Chapter 406: I Killed Bai Heng

The moment Lu Sangjiu introduced herself, someone impatiently demanded, "Is everything you just said true?"

She nodded. "There is not a single falsehood in my words. As long as we reach an agreement on our side, I can immediately contact Cangming and Fa Shan of the Western Demon Realm to set a time for formal peace talks."

Hearing Lu Sangjiu’s words, the happiest among them were, of course, Hua Jianzhi and Master Wuliang.

The two of them were staunch supporters of Lu Sangjiu and her group. They were overjoyed at the news. "That’s wonderful! If that’s the case, I don’t think our side should have any further reservations, should we?"

"We can meet for the talks, and if we can’t come to an agreement, we can discuss other options then. How does that sound?"

The sect leaders of the various major and small sects looked at one another, their stances softening.

"That makes sense. So... we support the peace talks? However, before the formal talks begin, we must agree on our terms."

Hua Jianzhi let out a sigh of relief and immediately nodded. "Of course, no problem! In that case, we shall..."

"I disagree!"

She had barely gotten the words out when a voice suddenly cut her off.

Everyone’s eyes instinctively followed the sound, and they saw a beautiful female cultivator striding slowly into the great hall.

Most people found the newcomer to be a stranger, but to Lu Sangjiu and her companions, she was all too familiar... Ye Zhiyao.

"And who might you be?"

Their meeting had been interrupted time and again today, and by members of the younger generation no less. Some were already growing displeased.

But just as the question was asked, Master Qian He, the Sect Leader of the Seven Emotions Sect, had already risen to greet her.

His attitude was a mixture of awkwardness and reverence. He lowered his voice and said, "Niece Ye, why have you come?"

Upon hearing this, someone couldn’t help but sneer. "Another one from the Seven Emotions Sect. Why is your sect always causing so much trouble?"

The speaker was the Sect Leader of the Lingjian Sect. Only someone from one of the Four Great Sects had the standing to openly challenge the Seven Emotions Sect.

He then shot an unfriendly look at Ye Zhiyao. "What? A junior like you dares to voice opposition in front of us? Or have you also brought some important news?"

The Seven Emotions Sect had, of course, not widely publicized the fact that their Old Ancestor was inhabiting Ye Zhiyao’s body. Even within the sect, very few knew.

Therefore, they were naturally unaware of Ye Zhiyao’s true status. This was why Master Qian He’s attitude was a mixture of forced reverence and awkwardness upon seeing her.

Now, seeing Ye Zhiyao being spoken to so sarcastically, Master Qian He felt a headache coming on. Nevertheless, he had to defend her. "What’s all this talk about juniors? My Niece Ye is now at the Divinity Transformation Stage, on equal footing with many people here. Moreover, she is already the Peak Master of Purple Peak. She is in no way your inferior!"

Having said that, he had to lower his voice once more to speak with Ye Zhiyao. "A moment ago... I heard you voice your opposition. Could it be that..."

Ye Zhiyao lifted her head, her gaze cutting through the crowd to land coldly on Lu Sangjiu. "Of course. If the Old Ancestor hadn’t passed on his word, why else would I be here?"

"Putting aside the utter humiliation our Seven Emotions Sect has suffered—for which reason we cannot agree to a truce—this woman alone is not to be trusted!"

Lu Sangjiu was left speechless.

’Just like you to cause trouble for me the moment you finally show your face after so long, isn’t it?’

Master Qian He frowned. He glanced back at Lu Sangjiu and couldn’t help but speak up for her.

"Niece Lu and her companions are not bad people. As for the matter with Junior Brother Bai, perhaps there has been some misunderstanding..."

"A misunderstanding?" Ye Zhiyao sneered. "If it were a misunderstanding, then why have they never returned to the sect?"

"If you ask me, it’s obvious they have a guilty conscience and don’t dare to come back!"

Master Qian He tried to speak again, but Ye Zhiyao cut him off coldly. "What? Is the Sect Leader going to question even the Old Ancestor’s wishes?"

Master Qian He immediately fell silent. He tilted his head slightly, giving Lu Sangjiu, Duan Xingyun, and the others a faint, wry smile.

Seeing how aggressive Ye Zhiyao was, Duan Xingyun knew that it would be difficult to smooth things over today.

"Niece Ye, this is an internal affair of the Seven Emotions Sect. We can resolve it behind closed doors after this meeting concludes."

"There is absolutely no need to interrupt these proceedings and waste everyone’s time."

Duan Xingyun’s words were tantamount to agreeing to return to the sect with them afterward, yet Ye Zhiyao refused to yield an inch.

"Originally, this was indeed an internal matter of the Seven Emotions Sect. But now that you’ve involved yourselves in the Immortal Demon war, that is no longer necessarily the case."

With that, Ye Zhiyao turned to the crowd and declared loudly, "Everyone, Lu Sangjiu cannot be trusted!"

"My master, Bai Heng, was secretly conspired against and murdered by these very people! Furthermore, they have deep ties with the Demon Cultivators of the Western Demon Realm."

"I suspect the incident at the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect was a conspiracy they orchestrated with the Demon Cultivators! And as for these so-called peace talks, it’s nothing more than a trap, an opportunity to wipe out all the high-level cultivators of the Cultivation World in one fell swoop!"

Initially, this was just an internal affair of the Seven Emotions Sect. The others were curious but hadn’t paid it much attention.

But once Ye Zhiyao voiced these accusations, everyone was stunned.

If Lu Sangjiu truly was in league with the Demon Cultivators, then this matter was far from simple.

A flurry of discussion erupted. The consensus that had just begun to form was shattered in an instant.

Lu Sangjiu frowned. She understood that if she didn’t settle things with Ye Zhiyao here and now, the meeting could not go on.

Facing the countless suspicious gazes, Lu Sangjiu stepped forward to stand opposite Ye Zhiyao and spoke calmly, "Since you want the truth, then today, I shall give it to you."

At her words, the discussions in the crowd gradually subsided. Everyone fell silent, watching the standoff between the two women, awaiting the outcome.

"First, I admit that we did, in fact, kill Bai Heng."

The moment these words were spoken, the hall, which had just fallen silent, erupted into a stir once more.

Ye Zhiyao’s heart leaped with joy. Ever since she’d discovered Bai Heng harbored filthy intentions toward her, she had lost all affection for him as a master.

She felt little, if any, grief over his death. Her claim of seeking justice for her master was merely a pretext to seize this opportunity and have Lu Sangjiu killed.

Now, with Lu Sangjiu admitting to killing Bai Heng in front of so many people, she had put herself at a distinct disadvantage!

’She’s fallen right into my trap!’ she thought, secretly delighted. Outwardly, however, her expression twisted with rage. "So it was you! You killed my master! What else do you have to say for yourself?!"

Luo Linlang could no longer hold back. "I struck a blow as well, so what? Bai Heng was the one who tried to kill us first! We were only acting to save our own lives!"

"We were all gravely injured and on the verge of death! If our Little Junior Sister hadn’t managed to turn the tables and kill Bai Heng, we wouldn’t be the ones standing here today!"

"What, so it’s fine for him to try and kill us, but we’re not allowed to fight back?"

Ye Zhiyao retorted loudly, "Nonsense! My master had no grudge against you. Why would he try to kill you?"

"Besides, there’s a whole group of you, and my master was alone. Does it sound reasonable that he would try to kill all of you by himself?"

She paused, glancing at Duan Xingyun. "Especially you, Uncle Duan. You are already at the Body Integration Realm. My master was only at the Divinity Transformation Stage. Does it seem reasonable that he would take the initiative to attack you?"