A Personal Visit to Explain
Wang Heng was startled. "Alliance Leader, you're going in person? Isn't that... inappropriate?"
"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures." Zhang Jianchen waved his hand. "Compared to the morale of hundreds of thousands of troops, nothing is more important than this. Go and make preparations; I'll head to the Purple Yang Sect first."
Wang Heng watched the leader's retreating figure, feeling a mix of emotions.
No wonder Zhang Jianchen was able to maintain his position as the leader of the alliance.
This breadth of vision and sense of responsibility are beyond the reach of ordinary people.
"Yes, sir."
Inside the central command tent of the Purple Yang Sect's camp.
Zhou Ziyang was still furious, sitting in his chair fuming and glaring, and he smashed two teacups in front of him.
"This is outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!" he slammed his fist on the table.
"That old Cangsongzi is courting death, and he even tried to drag me down with him! That brat Ling Yue is kicking me while I'm down! And the Alliance Leader actually believed it to some extent and is temporarily avoiding suspicion? It's utterly absurd!"
Several elders below echoed this sentiment.
"The sect leader is right! This is clearly a demonic tactic to sow discord, how can the alliance leader not see it!"
"That's right! Our Purple Yang Sect has fought and bled for the righteous path for so many years, how could we possibly be in league with demons!"
"In my opinion, the alliance leader is biased towards the Heavenly Sword Sect!"
"..."
Amidst the commotion, a disciple outside the tent reported, "Sect Leader, the Alliance Leader has arrived."
Zhou Ziyang was taken aback. "Zhang Jianchen? What's he doing here? To come and laugh at me?"
Despite saying that, he still straightened his robes, got up, and went out to greet them.
Outside the tent, Zhang Jianchen, dressed in a plain white robe, brought no ceremonial guards, only two attendants, showing no airs of an alliance leader whatsoever.
"Sect Leader Zhou," Zhang Jianchen said with a cupped hand and a smile, "I hope you will forgive my intrusion."
Zhou Ziyang snorted and stepped aside, "It's an honor to have the Alliance Leader here. Please come in."
The two entered the tent and sat down as host and guest, respectively.
A disciple served tea, Zhang Jianchen picked up the teacup, getting straight to the point. "Sect Leader Zhou, I know you're upset. I'm not here to interrogate you, but to apologize."
Zhou Ziyang was taken aback. "Apologize?"
"That's right." Zhang Jianchen nodded. "Cangsongzi's testimony is only one side of the story and cannot be trusted."
My decision to ask you to recuse yourself from suspicion was ill-considered. I apologize for that.
After saying that, he actually stood up and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Zhou Ziyang.
Zhou Ziyang couldn't sit still any longer and quickly stood up to return the greeting. "Alliance Leader, you're making me feel too ashamed!"
His anger subsided almost instantly.
What is Zhang Jianchen's identity? He is the leader of the Immortal Alliance and the number one righteous person.
Now that they've humbled themselves and personally come to apologize, giving the Purple Yang Sect ample face, no matter how angry he is, he can no longer maintain his composure.
"Sect Leader Zhou, please have a seat." Zhang Jianchen smiled and sat down. "I know that the Purple Yang Sect has been loyal for generations and would never collude with demons. I have never believed Cangsongzi's words."
Zhou Ziyang frowned. "If you don't believe me, then why did the alliance leader still..."
"Why should I ask you to temporarily recuse yourself from suspicion?" Zhang Jianchen smiled.
"Sect Leader Zhou, think about it, why did Cangsongzi bite you and Sect Leader Ling? It's because the Purple Yang Sect and the Heavenly Sword Sect have always been at odds, and the entire righteous path knows that."
"His accusations against you are the easiest to believe, and also the easiest to provoke conflict."
"The demonic path wants us to fight amongst ourselves, to sow distrust among us, and to scatter our hearts so they can defeat us one by one. If we really start fighting, wouldn't we be falling right into the demonic path's trap?"
Zhou Ziyang fell silent.
He is not a fool, he understands everything.
He was just too angry to swallow his pride.
"I know you feel wronged," Zhang Jianchen said sincerely, "But the bigger picture is more important. The struggle for destiny over ten thousand years cannot be ruined by internal conflicts."
"Sect Leader Zhou, you are a righteous elder, deeply understanding of justice. I hope you will prioritize the greater good and temporarily restrain your anger. Once you have seized the Dao Fruit, I will personally vindicate your Purple Yang Sect."
Having said all that, what else could Zhou Ziyang say?
He sighed deeply, "Since the Alliance Leader has put it this way, what else can I disagree with?"
"Rest assured, I know what's important. The entire Purple Yang Sect will never let personal grudges jeopardize important matters."
"Excellent!" Zhang Jianchen clapped his hands and laughed, "Sect Leader Zhou is indeed a man of great principle! With your words, I am relieved."
After calming Zhou Ziyang down, Zhang Jianchen didn't linger. He immediately got up to take his leave and headed straight for the Heavenly Sword Sect Sect's camp.
Do the same thing.
He first gave Ling Yue ample face, then exposed the demonic path's divisive tactics, explaining the advantages and disadvantages.
Ling Yue was not an unreasonable person to begin with. Seeing that the alliance leader had come to his door in person with a sincere attitude, he went along with it and expressed his willingness to prioritize the overall situation and no longer hold a grudge against the Purple Yang Sect.
Immediately afterwards, Zhang Jianchen went to the Pill Cauldron Sect to appease the Pill Cauldron Sect members and promised to thoroughly investigate the matter and clear the Pill Cauldron Sect.
The sect leader of the Pill Cauldron Sect, Ge Changyun, was already harboring a lot of grievances. When he saw the alliance leader come to comfort him in person, he was so moved that tears streamed down his face. He immediately declared that all the pills of the Pill Cauldron Sect would be given priority to the army, without any further questions.
They visited each family one by one, having heart-to-heart talks with each one.
For a full day and night, Zhang Jianchen traversed the camps of the seven core sects.
Present the facts, reason with them, give them face, and make promises.
He set aside his status as the leader of the alliance, treated others with the respect due to an equal, and spoke frankly and frankly about the pros and cons.
The results are remarkable.
The next morning, the leaders of all the major sects appeared together in the central command tent.
Zhou Ziyang and Ling Yue walked in side by side. Although they didn't say much, the previous confrontation was gone.
Ge Changyun was also in high spirits and began to arrange for the supply of medicinal pills.
"Gentlemen," Zhang Jianchen, sitting in the main seat and looking at everyone, "The case of Cangsongzi was undoubtedly a scheme by the demonic path to sow discord."
I can assure you all that I trust each and every one of you here."
"But..." he changed the subject, "If the demonic path can plant one Cangsongzi, it can plant a second, a third. Without eliminating this traitor, we will never have peace."
Zhou Ziyang said in a deep voice, "The Alliance Leader is right! We must find all the traitors! Otherwise, this battle won't be enjoyable!"
"That's right." Ling Yue nodded. "Only by finding the traitor can the soldiers feel at ease."
Everyone echoed this sentiment.
Zhang Jianchen looked at the two Loose Immortal Xuanjizi, Yunyouzi, beside him. "My two venerable ancestors, we still need your help with this matter."
Xuanjizi Rogue Person nodded slightly. "It's our duty. Alliance Leader, please speak freely if you have any plans."
Zhang Jianchen stood up, walked to the sand table, and his gaze swept over everyone, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes:
"I already have a plan that can wipe out all the traitors in one fell swoop."
Inside the tent, everyone's eyes were focused on Zhang Jianchen.
"Alliance Leader, what's the plan? Tell me quickly!" Zhou Ziyang said urgently.
Zhang Jianchen did not answer immediately, but instead looked outside the tent. "Elder Bai, everyone in the Law Enforcement Hall, retreat to thirty feet outside the tent. No one is allowed to approach. Violators will be dealt with according to the law."
"Yes, sir!"
Bai Yuan led his disciples out, and the tent doors were tightly closed.
Only Zhang Jianchen, two Loose Immortal, and the leaders of the seven core sects remained in the tent, a total of ten people.
"What I'm about to say is top secret," Zhang Jianchen said solemnly. "Once we leave this tent, I will not acknowledge it. Anyone who leaks it will face the ruthless laws of the Immortal Alliance."
Everyone felt a chill run down their spines and nodded in agreement.