A Single Thought

But Zhou Ji seemed possessed, refusing to let it go. "Don't try to fob me off with empty words. The fact that you appeared here today means—"

"The fact that we appeared here today means the Heaven-Shattering Sword Sect owes Yonglu Mountain an explanation. Since you saw us before the competition, you should remember that we were in the spectator stands. We've never denied entering the secret realm by mistake, nor did we interfere with your Five Sects Assembly or disrupt the competition. If you hadn't kept pressing us, we would have left long ago."

"Instead, you've been hounding us. What exactly are you after? Two hundred and sixty cultivators entered the secret realm to compete today, including you. Every one of them is a prodigy watched by thousands. Do you truly think you were the first to notice the three of us here?"

"The Five Major Sects have endured for so long because they aren't as sordid or incompetent as you imagine. Yonglu Mountain may rank last, but we haven't fallen so far that we need to tamper with the Five Sects Assembly to make our disciples famous! If you still don't believe me, I can swear an oath on my Dao Heart. In exchange, will you swear that you have no selfish motive in doing this?"

Zhou Ji took a step back in shock. He hadn't expected the man to be willing to swear on his Dao Heart. A cultivator's Dao Heart was the foundation of his cultivation. If the oath proved false, no one could escape Heavenly Retribution under the Heavenly Dao.

"I..."

"I understand. Fellow Daoist Zhou hates evil and has a pure heart. You accused us only because you saw an injustice and felt duty-bound to act. Yonglu Mountain won't blame you. In fact, if