After Haotian finished speaking, Primordial Heavenly Venerate said coldly, "Good! Good! Good!
"So you really think I wouldn't dare lay a hand on you?
"Heavenly Emperor?
"Heavenly Emperors had been replaced before!
"Don't forget how the Heavenly Emperor before you met his end."
Hearing this, Haotian sprang to his feet. "Then, Primordial Heavenly Venerate, show me how you're going to make me meet my end!"
As soon as Haotian finished speaking, every cultivator present turned pale.
Was Haotian really that bold?
Was he the only one who dared talk back to a Sage to his face?
Which of the other cultivators didn't treat the Sages with the utmost respect?
But after showing a Sage so little regard, he'd have a hard time getting through this.
Primordial Heavenly Venerate had finally been provoked into anger.
He immediately raised his right hand, turning it into a giant palm that pressed down toward Haotian.
Just then, five figures appeared one after another.
They were the Sages, led by Taishang.
After appearing, Taishang hurriedly said, "Second Brother, stop!"
At Taishang's words, Primordial Heavenly Venerate immediately halted his attack.
He turned to Taishang. "Eldest Brother, why are you stopping me?
"Haotian has shown no respect for the Sages!
"I'll make sure he understands that beneath the Sages, all are mere ants!"
As soon as Primordial Heavenly Venerate said this, Zhunti put on a hypocritical show of concern and chimed in, "Haotian!
"You were the one who disrespected a Sage first. I advise you to admit your mistake at once.
"Otherwise, if Fellow Daoist Yuanshi makes a move, I won't be able to help you."
At Zhunti's words, every cultivator turned to look at Haotian.
They were all waiting for his response.
But was it really as Zhunti said? Could he just admit his mistake and put the matter behind them?
Impossible!
By now, this was no longer a dispute over face.
It was a struggle for the right to speak in the Primordial World.
If Haotian admitted his mistake, that would mean a complete defeat.
He'd never be able to turn things around again.
What kind of Heavenly Emperor had no authority?
An Imperial Decree that couldn't leave Lingxiao Palace?
That would be worse than being a mere puppet.
The disciples of these Sages' Great Sects might come by every few days to trample him underfoot.
With things like this, what was the point of being Heavenly Emperor?
He'd be worse off than a Rogue Cultivator!
Hearing this, Haotian's lips curled into a smile.
"Admit my mistake?
"What mistake should I admit?
"Should I have let the Sages' disciples run wild?
"Or should I have submitted to them?
"Or do you Sages believe that your disciples truly outrank me?"
At this, Haotian fixed the Six Sages with a piercing gaze.
Then he said sharply, "Hmph!
"If that were the case, back then, you Sages wouldn't even have made it through the gates of Zixiao Palace!
"Before the Dao Ancestor began his lectures, you were all stuck at the Daluo realm, unable to advance. Isn't that true?
"Without the Primordial Violet Qi bestowed by the Dao Ancestor, you couldn't even have touched the threshold of Hunyuan. Isn't that true?
"Don't talk about enjoying Pangu's Legacy or how everything was ordained by fate.
"Pangu's Legacy only brought you flourishing Fortune.
"It didn't mean that only you could become Sages.
"And yet, how many in the Primordial World had flourishing Fortune?
"The Witch Clan, for example, also had Pangu's Legacy.
"But did any of them prove the Hunyuan Dao?
"Without my guidance, what right did you have to take those positions?
"Whether the gates of Zixiao Palace opened was in my hands at the time.
"Why did the gates have to open as soon as you Three Pure Ones arrived?
"I could have decided to wait until every cultivator had arrived.
"Anyone could have taken those Sage positions, couldn't they?
"What do you think, Taishang?"
When he finished, Haotian turned his icy gaze on the Three Pure Ones.
At his words, their faces flushed bright red.
Damn it, he'd just dragged their dirty history out into the open.
This was embarrassing for everyone involved.
After a brief silence, Taishang regained his composure.
"Even so, the Sage positions were bestowed by the Dao Ancestor.
"They had nothing to do with you, Haotian!
"Stop spouting nonsense!
"Even if you did some things to help us, that doesn't justify your disrespect toward the Sages."
Haotian merely smiled in disdain.
Then he turned to Nuwa.
"Nuwa, do you think you got your position because Fuxi gave it up for you, and that it had nothing to do with me?
"Then why don't you awaken Fuxi's true spirit and ask whether he ever received a hint from me?"
After calling out Nuwa, Haotian turned to Zhunti and Jieyin.
"As for the two of you from the Western Region, I couldn't be bothered to deal with you at first.
"But you, Zhunti, had to put on that hypocritical act.
"If I'd simply shut the gates when you two arrived, what could you have done to me?
"As for the Dao Ancestor's Karma with the Western Region, couldn't cultivators from the Eastern Region become Sages and then move to the West?
"Or couldn't you have chosen someone else from among the other cultivators in the West?
"Honestly, I've never seen anyone as shameless as you two.
"Hong Yun gave up his position for you, yet when he was on the verge of death, you chose to stay silent.
"And why was Hong Yun facing death and the destruction of his cultivation?
"I imagine you two had a hand in that as well.
"Hong Yun had been staying at Wuzhuang Temple for over ten Yuanhui.
"Why did he suddenly decide to leave?
"Fellow Daoist Zhenyuanzi should have something to say about that.
"You couldn't repay the Karma you owed for becoming Sages, so you decided to make your creditor disappear?
"You're so shameless that even Rahula had better personal morals than you did."
Having exposed the Two Sages of the West, Haotian didn't wait for the Six Sages to respond.
He continued on his own. "Become Sages?
"Of course some cultivators would become Sages.
"But it didn't have to be you!
"I still remember that, when the Dao Ancestor gave his second lecture at Zixiao Palace, several of you Sages said at the gates that you would repay the favor someday.
"I've seen your repayment today!
"So, tell me, Sages. What mistake do you want me to admit to?
"Was it a mistake to make things convenient for you back then?
"Or was my mistake that I wasn't as shameless as you?"
When Haotian finished speaking, the entire Jade Pool Immortal Realm fell so silent that a pin could be heard dropping.
The Six Sages were so embarrassed their faces turned red, and they didn't know how to respond.
The other cultivators had all sorts of thoughts, but most of them were nervous.
This was explosive information!
It was all damn dirty history!
Were they even supposed to be hearing this?
What if the Six Sages attacked together and silenced them all?
Among those cultivators, Zhenyuanzi's face was now as cold as ice.
Haotian's words had brought back the memory of Hong Yun's departure.
It had been a fine, sunny day when Hong Yun suddenly said that a great opportunity was waiting for him.
No matter how much Zhenyuanzi tried to persuade him, he still couldn't keep Hong Yun from leaving.
Who would have thought?
That parting had separated two close friends by life and death.
Thinking back on it now, someone must have meddled and lured Hong Yun away from Wuzhuang Temple.
Who was it?
Haotian had just pointed the finger at them. What was there to guess?
After thinking for a moment, Zhenyuanzi stared coldly at Zhunti and Jieyin.
As if sensing something, the Two Sages of the West immediately turned their heads and met Zhenyuanzi's gaze.
At a glance, the two Sages understood.
Zhenyuanzi now held a grudge against them.
They wanted to deal with him.
But doing so would amount to confirming Haotian's words.
And after today, they wouldn't have another chance to go after Zhenyuanzi.
Before you continue