41: Chapter 41: Various Forces Besiege Haotian Gate

"What's wrong? Is it not allowed?" Xiang Tian saw Yan Qingyu's eyes darting around and raised an eyebrow, pressing her for an answer.

Yan Qingyu hurriedly lowered her eyes, her fingertips subconsciously gripping the bedsheets: "No... nothing!"

"You aren't worried that if I move into the Meiying Sect and spend every day clinging to you, the Disciples will see it and ruin your dignity as Sect Master, right?" Xiang Tian rubbed his chin, thinking this was the most logical explanation.

After all, he had just achieved a Breakthrough to the Supernatural Realm. Compared to Yan Qingyu, who was in the Middle Stage of the Martial Emperor Realm, he was still quite far behind. In the eyes of others, it was inevitable that he would seem a bit "unworthy."

"It's... it's really not that!" Yan Qingyu hurriedly shook her head, "Young Master is overthinking it."

Seeing her hesitant expression, Xiang Tian already understood.

He raised his hand to stroke her long hair, his tone gentle: "Alright, I understand. You are a Sect Master, so you truly must consider your Face. Let's bring this up another time; there's no rush."

Since she had become his woman, he naturally had to cherish her more, and he still needed to give her Face.

Upon hearing this, Yan Qingyu's tense shoulders relaxed slightly. She looked up at Xiang Tian, "Thank you for your understanding, Young Master."

While the two were talking, the Haotian Sect, located a hundred miles away, had already descended into complete chaos.

Outside the mountain gate, a dark mass of people had surrounded the Haotian Sect. The heads and Elders of various Families were full of Killing Intent, followed by their elite Family members, their Aura aggressive and menacing.

The Haotian Sect Leader, along with a group of Elders and deacons, stood guard inside the mountain gate with grim expressions.

"Sect Master Xun Yan! You have been the Haotian Sect Leader for so many years; it is time to step down and let someone more capable take your place!" The person in the lead had a voice like a booming bell.

Sect Master Xun Yan stood with his hands behind his back. Even though he was surrounded by dozens of experts above the Martial King Realm, he remained composed and extraordinary: "When did it become the turn of outsiders like you to interfere in the domestic affairs of my Haotian Sect?"

"Outsiders?" The leader sneered, his eyes filled with venom, "You condoned your Disciple in murdering my son, Liu Bing, and also killed five Elders of the Sect without cause. Every single act is intolerable to heaven and earth! Today, we have come to demand justice!"

"Liu Bing's death was absolutely not the work of my Haotian Sect Disciples." Sect Master Xun Yan frowned slightly and explained in a deep voice, "The fatal wounds on his body were caused by a Martial Emperor Realm expert. The slap on his Face was merely a minor injury, inconsistent with the cultivation level of my Sect's Disciples."

"Hmph! Sophistry!" Another person stepped forward, glaring angrily, "My son was cultivating in the Haotian Sect and went missing for no reason. Now, there is not even a corpse left. Do you dare say this has nothing to do with you? And those five Elders, all pillars of the Sect, were all brutally murdered overnight. You must give us an explanation!"

Sect Master Xun Yan sneered internally. He, of course, knew that all of this was done by Xiahou Yun and Xiang Tian.

But at this critical juncture, if he were to push these two "gods of plague" out, the Haotian Sect would only die faster.

"An explanation?" Sect Master Xun Yan scoffed. He suddenly pulled a thick stack of documents from his Storage Pouch and loudly declared, "How could I not know what abacus you are clicking in your hearts? It is nothing more than seeing my Haotian Sect lose five Elders, our strength greatly diminished, and wanting to come and take a share of the spoils! Patriarch Liu, Patriarch Qin, Patriarch Cheng, Patriarch Li, Patriarch Yang... the grievances and entanglements between your Families and those five Elders are clearly written here!"

The content of the documents was heart-piercing, and the expressions of the several Patriarchs instantly turned ugly.

"Stop spewing nonsense!" Patriarch Yang was furious and suddenly drew his sword, "My second brother could have been promoted to Eighth Elder, but he met with a disaster. Today, I will definitely avenge him! Everyone, attack together! Don't waste words with him!"

As soon as his words fell, a great battle instantly erupted!

"Exploding Flame Palm!" "Black Tiger Steals the Heart!" "Mountain Splitting Fist!"

The lights of various Martial Skills soared into the sky, and the roaring sounds shook the mountains and the earth. As a Martial Emperor Realm expert, Sect Master Xun Yan fought four Patriarchs alone and was actually handling it with ease.

No matter how strong a Martial King Realm expert is, in front of a Martial Emperor, they are like ants.

Just then, a burst of hurried footsteps arrived, and another large group of people came marching in. Leading them were none other than the Wanyun Sect Master, the Danyang City Lord, the Luo Feng Valley Master, and the Azure Dragon Sect Master!

"Wanyun Sect, Danyang City, Luo Feng Valley, Azure Dragon Sect..." Sect Master Xun Yan's pupils constricted, and he inwardly thought that things were looking bad.

These forces were comparable in strength to the Haotian Sect, especially the Wanyun Sect Master, who possessed formidable power!

"Sect Leader Xun, my apologies." The Wanyun Sect Master cupped his fists towards Sect Master Xun Yan. His tone seemed polite, but his eyes carried malice, "My son, Wan Shan, has admired your Disciple, Xiahou Yun, for many years. We have come today firstly to propose marriage for my son, and secondly to demand justice for Liu Bing and the others."

Sect Master Xun Yan's heart stirred, and he instantly had an idea. He loudly proclaimed, "Sect Master Wan, I am afraid you will be disappointed. My Disciple, Xiahou Yun, has long since joined the Heavenly Sword Sect and is now an Inner Sect Disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect. If you wish to propose marriage, why not go to the Heavenly Sword Sect and try?"

"What? The Heavenly Sword Sect!" The Wanyun Sect Master's expression changed drastically, and he took a step back in shock.

The Heavenly Sword Sect was a top-tier major Sect, its strength far exceeding that of these local forces. Not to mention a Sect Master, even an Elder of that Sect could flatten the Wanyun Sect with a wave of their hand!

If he truly dared to become an enemy of the Haotian Sect, and Xiahou Yun found out later, the Wanyun Sect would surely Face total annihilation!

"Hahaha!" The Wanyun Sect Master instantly changed his attitude and laughed loudly, "So it was all a misunderstanding! I came here today originally to propose marriage, but since your Disciple is not here, we shall not disturb you any further!"

"Father! How can you leave?" Wan Shan, who was behind him, became anxious and took a step forward, wanting to stop him.

"Slap!" A loud slap landed on Wan Shan's Face. The Wanyun Sect Master rebuked angrily, "Unfilial son! Do you want to bring total ruin upon the Wanyun Sect? Is the power of the Heavenly Sword Sect something you or I can provoke?"

Wan Shan was stunned by the hit, clutching his Face and not daring to speak again.

"Sect Leader Xun, farewell!" The Wanyun Sect Master dared not stay longer and hurriedly withdrew with his men.

Before leaving, a Disciple in black robes quietly slipped away from the group and hid in the shadows.

Seeing the Wanyun Sect retreat, the Danyang City Lord's eyes rolled, and he hurriedly cupped his hands towards Sect Master Xun Yan: "Sect Leader Xun, it's a misunderstanding! It's all a misunderstanding! My Danyang City has always been neutral; we only came today to watch the excitement. To express my apologies, I am willing to gift the Haotian Sect one hundred thousand Grade 1 Medicinal Pills, ten thousand Grade 2 Medicinal Pills, one thousand Grade 3 Medicinal Pills, one hundred Grade 4 Medicinal Pills, and ten Grade 5 Medicinal Pills. I hope Sect Leader Xun will graciously accept!"

Having said that, he tossed out a Storage Pouch. Sect Master Xun Yan caught it and inspected it; it was indeed filled with Medicinal Pills. He was secretly pleased, but on the surface, he remained calm: "City Lord Yang is too kind."

Seeing this, City Lord Yang hurriedly took his people and slipped away.

The Luo Feng Valley Master was a fiery woman dressed in red robes, her brows exuding a heroic spirit. She glanced at the Azure Dragon Sect Master beside her and slowly said: "Sect Leader Xun, we did indeed offend you by coming here today. How about this: you send a Disciple to our Luo Feng Valley to retrieve Phoenix blood, how does that sound?"