The arrival of the Third Horde and instant collapse of the Colossal Sword Array made the world hold its breath. From the Nameless Sword Mountain disciples to the distant observers, all had their eyes glued on Zhiji Jing, fazed by the contrast between her salaciously voluptuous curves, and the holy grace that emanated from every bit of her being.
So great was that contrast that most failed to note the presence of the green-haired demon girl standing right beside Zhiji Jing. Only Zuixian noted that riveting girl's presence, and just like the others became mesmerized with Zhiji Jing, Zuixian's eyes refused to let go of that girl.
'Why...are you also here? Wait, don't tell me that...' In a flash, Zuixian connected the dots, severe jolts of pain turned his heart upside down, as if a searing knife had stabbed into his chest and twisted at a 360 angle.
But if at first, the Nameless Sword Mountain's disciples were at a loss, once their brains processed the situation, they recoiled in fear, shaking their heads as if by doing so, they could deny reality.
"This isn't fair! It isn't right! An army led by 12 Anointed Holy Beasts was bad enough, but how are we supposed to survive reinforcements led by a Holy Beast Sovereign?!"
"This is the Dongli state! The Dongli state of the Yanzhou Province! What crime has our Nameless Sword Mountain committed that the Myriad Beast Dominion dispatched a Holy Beast Sovereign to guarantee our extermination?!"
"It can't just be because of mortal villages. Bai Renyi! That contemptible vagrant of a sect master must have done something to mortally offend the Myriad Beast Emperor! And now...we're all going to pay the price for it!"
The Nameless Sword Mountain disciples and elders all came to this conclusion. They were not incorrect. In the shadows, Bai Renyi was the chief architect of the Soaring Crane Mountain, Dark Moon Cult and Flower Plucking Gang alliance that brought a war of extermination to the White Immortal Sect. Though he didn't directly cause Daji's capture, had he not kick-started those events, the Dark Moon Cult wouldn't have helped the Soaring Crane Mountain turn a ten-tailed White Fox into a sacrificial offering.
"Son of a bitch, this is all your fault!"
"Bai Renyi, give me my life back!"
"Even if I must die today, I will take a piece of your dog-face to hell with me!"
Driven to hysteria by the impossible odds they now confronted, some Nameless Sword Mountain disciples and elders turned towards the cause of this scourge, unsheathing longswords in one hand and hurling flying swords with the other in a desperate attempt to hack their sect master into pieces.
"Enough!" Barely had the rebelling elders and disciples started their assault that Bai Renyi let his cultivation base erupt, sending men and swords reeling across the air. Still, they didn't stop. Right after they landed on the ground, they resumed their change, with frenzied rage attempting to stab their sect master to death.
"Insane! You've all gone insane!" Bai Renyi wanted to kill the rebels but didn't dare to. With his guilt a nigh certainty, if at this point in time he still murdered Nameless Sword Mountain disciples — regardless of the reason — then even without the Third Horde's assault, the sect would implode.
Haoyue and Zuixian both came to the same conclusion, and without delay, put themselves between Bai Renyi and the rebels.
"Whether Bai Renyi is guilty or not, whether he deserves to die or not, what is attacking him going to accomplish when we all face the same calamity?"
"You can't kill him, and even if you could, do you think the Myriad Beast Dominion will let us off afterward?" One after the other, Haoyue and Zuixian tried to calm the rebelling troops. Alas, the murderous fire in their eyes only burned brighter.
"What makes you think that if we offer the Myriad Beast Dominion his head, they will not spare our lives?! It's the least we can try!"
"Nonsen—"
"That is correct." Zuixian didn't have the time to refute the rebelling disciples' words that Zhiji Jing chimed in, shocking all sides with these three simple words.
"The Emperor isn't unreasonable. Give us Bai Renyi and the disciples guilty of mortal slaughter, and we will spare the Nameless Sword Mountain from extermination. But refuse to do so, persist in error, and you would have proven that your entire sect deserves to be wiped out," Zhiji Jing said, lighting the fuse of anarchy in the Nameless Sword Mountain.
If before, only a portion of disciples and elders rebelled against Bai Renyi, when Zhiji Jing spoke these words, 99% of Nameless Sword Mountain disciples turned towards the sect master, facing him with murderous, predatory glowers that made their intent evident.
Even Zuixian became skeptical. He did want to behead Bai Renyi. As far as he was concerned, this type of vicious and heartless monster didn't deserve the gift of human life. But based on what could they trust Zhiji Jing's words?
And in any case, Bai Renyi had already blown the mortal slaying disciples into pieces. So what were they supposed to give Zhiji Jing? The remains? Would she take their words for it, or claim that they attempted to deceive her Emperor, then slaughter them all the same?
Zuixian didn't know, but he wouldn't have to make a decision, because as soon as the Nameless Sword Mountain's disciples took their first coordinated steps towards Bai Renyi, Qiu Meng's voice boomed throughout the mountain.
"The Nameless Sword Mountain will investigate all accusations, put its sect master on trial, and give him the sentence he deserves if proven guilty. However, it isn't the place of aggressive outsiders to dictate how we should run our sect and treat our leader.
If anyone here has the iron-clad proof of the sect master's evil deeds, feel free to present it, and I will behead him on the spot," Qiu Meng said. Overwhelming pressure rippled in each one of his words, and from underneath the mountain, deeply buried energies soared to the surface, fusing with Qiu Meng's soul and forcing all disciples to stand still.
"No? Nothing? Then all of you should back off, or I will have no other choice but to behead the troublemakers to protect the Nameless Sword Mountain's cohesion.
What a joke! Based on the words of rebels, traitors and enemies, you've settled on your sect master's guilt, and are desperate to sacrifice him to guarantee your safety!
I didn't expect the Nameless Sword Mountain to be a gathering of senseless worms and worthless cowards!"
For the first time since he reincarnated, Qiu Meng publicly used his true voice. The effect was immediate. As they received his reproaches, the mountain's disciples and elders no longer felt that they faced a 19 years old disciple, but the wrath of an ancient expert.
Again they held their breath, breaking into a cold sweat as they wondered why Qiu Meng, or Qiu Chen as they knew him as, could instill such terror in their hearts.
Be it in the past or present, Qiu Meng had always had a crucial shortcoming: overindulgence.
He could punish his disciples and subordinates for wrongdoings, but would never allow anyone to sentence them in his stead.
Seeing his grand master disregard morals and ethics to protect him in spite of the truth, Bai Renyi fell to his knees and broke into tears.
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