Appeal Denied
"Who's talking nonsense?" Yue Qianchou glared at him and said, "You called Elder Bi an old codger behind his back, do you admit it?"
He Li pale with fright and could no longer kneel. He stood up and shouted, "Yue Qianchou, if you keep talking nonsense, don't blame me for being impolite."
Provoked, Yue Qianchou's old street-smart nature resurfaced. He wasn't afraid of arguing, let alone a one-on-one fight. He stopped kneeling, immediately stood up, rolled up his sleeves, and drew his sword with a clang. He wielded the longsword like a cleaver, swung it a couple of times, and sneered, "Birdman, feeling guilty and want to fight? Don't want me to finish my sentence?"
His street rogue-like appearance made Bi Changchun's previously uncertain gaze pause. He Li glanced at his master, his lips biting white, but ultimately didn't dare to make a move. He was just trembling with anger. He had been in the Demon Ghost Domain for many years. Although his cultivation wasn't top-notch, whether it was Demon King or a Ghost King, who would dare to act so arrogantly towards him? Everyone treated him with utmost respect. Today, he had finally met his match.
Yue Qianchou seemed to realize that his current appearance was unbecoming of his scholarly demeanor, ruining the righteous and awe-inspiring image he had just put on. With an embarrassed expression, he sheathed his sword and bowed to Bi Changchun, saying, "Elder Bi, that day He Li told me that you had gone out and would not return for more than ten days. He also told me that there are Three Flavored True Fire in this world, and that the Azure Flame, one of the Three Flavored True Fire, is hidden in the Twilight Valley. He went to great lengths to entice me, finally tricking me into entering the Twilight Valley..."
"Nonsense! You tricked me into taking you there with the promise of grilled fish!" He Li's voice was fierce, his hands forming claws, gray aura swirling around his fingertips, exuding murderous intent, as if he were about to deliver a fatal blow if things went wrong. Yue Qianchou to the side, naturally saw and sensed this, and immediately became cautiously on guard, appearing relaxed on the outside but tense on the inside.
"Why would I lie to a bird like you? If you hadn't told me about Twilight Valley Cangqing and that Jiuyou Canghei, how would anyone know about the Three Flavored True Fire here? I'd never even heard of it before. What? You really want to kill me in front of Elder Bi to silence me?"
Yue Qianchou, with a disdainful look, turned around and continued bowing, saying, "It wasn't until He Li trapped in the Azure Fire Formation by He Li that I learned the reason for what happened. He said that you originally wanted to pass the position of 'Punishment Envoy' of the Demon Ghost Domain to someone named Mr. Nongzhu, but Mr. Nongzhu was unwilling to take it and instead suggested that He Li take it. As a result, I happened to come to Shuntian Island and, as an outsider, settled down on the island for the first time. He Li was worried that you would pass the position of 'Punishment Envoy' to me, so he wanted to kill me. The reason was that you and I are both human, and he is Demon Race..."
After some inside information unknown to outsiders was revealed, He Li's face turned ashen. He knew it was all over. His claws returned to normal, his murderous aura receded into his body, and he stood there, seemingly resigned to his fate. He knew his master's cultivation level; if someone wanted to kill him, he wouldn't even have a chance to make a move.
Yue Qianchou glanced at him, then continued smugly, "I was puzzled at the time. With his cultivation level, it wouldn't matter where he killed me, so why did he go to all this trouble to lure me to the Twilight Valley Flame Valley? I learned that the Demon Ghost Domain was under the influence of a set of spiritual treasures, and any fight there wouldn't escape your notice. The only way was to trap me within the Azure Flame Formation. When the Azure Flame erupted, I would die without a trace, without even your knowledge. Then he could easily fabricate a reason that I escaped without permission, thus absolving himself of responsibility. Actually, for me, dying in the Demon Ghost Domain as a Core Formation stage cultivator is nothing..."
At this point, Yue Qianchou suddenly revealed a look of deep sorrow and anger, and shouted at He Li, brandishing his sword, "But this birdman is simply insane! He said that you, senior, would show mercy to any human who comes to the Demon Ghost Domain, but you are ruthless towards demons and ghosts, killing them without mercy at the slightest provocation! He wants to avenge the Demon Race and actually plans to use the power of the Demon Ghost Domain to run rampant in the Demon Ghost Domain after you have completely controlled it. For this reason, even though I escaped from Twilight Valley, I am willing to risk my life to come here and reveal the truth to you, senior!" As he spoke, he bowed deeply to Bi Changchun.
But after bowing, Bi Changchun in the opposite house didn't react for a long time, as if he had never heard anything. Yue Qianchou got up to look, and Bi Changchun remained calm and expressionless, his eyes closed again. He Li also noticed, and he and his nemesis Yue Qianchou exchanged a knowing glance. The former's astonished expression turned to joy, while the latter cursed inwardly.
"Now that things have come to this, I accept everything. I dare not conceal anything further, nor do I dare to ask for Master's forgiveness. I beg Master to punish me. I will die without regret. I am only sorry for failing Master's teachings over the years. My heart aches, but it is too late to regret! I only ask to serve Master again in the next life." In the blink of an eye, He Li knelt down, weeping bitterly, to confess his sins.
"Damn! Is this some kind of sympathy ploy? This guy could totally be an actor! We were about to succeed, don't let this ruin everything." Yue Qianchou's expression twitched, and he immediately knelt down to pay his respects, saying, "Senior, to safeguard the peace of the world, you have sat in this desolate place for over two thousand years. Such a heroic act is Cultivation World a model for the cultivation world. If I ever have the chance to return to the world, I will spread your deeds far and wide, and you will be revered for generations to come!"
His flattery was practically a form of murderous praise! He was praising Bi Changchun, but killing He Li. He and He Li had already fallen so far that neither would let the other off the hook afterward; they both knew this perfectly well, kneeling there. Yue Qianchou's goal was to flatter Bi Changchun so much that he had no choice but to kill He Li. Offering a few more compliments was just a matter of words; leaving behind a future problem was the real issue.
He Li understood perfectly well. A hint of resentment flashed in his eyes. He suddenly turned around and said, "Yue Qianchou, I admit that I tricked you into the Azure Fire Formation. But there is one thing I don't understand. The formation inside the Azure Fire Formation and the formation outside the Twilight Valley are both High Antiquity formations. How can ordinary people enter and exit without knowing the methods? How did you escape from them?"
Yue Qianchou's heart skipped a beat. This birdman was truly no good. His words were clearly directed at Bi Changchun. If he didn't explain himself well, even if Bi Changchun killed the birdman, he wouldn't get away with it. Fortunately, he had already considered this and had a plan. As for his unparalleled escape skills, those were his life-saving trump card, and he certainly wouldn't reveal them. After a moment of silence, he shook his head and smiled, "He Li, do you still remember the murals in Twilight Valley?"
He Li adopted a sincere and eager-to-learn attitude, asking, "Could it be that the murals in Twilight Valley contain some method to break the formation? But that doesn't make sense! You're trapped inside the Azure Fire Formation, so it's impossible for you to come out and study the murals in detail! Could it be that you just passed by and memorized all the murals on both sides?"
"No, that's not it. Let me ask you, do you know the origin of the woman in the mural?" Yue Qianchou asked with a smile. The way the two of them asked and answered each other was as if the quarrel they had just had had never happened.
"I know, she is Xiaoxue, the maid of the Divine Craftsman."
"It is indeed Xiaoxue. Do you know her background?"
He Li asked suspiciously, "I don't know! Could it be that her background is related to your escape?"
"You're indeed a clever man! Alas! If it had been someone else trapped by you this time, they would have surely died, and your scheme would have succeeded. Unfortunately, you ran into me; fate allowed me to survive." Yue Qianchou looked at He Li and laughed smugly. " In the Far North, there is Snow Fox clan, and Xiao Xue comes from there. Like you, she is also Demon Race. After the Divine Craftsman died, Xiao Xue returned to the Fox clan, passing down some treasures and formations Divine Craftsman had crafted. Coincidentally, I have a close relationship with the Snow Fox clan, and the Azure Fire Formation and the formation outside Twilight Valley are recorded in the Fox clan's records. And coincidentally, I have read them. Haha! After spending some time figuring it out, I escaped. He Li, don't you think fate has spared me?"
Upon hearing this, He Li froze, utterly speechless. He had stumbled upon such a coincidence. Even Bi Changchun's brows furrowed, seemingly also learning of Xiao Xue's origins for the first time. He opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the two of them with an almost tangible intensity, then his lips moved slightly, uttering a weathered old voice. "Are you two done arguing? I won't ask who's right or wrong, nor do I want to say anything more. Only one of you can stay alive on Shuntian Island. Decide for yourself!" He then closed his eyes again.
What does this mean? The two were dumbfounded. After acting like monkeys for so long, they never expected Bi Changchun to say this. What were they arguing about just now? This was clearly a demand for the two of them to...
"Damn it!" Yue Qianchou exclaimed in surprise, realizing what was happening. His longsword shot towards He Li like lightning. This was going to be a fight to the death! Naturally, he had to strike first...
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