165: Put the blame on someone else?

The gap between Soul Refining and Void Amalgamation Realm is like the gap between the Celestial and Foundation Establishment.

This is a change in the level of life!

The Void Amalgamation Realm is also known as the He Dao Realm!

One can already initially grasp and utilize the rules of the Great Dao. It is difficult for ordinary people to even understand, let alone master.

Xu Sanyan suppressed his wildly beating heart and called out tremblingly, "Hall Master?"

Mad Daoist did not respond.

Xu Sanyan gritted his teeth and raised his voice, "Hall Master, this Disciple greets you."

Only then did Mad Daoist react slightly, rubbing his nose and turning over to continue sleeping with his back to him.

Although he still ignored him, Xu Sanyan and Song Wuqiu both breathed a sigh of relief simultaneously; that deadly sense of crisis receded.

Xu Sanyan tentatively approached, no longer feeling that sensation from before.

"Hall Master?"

Mad Daoist curled up, covering his ears, possibly feeling that he was a bit noisy, and still did not bother with him.

Xu Sanyan thought for a moment, then picked up Mad Daoist and said to Song Wuqiu, "Let's go, to Crimson Heart Hall."

"Uh... alright." Song Wuqiu twitched the corner of his mouth and silently followed behind.

The reason Xu Sanyan wanted to invite the Hall Master was that he was afraid Elder Wu would deny everything. If the other party disregarded everything and started fighting, he wouldn't be able to stop him.

As far as he knew, Elder Wu was at Soul Refinement Completion cultivation. On this Red Dragon Mountain, no one could suppress him except for the Hall Master.

To be safe, he had invited the Hall Master to oversee the situation. Even if Mad Daoist was unconscious, as long as he was present, Elder Wu would not dare to act.

At this moment, inside Crimson Heart Hall.

Elder Wu, dressed in a purple robe, sat at the lower seat, slowly rotating a pair of golden orbs, his eyes slightly lowered, his face calm.

On both sides sat Elders from various halls, as well as other Elders without official positions, sitting quietly in order.

Someone on Elder Wu's left spoke, "Deputy Hall Master Liu, may I ask why Saint has made such a grand display to summon everyone? What is the important matter?"

Liu Tang stroked his beard and smiled, "No rush, no rush. Everyone will know soon."

Elder Wu opened his eyes to a slit and said slowly, "It had better be something important. Everyone is very busy and doesn't have time to fool around with a mere child."

Liu Tang retorted, "Elder Wu calls the Saint a mere child? Is it possible you have an opinion on the Sect's Saint?"

"Hehe..."

Elder Wu chuckled faintly, not bothering to argue with him, and turned to ask the person next to him, "Why didn't Elder Song come?"

"I'm not sure. Perhaps he didn't receive the message."

"I hope so..." Elder Wu muttered softly, but he had a bad premonition in his heart.

"The Saint is here."

Someone spoke, and everyone looked towards the entrance of the main hall, only to see two... no, three figures slowly approaching.

Walking at the very front was Xu Sanyan, and on his back was the Hall Master, Mad Daoist. Behind the two, there was also a figure incredibly familiar to Elder Wu:

Song Wuqiu.

Elder Wu's heart sank, and his gaze gradually turned sharp, glaring fiercely at Song Wuqiu.

Song Wuqiu lowered his eyes, avoiding their gaze.

The main hall immediately became noisy, "Elder Song?"

"Why is he with the Saint?"

"Could it be..."

The Elders of Elder Wu's faction felt a great sense of unease.

The other Elders below remained silent, but their eyes twinkled with sharp light, secretly guessing in their hearts.

"So noisy!"

At this moment, Mad Daoist mumbled, slowly opened his eyes, and looked somewhat bewildered, "Eh... how did I get here?"

"Put me down." Mad Daoist patted Xu Sanyan's shoulder, somewhat clearer-headed, and asked, "Why did you carry me here?"

Xu Sanyan put him down, "A few days ago, the Hall Master ordered me to manage all matters on the mountain. This Disciple discovered that someone was abusing their authority to line their pockets. Today, I specifically invited the Hall Master to witness it."

Elder Wu was furious, no longer maintaining his previous calm, and slammed the table, standing up, "You are slandering me! Just because we refuse to obey your orders, you twist right and wrong and maliciously defame us! I implore the Hall Master to investigate clearly!"

Xu Sanyan's expression held a hint of disdain, "Elder Wu, aren't you a bit too agitated? I haven't even said who it is, yet you've jumped out yourself."

Mad Daoist found the nearest chair, sat down, took a sip from the gourd at his waist, and looked at Xu Sanyan, "Do you have evidence?"

"Yes!"

Xu Sanyan pointed to Song Wuqiu beside him, "Elder Song is fair and incorruptible. He has long been unable to tolerate Elder Wu and others embezzling Sect funds. It's just that he was previously constrained by Elder Wu and had no choice. Now that he has turned over a new leaf, I ask him to explain to the Hall Master."

Listening to Xu Sanyan's nonsense, Elder Wu almost laughed in anger. He glared fiercely at Song Wuqiu. He is fair and incorruptible?

He can't tolerate us embezzling Spirit Stones?

Damn it, he's the greediest!

Mad Daoist raised his chin, motioning for Song Wuqiu to speak.

Song Wuqiu cupped his hands and said, "What the Saint said is true. Just the Corpse Blood Hall that this old man manages alone has four to five tens of thousands of Spirit Stones going into Elder Wu and others' pockets every year..."

"Bullshit!" Elder Wu shouted loudly, trying to interrupt Song Wuqiu's words.

Mad Daoist calmly swept a glance at Elder Wu. Elder Wu immediately froze in place, lowered his head, and obediently sat down. If one observed carefully, one could see his body trembling violently in small tremors, as if he had suffered some immense crisis in that instant.

"Continue," Mad Daoist said.

"Yes."

Song Wuqiu swallowed, "Each hall annually has to 'find a way' to contribute two to three tenths of their profits, or items of equal value, to Elder Wu. He then compiles the contributions of each hall and distributes them according to merit. This old man was unwilling to accept, but my cultivation was shallow, and I dared not refuse."

He emphasized the words 'find a way'.

Elder Wu listened to his words, so angry that his body trembled. How could someone be so shameless?!

Every year, he was the loudest, clamoring for more, and now, he just moves his lips and he becomes an upright official?

Mad Daoist turned his head to look at the Elders and asked, "What, is the annual salary given to you not enough?"

Everyone lowered their heads, not daring to meet his gaze.

Mad Daoist had no interest in managing Sect affairs. As long as nothing went wrong, he never interfered, but now that it had been brought before him like this, he had no choice but to get involved.

"Do you have anything to say?" Mad Daoist looked at Elder Wu.

Elder Wu calmed his mind, his brain working rapidly, and he loudly retorted, "Elder Song's words are utter nonsense, baseless accusations. This old man has not embezzled a single Spirit Stone from the Sect. I implore the Hall Master to investigate clearly."

Mad Daoist nodded slightly and looked at Song Wuqiu, "Do you have evidence?"

"Yes..." Song Wuqiu said softly.

Elder Wu was shocked. Is this old fellow crazy?

If he produced evidence, he wouldn't escape either. Is he planning to take him down with him?

At this moment, Xu Sanyan spoke, "Elder Song was forced to accept some illicit gains previously. I ask the Hall Master to pardon his transgression."

Mad Daoist waved his hand, "If this matter is true, then your actions will be considered meritorious, not criminal."