Under the instigation of the Living Immortal, everyone glared at Fairy Jinwu with anger.
However, due to their fear of the Golden Crow Fire, none dared to step forward.
"Jinwu, I never imagined you were a demonic cultivator, and from the Heavenly Demon Valley at that.
Disciples of Jinwu Palace, heed my command. The sect has suffered misfortune and a sudden great upheaval.
In the name of my former Grand Elder, all disciples shall form a formation to slay demons and eliminate evil."
Seeing that everyone hesitated to act, Yong Gaoya glanced at the Living Immortal.
Suddenly, he shouted loudly, ordering the Jinwu Palace disciples to form a formation to deal with Fairy Jinwu.
The Jinwu Palace disciples within the great hall looked at each other.
Finally, they reached a consensus, shifted their positions, and rushed to Fairy Jinwu's side.
"You, what are you doing?"
Yong Gaoya's hand holding the whisk clenched tightly, his beard trembling with rage.
He pointed at the Jinwu Palace disciples who had already set up the Star Dou Formation, shouting in exasperation.
This was because the formation set up by the disciples had surrounded Fairy Jinwu and Mingyue.
However, their weapons were pointed outwards, clearly intending to protect the two.
"Disperse the formation and leave this place.
This is my personal matter, you should not get involved."
Seeing the Jinwu Palace disciples shielding her, Fairy Jinwu said with a choked voice.
She did not want to implicate these disciples, so she asked them to leave.
"We will not leave. We believe the Palace Master is not a demon.
We swear to follow the Palace Master to the death, fearless of life and death!"
Thus, all the disciples shouted in unison, their voices deafening.
The meaning was clear: they would not leave.
"I also do not believe Jinwu is a demon."
"I don't believe it either."
"And me."
Seeing the disciples of Jinwu Palace standing resolutely before Fairy Jinwu and Mingyue,
Nong Qing and the other two also walked over, turning to face the various sect leaders, declaring their stance.
"It seems the entire Jinwu Palace has been controlled by demons.
As well as Sword Sect, Heavenly Sound Sect, and Hundred Flowers Palace.
Four of the five great sects have fallen under demonic control.
Only my Heavenly Dao Sect remains. The immortal realm is in peril!
These people are either brainwashed or controlled by some special means.
Fellow Daoists, the demons' reach has already extended to the immortal realm.
Our sects will be next. The immortal realm is at a critical juncture of survival.
Immortals and demons are irreconcilable. Subduing demons and upholding the Dao is our generation's mission.
What are we waiting for? Let's attack together."
He Lianlu waved his peach wood sword, speaking righteously.
Yet, he remained rooted to the spot, not moving forward.
His words stirred up the emotions of the crowd.
They urged their magical artifacts and were about to attack.
The Living Immortal looked at the scene with satisfaction, a smile gracing his lips.
"Please, everyone, stop. I have something to say."
At this moment, a voice rang out.
The voice was like a clear spring flowing, carrying internal energy.
Like the cold moonlight, it echoed in the hall.
Hearing this after being incited by the Living Immortal and the other two, their minds heated, the crowd suddenly calmed down. They followed the sound to find the source.
Seeing that it was Ji Shiyou, who had been silent all along, they couldn't help but feel curious about what he had to say. Thus, they all stopped their actions.
"Everyone, please hold your hands. I have something to say.
You are all sect leaders, why are you so impulsive?
You are being used as pawns without even realizing it."
Seeing that Fairy Jinwu and Mingyue had become public enemies of the immortal realm, Ji Shiyou remained unhurried.
He slowly paced to the front of the Living Immortal.
"Ji Shiyou! The cream of the crop among the younger generation of the immortal realm.
What, have you also been bewitched by demons?
Become a running dog of the Heavenly Demon Valley? Are you trying to exonerate them?
The sect leaders will not be swayed by your deception, nor will they believe your nonsensical words.
Everyone, do not listen to his distortion of facts, attack!"
Seeing that everyone was halted by Ji Shiyou's words, the Living Immortal's face showed disdain.
He resorted to his old tricks, continuing to incite them.
"Senior, you are preventing me from speaking. Are you guilty?
Or are you afraid that I will expose your demonic identity?"
Ji Shiyou looked at the Living Immortal, his words astonishing.
His statement immediately piqued everyone's interest.
They wanted to know why Ji Shiyou would say such a thing.
The Living Immortal being a demonic cultivator was something they could never have imagined.
"Nonsense! What evidence do you have?
To prove I am a demonic cultivator, do not spout baseless rumors here.
Without proof, do you think everyone will believe you?"
The Living Immortal's expression became somewhat agitated. He flicked his sleeve and turned his head away.
"Why don't you believe me?
Did Senior also provide proof when he directly declared Mingyue and Fairy Jinwu to be demons?
And the three sect leaders of Jinwu Palace, Sword Sect, Hundred Flowers Palace, and Heavenly Sound Sect.
It seems anyone who stands on Senior's opposite side will be declared a demon by you.
And labeled as a spy from the Heavenly Demon Valley within the immortal realm. What evidence did you present then?
Everyone, recall, isn't that how it is?"
Ji Shiyou turned to face everyone and spoke slowly.
Hearing his words, everyone's expressions froze. It seemed to be the case.
Thus, they all looked at the Living Immortal with probing eyes.
"Nonsense, I made a thorough deduction.
It was by no means groundless."
The Living Immortal's face was a little grim as he retorted.
"Oh, deduction!
Then my claim that you are a demonic cultivator was also based on thorough deduction.
Everyone, listen to me. In fact, the news of the rare treasure appearing
was released by the Living Immortal himself. The demons also wanted to obtain the treasure.
So, they sent the Five Elements Demon Lord to lead ten thousand demons to seal the mountain and seize the treasure.
As a result, the Five Elements Demon Lord and Minghe both died in Four Rooms Mountain, and the treasure was not taken.
To reclaim the treasure, the Heavenly Demon Valley devised another plan.
They sent someone to impersonate the Living Immortal and come to Jinwu Palace.
The purpose was to trick the treasure from Mingyue's hands.
After all, the Living Immortal had not appeared for over a hundred years.
No one recognized him, nor did anyone know what he looked like.
Therefore, you are not the Living Immortal at all.
But someone sent by the Heavenly Demon Valley to impersonate the Living Immortal, aren't you?"
Ji Shiyou spoke eloquently, his words clear and logical.
Hearing this, everyone nodded incessantly, no longer targeting Fairy Jinwu and Mingyue.
They turned their weapons towards the Living Immortal.
"Nonsense! You do not recognize Senior.
I met him back then, and I can prove it.
Senior is indeed the Living Immortal, not from the Heavenly Demon Valley."
"And me. I was also fortunate to receive Senior's guidance back then.
I can testify that Senior is the Living Immortal."
He Lianlu and Yong Gaoya both stepped forward to prove Ji Shiyou was lying.
"Is that so? According to Senior's logic.
You two should be spies planted by the Heavenly Demon Valley in the immortal realm.
You are in league with him, hence you are testifying for him.
The purpose is to collude from within and without to subvert the immortal realm.
The immortal realm is in peril! Everyone, quickly apprehend these three.
Then interrogate them severely to uncover the Heavenly Demon Valley's plot."
Ji Shiyou's tactic of turning the tables was brilliant.
It left He Lianlu and Yong Gaoya speechless. The sect leaders, however, fell into deep thought.
They were thinking that what Ji Shiyou said earlier was indeed correct.
Regardless of whether the Living Immortal before them was an impostor or not, they had truly been used as pawns just now.
Mingyue looked at Ji Shiyou, filled with doubt.
Ji Shiyou was a man of few words. Why was he speaking so much today?
Moreover, only she noticed that while Ji Shiyou was speaking,
he kept glancing towards the entrance, as if waiting for someone.
The Living Immortal's face had already darkened. His lowered hand clenched tightly.
The power within him began to gather and circulate, appearing ready to strike at any moment.
"I can prove that he is the Living Immortal himself."
At this moment, a voice rang out from outside the door.
Ji Shiyou exclaimed in his heart, "Finally, they're here!"