Chapter 592: A Dire Situation
Half an hour later.
"What right do you have to arrest me? What right?!"
The main hall of the White Egret Sect was now completely under the control of Kongshan Sect disciples.
Every cultivator in the entire sect whose cultivation realm was above the Martial Spring Realm had been shackled with specially forged iron restraints engraved with the Energy Suppression Formula.
The one who had just spoken was none other than the current sect leader of the White Egret Sect, Lu Xiu.
"Shut up!"
A cultivator who appeared to be around fifty years old, dressed in Kongyuan Mountain daoist robes, kicked Lu Xiu squarely in the chest. Lu Xiu was sent flying through the air before tumbling backward and crashing to the ground.
"Elder Tian, please calm yourself a bit."
Li Haoran, seated in the main seat of the hall, said softly.
Upon hearing this, Elder Tian first turned around, his gaze landing on Li Haoran, then nodded slightly toward the current Daomen Xingzou of Kongshan Sect before stepping to the side.
At this moment, Elder Tian bore no resemblance to the man who had been in the teahouse of Bailing City not long ago. His eyes were bright and sharp, his stature tall and imposing, his aura vast and mighty.
Though he was also at the peak of the Passable God Realm, it had taken him less than three breaths to subdue Lu Xiu.
"Sect Leader Lu, our sect suspects that your White Egret Sect has interfered in mortal affairs, violating the rules. Therefore, we must ask you to accompany us back to Kongshan Sect."
Li Haoran said flatly.
"Pah!"
Lu Xiu glared toward Li Haoran and said:
"Violating the rules? Are you telling me that your Kongshan Sect breaking into my White Egret Sect in the middle of the night counts as following the rules? Hah! Besides, on what basis do you claim that my White Egret Sect interfered in mortal affairs? Where's your evidence?"
Li Haoran, seated in what should have been Lu Xiu's own seat, merely shook his head with a faint smile:
"I'm sorry, Sect Leader Lu, but I don't think I quite caught what you just said."
"I said, what evidence do you have that my White Egret Sect interfered in mortal affairs?"
Lu Xiu repeated.
Li Haoran maintained the same gentle, bamboo-like expression, as refreshing as a spring breeze, as he sat in the main seat. He shook his head again:
"I still can't hear you clearly."
Then, the Daomen Xingzou of Kongshan Sect stood up and began walking toward the entrance of the hall.
"Prepare the ferry. Escort everyone from the White Egret Sect back to the sect prison."
Li Haoran said.
"Daoxing Li."
Immediately after, a Kongshan Sect disciple called out to Li Haoran's retreating figure:
"Earlier, what should we do with those White Egret Sect Body Forging Realm disciples we caught outside?"
"Bring them back to the sect as well."
Li Haoran said. Then, as if suddenly reminded of something, he turned to look at the blue-robed swordsman standing in the corner, clutching the scabbard of Realman Cangyue to his chest:
"Champion Su, would you mind coming over here with me for a moment?"
...
Outside the hall, the sky was just beginning to lighten. Below the eastern horizon, it had gradually turned white.
Su Hongzhen gazed at the back of the young man dressed in pure white daoist robes standing by the railing, staring into the distance. He couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration in his heart.
This Daomen Xingzou of Kongshan Sect had social skills far surpassing his own.
Or perhaps, it was an innate talent for leadership.
Even Elder Tian, whose cultivation was a full major realm higher than Li Haoran's, willingly served at his command, or rather, followed this young man who had just turned twenty-four. This alone was enough to attest to Li Haoran's abilities.
"I've been rather offensive these past two days, Champion Su."
Li Haoran said.
"I understand."
Su Hongzhen nodded.
"After all, Kongshan Sect has its own difficulties."
Su Hongzhen had been accompanying the Kongshan Sect disciples over the past two days, but it wasn't entirely by his own choice.
It was more of a "semi-coerced" arrangement.
Of course, Su Hongzhen had no intention of resisting. He knew that the Kongshan Sect wouldn't harm him, and he also understood the reason behind their actions.
A hint of surprise flickered across Li Haoran's face, and he turned around:
"You seem to know everything, Champion Su."
"What do you think I know, Daoxing Li?"
Su Hongzhen countered.
Hearing this, Li Haoran smiled again. His gaze dropped slightly for a moment, then he looked up and met Su Hongzhen's eyes directly:
"Since that's the case, I'll be more direct, Champion Su.
"A mere White Egret Sect could never have managed something like this. There's something else behind them. Perhaps, I'm just saying perhaps, that something might be a behemoth no less formidable than Kongshan Sect."
Su Hongzhen met Li Haoran's gaze without a single ripple appearing on his face.
"You know what I'm referring to, Champion Su. And we are also somewhat aware of certain events in the Western Region of Chenping Continent over the past ten years—such as what happened at Moxu Mountain, or what befell a certain Martial Arts Family near your hometown."
Li Haoran said, then paused briefly:
"I hope you have the ability to tell right from wrong, Champion Su."
"Of course."
Su Hongzhen replied.
Li Haoran, dressed in his pure white daoist robes, stared at Su Hongzhen for two more breaths. He opened his mouth slightly, as if about to say something else, but was quickly interrupted by a voice from the side.
"Daoxing Li! Daoxing Li!"
A Kongshan Sect disciple hurriedly ran toward Li Haoran, panting heavily:
"Daoxing Li! Something's happened in Bailing City!"
...
An empty city. A sea of flames.
Only the crackling sound of burning wooden beams and the roar of fire could be heard.
Two figures sped toward this once most prosperous city on both banks of the Lu River. They were Li Haoran and Su Hongzhen.
Black smoke mingled with the glow of the fire, dyeing the dawn a bloody red.
Though the entire city was ablaze, not a single cry for help could be heard.
"Three million."
Li Haoran's voice trembled slightly:
"The three million people of Bailing City... just like that..."
Su Hongzhen stood to the side in silence.
He recalled what Immortal Master Zhou had said back then—that behind all of this lay the absolute taboo of Mirage Palace.
If it couldn't be controlled, the consequences would be dire. It could even cause Mirage Palace to be universally reviled by the cultivation world of Chenping Continent from now on. And Immortal Master Zhou, as the Daomen Xingzou of Mirage Palace, would surely...
Perhaps Immortal Master Zhou had been tirelessly striving to resolve this taboo all along.
But if things continued like this...
He understood all too well just how fragile life was beneath the overwhelming power of cultivators.
He had to do something himself.
Su Hongzhen clenched his fist.
At that very moment, inside Bailing City, which was being devoured by the sea of flames.
"Meow~"
A tabby cat sat atop the wall of a mansion, its tail lightly swishing before it quickly darted away.
Beneath the wall lay a charred corpse.
And in the hand of that corpse, something seemed to be clutched—
A piece of sheepskin parchment.