"Nameless Sect Master, who are these two? Don't tell me you've hired reinforcements."
"Wasn't this supposed to be a negotiation, a discussion of reason? Are you really planning to resort to force?"
As the Nine Layer Pavilion's army drew closer, a white-haired elder rose from his war chariot and looked toward the Nameless Sect Master.
His name was Li Tang — not a member of the Nine Layer Pavilion, but the City Lord of Qingping City, and one of the powers that had witnessed the alliance between the Nine Layer Pavilion and the Realm Arts Sect all those years ago.
"City Lord Li, I came here today with every intention of negotiating properly. But can you guarantee fairness and impartiality?"
"Why did you arrive with the people of the Nine Layer Pavilion?"
"Could it be that you've already colluded with them?"
The Nameless Sect Master's words dripped with sarcasm.
In the past, he wouldn't have dared speak this way — he would have been the one flattering these people. After all, they were the witnessing powers, and if he wanted to reclaim the ruins, he needed them to uphold justice.
But now he wasn't afraid. He had confidence, and that confidence came from the two great masters he had spent a fortune to invite.
The representatives of the witnessing powers knew perfectly well what the Nameless Sect Master's temperament was like on a normal day, so his current attitude put visible displeasure on their faces.
But they weren't fools. They understood exactly why the Nameless Sect Master had suddenly grown so bold.
"Nameless Sect Master, before we came here, it is true that we first attended a gathering at the Nine Layer Pavilion."
"But our personal relationship with the Pavilion Master will not affect our fair and impartial judgment of this matter. After all, upholding justice is a duty our predecessors entrusted to us."
"You may rest assured — we will be entirely fair and impartial."
"As for you bringing along two outsiders — what is the meaning of this? That hardly seems proper, does it?" City Lord Li said.
"Exactly. If you didn't want to negotiate, you could have just said so. There was no need for this charade."
At the same time, the other representatives of the witnessing powers also began to rebuke the Nameless Sect Master.
The Nine Layer Pavilion hadn't even spoken yet, and the witnessing powers had already started their criticism first. This infuriated the Nameless Sect Master.
But he forced himself to endure it and turned his gaze toward those witnessing powers.
"These two are indeed people I invited. But as long as you remain fair and impartial, these two great masters will absolutely not interfere in our affairs."
"All I want to know is this: back then, this ruin was discovered jointly by my Nameless Sect and the predecessors of the Nine Layer Pavilion. It was agreed that we would mine the Sovereign Stones within the ruin together, until all the Sovereign Stones were exhausted."
"But now, when the quantity of Sovereign Stones has yet to be determined, the Pavilion Master of the Nine Layer Pavilion demands that my Nameless Sect leave this ruin entirely. Will you witnessing powers intervene or not?"
The Nameless Sect Master addressed the witnessing powers directly.
"Pavilion Master of the Nine Layer Pavilion, please state your reasons. Why should the people of the Nameless Sect be driven out of this ruin?"
The witnessing powers did not answer. Instead, they turned to the Pavilion Master of the Nine Layer Pavilion.
"Ladies and gentlemen, my reasoning is quite simple."
"Our predecessors in the Nine Layer Pavilion did indeed agree with the Nameless Sect's predecessors to jointly mine the Sovereign Stones within this ruin."
"But you must understand one thing — on what basis could the Nameless Sect stand alongside us? It was because the predecessors of both sides were evenly matched in strength."
"However, as far back as the era of the previous Pavilion Master, the strength of our Nine Layer Pavilion had already surpassed the Nameless Sect. The Nameless Sect was no longer worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as our Nine Layer Pavilion, and naturally, no longer qualified to mine Sovereign Stones together with us."
"Yet out of consideration for past bonds, the previous Pavilion Master — my own esteemed master — out of compassion, still decided to bring the Nameless Sect along in mining the ruin's Sovereign Stones."
"But my master's compassion did not lead the Nameless Sect to prosperity. Instead, they only declined further."
"Now, if they continue to mine Sovereign Stones, those stones will only continue to be wasted by their hands."
"So I will say it plainly — I believe the Nameless Sect is no longer qualified to continue mining the Sovereign Stones within this ruin."
"Even less will I allow the treasure left behind by our predecessors to continue being squandered by the Nameless Sect."
The Pavilion Master of the Nine Layer Pavilion declared.
"Ladies and gentlemen, you all heard that."
"What absurd reasoning — the Nine Layer Pavilion is clearly trying to forcibly break their agreement," the Nameless Sect Master said.
But in response to the Nameless Sect Master's accusation, the witnessing powers shook their heads and then spoke.