Chapter 161 Protect Your Own and Hand Over the Person
"What?" Ji Mingran was confused by Qi Qingling's words, but he had already laughed and left. He could only turn to his fellow disciple and ask, "Could it be that our sect isn't a proper sect?"
Shen Qingluo was equally confused.
Zhu Shibai pondered for a moment, carefully choosing his words, and said, "He has quite the temperament of a strongman."
Ji Mingran pointed at Zhu Shibai and asked the others, "What is he saying?"
“Oh dear! Grandma, I’ve told you before.” Guan Wangzhen propped his head up with one hand and said bluntly, “The Dingsheng Sect wasn’t like this three hundred years ago. The reason why the Dingsheng Sect was named Dingsheng back then was, of course, because in terms of strength, other sects couldn’t even touch the tail of the Dingsheng Sect.”
"Think about it, with such a powerful sect, coupled with your master's temperament, the disciples of Dingsheng Sect can do whatever they want in spiritual cultivation."
Remembering Boss Jiang's independent and fiercely protective nature, Ji Mingran nodded: "I understand, it's a legitimate sect."
“It’s not just the orthodox sects.” Guan Wangzhen couldn’t stop talking about the sect back then, full of longing. “As the number one sect that crushes all other spiritual cultivation sects and families, even geniuses who are only seen once in a hundred years may not be able to catch the eye of the Dingsheng Sect.”
"It might take a hundred years to recruit even one disciple." Ji Mingran turned to Yu Tianxing and shared his thoughts: "So even now, the number of disciples in Dingsheng Sect is not considered large."
Yu Tianxing: "A vast territory with a sparse population is a sign of strength."
Guan Wangzhen's eyes revealed his approval of Yu Tianxing: "You have good taste."
“Back in the day, the Flourishing Sect not only had strict requirements for physical attributes, but also imposed age restrictions,” Guan Wangzhen said. “They basically only accepted children under the age of ten.”
Shen Qingluo: "So the four of us couldn't actually join the sect back then?"
"Not exactly," Zhu Shibai said. "Where there are rules, there are exceptions."
“Our senior sister from the Eastern Continent was the former peak master of Lin Peak.” Guan Wangzhen said, “She did not cultivate in Dingsheng Sect from a young age. She was taken in as a personal disciple by the then peak master of Lin Peak, Venerable Yunxiao, when she was twenty years old.”
Shen Qingluo sighed, "Just how high must her talent be for the patriarch of the Dingsheng Sect to take notice of her and make an exception to accept her as a disciple?"
“For example,” Guan Wangzhen said, “she switched from Dharma cultivation to alchemy cultivation halfway through her career. Not only did her cultivation not stagnate, but she also broke through to the Mahayana stage. It seems that all types of breakthrough pills originated from her half-finished recipes.”
Zhu Shibai's tone was slightly cold: "Because it is a semi-finished product, it places extremely high demands on the cultivator's body, and the user is very likely to suffer a backlash. The one who brought out this immature formula was Nanmen Hong of Liuhuan Valley."
Ji Mingran explained the relationships between the characters to Yu Tianxing: "Nanmen Hong is Senior Sister Jing Yaoyao's eldest disciple and also a senior brother of Donglu. He has left Dingsheng Sect and is now an elder in Liuhuan Valley. Oh, he is also Dan Niang's master."
Speaking of Dan Niang, she paused and asked her three fellow disciples, "Have you received any news from Dan Niang?"
Another purpose of their trip was to find out about Qin Danniang.
Shen Qingluo had overheard the disciples of Liuhuan Valley who were traveling with her in the desolate continent complaining that Dan Niang was in the sect but did not participate in the operation.
Ya Dongbai then told her that Danniang was sick.
According to this account, Qin Danniang is indeed in Liuhuan Valley, but it is unknown why she lost contact with them.
The four continued to send her telepathic messages, but the messages disappeared without a trace.
The jade pendant tied to her waist trembled at the same time.
Ji Mingran and his three fellow disciples exchanged glances and picked up the jade token.
It was Shi Jinle's message: "I'm in the sect's territory. Your sect leader seems to be about to die of anger. Come quickly. Sister Mingran, don't come. Remember to hide well."
Zhu Shibai frowned: "I'll go take a look."
Guan Wangzhen: "Since my old man has gone out, you don't need to worry." But he stood up: "However, it's been a long time since I've seen my old man in this kind of situation, so I'll go and take a look too."
Shen Qingluo also stood up and said, "In that case, I'll go take a look and let you know what's going on ahead. You all stay here."
Having reached an agreement, the three departed. Turning away from watching them go, Ji Mingran lowered his head and sent another message: "Dan Niang, are you alright?"
The messaging interface displaying the name "Qin Danniang" remained unresponsive.
Ji Mingran thought for a moment and then wrote: "Dan Niang, I saw the Cliff East Cypress on the coast of Dongchu. I heard from the disciples of Liuhuan Valley that they were able to escape only because of the high-grade pills made from the Cliff East Cypress. To be honest, the pills you make are excellent. Could you give me some next time? I will go and earn spirit stones to buy them from you."
"Oh, there might be some gossip about me lately, but that won't stop me from buying pills from you, will it?"
The name displayed on the jade pendant remained unanswered.
Looking at the three characters "Qin Danniang", Shi Jinle sighed slightly and put away the communication jade tablet.
Standing beside him, Master Ziyan frowned as she looked at her disciple, who kept drifting off into thought, and asked, "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing, Master," Shi Jinle offered an excuse. "I was just tired, so I chatted with a friend."
Master Ziyan assumed that his disciple was bored, so he turned to the side and whispered in his ear, "Stay a little longer, and we'll find an excuse to go back to the sect."
Shi Jinle nodded, glancing helplessly at the sect's territory where he was.
The last time she came to Dingsheng Sect, the place was very empty, unlike now where it's so crowded.
The vast platform was filled with cultivators from all five continents, standing in concentric circles.
The sect leader of Dingsheng Sect, Yuan Liu, and the elders of the six sects were in the inner circle, talking solemnly.
The six sects representing the ten cultivations of the Daoist sect arrived uninvited with a large group of disciples. Although the Dingsheng Sect went out to greet them, they only went as far as the sect's main gate.
"Shall we take another step forward?" Yuan Liu, the sect leader of Dingsheng Sect, politely smiled and invited the guest to stop.
Although there were many people from the Six Sects, it did not mean that they could force their way in, so the two sides were locked in a stalemate for a time.
The Hehuan Sect did not share the same stance as the other five sects. They shared the same attitude as the other ten Daoist cultivators who had not yet arrived: it was not advisable to act rashly before the matter was clarified.
Their role here is that of mediators and witnesses, preventing the two sides with conflicting positions from acting impulsively and causing a major disaster.
If a conflict does occur, they will be the witnesses in identifying who started it.
In fact, only the Hehuan Sect is capable of fulfilling such a role. After all, in the realm of spiritual cultivation, only the Hehuan Sect has connections with every sect and family, some more or less, that are difficult to define or explain.
Therefore, the Hehuan Sect's stance is sufficiently neutral.
Thus, the Hehuan Sect silently watched Yuan Liu and the representatives of other sects engage in a war of words for most of the day.
The Hehuan Sect found it boring, but unfortunately, the other sects didn't think so.
Chongjue's gaze swept almost imperceptibly over the ancient spirit stone, and he said calmly, "Yuanliu, we have explained to you the reason for our visit. This stalemate will not solve anything. Please tell us Ji Mingran's whereabouts as soon as possible."
Crane Xiu stroked the golden-winged lion beast and bluntly revealed the hidden worries of the five sects who shared his stance: "Your sect's Ji Mingran is in league with the demon Yu Tianxing. All the cultivators of the Dao Sect's Ten Cultivators have witnessed this; it's an undeniable fact. As the leader of a sect, you're still protecting her! I seriously suspect that your Dingsheng Sect has also converted to demonic cultivation?"
As soon as he spoke, the already tense atmosphere within the sect became even more solemn.
The disciples of Dingsheng Sect angrily retorted, "You're slandering us! Your Beast Taming Sect has always been jealous of our sect's ancestor, Master Chen, for subduing the Qilin Guardian. Now that you've got the opportunity, you're causing trouble!"
Upon hearing this, the disciples of the Beast Taming Sect immediately cursed, "Your Dingsheng Sect is nothing but a bunch of petty thieves, and your collusion with demonic cultivators only further proves it!"
Yuan Liu raised his palm, stopping the disciples behind him who were about to hurl insults.
"It's just a projection of images from a projection stone. Whether there's more to this matter is unknown to anyone. Before the facts are clear, it's a bit of a hassle for Venerable Chongjue to bring everyone here. Furthermore," Yuan Liu turned to He Xiu calmly, "that you, True Person, have made a hasty conclusion based on this alone is something Dingsheng Sect has noted down."
"Heh, do you think my Beast Taming Sect is afraid of you?" Crane Xiu said excitedly, "Those two suddenly disappeared in the Desolate Continent, they must have fled together, and they might be hiding here with you!"
Yuan Liu: "What Master Hexiu said makes sense, but do you have any evidence?"
Chongjue stopped the charging crane and said sincerely, "Yuanliu, it is precisely because there are suspicious things about this matter that we came here to ask you to hand her over so that the ten cultivators of the Dao Sect can thoroughly investigate this matter, right?"
“Our sect has long since withdrawn from the Ten Cultivators of Daoist Sect, and before the facts have been investigated, they want to take away our disciples.” Yuan Liu said, “Our sect cannot agree to this.”
"Who knows how you're going to investigate?" shouted a disciple of Dingsheng Sect dressed in gold. "Maybe she was forced into it? Instead of going to wipe out the demonic cultivators, you bring a bunch of people to our doorstep."
"A bunch of brats, spouting nonsense without knowing anything!" Shen Ting, who was leading the Shen family disciples to a quiet retreat within the Dingsheng Sect's territory, shouted, "It seems your sect leader also knows he's in the wrong and is hiding the truth from you. Let me tell you, the culprit who released the demon from the Soul Devouring Array is none other than your carefully protected little ancestor, Ji Mingran!"
“Yuan Liu, you keep saying that she cannot be taken away before the facts are clear.” Chong Jue faced Yuan Liu and said in a deep voice, “But Hongqi Sect has found out that the one who broke our sect’s Soul Devouring Array was Ji Mingran. Fifteen array cultivators from the Five Continents and Eight Sects can all corroborate this.”
Master Hexiu interrupted, "If she weren't truly innocent with that demon, why would she willingly risk going into the Soul Devouring Array?"
He then pressed on, "With the Soul Devouring Array broken, the spiritual veins of the Hongqi Sect flowed backward, causing mountains and rivers to collapse, jade pavilions to crumble, and treasures to be destroyed. The entire Hongqi Sect was nearly plunged into peril. If it weren't for Venerable Chongjue's timely return to the sect, it would have truly caused a great calamity. How will your Dingsheng Sect compensate the Hongqi Sect for the losses it caused?"
“In my opinion, whatever Hongqi Sect lost, your Dingsheng Sect should compensate accordingly. Mountains, rivers, forests, valleys, spiritual artifacts, and inheritances should be valued at an equal price. Only then is it reasonable,” Hexiu said.
The smile on Yuan Liu's lips faded. "He Xiu, I'm afraid our sect's grand formation will have to ask you to leave."
“Yuan Liu! This matter, along with her welcoming Yu Tianxing on the coast of Dongchu, is enough to make the ten cultivators of the Dao Sect come knocking on our door demanding her return.” Chong Jue said sternly, word by word, “Are you really going to protect her to this extent?”
Yuan Liu looked at him coldly.
Chongjue met Yuan Liu's gaze, and the unique aura of a Mahayana cultivator spread outwards.
"If you insist, then today, whether as the sect leader of Hongqi Sect or as one of the ten cultivators of Dao Sect, I will make Dingsheng Sect give me an explanation."
"Regardless of the cost."
"Whether it is reasonable or unreasonable, let Hehuan bear witness, and then let the Ten Sects decide."
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