Bang!
A fist slammed violently into the stone table in front of him. Old Monster Zhuiyang's aged face shifted between green and red — he was clearly seething with rage.
In his hand was an invitation, sent from the Treasure Tree Sect, inviting him and the higher-ups of the Purple Sun Sect to attend the initiation ceremony of Ye Chonglou and Jiang Chen — to observe the proceedings.
The invitation was worded in the most courteous terms, but in Old Monster Zhuiyang's eyes, it was nothing short of a brazen provocation. Inviting the Purple Sun Sect to attend at this critical juncture was simply mocking them, making them lose face. Moreover, this move by the Treasure Tree Sect was meant to declare to the Sixteen Kingdoms Alliance that henceforth, the Treasure Tree Sect would replace the Purple Sun Sect as the foremost of the Four Great Sects!
This was something Old Monster Zhuiyang could not accept above all else.
Everything that had just transpired in the Shangyang Kingdom had already built up a reservoir of fury with no outlet. The Treasure Tree Sect's move was adding fuel to the fire, pushing Old Monster Zhuiyang's rage to its absolute peak.
If they went, it would be an undeniable humiliation for the Purple Sun Sect — watching the Treasure Tree Sect gloat in triumph was something no one in the sect, from top to bottom, could stomach.
If they didn't go, the outside world would inevitably conclude that the Purple Sun Sect had grown afraid of the Treasure Tree Sect, too cowardly to even face them. Not attending would be a clear act of avoidance.
So for Old Monster Zhuiyang, making a choice right now was truly agonizing.
While he was mulling this over, Perfected Zixu suddenly strode in with a mysterious and grave expression on his face. "Ancestor, there is someone outside who claims to be an envoy of the Heavenly Sect. He insists by name on seeing you."
Old Monster Zhuiyang had been at his wit's end when this news hit. His furrowed brows shot up, and a look of wild joy broke across his face. "He's finally here?"
After the initial delight came a twinge of worry. "Long Juxue has been executed. I wonder if the Heavenly Sect envoy will hold it against us?"
Though anxious, Old Monster Zhuiyang didn't dare show any negligence. Clearly, this envoy of the Heavenly Sect carried enormous backing — even a veteran of the Origin Realm like himself had to tread carefully.
In the Purple Sun Sect's most prestigious reception hall, a man in blue robes stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression cold and aloof to the extreme.
The various Purple Sun Sect elders smiled and bowed repeatedly, trying to ingratiate themselves, but the blue-robed man remained expressionless, refusing to give them so much as a shred of face.
At that moment, Old Monster Zhuiyang hurried over. The man who was always supremely arrogant now wore a face plastered with smiles — smiles that even held a hint of servility and flattery.
"The envoy of the Heavenly Sect graces us with his presence! Everyone in the Purple Sun Sect has been eagerly awaiting this day. Envoy, please forgive Zhuiyang's tardiness."
As he spoke, Zhuiyang shot a meaningful glance at the sect elders, signaling them to leave.
Having these people accompany him could only irritate the Heavenly Sect envoy further.
When the blue-robed man saw Old Monster Zhuiyang arrive, his aloof expression relaxed just slightly.
"Zhuiyang, it seems your Purple Sun Sect's morale is quite low — nothing like the grand picture you painted. A Purple Sun Sect like this truly leaves this envoy... disappointed."
The blue-robed man's tone was light, yet carried an innate authority that forced Old Monster Zhuiyang to lower his head and listen meekly.
Old Monster Zhuiyang managed a bitter smile. "Envoy, the reasons behind this are... truly difficult to explain in a few words."
The blue-robed man waved his hand dismissively. "I didn't come here to listen to your sob story. Very well — bring out that Innate Constitution disciple of yours. I'll have a look and see if the goods match the claims."
Hearing this, Old Monster Zhuiyang internally groaned, momentarily tongue-tied and unsure how to respond.
Seeing his hesitation, the blue-robed man grew displeased. "What? Don't tell me this envoy can't even summon a junior disciple from your Purple Sun Sect?"
Old Monster Zhuiyang let out a long sigh. "Envoy, Zhuiyang was incompetent. I failed to protect Long Juxue. She was... slain during the Sixteen Kingdoms Alliance selection tournament!"
By now, he knew there was no hiding it anymore. He could only come clean. Perhaps it might even provoke the envoy's anger and earn some sympathy.
"What?" The blue-robed man was visibly shocked. "Are you joking? A genius with the Innate Constitution — killed? Isn't the Purple Sun Sect the unrivaled power in the Sixteen Kingdoms Alliance?"
"The Purple Sun Sect has always been the foremost of the Four Great Sects, that much is true. The disciples of the other three sects — forget Long Juxue, even our own Lei Gangyang could sweep them aside. But the one who killed Long Juxue was a freak who emerged from one of the secular kingdoms. He obtained some kind of bizarre inheritance, possessed extraordinary power, and even killed three of our elders."
Every word Old Monster Zhuiyang spoke of Jiang Chen came through gritted teeth.
The blue-robed man let out a cold laugh. "Now that's a first. A nobody from a secular kingdom rising up to kill an Innate Constitution genius. What do you think the Sixteen Kingdoms Alliance is — a breeding ground for prodigies? Zhuiyang, don't you dare play me for a fool. What really happened? Was Long Juxue handed off by the Purple Sun Sect to some other power as a bargaining chip?"
These words sent a chill straight through Old Monster Zhuiyang's soul.
"Envoy, where did that idea come from? Our Purple Sun Sect is nothing but a speck of territory — how could we dare betray the Heavenly Sect? I, Zhuiyang, have pledged myself to the Heavenly Sect with genuine sincerity. This selection was originally meant to use the opportunity to intimidate the other three major sects and lay the groundwork for the Heavenly Sect's involvement in the Sixteen Kingdoms Alliance. But man proposes, and heaven disposes — all of our plans were thrown into chaos by the appearance of that one secular freak. If the envoy doesn't believe me, a simple investigation will confirm that everything I've said is the truth!"