Several Cultivators were discussing the situation.
"It seems Ruan Baii snatched Xu Xing's Sect Leader Position. No wonder the two beca enemies."
"How is that possible?"
"I'd believe Xu Xing had a great chance to beco the next Flying Feather Immortal Palace Sect Master," one of them said, shaking his head. "But Ruan Baii... I don't believe he could inherit the Sect Leader's Position..."
"Hmph! The Upper Sect inheritance isn't that simple," another interjected. "The earliest Flying Feather Immortal Palace had no distinction between lineages, only the Master and Disciple Lineage."
"Strictly speaking, there's no Family Line," a Cultivator well-versed in historical records imdiately sneered in retort. "Aristocratic Families... Every generation of Sect Masters in the Flying Feather Immortal Palace fiercely guarded against them, fearing these families would usurp the Master and Disciple Lineage's legal position out of self-interest."
"A mighty Immortal Body with no right to inherit the Sect Leader's legal position? Isn't that laughable?" soone else scoffed.
"In my opinion, it's understandable that the Master and Disciple Lineage was usurped by the Aristocratic Families," another offered.
"Then what about Xu Xing?"
"So Ruan Baii suffered an injustice? But is the Flying Feather Immortal Palace, after its internal strife, fair to Xu Xing?"
"Aristocratic Families controlling it? Who knows how many good days the Flying Feather Immortal Palace has left," a Middle-aged Cultivator mused with a smile. "Perhaps in another ten thousand years, it will suffer a talent gap and fall from the ranks of Higher Teachings..."
Despite these discussions, both the Butian Sect and the Flying Feather Immortal Palace remained indifferent, both sides waiting for the auspicious ti to arrive.
Ti passed slowly. Shaoqing, about a dozen Cloud Carriages, adorned with red decorations and pulled by spirit birds, slowly approached the Welco Hall from the southeast. When the carriages were three hundred steps from the hall, drops of spiritual dew began to fall from the Heavenly Vault, transforming into five-colored divine light and auspicious clouds shaped like mythical beasts. Amidst the snow-covered ground, a hundred flowers blood.
"Congratulations to the allied Higher Teachings!"
"May our Orthodox Daoist Teachings be strengthened!"
As the Cloud Carriages descended above the palace steps, the leaders of the various sects no longer hesitated. After exchanging glances, they congratulated the Nanhua Sect and the Flying Feather Immortal Palace, these two great Higher Teachings, on their alliance.
As their words faded, the Cloud Carriages opened in response. A beautiful woman in her early twenties erged, her hair styled in a Flying Immortal Hair Bun, and dressed in a red wedding gown.
"I am Zuoqiu Ying. On behalf of Our Sect, I thank all esteed elders for your congratulations," the beautiful woman said softly, a smile on her face. She glanced at the Cultivators present and gave a graceful curtsy. "After the Marriage Contract is signed, Our Sect has prepared a wedding banquet at Shangyang Palace. We invite all esteed elders to join us there."
The Sect Masters of the various sects bowed upon hearing her words, acknowledging her graciousness.
After she finished speaking, the great doors of the Welco Hall also swung open. Ruan Baii, dressed in white robes, led the disciples of the Flying Feather Immortal Palace out from inside the hall and approached Zuoqiu Ying.
After a brief glance at Zuoqiu Ying, Ruan Baii said, "My apologies." He then cupped his hands towards the assembled Cultivators and continued, "Today was supposed to be my joyous day, and a grand event for all our Righteous Path sects. However, as you all know, three days ago, Master Xu proclaid that he, not I, is the rightful heir to my sect's Sect Leader's Position."
"The three-day deadline has passed."
"Master Xu, I invite you to co out and et with now."
As he spoke these words, Ruan Baii's gaze turned icy, fixing on the Butian Sect's contingent. "Brother Xu," he said, his voice cold, "surely there's no need to continue hiding now."
It was only after Chi Yuan's reminder that Ruan Baii realized Xu Xing had concealed himself among the Butian Sect disciples and had not yet shown his face. But... even though he knew Xu Xing's whereabouts, this was Nanhua Sect territory. He could only go along with Xu Xing's arrangent and wait for today's auspicious ti to force him out.
"What?" The Cultivators present were instantly astonished.
"Master Xu is among the Butian Sect disciples? How did we not notice?"
"Wait, the number of Butian Sect disciples hasn't changed..."
"When did Master Xu hide among them?"
Indeed, while there were many intelligent people in the world, Xu Xing's sche had, until now, only been seen through by a select few like Chi Yuan and Ye Hualian. Most still mistakenly believed Xu Xing had not even arrived.
"Brother Ruan is correct," a voice suddenly said. From the Butian Sect's ranks, a disciple with an ordinary appearance smiled and stepped forward. "Xu... I, indeed, should not continue to hide among the disciples at this point."
With a flourish of his great sleeve, his appearance and the magic clothes he wore instantly transford. He beca the youth in a green robe familiar to all Cultivators—Xu Xing!
So that's Xu Xing? Zuoqiu Ying's willow-like eyebrows knitted slightly upon seeing this, a flicker of displeasure crossing her face before it quickly vanished, her expression returning to calm. Xu Xing's interference had disrupted her wedding to Ruan Baii. It would be impossible for her to say she didn't mind. Still, it's better this way. Making a move now is preferable to doing so after the wedding ceremony. By then, what's done would be done, and things would be far more difficult to handle.
Seeing Xu Xing step forward, Ruan Baii showed no anger. His expression was composed. After giving Xu Xing a respectful bow, he shook his head with a smile. "Master Xu... I never imagined that after we parted ways on Huge Mastiff Island, our reunion would cast us as enemies."
"Back then," Ruan Baii continued, a smile still on his lips, "when we were young and full of ideals, we whimsically founded the Butian Sect. You were the Sect Leader, and I was the Deputy Sect Leader. Your codena was 'Six Harmonies,' while mine was 'Gold Venerate.' The purpose of 'Butian' was for us, Bottom-level Cultivators, to use our strength to nd the heavens should the Flying Feather Immortal Palace undergo a revolution."
"I never thought that today, upon eting again, Master Xu would seek to kill in the na of orthodoxy."
As he spoke, Ruan Baii retrieved a Brocade Box from his sleeve. Employing his Magic Power, he sent it hovering in mid-air.
"Our past camaraderie still holds a place in my heart, Master Xu. Three days ago, I promised you an answer regarding the matter of Hai An."
"The head within this Brocade Box is Hai An's. I ask Master Xu and all our Fellow Daoists here to bear witness!"
As his voice fell, the Brocade Box suspended in the air suddenly burst open, revealing the young head within.
The Cultivators from the various sects gasped in astonishnt. They couldn't help but look up to scrutinize the features of the severed head.
Hai An was the son of Song Knife, who had once been the Seventh Chief of the Flying Feather Immortal Palace and had friends across the land. Many Cultivators present had t Song Knife. Seeing that the severed head bore a strong, seven-tenths resemblance to Song Knife, they nodded, accepting Ruan Baii's claim.
Xu Xing nodded. "Indeed, that is Hai An's head."
The Hai An incident could only be exploited once; overuse would render it ineffective. Therefore, he didn't want to make a big issue out of it. Playing the victim card was sufficient once. Overdoing it would only irritate the Righteous Path sects.
Hearing Xu Xing's affirmation, Zuoqiu Ying's almond eyes, which had just lowered, lifted once more. She looked directly at Xu Xing, a flicker of doubt in their depths.
The situation seems unfavorable for Xu Xing now... If Ruan Baii had produced Hai An's head from the start, without his preceding speech, Xu Xing's confirmation now wouldn't have been a major issue. But the circumstances were entirely different. Given that the Butian Sect was co-founded by Ruan Baii and Xu Xing, both aspiring to 'nd the heavens,' Xu Xing's current challenge seed rather contemptible. Ruan Baii, as the Junior Sect Leader, was aligned with the Master and Disciple Lineage. His presence might offer the Flying Feather Immortal Palace a chance for 'reformation,' a return to its forr state. Reformation ant less bloodshed—a good path! With this premise, the legitimacy of the Flying Feather Immortal Palace's orthodox lineage didn't seem so critical anymore. Even if the secret decree Xu Xing possessed was genuine, its threat to Ruan Baii might not be substantial. At most, it would only affect the Flying Feather Immortal Palace's diplomatic relations with the outside world. What is Xu Xing... planning? What's his ga?
Seeing his own plan unfold so smoothly, Ruan Baii was profoundly perplexed. His brow furrowed deeply, and his wariness towards Xu Xing intensified severalfold.
Xu Xing smiled faintly. "This is the Immortal Decree that my late Master, the Acting Sect Master, entrusted to ." He retrieved the secret decree given to him by the Giant Sword Daoist Monarch from his sleeve. "Brother Ruan, please examine it and determine its authenticity."
With a flick of his wrist, he used his Magic Power to send the decree floating towards Ruan Baii.
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