404: Chapter 404 Three Questions

The next day.

The Great Discussion Hall.

The seating arrangement was the same as yesterday, but the atmosphere was even more oppressive.

Ji Wujiu stepped out, cupped his hands toward Shi Qingxuan, and spoke in an impassioned tone.

"Sect Master, everyone witnessed what happened yesterday! The Moonshadow Sect is bullying others with their power, acting ruthlessly, destroying our Elder's Magic Treasure, and damaging the dignity of our Holy Land—how is this an ally? They are clearly trying to step on our Holy Land to establish their prestige!"

His gaze swept over the neutral Elders, his tone rising: "How can we know that such an ally isn't a wolf?!"

Another Elder of the Ji Faction immediately chimed in: "Cangwu is billions of miles away from White Rock Holy Land, so why are they so enthusiastic? It's nothing but a plot to seize our Holy Land's foundation! Once that world-suppressing monument is set up, White Rock Holy Land's earth veins might fall entirely under their control. Where will we have a place to stand then?"

Elder Wan's face was pale as he spoke with resentment: "That's right! Sect Master Shi, we had no objections to your decisions in the past. But this time, acting arbitrarily and bringing in a foreign force to take root in White Rock is disregarding the safety of the Holy Land!"

"Yesterday's events are clear proof—the Moonshadow Sect Disciples were so ruthless, they don't take us seriously at all! As the Grand Elder said, this wasn't a spar? This was establishing prestige! This was a slap in the face!"

Chi Wanhe stood behind Ling Hao. Hearing these words, she couldn't help but transmit her voice to Qin Zhaoxue: "Second Junior Sister, listen to them. They really know how to talk. Yesterday, it was clearly that person surnamed Wan who attacked us first to teach us a lesson. When he lost, it became us acting ruthlessly? That person surnamed Zhou's Magic Treasure was so poor, and when it broke, it became us destroying someone's Magic Treasure? They get to say whatever they want, good or bad, just like Revered Master said—double-standard dogs!"

Qin Zhaoxue shook her head slightly and transmitted back: "Look at you, getting worked up again. Just watch the show."

Chi Wanhe pouted and said no more.

Shi Qingxuan's gaze swept over the neutral Elders, but she saw most of them looking down, with no one speaking up.

The few female cultivators close to Shi Yunyu's faction frowned, wanting to speak but holding back.

The corners of Ji Xuanming's mouth curled up imperceptibly.

Although he had ended up in a sorry state in yesterday's battle, the effect seemed... even better than expected.

The neutral Elders had witnessed the power of the Moonshadow Sect and, instead, became more wary.

It's just that he still felt very unhappy...

Ji Xuanming looked at Shi Yunyu and found that Shi Yunyu was ignoring him entirely. No need to think about it, that transmission from that day...

A round-faced female cultivator couldn't help but speak up. She was an Elder close to Shi Yunyu's faction, frowning: "Grand Elder, your words are wrong. The Moonshadow Sect lent a hand and lifted the siege on Water Rock City and many other cities; this is visible to all. How could they be plotting such things?"

Ji Wujiu sneered: "Lent a hand? Who knows if it wasn't just an act?"

His gaze was like lightning as he swept over the Moonshadow Sect group: "Perhaps the Erosion Beast Tide was brought about by them, all for the sake of today!"

The hall suddenly fell silent.

Shi Qingxuan slammed the table and stood up: "Ji Wujiu! You have no proof, how can you make such baseless accusations!"

"Are you relying on your status as Grand Elder, thinking I won't kill you?"

Ji Wujiu was neither servile nor overbearing, cupping his hands: "Sect Master, please calm down. This old man is merely expressing a reasonable suspicion. After all, anything is possible in this world. The rise of the Moonshadow Sect is too sudden. Developing from a nameless small sect to this point in just a few years already defies common sense. Since they can defy common sense, then what is impossible about them bringing about the Erosion Beast Tide?"

He paused, looking at Shi Qingxuan with a meaningful gaze: "Sect Master trusts the Moonshadow Sect so much; could it be that, just like the rumors say... there is some private connection?"

"You—!"

Shi Qingxuan's face turned livid, and she was speechless for a moment.

These words were too malicious. If she retorted, she would look guilty; if she didn't, it would be an admission.

Shi Yunyu slowly stood up.

She was wrapped tightly in a wide, moon-white cloak.

But at this moment, her face, gentle as a full moon, was calm as water. Her gaze swept over Ji Wujiu, and she said gently: "Grand Elder, rumors say that I also have an affair with Supreme Moonshadow; do you want to say the same thing too?"

Ji Wujiu paused, lowering his head: "I wouldn't dare."

"You wouldn't dare?" Shi Yunyu said calmly, "Then what did you mean by your words just now?"

Ji Wujiu gritted his teeth and suddenly raised his head: "Lady Shi Ji, you previously agreed with the strategy of 'preserving core strength', so why have you changed your mind now?"

Shi Yunyu's expression remained unchanged, "Now with the Moonshadow Sect's help, we can protect the core and also rescue the fringes. Why not?"

The Ji Faction members were speechless.

Ji Wujiu's face looked ugly; based on her performance yesterday, they should have thought of this earlier.

It was just that the benefits of having Lady Shi Ji on his side were too great, making him subconsciously unwilling to deny it.

Ji Xuanming, standing to the side, said in a deep voice: "Lady Shi Ji, the Moonshadow Sect does indeed have strength, but we know nothing about the principles and deeper effects of the world-suppressing monument and the resonance dao tower. If they lay a trap in White Rock Holy Land, the Holy Land will be controlled by them in the future!"

He looked straight at Shi Yunyu, his words implying more: "What's more, while you have a close private relationship with Supreme Moonshadow, matters of the Holy Land must ultimately be decided by public consensus."

Once these words were said, the neutral Elders whispered among themselves.

On the surface, this was questioning the world-suppressing monument, but in reality, it was implying that Shi Yunyu was putting personal matters before public duty. Because she was "closely associated" with Ling Hao, she was disregarding the safety of the Holy Land and insisting on bringing in the Moonshadow Sect.

Ji Xuanming's words were clever, putting Shi Yunyu in a difficult spot.

Shi Qingxuan's face changed, and just as she was about to speak, Shi Yunyu raised her hand to signal her to stay calm.

She looked at Ji Xuanming, her gaze calm as water. "Mingxuan, what do you mean by this?"

Ji Xuanming said calmly: "I don't mean anything, just reminding you, Lady, that matters of the Holy Land cannot be decided by private interests."

The atmosphere grew even more oppressive. "Heh."

Ling Hao put down his teacup and slowly stood up.

Ji Xuanming's pupils shrank, and he subconsciously leaned back, almost knocking over his chair.

"Y-you, what are you doing?!"

His voice went out of tune, and he spoke very quickly: "This is not a spar! This is a discussion! Do not act recklessly in front of everyone!"

Ling Hao paused his steps, looking at him with a half-smile.

Ji Xuanming felt his scalp tingle under his gaze and bit the bullet to add: "I... I was just discussing the matter at hand, I meant no offense!"

Ling Hao shook his head.

If it weren't for the fact that killing him directly would damage the Moonshadow Sect's reputation—resulting in a bad name for interfering in other sects and bullying allies, and also causing others to gossip about Shi Yunyu and the others—he would have just killed him with a sword.

"Supreme Elder Ji worrying that my Moonshadow Sect has ulterior motives is normal."

Ling Hao's green robes moved slightly. He looked straight at Ji Xuanming with a faint smile, which made Ji Xuanming shudder.

"After all, you are always thinking about fighting for power and profit within the White Rock Holy Land, so you look at everyone like a thief."

"You—!"

The Ji Faction members' faces flushed red. "Nonsense!"

"My Ji Family has guarded the Holy Land for generations, with utmost loyalty!"

"Supreme Moonshadow, stop making baseless accusations!"

A few scattered retorts rang out, but they all sounded somewhat lacking in confidence.

Ling Hao extended his right hand and pressed down in the air.

Those few people acted as if their throats had been grabbed, and their voices stopped abruptly.

He looked at Ji Xuanming: "I will ask you three questions."

Ji Xuanming frowned: "What questions?"

Ling Hao extended one finger: "First—the current greatest crisis of White Rock Holy Land, those three Erosion Beasts above the sixth level of Mahayana in the depths of the Ten Thousand Miasma Demon Forest, if they were to rush out at the same time, could you block them?"

Once these words were spoken, the hall was in an uproar!

"Mahayana level six?!"

"Isn't it only Mahayana level one?!"

"This... how is this possible?!"

The neutral Elders looked at each other; some exclaimed in surprise, others turned pale.

Ji Xuanming's "expression changed", and he looked abruptly at Shi Yunyu.