# Chapter 673: Exposed?
"This... this is... the Palace Master's master?" The women of Bing Yun Fairy Palace stared blankly at the black-clothed figure in the air. The overwhelming pressure that even the Sun and Moon Elders could barely withstand was even more unimaginable for them.
Everyone in Bing Yun Fairy Palace knew that Yun Che had a mysterious master. Three years ago when he entered the palace, he had explicitly told Supreme Palace Master Feng Qianhui that he already had a master, so he could join the palace but would not take on any master. His terrifyingly rapid cultivation growth and his unbelievable heaven-defying medical skills naturally came from his master. Now, they had finally seen the "true face" of Yun Che's mysterious master. His aura and pressure exceeded their imagination and understanding by countless times.
They had all thought Yun Che's master must be an extremely fearsome figure... but they never expected him to be this fearsome!
No wonder he was so calm... even arrogant in the face of the Sun Moon Divine Palace!
"Are you the ones who want to kill my disciple?"
The black-clothed elder spoke, his voice gentle and tone calm, but to the ears of the Sun Moon Divine Palace members, every word was as heavy as a ten-thousand-jun boulder.
Ye Guying took a deep breath, suppressing the fear in his heart. With a calm expression, he slightly cupped his hands and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "So you are Yun Che's master. We are from the Sun Moon Divine Palace. Yesterday, your disciple attacked without cause, killing twelve of our Sun Moon Divine Palace members, two of whom were the Young Master's personal guardians. Naturally, we came to seek justice. We did not expect such an esteemed expert as yourself to be stationed here—our apologies for the oversight. Although we have disturbed your cultivation, a life for a life is only natural... I believe that with your supreme Xuan power, you must be a person of reason who does not shield the wicked."
Ye Guying wore a righteous expression, his voice calm but tinged with anger and indignation, presenting a complete image of Yun Che having committed an unforgivable crime while they came seeking "justice." He deliberately emphasized the words "Sun Moon Divine Palace"... because on the Tian Xuan Continent, no one dared to offend the Sun Moon Divine Palace.
"Heh heh," the black-clothed elder chuckled lightly. "Those my disciple killed must have deserved death. As for your Sun Moon Divine Palace, attacking this woman's place of cultivation without cause is a wicked act."
"Hmph! Nonsense!" Ye Shi stepped forward, tilting his head and snorting coldly. "Our Young Master attacked the Bing Yun Fairy Palace for a special reason! Even if there were to be retaliation, it would be a matter for the Bing Yun Fairy Palace! That brat Yun Che is an outsider—our Sun Moon Divine Palace never laid a hand on him, yet he killed twelve of our people. Coming to seek justice is only natural! You, to shield your disciple, actually twist right and wrong..."
"Alright, Ye Shi, no insolence." Ye Guying extended a hand and quickly signaled Ye Shi with his eyes. This black-clothed man's aura was too terrifying; if angered, the consequences might be disastrous. He looked up and said righteously, "Our Sun Moon Divine Palace has ten thousand years of history, always taking it upon ourselves to guard the Tian Xuan Continent. For ten thousand years, we have repelled countless foreign invasions! The people of Tian Xuan Continent call us a 'Sacred Ground,' and with ten thousand years of merit, we deserve that title! Bearing the name of 'Sacred Ground,' we also bear the safety of all living beings in Tian Xuan. Our actions have always been open and upright, with a clear conscience! Sir, you may have supreme Xuan arts, but if you forcibly slander us, even if we may not be your match, we will never accept it!"
"And if you kill us to shield your disciple..." Ye Guying's gaze sharpened. "Perhaps all under heaven will not accept it!"
Ye Guying's words made all the women of Bing Yun Fairy Palace show hatred and anger. These demons, who in their eyes had struck ruthlessly for selfish desires, were shamelessly labeling themselves as existence akin to the continent's guardian gods, even using the will of the world as a threat—utterly shameless!
But it was undeniable that the Four Sacred Grounds were indeed true "sacred grounds" in the hearts of Tian Xuan Continent's people. Their understanding of the "Sacred Grounds" was that they guarded the edges of the continent year-round, repelling foreign invasions and eliminating countless disasters...
In people's perception, it was precisely because of the Four Sacred Grounds that the Tian Xuan Continent had always been so peaceful.
Thus, Ye Guying's "threat" was no bluff or alarmism.
"Heh heh," the black-clothed elder laughed lightly, still not angry. But this laugh carried a faint hint of mockery: "Nothing in Tian Xuan Continent can escape my eyes. You may be able to deceive the world, but do you think I don't know the ugly deeds you've committed over the years? The number of women your so-called Young Master has harmed alone is an unforgivable sin!"
"When I return, I will report your words verbatim to the Palace Master," Ye Guying said without changing expression. "But I have been out of the Divine Palace for a long time and am rather ignorant. I wonder which distinguished expert you are? Please enlighten me."
Ye Guying's words revealed his strong intention to retreat... Faced with such a terrifying Xuan Force aura, his only task now—his only choice—was to take the Young Master and flee quickly! Under such a terrifying aura, every extra breath they stayed was a great danger.
"My name has long been severed from this world..." The black-clothed elder's voice paused slightly, then he lifted his head and let out a long, heavy sigh. "Alas, the mortal world is vast, with endless disputes. Since I have sworn not to meddle in mortal affairs, I truly should not interfere in these worldly quarrels... You may leave. I do not wish to break the killing vow I have upheld for so long because of you."
When the black-clothed elder finished speaking, the first reaction of the Sun Moon Divine Palace members was not relief. They exchanged glances, strange expressions on their faces. The pressure on their bodies, as well as the tension and fear in their hearts, suddenly dissipated by seventy or eighty percent.
Even the women of Bing Yun Fairy Palace showed clear disappointment... and tension.
This master of Yun Che's had appeared with an astonishing aura, but when asked his name, he did not answer and instead directly told them to leave... Anyone could see that he might be afraid of the Sun Moon Divine Palace!!
He dared not let the Sun Moon Divine Palace know his name, and even more so, he dared not strike against them!
But this was inevitable! On the Tian Xuan Continent, no matter how powerful an individual or force, how could they dare act recklessly before the Sun Moon Divine Palace?! To attack the Sun Moon Divine Palace was to court destruction!
"Leave?" Ye Juanyun actually stepped forward, a faint smile on his face. Both his expression and gaze had changed notably. Although this mysterious black-clothed elder had an imposing aura, his words and actions clearly showed fear of the Sun Moon Divine Palace! Since he feared the Sun Moon Divine Palace, there was nothing to be afraid of. And looking at it this way... his aura might also be fake—perhaps released by some special profound artifact! Because this aura was too strong, abnormally strong, defying reason. If there truly existed a person in this world whose strength matched this aura, how could the Sun Moon Divine Palace not know about him?! Moreover, if he were truly that powerful, why would he not even have the courage to say his name, and after only a few words, be so eager to send them away?
"We came to seek justice for our fallen Guardians of the Young Master. If we leave just because of your words, how do we explain this to the two dead Guardians and our brothers in the Divine Palace?"
Ye Xiaoran squinted and said, "That's right. We spared no effort in using the Sun Moon Sacred Ark, traveling ten thousand miles to come here, and finally found Yun Che. If we leave just like that, it would be very embarrassing. If word gets out, our entire Sun Moon Divine Palace might be ridiculed by the world."
The black-clothed elder stood motionless, his voice still as calm as dead water: "Then what do you want? Do you insist on forcing me to break my killing vow?"
"Naturally, we wouldn't dare. We all cherish our lives." Ye Guying said slowly, his expression much more relaxed than before. "Your Xuan Force is the strongest I have ever seen. I believe you could easily kill any one of us. But we are from the Sacred Ground of this continent... the Sun Moon Divine Palace. The Young Master personally came, accompanied by four elders. If we retreat just because of your words, where would our dignity be? As members of the Divine Palace, how could we commit such an act that damages its honor!"
"But we also know we are no match for you. Killing Yun Che today should be hopeless, yet we cannot simply retreat..." A strange light flickered deep in Ye Guying's eyes. "How about this: let our Divine Palace's Elder Ye Shi exchange a few moves with you. I believe with your strength, you can easily defeat Elder Ye Shi. In that case, we would retreat due to our insufficient strength in defeat, not because we were driven away by your words. When we return to the Divine Palace, we can have an explanation."
"This way, no one gets hurt, harmony is preserved, and you don't have to break your killing vow. A perfect plan. I trust you won't refuse."
As Ye Guying finished speaking slowly, Ye Xinghan, Ye Xiaoran, Ye Juanyun, and Ye Shi all smirked inwardly... As expected of the meticulous Ninth Elder, this was indeed a perfect plan! If they forced this black-clothed elder to fight, and if he truly possessed such astonishing strength to defeat Ye Shi, given the "fear" and "reluctance to break his killing vow" he had shown toward the Sun Moon Divine Palace, he wouldn't kill Ye Shi either, and they could retreat unscathed.
But if his strength was insufficient, and this abnormally strong aura was just a bluff using some special method... then everyone here would be at their mercy!
And if he directly refused... then it would be completely confirmed that he was just bluffing!
Without waiting for the black-clothed elder's response, Ye Shi teleported and appeared before him. Being closer to him, the terrifying pressure caused his nerves to spasm involuntarily, but he forcefully suppressed it, forcing a smile that wasn't quite a smile: "I am Ye Shi, Fifteenth Elder of the Sun Moon Divine Palace. I specially came to experience your supreme Xuan power. You only need to defeat me, and we will immediately leave this place and never appear before you again... I hope you will go easy on me."
"Heh heh heh," the black-clothed elder still let out that flat, emotionless chuckle: "Since this is what you wish... very well."