Chapter 707: Great Demon 70

"The Talisman Sect has quite a few, too..."

"I wonder about the Taiyi Sect... Strange, how come not a single one from the Taiyi Sect has come out this year?"

"What else could it be? They must’ve run into a tough nut to crack."

"You know something? Spill it."

"From what I hear, the Taiyi Sect set its sights on the little Snake Empress of the Golden Ring Snake Clan. And do you know who she is? Look over there, see her?"

The gossiping Immortal Monarch gestured toward Tan You. She was surrounded by dozens of Great Demons, looking completely at ease and leisurely.

"What am I supposed to be looking at? Isn’t she just a female cultivator? Besides being pretty, what’s so special about her?"

"This is why I tell you to keep up with the news," the gossiping Immortal Monarch shot him a glare. "She’s a being who awakened her Emperor’s Soul and grasped the Power of Laws the moment she became an Immortal Monarch. Forget the Golden Ring Snake Clan—in all of history, no one has ever grasped the Power of Laws so early."

"She’s that incredible? I’ve never heard anything about her."

"The Golden Ring Snake Clan kept it under wraps. I heard she went to the Immortal-Demon Battlefield right after becoming an Immortal Monarch. She made a huge name for herself there. I only know because a distant uncle of mine on the battlefield told me."

"Her name might not be well-known in the Ninth Heaven, but on the Immortal-Demon Battlefield, her reputation was forged in real combat. Think about it, how many Immortal Monarchs even go to the Immortal-Demon Battlefield these days? Their sects guard them like the apples of their eyes."

"That’s true. A demon immortal who’s been tempered by the battlefield is completely different from an Immortal Monarch who cultivates behind closed doors."

"But with so many Snake Emperors from the Golden Ring Snake Clan protecting her, she probably wasn’t in any real danger even on the Immortal-Demon Battlefield. If it were a sect, could they afford the luxury of having elders as personal bodyguards?"

"True, you can’t really compare them."

"So this time, the Taiyi Sect fell at the hands of this little Snake Empress?"

"Mhm, I heard the Taiyi Sect meddled in the lower realms to steal the destiny of the Demon Clan there, but this little Snake Empress exposed them. They probably couldn’t stand the loss of face."

"And just because they couldn’t stand the loss of face, they threw away the lives of so many Immortal Monarchs? Sigh... those poor Immortal Monarchs who died for nothing..."

While everyone was gossiping and sighing, the eyes of the Taiyi Sect’s Immortal Monarchs were practically bulging with rage. "This brat has gone too far!"

An irascible Immortal Monarch forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "May I ask the little Snake Empress, did you happen to encounter any disciples of my sect in the Ancient Battlefield?"

Although casualties were to be expected in the great competition between clans, you couldn’t just go around bragging about who you killed. That would be asking for a feud. So, Tan You smiled with an air of pure innocence. "I’ve been cultivating within my clan ever since I arrived in the Ninth Heaven. I don’t know any outsiders. I wonder what your sect’s disciples are named, or what they look like."

The man hadn’t expected such a reply from Tan You and felt his chest tighten. "Little Snake Empress, let’s not mince words. My sect and you do have a small disagreement, but for you to eliminate so many of our people... isn’t that a bit too ruthless?"

Even if she had done it, Tan You wouldn’t admit it. "You must be joking, Immortal Monarch. Since you are accusing me of this slaughter, you should be the one to provide evidence. I have no reason to prove my own innocence to you."

"The burden of proof lies with the accuser. I don’t need to teach you that principle, do I?"

The man’s nose was practically crooked with anger. "Little Snake Empress, I am trying to speak to you nicely..."

"Are you threatening me?" Instead of getting angry, Tan You laughed. "Immortal Monarch, if you’re going to threaten me so openly, then if anything happens to me later on, I’ll know who to blame."

"You..." The man hadn’t expected Tan You to be so confrontational and was left speechless, his anger flaring.

Tan You paid him no more mind and was about to turn back to speak with Bai Ze when another Immortal Monarch spoke up, a fake smile on his face. "Please forgive us, Little Snake Empress. Taixu Immortal Monarch is just a bit anxious because his sect’s juniors haven’t returned."

"There’s nothing for me to forgive," Tan You also said with a chuckle. "This Immortal Monarch came right up and started slinging accusations, blaming me for the deaths of your sect’s Immortal Monarchs. I’m truly being wronged. I don’t even know who your sect’s Immortal Monarchs are."

"Besides, have I ever had any conflict with your sect? I’ve only been in the Ninth Heaven for ten thousand years, and I’ve always stayed with my clan elders. I’ve rarely even met Immortal Monarchs from other clans. This Immortal Monarch’s accusation is completely baseless!"

Some things could be done but not said, and Tan You was now using this to her advantage. The Taiyi Sect’s scheme to steal the destiny of the lower realms was something that could never be brought out into the open, or it would mean starting a blood feud with the entire Demon Clan.

But the Taiyi Sect couldn’t just swallow this insult, either. Thus, Tan You had them backed into a corner, and while she was at it, she flatly denied any past conflict between herself and their sect.

She certainly wasn’t going to admit she had it out for the Taiyi Sect. After all, she was the one who ruined their plan. If there was a grudge, it should be them holding one against her.

Tan You deflected everything flawlessly. Even this old fox of an Immortal Monarch was stumped by her. If they admitted to having a grudge against Tan You, they’d have to bring up their own past misdeeds.

But if they didn’t admit it, then coming to confront Tan You would just make them look guilty and weak. For a moment, the Immortal Monarchs of the Taiyi Sect were caught in a dilemma.

Jin Yao felt a surge of satisfaction watching this. "Our Ahzhao is really something else. She can shut them up without even lifting a finger."

Jin Zhen said, "I think it’s because they’re concerned about face. No matter how rotten they are on the inside, they have to put on a respectable front. You know, that move is surprisingly effective."

"It wouldn’t necessarily work on the Demon Clan. If a demon is unhappy, they’ll just start a fight. Whoever wins is right. We don’t care about things like ’face’."

Jin Yu: "So Ahzhao’s move wouldn’t work on the Demon Clan. We still have to rely on our fists to do the talking."

Jin Yan could only clap. "Mother is amazing."

Jin Yao ruffled his hair like he was petting a dog. "Are you Ahzhao’s number one fanboy?"

Jin Yan didn’t understand, but he just squinted and smiled.

The Immortal Monarchs of the Taiyi Sect retreated in defeat, not forgetting to leave a few parting threats. Tan You just kept chuckling. "Immortal Monarch, we of the Golden Ring Snake Clan are very protective of our own. If any ’accidents’ were to happen to me in the future, my ancestors are not to be trifled with."

The man stiffened and quickly glanced at the other members of the Demon Clan surrounding them. They didn’t dare linger any longer and beat a hasty retreat. Even though they were already Ninth Grade Immortal Monarchs, as long as they hadn’t condensed an Emperor’s Soul, they were still just Immortal Monarchs. They couldn’t even touch the level of an Upper God.

Their Taiyi Sect only had two Upper Gods in total. But the Golden Ring Snake Clan... not only were they all Upper Gods, but this little Third Grade Immortal Monarch was already a Quasi-Upper God. All she needed was to raise her cultivation level.

Thinking of the power of an Upper God, the Taiyi Sect’s Immortal Monarchs could only back off, no matter how unwilling they were. They couldn’t win in a fight, and they couldn’t win in a war of words. Speaking of which, this little Snake Empress was far too sharp-tongued.

’Who said demon beasts were stupid? Isn’t she incredibly shrewd?’

Watching the Immortal Monarchs of the Taiyi Sect storm off in a huff, Bai Ze narrowed his eyes. "You’ve made a mortal enemy of them now."