Chapter 97: Pure Taoist, Justice’s Sneak Attack!
At present, the crowd began to discuss.
With Jiang Ce’s instigation, long-forgotten past events were unearthed by Daoist Sects that had grievances with the Lu Shan Sect.
Before long, many people recalled matters concerning Xiao Lin, and even more had just learned about them.
It was no secret that Xiao Lin had been forced to leave the Lu Shan Sect due to suppression by the current Sect Leader, and was then taken in by Cao Zheng, who entrusted him with great responsibility. However, the Lu Shan Sect had intentionally concealed this story as a family disgrace, so people did not bring it up.
Afterward, everyone knew that the Lu Shan Sect had deliberately targeted the Gatekeeper. Therefore, when the old man directly questioned the Old Celestial Master, those who knew the inside story were surprised but not shocked.
It was for no other reason than that Jiang Ce was the Gatekeeper, a fact everyone was well aware of.
Now that Jiang Ce had brought up the old matter again and declared his stance, the nature of Jiang Ce’s disruption of the Celestial Master’s Hall had changed.
It had transformed from being disrespectful at the Daoist Sect meeting to a strong counterattack against repeated provocations by the Lu Shan Sect, openly declaring hostility.
If others were to intervene, it would mean getting dragged into this quagmire.
Everyone was intelligent; even if they had a good relationship with your Lu Shan Sect normally, there was no need to offend the Gatekeeper for you. Moreover, there were many clear-headed individuals present who understood right from wrong.
Strictly speaking, this was a personal vendetta, and your Lu Shan Sect had targeted the Gatekeeper first. Even if I were to speak up for you, you would not repent. Instead, I might be targeted by the Gatekeeper, which would not be worth it.
Good advice is wasted on a stubborn fool; better a dead comrade than a live one. You can deal with your own mess.
Just as everyone was lost in their own thoughts and the great hall fell silent, a Daoist Priest at the Five Energies Returning to Origin realm suddenly spoke, “You are Jiang Ce, right? I have a question for you.”
The crowd looked at the Daoist Priest and recognized him as a Daoist Priest from the Pei Xian Palace, near the Lu Shan Sect.
The Pei Xian Palace had a good relationship with the Lu Shan Sect, leading people to suspect he intended to speak on behalf of the old man.
The old man was somewhat touched and looked at him gratefully.
Jiang Ce squinted and sized up the Daoist Priest, his smile hiding a blade, “What question do you have, Daoist Priest?”
The Daoist Priest didn’t even look at the old man, asking seriously, “You might not be aware, but geographically speaking, my Pei Xian Palace is not far from the Lu Shan Sect. So I’d like to ask, if the Gatekeeper targets the Lu Shan Sect, will it not affect us?”
All the Daoist Priests:
“Uh…” This bluntness stumped Jiang Ce. He put away his insidious smile and replied honestly, “No, no, you can rest assured about that.”
“That’s good then.” The Daoist Priest nodded in relief.
The Lu Shan Sect Elder was dumbfounded, “How could you…”
But the Daoist Priest was no ordinary person. Before the elder could finish speaking, he interrupted, “Hey, hey, hey, don’t try any moral kidnapping. Don’t tell me about the Daoist Sect prospering or perishing together. You don’t represent the entire Daoist Sect. You got yourself into trouble, don’t expect us to clean up your mess, right?”
Jiang Ce heartily agreed, “He wants to drag you down, but he can’t fool my keen observation. Everyone, rest assured, I will absolutely not agree, nor will I tolerate it!”
The old man was on the verge of tears. He had subconsciously wanted to disgust someone from the Gatekeeper’s side. If the Old Celestial Master had explained, he wouldn’t have been so serious. Who knew the Old Celestial Master would let this bastard have free rein, leaving him inexplicably as the target of everyone’s criticism.
Even if that were the case, the previous statement was even more malicious, dragging everyone down. When did I want to drag everyone down?! After you say that, how can I continue in the Daoist Sect?! How can I live as a person?!
But no matter how grief-stricken and indignant he was, he did not lose his reason, remembering that this was the Celestial Master’s Mansion and chaos was not tolerated.
But he could endure it, while the Daoist Priests he brought along to broaden their knowledge and were listening from behind could not.
That Third Rank Daoist Priest actually raised his hand and flung seven talismans, hurtling towards Jiang Ce’s face.
This sudden turn of events stunned everyone present. None of them had expected anyone to dare to make a move in the Celestial Master’s Hall.
Moreover, Jiang Ce was accompanied by the Old Celestial Master.
Wasn’t this tantamount to seeking death?
But to their surprise, the Old Celestial Master had no intention of intervening.
In fact, he had initially intended to act, but he suddenly discovered something. Not only did he not act, but he even transmitted a message to Zhang Ze Xing and Xuan Qing, who were already extremely angry, telling them to calm down.
Those seven talismans, twisting and turning in the air, rapidly arranged and combined, constantly transforming, actually conjured a blood-stained Dao Sword and lunged towards Jiang Ce.
Those present could naturally discern Jiang Ce’s strength; he was a Sixth Rank Jianghu Magician. Therefore, no one believed he would have any power to fight back against a Third Rank Daoist Cultivator.
Although, in the eyes of the crowd, this move was full of flaws, it was because their current level was different. But if they were to face it at their Sixth Rank, they believed they could not block this move.
This was a killing blow!
Someone stared at the Dao Sword and called out its name: “Immortal Slaying.”
The old man wanted to intervene, but his injuries had only just healed. In his haste, he was unable to exert strength and was too late to stop it.
The Third Rank Daoist Priest ignored the Old Man’s furious shouts to stop, and bellowed, “Lu Shan Seven Absolutes, Immortal Slaying, Decree!”
As the blood-stained Dao Sword, carrying killing intent and the threat of death, approached Jiang Ce’s brow, everyone saw that the Old Celestial Master was slow to act, and they were already somewhat panicked and at a loss.
They thought much about it. If Jiang Ce, the disciple of Wei Men Shen mentioned by the Old Celestial Master, were to die in the Celestial Master’s Hall, it would undoubtedly be a blood feud for the Gatekeeper, and they would surely make an enemy of the Daoist Sect. At that time, it would be an absolute disaster for the Daoist Sect, which was already in decline.
Because Cao Zheng was a Half-Immortal, a Half-Immortal who surpassed the Leader of the Daoist Sect, the Old Celestial Master of the Celestial Master’s Mansion!
Just as someone could no longer hold back and was about to intervene at the last moment, the blood-stained Dao Sword suddenly shattered, and seven Talismans, like withered leaves, floated to the ground.
Only then did the observant ones notice that Jiang Ce, who had been facing this killing blow from beginning to end, had not shown the slightest panic.
“Immortal Slaying? A good name. Too bad I’m not an immortal, so it’s useless against me.”
Jiang Ce stepped on the Talismans and lightly crushed them, tearing them in half.
Then, the Third Rank Daoist Priest suddenly spat out a mouthful of Fresh Blood, raised his trembling hand, and pointed directly at Jiang Ce, his eyes filled with shock and Fear: “Evil, evil cultivator!”
Upon hearing this, the entire hall was shocked.
Because not a single one of them saw how Jiang Ce made his move or how he injured the Lu Shan Sect Daoist Priest.
Yet, that Daoist Priest insisted that Jiang Ce was an evil cultivator.
“Don’t call something you can’t understand Evil Technique, Evil Method, or Evil Cultivator just because you can’t understand it. It only makes you look ignorant.”
After Jiang Ce finished speaking, his Daoist Qi permeated his entire body. Although it was not externally projected, the dense and pure aura was perceived by everyone.
He shrugged: “Stop the false accusations. I’m a pure Daoist Cultivator. To be honest, I’ve never seen anyone announce their move before attacking. What a bad habit!
Focusing all your attention on the move that has already been made leaves you wide open. I can only say it’s laughable.”
He pursed his lips and shook his head: “Let me clarify first. I just wanted to block and break the move. Who knew that even at the Third Rank, your Mental Energy is still like a blank sheet of paper, shattering at the slightest touch. I didn’t intentionally harm anyone, alright?”
“Mental Energy.”
Someone suddenly understood.
No wonder they hadn’t perceived Jiang Ce’s move at all. It turned out he was a Daoist Cultivator who had switched to cultivating Mental Energy!
Mental Energy is colorless and formless, making it difficult for the target to perceive its danger.
Yet Jiang Ce was only Sixth Rank, worlds apart from a Heaven-Reaching Dharma Master. But among so many people present, not a single one noticed him. This was enough to show how profound his attainments in this path were.
Wei Men Shen’s disciple, terrifying indeed!
The Old Celestial Master, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke: “Although you gained an advantage through a sneak attack, it is still astonishing. If I’m not mistaken, you have studied the Golden Liquid Divine Elixir Compendium?”
Thanks to Boss Jing Lin Chen Ri for the 20,000 reward. Unconsciously, I owe four more chapters, which is truly moving.
But it doesn’t matter. I will take action. Tomorrow I will try to update 10,000 words, but as the saying goes, one bite at a time, and one step at a time. So, I’ll try for 8,000 words first, hee hee ^^
