Chapter 643: Manifestation
Zhao Yibing's aged face twisted into a ferocious scowl. He raised a trembling finger, pointing at Zhang Ruochen, and roared in fury, "Nonsense! Back then, you were clearly a coward afraid of death, which is why you knelt and begged for mercy. Moreover, if you hadn't revealed the Treasure-Seeking Compass, it wouldn't have been seized by that evil path (xiedao) cultivator."
Zhang Ruochen replied calmly, "Uncle-Master, you can't say that. The situation was critical at the time. If I hadn't handed over the Treasure-Seeking Compass, how could we have returned alive to Zixia Spirit Mountain? Which is more important—the lives of our junior brothers and sisters, or the Treasure-Seeking Compass?"
"Of course it's—"
Zhao Yibing was furious to the extreme, but just as he was about to finish his sentence, he realized that "Lin Yue" had set a trap for him. He immediately shut his mouth, swallowing the rest of his words.
At that moment, he only wanted to slap "Lin Yue" to death.
Although Zhang Ruochen's words sounded righteous and noble, the vast majority of people didn't believe him at all.
In particular, the inner disciples who had witnessed the entire incident in Qingyun Commandery were even less convinced that "Lin Yue" was truly that virtuous.
According to Zhang Ruochen's account, it was first Zhao Yibing's greed that provoked the evil path (xiedao) cultivator, putting all the disciples in danger.
Second, it was "Lin Yue" who, disregarding his own dignity, knelt and begged for mercy, thereby saving everyone's lives.
To stay in the Two Extremes Sect, Zhang Ruochen had fully unleashed his oratorical potential.
The elders present, unaware of the true circumstances, listened to Lin Yue's words and their expressions turned grave.
If "Lin Yue" had indeed endured humiliation and knelt to beg for mercy, saving the lives of over a dozen inner disciples, then expelling him from the sect would make them appear unrighteous and unkind.
What was the truth of the matter?
The oldest elder turned to the inner disciples standing in the Daoist temple and asked, "Zhao Han'er, is everything your Senior Brother Lin Yue said true?"
Zhao Han'er, the youngest and most innocent, was also the least likely to lie.
She hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward, bit her lip, and shook her head. "I... I don't know."
Originally, Zhao Han'er had deeply despised Lin Yue's actions, but what Lin Yue had just said was indeed factually accurate.
She tried hard to recall: back then, if Lin Yue hadn't knelt and begged for mercy, it was possible that all of them would have died at the hands of that evil path (xiedao) cultivator.
If what Senior Brother Lin Yue said was true, then Uncle-Master Zhao would surely face punishment from the sect.
If what Senior Brother Lin Yue said was false, then Lin Yue might have his legs broken, his cultivation abolished (feidiao), and be expelled from the sect.
What if... Lin Yue had truly acted to save them?
Given Zhao Han'er's age and experience, she could no longer distinguish truth from falsehood and dared not speak recklessly. So she could only say, "I don't know."
"Senior Brother Lin Yue, I... I'm sorry."
Zhao Han'er burst into tears, sobbing as she bowed to Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen immediately stepped forward, reached out with both hands, and helped Zhao Han'er up. "Junior Sister, you have nothing to apologize for. It is I who owe everyone an apology. It's only because I wasn't strong enough back then, unable to protect everyone with true strength. I could only grovel, only kneel and beg for mercy, hoping to save your lives."
"In my eyes, the lives of my junior brothers and sisters are far more important than my dignity. If I lose my dignity, I can earn it back. But if you lose your lives, I would regret it for the rest of my life."
Xu Chen clenched his fists, grinding his teeth in hatred, and said darkly, "Junior Sister, don't be fooled by Lin Yue's sweet talk. This man is nothing but a coward who bullies the weak and fears the strong."
Zhang Ruochen was usually a person of good temper who didn't want to make enemies, but Xu Chen had opposed him time and again—for what reason?
He only wanted to stay in the Two Extremes Sect to investigate the secret of the altar. Was that so difficult?
Zhang Ruochen's eyes fixed on Xu Chen, emitting two sharp beams of light. "Junior Brother Xu, do you think a coward who bullies the weak and fears the strong could kill the Dark Blue Star Envoy of the Black Market First Class Hall? I said that since I lost my dignity, I would reclaim it. Doesn't killing the Dark Blue Star Envoy restore the sect's honor?"
Xu Chen sneered sarcastically, "Your mouth is full of lies. Who would believe you could kill the Dark Blue Star Envoy? The Dark Blue Star Envoy could crush you with a single finger. Ask the uncles and aunts present here—who believes you could kill the Dark Blue Star Envoy?"
Hearing Xu Chen's words, Zhao Han'er, who had been feeling deeply guilty, suddenly snapped back to reality, feeling as if she had been deceived by Lin Yue again.
"I actually believed his words. How could he possibly kill that great demon, the Dark Blue Star Envoy? He couldn't kill the Dark Blue Star Envoy, yet he insists he did. Can the words of such a person be trusted?" Zhao Han'er bit her teeth, her eyes blazing with anger.
Xu Chen glanced at Zhao Han'er and, seeing her furious expression, felt a surge of joy.
By exposing Lin Yue's ugly face on the spot, he not only curried favor with Uncle-Master Zhao but also left a good impression on the little junior sister as a righteous gentleman. Xu Chen felt somewhat elated, already envisioning a scene where "Lin Yue is expelled from the sect while he wins the beauty's heart."
The name of the Dark Blue Star Envoy was thunderous. Even the elders in the Daoist temple would flee at the sight of him. Thus, no one believed that Lin Yue could have killed the Dark Blue Star Envoy.
Zhao Yibing was overjoyed, knowing this was a golden opportunity. He couldn't give "Lin Yue" another chance to speak.
"Lin Yue, you dog of a liar who betrays your master and ancestors! Today, I will cleanse the sect of your filth on behalf of the Longevity Institute and abolish (feidiao) your lifelong cultivation!"
Zhao Yibing stomped his foot on the ground and charged at Zhang Ruochen, forming palm seals with both hands as he mobilized his full cultivation.
He wasn't going to abolish (feidiao) "Lin Yue's" cultivation—he intended to kill him with one palm, ensuring he could never speak again. Later, when the Venerable Lord inquired, he could simply claim it was an accidental killing.
Zhang Ruochen naturally sensed the killing intent radiating from Zhao Yibing. His eyes narrowed, and he began to gather power secretly.
He hadn't expected this old Daoist to be so despicable, trying to silence him by murder.
Zhao Yibing's cultivation at the fifth transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm was nothing to Zhang Ruochen.
Just as Zhang Ruochen prepared to clash with Zhao Yibing, the humanoid stone statue at the center of the Daoist temple suddenly emitted a brilliant light.
"Swoosh!"
A powerful pressure of sacred power radiated outward, suppressing everyone present, rendering them unable to move.
Of course, this included Zhao Yibing.
Zhao Yibing felt his true qi instantly solidify, completely unable to circulate. At the same time, a mighty sacred force descended upon him, forcing him to his knees.
"Stop."
A voice like thunder boomed from the stone statue's mouth.
Zhang Ruochen immediately withdrew his true qi and fixed his gaze on the statue. The statue's eyes opened, emitting blazing sacred light from their sockets.
All the elders and inner disciples in the Zixia Temple knelt to the ground, saying in unison, "We pay homage to the Venerable Lord."
The Venerable Lord of Zixia Spirit Mountain, known as "Zixia Half-Saint," was one of the three half-saints of the Longevity Institute. His cultivation was profound and unfathomable, and he spent most of his time in seclusion, rarely appearing.
Most inner disciples had never seen Zixia Half-Saint.
Thus, in their hearts, Zixia Half-Saint was a divine being. Seeing the stone statue of Zixia Half-Saint manifest, they were naturally extremely excited and filled with reverence.
Zhao Yibing knelt on the ground, sweat beading on his forehead, a bad feeling rising in his heart.
Zixia Half-Saint had not descended in person but had infused a sacred soul into the stone statue, achieving the effect of "manifestation."
Even if Zixia Half-Saint were a hundred thousand miles away, once he manifested, the humanoid stone statue could temporarily possess one-tenth of his power.
This was a technique exclusive to half-saints.
Even with only one-tenth of the power, it was enough to force a cultivator at the ninth transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm to kneel in submission.
However, everyone noticed that "Lin Yue," standing at the center of the Daoist temple, did not kneel. He merely clasped his hands and bowed to the statue.
"Lin Yue, how dare you! The Venerable Lord has manifested, and you still refuse to kneel?" Zhao Yibing said darkly.
Zhang Ruochen merely glanced indifferently at Zhao Yibing, showing no intention of kneeling.
Although "Lin Yue's" refusal to kneel displeased the elders present, some still admired him.
After all, not everyone could withstand the sacred might of a half-saint.
That "Lin Yue" could do so proved he was truly extraordinary.
Zixia Half-Saint's sacred eyes also fixed on "Lin Yue," showing no sign of anger. Instead, they revealed a look of appreciation. "Not bad. No wonder you broke through to the Fish-Dragon Realm at the age of thirty-six. You are indeed quite extraordinary."
"Boom!"
The inner disciples present, including Xu Chen and Zhao Han'er, felt as if struck by lightning, staring at "Lin Yue" in utter shock.
He... he had already broken through to the Fish-Dragon Realm?
"No, impossible..."
Xu Chen's face turned deathly pale.
Only cultivators at the Great Perfection of the Heavenly Extreme Realm understood how difficult it was to break through to the Fish-Dragon Realm. How could Lin Yue have achieved it so easily?
At Lin Yue's age, once he broke through to the Fish-Dragon Realm, he would become a lofty sacred disciple, with a status and rank higher than the elders present.
According to the rules of the Two Extremes Sect, sacred disciples did not need to kneel before half-saints. Therefore, even if Lin Yue didn't kneel, it was perfectly normal.
"Everyone, rise."
The sacred might on Zixia Half-Saint's stone statue gradually receded, becoming quite approachable.
Everyone stood up and returned to their seats, each feeling uncertain about what would happen next.
In particular, Zhao Yibing and Xu Chen barely dared to breathe.