On the Verge of a Fight! . . .
While they conversed, a cadre of level nine Dao Origin Stage cultivators from Cold Moon Palace arrived at the colossal tree.
Systematically, they began to examine the lifeless forms, searching for any signs of survivors.
The longer they inspected, the graver their expressions grew.
"Prime Master... They're all deceased," declared a senior elder, promptly moving to address Yue Changtian in hushed tones.
"All dead," Yue Changtian echoed, his frame trembling. His complexion shifted to an ashen hue.
"Cha Chongxiao... sustained a wound to the chest. It entered through the front and exited the back... It's a grievous injury," the elder communicated via a private mental connection, concealing the information from the others. "His heart should have ceased beating by now under normal circumstances... However, though he no longer breathes, a faint pulse still lingers."
Yue Changtian, a maelstrom of anger and sorrow, roared, "Transport all the disciples' remains within. We shall seek justice in this matter! We will not tolerate unjust accusations!"
"Understood," affirmed the elder with a resolute shout. He rallied a group of others to carry the forty-six bodies to a suitable resting place.
On the opposite side, Wu Huitian squinted at the lifeless forms and challenged, "Prime Master Yue, mere volume does not equate to veracity. You must provide an explanation! Are you going to sanction this by your silence?"
Yue Changtian affected a semblance of a smile, though it bore no sincerity. "Enough is enough," he rebuked. "Are you, by any chance, harboring doubts within your heart? What explanation do you seek? Is that truly your desire? Are you implying that I orchestrated an ambush with over forty Dream Origin Stage disciples to assassinate a level nine Dao Origin Stage master cultivator such as yourself? Is that your insinuation? Moreover, consider that the Prime Master of the Saint Sunlight Sect unjustly extinguished the lives of my disciples, then imposed upon us to provide an explanation. Pray, do provide an explanation for that."
His words cut like a blade, a retaliatory strike aimed squarely at Wu Huitian.
No matter how unscrupulous Wu Huitian might be, he couldn't readily sidestep this line of argument. Thus, he pivoted and locked eyes with Yue Changtian, who exuded an aura of cold, piercing intensity that sent chills down his spine.
The reality was irrefutable. The concealed group behind the tree, nearly fifty individuals, were all disciples of the Dream Origin Stage. Their demise could not be faked, a somber truth impossible to deny.
Three sword lights, unleashed by three level nine Dao Origin Stage cultivators, had simultaneously reaped the lives of the forty-six disciples. It was a stark testament to the vast disparity in power between them and their assailants. Were it not for their status as Dream Origin Stage disciples, their collective demise would have been even more swift and unceremonious.
The notion of forty-six Dream Origin Stage cultivators plotting to assassinate Wu Huitian bordered on absurdity.
Even had Wu Huitian remained motionless, these disciples would have been unable to inflict harm upon him.
"We face a formidable adversary, one who could be as elusive as the wind, as subtle as the mountain's grass. It behooves us to remain vigilant," Yue Changtian retorted. "All these individuals were Dream Origin Stage disciples. It is a matter of prudence. Wu Huitian, are you determined to press the issue?"
On the opposite side, Yun Xiran frowned and remarked, "Jun Yinglian has entered the martial world brandishing her longsword, targeting all three factions. Prime Master Yue, is it truly worth taking a stance on such a minor incident? Are you inclined to turn against us? Or do you harbor intentions to exact retribution upon the low-ranking disciples of the Saint Sunlight Sect?"
"Minor incident?" Yue Changtian exclaimed with a mixture of anger and sorrow.
He was crestfallen and chilled to the core.
[Low-ranking disciples?]
[Is Cha Chongxiao merely a low-ranking disciple?]
[He embodies our sect's hope! His demise would be a devastating blow to Cold Moon Palace!]
In that moment, Yue Changtian contemplated dismembering their eight guests into a myriad of pieces, then preserving their lifeless bodies within Cold Moon Palace's confines in perpetuity.
[Why not act on this impulse? A mere command from me, and they will all perish here. Two Prime Masters and six level nine Dao Origin Stage cultivators, all laid low. The Saint Sunlight Sect and Saint Starlight Sect will be grievously enfeebled. They have thwarted my future. It is only just to dismantle their most formidable assets. That would be equitable!]
As these thoughts coursed through his mind, he struggled to suppress the tide of emotion. His eyes betrayed an unsettling coldness, and his gaze wavered.
Wu Huitian and Yun Xiran, however, were astute to Yue Changtian's underlying shift in disposition. They couldn't help but feel a trace of trepidation.
They had not anticipated such a dramatic response from Yue Changtian.
The objective of their visit to Cold Moon Palace encompassed two elements. The first was to broach the issue of how to contend with Jun Yinglian's enmity. The second involved the elimination of a Cold Moon Palace prodigy, a certain Cha Chongxiao.
For the former, they required Cold Moon Palace's cooperation, but the latter objective demanded merely the opportune moment to be fulfilled.
Their target was a promising young disciple, and despite his potential, they sought only a momentary opportunity.
Within Cold Moon Palace, both major sects had established numerous spies, and their knowledge of Cha Chongxiao was no less than that of Yue Changtian. However, their information arrived a day later than Cold Moon Palace's.
Initially, the two Prime Masters regarded Cha Chongxiao as yet another talented disciple, scarcely worth their special attention. After all, there had been countless prodigies throughout history, bearing titles such as "super genius," "great genius," and "peerless genius," yet few had gone on to become truly influential figures. Even if a Dao Origin Stage master cultivator emerged from Cold Moon Palace, it would not alter the fact that the sect was the weakest of the three factions.
However, their perceptions underwent a transformation when they learned that Cha Chongxiao had successfully completed the three-month special training, a feat hitherto unprecedented in the annals of history. Wu Huitian and Yun Xinran themselves had undergone this rigorous training, so they understood its challenges. It was Cha Chongxiao's extraordinary achievements during this period that drew their attention. His relentless breakthroughs over a mere five months astounded them.
In that brief span, Cha Chongxiao had ascended from the fourth level of the Spirit Origin Stage to the second level of the Dream Origin Stage. The initial three months were dedicated to the special training, leaving him only one month for this significant advancement, whereas most cultivators would require over a decade to achieve the same. Additionally, the inner core of the Golden-scaled Dragon Fish resided within him, a potent source of cultivation power. They concluded that it was imperative to take action.
Their assessment indicated that within a year, Cha Chongxiao would become an exceptionally formidable adversary, and in turn, Cold Moon Palace would rise in stature. It would cease being the weakest faction among the three and surpass Saint Sunlight Sect and Saint Starlight Sect. This outcome was precisely what the two Prime Masters hoped to avoid.
The timing aligned with Jun Yinglian's return to the martial world, making it an opportune moment to implement their plan to eliminate Cha Chongxiao. Subsequently, they could engage Cold Moon Palace in discussions concerning the matter of Jun Yinglian. They even issued a firm directive to several influential spies within Cold Moon Palace, orchestrating Cha Chongxiao's positioning in order to eliminate him, along with all their own men in his proximity, to ensure a thorough, clandestine execution.
Both believed that Cha Chongxiao, while undeniably gifted, would not play a crucial role within the sect over such a short time. Although Yue Changtian might express anger, they did not anticipate him jeopardizing the relationship among the three factions over a fledgling disciple. Given Cold Moon Palace's perennial status as the weakest faction, they assumed that even following Cha Chongxiao's demise, Yue Changtian would engage in peaceful discussions on the matter of Jun Yinglian.
Wu Huitian contemplated a direct execution of Cha Chongxiao, followed by a subsequent apology to diffuse any potential conflict. He surmised that even under those circumstances, Yue Changtian would be amenable to resuming discussions regarding Jun Yinglian.
Their overwhelming confidence in the situation was, however, soon shattered by the vehemence of Cold Moon Palace. Instead of acquiescing, the disciples and leadership of the sect were evidently intent on starting a confrontation.
Both Prime Masters gazed deeply into Yue Changtian's eyes and perceived a looming sense of dread within. They now suspected that events were on the verge of spiraling out of control.
Cold Moon Palace's residents seemed poised to act upon their desire to slay the eight guests. A single misstep could trigger a large-scale conflict.
Wu Huitian, Yun Xiran, and their team of Dao Origin Stage disciples, numbering eight in total, constituted an exceptionally powerful force. Nevertheless, they found themselves situated within Cold Moon Palace, surrounded by the sect's formidable might. In the event of hostilities, the eight of them were sure to meet their demise within these walls, and Cold Moon Palace would likewise pay a steep price.
"Since Prime Master Yue appears disinclined to maintain our alliance, it seems we are not welcome here today," Wu Huitian coldly declared. "I may have acted hastily, mistakenly slaying individuals. If there are items you wish to retrieve, I will dispatch a team to return them to you as compensation."
"Farewell!" Wu Huitian assumed a facade of indignation and grievance, as though he were the aggrieved party. With a wave of his sleeve, he made preparations to depart.