My Heart Was Set on the Bright Moon
Without a word, Ziyi immediately picked up the jade tablets and began examining them one by one. She was very serious, and two small furrows appeared in the center of her smooth forehead. Yue Qianchou smiled slightly; a single-minded person doing this kind of thing was most reassuring.
The hatch opened, and a team member walked in and reported, "Sir, people from Fu Xian Island are looking for you."
Yue Qianchou tilted his head and stared at the Ziyi squatting there, casually asking, "What is it?" The team member replied, "They said the Cultivation Alliance needs to see you and wants you to come over."
"The Cultivation Alliance wants to see me?" Yue Qianchou an eyebrow, chuckled, and slowly swaggered out with his hands behind his back. A disciple from Fu Xian Island was stopped about twenty meters from the flying Law Artifact.
"Gentlemen..."
"No need to say anything more. The Cultivation Alliance never comes to me for good news. Let's go!" Yue Qianchou interrupted the other party, a flying sword darting out from his sleeve, and he rode towards the Cultivation Alliance. The disciple from Fu Xian Island was stunned for a moment, then quickly followed.
As soon as he arrived, the accusatory expressions of each faction were unmistakable. Yue Qianchou glanced at them, then expressionlessly strolled into the crowd, cupping his hands in greeting and saying, "Gentlemen, what brings you here in such a hurry? There's no need to ask, I've never seen the Cultivation Alliance ever seek me out for anything good. Speak! Are you going to drown me in your spittle, or are you simply looking for a pretext?"
The pent-up anger and pent-up frustration from all sides were suddenly caught in their throats; they had to compose themselves before they could vent. The atmosphere immediately soured. Then, someone from the Daluo Sect coughed, and an elder slowly stepped forward, speaking in a deep voice, "Yue Qianchou, while all the sects are united in resisting the external enemy and fighting to the death, why are you Rogue Cultivator hiding on the sidelines, standing idly by and turning a blind eye? Do you truly not consider yourselves part of the Cultivation Alliance?"
"Oh! An old acquaintance!" Yue Qianchou smiled and bowed, saying, "So it's Senior Su Qiankun of the Daluo Sect. Back when the three major sects of the righteous and demonic factions were undergoing trials in the Demon Ghost Domain, I had the honor of meeting you once. Many years have passed since then, and I often think of you. I never expected that you would still remember me. It is truly an honor for me."
The top three sects of the righteous and demonic factions are undergoing trials in the Demon Ghost Domain? The sects that were unaware of this exchanged questioning glances. They had all heard that the top three sects of the righteous and demonic factions would go to the Demon Ghost Domain every few years to compete, and the results were always kept secret. How did it turn into trials? Wasn't it supposed to be a competition?
The Six Sects involved changed their expressions. Yes, such a thing had happened, but ever since they were warned by the mysterious expert, the Six Sects had not gone there again in recent years. Actually, there was nothing wrong with saying it, but it would inevitably affect the prestige of the Six Sects in Righteous and Demonic paths. If someone with ulterior motives stirred things up, it would be quite troublesome. For example, Yue Qianchou in front of them was a good troublemaker.
The other five factions involved all looked towards Fu Xian Island, as if to say, "It's all thanks to Fu Xian Island that good people come from here." Lu Qing from Fu Xian Island frowned and said, "Yue Qianchou, if you want to reminisce with Elder Su, this isn't the time. Let's get back to the main topic."
"It's good that you know the taboo!" Yue Qianchou looked at Su Qiankun with a cold smile. It was as if to say, "You reminded me; I almost forgot about this if you hadn't come out."
Actually, he was just giving a warning. Even if he were to actually instigate something, he wouldn't do it. Some things are hard to keep quiet about; once they get out, who would dare to partner with him in illegal activities? This is a golden rule he learned from his past life's experiences: unless it comes to a life-or-death situation, he shouldn't escalate things like this. That way, there might still be opportunities for future cooperation. After all, they're all in the Cultivation World! He can't cut off all his escape routes.
"Haha! Let's get back to the point!" After laughing, Yue Qianchou's expression turned serious. "Elder Su, you've gone a bit too far. We rogue Rogue Cultivator have been waiting for an opportunity to fight. How could we stand idly by?"
"This is something everyone has witnessed," Su Qiankun said, glancing at the crowd and inviting them to share their thoughts. He had jumped in first because of the conflict between the Daluo Sect and Yue Qianchou, only to suffer a silent loss. Now that Yue Qianchou had returned to the main point, if he continued to press the issue, Yue Qianchou might retaliate. It was best to remain patient for now.
"Oh! I wonder who saw me stand by and do nothing? That's pure blatant lying." Yue Qianchou looked around and raised his arms, saying loudly, "We, the Rogue Cultivator, attracted seven Tribulation Transcendence stage experts from Wuji Island on our own. Six of them were at the late Tribulation Transcendence stage, and we fought them to the bitter end. Did no one really see that? Doesn't this relieve the pressure on the various sects? If this counts as standing by and doing nothing, then there is truly no justice in the world."
The sects that had participated in the Demon Ghost Domain Trials back then remained silent for the time being. Without the leaders of these six sects, the previously fiery and indignant atmosphere was instantly extinguished, as if doused with a bucket of cold water. Yue Qianchou was secretly pleased with himself, praising his words for their brilliant effect. As he glanced around, he suddenly saw Hundred Charm Demoness give him a meaningful wink. He immediately lowered his eyes and pretended not to see anything.
He was smug, but now some were going all out. Just when everyone thought the matter was going to end there, someone in the crowd suddenly shouted, "Yue Qianchou, stop making excuses! Everyone knows you never intended to fight from the beginning. When those seven Tribulation Transcendence stage experts found you, you hid in your flying Law Artifact and wouldn't come out. How dare you say you'd fight them to the end? How can you speak so shamelessly!"
The entire room froze, all eyes turning towards the direction of the voice. Yue Qianchou was taken aback, thinking to himself that someone was really stubborn, and immediately shouted, "Who is it! Who is it! Don't hide behind someone and spew insults, come out and speak if you dare!"
"I am Tu Yanfeng, an elder of the Yujian Sect!" The man shouted loudly, and a path immediately parted in the crowd. An old man in the Nascent Soul Middle Stage the Nascent Soul realm stepped out with a face full of anger, staring at Yue Qianchou without fear.
Upon seeing him, the various factions were all slightly taken aback. An elder from a third-rate sect dared to openly declare his name and Yue Qianchou without changing his surname or address. Didn't he know that this kid was a vengeful fellow? With Yue Qianchou's strength, wiping out the Yujian Sect would be a piece of cake.
After a moment of astonishment, everyone showed a hint of admiration, but their eyes also held a hint of mockery. With so many major sects here, when did it become the turn of a third-rate sect to speak?
Yue Qianchou sized up the other party and was quite surprised to find that their cultivation level was similar to his own, and that they belonged to an unknown small sect. He had joined the Qingguang Sect as soon as he entered the Cultivation World, a rather high starting point, and had indeed only associated with prestigious sects since then, rarely having any dealings with smaller sects.
"I've always worked my way up to the top. When did I ever offend your Yujian Sect?" Yue Qianchou scratched his head, puzzled, then bowed respectfully and said, "Elder Tu, we've never met before. Have I offended you in any way?"
"You haven't offended me in any way, but I just can't stand your despicable face. You're clearly acting out of selfishness, yet you still try to argue your way out of it. I'm deeply ashamed to be associated with someone like you in the Cultivation Alliance," Tu Yanfeng said, pointing at Yue Qianchou's nose and cursing loudly.
A commotion erupted around them, with people whispering amongst themselves, almost applauding and cheering. Yue Qianchou's face darkened, and he shouted, "Tu Yanfeng, I have no grudge against you. How dare you insult me in public? Do you think I'm afraid of you just because I'm from an unaffiliated sect?"
"You have no need to be afraid of me, and I have no need to be afraid of you. At worst, we'll both die." Tu Yanfeng retorted sharply, "In this battle, all the disciples of the Yujian Sect who came with me perished, leaving only me to eke out a living. I have no face to return and face the sect leader. Your avoidance of battle is your own business, and it's not my place to criticize you. But your sophistry and arguing here is an insult to the fallen disciples of my Yujian Sect. If I don't curse you, who will? If you're not convinced, do you dare to fight me?"
Even if people don't do good deeds, they all have good intentions. Hearing this, all the factions were filled with respect, and no one dared to look down on him anymore. But thinking of Yue Qianchou's vindictive nature, and how Tu Yanfeng's challenge had given him an opportunity, they all secretly sighed, fearing that Tu Yanfeng's life was likely over!
Yue Qianchou his mouth and stood there stunned for a moment. Suddenly, in front of everyone, he bowed deeply to Tu Yanfeng and said, "Senior, your family is loyal and righteous, and I admire you to the core. I misunderstood you earlier, and my words were quite impolite. But you also misunderstood me. Alas! It's better not to talk about such unspeakable reasons!"
All the factions were taken aback. Tu Yanfeng, who had been prepared for a desperate battle, was even more stunned, his anger largely subsided. Everyone now clearly saw a humble, respectful, and virtuous junior, completely different from the Yue Qianchou of the past.
"If you truly have some unspeakable difficulty, feel free to speak it. If what you say makes sense, I will apologize to you in public." Tu Yanfeng said after a moment of surprise, his aggressive tone subsiding.
Yue Qianchou shook his head and smiled bitterly, "I won't say any more. If I continue, it will inevitably be seen as sophistry. Senior, you are of noble character and dare to stand up and argue your case. The entire Yujian Sect is full of loyal martyrs, and I, Yue Qianchou, can only admire you. Senior, you are right. I am ashamed to be associated with you, and I am also ashamed to face the loyal martyrs of the Yujian Sect who died in battle. Alas! Since that is the case, I, Yue Qianchou, hereby announce that I and a group of Rogue Cultivator are withdrawing from the Cultivation Alliance and will no longer enjoy the protection of the Cultivation Alliance as punishment!"
An uproar erupted among the various factions, and the Four Great Families were all stunned. Hundred Charm Demoness, however, was filled with confusion, her bright eyes glancing frequently at Tu Yanfeng and then at Yue Qianchou, thinking to herself, "These two seem to have lost their minds. Could they have conspired to put on an act? What's that little fox up to?"
Tu Yanfeng was speechless and said, "Yue Qianchou, speak your mind. There's no need to be so impulsive."
"Alas! I offered my heart to the bright moon, but the bright moon shone on the gutter. Senior, you don't need to say Yue Qianchou more. In fact, I can see that the Cultivation Alliance has many misunderstandings about me. Since that's the case, why stay and invite hatred? Leaving is fine too. The world is vast, and there will always be a place for me, Yue Qianchou. Whether I am in the Cultivation Alliance or not, I will secretly support the Huaxia Cultivation World. My heart is sincere, and the sun and moon can bear witness!" Yue Qianchou said somewhat disheartened.
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