Red-Bearded Demon Venerable heard him out.
His golden-red slit pupils narrowed slightly as he fixed Elder Shen with a hostile stare, like a beast that had locked onto its prey.
A wisp of hot breath flecked with sparks escaped his nostrils.
"So... you came here today to provoke us?"
His voice was quiet, but every word struck like a piece of red-hot iron, making the air in the hall tremble.
The Demon Venerables on either side turned icy gazes on Elder Shen.
The flames around Flame Demon Venerable leaped higher, while the scales on Dark-Scaled Demon Venerable's fingertips rose one by one, making a faint rasping sound.
Elder Shen's expression did not change. He shook his head slightly.
"I did not come to provoke you. Quite the opposite—I came to resolve this matter."
He paused and met Red-Bearded Demon Venerable's slit-eyed gaze without flinching.
"If our two races take up arms again, neither side will benefit. I came to restore peaceful coexistence between us."
Red-Bearded Demon Venerable gave a cold laugh.
"Oh? Peaceful coexistence?"
He leaned back slightly, rested a thick arm on the stone chair's armrest, and tapped it twice with his fingers.
"Then tell me how you propose to resolve this."
Elder Shen considered for a moment, his mind racing.
He took a deep breath and spoke slowly.
"Qingwu Heavenly Lord has no connection whatsoever to the Cangwu Holy Land."
"He is merely a Rogue Cultivator from the Eastern Azure Continent. He comes and goes without a trace; even our Saint Lord cannot restrain him."
"You have now stationed a million troops along the border of the Purple Cloud Domain. That will only destroy the peace our two races have maintained for years."
At that point, Elder Shen abruptly paused.
In the briefest instant, his expression shifted subtly,