146: Eternal Sinner

Between heaven and earth, there was silence.

At this moment, outside the Sect, the strongest experts from top Sects across various Continents also rushed over upon hearing the news. When they saw the internal conflict within the Saint Heaven Sect being directly brought to the surface, their faces were filled with utter shock.

Deposing a Sect Master!

No matter which Sect it was placed in, it was an earth-shshattering event, where pulling one hair could move the whole body.

What's more, the Saint Heaven Sect was now the strongest Sect in the Hengtian Continent, with an immensely huge influence, and various interests intertwined with almost all top Sects on the Continent.

Things like Chu Yueyao joining the Hell Valley and becoming a reserve Saintess were not isolated cases.

There were countless acts of intermarriage, cooperation, and mergers of interests.

For the entire Hengtian Continent, the Saint Heaven Sect, this colossal entity, deposing its Sect Master, meant an earth-shattering upheaval. After all, it wasn't a smooth transition of power between old and new Sect Masters. The ascension of a new Sect Master was very likely to change the direction and strategy of the Saint Heaven Sect, leading to shifts in interests and involving an infinitely vast array of aspects.

"Heavens, even a dignified Heavenly Ranking Emperor might have his position as Sect Master abolished. What on earth has happened in the Saint Heaven Sect recently?" An old man with an ancient aura was utterly shocked and said to a middle-aged man beside him, "Lingfeng Emperor, I heard your youngest daughter is about to get engaged to a direct Prodigy of the Ye Family, representing the Shen Feng Valley in a marriage alliance with the Ye Family?"

"No, that's completely baseless." Lingfeng Emperor's face was incredibly dark and ugly, and he directly denied it, saying, "It was the Ye Family who proactively sought the marriage. Currently, it's only in the discussion and negotiation stage, and this Emperor is still considering it. However, I've always believed that boy is utterly unworthy of my daughter."

Marriage alliance!

If Ye Tianxiong's Sect Master position were to be abolished!

What an earth-shattering event this would be! The future of the Ye Family was uncertain, so what kind of in-laws would they still be allied with?

What if they got on this pirate ship and couldn't get off?

"I heard your Artifact King Sect just agreed with a Grand Elder of the Ye Family to supply a batch of top-grade weapons to the War Affairs Hall of the Saint Heaven Sect at a high price?" The old man then looked at a burly, hammer-wielding middle-aged man not far away.

"Yes, it's worth over a hundred billion Origin Stones. The first ten thousand longblades have already been forged, but the ten billion Origin Stone deposit hasn't been paid yet." The Artifact King Sect Leader's face was extremely grim as he nodded.

He didn't mention that in this astronomical transaction, the Artifact King Sect was supposed to secretly return twenty percent to the Ye Family and also spend countless resources to bribe the high-ranking officials of the Ye Family.

If Ye Tianxiong's Sect Master position were to be abolished, this astronomical transaction would likely be brought up for re-examination...

Outside the Saint Heaven Sect, the faces of the various powerful individuals turned incredibly grim.

"Hell Poison Lord, you and Ye Tianxiong are sworn brothers, and the Hell Valley and the Saint Heaven Sect have been allies for many years, with deep ties."

"Not long ago, the Saint Heaven Sect suddenly issued a Sky Rank Extermination Order, setting up a vast net to pursue the Lord of Deadly Poison. Is this matter related to Ye Tianxiong's impending removal?" A supreme expert looked at a black-robed expert whose face was obscured, hidden in the shadows of the Void Realm.

"This matter involves top-secret information; you should ask less about what you shouldn't ask," Hell Poison Lord's voice was low and sinister, seemingly containing an extremely stifled, angry, and gloomy tone.

"However, this Emperor has known Heavenly Hero Emperor for many years. His strength is boundless, his methods are superb, and his plans are far-reaching. He absolutely cannot be deposed so easily."

Hell Poison Lord's icy gaze fell upon Lingfeng Emperor, and he said sinisterly, "Lingfeng, this Emperor advises your Shen Feng Valley, when doing things, be virtuous. What people do, Heaven watches. Do fewer things like kicking someone when they're down, otherwise, your outcome won't be good."

Lingfeng Emperor sneered coldly, fearless, and said, "'What people do, Heaven watches'—a fine saying. Shouldn't a cruel Sect like your Hell Valley, which is half-demonic and half-deviant, have suffered heavenly retribution long ago?"

"As far as this Emperor knows, over these years, your Hell Valley has done many dirty deeds for Ye Tianxiong and gained immense benefits. I'm afraid it won't be so easy to get off this pirate ship."

"This Emperor is very much looking forward to seeing if your Hell Valley can still be listed among the Righteous Path Sects if Ye Tianxiong's position as Sect Master is abolished, and whether you will be removed from the Hengtian Ancestral Court's name."

"Lingfeng, do you want to die?" In Hell Poison Lord's dark eyes, there seemed to be a sinister green flame burning, and his gaze corroded even the Void Realm.

Hell Valley practiced poison arts, committed countless massacres, and employed cruel methods. It had always been between the Righteous Path and the Demonic Path, belonging to the Evil Path. At one point, it was even nominated by the Cihang Holy Sect, suggesting that Hell Valley be classified as Demonic Path, alongside the Supreme Demon Sect, Heart Demon Sect, and others, and would be besieged by Righteous Path Sects.

It was the Ye Family, then the Sect Master of the Saint Heaven Sect, who intervened forcefully to preserve Hell Valley's status as a Righteous Path Sect. Otherwise, whether Hell Valley would even exist as a force today would be unknown.

After all, Hell Valley did not have the protection of the Heart Demon Clan behind it, unlike the Heart Demon Sect.

"Alright, alright, peace is paramount. The Dragon Clan envoy has arrived, and it concerns the dispute between the two realms. Now is not the time for internal strife." Numerous supreme experts quickly spoke out to dissuade them.

"Heretical path."

Lingfeng Emperor sneered coldly, then suddenly laughed, "Perhaps you all don't know, but this Emperor's eldest daughter and Chu Xiong, the direct son of Chu Tianyun, the third giant of the Chu Family, have a mutual liking. They met during a training expedition, and this Emperor intends to personally propose marriage to the Chu Family. At the engagement ceremony, I hope you all will honor us with your presence."

"Hahaha, easy to say. If it truly succeeds, we will certainly be there."

"Congratulations, congratulations."

Many supreme experts' bodies trembled slightly, their pupils constricted slightly, and they secretly speculated in their hearts: Could it be that the Shen Feng Valley had received some internal news about the Saint Heaven Sect and was certain that Ye Tianxiong's deposition was a sure thing? Lingfeng Emperor's demeanor seemed to indicate that he was preparing to make arrangements in advance.

Many supreme experts also began to secretly calculate. If Ye Tianxiong were to be deposed, the impact would be unimaginable, and everyone would have to re-align themselves.

The Saint Heaven Sect's reputation as the strongest Sect on the Continent was not just empty talk; its power was truly immense, its foundation deep, and its influence enormous.

At this moment.

On Saint Emperor Peak, in the Main Hall.

The high-ranking members and Elders of the Ye Family had grim, extremely ugly expressions, their gazes converging on Grand Elder Ye Hongchen.

After Ye Tianxiong left, they were discussing how to respond next.

The high-ranking experts of the Ye Family could tell that facing the exposure of a series of events, Patriarch Ye Tianxiong's state seemed to be somewhat abnormal.

"Defeat after defeat, continuous concessions, the Family's prestige within the Sect is constantly declining. We must find a way to stop this situation," a high-ranking Ye Family member said hoarsely.

"What we should be considering now is how to cut our losses, not how to turn the situation around."

"If this continues, the foundation left by our ancestors throughout the generations will probably be ruined in our hands."

At this moment, a Grand Elder also nodded and said, "That's right, the impact is simply too bad. The matters of Ye Hongwu, Ye Feng, the Lord of Deadly Poison, and a whole host of other issues haven't been completely resolved. Now it also involves major issues like colluding with the Dragon Clan from outside the realm and harming the interests of our Sect, which violates the ancestral teaching of 'must be sincerely united against outsiders'. Our reputation is ruined, and even Heng Kong Human King has personally intervened. If this continues, it's not impossible for the Ye Family to be driven out of the Saint Heaven Sect."

The high-ranking members of the Ye Family spoke one after another, expressing their dissatisfaction with Ye Tianxiong, their gazes converging on Grand Elder Ye Hongchen. After Ye Tianhong, Hall Master and Ye Tiancheng were imprisoned, this former Internal Affairs Hall Master became the backbone of the Ye Family.

Ye Hongchen's eyes were bloodshot, and he clenched his fists, seemingly having made some kind of decision. His voice was hoarse and trembling as he said, "If it comes to a point where there is no other choice, in order to preserve the Ye Family's million-year foundation and leave a chance for a comeback, then let this old man be the eternal sinner of the Family."

Ye Hongchen's voice subtly contained a hint of hysterical madness.