Chapter 407: Chaos on the Mountain (Part 1)
Inside the cave dwelling at the summit of Li Mountain, several more unconscious people lay today, sprawled between the sleeping mats of Senior Brother Qiushan and Qi Jian. Even after simple bandaging, wounds still oozed blood, making the scene look rather bloody.
Outside the cave dwelling stood dozens of Li Mountain disciples. Bai Cai stood at the very front, one hand supporting the Sect Master, the other gripping his sword. His face was somewhat pale, partly because he was squeamish about blood, and partly because his emotions were now in turmoil. Of course, "turmoil" here did not refer to fear—just as, since he was squeamish about blood, he certainly couldn't be a real cabbage.
This young man with a very strange name was an inner disciple of the Li Mountain Sword Sect, ranked sixth among the Seven Laws of the Divine Kingdom, at the Rear Illumination realm. The emotion churning in his chest right now was called anger.
The Sect Master of Li Mountain Sword Sect wore a grave expression, but his body was very weak. A generation's strongman who had shaken the entire Southern Sky now couldn't even stand steadily without the support of a young disciple. The stone terrace and mountain path outside the cave dwelling were covered in blood and sword marks, clearly showing that an extremely brutal battle had just taken place.
At dawn, several Elders had suddenly led their disciples to the main peak, demanding that Qi Jian be handed over to the Discipline Hall for interrogation. When the Li Mountain Sword Sect Master rejected this proposal, a battle erupted without warning. The severely wounded, still unconscious inside the cave dwelling, and the bloodstains and broken swords outside—these were the brutal results left by that battle.
"Utterly shameless!" Bai Cai stared at Elder Xiaosong Gong, who stood at the front of the crowd, shouting with grief and anger, "How dare you scheme to harm the Sect Master! Are you trying to betray Li Mountain?"
Nowadays, Gou Hanshi, Liang Banhu, and Guan Feibai were still at the Tian Shu Ling in the capital, comprehending the Dao. Senior Brother Qiushan and Qi Jian were severely injured and still unconscious. Of the Seven Laws of the Divine Kingdom, only Bai Cai remained. Several second-generation uncles were trapped in the mountain's core. So he had to stand at the forefront.
Although he was the most valued and favored junior disciple of the Li Mountain Sword Sect, holding a special status, under normal circumstances he would have shown utmost respect to an Elder like Xiaosong Gong and would never dare speak such words. But right now, he was truly furious. If the Sect Master hadn't been secretly injured by the events in the Zhou Garden, even if Xiaosong Gong had launched a sneak attack, how could he have wounded him so severely? If several uncles hadn't been trapped in the sword formation inside the mountain's core by the enemy's secret techniques, how would these people dare to bully their way to the summit!
The mountain wind ruffled Xiaosong Gong's white brows. The morning light reflected off his emotionless face. His usual immortal-like aura had been completely replaced by cold ruthlessness. He shouted harshly, "Who exactly is trying to betray Li Mountain? We merely asked the Sect Master to follow Li Mountain's iron laws and hand over the disciple Qi Jian, who is suspected of colluding with the demon race, to the Discipline Hall for interrogation. Why did you refuse?"
Xiaosong Gong stared at the pale-faced Li Mountain Sect Master, speaking with a hint of viciousness, "Can you tell us the reason?"
The Li Mountain Sect Master looked at him. His slightly dim eyes were filled with the calm and sorrow of one who understood everything: "Then, Senior Brother, can you tell me the reason? Why did you use the secret technique left by our master, taking advantage of the moment when the fellow disciples were preparing to pass through the sword formation to go north and rescue Little Uncle, to trap them inside the mountain's core? Why are the fellow Daoists of the Longevity Sect and... the head of the Qiushan family standing behind you? And also... why did you strike me with that palm earlier?"
As these words were spoken, the whistling of swords intensified beneath the morning light. Dozens of flying swords circled the mountain peak where the cave dwelling was located, flying at high speed, tracing streaks of golden light. This was part of Li Mountain's Ten Thousand Swords Grand Formation.
Seeing these flying swords, the people who had come up the mountain with Xiaosong Gong all wore grave expressions, including the Longevity Sect's elder at the Gathering Stars Upper Realm and the unfathomably powerful Qiushan family retainer. Only the Qiushan family head seemed completely oblivious.
How profound was the Li Mountain Sect Master's cultivation realm! Even though he was severely injured and unable to fight, his sword heart still remained. Every word he spoke was like a sharp sword, making it impossible for others to respond. The two Discipline Hall elders standing behind Xiaosong Gong showed slight shame on their faces. Even Xiaosong Gong's expression changed several times before he turned to look at the Longevity Sect elder.
Earlier, right after Xiaosong Gong's successful sneak attack, the Sect Master had expended his last sword intent to activate part of the Ten Thousand Swords Grand Formation, protecting the cave dwelling while also isolating the other peaks of Li Mountain. Several second-generation Gathering Stars realm experts from Li Mountain had been trapped in the mountain's core by Xiaosong Gong's secret technique. He didn't want disciples from the other peaks to come to the rescue, only to be harmed by Xiaosong Gong's faction. But at the same time, he had activated the Ten Thousand Swords Thunder Echo amplification spell, so all words spoken at the peak could be heard by all the peaks of Li Mountain.
If he could, Xiaosong Gong certainly wouldn't want to answer the Sect Master's questions. But under the current circumstances, if he wanted to smoothly seize control of Li Mountain afterward and win over the masses, he had to provide a very convincing answer.
The Longevity Sect elder said expressionlessly, "Why? Because we suspect you of colluding with the demon race!"
Hearing this, the Li Mountain disciples standing beside the Sect Master were furious, unable to hold back their curses. Bai Cai's face flushed red with anger, and his hand gripping the sword trembled. Even from a nearby peak, curses could be heard.
The Li Mountain Sect Master was highly respected, treating all disciples equally. He had a great reputation for benevolence even throughout the entire Southern Sky. Yet now, this Longevity Sect elder actually accused him of colluding with the demon race! How could anyone tolerate this?
Over a dozen peaks erupted in uproar. But those on the peaks were all third-generation disciples, along with some outer disciples of even lower realms. They had no way to break through the Ten Thousand Swords Formation to provide aid, so they could only keep cursing.
That Longevity Sect elder had an incredibly thick skin. His expression still didn't change as he said, "Before his death, Li Mountain disciple Liang Xiaoxiao identified Qi Jian as colluding with the demon race, Wo Fu Zhe Xiu, and Chen Changsheng, slaughtering people in the Zhou Garden. Senior Brother Qiushan fell unconscious because of this matter. As Senior Brother Qiushan's master, why have you delayed for so many days, refusing to hand Qi Jian over to the Discipline Hall for interrogation? What exactly are you trying to hide? How can people not suspect that you, too, are colluding with the demon race?"
"Since when do matters of my Li Mountain fall under the jurisdiction of the Longevity Sect?" The Li Mountain Sect Master looked at the Longevity Sect elder and said, "Don't spout nonsense about the Longevity Sect being the ancestral temple of all Southern Sky sects. Back then, Little Uncle slaughtered all the Longevity Sect elders. Do you really think my Li Mountain will still listen to you? How utterly naive and childish."
Hearing this, thunderous laughter erupted from over a dozen peaks of Li Mountain. Some disciples even praised the Sect Master's incisive commentary. Bai Cai and the other disciples burst into loud laughter. Against the backdrop of blood and swords everywhere, a heroic spirit rose spontaneously.
Xiaosong Gong noticed that the disciples behind him, loyal to him and the other two elders, looked somewhat uncomfortable. He secretly regretted his decision, thinking that he had only considered Li Mountain as a subordinate sect of the Longevity Sect, so he had agreed to let the Longevity Sect elder accompany him. But he had forgotten that, over the past ten-plus years, because of Su Li, Li Mountain disciples held no respect for the Longevity Sect—only hostility.
"In any case, Elder Ji is still a fellow elder of the sect. Junior Brother, you should show some respect."
Xiaosong Gong stared coldly at the Sect Master and said, "If you don't want to be suspected of colluding with the demon race, then hand over Qi Jian. When this is over, I will personally apologize to you, then cut off one of my own arms and live in seclusion at the back mountain for five hundred years!"
These words were extremely tough. They even silenced the laughter and curses from the various peaks of Li Mountain. The Sect Master quietly looked at Xiaosong Gong and sighed, thinking that if he weren't certain that the Sect Master would never hand over Qi Jian, how would he dare to make such a poisonous oath.
"Is that all?" He looked into Xiaosong Gong's eyes and asked.
Xiaosong Gong made no concessions. Staring into his eyes, he said hatefully, "The Dharma Sword must also be handed over along with it. And you must also hand over the Ten Thousand Swords Grand Formation!"
The Li Mountain Sect Master asked calmly, "If I hand over everything, I suppose I must also hand over my position as Sect Master."
These words were a tacit admission.
Bai Cai said angrily, "Why do you say that Junior Brother Qi Jian colluded with the demon race just because you say so?"
A Discipline Hall elder, who had remained silent all along, suddenly spoke up, "The one who identified Qi Jian as colluding with the demon race is not us, but your deceased Third Senior Brother."
This Discipline Hall elder held extremely high prestige within Li Mountain. He was known for enforcing the law strictly and being the most fair and just. Disciples from all peaks dared not disobey him. Hearing his words, Bai Cai was momentarily speechless, and even the disciples from the various peaks fell silent.
This Discipline Hall elder looked at the Sect Master and sighed, "Why won't you let the Discipline Hall conduct the interrogation?"
The Li Mountain Sect Master said calmly, "Because I don't believe Qi Jian would do evil."
The Discipline Hall elder said seriously, "Even though your other disciple, Liang Xiaoxiao, personally identified him, and he is already dead?"
The Li Mountain Sect Master was silent for a moment, then said, "Yes."
The Discipline Hall elder said, "Since you don't believe it, why won't you let the Discipline Hall interrogate him?"
The Li Mountain Sect Master looked at him and was silent for a long time before saying, "Because I don't trust the Discipline Hall."
A murmur rippled through the peaks. Bai Cai and the other disciples had fought bloody battles earlier to protect the cave dwelling, but even they found it hard to believe the Sect Master's words. After all, the Li Mountain Discipline Hall was the most impartial institution, with no record of any improper dealings.
The Discipline Hall elder's brows twitched slightly, clearly very angry. He asked, "May I ask the Sect Master, in the past hundred years, has the Discipline Hall ever been unfair in any matter? If not, then why is it untrustworthy?"
"Because you don't trust Little Uncle." The Sect Master looked at the two Discipline Hall elders and said.
The Discipline Hall elder said, "Why do you say that?"
The Sect Master said, "Back then, after you entered the Tian Shu Ling and took a blood oath to become Stele Attendants, Little Uncle was furious when he heard about it. He stormed into the Tian Shu Ling and forcibly took you away. Whenever people talk about this matter, they often praise Li Mountain's actions as being as pure as the bright moon and clear breeze. But I know very well that you have always felt that you lost the chance to enter the sacred realm for life because Little Uncle took you out of the Tian Shu Ling. You have always believed that Little Uncle wronged you."
This was a very famous incident from the past. It was only this morning that many Li Mountain disciples learned that the two Li Mountain disciples who had been forcibly taken out of the Tian Shu Ling by Grand Uncle back then were actually the two Discipline Hall elders later renowned for their iron-faced impartiality.
The other Discipline Hall elder, who had not spoken, suddenly said hoarsely, "Didn't Little Uncle wrong us?"
The Sect Master said painfully, "The Tian Shu Ling is a sacred ground but also an abyss. After all these years, haven't you figured it out yet? Little Uncle offended the Li Palace just to give you true freedom, yet you have held a grudge against him for so many years. How absurd!"