Chapter 243: 156, The 7th in the Human Rankings of Shadow Assassination Hall, Ren Yuanrui’s Rage (4K Big Chapter) _2
"Seventh in the Human Rankings, Giant Sword Lineage, Emperor Tiande Xu Xing?"
"How did he make the list this time?"
"Although the Human King physique is strong, it is still somewhat inferior compared to the numerous Immortal Bodies. Moreover, merely killing four Shadow Assassination Hall Disciples of the same realm shouldn’t be enough to rank seventh in the Human Rankings."
Despite the Yama Palace Disciples believing in the authority of the Human Rankings, they were still puzzled as to why Xu Xing was on the list. Killing cultivators of the same realm, tearing apart three Grade One puppets. Though it sounded ferocious, which Pride of Heaven on the Human Rankings wasn’t ferocious?
"Unfortunately, intelligence from the Shadow Assassination Hall is only accessible to Disciples assigned corresponding missions..."
Several Yama Palace Disciples sighed.
The Shadow Assassination Hall had persisted for so long for two reasons: firstly, Yama Palace was powerful, ranking among the top three of the Ten Major Sects of East Huangzhou; secondly, Yama Palace had also placed a series of restrictions on the Shadow Assassination Hall. Otherwise, if Yama Palace were to fully commit to assassinating the geniuses and high-level members of other major sects, it would undoubtedly lead to war! No matter how strong Yama Palace was, it would be outmatched against many foes, let alone a siege by the other major sects combined.
"The Shadow Assassination Hall ranks Xu Xing at seventh, just below Ruan Baimei."
"It’s just a ploy to incite internal strife within the Flying Feather Immortal Palace," one perceptive disciple analyzed after a moment of contemplation.
「Flying Feather Immortal Palace.」
After Xu Xing’s assassination attempt, the long-prepared Giant Sword Daoist Lord arrived before the mountain gate of the Flying Feather Immortal Palace.
Back when I first came to the Sect, I was young, full of vigor, dressed in fine clothes, riding a spirited horse...
Now, my temples are frosted with white, my face aged and weary...
Yet the Sect’s scenery remains unchanged.
Carrying his sword, the Giant Sword Daoist Lord arrived at the main gate of the Immortal Palace. He looked up at the jade Plaque inscribed with "Flying Feather Palace," staring for a long time at the characters written in styles resembling iron strokes and silver hooks, like Dragon Seals and Phoenix Calligraphy.
Before him, the Immortal Palace floated amidst the clouds, resplendent with golden light, purple qi soaring to the heavens. It was just as he remembered from when he first entered the Sect.
The difference was, he was no longer the Commoner Disciple of yesteryear. Back then, the Celestial Messenger, riding a luan bird, had offered him two choices: join the Family Line or the Master and Disciple Lineage. Proud and arrogant, he had chosen the Master and Disciple Lineage, unwilling to have his fate controlled by others.
Five thousand years had passed.
Born a commoner, he married his Senior Sister from the same Sect and established a family. As his Daoist spouse and relatives passed away, his heart slowly grew desolate. If not for Xu Xing’s kowtow, he might still be cowering in the Sealed Demon Pan Palace today, awaiting the end of his days.
So many grand ambitions, all washed away like flowing water.
The Giant Sword Daoist Lord sighed softly.
As he finished speaking, his aura abruptly surged. The might of a Nascent Soul Daoist Lord radiated throughout the entire domain. Though his hair was white with age, his beard and hair bristled with anger. He stomped fiercely on the steps of the Immortal Palace, his Divine Sense sweeping through the entire Sect. "Ai Ah of the Sealed Demon Pan Palace has come to the Sect today to demand justice from Sect Master Ren!"
At this thunderous shout, the long-dormant Flying Feather Immortal Palace suddenly shimmered with multicolored spiritual light.
Deacons and House Elders from various organizations in the Outer Sect emerged to investigate. Outer Sect Disciples and Inner Sect Disciples alike trembled before this Nascent Soul Daoist Lord. Just a sliver of the Nascent Soul Daoist Lord’s might made them feel an unbearable sense of suffocation.
When they looked at this aging Old Man, they felt only a blinding sword light.
The Five Halls of Aristocratic Families were in an uproar.
"Why is Giant Sword acting like this today?"
"What justice is he seeking from Sect Master Ren?"
"Could it be he’s forgotten that he and Ren Yuanrui both belong to the Master and Disciple Lineage..."
Several Daoist Lords communicated via Divine Sense, their words filled with puzzlement.
"Perhaps..." the Gong Family Daoist Lord mused for a moment, "perhaps someone ignorant within the family, seeing that Giant Sword’s end was near, thought to settle old scores with him? You all know he and our Gong Family have some minor enmity."
"As the saying goes, ’It is better to provoke an old man with white hair than to bully a youth in poverty.’"
"Their actions weren’t wrong; it’s just that they didn’t expect Giant Sword to change his disposition."
Another Daoist Lord from an aristocratic family spoke up for the Gong Family Daoist Lord. The Gong Family Daoist Lord said this to avoid suspicion, claiming their younger generation was ignorant. However, if the others truly took these words at face value, they would seem foolish. Without the Gong Family Daoist Lord’s instruction, how would members of the Gong Family dare to provoke a Nascent Soul Daoist Lord?
"Giant Sword has taken a new disciple."
"It seems this disciple holds considerable value in his heart, so he’s come knocking to ask Sect Master Ren to uphold justice," the Gong Family Daoist Lord pondered for a moment before saying.
"Like the Lingxiao Sect?"
A few Daoist Lords were surprised, bringing up a past incident.
About one hundred and seventy years ago, an elderly Daoist Lord had also ascended to the mountain gate, asking Sect Master Ren Yuanrui of the Flying Feather Immortal Palace to uphold justice. That person was none other than Song Knife’s Master—Lingxiao Dao Lord.
"Yes, like Lingxiao Dao Lord..."
The Daoist Lords of the Five Halls of Aristocratic Families recalled that past scene. To them, one hundred and seventy years was but a fleeting moment.
"The conflict between the Family Line and the Master and Disciple Lineage has deepened. This is not a good sign. Of course, the Ancestral Master established the Family Line and the Master and Disciple Lineage to ensure the internal stability of the Flying Feather Immortal Palace..."
A Daoist Lord or two from the Family Line expressed their concern.
Circumstances were beyond their control!
Anyone could see the myriad conflicts between the two lineages within the Sect. However, the conflict between the Family Line and the Master and Disciple Lineage was incredibly difficult to resolve. One hundred and seventy years ago, there was the case of Song Knife. Now, there was Xu Xing. It was clearly impossible for both to be mere coincidences.
They were inevitabilities arising from coincidence.
"Future generations will have their own fortunes."
"Let’s not dwell on this too much..."
"First, let’s deal with this Giant Sword matter."
A Daoist Lord holding considerable prestige within the Family Line interrupted the others, redirecting the conversation.
"Giant Sword appears to act decisively."
"But he is shrewd; he won’t confront us directly," one Daoist Lord said softly.
"This Giant Sword affair gives Ren Yuanrui a perfect pretext. Everyone, send word to your families immediately. Don’t let Ren Yuanrui uncover anything incriminating about us. Ren Yuanrui is not someone to be trifled with."
"This Giant Sword fellow appears to be questioning Ren Yuanrui, but in reality, he’s handing Ren Yuanrui a weapon, intending to use Ren Yuanrui against us..."
The Daoist Lords of the Five Halls of Aristocratic Families saw through the Giant Sword Daoist Lord’s intentions.
"Let’s play it by ear."
"No matter how much trouble Ren Yuanrui stirs up, it will only be minor disturbances. He can’t solve the fundamental problem. The Sect Master is, after all, just a spokesperson put forth by the Sage Monarchs. The Sect has two Nascent Soul Saint Monarchs: Uncle Gong and Martial Uncle Shi. Uncle Gong belongs to our Family Line, while Martial Uncle Shi intends to establish another hall, potentially becoming the sixth among the Five Halls of Aristocratic Families..."
Several Daoist Lords communicated via Divine Sense, utterly dauntless.
As the Giant Sword Daoist Lord made his way to the Inner Sect Peaks, deep within the Immortal Palace, among three majestic, suspended Great Halls, a figure appeared on the previously empty Cushion upon the seven-tiered jade platform in the Main Hall of the "Flying Immortal Hall." It was a middle-aged Daoist priest with a beard. He wore a Lotus Crown and a green robe, held a horsetail whisk, and carried a Treasure Sword on his back.
"Giant Sword, what brings you before this Seat?" the middle-aged Daoist priest asked, his eyelids slightly raised.
After speaking, he flicked his whisk. It transformed into a white cascade, stretching from the Flying Immortal Hall to the Giant Sword Daoist Lord’s feet. When the Giant Sword Daoist Lord nodded, the white cascade recoiled, carrying him into the Flying Immortal Hall.
Then, with a slight movement of his lips, he summoned the Gong Family Daoist Lord and the Ruan Family Daoist Lord from the outer Five Halls of Aristocratic Families. Just moments before, the Gong Family Daoist Lord had already reported the "indiscretions" of his family’s younger generation.
"I generally understand the purpose of your visit..."
"However..."
Ren Yuanrui sat upright, preparing to penalize the Gong and Ruan families according to precedent and then offer some consolation to the Giant Sword Lineage. After all, the Gong Family had already admitted their fault; he couldn’t be overly harsh.
However—the Giant Sword Daoist Lord’s next words made Ren Yuanrui swallow what he had been about to say.
"Ai Ah not only seeks justice from the Gong and Ruan families."
"He also wishes to demand justice concerning Song Knife of the Lingxiao Sect—Song Knife, the Sixth Chief Seat of the Master and Disciple Lineage!"
The Giant Sword Daoist Lord’s expression was firm, his words resolute.
After this statement, Ren Yuanrui’s gaze turned a shade colder. "Giant Sword, what transgression has Song Knife committed?"
Accusing only the Gong and Ruan families would support the Master and Disciple Lineage, and by extension, him—the Sect Master who originated from that lineage. However, accusing Song Knife would not only risk fracturing the Master and Disciple Lineage but also threaten to unravel the delicate situation he had painstakingly built.