141: Extreme opening

With her superb acting skills, Song Xiangyun instantly won the favor of the tens of thousands of Cultivators present.

"Alliance Leader Song is young and promising, with an extraordinary bearing. It is no wonder that in just a few hundred years, she could become the Alliance Leader of the Northern Domain Profound Sect Alliance."

"Alliance Leader Song has acted with righteousness by exterminating her kin, severing all ties with a fellow Disciple who entered the Demonic Path. She is truly a pillar of our Righteous Path."

"It is a pity that the various Sects in the Western Domain fight amongst themselves for petty gains, leaving us without peace to this day, which has only allowed those evil Cultivators to become increasingly rampant."

For a time, countless compliments resounded throughout the Tianji Mountain venue, causing Song Xiangyun's heart to overflow with joy.

"Yes, just like that. Say more; I love hearing it. The feeling of being the center of attention is truly wonderful."

Restraining her internal excitement, Song Xiangyun spoke again to reassure the crowd: "Fellow Daoists, I am actually not as firm as you might think."

"After all, we lived together for hundreds of years. Although Shen Lian entered the Demonic Path and committed such heinous acts, I still feel a trace of reluctance in my heart. However, compared to defending the Righteous Path, this bond with a fellow Disciple is truly insignificant."

Virtuous and Universal immediately said: "amitabha buddha, Alliance Leader Song has the world in her heart and still considers the feelings of a fellow Disciple. This Poor Monk can naturally understand such sentiments. This only proves that you are a person who distinguishes clearly between gratitude and enmity, worthy of being a model for our Northern Domain Xuan Sect Righteous Path!"

Profound Mechanism Master: "That is correct. Alliance Leader Song can hold fast to her original intention, putting the common people of the world first. This breadth of mind alone is enough to convince a crowd of Prodigies."

Goddess Palace Sect Master Li Qingshuang also spoke: "Distinguishing clearly between gratitude and enmity, guarding the heart with the Dao—Alliance Leader Song is worthy of being the Alliance Leader unanimously elected by the Northern Domain. Once we slay Shen Lian and purge the scum of the Righteous Path, my Goddess Palace will be the first to join under the Alliance Leader's command!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the new Sect Master of the Tianqing Sect, He Haiyuan, said: "My Tianqing Sect is also willing to join under the Alliance Leader's command. We only ask that Alliance Leader Song must kill the Devil Head, Shen Lian, to avenge our Sect Master Zhuang!"

"My Moon Shadow Sect also joins under Alliance Leader Song's command."

"Although my Zhaoyang Sect is small and our words carry little weight, we are still willing to contribute our strength to guard the Righteous Path. Please, Alliance Leader Song, do not look down upon us!"

For a time, many Sect Disciples offered their pledges of allegiance, patting their chests in their determination to come under the command of the Alliance Leaders Mansion.

Song Xiangyun had only said a few words, yet she gained the allegiance of more than a dozen Sects, including the Goddess Palace and Moon Shadow Sect, which were originally under the jurisdiction of Nangong Li.

Her heart grew increasingly fervent; she felt that the day she would become the Alliance Leader of the world was close at hand.

However, those Sects willing to submit were either obscure, small-time outfits, or Sects that had suffered internal turmoil and were in urgent need of finding a backer within the Northern Domain Xuan Sect.

As for the major Sects present, aside from offering vocal support, they were not foolish enough to come under the jurisdiction of the Alliance Leaders Mansion.

This left Song Xiangyun feeling both excited and somewhat disappointed.

Therefore, in order to establish her authority, she decided to find a suitable target to intimidate the masses.

She looked around and discovered that only the Lingyun Sect's Sect Master, Ling Mofeng, had not spoken a single word from beginning to end.

"Sect Master Ling, why have you not said a word from the beginning until now? Do you have any new opinions regarding this oath-taking assembly? Speaking of which, the Heavenly Feather Sect has had a friendship of several hundred years with your Sect. Now that the Heavenly Feather Sect has been destroyed, I wonder what attitude the Lingyun Sect intends to express."

Once Song Xiangyun said this, everyone's gaze focused on Ling Mofeng.

Ling Mofeng replied calmly: "Apologies, the Lingyun Sect will not participate in any of the Alliance Leaders Mansion's plans to encircle and annihilate Shen Lian."

Instantly, Ling Mofeng felt countless sharp gazes shooting toward him from all around.

Song Xiangyun had not expected Ling Mofeng to have such an attitude, and her jade brows knitted together in a rare display of concern.

"amitabha buddha!" Virtuous and Universal recited a buddhist mantra silently, then looked at Ling Mofeng.

"Sect Master Ling, the Lingyun Sect is considered a titan in the Eastern Domain. Now that a Devil Head like Shen Lian has appeared in the Eastern Domain, and the Heavenly Feather Sect, which was closely related to you, has been destroyed, do you not intend to slay him and exact revenge?"

Ling Mofeng sneered inwardly and immediately replied: "Fellow Daoist Virtuous and Universal, as the Abbot of Bodhi Temple and a member of the Buddhist Sect, is speaking so casually of killing not contrary to the Buddhist principle of compassion?"

"amitabha buddha, eliminating demons and defending the Dao is the duty of the Righteous Path. What Shen Lian has done would make even Buddha angry. So-called killing is actually protecting life; severing Karma is not killing people. Only by setting aside compassion can one clear the path to the true fruit and return purity to the world."

Hearing this fallacious argument, Ling Mofeng just smiled without changing his expression: "Fellow Buddhist Virtuous and Universal, if you can interpret Saint Monk Ranxiu's obsession with protecting living beings through killing in such a way, then this seat can only say that I am very optimistic about your determination to defend the Dao, and I only hope you do not regret it in the future."

Virtuous and Universal frowned upon hearing this: "What does Sect Master Ling mean by that?"

Ling Mofeng ignored him and said directly to Song Xiangyun: "Alliance Leader Song, there are still many matters in the Sect that require my personal attention. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."

After speaking, he turned to leave, ignoring Song Xiangyun's increasingly gloomy face.

"Sect Master Ling, stay your steps!" Profound Mechanism Master suddenly called out to him.

"Does Sect Master Ling intend to make the Lingyun Sect an enemy of everyone in the Righteous Path?"

Ling Mofeng stopped and tilted his head slightly: "Fellow Daoist Profound Mechanism, what is the meaning of these words?"

Profound Mechanism Master flicked his horsetail whisk: "Shen Lian entered the Demonic Path and committed the unforgivable crime of betraying his master and ancestors. We, as members of the Righteous Path, should all slay him. Yet now, the Lingyun Sect appears to be seeking to protect itself, which is highly perplexing."

Ling Mofeng: "Everyone present is a pillar of the Righteous Path, and there are many whose cultivation is above mine. I believe you will surely be able to slay the Devil Head and uphold the Righteous Path. What difference does it make whether my Lingyun Sect is here or not? Why force others and use provocative words?"

Upon hearing this, Li Qingshuang twisted her alluring body and slowly stepped forward: "Sect Master Ling, do you still have sympathy for Shen Lian? Are you planning to secretly send word to him?"

Ling Mofeng heard this and slowly turned around: "Sect Master Li, do you have any proof for this statement?"

Li Qingshuang: "Today's oath-taking assembly is a rare grand event on our Primordial Continent. Slaying the Demonic Path and upholding justice is an obligation that we Cultivators should fulfill. Yet you, Sect Master Ling, are unwilling to advance and retreat together with the righteous, and your true intentions are truly difficult to fathom."

Ling Mofeng sneered: "Sect Master Li, are you implying that because I am unwilling to participate in the extermination of Shen Lian, I am colluding with him and wallowing in the mire? Ha, what a joke!"

He turned around abruptly, and suddenly his spiritual might bloomed, causing the low-cultivation Cultivators on the scene to be pushed back in droves.

"Then this seat would like to ask a question: what about the Sect Cultivators who did not come to participate in this meeting today, such as the Shengyun Immortal Realm, the Xuantian Sect, the Heavenly Buddha cultivation Grounds, and other top-tier Sects? Are they also colluding and wallowing in the mire with Shen Lian?"

One sentence directly stunned everyone into silence.

Seeing this, Song Xiangyun was afraid of ruining her grand plan, so she immediately came out to smooth things over: "Sect Master Ling, let's talk properly; please do not get angry."

"Since Sect Master Ling is unwilling to be involved, I naturally cannot force you, but..." Song Xiangyun's tone suddenly shifted. "Can Sect Master Ling bear the consequences?"

Ling Mofeng smiled slightly: "The Disciples of the Lingyun Sect are devoted to the Dao and never participate in such worldly affairs. If a member of the Demonic Path really attacks and requires me to act, I will naturally be duty-bound. However, Alliance Leader Song should know best in her heart the reason why Shen Lian slaughtered the Sect. In the end, this is merely an internal affair of your Heavenly Feather Sect. Why create such a grand scene to recruit so many Cultivators? You understand what you are thinking; I do not want to meddle. As long as you do not drag the Karma onto the Lingyun Sect, I will not stop you."

The moment his words fell, a burst of wild laughter rang out from the horizon. "Ling Mofeng, you truly make me look at you in a new light! Hahahaha—"

The laughter caused the entire Tianji Mountain to shake violently.

Song Xiangyun looked up, and her eyes suddenly lit up. "Shen Lian?!"

"Song Xiangyun, are you ready to meet your end?"