There simply had not been an opportunity.
This was also everyone's consensus. Pei Ye, Li Piaoqing, Bai Sibing-everyone who had glimpsed the pus beneath Shang Huaitong's cloak considered him a venomous snake, a filthy rat that could not bear the light, always removing obstacles through vicious means before fishing for fame with a ridiculous performance.
But after those words, Pei Ye genuinely sensed something amiss, because he suddenly remembered that, without the incident at Heavenly Mountain, the Seven Flood Dragons had never intended to move against Li Piaoqing either.
He watched the grounds. Shang Huaitong had turned toward the eastern section and straightened, cupping his fists in salute. "My lord, my defense is simple-I did not harm Bai Yuliang because I never intended to harm him, just as I did not, and never intended to, harm Zhang or Gu. Because I firmly believe that everything I want can be won openly and honorably with the sword in my hand."
Sui Zaihua looked at him. "What proof do you have?"
Shang Huaitong calmly raised his head. "Please use Sword Heart Reflection."
The old man raised his eyebrows slightly.
The restless discussion across the grounds instantly fell silent.
Since Shang Huaitong had stepped forward, one startling event had followed another. Everyone had long since forgotten that such a magical artifact still stood there, and that they had just been eagerly awaiting a glimpse of the disposition realm of Bowang's foremost swordsman.
Earlier, the man had shown no intention of satisfying their curiosity. He had walked straight up to the old man and surpassed the Sword Cultivation Academy's standards through a brief exchange and a test of swordsmanship alone. Now that the heart of the matter had long since shifted elsewhere, he suddenly returned to this point.
Sui Zaihua extended a hand, indicating