Chapter 318: High Council’s Meeting (II)
Chapter 318: High Council’s Meeting (II)
"Choose your words wisely, High Immortal Xing. You should be aware of the consequences that you will face." The Elder’s loud and sharp words filled the hall.
Before Xiang Ling could have responded, Dao Ming spoke up, "High Immortal Xing has just returned from the Mortal Realm. She must be overwhelmed by the sudden attacks and the news of the possible war. She should be allowed to rest instead of joining the meeting."
"I don’t need any rest." Xiang Ling announced as she spared a glare at the Spirit Beast King from over her shoulder.
"High Immortal Xing-"
"Your Majesty, Elders, when I entered Mortal Realm to undergo my life tribulation, I ended up inside the body of a full grown woman with all my Immortal memories and access to my Immortal powers." Xiang Ling didn’t waste any more time and quickly started confessing. Her words caused great chaos throughout the members of the council who were completely taken aback by the reveal.
"Both Demon Emperor and Spirit Beast King were my fake husbands in the Mortal Realm, and I knew of their true identities, as well as the secret of Shadow Lord’s escape from the Abyssal Lands. I also knew that they hadn’t informed the High Council of the same and were secretly trying to capture the Shadow Lord. I have known everything for a long time."
"Xiang Ling-"
"High Immortal Xing!"
The first voice belonged to Xin Cheng who sounded desperate for Xiang Ling to stop talking any further, but he never got the chance to finish whatever he wanted to say as the loud and angry voice of the Heavenly Emperor filled the hall.
"Do you have any idea what you are saying? Are you telling me that as an Immortal, you kept such a big news a secret from the council? How could you do that?"
Xiang Ling immediately bowed until her head was touching the back of her hands that were placed on the floor. "I’m guilty for my incompetence. I failed as an Immortal and unintentionally became a part of the crime that brought so many casualties to our world. I will accept the punishment you will decide for me."
She straightened up to look at the Heavenly Emperor and the Empress as she continued, "But right now, I’m here to vouch for the Demon Emperor and Spirit Beast King’s innocence. They might have made the huge mistake of keeping Shadow Lord’s escape a secret, but they aren’t in cahoots with our enemy. The two of them are loyal to the High Council and the treaty. Please judge wisely." She once again bowed her head against the floor as she requested for a fair judgement.
"Very well done, High Immortal Xing. You have disappointed us big time. Instead of making up for your mistake, you are kneeling here to ask for forgiveness for these two men who are likely working with the Shadow Lord to bring havoc to our world. Are you also in cahoots with them?"
The Elder’s words caused several gasps to be heard around the hall. It was one thing to accuse the Demon Emperor and the Spirit Beast King for betraying the High Council, but it was an entirely different thing to accuse a High Immortal for such betrayal.
"High Elder, refrain yourself from speaking such nonsense." Xin Cheng’s dark and powerful voice silenced everyone as he moved forward and pulled Xiang Ling to stand up.
"Hah! Such an unexpected day is today. We are actually witnessing the Demon Empeor protecting an Immortal." The Third Elder added fuel to the fire. "It seems like the three of you are indeed in this together."
"If High Immortal Xing’s testimony alone isn’t enough, then I’m also ready to vouch for all three of them." Another voice filled the hall as Zhe Yuan stood up from his seat and joined the other three in the center of the hall. "I was also present in there during High Immortal Xing’s life tribulation and was aware of the real identities of these two men. While I had no clue about the Shadow Lord’s escape, I knew that these three never did anything out of the line."
"Emperor Zhe, are you sure you want to help them? Since you are from the Lower Realm, are you in cahoots with them too?" The Second Elder demanded, his words caused Xin Cheng to chuckle, but there was no humor in it.
"The four of them can be in cahoots, but what about me, Elder Zheng. Do you think I’m also someone who will betray the Upper Realms and help the Shadow Lord?"
"Your Grace?" Elder Zheng stared at the Celestial King in shock as the latter made his way to join the other four. "Did you... did you know about them?"
"I was undergoing my life tribulation, so I had no idea about their true identities or anything else that was going on in the Realms. However, I know them enough to vouch for their innocence. I can guarantee with my life that High Immortal Xing hasn’t betrayed the High Council and that none of the three Kings are helping the Shadow Lord." Wei Guang clarified as he stared right at Elder Zheng.
"You can have my guarantee, Elder Zheng. I’m also vouching for their innocence with my life." This time, it was Li Xian who spoke these words and joined the group, once again leaving everyone else baffled.
"I will also like to vouch. I encountered them in the Mortal Realm and got to know them personally. While I had no idea about their true identities, I knew that each one of them was a good person. I can tell that none of them will ever do anything to harm innocent people." Wu Tian quickly stood up from his seat and decided to join his friends.
While the Heavenly Emperor and the two Elders were left stunned along with all the other council members, Heavenly Empress and Elder Dao were the only ones who carried calm expressions on their faces.
"Your Majesty, I will also like to say something."