Chapter 1769: Dispute

By now, Granny Zhu’s broken leg had already grown back halfway, and the remaining fiend power in the wound was transferred to her eyeball. With a pop, her eyeball popped out of its socket and fell to the ground. Within a few breaths, it dissolved into a puddle of pus. Meanwhile, Granny Zhu’s wounds visibly healed at a faster rate.

“The note Xiao Wencheng just received—I saw an astonishing number on it.” Its many eyes were not for show.

Xiao Wencheng passed through the Haoyuan Golden Mirror and arrived at the entrance of Xian’guang Cave. The cave had restrictions, so the mirror couldn't directly transport people inside.

“What’s going on?”

Steward Lu immediately replied, “Wu Shidao came with your written order, walked all the way to the bottom of the cave, and handed it to the Scale Demon, requesting to withdraw eighty thousand catties of high-grade Profound Crystals.”

Xiao Wencheng’s face turned ashen. “Eighty thousand catties! And high-grade Profound Crystals!”

He remembered the written order he had signed for Wu Shidao was only for eight hundred catties. “Didn’t the Scale Demon notice?”

“No, it kept weighing them out for him.”

Xiao Wencheng had seen the written order and knew it was indeed his handwriting, and it truly stated "eighty thousand catties." Furthermore, the spiritual power fluctuation used for verification was still present. Once the Scale Demon received it, it would confirm it as the Sect Master’s request.

He could not have possibly written it incorrectly. So, had the Heavenly Palace used some method to alter the content of the order and bypass the Scale Demon’s verification?

The Scale Demon only followed procedures, with no flexibility or leeway. On the other hand, it had no curiosity and would not raise questions. As long as it could be deceived, one could theoretically take anything from Xian’guang Cave’s treasury at will.

“How did you discover this?”

“While the Scale Demon was measuring the Profound Crystals, it halfway through found the container was full,” Steward Lu said, wiping sweat from his brow, “so it submitted an application to me, requesting a larger container to complete the transaction. As soon as I saw something was wrong, I had Wu Shidao detained and waited for you, for you to arrive!”

When he first saw "eighty thousand catties," he was scared out of his wits. Xiao Wencheng grunted. “How much has he already withdrawn?”

“Sixty thousand… sixty-eight thousand seven hundred and eighteen catties!”

“And where are these Profound Crystals?”

“No, they’re gone.” Steward Lu said, steeling himself. “Wu Shidao said they were transmitted in real-time to the Heavenly Palace’s Capital Envoy Bai. We, we truly didn’t find any of the stolen Profound Crystals on him, nor anywhere in Xian’guang Cave.”

They spoke as they walked deeper inside.

Wu Shidao was held in a small cave, shackled at his hands and feet. With his cultivation, he couldn't possibly break free.

He didn’t even try to break free. He just stared fixedly at the entrance until Xiao Wencheng entered. “You scoundrel!” Xiao Wencheng’s eyes blazed with suppressed fury. “Where did you hide the Profound Crystals?”

“The bag holding the Profound Crystals is called a Bottomless Bag,” Wu Shidao said. “However many Profound Crystals the Scale Demon put in on this end, Capital Envoy Bai would receive in real-time on his end, unaffected by formations or escape arts.” Under the crushing pressure of the immortal’s fury, Wu Shidao’s face turned pale, but he managed a forced smile. “It’s very convenient; I don’t have to carry them out myself.”

Xiao Wencheng glared at him. “After thirty years of my tutelage and nurturing, you betray the sect so readily! How many benefits did Bai Ziqin promise you to become this traitor who bites the hand that feeds him!”

Wu Shidao was still smiling, but it was a cold, defiant sneer. “How can a little bit of sect teachings compare to the benevolence of my parents who gave me life?”

Xiao Wencheng frowned. “What?”

“I am from Baiya Village!” Wu Shidao said, enunciating each word. “When you personally turned Pingtan into a cliff and destroyed Baiya Village, did you ever consider that there were still living people in that village!”

“You are my mother’s murderer; why should I remember your kindness?” He threw caution to the wind and chuckled at Xiao Wencheng. “How many people from Silver Pearl Island were killed by your Yasha? Do you think they would still worship you?”

He hadn’t severed his own meridians yet. He wanted to personally witness the noble immortal burning with rage.

Xiao Wencheng let out a long breath, and struck the top of his head with his palm. *Crack*, a sharp sound. Even ending this traitor’s life with his own hands, it was difficult to quench the hatred in his heart!

Xiao Wencheng cast a cleansing spell on his hand, washing away the sticky red and white mess. He turned to Steward Lu and said, “From now on, if another written order from me arrives, review it first before giving it to the Scale Demon.”

“Yes, sir!” Steward Lu bowed tremblingly, his fingers touching the floor.

Xiao Wencheng strode out of the cave. Bai Ziqin openly made a grand show of sending people to construct a lighthouse and mine spirit ore at Banqiu, but secretly sent a traitor to Xian’guang Cave to extract Profound Crystals! *Good*, what a masterful deception. If an accident hadn’t occurred during the transmission, the Illusory Sect’s entire fortune would have truly been siphoned off by more than half!

Inside Wenhua Pavilion, He Lingchuan and Granny Zhu had barely exchanged two sentences when the Haoyuan Golden Mirror flashed, and two more people appeared in the pavilion:

Elder Xu and Elder Su had returned.

Elder Xu’s left arm was severely injured, charred black and bleeding profusely. His bones inside were visibly broken. However, his exasperation and frustration completely overshadowed the pain.

“Where’s the Sect Master, Brother?” His eyes were red, and he looked at everyone like a wolf. “He called us back, but he’s not here himself?”

The situation on the lakeside front was changing rapidly, fluctuating between fortune and disaster. How could they afford to waste time here?

“There was an emergency in Xian’guang Cave, and Sect Master Xiao went to handle it.” He Lingchuan looked at him. “Please rest for a moment, both of you. The situation on the lakeside battlefield has worsened, and we need to adjust our tactics.”

The words "has worsened" pierced Elder Xu’s heart. He glared, questioning, “What do you mean by that? Who are you to give orders here?”

“I’m merely stating facts.” He Lingchuan showed no fear. He pointed to the Haoyuan Golden Mirror and said, “Originally, the situation on the Banqiu battlefield was excellent, with one Sky Fiend eliminated. Although the Yasha no longer appeared in the lake, holding the lakeside battlefield was not difficult. Unfortunately, Elder Jin’s unexpected death immediately put the lakeside battlefield on the defensive, making it very difficult to regain control.”

The defeat on the lakeside battlefield was inseparable from Elder Xu’s eager pursuit of glory and reckless advance. So, He Lingchuan slightly emphasized the word "unexpected." Elder Xu, having just returned from the battlefield, was seething with anger. Hearing this, he was enraged and couldn’t help but step forward two paces, stating sternly, “You say it’s defensive, and it’s defensive? How dare a mere stripling presume to dictate strategy on an immortal-fiend battlefield! Sect Master, Brother, has been far too lenient with you mortals!”

When an immortal became enraged, an overwhelming oppressive aura surged forth. Even Dong Rui, standing behind He Lingchuan, felt a chill run down his spine, as if being stared at by a fierce tiger.

The Ghost Ape bared its fangs, while Granny Zhu’s plump figure stepped directly in front of He Lingchuan, and said chillingly, “If talking doesn’t work, do you intend to use force?”

Her severed limb was still growing, but her movements were unimpeded.

Elder Su grabbed Elder Xu’s shoulder, not daring to let him step forward again. “Brother Xu, calm your anger. This young man means no harm. If we start fighting amongst ourselves, won’t that bring sorrow to our kin and joy to our enemies?” He had barely finished two sentences of persuasion when the Haoyuan Golden Mirror flashed, and Xiao Wencheng returned.

His face was already gloomy. Looking up and seeing both sides at daggers drawn, he said irritably, “What are you doing? Fourth Brother Xu, isn’t there enough chaos already? Do you want to fight among ourselves?”

He knew his martial brothers’ tempers. Just by looking at the situation, he knew Elder Xu was causing trouble.

Elder Xu’s face flushed. “This brat has a foul mouth! Sect Master, Brother...”

He Lingchuan had already stepped out from behind Granny Zhu, interrupting him. “Sect Master Xiao, time waits for no one. You should make a quick decision on the two suggestions I just gave you. However—”

He glanced at Elder Xu. “I now believe that choosing the first option is more prudent. The second path is too aggressive; even a small unforeseen mishap could lead to the elders sent to Banqiu being completely wiped out by Miaozhantian. At present…”

He then shook his head again, sighing slightly. “It’s better to seek stability.”

Elder Xu opened his mouth to retort, but Xiao Wencheng held up his index finger, blocking him. He first glared fiercely at Elder Xu, then turned to He Lingchuan and said, “Island Master He, we need to have an internal discussion.”

He Lingchuan, understanding the hint, turned and left the pavilion with Dong Rui and Granny Zhu.

As soon as they stepped out, a furious roar erupted from within Wenhua Pavilion: “What reckless advance, what mishap? This brat is deliberately targeting me! Can’t you tell…”

The sheer intensity of the rage forced all the plants in the garden to bow their heads. The chirping insects and birds instantly fell silent.

This was, of course, Elder Xu’s voice. However, the rest of the sentence abruptly cut off, and Wenhua Pavilion returned to quiet. Clearly, the Illusory Sect elders had activated a sound-insulating barrier.

Inside Wenhua Pavilion.

Elder Su asked Xiao Wencheng, “What’s the next step?”

“Either we maintain the current situation, with you returning to the lakeside battlefield and Junior Brother Liu and Junior Brother Liu continuing to press the Banqiu battlefield,” Xiao Wencheng said, “or we withdraw manpower from the lakeside battlefield and focus all our strength on taking down the Banqiu lighthouse.”

Elder Xu’s face was grim. “Is that brat named He’s idea again?”

Xiao Wencheng ignored him, and only asked Elder Su, “Why did Fourth Brother Xu and Island Master He clash just now?”

Elder Su described the incident truthfully, recounting every word exchanged by both parties.

To Xiao Wencheng, He Lingchuan was indeed “stating facts,” but he had not been polite to Elder Xu, who had made a mistake. He had originally intended to severely reprimand Elder Xu, but speaking now would seem like siding with He Lingchuan, an outsider. Xiao Wencheng could only suppress his immense anger, and said grimly, “The battlefield is in critical danger, yet you choose to pick a fight with a junior over a few words? You lack judgment!”

At this moment, Elder Liu also rushed back, pushed open the door and entered the pavilion, his first words being, “Sect Master, Brother, why have you called for me?”

The battle on the Banqiu battlefield was in full swing, yet Xiao Wencheng had sent for him to return. After the death of Goddess Fenghuo, the Banqiu lighthouse originally had five immortals. The Cave Spider Queen had left on her own, and now Elder Liu was gone too. The Illusory Sect’s advantage on the Banqiu battlefield was no longer very apparent, and Elder Liu was very anxious.

Xiao Wencheng hadn’t replied yet, but Elder Xu quickly interjected, “That brat named He told Sect Master, Brother, that either we continue fighting as we are now, or we concentrate all our strength and blast down the Banqiu lighthouse! I say, we should all rush to Banqiu together. Before the Heavenly Palace can react, we’ll kill the Sky Fiends and pull down the lighthouse in one swift move!”

Elder Su frowned. “Island Master He’s words also make sense. What if Miaozhantian has set up an ambush at the Banqiu lighthouse, just waiting for us to take the bait…”