Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The Moon Illumination Sect’s disciple who barged in was just an ordinary inner court disciple. He had rushed in because he was shocked by the news.
When he saw the high-ranking officials from the nine great sects turned to look at him in unison, he stiffened immediately. He could not utter a word at all even though he had already regained his senses and opened his mouth.
“You don’t have to be nervous. You can take your time,” Tan Quan said encouragingly to the Moon Illumination Sect’s disciple with a smile when he saw how stiff he was.
Thanks to the encouragement from the Vice Sect Leader, the Moon Illumination Sect’s disciple took a deep breath before he began to said slowly, “The news that’s spreading around is rumored to be released by the Mountainshade Black Market… They had annihilated the Ouyang Clan because someone from the Ouyang Clan had pretended to be from the Mountainshade Black Market!”
Mountainshade Black Market!
The minute the Moon Illumination Sect’s disciple finished his sentence, all the high-ranking officials of the nine great sects who were present gasped.
“Humph! In the future, let’s not say things without any evidence.” After Tan Quan recovered from the shock, he immediately looked at the high-ranking officials of the other eight great sects and sneered.
Although the high-ranking officials from the other eight great sects were displeased with Tan Quan’s sneer, they remained quiet. They were in the wrong after all.
“Vice Sect Leader Tan, let’s not dwell on that matter anymore. What needs to be discussed now is the matter regarding what the Mountainshade Black Market has done… This time, they’ve really crossed the line. They obviously knew the Ouyang Clan is supported by the Nine Sect Alliances, and yet, they still annihilated them!” A white-bearded old man said huffily, a discontented expression on his face.
“You can’t say that… The Mountainshade Black Market has put the word out that someone from the Ouyang Clan had pretended to be one of them. That’s why they were annihilated.”
“That’s right! That person from Ouyang Clan was digging his own grave by doing that!”
“I’ve also heard about the rules of Mountainshade Black Market. Whichever clan the impersonator belongs to will be annihilated once it’s confirmed.”
“The Ouyang Clan brought it upon themselves. There’s no one else to blame.”
…
The high-ranking officials of the sects, including the Moon Illumination Sect, felt that Ouyang Clan had brought this upon themselves, and the Mountainshade Black Market was not to be blamed.
Even they knew of the Mountainshade Black Market’s rules, it was impossible that people from the Ouyang Clan was unaware of it.
Nevertheless, people from the Ouyang Clan still dared to impersonate someone from the Mountainshade Black Market. They were simply looking for death.
“You can’t say that… Even if the Ouyang Clan was wrong regarding this matter, they shouldn’t have been annihilated. They could’ve just killed the impersonator. He should bear the responsibility for his own wrongdoing instead of dragging the entire clan down.”
“Yes! I also feel the Mountainshade Black Market went overboard this time. It seems more like a show of strength to us.”
“I feel the same way as well. I think we should send people to talk to them.”
…
There were also high-ranking officials from several sects who were dissatisfied with the Mountainshade Black Market, and that included the Profound Talisman Sect. The other sects were sects that had a close relationship with the Profound Talisman Sect.
It was no secret that in the areas under the Nine Sect Alliances that the Profound Talisman Sect were mortals enemies of the Mountainshade Black Market.
This was because the former Sect Leader of Profound Talisman Sect had died in the hands of a powerhouse from the Mountainshade Black Market.
It was also because of the Mountainshade Black Market’s powerhouse that the Profound Talisman Sect’s Three Star Dao Talisman Master, who was also the Sect Leader of the Profound Talisman Sect at that time, had to swear a lightning penalty oath.
He had sworn on the lightning penalty oath that the Three Star offensive Dao Talismans he had drawn would not be given to people outside of the Profound Talisman Sect in any way.
Everyone in the Profound Talisman Sect who received Three Star offensive Dao Talismans had to swear on the lightning penalty oath that they would not give the talismans away to someone else.
Due to that reason, even though the Profound Talisman Sect had a Dao Talisman Master who could draw Three Star offensive Dao Talismans, none of it was allowed to be given to outsiders, causing the sect to lose a great business opportunity.
The Profound Talisman Sect had always regarded that as their most humiliating moment. Therefore, they had always antagonized the Mountainshade Black Market.
The powerhouse from Mountainshade Black Market acted that way toward the Profound Talisman Sect because they did not want Three Stars offensive Dao Talismans to be carelessly sold in the areas under the Nine Sect Alliances since it would affect some of their businesses to some extent.
Just imagine if a Perfection Saint Rudiment Stage Two Star Assassin was assassinating a target whose cultivation base was far less powerful but was able to throw out a Three Star offensive Dao Talisman that could potentially kill the assassin.
That would mean the assassin had failed his mission, and in turn, it would affect the reputation of the Mountainshade Black Market. What mattered the most to them was their reputation.
Due to that reason, the Mountainshade Black Market would not allow Three Star offensive Dao Talismans to be sold freely in the areas under the Nine Sect Alliances.
The Vice Sect Leader of Moon Illumination Sect, Tan Quan, naturally knew the tricks they were trying to pull and said scornfully, “Humph! Since all of you want to have a talk with the Mountainshade Black Market, you should go ahead on your own… I’m sorry to say, but we disagree with this.”
“Yes! Just go on your own. If you succeed, we’ll hold a celebratory dinner for you!”
“That’s right.”
The other high-ranking officials from sects that were indifferent to the Profound Talisman Sect also added.
As high-ranking officials from the sects, all of them were certainly sly old foxes. Naturally, they could see the Profound Talisman Sect wanted to drag them along and confront the Mountainshade Black Market together.
They would not be stupid enough to be the blades in the Profound Talisman Sect’s hand. The few other sects that had always had a close relationship with the Profound Talisman Sect were usually given a great discount on Dao Talismans. However, they did not enjoy such treatment.
Although the Nine Sect Alliances was an alliance, they were not completely united.
Unless the Mountainshade Black Market was going to destroy all the nine great sects, they would never be truly united.
Based on the Mountainshade Black Market’s behavior in recent years, they did not show such ambitions.
“You… You…”
The old man with a goatee, the Vice Sect Leader of Profound Talisman Sect, could only stew in his own anger and glare when he heard Tan Quan and the few other Vice Sect Leaders’ words. “Are we even in the same alliance?”
“Vice Sect Leader He, have you forgotten the reason we formed the Nine Sect Alliances?”
Tan Quan sneered. “This time, the Mountainshade Black Market could’ve concealed the fact that they were the ones who had annihilated the Ouyang Clan, but they didn’t… They spread the news precisely because they wanted to make a statement and warn other people!”
“The Ouyang Clan was wrong in this matter even though the Mountainshade Black Market did go overboard by annihilating the whole clan. However, is this the first time we witness their ways of doing things?” Tan Quan stared pointedly at the Profound Talisman Sect’s Vice Sect Leader, He Yin.
“Tan Quan!” He Yin’s face darkened. He was furious.
Naturally, he understood the underlying meaning in Tan Quan’s words.
He was referring to the incident where the former Sect Leader of Profound Talisman Sect was killed by a Mountainshade Black Market powerhouse and the sect was forced to swear not to give Three Star offensive Dao Talismans to outsiders.
A short and ugly-looking middle-aged man said scornfully, “Vice Sect Leader Tan, you’ve gone overboard… Even if you don’t dare to offend the Mountainshade Black Market, you didn’t have to boost the Mountainshade Black Market’s morale and reduce the Nine Sect Alliances’ courage?”
“What a serious allegation to pin on me!” Tan Quan sneered. “What did I say? Did my words really boost the Mountainshade Black Market’s morale and reduce the Nine Sect Alliances’ courage? Aren’t you overthinking things? Why don’t you tell everyone what’s on your mind?”
After listening to Tan Quan’s words, the short middle-aged man was so angry that he was rendered speechless.
Naturally, he could hear the underlying meaning in Tan Quan’s words. It was not only him, but everyone present understood the underlying meaning.
Tan Quan was referring to the humiliating incident that happened to the Profound Talisman Sect again.
However, Tan Quan did not state it clearly so he would not blatantly offend the Profound Talisman Sect. He would not do such a stupid thing.
Regardless, the matter came to end with Tan Quan and the others’ disapproval.
If the Profound Talisman Sect and the few other sects managed to convince the Moon Illumination Sect and the others to denounce the crimes of Mountainshade Black Market, they might have felt more confident. However, if they were asked to go on their own, they definitely would not dare to do it.
Even if the Mountainshade Black Market based in the area under the Nine Sect Alliances was just the smallest, lowest-tier branch under the Mountainshade Black Market, they were still not something several seventh-rate sects could deal with.
‘I’m afraid Junior Brother Duan will be glad if he finds out that the Ouyang Clan has been annihilated?’ Dong Hui’s eyes flashed as he secretly thought to himself.
Regardless of how chaotic Han River City was, Duan Ling Tian was unaware of it since he was on his way back to the Moon Illumination Sect.
With his current speed, it would take him some time to return to the Moon Illumination Sect since Han River City was quite a distance away from the sect.
When Duan Ling Tian arrived at the Moon Illumination Sect and learned that the Ouyang Clan was annihilated, he was also stunned.
“Impersonating someone from the Mountainshade Black Market?” When Duan Ling Tian heard the news, he immediately thought of that night at Han River City. The Second Elder of Ouyang Clan, Ouyang Shan, had appeared, and it seemed like he had lied about being from the Mountainshade Black Market.
At that time, he knew about Ouyang Shan’s identity, therefore he was certain that he was not from the Mountainshade Black Market.
However, he did not expect the lie Ouyang Shan told in an attempt to trick him would bring such a tragedy to the Ouyang Clan.
‘Apart from Ouyang Shan who had died, only Ouyang Qing and I know about Ouyang Shan impersonating someone from the Mountainshade Black Market… Could it be Ouyang Qing who had spread the news?’ Duan Ling Tian shook his head when that thought popped up in his mind. He did not think it was possible.
‘If it’s not Ouyang Qing, that means there was a fourth person present at that time.’ Duan Ling Tian felt chills running up his spine when he thought about this.
Someone who had hidden himself so perfectly from him would be at the Paramount Saint Rudiment Stage at least. In fact, they might even be a Saint Stage powerhouse!
If that person had intended to harm him, he would not be a match for him even if he had Three Star offensive Dao Talismans.
Duan Ling Tian instantly took a deep breath to calm his chaotic emotion.
