Chapter 1627: Seeking an Explanation

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan have been consistently developing their family, indicating a strong sense of identity with their clan members.

The Azure Lotus Immortals and the Sun and Moon Dual Saints are both powerful Nascent Soul cultivators, skilled in joint attack techniques. In Dongfang Yulin's view, with cultivators from other realms potentially invading Dongli Realm at any moment, all grievances, no matter how great, must be put aside. It's not too late to resolve them after dealing with the invaders.

Normally, Dongfang Yulin wouldn't care if the Sun and Moon Dual Saints and the Azure Lotus Immortals fought, or who lived or died, as the Dongfang family would remain unaffected. However, with a formidable enemy approaching, he absolutely would not allow Nascent Soul cultivators of Dongli Realm to engage in internal strife at this time; rather, they should direct their fighting spirit towards the foreign cultivators.

"Resolve!"

Wang Changsheng was slightly startled. From his personal perspective, he hoped for reconciliation. Grand Elder Nangong Miao had not asked Wang Changsheng to destroy the Sun and Moon Palace, but merely to rebuild the Zhenhai Sect.

Ostensibly, Situ Mei led people to attack the Zhenhai Sect's main stronghold, and the Sun and Moon Palace dispatched personnel to apprehend Zhenhai Sect remnants. In reality, the Sun and Moon Palace, along with the Four Seas Sect, Divine Weapons Palace, and the Shen family, divided up the Zhenhai Sect's territory. The Four Seas Sect, Divine Weapons Palace, and the Shen family all sent people to hunt down Zhenhai Sect cultivators.

If the Wang family were to fight the Sun and Moon Palace to the death, the Four Seas Sect, Divine Weapons Palace, and the Shen family certainly wouldn't stand idly by. This would only change if Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan became so powerful that even Soul Transformation cultivators would fear them. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan had always strived towards this goal, but as they had been developing in the South Sea with their family, their identities would be exposed sooner or later.

"Yes! It's better to resolve enmities than to perpetuate them. We investigated, and it was Situ Mei who incited discord and caused internal strife within the Zhenhai Sect, leading to its destruction. She personally led the attack on the Zhenhai Sect, and Daoist Du and the others only learned of it afterwards," Liu Ruyi explained.

Frankly, he could understand Du Xu and Fang Yue's actions.

Imagine if an elder of the Myriad Swords Sect, acting on their own initiative, destroyed a declining rival force, and some remnants escaped. If the Sect Master then claimed the Myriad Swords Sect had nothing to do with it, who would believe them? It was the same for the Sun and Moon Dual Saints; what was done was done, and words were useless. At that time, the Zhenhai Sect had no formidable experts left, so they simply decided to finish the job by dispatching people to apprehend the Zhenhai Sect remnants and eradicate them. The Sun and Moon Palace, along with the Four Seas Sect, Divine Weapons Palace, and the Shen family, divided up the Zhenhai Sect's territory, sharing the benefits and the risks.

Liu Ye nodded and said, "Young Daoist Wang, these are all old matters. The Sun and Moon Palace, Four Seas Sect, Divine Weapons Palace, and the Shen family are all willing to relinquish some of the Zhenhai Sect's territory and help you rebuild the Zhenhai Sect."

The Sun and Moon Palace made such significant concessions not out of respect for the Azure Lotus Immortals, but rather due to the Myriad Swords Sect and the Grand Unity Immortal Sect. Strictly speaking, the Sun and Moon Palace's substantial concessions were the result of discussions among Soul Transformation cultivators in the South Sea. Their visit to Azure Lotus Island was primarily a formality.

"Daoist Wang, my wife and I are willing to swear on our heart demons that it was indeed not our order to destroy the Zhenhai Sect back then. It was Junior Sister Situ who acted on her own initiative. She is vengeful and unscrupulous in her methods. It was also Junior Sister Situ who spread rumors that you possessed a fourth-order Zhenhai Ape," Fang Yue spoke, her tone sincere.

Wang Changsheng was somewhat swayed. Given the Sun and Moon Dual Saints' cultivation level and status, their willingness to swear on their heart demons showed great respect. Strictly speaking, the Sun and Moon Dual Saints were showing deference to the Soul Transformation cultivators of the South Sea.

The Sun and Moon Palace was willing to put aside past grievances, relinquish some of the Zhenhai Sect's territory, and assist them in rebuilding the Zhenhai Sect. These were very generous terms.

Wang Changsheng was willing to agree, but the thought of Fairy Ziyue made him hesitate.

Several of Fairy Ziyue's relatives had died at the hands of the Sun and Moon Dual Saints, making it impossible for her to forgive them. It was similar to Shangguan Wei of the Nine Nether Sect; even if an elder of the Nine Nether Sect had acted on their own initiative to kill Wang family cultivators, and a Soul Transformation cultivator mediated, Wang Changsheng still wouldn't spare Shangguan Wei.

"Seniors Liu and Liu, we are willing to resolve the grievances, but how should we account for the Sun and Moon Palace's slaughter of our fellow disciples? We can't simply wipe the slate clean, can we? Did the fallen Zhenhai Sect disciples die in vain?" Wang Changsheng said, gritting his teeth. He spoke these words under immense pressure, fully aware that with three Soul Transformation cultivators acting as mediators, he had no right to refuse.

Fairy Ziyue had shown great kindness to Wang Changsheng, and he would not turn a blind eye. He had to demand an explanation for Fairy Ziyue and seek justice for the Zhenhai Sect disciples who died at the hands of the Sun and Moon Palace.

"Daoist Wang, do you still expect us to commit suicide as an apology?" Fang Yue said, her expression turning cold and displeased.

"No, not at all. However, the Sun and Moon Palace cultivators who participated in apprehending the Zhenhai Sect must be handed over to us for disposal," Wang Changsheng said earnestly, his gaze firm.

Du Xu and Fang Yue's expressions turned grim. They had already shown the Wang family immense respect, yet Wang Changsheng still demanded they hand over the Sun and Moon Palace cultivators involved in apprehending the Zhenhai Sect? The implications of that were vast, as many of the cultivators who carried out the apprehension of the Zhenhai Sect remnants were their trusted confidants.

After a major purge, the Sun and Moon Palace cultivators were all loyal to the two of them. To hand over Sun and Moon Palace cultivators? That would be tantamount to admitting inferiority to the Azure Lotus Immortals. What would other forces think if they knew about this? How would the Sun and Moon Palace maintain its standing in the future?

Dongfang Yulin's expression showed displeasure. The Sun and Moon Dual Saints had offered a substantial amount of cultivation resources to ask for his mediation. He had assumed Wang Changsheng would agree without hesitation, yet Wang Changsheng had unexpectedly proposed additional conditions. Even if the Sun and Moon Dual Saints said nothing, Dongfang Yulin's own reputation would suffer.

"Young Daoist Wang, your demand is a bit excessive. The dead cannot be brought back to life, and this will only deepen the animosity between the Sun and Moon Palace and your Wang family, rather than resolve it. How about this: Daoist Du and the others will offer more cultivation resources as compensation. Surely that should suffice!"

Dongfang Yulin made concessions out of consideration for Liu Ruyi and Liu Ye; this was his bottom line. He was personally acting as a mediator, and yet the Sun and Moon Palace was still being asked to hand over some cultivators to the Wang family for disposal. Where would Dongfang Yulin's dignity stand then?

"That's a good solution, Young Daoist Wang. Let's proceed with that!" Liu Ruyi expressed strong agreement.

Wang Changsheng took a deep breath, shook his head directly, and stated solemnly, "No, a life for a life. The Sun and Moon Palace cultivators who slaughtered the Zhenhai Sect disciples must be handed over."

He knew he was taking a great risk by doing so, but Liu Ruyi and Liu Ye were on his side; otherwise, Wang Changsheng would not have dared to act this way.

Dongfang Yulin's face turned cold. He slammed the table, and a vast spiritual pressure surged upwards, directly bearing down on Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan's bodies simultaneously glowed with a dazzling blue light. Their qi merged and became one, and a translucent blue water curtain appeared out of thin air, protecting them both.

The blue water curtain warped inward, looking as if it could shatter at any moment.

The blue light on Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan's bodies intensified greatly, and the blue water curtain quickly returned to normal.

Dongfang Yulin was slightly surprised. With his Soul Transformation stage cultivation, even a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator shouldn't have been able to withstand such spiritual pressure. The Zhenhai Sect's joint attack technique indeed had its merits.