248: Chapter 247 The Dragon Fetus is Right Before Our Eyes

Insufficient evidence.

Indiscriminately killing Loose Cultivators.

Provoking conflict in the East Sea.

Each label was pinned on him with perfect precision, ensuring that Heavenly Sword Peak didn't appear to be shielding Blood Shark Island while simultaneously splashing dirty water all over him.

He took a deep breath and was about to speak—

"Enough!"

A violent shout exploded in the hall like a clap of thunder!

Master Xue Mu strode in from outside the hall, his entire body wreathed in blazing red-gold flames, his eyes filled with fury.

He walked to the center of the hall and looked directly at Cold Frost Master:

"Cold Frost Master, has everyone from your Heavenly Sword Peak gone blind?!"

Cold Frost Master's expression shifted slightly. "Master Xue Mu, you—"

"Me what?!" Master Xue Mu sneered and pulled a dark green jade talisman from his robe, slamming it down before Cold Frost Master. "This is the original text of the Blood Shark Island bounty intercepted by Tianji Peak! It clearly states 'Dragon Abyss Palace Inner Sect Disciples Jiang Hanzhou, Zhou Lie, and Liu Ningshuang'! Did your Heavenly Sword Peak's 'investigation' fail to even find this?!"

Cold Frost Master glanced at the jade talisman, his expression remaining calm. "The original text of the bounty is genuine, but the bounty is directed at individuals, not Dragon Abyss Palace. Furthermore—"

"Furthermore what?!" Master Xue Mu interrupted him. "Furthermore, your Heavenly Sword Peak knew about the Blood Shark Island bounty long ago but deliberately suppressed the report?! Furthermore, your Heavenly Sword Peak's Han Qing secretly left the Sect a month ago for an unknown destination, and that direction just happened to be toward Blood Shark Island's lair?! Furthermore—"

He took a step forward, his gaze like a blade. "Furthermore, your Heavenly Sword Peak has known the Black-Robed Person's identity all along, yet you've been covering for him?!"

A dead silence fell over the hall.

Cold Frost Master's expression finally changed.

"Master Xue Mu!" He stood up abruptly, a chilling Sword Intent erupting from his body. "You are making baseless accusations! My Heavenly Sword Peak acts openly and uprightly; how can I allow you to—"

"Openly and uprightly?" Master Xue Mu laughed, his smile full of ridicule. "Fine then, tell me, where did Han Qing go? Why did your Heavenly Sword Peak send a Disciple secretly to Blood Shark Island before the ancient flood dragon remains showed signs of activity? And—"

He raised his hand and pointed at Jiang Hanzhou. "My Disciple defeated Ao Zhan fair and square in the Inner Sect Minor Competition, yet your Heavenly Sword Peak immediately turned around and spread rumors saying he used evil arts and was involved with the Ten Thousand Gu Sect. Cold Frost Master, tell me, what kind of 'open and upright' behavior is that?!"

Cold Frost Master's face turned ashen, and the Sword Intent around him surged, almost solidifying.

But he did not strike.

Because Great Elder Xuanjizi finally spoke.

"Enough."

Two words. The voice wasn't loud, but it felt like a thousand-pound hammer pressing down on everyone's heart.

Master Xue Mu and Cold Frost Master both fell silent and looked toward Great Elder Xuanjizi.

The Grand Elder slowly stood up, his aged face devoid of any expression. His gaze swept back and forth between Master Xue Mu and Cold Frost Master before finally landing on Jiang Hanzhou.

"Han Zhou," he said calmly, "you are dismissed."

Jiang Hanzhou cupped his fists in a salute, turned, and walked toward the exit of the hall.

As he reached the entrance, Great Elder Xuanjizi's voice came from behind him:

"Master Xue Mu, Cold Frost Master, you stay. Everyone else, leave."

Jiang Hanzhou did not look back and strode out of the hall.

The hall doors slowly closed behind him.

He stood on the stone steps outside the hall and took a deep breath.

The night wind was biting, making his robes flutter and snap.

He looked up at the sky.

There were no stars tonight; dark clouds hung thick and low as if they might collapse at any moment.

Behind him, the faint sounds of an argument drifted out—Master Xue Mu's voice was like a raging fire, while Cold Frost Master's was like freezing ice. Two completely different sounds collided, tore, and entangled within the hall.

Jiang Hanzhou did not look back.

He simply stood quietly on the stone steps, waiting for a result.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the hall doors opened again.

Master Xue Mu was the first to walk out, his face ashen. Behind him followed Fierce Sun Master, Old Man of Jade Wave, and Master Qingxuan; all three of their expressions were grim.

Jiang Hanzhou stepped forward to meet them. "Master—"

Master Xue Mu waved his hand, signaling him not to speak.

Then, he took a deep breath and said word by word:

"Heavenly Sword Peak rejected the application to deploy troops. The reason—insufficient evidence."

Jiang Hanzhou's pupils contracted slightly.

Though he had expected this, hearing it with his own ears still made his heart sink.

Master Xue Mu continued, "Not only that. That old bastard Cold Frost Master even filed a complaint against you before the Grand Elder, saying you killed Loose Cultivators indiscriminately and provoked conflict in the East Sea. He demanded the Sect hand you over to Heavenly Sword Peak for 'investigation'."

Jiang Hanzhou's brow twitched slightly. "What did the Grand Elder say?"

"The Grand Elder didn't agree, but he didn't object either." Master Xue Mu's expression grew even more unsightly. "He said—'this matter requires further consideration'."

Further consideration.

Those two words were equivalent to saying nothing at all.

Jiang Hanzhou was silent for a moment before saying slowly, "So, Heavenly Sword Peak's goal isn't to take me down, but rather—to stall."

Master Xue Mu glanced at him, a flash of gratification in his eyes. "You figured it out."

"Yes." Jiang Hanzhou nodded. "They know that based solely on the confessions of those few assassins, it's impossible to convict me. But they don't need a conviction. As long as they muddy the waters and ensure the Sect remains unable to deploy troops against Blood Shark Island, their goal is achieved."

"Why?"

"Because of time," Jiang Hanzhou said flatly. "Bloodfang Old Monster just broke through to the Dragon Fetus Realm; his Foundation is unstable, and he needs time to solidify his cultivation. The Ten Thousand Gu Sect side also needs time to set their plans. If they can stall for a few months until Bloodfang Old Monster has completely stabilized his Dragon Fetus Realm strength, it won't be so easy to wipe out Blood Shark Island anymore."

Master Xue Mu was silent for a long time.

Then, he threw his head back and laughed loudly.

The laughter echoed through the night sky, carrying a hint of sorrow, a hint of anger, and a hint of an indescribable—resolve.

"What a Heavenly Sword Peak." He stopped laughing, his gaze like a knife. "Since they want to stall, we'll force them to show their hand."

He turned around and looked at Jiang Hanzhou:

"Han Zhou, your Master has already set a wager with Cold Frost Master."

Jiang Hanzhou looked up at him.

Master Xue Mu said word by word:

"The Sword Discussion Assembly. A life-and-death battle between you and Han Qing."

Jiang Hanzhou's brow furrowed slightly.

Master Xue Mu continued, "If you lose, you will hand over all intelligence related to the ancient flood dragon remains to Heavenly Sword Peak, cripple your own cultivation, and be expelled from the Sect. If Han Qing loses, Heavenly Sword Peak must no longer interfere in matters related to Blood Shark Island, and the Sect will immediately deploy troops to wipe them out."

He paused, looking directly at Jiang Hanzhou. "However, there is a prerequisite for this wager—you must first break through to the Dragon Fetus Realm."

Jiang Hanzhou was silent for a long time.

Then, he spoke, his voice calm: "Master, you have that much confidence in me?"

Master Xue Mu looked at him and suddenly smiled.

That smile was more radiant than any before.

"You brat." He patted Jiang Hanzhou's shoulder. "You even withstood that strike from Bloodfang Old Monster; are you still afraid of a mere Han Qing?"

He paused and said seriously, "However, Han Qing is indeed much stronger than Ao Zhan. His sword techniques are bizarre, specializing in attacking the Sea of Consciousness, and—he practices an extremely sinister Divine Soul secret art called the 'Soul Devouring Sword Manual'. Once he gets close, your Divine Soul will be completely devoured within three breaths."

He pulled a lustrous white Jade Slip from his robe and handed it to Jiang Hanzhou:

"This is all the intelligence I've gathered over the years regarding the 'Soul Devouring Sword Manual'. Take it back and study it well. Also—while your Spirit Concentration Art has reached Major Achievement, it is still far from enough to counter Han Qing's Soul Devouring Sword."

Jiang Hanzhou took the Jade Slip and gave a solemn salute. "This Disciple understands."

Master Xue Mu nodded and turned to walk out of the hall.

After a few steps, he suddenly stopped and said without turning back:

"Han Zhou, I'll give you a fourth piece of advice—"

"In the face of absolute power, all schemes and intrigues are but a joke."

"Therefore, after breaking through to the Dragon Fetus Realm, do not be in a hurry to find Han Qing. First, find that Black-Robed Person, find the clues to the Ten Thousand Gu Sect, and thoroughly dig out the roots of Blood Shark Island."

"Once you've done all that, come back—and fair and square, trample Han Qing under your feet."

With those words, he strode away, disappearing into the night.

Jiang Hanzhou stood where he was, watching the receding figure for a long time.

Then, he lowered his head and looked at the Jade Slip in his hand.