Chapter 714: Shamelessness Reaches Its Peak

He hugged the two delicate figures in his arms. "I'll go handle some matters first," he said. "I'll make time to spend quality time with you both later."

Xu Youran quickly nodded. "Husband, you should go. You mustn't delay the Pavilion Master's decree."

Jiang Fan nodded slightly. He released the two women and headed towards Mount Jie.

The onlookers, one after another, surrounded Jiang Fan as he departed. Many elders from various sects actively sought to converse with him. This even included a few Grand Elders.

Watching him surrounded by people like stars orbiting the moon, Xu Youran's eyes filled with pride. "Siling," she said, "before we knew it, our husband has become a prominent figure."

Chen Siling's eyes sparkled with adoration. "Indeed! The Pavilion Master personally issued a decree to a disciple, and among the Nine Sects, our husband is the only one."

She thought back to when she first arrived at the Qingyun Sect. Back then, when people learned she was Jiang Fan's concubine, everyone would show pity, as if she had lowered her status and done herself an injustice. But what about now? Who would dare to look down on her now? Haven't they seen that Gong Caiyi, the Master of the Nine Sects, admires Jiang Fan but doesn't even have an official title? Yet she is a concubine whom Jiang Fan personally promised and Xu Youran recognized. Other women who wished to get close to Jiang Fan were too busy envying her.

Surrounded by countless people, Jiang Fan ascended Mount Jie once more. Even more people were gathered on the mountaintop. The Nine Sect Masters, Grand Elders, Elders, and elite disciples were all present. They formed a dense crowd, totaling over a thousand people. This was virtually the entire combined force of the Nine Sects. The scene was truly magnificent.

"Jiang Fan!"

Just as he arrived, an angry shout rang out. Everyone's expressions subtly shifted. They quickly parted. Jiang Fan's return should have been a cause for universal celebration. The only ones unhappy, even enraged by his return alive, were from a single sect: The Giant Sect!

Kong Yuanba led a group of Giant Sect elders, standing in a line. They blocked Jiang Fan's path. Behind them, several Giant Sect Grand Elders were vaguely visible. Their gazes at Jiang Fan all carried a degree of anger.

Kong Yuanba's face was grim. "How dare you show your face here again?"

Having killed Fang Taiji, the severe losses suffered by the Giant Sect were self-evident. Jiang Fan naturally knew what the Giant Sect was enraged about. With his hands behind his back, he calmly stated, "I eradicated a menace for humanity and brought justice to the elders of various sects who died unjustly. Why should I be ashamed to return? On the contrary, it's your Giant Sect, having produced such a shameless and vile human traitor. How do you have the audacity to speak so loudly? This is truly absurd!"

At his words, several Grand Elders from other sects were provoked. All of them erupted in anger.

"Fang Taiji killed an elder from my Heavenly Sound Sect, and you claimed it had nothing to do with the Giant Sect," one shouted. "Yet, the moment Jiang Fan returns, you're furiously demanding revenge for Fang Taiji! When it's time to take responsibility, you hide. But when it's time for revenge, you jump out, is that it? Since Sect Master Kong has stood up for Fang Taiji, then provide an explanation for Fang Taiji killing an elder from my Thousand Refinements Sect!"

It wasn't that they particularly supported Jiang Fan. Rather, the Giant Sect's utterly shameless actions had infuriated them. Seeing the increasing number of onlookers, far outnumbering the Giant Sect members, the previously aggressive Giant Sect suddenly reined in its momentum. When facing a single sect, the Giant Sect could naturally be overbearing, tyrannical, and freely bully others. But when confronted with the collective outrage of the other eight sects, they dared not act recklessly.

Kong Yuanba glared around them. "This is a private grudge between my Giant Sect and Jiang Fan!" he declared. "Fang Taiji killed your elders; go find him yourselves! Why are you stirring up trouble with my Giant Sect?"

This shameless retort provoked angry shouts from the crowd. Jiang Fan, too, was so exasperated he chuckled. "What grudge? Do tell."

Kong Yuanba indignantly retorted, "Of course, it's Fang—" He glanced around and was forced to change his statement: "It's... you injured my disciple, Xue Wanzhong. Doesn't that count as a private grudge?"

Jiang Fan laughed. They wanted to avenge Fang Taiji but couldn't find a suitable excuse. So they resorted to bringing up a trivial, ancient incident. He said unhurriedly, "Alright, I won't mention the original cause of the incident for now. Let's just assume there's a grudge. When I was captured and taken to the Demon Emperor's Court, the demon race also wanted to kill me. But they felt it would be unsportsmanlike for a group of strong individuals to kill a human junior like me, so they had a junior step forward instead. Despite such a deep grudge between us, they didn't have the audacity to use their seniority to bully a junior. Yet your Giant Sect, on the other hand, has the gall to send out all your powerhouses to hassle me over a dispute between juniors. Let me see, those old folks at the very back, aren't they Grand Elders? Does your Giant Sect, old and young alike, truly have no shame left?"

His words caused the entire crowd to burst into laughter. They applauded readily.

"Well said! And they're supposed to be one of the top three sects among the Nine!"

"They're even more shameless than those uncivilized demon beasts!"

"It's a disgrace that my sect is grouped with such an entity as the Giant Sect under the banner of the Nine Sects!"

"Let's just call it the Eight Sects from now on. The Giant Sect should be its own separate entity; being associated with you is truly demeaning!"

The pervasive mockery made the Giant Sect members' faces burn with shame. They had never imagined facing such scorn.

Kong Yuanba clenched his fists in shame and fury. "You little beast! You insult my Giant Sect! I won't let you off!"

Jiang Fan took two steps back and, with a flick of his wrist, grasped the Five Magnetic Yuan Mountain. Without fear, he retorted, "You can do it, but I can't speak of it? Besides, you're no match for me!"

His journey to the demon realm had brought about earth-shattering changes to Jiang Fan's strength. Kong Yuanba's physique was roughly equivalent to an eighth-level Core Formation cultivation. Considering that a Sect Master likely possessed more abilities than an ordinary eighth-level Core Formation cultivator, his strength at most would not exceed ninth-level Core Formation. He might not necessarily be able to defeat Jiang Fan.

Kong Yuanba scoffed in anger. The Master of the Nine Sects, openly disrespected by a mere junior like Jiang Fan?

"Arrogant brat!" he roared. "Today, this Sect Master will teach you a lesson on behalf of your elders!"

He channeled terrifying physical strength, gathering it in his fist, and was about to unleash a punch on Jiang Fan. This punch was fully charged with power. Jiang Fan might not die, but he would certainly suffer severe injuries.

*Clang—*

But just then, a sharp sword energy sliced towards his ribs from an angle! Kong Yuanba's punch, which had been aimed at Jiang Fan, was hurriedly redirected to strike the sword energy. With a *thud*, the sword energy shattered.

"Who?!" Kong Yuanba's eyes, like a tiger's, glared in fury. How dare someone launch a sneak attack on him? But upon seeing, his expression subtly changed. It was none other than Li Qingfeng, an Elder of the Qingyun Sect!

He held his sword, his face radiating coldness, and gritted his teeth. "Kong Yuanba!!!" he snarled. "Are you taking advantage of the fact that my Qingyun Sect members are not all at Mount Jie to bully my sect's disciple like this? Do you think I won't retaliate against your disciples?" He cast a cold gaze over the Giant Sect's elite disciples. Frightened, they drew back their necks and scurried behind their elders.

Kong Yuanba was vexed, yet he hesitated. It wasn't that he feared Li Qingfeng; a mere seventh-level Core Formation cultivator couldn't make a ripple in front of the entire Giant Sect's powerhouses. He was concerned that if Li Qingfeng went berserk, it would incite chaos. The other sect powerhouses who were watching had always harbored resentment towards the Giant Sect. Who could guarantee they wouldn't take advantage of the confusion to secretly target the Giant Sect's elders and disciples? And once it began, it could very well escalate into a full-scale assault by the Eight Sects on the Giant Sect! What an unbearable cost that would be for the Giant Sect!

But if Jiang Fan wasn't killed, what about revenge for Fang Taiji? The Giant Sect could not afford to suffer this loss. Especially not such a profound and bloody grievance!

At this very moment, from a nearby tent, Ye Cangyuan's cold voice echoed.