Knowing the Living Immortal was here for the extraordinary treasure from Mount Sifang, Mingyue and everyone present felt a jolt. Mingyue was terrified, for the Moon Radiance Pearl was on her person. Years of experience as a bandit made her instinctively believe this Living Immortal was here to steal her treasure. She quickly clutched the storage bag at her chest, a movement the Living Immortal noticed.
The others, however, thought that the news of the treasure's appearance had been foretold by the Living Immortal, as were its time and location. It was because of the Living Immortal's predictions that various sects had dispatched personnel to Mount Sifang's Furong Peak to seek the treasure. Since this treasure concerned the well-being of all, why didn't the Living Immortal collect it himself? Instead, after its appearance, he had pursued them here. Had the Living Immortal predicted something else, causing such urgency?
"Everyone believes the news of the treasure's appearance was spread by me, but I state responsibly that this was absolutely not my doing. Someone impersonated me, using my identity to disseminate information about the treasure's emergence."
The Living Immortal's subsequent words shocked everyone. The widely rumored appearance of the treasure wasn't spread by the Living Immortal, and everyone had been deceived. Who possessed such power to fool all the sects in the entire immortal realm? Yet, upon reflection, the person had merely impersonated the Living Immortal, and the treasure's appearance was real, causing no direct loss. Why, then, was the Living Immortal making such a fuss, exaggerating that it concerned all beings and the entire immortal realm? Were there other matters they were unaware of?
"Everyone, I know you think I am making a mountain out of a molehill, crying wolf. But as the saying goes, caution ensures a thousand years of peace. In this world, nothing happens without reason; there is always a cause. When I learned someone was impersonating me, I initially paid it no mind. At my age, I no longer care for fleeting fame. I would readily give up the title of Living Immortal without hesitation. But the thought is chilling. Because everyone trusts me, they sent the elite disciples of their sects to Mount Sifang to search for the treasure. It can be said that the entire elite of the immortal realm was gathered at the foot of Furong Peak. If someone with malicious intent were to ambush them, the consequences would be unimaginable. If these young disciples suffered any harm, it would be the extinguishing of the immortal realm's hope and future. The immortal realm would be in peril. Who would desire such an outcome? After much thought, I considered the demon race. This must be a plot by the demon race. They used my influence within the immortal realm, sent someone to impersonate me, spread rumors everywhere, and lured people to Mount Sifang, only to ambush and annihilate them, intending to capture them all in one fell swoop."
The Living Immortal paused here. The sect leaders present turned pale and broke into a cold sweat, realizing the Living Immortal had guessed correctly. The demons had indeed appeared at Furong Peak that day in full force, with all five Elemental Demon Lords of the Demonic Sky Valley leading ten thousand demons to seal the mountain. Even the Underworld River had been mobilized. If not for the timely arrival of Ji Shiyou, Mingyue, and Fairy Jinwu, the elite disciples of the various sects would truly have been annihilated, all perishing on Furong Peak.
"Senior, this junior has a question that requires your enlightenment. Since you already knew someone was impersonating you and using your influence to lure immortal realm disciples to Furong Peak for an ambush, why didn't you warn everyone earlier to prevent them from walking into a death trap? Instead, you arrived late, after the great battle at Furong Peak had concluded, to reveal the truth. Furthermore, if the demon race is indeed stirring and threatening the Moon Radiance Realm, and you care for the well-being of all beings, you should have gone to the Demonic Sky Valley. With your cultivation, subduing demons should be no problem. Why did you come to my Jinwu Palace to trouble two juniors, and not allow them to leave?"
The Living Immortal's words sounded noble and compassionate, but they couldn't withstand scrutiny and were logically flawed. Upon closer examination, they were riddled with loopholes. Fairy Jinwu frowned several times and posed her questions. Everyone present was a sect leader, sharp and discerning. They understood immediately and turned to the Living Immortal, their eyes filled with suspicion and confusion, wanting to know his explanation.
"It is understandable that Fairy Jinwu has such doubts. It is due to my own circumstances. Having been out of the world for so long, I had lost contact with the outside. By the time I received this news, the treasure's emergence had already passed, and the great battle at Furong Peak was over. Fortunately, the immortal realm disciples escaped without incident, and the Demonic Sky Valley did not succeed. Otherwise, I would regret it for the rest of my life. As for why I came here, I was concerned for your safety. Therefore, I rushed here to warn you, as you were all in danger without realizing it. I stopped those two precisely because I did not want the Demonic Sky Valley's plot to succeed. Once this hidden danger is dealt with, I will naturally go to the Demonic Sky Valley to eradicate them."
The Living Immortal answered Fairy Jinwu's questions one by one, his explanations sounding plausible and well-reasoned. However, while he resolved old issues, he created new ones. No one understood what Ji Shiyou and Mingyue had to do with the Demonic Sky Valley's plot, nor why they had to be detained. He also mentioned they were in danger, but trailed off, failing to explain clearly.
Everyone was meeting the Living Immortal for the first time. After a brief interaction, everyone's evaluation of him was the same: he was a man who loved to keep people in suspense.
"Oh, then may I ask, Senior, what do they have to do with the Demonic Sky Valley's plot? To my knowledge, one of them resisted the Five Elemental Demon Lords at Furong Peak, and the other fought the Underworld River. It was precisely because of their actions that the immortal realm disciples were able to retreat safely. The people of the Demonic Sky Valley must hate them to the bone. I don't know how they became involved with the Demonic Sky Valley to warrant such treatment from you? Although I have expelled Ji Shiyou from my sect, Jinwu Palace distinguishes between gratitude and enmity. We will not forget the life-saving grace of our disciples. For this debt of gratitude, I cannot stand by and do nothing. I must inquire about this and cannot allow them to be bullied."
Fairy Jinwu's words became increasingly blunt. Her tone not only expressed impatience with the Living Immortal but also served as a warning to the sect leaders present. She wanted them to realize that without Ji Shiyou and Mingyue, the disciples of their respective sects who went to Mount Sifang would all be dead. Mingyue and Ji Shiyou were their benefactors, yet when Yong Gaoya had pressured them earlier, not a single one had spoken up to defend them, which was disheartening.
The sect leaders understood the implied meaning of Fairy Jinwu's words and felt somewhat ashamed. "The Fairy is a person of strong character. May I ask the Fairy, if the appearance of the treasure was fabricated by the Demonic Sky Valley with the aim of striking at the immortal realm and killing cultivators, then the treasure itself must have been arranged by the Demonic Sky Valley beforehand. It must have been tampered with, putting everyone in danger. Therefore, that treasure should also be part of the demon race's plan. I heard that the treasure has already been obtained by this Fairy Mingyue. For everyone's safety, I had no choice but to detain them. I have a humble request: I wish for Fairy Mingyue to entrust that treasure to my care. Whatever schemes the Demonic Sky Valley may have, I will bear them!"
The Living Immortal adopted an attitude of self-sacrifice, as if saying, "If I don't go to hell, who will?" He revealed the reason for detaining Ji Shiyou and Mingyue. Ever since he entered Jinwu Palace, he had made two humble requests: one was to ask Fairy Jinwu to release He Lianying, and the other was to demand the Moon Radiance Pearl.
"Bah! What pretty words. You can talk, but you can't listen. You spin a tale of flowery nonsense, all for show. Isn't this just a blatant attempt to seize and plunder, coveting my Moon Radiance Pearl? Such a trick is utterly base. You've laid so much groundwork just to say this without it seeming abrupt, hoping everyone will believe you. Let me tell you, you can forget it! You want the Moon Radiance Pearl? Dream on!"
Ji Shiyou couldn't hold her back. Mingyue, like a firecracker, shot up in front of the Living Immortal, pointing at his nose and shouting curses.