158: challenge

Everyone present looked at each other, bewildered.

"Absurd! To dare ignore this Sect Master's decree!"

Seeing the Sect Master's face full of Evil Qi, the Second Elder, Illusory Spirit, hurriedly bowed and said, "Sect Master, please appease your anger. Mu Feng must have been delayed by some important matter while out..."

"No need to say more!"

Huan Ningshang flicked her sleeve, interrupting him. "From this day forth, Huan Kong shall no longer hold the position of Holy Envoy Mu Feng. This position will be filled by a Protector selected for promotion."

Hearing this, all the Protectors present, though their expressions remained unchanged, felt a surge of wild joy in their hearts.

The Third Elder, Huan Chenzi, quickly stood up and said, "Reporting to the Sect Master, there may be something suspicious about this matter. Please allow your subordinate to report in detail."

"Granted!"

"Yes! I have sent multiple transmissions to Mu Feng, but received no response. I suspect he has most likely..."

"Go on!"

"Most likely... met with misfortune!"

As soon as these words were spoken, an uproar broke out among everyone present. First, the Grand Elder's Soul Lamp was extinguished, and now Holy Envoy Mu Feng had met with misfortune.

In the hundreds of thousands of years since the Soul Refining Sect was founded, such an egregious incident had never occurred.

Holy Envoy Nian Hua glanced at Xiao Chen out of the corner of her eye. For some reason, she vaguely sensed that this matter might be related to this newly appointed Saint.

"Who among you was the last to see Mu Feng?" Huan Ningshang's cold gaze swept over everyone.

Hearing this, everyone remained silent.

Just then, the Vajra Holy Emissary slowly stood up, bowed, and said, "Reporting to the Sect Master, on the day Black Dragon was promoted to Saint, he was seen heading in the direction of Mu Feng's Immortal Cave."

In an instant, everyone's eyes were focused on Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen wasn't surprised at all that the Vajra Holy Emissary would deliberately say this. After all, as long as something happened to Xiao Chen, he would be the only one qualified to serve as the Sect's Saint.

"Black Dragon, what do you have to say for yourself?" Before the Sect Master of the Soul Refining Sect could speak, Illusory Spirit was the first to question him.

Those sharp, old eyes stared intently at Xiao Chen's expression, trying to find any flaw.

Given his relationship with Holy Envoy Mu Feng, he would certainly be the first to seek justice for him.

Xiao Chen, however, was perfectly calm and said unhurriedly, "Second Elder, don't get excited first. The Vajra Holy Emissary also said it was only 'that direction'."

"Furthermore, in the same direction as Holy Envoy Mu Feng's Immortal Cave, there is another place—the Sect Master's Soul Extinguishing Peak. Why don't you say I went to the Sect Master's Immortal Cave?"

Huan Ningshang gave Xiao Chen a strange look but said nothing. However, she vaguely sensed that the man before her seemed to know something.

"Presumptuous!"

Illusory Spirit shouted angrily, pointing at Xiao Chen and continuing, "Stop quibbling! I have heard that on your way back to the Sect, you and Mu Feng developed a grudge over an Opportunity."

"Pfft!"

Xiao Chen scoffed at this and shrugged. "Then the Second Elder should also know that at that time, the Grand Elder assigned that Opportunity to me."

"Since the Opportunity was already obtained by me, and we were both among the Four Great Holy Emissaries serving the Sect together, it's naturally impossible for me to have any further dispute with him."

"You..."

Illusory Spirit was suddenly at a loss for words, rendered speechless by the retort. The key was that Xiao Chen's words were airtight and logical; he couldn't find any chance to refute them.

At this moment, the Vajra Holy Emissary spoke up again, "Black Dragon, no matter how you quibble, you cannot clear yourself of suspicion."

"If I were you, I would have resigned from the position of Saint long ago to put everyone's mind at ease, and wait until the truth is investigated before making a final decision."

Truly, when a person is shameless, they are invincible. He actually dared to bring such high-sounding words to the table.

"Hmph!"

Xiao Chen glanced at him and snorted coldly. "Resign from the position of Saint? To give it to you? Are you even fucking worthy?"

"Black Dragon, watch your tone in front of the Sect Master!" Illusory Spirit reminded him with an unfriendly tone.

Xiao Chen scratched his ear and said casually, "Second Elder, it seems your ears aren't working very well either."

"How dare you! A mere Holy Envoy dares to be disrespectful to a Sect Elder!" Illusory Spirit was instantly enraged, his old hand pointing at Xiao Chen still trembling.

The other nine Elders also glared at Xiao Chen.

The status of the Elder Council in the Soul Refining Sect was equivalent to the pillars of the Sect. Aside from the Sect Master, no one had ever dared to be so dismissive.

"Am I wrong? Clearly, two days ago, the Sect Master held a Saint Conferment Ceremony for me, and I officially became the Saint. Why do you still call me by my previous title?"

"You..."

Without waiting for him to answer, Xiao Chen pressed on step by step, "Could it be that you think because you are an Elder, you can disregard the Sect's laws and the Sect Master's authority?"

"You... you... I..."

Illusory Spirit's face turned red with frustration. He could only flick his sleeve and ignore him. Not only did he fail to embarrass Xiao Chen, but he was also branded with a major crime.

Truly, he had gone for the wool and come back shorn.

"What a sharp tongue!"

The Third Elder, Huan Chenzi, snorted indignantly and turned around, saying, "Second Brother, do not engage in a war of words with him!"

The Sect Master, Huan Ningshang, leaned quietly against her throne, resting her chin on one hand, watching their bickering with interest, and did not intervene.

At this moment, the Vajra Holy Emissary turned around. Standing over two meters tall, his muscular body bulging with veins, he looked at Xiao Chen with a nearly disdainful gaze:

"Didn't you just ask me if I'm worthy? I'll answer you now. Compared to a Golden Core Stage rookie like you, I am naturally more worthy!"

"Is that so?"

"If Mu Feng were elected Saint, I would certainly have no objection; but a Golden Core Stage like you is simply not qualified to be elected Saint!"

Logically, since Xiao Chen had already become the Saint, Vajra's words were a serious provocation, yet none of the Elders made any attempt to stop him.

More interestingly, the Sect Master, Huan Ningshang, also did not speak up to reprimand him, but instead watched the verbal battle like a spectator.

"To tell you the truth, a big guy like you, in my eyes, is only fit to carry my shoes. I really don't know where you get your sense of superiority?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Protectors and Elders present couldn't help but shake their heads.

Clearly, in their eyes, the Black Dragon Holy Envoy hadn't even advanced to the Nascent Soul Stage yet, and he was already talking big!

Huan Chenzi stood up and mocked him without concealment, "A mere Golden Core Stage dares to speak so arrogantly in front of a Nascent Soul Stage. Aside from having a sharp tongue, you are utterly worthless!"

Huan Ningshang kept observing him, and seeing the confidence radiating from his eyes, she couldn't help but become increasingly curious.

Although only one Breakthrough separates Golden Core Stage Perfection and Nascent Soul Stage First Level, it is a leap across a major Realm and cannot be compared at all.

This was also the reason why the number of Cultivators decreased significantly after the Nascent Soul Stage.

Holy Envoy Nian Hua had not offered any opinion throughout, but her gaze remained fixed on Xiao Chen, as if she were contemplating something.

With the Elders' backing, the Vajra Holy Emissary became even more emboldened and pointed directly at Xiao Chen, shouting:

"Since you are so arrogant, I boldly propose a fair fight with you today. If you lose, you must resign from the position of Saint. Do you dare to accept the challenge?"