Soul Emperor Martial God

Facing the Sect Master's words,

Xiao Yi first narrowed his eyes, then said, "What does the Sect Master think, then?"

Speaking, Xiao Yi glanced at the elders of the sect around him.

"What do the elders think?"

"If I say it is not so,"

"Would you believe the words of the Strongest Sword Master or those of an outsider?"

The Sect Master said coldly, "Xiao Yi, are you suggesting that we should not differentiate between right and wrong?"

"That we should just favor relations?"

"Sky-splitting Sword Sect, as the Martial Arts Holy Land of the entire Flame Martial Kingdom, must never engage in such private sheltering. It would disgrace the honor of our sect."

"I advise you to explain yourself clearly."

"An explanation? I say it's nothing but shifty defenses." Murong Jiao'er stood up, her face full of sorrow and indignation.

"Such a murderous fiend deserves to be executed immediately."

"How presumptuous." The Great Elder scolded, "Xiao Yi is the Strongest Sword Master of our generation in Sky-splitting Sword Sect."

"How can you talk of execution so lightly?"

The Sect Master snorted, "As for the incident, there were quite a few onlookers outside the Liu Family that day."

"We will know the truth after some inquiries."

"Isn't that right, Xiao Yi?"

Xiao Yi remained silent, his face cold.

In fact, he had approximately anticipated what would happen today.

At that moment, the Sect Master frowned and said, "Xiao Yi, do you not plan to give an explanation?"

On the other side, Murong Jiao'er said coldly, "Perhaps the evidence is conclusive and he cannot explain it."

The Sect Master waved his hand, "Truth and justice will prevail."

"As far as I know, there were powerful individuals from all major forces present that day."

"Let's hear what they have to say."

Several heads of major powers in the gathering stood up.

"That day, we witnessed with our own eyes, the Northern Mountain Sword Master creating turmoil at the Liu Family and injuring the wedding procession."

"His methods were extremely domineering and merciless."

"Afterwards, he took advantage of his status as the strongest Sword Master of this generation in the sect and committed mass slaughter."

"The Blood Mist Valley Martial Artists were almost completely wiped out."

"Is this really the case?" The Sect Master's face turned stern.

"Absolutely certain." These family heads quickly bowed and said, "If the Sword Sect Master does not believe us, feel free to ask others."

"There were also other powerful families' martial artists present at the time."

"Oh?" The Sect Master showed a look of surprise and turned to look at the people from the Shen Family who had come to the great hall.

The Lin Family Head frowned and said, "I was not there that day and do not know."

"But one of our elders was present."

"Elder Shen Yuan, are the words of these family heads true?"

Shen Yuan, the representative of the Shen Family who had gone to congratulate the Liu Family last time, was also the Deputy Commander of the City Guard Army.

Shen Yuan's eyes flickered, but eventually, he gritted his teeth and nodded firmly, "Yes."

Upon hearing this, the Sect Master nodded, then turned to look at the Lin Family.

The Lin Family Head, in agreement with the Shen Family Head, passed the question to Deputy Commander Lin Chong who had also come.

Deputy Commander Lin Chong looked uncomfortable, but in the end, he too gritted his teeth and nodded, "Yes."

"You're lying." Zhou Yueyao could no longer hold back and jumped out.

"How dare you interrupt, you meddlesome girl." A middle-aged man suddenly stepped forward.

The man's name was Ao Tianyun.

He was the current Ao Family Patriarch.

The Ao Family was also one of the Four Great Families.

At the same time, the Ao Family was the power behind Sky-reaching Tower.

Simply put, the Ao Family was one of the four major families of the Royal Capital and the most powerful commercial family in the Royal Capital.

Although Ao Tianyun was not a peak warrior,

he was also a seasoned strong man in the late-stage of Heavenly Origin.

At this moment, Ao Tianyun shouted angrily, "That day, I also watched the battle outside the Liu Family."

"It was indeed as the family heads have said, the Northern Mountain Sword Master was extremely domineering and caused chaos in the marriage procession."

"Afterwards, he killed in a frenzy."

"He ruined the great match for the successors of both the Liu Family and Blood Mist Valley."

"Such an act is a grave sin indeed."

"You're talking nonsense!" Zhou Yueyao shouted angrily, "You weren't there at all that day."

"How dare you!" Ao Tianyun's voice turned icy cold.

"Little girl, are you suggesting that I, Ao Tianyun, the patriarch of one of the Four Great Families in the Royal Capital, would lie in front of such a crowd?"

"Lying is lying, what does status have to do with it?" Zhou Yueyao retorted.

Then, turning to the Liu Family, she said, "What you all say doesn't count."

"The Liu Family are the ones involved; they know the facts best."

"Oh, is that so?" The Sect Master laughed.

"If someone can prove Xiao Yi's innocence, confirm that he did not commit such acts that tarnish the sect's reputation, that would be best."

"Elder Liu, what do you say?"

The Liu Family representatives who came to the ceremony this time did not include the Family Head but two elders instead.

As he spoke, the Sect Master stared at Elder Liu, his eyes carrying a different implication.

Both Elder Liu looked extremely uncomfortable and seemed very conflicted.

Sect Master chuckled lightly, "Elder Liu of the Liu Family, please state the facts."

"You can rest assured, our Sky-splitting Sword Sect has always been just."

"We will not allow any despicable person to trouble you afterwards."

"The precondition is that you must state the facts."

The word "facts," Sect Master emphasized a bit heavily.

The two elders of the Liu Family, faces showing alarm, then nodded in agreement.

"There are no falsehoods in what the various Family Heads have said."

Zhou Yueyao's face immediately turned pale.

As a witness on that day, she of course knew the truth.

Now, the words and attitudes of the Liu Family left her in utter shock.

"How can you, Liu Family, be like this…" Zhou Yueyao clenched her fists, grinding her teeth a bit.

Beside her, the former Nine River Sword Master had already forcibly restrained her.

"Sect Master, Family Heads, my younger family member has been a bit rude."

"Please do not take it to heart."

The former Nine River Sword Master gave a bow to everyone present.

The Sect Master nodded, saying, "There's no need for that, Elder Zhou."

Continuing, the Sect Master looked toward Xiao Yi, "Xiao Yi, what else do you have to say now?"

"The spectators from that day are all pointing the blame at you."

"Including the various Family Heads, as well as the strong ones from the Four Great Families."

"With the evidence piling high like a mountain, our Sky-splitting Sword Sect can't protect you."

"You have brought this upon yourself by wielding the identity of the Strongest Sword Master, wantonly and indiscriminately killing."

"The consequences should be borne by you alone, and should not bring disgrace to the Sect, tarnishing our Sect's reputation."

"I hereby declare that Xiao Yi is stripped of the title of Strongest Sword Master on the spot."

"Do any elders object?"

"Seconded...seconded..." The Sword Sect Elders present all seconded the motion in succession.

"I object," the Great Elder stood up.

The Great Elder tugged at Xiao Yi's arm, saying, "Come on, young man, speak up."

"I absolutely do not believe you are such a villain."

Xiao Yi had been silent all this time.

Now, he spoke coldly, "What should I say? What can I say?"

"I've already asked just now, Elders, do you trust my words, or the words of outsiders?"

"Clearly, the Elders have chosen to trust the outsiders."

"Since you never intended to believe me."

"What use is there in anything more I say?"

"If a crime is desired, a word is not spared; when intentions are to ensnare, even if I offer countless explanations, what good will it do?"

Xiao Yi's last words stared coldly at the Sect Master and the Elders.

Those frigid eyes were sharp and forceful.

He had anticipated the development of events.

This so-called three-day wait was not for a reply to him.

It was simply for the Sect Master to await Bai Mohan's emergence from seclusion.

To leverage the momentum of Bai Mohan, inheriting the position as Chief of the Sect, on the day when powers great and small of the Royal Capital gathered.

To forcibly strip him of the 'Strongest Sword Master' title.

As one of the most important identities in the history of the Sword Sect,

Even the Sect Master, even with all the Elders' consent in the Sect, could not strip it lightly.

However, if they cast a stain upon the Sect, a sin that enrages both gods and men, a villainy that all powers seek to purge,

Everything suddenly becomes much easier.

The affairs of Bai Mohan concocting Blood Intent Pills,

Nearly nine in ten powers within the Royal Capital were quietly aiding him.

Today, inside this grand hall, only a few are unrelated to this affair,

Like the Lin Family, the Shen Family, and the Liu Family.

Besides these three, the rest present have all been Bai Mohan's covert supporters for the past 15 years.

This turn of events was well within Xiao Yi's expectations.

Ultimately, they simply didn't want him to 'interfere' any longer, to ruin Bai Mohan's plans.

And those Sect Elders, those esteemed seniors who once stood high above and were admired by all,

In Xiao Yi's eyes at this moment, how hideous, how ferocious they were.

Including Elder Duan Yun, who simply feigned sleep and did not speak a word of justice for him.

"Heh," Xiao Yi let out a cold laugh.

"Originally, I thought that the Sky-splitting Sword Sect was the Martial Arts Holy Land for the entire Flame Martial Kingdom."

"It was my... former Sect."

"Therefore, I always held onto a sliver of hope, with a sliver of sentiment."

"But it seems now, I was wrong, utterly wrong."

Xiao Yi's voice was filled with cold solitude and utter disillusionment.

"Enough, remove it then."

"From today on."

"I, Xiao Yi, and the Sky-splitting Sword Sect, will have nothing to do with each other."

His solemn voice fell.

His proud silhouette turned resolutely, stepping away at a measured pace.

...

The second update.