Chapter 172: The Two Daring Elders
Chapter 172: The Two Daring Elders
“The demons rampage this fiercely, and the people weep in despair! Can’t you see the sun itself hides its face behind clouds, ashamed? Every gust of demon wind carries the cries of murdered souls! If we, cultivators, do not act, how can the world’s virtue stand? If we wait until the demons grow strong and storm our cities to feast on blood, how can the people of Qingjiang live in peace?”
“Just look! Look how wild the demons are! You great sects have shamed the heavens! The wails of misery from Crow Mountain reach all the way to Qingjiang City! If we wait until the nearby people are eaten, and the demons charge into the city to devour us, what then shall become of Qingjiang’s people? Will you remember to slay demons only when the slaughter comes knocking?”
“…”
“…”
Grief and fury surged among the people of Great Qingjiang City. Within the crowd, the two Elders from the Shoushan Sect also wept openly, their voices thick with emotion.
Elder Green Pine’s eyes seemed filled with bloody tears, his expression tragic and furious. He roared, “Our Shoushan Sect, though weak in power, stands strong in honor! For generations, we have guarded righteousness against evil! Thirty years ago, against the calamity brought by the Demon Lord, three hundred of our elders fought bitterly at Ghost Sorrow Cliff! Blood was spilled like rain, nearly wiping us out! Yet today, hearing demons run amok, feasting on our people, defiling our divine realm, we ROSE IN ANGER, drew our swords, and came! We vow to share no sky with these fiends! But you great sects—blessed with vast numbers and fortune, famed across Qingjiang—swore oaths to slay these demons! How dare you break your vows now? How dare you abandon righteousness?”
Elder Cold Stone bellowed, “Our Shoushan Sect nearly died out protecting the people! But still, WE came! We won’t let the demons run wild! Your Five Great Sects… your reputations shake the heavens… so why in the nine hells are you cowards now?!”
“Is this how sons act?!”
“You are all grandsons…”
“Shoushan Sect swears to protect the people! For a thousand generations!”
“The Shoushan Sect is good! The Five Great Sects are nothing…”
“…”
“…”
At first, only the two elders shouted. Now, the entire city’s fury was ignited. People joined the condemnation like a hurricane sweeping through. Anger and grim determination formed a tide of rage no one could ignore.
“The Shoushan Sect is despicable! Using such tricks to steal fame and make our Five Sects seem dishonorable!”
Hidden within high towers, the Elders of the Five Great Sects finally reacted, faces filled with shock and fury. They saw the two reckless Shoushan Elders had stirred the city into a frenzy. Absurd! Yet, with things like this, they dared not act rashly, fearing the crowd’s wrath. Truly, the situation felt incredibly thorny.
“Where is Old Master Fan? Only he can calm this now…”
Reflecting nervously, some realized the gravity and shouted urgently.
…
…
“The Shoushan Sect dares bewitch the public! They sully reputations! Only you, Sir, can show people the truth!”
In a secluded courtyard, an old butler noticed something was wrong, his expression alarmed as he urged softly.
Unexpectedly, that Old Master Fan showed no inclination to move. Instead, he tilted his head, listening intently, even a faint smile appearing.
“Look at the people,” he said.
The people in the city raged, cursing the Five Great Sects as shameless, hide-under-shell turtles.
“Hear their words,” he said.
Many shouted praises for Old Master Fan’s great virtue and righteousness, condemning the Qi Refiners who defied his command as unforgivable by heaven and earth.
Then Old Master Fan smiled. “Do you think it’s appropriate for me to go there now?”
…
…
While the city roared with chaos, the southern skies remained empty, serene, and utterly devoid of figures.
“That Old Master Fan… could it be…?”
Suddenly, someone realized something. His expression darkened; teeth clenched secretly.
“The Shoushan Sect is building HIS reputation! Half the people’s rage comes from terror at the demons’ feeding. The other half comes from indignation on HIS behalf! After this, the Shoushan Sect might gain a bit of goodwill… but HE gains most of the credit! At such a golden moment… why would he show himself to help quell it?”
“We can’t just let them keep cursing! Our Five Great Sects’ reputations—ruined just like that?”
“We must show ourselves! No more delay!”
“…”
“…”
Meanwhile, the two elder-robbers, deeply immersed in their own fervor, kept shouting: “Fellow countrymen! Qi Refiners slaying demons is Heaven’s mandate itself! Why should they reap all the world’s blessings but shirk the responsibility?”
“Tell us… is this not shameless?”
The crowd roared back: “They are extremely shameless!”
“Tell us… is this not despicable?”
The crowd roared: “They are extremely despicable…”
Seeing this, the elders hurriedly asked: “Then should it not be that they hand over all the reward to our Shoushan…”
“ENOUGH!”
Before they even finished, a sharp bark echoed.
Everyone spun towards the source. Figures descended from the void. Five Qi Refiners stood in view before them—four men and one woman. Their Qi auras were deep and powerful. They strode through empty air, causing the wind itself to seem to still suddenly. Though their steps made no sound, each footfall echoed with a palpable thud against everyone’s chests.
It felt as if each of their steps landed directly on the people’s hearts.
“This…”
Sensing the pressure from those five, the citizens instinctively swallowed their curses.
“We, the Five Sects, have arrived!”
The one leading them was Elder Ge of the Nine Immortals Sect—whom Fang Cun had seen before. He was furious, his expression thunderous.
“Old Master Fan has often instructed us not to disturb the people lightly!” Elder Ge barked sternly. “Hence, once our Five Sects’ members arrived, we assembled within the towers to await you, Shoushan Sect, for discussion! Yet you arrive late! Instead, you stand before the multitudes, spewing venomous curses like mad dogs! Where is even a shred of a Qi Refiner’s dignity?! Is THIS the demeanor of your Shoushan Sect?!”
“Whoosh…”
Imposing and seizing the initiative with his roar, the Qi pressure radiating from him instantly choked the surroundings into silence.
“This…”
Facing his aura, the two Shoushan Elders instinctively shrank back. It was clear they were intimidated.
After all… this was Nine Immortals Sect’s Elder Ge!
Although they were all Elders from Prefectural Sects… what were they compared to him?
“Did the Five Great Sects get truly enraged?”
Inside the elegant airship called the Dharma Ship, Young Sect Master Xu had been watching. Startled, he whispered urgently to Fang Cun beside him.
To be honest, only upon hearing the two elders’ curses had he realized what “deal” they had been murmuring in secret earlier. But inwardly, he felt even more helpless. He could admit it sounded satisfying to curse like that… but was it worth it? He wondered if he himself should step forward now, maybe explain things a little, to prevent the Five Great Sects from becoming too hostile to Shoushan Sect.
“Fear not!”
Fang Cun listened, then simply waved his hand dismissively. “There’s more!”
“Ah?” Young Sect Master Xu was utterly flabbergasted.
“Dragon Stone!”
Meanwhile, facing the five visibly outraged Elders from the Five Great Sects, and the stares from every citizen of Great Qingjiang City, Elder Cold Stone gritted his teeth. He muttered something low to Elder Green Pine. Both men then unconsciously straightened their backs. Seeing the anger that Elder Ge could barely contain, Elder Green Pine abruptly shouted:
“How DARE YOU twist the truth?”
Elder Cold Stone immediately jumped with rage: “DON’T FEED US THAT BULLSHIT!”
“Whoosh!”
Elder Ge’s face instantly flushed deep crimson—part rage, part utter disbelief.
He DARED curse me?
Where did these two old fools get the courage to curse ME?!
Even the elders from the other four sects stared in shock. They had all showed themselves! Why were these two still cursing?!
Before the thought fully formed, Elder Green Pine already unleashed a torrent of angry shouts: “This is the time for EVERY sect to join forces to slay the demons! Six Sect Leaders swore an oath before the people of Qingjiang THREE DAYS AGO! The people MUST witness its fulfillment now! So WHY HIDE AWAY? What reason justifies it?!”
The five Elders from the other sects visibly paused.
Old cultivator reflexes kicked in for Elder Xiu of the Leshui Sect. He responded swiftly, “Hide? Nonsense! Demon-slaying is no trifling matter to decide rashly! We were merely waiting in the towers, acting prudently, to discuss detailed plans once your Shoushan Sect arrived!”
“DISCUSS YOUR ASS!”
Elder Cold Stone stomped forward, spittle flying: “We discussed it already THREE DAYS AGO! What MORE is there to discuss?!”
Elder Xiu faltered. He literally didn’t know how to reply to that. There were countless things to discuss… but how could he explain that NOW, before the crowd?
A female Elder from the Yun Huan Sect sighed softly. Stepping forward, she tried a conciliatory smile. “Honored Elders, hear me… That Demon Hound is powerful…”
“I don’t WANT to hear you! YOU hear ME!”
Elder Green Pine’s expression was absolutely fierce, shouting, “It is PRECISELY because that Demon Hound is strong that we MUST slay it QUICKLY! IS IT NOT?!”
The Yun Huan Sect’s female Elder froze.
Elder Qiwu of the Duskblade Sect stepped forward, his expression dark thunder. “Demonslaying is a joint task for SIX SECTS! It demands careful deliberation! You Shoushan Sect…”
Elder Cold Stone screamed in furious indignation: “Careful deliberation?! And knowing every day of delay means DEATHS of innocent people?!”
Elder Qiwu choked instantly. He did NOT dare touch that statement.
The five Elders gaped at each other. Five mouths struck utterly speechless by two old relics. The less they could speak, the angrier they became; the angrier they became, the harder they found speech…
Seeing these two Shoushan old-timers blustering with such arrogance was truly… an indescribable bitterness.
These two looked like he could squash them with one palm. Their status and reputation among all Elders in Qingjiang hovered barely above rock bottom. Yet… at this moment, their aura felt overwhelming, pinning him down. Facing them, his mighty cultivation felt utterly useless!
Seeing the smoldering resentment on the faces of the Five Elders, Elders Green Pine and Cold Stone stood solemn and dignified. Inside, they only sneered.
We prepared for THREE DAYS!
Three. Whole. Days!
What reaction could we NOT anticipate?
What retort did we NOT have ready?