When had Du Xian Sect been exposed, exactly?
On the deserted Lesser Qiong Peak, Li Changshou stood quietly by the lake, gazing toward Sky-Breaking Peak and listening to the faint cries carried through the air. His heart felt clear and empty.
It probably had not been exposed all at once.
Perhaps Bai Ze, Lord Gongming, and the immortals of Three Immortal Island had come and gone too often;
Perhaps Ksitigarbha had once goaded the Demon Race into besieging the Human Teaching immortal sects, forcing him to reveal himself at Du Xian Sect;
Or perhaps the Divine Beast Truth Listener, who had a habit of playing dumb while knowing perfectly well, had revealed the truth to the Western Teachings.
Of course, there were two likelier possibilities—either a Saint had intervened directly, or the other side had drawn a rough conclusion from a string of events.
Was Maitreya openly declaring war on Human Teaching?
No. It was not that simple.
The nature of this matter was already exceptionally vile. He wanted to make an issue of it, yet that would bring too many negative consequences.
But was he supposed to just let it go?
Du Xian Sect had lost a Sect Master. Though his remnant soul had been preserved, the losses were still grievous.
Maitreya had truly given him a difficult problem, and no matter from which direction he worked it out, the result would be one he did not wish to see.
When things reached an extreme, they reversed. Sometimes, once a person went to one extreme, they would head toward the other...
"Senior Brother," Ling'e called from behind him.
Li Changshou answered and placed the magic treasure nourishing a Primordial Spirit into his robes.
Ling'e hurried forward, took hold of Li Changshou's arm, and whispered, "Punish me."
"Punish you for