Chapter 560 - 558: Utterly Shameless

The Yunxiao Sect Master was pleased to see Zhou Yuquan’s change in attitude toward Luo Tian.

One was the Third Elder of the Sect, and the other was the King of the Celestial Pride. The Sect Leader had always hoped the two could resolve their differences.

"Luo Tian?"

The upper echelons of Bishui Palace also saw Luo Tian, and none of them looked pleased.

"I didn’t expect your sect’s King of the Celestial Pride to return!"

the Bishui Palace Master said.

She was quite old, yet her face was free of wrinkles. Dressed in a cyan palace gown, she possessed a graceful and elegant bearing.

"He just returned. Let’s get down to business."

The Yunxiao Sect Master nodded.

The good news Luo Tian brought back had lifted his spirits considerably.

"Perfect. Before we discuss business, we can settle another matter first."

The Bishui Palace Master stared coldly at Luo Tian and demanded, "Luo Tian, does seeing me prick your conscience?"

Luo Tian found the question baffling.

"Not at all. On the contrary, I find it laughable."

Luo Tian said with a smile.

He also recalled something.

Back then, before he prepared to leave the Dongchen Continent, he went to the Celestial Extreme Mountain Range to hunt an Earth Level Demon Beast and fulfill his pact with the Sleeping Beast.

But he was ambushed by the upper echelons of Bishui Palace and nearly lost his life!

It was a premeditated assassination attempt!

At this moment, it should have been Luo Tian asking the Bishui Palace Master if she was the one with a guilty conscience.

"How dare you speak to the Palace Master like that?"

an elder from Bishui Palace snapped.

Luo Tian’s contemptuous attitude toward the Bishui Palace Master was tantamount to showing no respect for Bishui Palace at all.

"No guilty conscience? Hmph. Back then, my Bishui Palace’s Grand Elder and other high-ranking members chanced upon you in the Celestial Extreme Mountain Range, only to encounter the Cyan Armor Race. They died tragically at the hands of the Cyan Armor Race while protecting you, the King of the Celestial Pride!"

"But you abandoned them and fled alone! You failed to bring back reinforcements in time, and you never once visited their graves to pay your respects!"

The Bishui Palace Master’s expression was stern, her words powerful and resonant—enough to sway any listener!

A terrifying aura spread out from her.

The clouds roiled in the sky, and the air grew thick and heavy, creating a suffocating pressure.

"Now, tell me. Do you feel any guilt?"

the Bishui Palace Master demanded coldly.

An ordinary disciple of the Yunxiao Sect would have been left utterly dumbfounded by the Bishui Palace Master’s barrage of questions.

But Luo Tian had witnessed countless perilous situations in the Outer World Space.

The Bishui Palace Master’s cultivation, at the mere Half-step Celestial Pool Realm, made her seem like nothing more than a preening clown in his eyes.

"What a joke!"

Luo Tian sneered.

It was clearly the Grand Elder of Bishui Palace and his cohorts who had tried to kill him, only to be killed by the Cyan Armor Race instead.

And yet the Bishui Palace Master was claiming they had died to save him, branding him an ungrateful coward!

After returning from that incident, Luo Tian had been in a hurry to leave Dongchen and had neglected to announce the truth of the matter.

It didn’t take much thought to figure out what happened next.

After Luo Tian left, the Bishui Palace Master had shamelessly twisted the truth to frame him.

Even the upper echelons of the Yunxiao Sect had mostly believed the Bishui Palace Master’s version of events.

After all.

Luo Tian had only just broken through to the Earth Element Realm at the time. The fact that he escaped the clutches of the Cyan Armor Race alive while the Grand Elder of Bishui Palace and his group all perished was obviously suspicious.

"Bishui Palace Master, let’s put this matter aside for now. The Cyan Armor Race is the priority!"

the Yunxiao Sect Master said gravely.

He was trying to defuse the situation for Luo Tian.

"Fine. After we discuss the Cyan Armor Race, we will settle this. The Yunxiao Sect must give me a satisfactory explanation."

The Bishui Palace Master’s expression softened slightly.

The Yunxiao Sect Master reluctantly nodded in agreement.

With the Dongchen Continent in such a precarious state, the Yunxiao Sect and Bishui Palace had to stand united. How could they afford to be in conflict?

For the sake of the continent, some sacrifices were unavoidable.

Afterward,

the upper echelons of the two sects proceeded to Yunxiao Hall to discuss important matters.

"Luo Tian, you just got back. Go get some rest. If there’s anything you want to understand, you can come and ask me later."

the Yunxiao Sect Master said via voice transmission.

He was deliberately trying to send Luo Tian away, lest the sight of him upset the Bishui Palace leaders and affect the negotiations.

The Yunxiao Sect Master also knew Luo Tian’s personality and was worried he and the Bishui Palace delegation would start arguing again.

"There’s no need. I’m full of energy. Besides, I just returned to Dongchen and am completely in the dark. This is a perfect opportunity to get caught up on the situation."

Luo Tian rejected the Yunxiao Sect Master’s suggestion.

The Yunxiao Sect Master sighed internally. Luo Tian had failed to understand his good intentions.

「Yunxiao Hall」

The high-ranking members of the two sects took their seats on opposite sides of the hall.

"Bishui Palace Master, you were the one who proposed this joint agreement. I wonder, what are the specifics of your plan?"

the Yunxiao Sect Master asked.

"Hold on! Both the Yunxiao Sect and Bishui Palace have been infiltrated by too many moles. These negotiations are of the utmost importance, and we absolutely cannot allow any information to be leaked to them!"

"Therefore, before we begin, I want to inspect one person!"

The Bishui Palace Master’s gaze fell on Luo Tian once more!

The Yunxiao Sect Master felt a surge of irritation. ’Why is the Bishui Palace Master so fixated on Luo Tian? If only Luo Tian had left earlier,’ he thought.

"Luo Tian, you disappeared for several years and have suddenly returned. No one knows what you experienced during your absence. We can’t even be certain that you are the real Luo Tian!"

The Bishui Palace Master’s words sowed suspicion among the leaders of both sects.

It was indeed possible that this Luo Tian was an imposter.

"Oh? And how does the Bishui Palace Master propose to inspect me?" Luo Tian asked with a smile.

"Come here. First, let me see if you are a member of an Alien Race in disguise,"

the Bishui Palace Master declared with an air of great righteousness.

"Alright."

Luo Tian walked over.

His cooperative attitude took the leaders of both sects by surprise, and a smile crept onto the Bishui Palace Master’s face.

"Heh heh."

Zhou Yuquan also let out a sudden, sinister chuckle.

SWOOSH!

When Luo Tian came within five meters of the Bishui Palace Master, her figure suddenly shot forward, appearing behind him as a wave of chilling, emerald-green light rippled out!

HUMMM!

The layer of emerald light transformed into ten chains, instantly binding Luo Tian.

"Bishui Palace Master, what are you doing?"

The Yunxiao Sect Master slammed his palm on the armrest of his chair and shot to his feet!

The faces of the Grand Elder and the Second Elder changed drastically.

The Bishui Palace Master did not respond.

"Kill!"

The other high-ranking members of Bishui Palace suddenly launched their attacks!

Not only that!

Among the Yunxiao Sect’s own leaders, several suddenly revealed murderous intent and struck at those beside them!

Among them was the Third Elder, Zhou Yuquan!

He suddenly unleashed a powerful blue Palm Light, launching a sneak attack on the Grand Elder beside him!

BOOM!

In an instant, an earth-shattering boom erupted within Yunxiao Hall, turning the roof to ash.

All four walls collapsed!

THUD! SPURT!

On the Yunxiao Sect’s side, several Elders were caught off guard. They were sent flying by the surprise attack from the Bishui Palace leaders, spitting up mouthfuls of blood!

Several more died on the spot!

The Grand Elder was also heavily injured by Zhou Yuquan’s sneak attack, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth!

"You...!"

The Yunxiao Sect Master, the Grand Elder, and the others stared at the members of their own sect who had just attacked them, their hearts burning with a towering rage.

"My apologies. I have abandoned the darkness for the light. I advise you all not to be so obstinate."

Zhou Yuquan said with a laugh.

"Hahaha, I’ve finished my inspection. Shall we begin our negotiations now?"

"To the esteemed members of the Yunxiao Sect, are you willing to surrender?"

the Grand Elder of Bishui Palace boomed with laughter!

"You!"

The Yunxiao Sect Master pointed at the Bishui Palace Master, his eyes practically bursting with fury!

If the Yunxiao Sect’s leaders still hadn’t figured out what was happening, they would have to be complete fools!

Bishui Palace had actually sided with the Cyan Armor Race!

This was a conspiracy!

Bishui Palace had pretended to come and negotiate a plan against the Cyan Armor Race, but in reality, their target was the Yunxiao Sect!

More than twenty high-ranking members from Bishui Palace had come this time.

Even with the advantage gained from the sneak attack, it was obviously impossible for them to completely defeat the Yunxiao Sect.

In fact, the Bishui Palace group would likely be annihilated by the Yunxiao Sect’s ferocious counterattack!

Why would Bishui Palace commit such a foolish act?

’Could it be... the Cyan Armor Race is already attacking...?’

the Yunxiao Sect Master guessed, his expression grim.

Bishui Palace would betray them and cripple the Yunxiao Sect from within, while the Cyan Armor Race attacked from the outside.

Caught in a pincer attack, the Yunxiao Sect would be doomed!

"Sect Leader, terrible news! An army of the Cyan Armor Race is approaching, just three hundred li away!"

A Steward came running in haste.

When he saw the state of Yunxiao Hall, he was utterly dumbfounded and collapsed to the ground.

"We’re finished... It’s all over..."

he repeated blankly, his heart filled with despair.

"Damn it!"

When the Yunxiao Sect Master heard the news, his face turned as dark as a thundercloud, radiating an intense, palpable hatred!

It was exactly as he had suspected!

Those bastards from Bishui Palace!

So cunning and treacherous!

"You bastards! You actually yielded to an Alien Race! Have you no shame before the ancestors of Dongchen? Have you no shame before the entire Human Race?"

the Yunxiao Sect Master roared!

"Heh heh, we had no choice. Dongchen’s defeat is certain. A wise person adapts to the times. Survival is what matters most."

the Bishui Palace Master said with a chuckle.

Then, the Bishui Palace Master looked at Luo Tian and sneered, "Luo Tian, you could say that you brought all of this on yourself."

Luo Tian was silent.

He did not refute her words.

The disaster that had befallen the Dongchen Continent was indeed connected to him.

If he hadn’t offended the Sea Demon Palace, this war would never have happened.

"It’s all your fault. Why didn’t you just die earlier? You led several of my sect’s elders to the Cyan Armor Race, causing our sect to suffer grievous losses. That’s what led to our defeat in the war, forcing Bishui Palace to side with the Cyan Armor Race."

the Bishui Palace Master continued.

"..."

Luo Tian was left speechless.

’So that’s what she was referring to,’ he thought.

Hearing this, the people of the Yunxiao Sect finally understood. All this time, Bishui Palace had been slandering Luo Tian!

"Luo Tian, you don’t even have the chance to surrender. You killed the fifth son of the Cyan Armor Race Leader, and the Cyan Armor Race has posted a bounty of three hundred thousand Spiritual Essence Coins for you."

The Bishui Palace Master had captured Luo Tian alive precisely for that three hundred thousand Spiritual Essence Coin bounty!

The thought of this huge sum of money filled her with delight.

"A mere three hundred thousand Spiritual Essence Coins? Old hag, you’re getting a bad deal."

Luo Tian said.

"Bastard, what nonsense are you spouting?"

The Bishui Palace Master’s face turned icy.

Even as a prisoner, Luo Tian still dared to call her an old hag!

"If you were to take me to the Sea Demon Palace, you could collect a bounty of one million Spiritual Essence Coins!"

Luo Tian said with a grin.

One million?

Everyone present was stunned.

The Sea Demon Palace? Isn’t that the power backing the Cyan Armor Race? One of the Overlord Level powers of the Broken-star Realm?

The Sea Demon Palace had actually put a bounty of one million Spiritual Essence Coins on Luo Tian?

This was simply unimaginable!

Because sometimes, the price also reflects the difficulty and danger involved!

SNAP! POP! CRACK!

Luo Tian shrugged his shoulders, and the ten Jade Water Chains binding his body instantly shattered into pieces.

"This..."

The Bishui Palace Master was flabbergasted!

He had broken free from her "Water Spirit Chain Binding" so easily?

WHOOSH!

In a flash, Luo Tian appeared behind the Bishui Palace Master, his hand clamped around her neck.

"Now, your life is in my hands."