In Zhongyu, the Thousand Lake Kingdom, outside Guyang Lake.
On the calm water, ripples appeared with the passing breeze.
Many, many people were gathered around. Upon closer inspection, one could see many familiar faces, such as the leaders of the nine major powers, all present.
Behind them were numerous elders and disciples from their respective forces.
Each faction had between a few hundred to a thousand people. Judging by their numbers, it didn't look like they were preparing for war.
The lake had been unfrozen moments ago, all the ice having melted. They knew the secret realm had ended, and those inside were about to emerge.
Finally, the first person broke through the water and flew into mid-air.
Then, a second, a third, a fourth…
The lake surface seemed to boil, with people continuously emerging.
The leaders of the nine major powers flew up together, scrutinizing these individuals.
As the people who emerged saw those from their own factions, they immediately flew over, bowing to their respective patriarchs and sect masters.
*Splash.*
Venerable Yunxiao and Bei Hanwu surfaced together.
Finally, two big fish had appeared.
"Brother Yunxiao, please tell us in detail about what happened inside."
Just moments before, the Liu family patriarch had received a message from his family stating that Elder Liu Qinglin and many Liu family disciples' life tokens had shattered.
Life tokens were something many families and powers possessed. Once a person infused a wisp of their spiritual consciousness into it, the item could sense the person's life and death. When they died, the life token would shatter.
Wan Lei had also left life tokens with the Yin Yang Sect and the Wan family.
Venerable Yunxiao and the other two scanned the surrounding nine major power leaders and sneered,
"We can say, and we can guarantee we are speaking the truth. But inside, we were at the mercy of circumstances. Whatever we did was just to survive. Do not blame us."
"You have our assurance. We merely wish to know the truth."
"Very well. The events began with the trio of Hu Liuli attempting to assassinate Wan Lei…"
Venerable Yunxiao recounted the events in detail. When he mentioned Bei Hanwu contacting him and their decision to jointly attack Lu Ya, he specifically bowed to the former sect master of the Yin Yang Sect,
"Sect Master Ji, allow me to apologize first. At that time, we two were misled by the slanders of that old scoundrel Liu Qinglin, which is why we attacked fellow Daoist Lu Ya. Furthermore, it was Liu Qinglin who ultimately killed fellow Daoist Lu Ya."
"Hmph."
Sect Master Ji snorted dismissively, his expression grim.
Fifteen Mahayana cultivators had entered, and only four had survived. Every family had suffered losses, so it was difficult for him to make any pronouncements.
Venerable Yunxiao recounted the events thoroughly. In conclusion, he solemnly reiterated,
"The debt of gratitude we owe to young friend Wan Lei this time is something we two shall remember. As for the deaths of your elders, they brought it entirely upon themselves.
I have said all there is to say. If you do not believe me, you are welcome to question your own people. Liu Qinglin massacred millions of the Beast Taming clan; the heavens and humans alike are enraged.
I shall say no more. Truth will prevail. Farewell."
Venerable Yunxiao and Bei Hanwu bowed together and then flew away.
The leaders of the nine major powers did not stop them. After all, they had not killed anyone from their own families, so it was difficult to assign blame.
Meanwhile, Fang Jufeng, Chen Yijun, and others had already emerged, along with tens of thousands of disciples and rogue cultivators. They all corroborated that Venerable Yunxiao's account was not false.
"Wan Lei… with his mere Nascent Soul cultivation, he killed ten out of the fifteen Mahayana cultivators…"
The Liu family patriarch's gaze shifted erratically, his expression gloomy.
"This child has the makings of a Thunder Emperor."
The Hu family patriarch smiled faintly. While seemingly praising Wan Lei, he was actually elevating Wan Lei's danger level in the eyes of the other families to an extremely high degree.
"Even the Thunder Emperor of that era was but one person, and he couldn't slaughter Mahayana cultivators with Nascent Soul cultivation."
The Wu family patriarch stepped forward. Yes, he used the word "slaughter." Ten Mahayana cultivators killed at once was an unprecedented event in the past ten thousand years of the Thunder Wind Realm; it truly deserved the terrifying word "slaughter."
"And now, there are two, Wan Lei and Fang Xiaoyu. Whether facing one, two, three, or four Mahayana cultivators, they could easily defeat their opponents.
Such terrifying talent, if it were a good thing, it means our Thunder Wind Realm will finally have a mighty being emerge.
However, if this mighty being possesses an evil disposition, disregards human life, acts recklessly, and massacres the great powers of our Thunder Wind Realm, it will inevitably lead to a catastrophe, and our Thunder Wind Realm might turn into hell.
Such a mighty being is not a blessing to our Thunder Wind Realm, but rather a disaster. For such individuals, I believe it is best to eliminate them as soon as possible."
These words resonated with many.
Seven years ago, they had known Wan Lei and Fang Xiaoyu. At that time, they were just two insignificant Core Formation cultivators, only capable of competing with young children. In their eyes, it was more like watching a game.
And now, how long had it been? These two had the strength to wring their necks. How could they not be apprehensive?
Most importantly, that Wan Lei, and that Wan family, had a blood feud with their families!
The only one without a blood feud, the Kaitian Sword Sect, had also suffered from Wan Lei's actions, with the elder Jian Tian and the younger Jian Xunhuan being killed, leaving their younger generation without any outstanding prodigies and losing a strategically important figure.
"What utter nonsense are you spouting! How are Wan Lei and Xiaoyu evil? They merely killed their enemies! But your families killed millions! Who is the evil cultivator, and who is the disaster? Do I need to explain further?"
Patriarch Fang Jufeng glared at the group before him, wishing he could smash them all.
"Patriarch Fang, the two sect masters, don't you owe us an explanation for this?"
The Liu family patriarch ignored Fang Jufeng's barking, his sinister gaze sweeping across the three leaders present. Clearly, on the matter of Fang Xiaoyu and Wan Lei, these three families had reached a consensus to advance and retreat together.
As for the Fang family, it went without saying. The Kui Lian Sect and the Yin Yang Sect owed their survival to these two.
"An explanation?"
Sect Master Ji sneered, pointing at the Liu family patriarch, his face contorted with ferocity,
"When your Hu Liuli, Jian Tian, and Dao Luo Zhenren, three Mahayana cultivators, ganged up to bully two juniors, where was your explanation?
When your families colluded to kill my Yin Yang Sect elders, where was your explanation?
When six of your Mahayana cultivators cornered my Yin Yang Sect disciples and demanded they commit suicide, where was your explanation?
What, you are allowed to bully the juniors, but they are not allowed to resist?
Liu family, Kaitian Sword Sect, you are accustomed to tyranny, only allowing yourselves to start fires and forbidding others from lighting lamps.
Before giving you an explanation, you first owe the Yin Yang Sect an explanation!!!"