"Fan Li's cultivation level is only at Qi Refining, and he's just over twenty years old. He has never killed anyone unjustly, nor provoked contention between the great nations. On what basis can you say that killing him will bring peace to the realm afterwards?"
In the impressions of the Pure Land's sage rulers, Qing Qiu had always been a woman of few words. But today, she was exceptionally talkative, and her words were well-reasoned, hitting the crux of the issue each time!
Upon hearing this, Yao Guang merely smiled and shook her head. Her gaze towards Qing Qiu remained gentle, the smile on her face still cordial, just like a mother looking at her cute but naive child.
"Little sister Qing Qiu, I cannot provide specifics, but I swear on my own character that every word is true. As long as Fan Li dies, it can bring about peace in the realm." As she spoke, Yao Guang sighed, her tone sorrowful and compassionate.
"Perhaps Fan Li is innocent. After his death, as compensation, Yao Guang is willing to tend his grave for three years." When the Supreme Sage Ruler uttered these words, the entire gathering was shocked!
For the Supreme Sage Ruler of Brahma Sound Pure Land to tend the grave of a mere Qi Refining cultivator? This was an incredible act of condescension!
The Golden Virtue Sage Ruler also loudly proclaimed: "Qing Qiu, Elder Sister Yao Guang is willing to humiliate herself for the sake of the common people in the realm. What right do you still have to doubt Elder Sister Yao Guang? Killing just one Fan Li could save countless living beings across the realm. What reason could you have to refuse!?"
The other sage rulers present were also moved. Although Yao Guang hadn't clarified the reason, they also silently accepted in their hearts that perhaps Fan Li could be sacrificed for the sake of the realm's common folk.
Only Qing Qiu continued shaking her head. "Fan Li has never owed anything to the realm's commoners. Why should he have to die for them?"
With just one line, she had blocked off all excuses. Qing Qiu then asked Golden Virtue: "What if I kill you, then tend your grave for three years afterwards?"
"You!" Golden Virtue's expression alternated between green and white before she finally laughed from extreme anger. "With just you, the ninth sage ruler, daring to challenge me, the eighth!?"
The Golden Virtue Sage Ruler suddenly beckoned with her hand, and a book emitting misty, sandy golden spirit energy emerged over her head.
Written on the book cover in small cursive script were the two characters for "Female Virtue", precisely Golden Virtue's innate Confucian-Daoist magic treasure!
"I ask my fellow sisters to bear witness. Today, Qing Qiu has repeatedly been rude and offensive, showing no respect not only to Elder Sister Yao Guang but even insulting me numerous times. Today, I insist we settle this dispute!"
Within Brahma Sound Pure Land, barring absolute necessity, internal strife was typically prohibited. Seeing this, the other sage rulers hesitated, but Supreme Sage Ruler Yao Guang suddenly took the lead by example. She silently turned and walked away, as if to make space for the two to battle.
The remaining sage rulers exchanged looks with each other before imitating Yao Guang and moving away.
"Hmph! Qing Qiu, today you've brought this misery upon yourself. Don't blame me for disregarding our sisterly affection as Pure Land cultivators!"
The Golden Virtue Sage Ruler coldly laughed. The Confucian-Daoist treasure Female Virtue hovering over her head flipped open a page.
"A woman has four virtues: wifely virtue, wifely speech, wifely appearance, wifely work."
The Golden Virtue Sage Ruler's voice rang out powerfully. As she recited the Female Virtue passage, her voice seemed to descend from the heavens.
Then, four massive characters for virtue, speech, appearance and work over an acre in size each manifested in midair.
"Word technique!"
The Golden Virtue sage ruler formed a hand seal, pointing at Qing Qiu.
At her side, Yao Guang smiled in praise: "Female Virtue educates women across the realm. 'Wifely speech' represents regulating women's conduct and bearing. When facing an enemy, the word technique is the strongest offensive method, capable of suppressing the body and confining the soul, forcing the enemy to be unable to resist and await death. Judging by the might of this word technique, little sister Golden Virtue's skills have improved again. This is truly delightful."
Hearing this, the other sage rulers felt somewhat uneasy. To employ lethal moves against their sister cultivator on first contact, was this really delightful?
But with Yao Guang speaking this way, the other sage rulers didn't dare voice objections. They watched as the massive "word" character descended upon Qing Qiu's head. As expected, she stood motionless in place, seemingly suppressed.
"Hmph! The arrogance of ignorance." Golden Virtue coldly sneered. She took out a punishment rod, also an exquisitely refined Confucian-Daoist treasure.
The Golden Virtue Sage Ruler intended to flog Qing Qiu's face with the rod, thoroughly humiliating her!
"I'll strike!"
As the Golden Virtue sage ruler swung the punishment rod down, about to land on Qing Qiu's face, the latter suddenly shifted right by a step, lightly and effortlessly dodging the rod.
"You, you, how did you break free of the word technique!?" the Golden Virtue Sage Ruler exclaimed in shock.
"Broke... free?" Qing Qiu shook her head. "When did you ever trap me?"
"Impossible!" Golden Virtue was both shocked and furious.
The word technique was her strongest suppression method. It could absolutely suppress those at the same level, and even briefly suppress experts an entire grade above her!
Golden Virtue firmly believed that the latter five sage rulers of Brahma Sound Pure Land would be powerless before her word technique.
As for Qing Qiu, how could she not be suppressed!?
"Again!"
"Word technique!"
The Female Virtue book manifested another acre-sized "word" character, still pressing down on Qing Qiu. Golden Virtue refused to believe something had gone wrong just now. This time it would definitely work to suppress Qing Qiu!
Slap!
Qing Qiu swung her palm, casually batting away the "word" character as if swatting a fly.
Pfff!!!
With the word technique shattered, it immediately backlashed onto the Golden Virtue Sage Ruler. She felt like a mountain had smashed into her body, the tremendous force sending her flying. In midair, she spat out a mouthful of blood that fell like raindrops!
"Stop!" The Supreme Sage Ruler Yao Guang suddenly flashed over to stand before Qing Qiu, seizing her raised right hand.
Qing Qiu's brows furrowed. With one strike to defeat Golden Virtue, she hadn't intended follow up attacks, yet Yao Guang had arrived too swiftly.
"We're all sisters in Pure Land. Qing Qiu, how could you inflict such heavy injuries on little sister Golden Virtue?"
Her tone was still compassionate, her gaze still pitying, Yao Guang was always the image of a loving mother.
"Fine, I won't hit anymore." Qing Qiu nodded.
"Elder sister... she hit me... She actually hit me... It hurts so much!" Golden Virtue crawled on the ground, her long hair in disarray, tears mixing with the blood on her face, completely lacking the bearing of a Sage Ruler.
Yao Guang hurriedly went up to examine her injuries, extremely concerned. "Endure for now. Take this Divine Phoenix Pellet to heal your wounds." She took out a single pellet, feeding it into Golden Virtue's mouth.
The pill was a rich, fiery red, brimming with spiritual energy and faintly glowing. Clearly, it was no ordinary item.
"Ah... this is actually a fifth-grade heavenly treasure Divine Phoenix Pellet? Thank you, elder sister Yao Guang..." Golden Virtue gratefully swallowed the pellet, then glared resentfully at Qing Qiu standing not far away. She couldn't understand how Qing Qiu could be stronger than herself.
Although the Pure Land sage rulers' rankings were set by the previous supreme sage ruler, there should almost never be errors. Since she was ranked eighth, why would she lose to the ninth-ranked Qing Qiu?
After comforting Golden Virtue, Yao Guang turned to Qing Qiu. "Although it was a fair duel, your actions were too severe. Let's set aside the matter of Fan Li for now, but I must punish you with house arrest in the Pure Land, Qing Qiu. Do you accept the punishment?"
"...As long as the other Sage Rulers refrain from taking action against Fan Li, I accept..."