Chapter 882: Guests (2/2, Requesting Moon Tickets)

These Elders seem intent on distancing themselves from the death of the Heavenly Sword Sect's Sect Master, using Fang Yue as a scapegoat.

After all, at its current strength, the Extreme Ice Sect can barely afford to fight the Flame Fire Sect—adding the Heavenly Sword Sect would leave them with no chance of victory.

Yet these words turned the Tail's face instantly ashen.

"Ye Ge took on Jian Wufeng at the cost of his life to cover our escape, and barely managed to kill Jian Wufeng—now you want to hand him over as a scapegoat?"

"It's not exactly a scapegoat—just asking him to return the Heavenly Sword. Since Yese Liming killed Jian Wufeng, his strength is clearly extraordinary. The Heavenly Sword Sect won't dare harm him; return the sword, let the matter shrink, let it vanish—everyone wins."

With brazen audacity, the Elders made the whole thing sound so trivial.

The Tail's face darkened further. He coldly said, "What's the difference between returning the sword and walking to your death? Killing Jian Wufeng doesn't mean you can take on the entire Heavenly Sword Sect alone. If you insist on sending the sword back, do it yourself—don't drag Ye Ge into this!"

This silenced the Elder completely.

If he truly went to return the sword, he'd be dead for sure.

Everyone knew this was just an excuse—its true purpose was to send someone to die, to give the Heavenly Sword Sect a face-saving explanation and keep them from being dragged into the conflict with the Flame Fire Sect.

But now, it seemed this plan was about to collapse.

Because anyone with eyes could see the Tail's bond with Fang Yue ran deep—he might even break with the Extreme Ice Sect over this outsider.

The Tail? They could afford to ignore him.

He was a peerless genius, but the Extreme Ice Sect had produced countless geniuses over the years.

Yet the Tail was under the protection of the Supreme Sect Master of the Extreme Ice Sect, Qi Ba Jiu Daren—this made his position extraordinarily delicate. Even the Sect Master himself dared not touch him.

The Sect Master of the Extreme Ice Sect sighed deeply, preparing to reason with him, appeal to his emotions, and make one final plea.

"Tail, you know our current situation—fighting the Flame Fire Sect is already our limit. Adding the Heavenly Sword Sect means certain defeat. And Qi Ba Jiu Daren, due to your cultivation issues, cannot remain present for long. With our combat strength stretched thin, we must minimize enemies and eliminate threats where we can."

He paused, then continued: "Moreover, I promise that once we resolve the Flame Fire Sect's threat, I will find a way to help Yese Liming strike the Heavenly Sword Sect together."

The old bastard had a clever plan—he hoped Fang Yue would stall the Heavenly Sword Sect while they crushed the Flame Fire Sect, then swallow the Heavenly Sword Sect whole.

The Tail opened his mouth to speak again, but Fang Yue stopped him with a hand.

He coldly scanned the Elders present and sneered, "I finally see it—you're all masters of self-preservation. Trouble comes to your door, and you don't want to handle it—you just want to dump it on me, an outsider. Fine. I killed the Heavenly Sword Sect's Sect Master. They're right to come after me. But don't forget: when I'm dead and they learn the truth, your Extreme Ice Sect won't escape blame either."

"Delaying them for a while is enough—this time gap will let us secure a decisive advantage against the Flame Fire Sect."

With the truth out, the Sect Master of the Extreme Ice Sect seemed to have given up all pretense.

This made Fang Yue laugh bitterly.

Had every single Elder here not been the Tail's own, Fang Yue would've drawn his blade and cut them down first.

Their faces had dragged the Extreme Ice Sect's reputation in Fang Yue's eyes to an all-time low.

If you're heartless, don't blame me for being ruthless.

Fang Yue immediately considered walking away—packing up and leaving.

The world was vast—could he really not survive under the pressure of the Heavenly Sword Sect?

Don't forget: on paper, he was still Red Clothes of the Qing Guo's Qing Si.

His status was too high for the Heavenly Sword Sect to touch at will.

But if he did this… the Tail…

As Fang Yue turned to look at the Tail, his expression suddenly changed—he sensed a powerful aura rapidly approaching from afar.

"A powerful cultivator is coming!"

"At least a Rain-level expert!"

"We just killed the Flame Fire Sect's Sixth Elder—this visitor is likely hostile. Quickly go out to greet them! Prepare for battle!"

Not just Fang Yue—the Sect Master and all the Elders felt the overwhelming aura outside.

The group hurried outside and saw a golden figure approaching, stepping on a sword.

"Who are you? State your name!"

As Sect Master of the Extreme Ice Sect, how could he remain silent when someone had landed on his doorstep?

As the golden figure halted and the light faded, an old man emerged.

His eyebrows were like frost, and every inch of him radiated sharpness.

Fang Yue sensed him—and was stunned to realize this old man was far stronger than Jian Wufeng, whom he had killed earlier.

The Heavenly Sword in his hand trembled violently, as if eager to escape Fang Yue's grip and fly into the old man's hands.

Fang Yue wouldn't let the sword slip from his grasp.

He whispered a threat: "Make another move, and the parchment will swallow you."

Instantly, the Heavenly Sword fell silent, trembling in fear, not daring to move.

The parchment's reputation was even more effective than "The wolf is coming."

At that moment, the old man above spoke.

His long white beard stirred as he said:

"I've long forgotten worldly titles. Now, I am merely an ordinary old man—if you wish, call me Jianmu Laoren."

Hiss—

As Jianmu Laoren finished speaking, every Elder present drew a sharp breath, eyes wide with shock, staring at the old man in midair.

Jianmu Laoren—the Jianmu Laoren of the Heavenly Sword Sect!

Why had this old man come to the Extreme Ice Sect? And why had he appeared without warning?

Sweat broke out on the foreheads of the Elders and the Sect Master; even their breathing grew cautious.

"So you are Jian Lao of the Heavenly Sword Sect. What brings you to our Extreme Ice Sect?"

The Sect Master took a deep breath, bowed respectfully, and asked with utmost caution.

It was a question they all knew the answer to—every eye instinctively flicked to Fang Yue, except the Tail, who instantly stepped in front of him, face grim.

"I have two reasons for coming here. First: to reclaim the Heavenly Sword, the ancestral blade of the Heavenly Sword Sect."

When saying this, Jianmu Laoren glanced at Fang Yue, a strange feeling stirring in his heart.

Why was this Heaven Sword in Fang Yue's hands, and not guarded by someone else from the Extreme Ice Sect?

But upon further thought, Jianmu Laoren figured that since he had arrived so quickly, the Extreme Ice Sect probably hadn't yet decided how to handle the Heaven Sword, so it didn't really matter who currently held it.

(End of Chapter)