243: Extreme conflict

With the manifestation jade in hand, Shen Lian ignored the astonished gazes of the crowd and carefully examined the unpolished jade.

“Fellow Daoist, you’ve gone too far.”

Meng Xingchen spoke coldly.

“The Jade Research Assembly hasn’t even begun; how can you be so rude?”

Song Qingshi stepped forward: “Realm Master, this person is too arrogant. He is disrupting the Jade Research Assembly here, showing no respect for the Glazed Immortal Realm. This Disciple requests that he be immediately suppressed and killed.”

Meng Xingchen did not respond to Song Qingshi’s words, his eyes fixed on Shen Lian without blinking.

Meanwhile, Mu Qiuyuan, hidden in the shadows, whispered, “Looking at this situation, it’s unlikely to end well today. I still can’t understand why this Shen Lian is so bold. Doesn’t he fear being suppressed and killed on the spot?”

“Let’s wait and see.”

Song Yanran calmly replied, her delicate jade-like cheeks showing no ripple of emotion.

The atmosphere immediately became tense.

Ye Yunran could no longer bear it and spoke to Shen Lian: “Fellow Daoist, your actions are far too ostentatious. Are you not putting all Cultivators and the Liuli Holy Land in your eyes?”

“trash, shut up!”

However, Shen Lian retorted without mercy.

“Don’t disturb my thoughts.”

“You!”

Ye Yunran stomped her foot in anger. It was the first time she had been so utterly ignored in her life.

Song Qingshi: “Shen Lian, quickly put down the manifestation jade! Don’t look for trouble!”

“I said, trash, shut up!”

With a deep shout, a powerful Dao Principle erupted from Shen Lian, directly forcing Song Qingshi, Ye Yunran, and a group of Cultivators back more than ten steps.

After a long moment, Shen Lian curled his lips, pointed the jade at Meng Xingchen, and asked, “Is this what you call the manifestation jade?”

Meng Xingchen waved his horsetail whisk: “Indeed.”

“Your hypocrisy is astonishing.”

The next moment, Shen Lian closed his five fingers, directly crushing the jade.

The instant the jade shattered, a vast surge of primal energy dispersed, causing the mountains and rivers to tremble.

“Since you are unwilling to produce the true manifestation jade and have repeatedly toyed with me, do you really think my temper, Shen Lian, is that good?”

Everyone had just stabilized themselves from the aftershocks of the tremor, and upon hearing Shen Lian’s words, they were stunned again.

What did that mean?

Was it fake again?

This time, all the Cultivators, including Ye Yunran, looked at Meng Xingchen with strange expressions.

Your first test could be understood, but repeated tests are no longer tests; they are provocations.

Although your Glazed Immortal Realm is vast and powerful, which Cultivator doesn't regard their Spiritual Artifact as a second life?

A trace of embarrassment flashed across Meng Xingchen’s face, but he quickly flicked his horsetail whisk, skillfully covering it up.

“Hahaha, I didn’t expect Fellow Daoist Shen to be so insightful and proficient. This seat has been remiss.”

Shen Lian showed no appreciation: “Are you going to continue testing me next?”

“Naturally not.” Meng Xingchen’s expression instantly turned serious. “Fellow Daoist Shen, please don’t blame me. It’s just that over the past few hundred years, too many people coveting the precious jade have caused trouble during the Jade Research Assembly.

That’s why I set up this illusion. I didn’t expect to see Fellow Daoist Shen so insightful about jade and Spiritual Artifacts today. You must be well-versed in this Dao.

It’s said that a true friend is hard to find. With Fellow Daoist Shen here today, this seat has even more anticipation for unraveling the secret of the manifestation jade.”

After hearing Meng Xingchen’s explanation, the strange expressions on everyone’s faces gradually softened.

“Indeed, precious jade captures the essence of heaven and earth. It is understandable for Realm Master Meng to be so cautious.”

After Ye Yunran was the first to support Meng Xingchen’s explanation, the other Cultivators naturally wouldn’t make things difficult regarding this matter.

Mu Qiuyuan muttered softly: “It seems this Meng Xingchen is also a hypocrite. He uses a fake jade to deceive everyone, yet he can speak so eloquently. It seems he has big plans.”

Song Yanran was noncommittal: “His villainous behavior is clear for all to see, but unfortunately, most of those present are sycophants, or they fear his profound Foundation and dare not turn against him.

This Shen Lian, however, is very similar to my husband in his actions and personality. Looking at his demeanor, he shows no fear of Meng Xingchen whatsoever.”

Mu Qiuyuan smiled faintly: “You can’t say that. Zhao Zhao looks much more pleasing to the eye than him. The two are completely incomparable.”

With that, she looked serious: “I still owe this kid a favor. If a conflict breaks out, I will act. Consider it repaying him for freeing me from my restraints.”

Song Yanran’s vermilion lips parted, but in the end, she said nothing.

Just then, Meng Xingchen conjured an unremarkable unpolished jade from his storage ring and, with lightning speed, placed it on the Void Realm stone platform.

This time, Shen Lian did not intervene. He merely glanced at the unpolished jade, then turned his back and lightly fanned himself with his Folding Fan, as if completely unimpressed.

Meng Xingchen: “Everyone, this is the manifestation jade. It fell from the heavens five hundred years ago. After tireless research by the Glazed Immortal Realm and various Seniors,

we discovered that the Dao Source power contained within is unimaginably abundant.”

Everyone looked at the unpolished jade, but they were all bewildered.

Because no matter how they sensed it, it was just an ordinary unpolished jade, seemingly far from the manifestation jade said to contain Dao Source power.

Even Song Yanran and Mu Qiuyuan, who had followed Shen Zhao for tens of thousands of years and understood Origin power, did not detect any difference between this unpolished jade and ordinary Spiritual Jade.

Meng Xingchen continued: “Please do not doubt, this is indeed the manifestation jade from beyond the heavens. This object cannot be destroyed by the Five Elements method, nor can its internal Origin be perceived or manipulated.

For five hundred years, the Glazed Immortal Realm has exhausted countless efforts and energy, yet still cannot glimpse its key. I hope this time, with your wisdom, we can collectively unravel the secret of the manifestation jade.

As the Realm Master of Glazed Immortal Realm, I guarantee that whoever can decipher its Profound Truth will have the first opportunity to absorb the Dao Source power it contains.”

As his voice fell, Shen Lian, who had been facing away from the manifestation jade, suddenly spoke: “Since that’s the case, then I shall not be modest.”

He then spun his Profound Iron Flying Fan and sent it directly towards the manifestation jade stone platform.

“Stop! What are you doing!”

Song Qingshi was immediately alarmed and flew forward, attempting to stop it.

But the flying fan was extremely swift. Just as Song Qingshi was about to touch it, the manifestation jade was swept into the Void Realm by the contrary gale stirred by the fan.

The next moment, under everyone’s astonished gaze, the originally plain and unadorned unpolished jade instantly burst forth with dazzling, brilliant light.

“Stop!”

Meng Xingchen immediately stopped Song Qingshi, his pupils unblinking as he stared at the manifestation jade radiating light in the Void Realm.

This was the first time in five hundred years that he had seen the manifestation jade undergo such a sudden change.

Just by looking at it, he already felt signs of his internal Bottleneck loosening again.

But at this moment, a black and white figure already stood in the Void Realm, directly grasping the manifestation jade and spinning back down.

“What are you doing?”

Meng Xingchen was stunned and asked Shen Lian, who held the manifestation jade, in a sharp voice.

Shen Lian gave a cold smile: “Just returning it to its rightful owner. Is it worth such surprise?”

Meng Xingchen was furious: “Hand over the manifestation jade!”

Upon hearing this, Shen Lian directly put the manifestation jade into the storage ring on his finger.

“For five hundred years, you have used my Origin power to establish the Glazed Immortal Realm on this continent for a long time. Consider it a gift from the Human Emperor. Now it returns to its rightful owner; this is something that you trash should never have touched!”