Chapter 367: Chapter 366 Strong Support
Meng Buqun’s face was livid as he asked in a dark, heavy tone, "Xuan Yi, are you sure you’ve thought this through?"
He exuded an oppressive aura, but though it was difficult to withstand, Meng Xuanyi held his ground. "Yes, I have thought it through."
Upon hearing this, the few elders who supported him felt a wave of relief. It seemed Meng Xuanyi had indeed grown up, proving their loyalty to the Old Sect Master had not been in vain.
Meng Xuanyi’s response was clearly not what Meng Buqun had expected. He pressed, "After you take over the Yueshan Sect, can you make it flourish and grow strong? Can you avenge your father?"
"I will do my utmost to strengthen the Yueshan Sect," Meng Xuanyi stated resolutely. "As for avenging my father, you needn’t worry, Martial Uncle. The man who killed him, the Dongzheng Emperor, is already dead."
His performance greatly satisfied the loyal elders, but the other high-ranking members merely looked upon Meng Xuanyi with pity. They knew that opposing Meng Buqun would not lead to a good end. His fate was destined to be tragic.
At that, Meng Buqun bellowed, "Good! Very good! You think you’ve grown wings, do you? You were close to the man who killed your father. I see it now! The Old Sect Master’s death was your scheme all along, and you simply pinned the blame on the Northern Bear Country’s Dongzheng Emperor! What a venomous mind you have!"
Meng Xuanyi replied calmly, "Even a tiger won’t eat its own cubs. I don’t harbor such ambitions, so please don’t flatter me with such an accusation, Martial Uncle." He then held up the token. "This was my father’s token, and it is the token of the Yueshan Sect. From this moment on, I am the new Sect Master of the Yueshan Sect!"
"Hahaha, why don’t you ask them if they agree?" Meng Buqun sneered, gesturing to his own supporters.
"We greet the Sect Master!" At once, the few elders loyal to the old regime knelt, but the rest of the crowd remained motionless.
It was clear they still didn’t take Meng Xuanyi seriously. At this juncture, even the Sect Leader’s token was useless. Meng Xuanyi’s bid for power had stalled, and at a time like this, offending the ascendant Meng Buqun was tantamount to seeking death. Seeing the silent majority, Meng Buqun felt a smug satisfaction. This was exactly what he wanted.
"This is the Sect Leader’s token!" Meng Xuanyi demanded. "Do you intend to defy the rules of the Sect?"
His sharp rebuke made the crowd hesitate. In that moment, they realized Meng Xuanyi had truly changed. He had become so firm. Was this the same incredibly weak man they once knew?
But Meng Buqun simply roared, "Men, seize this traitor who murdered his own father!"
A group swarmed forward, surrounding Meng Xuanyi. He was barely holding on, protected only by the few loyal elders at his side. He couldn’t believe Ye Fan hadn’t appeared yet, as their agreed-upon time had already passed.
Could it be that my performance still wasn’t good enough?
Spurred by this thought, he bellowed, "Today, even if I die, I will protect the dignity of the Yueshan Sect! I may have been a coward, but at this moment, I must fight for my father!"
He displayed a terrifying resolve. The few fiercely loyal elders also prepared to fight to the death.
But Meng Buqun merely scoffed, "It seems you still don’t know the meaning of despair."
He ordered his men to charge, but just then, a powerful figure appeared—it was Ye Fan.
The color drained from Meng Buqun’s face upon seeing him. Didn’t he leave? Why has he reappeared now?
Meng Buqun immediately yelled, "And you still claim you didn’t murder the Old Sect Master! It seems you’ve called your accomplice. Fine! Today, I will act on behalf of the Yueshan Sect and eliminate you two vile remnants!"
Though furious, Meng Xuanyi also breathed a sigh of relief. Without Ye Fan, he might not have been able to hold on.
Ye Fan’s voice cut through the air. "I don’t like to meddle in others’ affairs, but this time, I must. Besides, I have no interest whatsoever in your Yueshan Sect! If I did, I wouldn’t have killed the Dongzheng Emperor!"
This declaration shocked the entire assembly. They thought they had misheard. That this young man had killed the Dongzheng Emperor? It was utterly unbelievable.
"Hmph! Cease your arrogant boasting!" Meng Buqun shouted. "As long as I am here, you will never achieve your goal! Men, get him! Kill him!"
Meng Buqun knew he was no match for Ye Fan, but he hoped to overwhelm him with sheer numbers.
Unfortunately for him, Ye Fan unleashed a flash of Yuanhong Sword Qi. In the next instant, the heads of the high-ranking members supporting Meng Buqun tumbled to the ground.
Everyone froze in horror, including Meng Xuanyi. To behead several experts so silently and effortlessly... Ye Fan’s terrifying power was beyond their imagination.
Meng Buqun’s supporters were chilled to the bone. They began to back away slowly, desperate to escape, terrified that the next head to fall would be their own.
Ye Fan advanced step by step. As a Supreme, his aura alone was enough to crush everyone present.
Meng Buqun’s confidence evaporated. He yelled at Ye Fan, "You... you stay back! This is the territory of the Yueshan Sect! You have no right to be so reckless here!"
"The Yueshan Sect? Are they supposed to be powerful?" Ye Fan said with disdain.
"I gave you a chance, but you didn’t cherish it," Ye Fan continued. "Since you’ve made your choice, I will teach you the price of that decision!"
He then drew the Yuanhong Sword and said to Meng Buqun, "You have one last chance to attack."
"You really think I’m afraid of you?" Meng Buqun roared, lunging forward. He knew a desperate, all-out battle was his only hope.
Too bad for him. With a single flash of sword light, his head fell cleanly to the ground.
The crowd drew a collective sharp breath. Meng Buqun, the second-strongest expert in the Yueshan Sect, hadn’t even had a chance to properly make a move. Who would believe such a thing if they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes?
Many among them were so terrified they had soiled themselves.
"The Yueshan Sect Leader’s Token is here! Who dares to disobey?" Meng Xuanyi thundered, seizing the moment.
Instantly, terror shot through the crowd. Trembling, they all dropped to their knees. Their backer was dead. With their own survival now uncertain, they knew they had to be on their best behavior.
"By rights, I should execute all of you treacherous rebels to appease my father’s spirit in the heavens!" Meng Xuanyi declared.
"But I believe he would not wish to see such a scene. For today, I will spare you. However, if you remain unrepentant, then don’t blame me for being merciless! Do not doubt my words!"
Everyone nodded hastily. To disobey now would be to seek death.
Without a doubt, Meng Xuanyi had achieved total victory. From this day forward, the position of Sect Master was his. No one would ever challenge his authority again, not when he had someone backing him who would slay any man or god that stood in his way.
Meng Xuanyi was deeply satisfied. He hadn’t expected that once he decided to change, his entire world would undergo such a staggering transformation.
Perhaps Father had long anticipated that this Supreme would help me rebuild my confidence and support me in taking charge of the Sect.
As he thought of his father’s unspoken struggles, tears streamed down Meng Xuanyi’s face.
