Chapter 303: Agreement at the Daoist Arena to Decide the Victor

"Stop!"

A resonant voice rang out, yet it was like a needle dropped into water, failing to stir up even a ripple. Although this voice was full of vigor, only Lingxiang and a few others near the entrance heard it; the hall remained in complete chaos.

It was at this moment that two people were seen walking in from the entrance. One of them had his hair tied up in a high crown and wore a brown robe with wide sleeves, looking very dignified, while the person following behind him was actually Lu Ying.

"Stop! What kind of behavior is this!"

That person scolded again, but this shout was buried in the noisy confusion.

Looking at the helpless Lu Ying and the frowning, glaring newcomer, Lingxiang sighed. She turned her head to glance at the four people gloating over the misfortune, and could only roll her eyes at them.

"Hah! Men!"

Not a single man is reliable!

Lingxiang sighed, then pulled a Yellow Talisman from her bosom. With a flick of her fingers, she blew a breath onto it and threw it out.

The Yellow Talisman flew straight toward the center of Youyuan Hall, suddenly igniting in mid-air, and in that very instant...

"What is all this racket! Are you rebelling?"

Like a clap of thunder, it exploded in the hall, circling continuously and echoing off the beams. The aged dust on the crossbeams fell down in patches along with the ashes of the talisman.

The constant clamor from just a moment ago ceased abruptly. Aside from the creaking of the old wood, there was no other movement in the hall.

The disciples looked at one another in shock, not daring to even breathe deeply, fearing that if they made the slightest sound, the entire hall would collapse.

"Crack, crack..."

The sound of nut shells in a corner came at an inopportune moment. Everyone in the hall looked toward that spot in unison, only to see Lingxiang peeling pine nuts with full concentration.

Seemingly aware of the gazes upon her, Lingxiang raised her head and said calmly, "Fight, keep fighting. You finished fighting before I even finished this handful of pine nuts? I haven't seen enough of the show yet!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the disciples in cyan Daoist Robes in the hall stood straight in unison, performed a Daoist salute, and said, "Greetings, Fucang Elder."

Those disciples in gray Daoist Robes, seeing these disciples acting so restrained and quiet, also hurriedly followed suit and saluted.

This is Fucang Elder?

The person at the hall entrance looked toward Lingxiang, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes, before he stepped forward to salute and introduce himself.

"Huiyan, second disciple of the Taishang Sect Leader, greets Fucang Elder."

Hearing this, Lingxiang replied with a face full of smiles, raising her hand and saying, "So it is the high disciple of Senior Uncle Lieyang. Easy, easy, no need for formalities."

Seeing Lingxiang's beaming expression, Huiyan was also all smiles: "These junior brothers of mine have only just entered the Dao and cannot avoid the vulgarity of the Chenjian world. As guests, they had a dispute with the Yuanqing Sect, which is truly deserving of a beating. But for the sake of his elder, my master, I hope Fucang Elder can show some leniency. Once I report back to my master, I will certainly punish them properly."

Lingxiang pondered for a moment and felt that this Huiyan was truly skilled at speaking; in a single sentence, he had managed to split the blame right down the middle.

The implication of his words was nothing more than: my side is at fault, but we are young, so being unreasonable is only natural; you are a prestigious sect and the host, yet you actually fought with us, which is quite strange.

"Truly worthy of being the nephew of Xunfeng Zhenren; your judgment of matters is indeed fair." Lingxiang smiled and popped a pine nut into her mouth.

Although the Taishang Sect was a rising star, who in the Daoist Sect didn't know of Xunfeng Zhenren's reputation for being stingy and protective of his own? Lingxiang didn't mention that Huiyan was a disciple of Lieyang Zhenren, but insisted on bringing up Xunfeng Zhenren; the implication was self-evident.

Huiyan faltered at these words, but returned to his normal state in an instant: "You flatter me, you flatter me. How could I compare to my martial uncle? It is just that my master taught me well."

"Indeed, indeed. Why be so humble? Although the Taishang Sect has not been established long, it enjoys great prestige. In many matters, old sects like Yuanqing cannot compare."

While these sounded like polite words, Lingxiang's demeanor was truly somewhat indifferent, as if she didn't care at all about who was right or wrong in this chaos.

Huiyan couldn't help but frown, as if he had thrown a punch only to hit a cotton ball.

The two of them exchanged verbal parries, leaving Lu Ying behind Huiyan looking troubled.

In terms of relationships, one was his fellow sect brother; in terms of sentiment, the other had saved his life and they had even shared hardships. Now, caught in the middle, he didn't know who to side with.

Got it!

Lu Ying suddenly remembered something and hurriedly stepped forward to salute: "Miss Lingxiang, you previously said at the Taishang Sect that we would become brother and sister. Now it seems I should call you Senior Sister."

This was offering a step down for both sides; if one wanted to resolve the dispute, this was the opportunity to go with the flow.

"That is right, that is right. By that logic, I should also address you as Senior Sister." As Huiyan said this, he prepared to salute.

However, they had overestimated Lingxiang.

Although Lingxiang was approachable and never petty about gains and losses, she had a nature that would repay every grievance. Since Huiyan had just blocked her earlier, how could she let it go so easily?

Furthermore, she was the one in charge of Yuanqing now, and these Taishang Sect disciples were actually spouting nonsense—could it be they thought she was young and easy to manipulate?

Tsk! Not a chance!

"Stop!" Lingxiang immediately shouted sternly, "Who is your Senior Sister?!"

This sharp shout startled Huiyan, who was about to salute, and even Long Qi and the others watching the show were caught off guard by Lingxiang's sudden outburst.

It seems this little girl doesn't want to let the matter rest. Now there's a good show to watch.

Long Qi looked on with glee and tilted his head toward Xin Yi, but the latter still had his arms crossed, only a subtle curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.

Sure enough, Lingxiang began to sing out like falling pearls: "You are merely a disciple of the Taishang Sect, yet you dare to call yourself a junior brother to me, the Ninth Elder of the Yuanqing Sect? Could it be that since coming to Yuanqing recently and seeing the vastness of Jiuque Mountain, you want to betray your sect and join Yuanqing?"

"My Yuanqing is a prestigious sect, after all, and we don't just take anyone. Even if we did take you, in terms of seniority, you should call me Martial Aunt. Yet you dream of being on equal footing; I'm afraid you won't have that chance. The former Sect Leader passed away to the Yellow Springs thirteen years ago. If you truly want to be my fellow sect member, I can suggest a way: either a white silk cord or poisoned wine—either one can send you to meet his elder."

"Lieyang Zhenren is indeed a disciple of the Yuanqing founding ancestor, Wuwei Laozu, but he was driven off the mountain back then. Since he was driven off, he has had nothing to do with Yuanqing ever since. I address him as Senior Uncle out of respect for old ties, but what are you? How dare you act presumptuously in front of me? What? Do you think the Yuanqing Nine Sons are pushovers?"

"You lot, trying to use your status to pressure my Yuanqing disciples, little do you know you are only bringing humiliation upon yourselves. By rights, Lieyang Zhenren is a man of virtue and prestige, so how did he teach such a group of good-for-nothings? It's a pity you claim to have entered the Daoist Sect; in my view, it would be better if you hadn't, so as to save the Three Pure Ancestors from feeling distressed while looking down from the Nine Heavens."

The continuous scolding did not stop, shocking the Taishang Sect members in the hall into a daze. Only then did they understand why such a young girl was treated with such respect by these seven-foot-tall men of the Yuanqing Sect.

To be able to say these things, each point reasonable and impossible to refute, with a voice as loud as a bell yet with the melodic tone of a storyteller from the Chenjian world—this kind of Yin and Yang sarcasm was truly unsettling to hear.

This is not something an ordinary person could do!

Looking at the disdainful Lingxiang, Huiyan didn't know how to respond for a moment. Only after a while did he recover and speak: "Then, according to Fucang Elder's high opinion, how should this matter be handled?"

Lingxiang heard this and the corners of her mouth curled up.

"Since you all like to fight so much, then tomorrow we shall set up a ring at the Kuncheng Peak Yanwu Stage and let you fight to your heart's content to see who is better. That way, even if you lose, I expect you will be convinced!"