The Plan Failed
Just as Lan Fusheng had feared, the Beast Soul Sect and the Array Sect did not intend to launch a full-scale attack on the Listening Tide Sect as planned.
Firstly, they only agreed to help because of their old connection and agreement with the owner of the jade pendant, but in their hearts they also despised the outsider cultivators and didn't care about their life or death.
Secondly, the Listening Tide Sect has been expanding its power over the years. If they were to actually clash with the other side, both sects might suffer heavy casualties. Why provoke such a powerful enemy for the sake of a jade pendant?
Moreover, all Dong Fuzhu and her group brought was a jade pendant, and the whereabouts of its owner was still unknown.
Therefore, after discussing it, the leaders of the two sects unanimously instructed their disciples not to easily provoke conflict with the Listening Tide Sect.
Once they arrive at their destination, they should take the initiative to pay their respects and redeem those outsider cultivators. It is likely that the Listening Tide Sect only wants to teach them a lesson and does not really intend to kill them.
As for any kind of sacrificial ceremony, that's even more impossible.
Everyone knows that the Cloud Mulberry Realm used to worship the Beast God, but now the cultivators have all switched to worshiping Jiaoren. The Listening Tide Sect is one such sect that worships Jiaoren.
Jiaoren are the overlords of the sea; they don't need sacrifices at all, they just need cultivators to leave them alone. Human sacrifices are even more abhorred by Jiaoren, so as the sect leader of the Listening Tide Sect, He Lun would certainly not do something so foolish as to displease the Jiaoren.
The other two sect leaders agreed that Lan Fusheng and the others had misheard or misunderstood.
The two sect leaders who placed complete trust in He Lun were unaware that it was this very person, whom they regarded as the most loyal supporter of the Jiaoren, who wanted to completely exterminate Jiaoren!
Having received instructions from their sect leader, almost as soon as they arrived at the Listening Tide Sect, Lan Fusheng even realized what they were about to do, a group of people surrounded them and presented them with visiting cards to the gatekeepers of the Listening Tide Sect, explaining their purpose.
Dong Fuzhu and the other two listened to them reveal their intentions and explain their plans in detail!
This time, not only Dong Fuzhu, but even the usually calm and composed Lan Fusheng turned red with anger on the spot.
As the two gatekeeper disciples went to report the news, Lan Fusheng glared coldly at Jing Huan, the senior disciple of the Beast Soul Sect, who was in charge of both teams.
"Fellow Daoist Jing, what do you mean by this? Your sect leader didn't say this to us when he promised to save them." Lan Fusheng tried to ignore the gaze the gatekeeper had just given him; he was genuinely worried about his senior sister's safety. "Do you know that my senior sister risked her life to save them, and she's likely already been captured? The three of us originally left quietly, staging an act, but you've exposed everything. My senior sister's plan has completely collapsed, and so many of them might be moved or killed on the spot!"
Jing Huan turned to look at Lan Fusheng, this was the first time he had spoken to Lan Fusheng since they met. "The Listening Tide Sect wouldn't do that. You outsiders are just overthinking it. Besides, our sect leader never told us that we were going to turn against the Listening Tide Sect."
The three of them turned pale instantly upon hearing this. They had underestimated the dislike the cultivators from the Cloud Mulberry Realm had for them. It turned out that what they had heard from the two sect leaders was just a way to appease them.
What's even more infuriating is that the male disciple who had previously mocked them continued, "Our sect leader is just playing with you. You don't really think our sect leader is foolish enough to believe your nonsense, do you?"
The others remained silent, but they clearly supported the disciple's words.
Hearing their mocking words, Bai Kejin finally couldn't hold back and sneered, "So the sect leaders and cultivators of the Cloud Mulberry Realm are proud of going back on their word? It truly makes us outsiders feel ashamed. After all, even if we dislike someone, we would never break our promise."
"What do you mean?!" The disciple said, about to rush forward, but Jing Huan stopped his punch.
Jing Huan did not approve of the sect leader's decision to send them out to help. When he learned that the sect leader had agreed to attack the Listening Tide Sect but had given him a different order, he immediately expressed his opposition.
But how could he possibly influence the sect leader's decision?
In the end, Jing Huan obediently led his people out and also dutifully paid his respects to the Listening Tide Sect. As for the three deceived outsider cultivators, Jing Huan could only apologize; after all, they were outsiders.
This news was of great importance and was quickly delivered to the sect leader He Lun.
He Lun was surprised by Sang Ying and the others' keen insight, but he was also terrified of his near-mishap.
He was very grateful that he had disguised himself well, which prevented the other two groups from discovering his true intentions.
While ordering his men to quickly welcome the person in, He Lun whispered a few words to his trusted confidants, instructing them to immediately convey his message to his nephew, Zhao Ting.
Anyone who dares to Sang Ying tricks under his nose will be in big trouble!
It just so happens that they were worried about not having enough food after that being was born just two days ago, but now that the people who have come are all the talents of the two sects, they can serve as food for the Beast God.
He Lun sat in the chair, feeling an unprecedented sense of joy.
Jing Huan, Lan Fusheng, and the others were quickly invited into the main hall, where they were personally received by He Lun, the sect leader.
Lan Fusheng and the other two watched as Jing Huan and He Lun exchanged polite greetings and compliments before turning the conversation to the trapped cultivators.
But after hearing Jing Huan's words, He Lun looked surprised. "Strange, we arrested outsider cultivators? That's impossible. We've been trying to improve relations with outsider cultivators all these years, and we've treated them well. Why would we arrest them?"
Jing Huan was speechless for a moment. He had thought about many of He Lun's reactions before coming here, but he never expected that the other party would deny it so decisively.
The fact that Lan Fusheng and the other two came seeking help must mean they had found concrete evidence; otherwise, they weren't fools, so why would they seek help from someone who shared their prejudice against them?
But Listening Tide Sect's attitude, he clearly didn't want to release the person, which left Jing Huan feeling somewhat helpless.
"Then, Sect Master, may I take a look at these three? I heard that they stayed at your sect for a while not long ago, and they came to ask for help in person. I wonder if Sect Master recognizes them?" Jing Huan took two steps back, directly exposing Lan Fusheng and the other two to He Lun.
Bai Kejin saw a hint of ruthlessness flash in He Lun's eyes, but he quickly concealed it.
He said, "I have naturally met these three before. Not long ago, one of the female cultivators wanted to rent a boat to go on a sea trip, but because the nearby boat houses refused to rent to them, she secretly ran away with the other two. Her senior sister searched for them for a long time and finally had to leave the Listening Tide Sect to search for them all over the Cloud Mulberry Realm."
Finally, He Lun earnestly advised, "Young cultivator, have you contacted your senior sister? She's been very sad these past few days. Why didn't you see her when you returned?"
"She's imprisoned in the Listening Tide Sect! How am I supposed to see her? Am I supposed to be imprisoned like her?!" Dong Fuzhu's pent-up anger finally erupted. "The sacrifice is about to begin, and these offerings absolutely cannot be harmed. May I ask the Sect Master, what kind of sacrifice are you talking about? Why are living people being used as sacrifices? And what wrong have those foreign cultivators, whom you've locked up in cages and hung high above, committed?!"
He Lun, sitting on his high seat, gradually suppressed his smile, and soon the doors of the main hall slammed shut, filling the room with a terrifying atmosphere.