wei. Bai Liyin did, after all, have ties to the Qilin Race.
It was also Bai Liyin who’d arranged for Qi Wei to stay at Qingwu Divine Court.
Su Yi pondered briefly, then said, “The sect leader is right. Too little time has passed since I joined the sect, and my cultivation base is inadequate. I’m far from qualified to take over as palace master.”
Wei Zhong was stunned. What’s he doing? Can’t he see that I’m trying to get him a promotion! This is a perfect opportunity. How could he just give up on it?
Sect Leader Liang Lingxu was surprised too, but just as he was about to say something, Su Yi continued, “But I know someone who would be suitable.”
“Who?” asked Bai Liyin, instantly curious.
The others were intrigued, too.
“Tie Wenjing,” said Su Yi. “The ninth elder is broad-minded and generous. Someone of his prestige is more than worthy of leading Wandering Night Palace!”
Tie Wenjing was stunned. He found this hard to believe. Even if you’d hit him over the head, he would never have guessed that Xiao Jian would recommend him for the position!
“Sounds okay to me,” said Bai Liyin. “What do you think, Sect Leader?”
After a moment’s silence, Liang Lingxu said, “Ninth Elder Tie Wenjing is indeed qualified to take on this responsibility.”
Tie Wenjing had always existed on the fringes of the sect, unaffiliated with either camp. Liang Lingxu could just barely tolerate him taking over as the leader of Wandering Night Palace.
“What do you think, Grand Elder?” asked Bai Liyin.
Wei Zhong nodded. “I agree!”
He understood. Xiao Jian doesn’t want to be at the center of the wind and waves, and he doesn’t want the sect leader to target him. That’s why he’s taking a step back and suggesting Tie Wenjing!
The best part is, Tie Wenjing isn’t a part of either camp, so it’s hard for Liang Lingxu to refuse. Xiao Jian has effectively advanced by retreating. It’s a masterstroke!
When he realized this, Wei Zhong couldn’t help but admire him. Xiao Jian… really is impressive!
Just like that, the curtains fell on this storm, and the crowd quickly dispersed.
Sect Leader Liang Lingxu, however, kept Su Yi back for a private conversation. Once the two of them were alone, he gazed coldly at Su Yi from the centermost seat.
It was as if he were gazing at a convict.
A long time passed before he said, “During the mission in the Barren Mountains of Divine Calamity, Ancestor Hui Qing and Vice Palace Master Huang Changting died.
“This time, on the mission to the Spirit Firmament Divine Continent, Third Elder Ku Zhen and High Elder Yuan Shan died.
“Yet both times, you of all people made it back without so much as a single hair out of place.”
He slowly rose from his chair, and a terrifying, imposing pressure emanated from him as he said slowly and clearly, “Tell me, just… who exactly are you? If you can’t give this lofty one a satisfactory answer, you can forget about ever leaving this hall!”
Boom!
The doors suddenly slammed shut.
Murderous intent permeated the room. Beneath the flickering lamplight, Liang Lingxu’s face came in and out of view.
He’d firmly locked onto Su Yi!
