LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 74:
Chapter 074: If Senior Brother Were Here (Part 3):
While the disciples of the Mountain River Treasure Tower Sect frantically sketched the figure, Bai Qiulan was quietly transmitting a message.
“Elder Sun, please shatter my disciple Lu Ye’s soul stone in secret. Make sure no one notices.”
Sun Li? Though puzzled, Sun Li complied.
“Who is this vile person? Does anyone recognize him?” Elder You Tianyou of the Mountain River Treasure Tower Sect enlarged the drawn figure to life-size using energy lines, vividly outlining the depicted features.
The young man’s figure was towering and imposing, his eyes unnaturally large, with blood flames raging around him, giving him the aura of a reincarnated god of slaughter.
Everyone gazed at the floating image of the young man in the sky.
This person…
Unfamiliar!
From the Grand Dao Sect, Yue Hongling looked at the suspended image and froze in shock.
This… Is this Senior Brother?
Yue Hongling tried hard to find even the faintest resemblance to Lu Ye in the drawing.
…
Nothing. There was no resemblance whatsoever.
Who on earth had the audacity to draw Senior Brother like this?
Everyone studied the image, shaking their heads. Judging by the physique, it seemed more like someone from the Tribulation Sect.
“Central Continent Empire, do you recognize this person?”
The Central Continent Empire, relieved to have heeded Bai Qiulan’s advice and escaped with minimal losses despite not securing a spot on the Eternal Prodigy Rankings, responded quickly.
“No, no, we’ve never seen this person.”
“And the Grand Dao Sect? Do you know this vile individual?”
You Tianyou’s true target had always been the Grand Dao Sect.
The members of the Grand Dao Sect were equally curious about the figure’s identity. They scrutinized the image repeatedly but could only shake their heads.
“Apologies, we don’t recognize him.”
You Tianyou’s gaze turned to Bai Qiulan. “Daoist Bai, surely you recognize him?”
Bai Qiulan’s expression remained calm. She looked at the image and, without a trace of dishonesty, replied, “I don’t.”
“Would you swear to it?”
“Swear, my foot! Who do you think you are to demand my master swear an oath?” Yue Hongling’s fiery temper erupted instantly.
You Tianyou was taken aback.
“How dare you! I’m speaking with your master. Do you think a junior like you can interject?” His voice thundered with authority, like crashing waves, loud enough to terrify the weak into losing control of their bodily functions.
Such tactics, used against a young woman, were both ruthless and despicable.
“Daoist You, don’t you think that’s excessive?” Bai Qiulan’s eyes turned icy cold as the power of the Lunar Divinity spread around her.
“It’s not excessive at all. I was merely teaching her to respect her elders.”
Yue Hongling’s eyes reddened. “You old, useless relic! You call yourself a senior? Your cultivation is only the result of living longer than others. If I were your age, you wouldn’t even be qualified to carry my shoes!”
Her words left many older Unity Realm cultivators visibly displeased.
“Hongling, watch your tongue!” Bai Qiulan scolded sharply before turning back to You Tianyou. “Elder You, as a senior, it’s unbecoming to argue with juniors. It tarnishes your dignity.”
“I don’t care about dignity today! So many of my sect’s disciples have perished. I’ve led them here, and if I don’t avenge them, how can I return to the sect with any face?” You Tianyou’s voice was filled with fury. “Bai Qiulan, you clearly know who this person is. Why do you refuse to admit it?”
With You Tianyou leading the charge, other sects that had suffered heavy casualties began to step forward, unconsciously forming a circle around the Grand Dao Sect.
Sensing the rising tension, the Grand Dao Sect’s experts readied themselves.
“Daoist Bai has already said she doesn’t recognize him. Why push further?”
“Exactly, Elder You. Do you think the Grand Dao Sect is afraid of you?”
The Taishang Sword Sect, without hesitation, stood beside the Grand Dao Sect, their sword aura already howling through the air.
“Bullying with numbers? We of the Taishang Sword Sect won’t just stand by and watch!”
Even the Central Continent Empire hesitated before stepping forward to stand with the Grand Dao Sect.
The many sects and factions divided into two clear camps, their hostility threatening to erupt into battle at any moment.
“I am not unreasonable,” You Tianyou said loudly. “Daoist Bai has previously sworn on her Dao to save lives, which I greatly admire. It was our ignorance that led to the deaths of our disciples. That is not her fault. But since she can swear on her Dao to save lives, why can’t she swear on her Dao to prove she doesn’t know this person?”
“Give it up! If you want to fight, just say so. We’re all Unity Realm cultivators. What right do you have to demand others swear on their Dao to prove their innocence? If you think Daoist Bai knows this person, then provide evidence!” Langya Jian of the Taishang Sword Sect shouted angrily.
“Hmph! If she refuses, it proves she knows this person. My disciples are dead, and I will return to the sect only through death. So I might as well test your abilities!”
“Come on! One move from you, and I’ll see if I don’t cut you down!”
The tension between the two camps reached a boiling point, ready to explode at any moment.
Bai Qiulan sighed deeply. She couldn’t bear to see the sects of the Great Wilderness descend into civil war, causing untold suffering to countless living beings.
“Everyone, calm down! If Elder You insists that I swear on my Dao to prove my innocence, then I will. We are all part of the same community and should not fight amongst ourselves.”
“Master!” Yue Hongling cried out in dismay. Her heart was filled with indignation. Why should her master be forced to swear on her Dao? If they believed Bai Qiulan knew the person, it was their responsibility to provide proof. Forcing her to swear on her Dao was nothing short of humiliation.
Bai Qiulan stopped Yue Hongling from speaking further. “I, Bai Qiulan, swear on my Dao that I do not recognize this figure. If I am lying, may my Dao be severed!”
The oath was sworn.
Yue Hongling burst into tears, overwhelmed by a deep sense of grievance.
Why? How could they force her master to swear on her Dao? It was only because the figure didn’t resemble Senior Brother.
What would happen if it had?
If Senior Brother were here…
If Senior Brother were here, who would dare do this?
Let alone force her master to swear on her Dao, the moment You Tianyou uttered his first word, Lu Ye would have already charged forward with his sword in hand.
He wouldn’t care who it was.
If it was a fight they wanted, it was a fight they would get. Even if the heavens collapsed and the earth crumbled, Lu Ye wouldn’t flinch. He cared only about the people around him.
Senior Brother…
Senior Brother…
Bai Qiulan sighed inwardly after taking the oath. She felt a pang of sorrow. If Lu Ye were here…
“Cowardly scoundrel! Bully my master, and I’ll wipe out your entire sect!”
If Lu Ye were here, she wouldn’t even have time to mediate. How could there have been any talk of an oath?
Bai Qiulan had sworn.
You Tianyou hadn’t expected her to go through with it and was momentarily stunned. His words caught in his throat.
“Fine. He can’t stay in the ancient battleground forever. When he emerges, we’ll know who he is.”
Meanwhile, the traumatized disciples who had initially avoided looking at the image finally mustered the courage, spurred on by their elders.
They hesitantly glanced at it—and froze.
Huh?
They weren’t scared.
“That’s not right. That person didn’t look like this. His eyes weren’t this round—they were narrow and had red flames trailing from the corners.”
“Exactly. That person was much thinner, not this broad and muscular.”
“His clothing wasn’t like this either…”
Everyone “…”