Whether the information was true or false, the sheer fact that he dared lay it bare before everyone on an occasion like this sent a wave of panic through Ming Yanchen.
No leader in his right mind would do such a thing. No faction was perfect to begin with. Absolute innocence could only ever be a lie, especially for powerful factions with deep roots.
Could honesty, charity, and a clear conscience alone raise a small sect to the point where its voice carried weight throughout the Nine Domains? That was pure fantasy.
Externally, tall trees caught the wind. Once a sect grew powerful enough, it inevitably became a target. Covetous rivals, provocateurs, and opportunistic pests would all come sniffing around. Internally, more people inevitably meant more conflicting agendas. Entangled interests and factional strife were unavoidable. How could they truly present a united front, free of any dirty secrets?
The Profound Heaven Sect had been established for three thousand years, with disciples throughout the Nine Domains. If it truly had not a single stain on its record, that would have been the greatest joke of all.
Water that was too clear held no fish. Everyone understood that principle. Sometimes, lies were necessary to maintain a balance. Those unspoken, mutually understood "white lies" were what allowed all sides to coexist within a delicate equilibrium.
Some things could be done, but never spoken of. Everyone feigned ignorance despite knowing the truth, turned a blind eye, and life went on. Once someone said it aloud and tore away the pretense, no one stood to gain.
Even with something as momentous as True Person Yulan defecting from the Mystic Sect and turning to the Demonic Path, if the Profound Heaven Sect had truly wanted to conceal it, how could outsiders like them have learned the