Chapter 237

237. Chapter 234: Pang Xiangxiang Tells It Like It Is

According to the standard ritual for sect marital engagements, the next step is to introduce each party's aptitude and accomplishments, then outline their future aspirations, and finally exchange vows.

After Yi Yi Jiang and Han Xiaonü reached the center, before the Master of Ceremonies could speak, Yi Yi Jiang stepped forward and knelt before Qiao Sha, the Huangshen Sect Sect leader, and Liu Liu Yinyu, the Lady of Luoshen Palace.

"I humbly beg the two elders to uphold justice for me."

Qiao Sha frowned—he deeply disliked Yi Yi Jiang's disregard for hierarchy and propriety.

He knew perfectly well that today's main purpose was not to arrange Yi Yi Jiang and Han Xiaonü's engagement, but something far more important.

Otherwise, even with his own influence, he could never have summoned so many guests—not even Ji Ji Xinting could have secured the presence of people like Geng Qianxing and Shi Qiqiu.

Yet today was also his chance to build his own prestige, so he softened his tone:

"Yi Yi Jiang, today is not only your and Han Xiaonü's important day, but also a major occasion for Huangshen Sect and Luoshen Palace. Before so many guests, do not violate decorum."

Lady Liu Liu Yinyu, however, spoke calmly:

"Just say what you have to say."

"Yes."

Yi Yi Jiang replied, then said:

"My father was betrayed by a corrupt cultivator from the Dao Cultivation World. I beg the two elders to avenge him, expose this villain, and prevent him from further harming the Dao Cultivation World and more innocent lives."

Yi Yi Jiang's real intent was not this single sentence—but only by uttering it could he draw the attention of the two major sects.

Only then could he proceed to his true goal: securing his own appointment as the new Shao Sect of Yanyue Sect.

"Wandao was betrayed?" Qiao Sha exclaimed, then turned his gaze to Hu Hu Hu Wuxin, the leader of the Dao Cultivation World Sect Alliance, seated among the guests.

Hu Hu Hu Wuxin immediately stood, bowed, and sighed:

"I only learned of this after arriving in the Ascension Realm and reuniting with Pang Xiangxiang. I never imagined that coming here would mean losing Brother Wandao forever—it is truly heartbreaking."

"What exactly happened?" Qiao Sha asked again.

Since his disciple had raised this matter before so many sect leaders, he clearly intended to make it official.

Though it bordered on pressuring his master, this disciple had provided the crucial strategy that enabled him to become Huangshen Sect's new leader—and he still had value for the future.

Hu Hu Hu Wuxin would not fall for this trap. He sighed again:

"I will certainly investigate this thoroughly upon my return. Alas, I am truly unfit as Alliance leader—twice I left the Dao Cultivation World, and twice disaster struck."

Anyone with half a brain could hear what he meant: he was implying he was an exceptionally capable leader.

Whenever he was away, disaster followed; whenever he was present, nothing went wrong.

"Who knows the full details of this matter?" Qiao Sha's gaze fell on the sect leaders who had come from the Dao Cultivation World.

No one stood.

No one believed Hu Hu Hu Wuxin's claim of ignorance. Since the Alliance leader himself had openly declared he knew nothing, why should they stir up trouble?

"Pang Elder, you speak—you just came from the Dao Cultivation World." Qiao Sha's eyes settled on Pang Xiangxiang.

Yi Yi Jiang also bowed respectfully from afar—the news of the sect leader's death had been brought by Elder Pang and Elder Gu Youchang.

Pang Xiangxiang rose, hesitated, then said:

"This matter is long and complex—I'll keep it brief…"

To Pang Xiangxiang's surprise, Liu Liu Yinyu, who had remained silent until now, spoke up:

"No need to be brief. Tell it fully. Tell the truth."

"Yes."

Pang Xiangxiang replied, then began slowly:

"This matter begins with certain Dao Cultivation World sects sending teams to the Mortal World to recruit disciples. Ding Huan had no aptitude, so no sect took him."

"But Ding Huan was determined to reach the Dao Cultivation World—he eventually found his way to Jin Family in Daye City and became Guan Cuan's chef…"

"Who is Guan Cuan?" Liu Liu Yinyu asked again.

Pang Xiangxiang hesitated slightly, then answered:

"Guan Cuan is the Young Lady of Jin Family, who loves fine cuisine, so she brought a chef with her when she came to the Dao Cultivation World."

Hearing this, Yi Yi Jiang broke into cold sweat—he wanted to rush down and clamp his hand over Pang Xiangxiang's mouth.

Just say the facts—why drag in irrelevant details?

But now it was his master Qiao Sha and Lady Liu Liu Yinyu demanding thoroughness—he could do nothing.

"Hmph. This Guan Cuan, a mere uninitiated girl, knows how to enjoy life. Tell me—what is her background? And how did she gain such privilege?" Liu Liu Yinyu chuckled.

Pang Xiangxiang dared not look at Yi Yi Jiang:

"Guan Cuan is the designated Shao Sect Lady of Yanyue Sect, so she enjoys certain privileges…"

Liu Liu Yinyu's gaze turned to Yi Yi Jiang:

"You have boldness—having a designated Shao Sect Lady, yet still seeking to betroth yourself to my disciple Han Xiaonü?"

"Elder, there is a misunderstanding—Guan Cuan has long since fled Yanyue Sect…"

Yi Yi Jiang panicked, cursing Pang Xiangxiang for her inability to lie, and hurriedly stepped forward to explain.

Liu Liu Yinyu ignored Yi Yi Jiang and told Pang Xiangxiang: "Continue. Xiaonü, come sit beside your master."

"Yes." Han Xiaonü, who had stood silently in the center of the hall, immediately responded and moved to sit beside Liu Liu Yinyu, exhaling in relief.

Yi Yi Jiang was plain-looking and only at Qi Condensation stage—why should she marry him? Only because her master said this was one path for Luoshen Palace's future did she reluctantly agree.

Pang Xiangxiang continued:

"But Ding Huan proved to be a rare talent. When major sects entered the Dahu Valley, nearly all were annihilated—or only a few escaped alive."

"Yet he led the Yanyue Sect members safely across the Dahu Valley…"

"Aunt Pang, Yanyue Sect lost half its people, and Qu Elder of Shuanghun Sect was also secretly assassinated by him."

Seeing Pang Xiangxiang showed no intention of framing Ding Huan, Yi Yi Jiang quickly interjected to remind her.

Pang Xiangxiang acted as if she didn't understand Yi Jiang's meaning:

"The reason half of the Yanyue Sect died was because those who perished refused to listen to Elder Gu and Ding Huan, insisting on following Officer Qiong."

"Is that so?" Qiao Sha's expression had grown grim; he still looked toward Gu Youchang.

Gu Youchang quickly stood and bowed:

"Yes, exactly so. Without Ding Huan, I, Gu Youchang, would already be dead and not standing here."

Even if Yi Wandao had been killed, even if Yi Wandao stood right here, Gu Youchang would never lie and speak ill of Ding Huan.

"Seems like a capable mortal. Continue." Qiao Sha said, gesturing for Pang Xiangxiang to go on.

Pang Xiangxiang recounted without omission how Ding Huan led everyone out of the Great Gorge, then out of the Lost Marsh, and finally fled because he feared Officer Qiong would ambush him over a single Ningxing Bamboo.

Liu Liu Yinyu snorted coldly:

"The Yanyue Sect truly is full of scoundrels. Ding Huan at least saved Officer Qiong's life, yet Officer Qiong, instead of repaying the debt, chased him down over a single Ningxing Bamboo Ding Huan refused to give—what's the difference between him and a beast?"

Pang Xiangxiang continued:

"After Ding Huan fled, over a year later, he was found by Elder Liu Liu Yinzhu of the Zixia Valley…"

"Wait…" Liu Liu Yinyu interrupted Pang Xiangxiang:

"You say the elder of Zixia Valley is named Liu Liu Yinzhu? Do you have a portrait?"

Pang Xiangxiang hurriedly replied:

"Yes, it is indeed Elder Liu Liu Yinzhu. As she spoke, she had already drawn a woman's portrait in the void."

Pang Xiangxiang's power was limited; the woman's portrait was very blurry and soon dissipated.

But when Liu Liu Yinyu saw the portrait, her fingers trembled slightly—though she quickly regained composure and said:

"Her name is indeed similar to mine. Continue."

After recalling that Guan Cuan had been helped by Ding Huan, Pang Xiangxiang had no intention of favoring the Yanyue Sect:

"Elder Liu Liu Yinzhu invited Ding Huan to the Zixia Valley…"

She not only recounted how Ding Huan lived in Xifeng City and established laws, but also how the Jiuyin Gate and Zixia Valley clashed, both sides suffering heavy losses.

After Zixia Valley was destroyed, Ding Huan and Elder Liu Liu Yinzhu barely survived and founded a new sect: Lanxing Sect.

At this time, the sect leaders of Shuanghun Sect, Tan Yanxiao; of Yanyue Sect, Yi Wandao; and of WanShou Men, Hong Tiao, joined forces with over a dozen True Core cultivators and dozens of Foundation Establishment cultivators to besiege Lanxing Sect.

The result: they breached Lanxing Sect's protective array and were slaughtered to the last.

Worse still, the dead were nailed to the grounds outside Lanxing Sect by its sect leader, Ding Huan.

"A ruthless character indeed."

The leader of a sect from the Ascension Realm chuckled and spoke.

The Lady of Luoshen Palace, Liu Liu Yinyu, stared coldly at Yi Jiang:

"Your Yanyue Sect Sect leader led men to smash into another sect's grounds and shattered their protective array. When that sect killed your Yanyue Sect Sect leader, what right do you have to complain?

Are you upset they didn't come to your Yanyue Sect Sect and wipe it out entirely?"

Hearing this, Qiao Sha's face darkened—this was stripping him, the Huangshen Sect Sect leader, of every shred of face.

He understood Liu Liu Yinyu's meaning: after the failed marriage alliance, Luoshen Palace would never rely on Huangshen Sect, so now it refused even to grant him face. Women, indeed, were practical.

Yi Jiang's face turned purple with suppressed rage:

"Elder Liu, Ding Huan seized Zixia Valley and set treacherous traps to kill my father. If such a villain is left unchecked, the Dao cultivation world will be choked with filth."

Liu Liu Yinyu's disdain deepened:

"Seized Zixia Valley? Just now, Pang Xiangxiang clearly said Zixia Valley was already destroyed.

And when Ding Huan founded Lanxing Sect, Elder Liu Liu Yinzhu of Zixia Valley was still alive—how does that count as seizing it?

I suspect someone covets Zixia Valley, resentful that a mortal-world ant gained it, and now uses this as an excuse to reclaim it.