The man, hailed as the sect leader by all, had sword-like eyebrows, piercing eyes, and a cascade of white hair. His slightly weathered gaze radiated an unparalleled dominance.
This was none other than Bi Xu Zhenren, the sect leader of Tianshi Mountain.
"What is going on? Someone explain it to me!" the man said in a low voice, his authoritative gaze sweeping across everyone's faces. All of them, without exception, lowered their heads.
"Don't play dead."
"Lan Qi, you speak."
Upon hearing his name called, Lan Qi Zhenren of Shengyang Peak felt a pang of bitterness. He stepped forward, cupped his hands, and respectfully said:
"Reporting to the Sect Leader, Zuo Mingqiu and Zhao Qingdong had a pre-arranged duel here. Both parties agreed willingly, and we were merely observers."
The man heard this, and beneath his calm expression, the muscles in his face twitched silently.
"A duel they agreed to willingly."
"You were merely observers?"
Bi Xu Zhenren walked up to Lan Qi Zhenren, pointed at his head, and roared, "Do you take me for a fool!"
"How many times have I told you, do not let those two meet before the Heavenly Sacrifice Assembly. Why do you people never listen? Do you think because I'm far away in Great Zhou I can't manage you!"
To be berated so thoroughly in front of everyone by the dignified Domain Lord naturally put Lan Qi Zhenren in an awkward position, but he lacked the standing to retaliate.
Elsewhere, they might have still acted superior with their Domain Lord status, commanding even the sect leaders' respect. However, on Tianshi Mountain, aside from the Old Heavenly Master, no one dared to offend this Bi Xu Sect Leader.
This was because the latter was in his prime. Despite his white hair, he was far younger and vastly more powerful than these old fellows on the verge of the grave.
He was one of the two Half-step Human Kings on Tianshi Mountain and controlled the sect's protective formation.
Here, he could kill whomever he pleased.
"Reporting to the Sect Leader, I was the one who initiated this matter. It has nothing to do with anyone else." Zhao Qingdong suddenly knelt, her expression serene as she kowtowed. "I beg the Sect Leader to punish me and not implicate others!"
"I am also at fault in this matter."
Zuo Mingqiu also knelt on the ground, his face calm, and then said with great reverence:
"I beg the Sect Leader to mete out punishment."
"You two... alas." Bi Xu Zhenren was about to continue his reprimand when he saw both Zuo Mingqiu and Zhao Qingdong kneeling on the ground. The scolding he was about to utter died on his lips.
Facing two individuals he had watched grow up, the peerless prodigies of the Daoist sect, what could he say?
Bi Xu Zhenren sighed helplessly:
"You may rise."
Zuo Mingqiu and Zhao Qingdong raised their heads simultaneously, cupped their hands, and said, "Thank you, Sect Leader."
Bi Xu Zhenren raised a hand, rubbed his throbbing temples, and then said with a hint of weariness:
"You may all disperse."
"I sentence you two to thirteen days of confinement. Choose your own locations, but you are not to appear in public before the Heavenly Sacrifice Ceremony. Do you understand?"
Zuo Mingqiu nodded.
Zhao Qingdong hesitated for a moment before asking, "Your Excellency, couldn't you have let us finish? I was so close to winning!"
Hearing this, Zuo Mingqiu smiled faintly:
"You were far from winning against me."
Zhao Qingdong's eyebrows twitched: "Are you looking for a fight?"
"..."
"Enough!" Veins bulged on Bi Xu Zhenren's forehead. He glared at Zuo Mingqiu, then looked at Zhao Qingdong and said coldly, "Now, immediately, return to your quarters and do not come out until the Heavenly Sacrifice Ceremony!"
"And you lot, do you not understand the consequences for Tianshi Mountain if these two fight and a victor is decided? Who can guarantee there won't be internal strife at this point?!"
Bi Xu Zhenren's expression was extremely grim. The battle between Zuo Mingqiu and Zhao Qingdong involved too many factors. Regardless of who won or lost, their respective factions would surely not accept the outcome.
If this were then deliberately fanned by someone with ulterior motives, and a conflict erupted, even if it were quelled now, Tianshi Mountain was destined to face a great upheaval in the future.
In the current continental climate, any minor shift could lead to the non-existence of Tianshi Mountain!
Bi Xu Zhenren furrowed his brow and stated:
"At the Heavenly Sacrifice Assembly, the Old Heavenly Master and I will invite grand true cultivators from all sects and factions to jointly witness the emergence of the next Heavenly Master."
"On that battle platform, the combat will be absolutely fair, and everyone must accept the outcome. Therefore, do not fight privately."
"As I said, the two of you, and all of you, disperse. Don't crowd here."
"But..." Lan Qi Zhenren tried to interject again. After all, Zhao Qingdong's recent performance had been astonishing, and she had a high chance of winning. It seemed too much of a pity to stop now.
"Hmm?" Hearing this, Bi Xu Zhenren turned his head to look at Lan Qi, his eyes calm.
Calm, as if he were looking at a dead fish.
"Do you have a problem?"
"No problem whatsoever, Sect Leader. You are absolutely right, it is indeed inconvenient for them to continue fighting," Lan Qi Zhenren said quickly, a cold sweat breaking out on his back.
Zhao Qingdong and Zuo Mingqiu said nothing more, merely retreating into the crowd.
They would not fight anymore.
But the crowd had not dispersed.
Seeing this, Bi Xu Zhenren impatiently said again, "Why are you still here?"
Lan Qi Zhenren swallowed and dared to step forward, saying:
"Reporting to the Sect Leader, actually, Zhao Qingdong's engagement with the Daoist Son today was merely a coincidence. We are primarily here to investigate a case."
"Investigate a case?" Bi Xu Zhenren raised an eyebrow and asked, "What case requires you to personally come here to investigate, and when did it become your turn to investigate? Where is Tai Wu?"
Lan Qi Zhenren automatically ignored the latter part of the question and explained:
"Cao Guang of Biyun Peak, while teamed up with my grandson Lan Yu in the Thunder Pool, was murdered by a mysterious individual."
"Furthermore, that mysterious individual also attempted to kill my grandson Lan Yu, and even disturbed Miss Zhao Qingdong's seclusion, preventing her from breaking through."
"After investigation and searching, we have finally narrowed down the suspect to these eleven individuals standing before you. The mysterious person is among them."
Bi Xu Zhenren, the Sect Leader of Tianshi Mountain, heard this, and his extremely imposing eyes inevitably narrowed.
"Mingqiu, is what Lan Qi Zhenren says true?"
Zuo Mingqiu nodded upon hearing this.
"This matter did occur, but the truth may not be exactly as Lan Qi Zhenren describes."
"I can guarantee that the so-called strange person poses absolutely no harm to Tianshi Mountain."
Lan Qi Zhenren sneered upon hearing this:
"No harm? Cao Guang is already dead, and he also intended to kill my only grandson!"
"Even if these things are not important, Miss Zhao Qingdong was forced to emerge from her seclusion due to the turmoil caused by this person. Can all of this be explained away by your simple statement of no harm?"
Bi Xu Zhenren looked at Zuo Mingqiu and asked:
"You know each other?"
Zuo Mingqiu nodded in silence.
On the other side, Pu Xian Zhenren of Shengyang Peak also spoke: "More than knowing each other, he helped that strange person escape in the Thunder Pool."
"Otherwise, Miss Qingdong would have captured him long ago. Many people in the Thunder Pool can attest to this."
"That's right." Many people spoke in unison. A significant number of them had witnessed Zhao Qingdong pursuing the strange person with her sword, and even a larger portion had personally participated in that encirclement...
"In that case, the identity of that person should be thoroughly investigated," Bi Xu Zhenren said indifferently, then looked at Zuo Mingqiu. "Step aside."
"I will investigate his identity and his reasons for doing those things. If Cao Guang and Lan Yu truly deserved to die, I will not hold him accountable."
Lan Qi Zhenren and Wu Yin Dao Ren, along with a group of elders, had their expressions change.
What did he mean, if Cao Guang and Lan Yu deserved to die, he wouldn't hold him accountable? Wasn't this clearly showing favoritism to the strange person?
Whether there was responsibility or not was up to him to decide!
Zuo Mingqiu did not step aside. Instead, he said:
"Since you trust me, please do not investigate further."
"His identity is somewhat special."
Upon these words, the entire place fell silent. Even the elders who supported Zuo Mingqiu had their mouths agape.
Lan Qi Zhenren let out a sneer:
"Daoist Son, do you know what you are saying? Standing before you is the Sect Leader!"
"You have not yet received the Heavenly Master's decree. Tianshi Mountain is not yours to command yet!"
"Zuo Mingqiu, what nonsense are you spouting? Step down quickly!" Fu Yuan Xian Weng and other elders hastily shouted, some even stepping forward to grab Zuo Mingqiu's arm to pull him away, but were stopped by the Sect Leader.
"Don't move."
Bi Xu Zhenren stared at Zuo Mingqiu, his expression once again becoming incredibly majestic.
"I want to know, within my Tianshi Mountain, whose identity is it that I, as the Sect Leader, cannot know."
"I'll give you one more chance. Step aside."
Zuo Mingqiu's face turned pale, his entire body began to tremble, and his clothes were soaked with sweat, as he was enduring Bi Xu Zhenren's pressure.
The pressure of a Half-step Human King, even a sliver of it, was enough to shatter the will of a cultivator in the Third Realm. Yet, Zuo Mingqiu endured it, not moving an inch despite being drenched in sweat.
"Sect Leader, it's truly not possible."
"His identity must be kept secret!"
"Hmph!"
Bi Xu Zhenren snorted, and the pressure suddenly intensified. Zuo Mingqiu instantly fainted.
"Daoist Son!"
The other elders rushed forward, holding Zuo Mingqiu and examining his internal injuries. Some older elders glared furiously at Bi Xu Zhenren, as if they wanted to devour him.
"Let him sleep."
Bi Xu Zhenren gave Huang Long Zhenren a look. The latter was taken aback and immediately led Zuo Mingqiu away. The others, seeing that Zuo Mingqiu was unharmed, understood that the Sect Leader was putting on a show for Lan Qi Zhenren and the others, and quickly withdrew from the scene.
Witnessing this, the elders on Zhao Qingdong's side all smiled.
The Sect Leader was, as expected, still neutral.
"Now that no one is blocking, " Bi Xu Zhenren retracted his pressure and said indifferently, "Lan Qi, how do you wish to proceed with the investigation?"
Lan Qi Zhenren heard this and gave Lan Yu a look. The latter immediately stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said:
"Reporting to the Sect Leader, actually, we already have a lead on the identity of that strange person. We are just waiting for confirmation, and we will have achieved our goal."
Bi Xu Zhenren nodded upon hearing this and signaled Lan Yu to act as he pleased.
Lan Yu saw this and immediately shifted his gaze to Xu Mu, his expression becoming extremely ferocious as he pointed at him and said:
"Xu Mu, stop hiding!"
"That strange person is you!"
...