The sudden move from the Taixu Academy member stunned Yang Ping, the old priest. He looked at the scattered firewood on the heaven worship platform with a furious expression on his face. He pointed at the people from the Taixu Academy and said, “How dare you! Who are you to go against the will of the heavens?”
The person who made a move said in a clear voice, “I am Taixu Academy’s first disciple, Jiang Renyi… It’s only natural for me to take action when there are lies in your words.”
Yang Ping snorted before he said, “You don’t get to decide what’s right or wrong. You’ll have to see if the people agree with you!” He really did not expect someone to cause trouble at this juncture. Over the years, he had never had any issues conducting the rituals of Jing Province City in the past. The only difference this time was they were using a living person as a sacrifice so the crowd, which consisted of many cultivators, was bigger. However, he was not worried. His confidence came from the knowledge that he had the support of the common folk.
Although the common folk was as weak as ants, only cultivators who were out of their minds would openly oppose the will of the people. After all, the mortals were the foundation of cultivators. They provided the cultivation world with new blood. Even the Emperor had to bend to the will of the people; the cultivators were no different.
Openly attacking civilians would only earn one scorn and hostility from other cultivators. This had long been an unwritten rule in the cultivation world.
As the old priest had expected, the common folk began to rebuke the member from the Taixu Academy.
“The demon woman should be killed!”
“Kill the demon woman!”
“You shouldn’t defend the demon woman!”
The Taixu Academy’s first disciple, Jiang Renyi, said in a loud voice, “You’re a Daoist, and yet, you’re talking about the rituals of the Other Tribes! How dare you sacrifice a living human and fool the masses for your own personal gains? Who gave you the courage to do this?”
Yang Ping’s face darkened as he said, seething, “How dare you!”
“The Dao is before the Celestial Emperor. Primal Qi gives rise to all things, and yet, is insubstantial,” Jiang Renyi said loudly, “I’ve told you that I’m from the Taixu Academy! You’re a Daoist, how dare you spout nonsense! Sins cannot tolerate souls, evil cannot tolerate ugliness? Who taught you that?”
The cultivators present on the scene felt that Jiang Renyi’s words made sense when they heard them.
No matter how loudly the people shouted, all they could do was make noise. They could not alter the wills of the cultivators.
Cultivation theories in Great Yan were founded by thought. Instructions based on those theories were used for cultivation. The Confucian, Buddhist, and Daoist Societies did not have such rituals. Instead, it seemed similar to the witchcraft of the Other Tribes. Cultivators who joined academies would be even more aware of this.
Jiang Renyi’s speech seemed to make the masses give pause.
Meanwhile, Yang Ping took a step backward.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
At the same time, the white-robed cultivators from the Hengqu Branch who were standing across him applauded.
The applause was so abrupt that it easily drew everyone’s attention.
“As expected of the Taixu Academy’s first disciple. I agree with him. This old priest bears the physical body of a Great Yan citizen, and yet, he possesses the filthy soul and distasteful thoughts of the Other Tribesmen. I propose that we kill him first!”
“Kill him!” The members from the Hengqu Branch shouted in unison in voices that were so loud that it seemed as though they could shock the heavens.
With the Primal Qi in their voices, the soundwave resounded through the entire area.
The Taixu Academy’s first disciple, Jiang Renyi, cupped his fists and said, “Thank you for your support, everyone…” He looked around himself before he faced the people again and said, “My dear people, don’t be fooled by this man. Open your eyes and see. Is that little girl, bound on the cross, a demon lady?”
On the wooden platform, the girl blinked her huge eyes curiously as she watched the proceedings.
Jiang Renyi continued to say, “You old thing! You’re treating the life of another human with as much worth as a stack of hay! You should confess to your own crimes now!”
Yang Ping took another step back. When he saw that the situation had turned unfavorable, he pushed away from the ground and leaped up into the sky. If he had chosen to stay and defend himself with words, he might still be able to redeem himself. After all, the accusations hurled at him were without proof at the moment. However, now that he had chosen to flee, his guilt was apparent.
The people were shocked as well when they saw the old priest fleeing.
“Running away?!” Zhang Can, an elder from the Hengqu Branch Elder, drew his sword and leaped into the air. His Primal Qi surged and five energy swords spun around his sword. He pushed both palms out, and the energy swords shot out.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
Yang Ping was only a low-rank cultivator who had not even entered the Brahman Sea realm. In just a blink of an eye, the five energy swords pierced him from behind. He cried out wretchedly as he fell from the sky.
Zhang Can shouted, “A person with the ambition of wild wolves like him should submit to the rule of law and confess his crimes!” Zhang Can shouted.
“Good! Nice kill!”
Jiang Renyi, the Taixu Academy’s first disciple, looked at the girl who was bound to the wooden cross and said in a clear voice, “Under my master’s orders, I’ll bring her back to the academy to be dealt with.”
“Hold up!” Zhang Can raised a hand.
“Do you have a problem?”
“Who gives the Taixu Academy the right to take her away? What do you treat the Hengqu Branch as?” Zhang Can coldly said.
It was quite clear the reason for their presence here.
Something stirred within Jiang Renyi. His gaze was fierce as he said, “Is the Hengqu Branch trying to meddle in this matter as well?”
The disciples of the Taixu Academy had already gotten into position.
Zing! Zing! Zing!
The Hengqu Branch cultivators unsheathed their swords.
“Those who have no business here should stand back!”
The common folk could tell something was amiss, and they retreated like the receding tide until they were out of the heaven worship platform’s bounds.
At this moment, Lu Zhou and Hua Chongyang were the only ones who stood unmoving from their spot. For this reason, they stood out. How could they not draw attention to themselves at this time?
The members of the Hengqu Branch and Taixu Academy looked at the duo.
“Unrelated people should scram!” Zhang Can shouted.
Hua Chongyang shook his head. “I have a better suggestion.”
“Hm?” Zhang Can and Jiang Renyi exchanged a look.
“Why don’t we ask her for her opinion…” Hua Chongyang pointed at the girl on the wooden cross.
Everyone was fighting over her, and yet, nobody paid any heed to her opinion.
Upon hearing Hua Chongyang’s words, the members of the Hengqu Branch and Taixu Academy exchanged glances.
“I agree.”
“Me, too.”
The representatives of both sides looked at the girl on the wooden cross with expectant expressions.
Jiang Renyi looked at the girl and said, “Don’t be afraid… What do you say to coming back to the Taixu Academy with me? If you follow me, I’ll give you anything you want.” He struggled to maintain his expression. He was afraid of scaring the girl.
The girl cast her gaze downward. She looked at Jiang Renyi for a mere second before she shook her head.
Upon seeing this, Zhang Can laughed loudly. He said, “Jiang Renyi, you should give up while you can… Little girl, return to the Hengqu Branch with me. The sect master will personally teach you how to cultivate! The senior disciples of the Hengqu Branch will be your helpers!”
The girl glanced at Zhang Can before she shook her head again.
Zhang Can. “…”
The members of the Taixu Academy laughed as well in an act of revenge.
At this moment, Hua Chongyang asked in a clear voice as he looked at the girl, “Miss, what’s your name?”
Lu Zhou remained silent as he stood in his spot. However, his interest in the girl was growing. Who was she that the other sects were fighting over her? They even gave her special treatment and promised her so many benefits.
Hua Chongyang’s question drew everyone’s attention again. It suddenly dawned on everyone that they did not even know the girl’s name after talking so much. All of them shifted their eyes to her.
The girl shook her head again, seemingly at a loss. She struggled to free her hands. Since the rope was already loosened by the energy blast. With a firm tug, it fell to the ground easily. Then, she raised the item in her hand and softly said, “Conch.”
“Conch?” Hua Chongyang smiled. “Alright, I’ll call you Conch… Will you come with me?”
