Chapter 1039: Sword Star's Oppression

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Murong Xue shuddered as she watched the four old men with shaken looks, "Sect Leader Ling sent the Venerables to protect a divine sword thief? How does that make sense? Are they afraid that his henchwoman will be back to break them out?"

"Ha-ha-ha, miss Murong, you know already. I'd have walked ages ago if I wanted to. Why would I need to stay here and even have these coots watching over me?"

Zhuo Fan sneered, "Moreover, Ling Yuntian knows I want to go out to sea and won't leave even if I can of my own free will. Setting up such a strong guard for someone like that hardly makes any sense. Or are you still scared I'd escape despite wanting to be here?"

Murong Xue's eyes shook and she gritted her teeth.

Murong Lie sighed and pulled her hand, "Xue'er, let's go. Sect Leader Ling said it's for the greater good."

"How is that so?"

Murong Xue stared at the four elders, "Seniors, I just wish to know, what is Sect Leader Ling's real reason for sending you to watch over a prisoner that doesn't want to escape?"

The Four Snow Peak Elders muttered to themselves, before High Venerable replied, "Miss Murong is sharp, Sect Leader did send us to watch him. He might not want to leave now, but what about later? With that woman's incredible strength, only the four of us could stop her from breaking in again. As for the other reason..."

High Venerable hesitated.

"What other reason?" Murong Xue knew it but still insisted on hearing it.

The Four Snow Peak Elders lowered their heads, giving Zhuo Fan the opportunity to condescend, "Miss Murong, you're being hard on seniors. Do you really want to tear the last shred of cordiality? Ha-ha-ha, I bet you know already. The seniors are here to guard me, as in protect me, lest a certain someone gets the bright idea in the heat of the moment and kills someone of my immense value, making the two divine swords to be lost and damning the four lands. Especially when that certain someone has such an incredible brother. One'll need extra protection, no?"

Murong Xue glared at him as her lip shook, then she turned to the four silent venerables. Their silence said it all. With a huff, she stormed out in indignation and fury.

Murong Lie looked at them once and shook his head as he followed her.

Only the four elders, Zhuo Fan's team, Shangguan Qingyan and Wu Qingqiu remained.

"I've never seen sister Xue so overcome with anger."

Shangguan Qingyan sighed, feeling sad.

Wu Qingqiu nodded, "She believed she was ridding the world of evil, for the common good, but the people on the same path as hers turned their backs, actually being cautious around her. It might not be just as simple as anger for miss Murong, but disillusioned."

"She got here on the firm belief that good triumphs over evil, only to find that she is the only one willing to face a demon like me. Getting disappointed with reality is a given, ha-ha-ha..." Zhuo Fan laughed in mockery.

Shangguan Qingyan rolled her eyes and blamed him, "It was all going fine so far so why did you have to antagonize sister Xue further?"

"I didn't do anything, she chose to walk this lone path herself."

Zhuo Fan spoke, "Humanity is filled with endless desires. And where there's desire, there's evil. Few in this world have a true righteous and benevolent heart, while the great majority who walk this path could never come to free themselves of their demons. She wants to go further on the path of purging demons and she must bear the solitude and betrayal. Only by persevering through this can she reach the height of righteousness. But by being too rigid, one breaks easily. In this world, righteous cultivators have it hard to achieve their path.

"Either follow the crowd and ruin their paths, neither demonic nor righteous, always a stranger wherever they went, or die at the hands of others in this messed-up world. But righteousness has a natural shortcut over the demonic path, having grown above the mortal coil and the worldly affairs. Shunning self-indulgence and feeling for the world's energy is the easiest way to achieve it. That's why demonic cultivators enter the world and understand it, while righteous cultivators enter the world and overcome it. Rise from the mire unstained, cleanse oneself in clear water without being tainted. Thus brother Wu, you're also a righteous cultivator, very much invested in it. Which is why, as a friend, I advise you to see the world in all its colors, then return to cultivate in seclusion. The secular world is too chaotic for a true righteous man to walk the path."

Wu Qingqiu pondered and cupped his hands, "Thank you, brother Zhuo for your guidance."

"We've also been guided."

The Four Snow Peak Elders nodded and bowed before Zhuo Fan in admiration and sincerity, "Sir is a demonic cultivator yet your wisdom transcends it. We are grateful for your words. As the sect is now in danger, we are too preoccupied to mule them. We shall delve into these words once this problem passes and, like sir said, not let the world impede us."

Zhuo Fan rolled his eyes, "I'm talking to my brother here, not you. Tell that to someone who cares, humph!"

The four sat before the cell with a smile, like experts that have surpassed the world.

Wu Qingqiu and Shangguan Qingyan chuckled, looking at Zhuo Fan with respect. Zhuo Fan hadn't said it to them particularly, but the words of wisdom were immensely valuable, which is why the elders would lower their pride and bow to him.

Zhuo Fan was a true friend, to say those words to him.

While the people in the dungeon were struck with inspiration, the outside people still indulged in their worries and affairs.

"Sect Leader Ling, do you really believe he'll return the sword?"

Bu Xingyun was panicking, whining in Ling Yuntian's ear, "Even if he does give it back, you're just going to ignore all the deaths that have happened in the sect? Even if you don't kill him, you need to make an example out of him. We need to do right by those dead elders. Sea Bright Sect needs to mind its name!"

Giving him a frustrated look, Ling Yuntian sighed, "Sect Leader Bu, now I know why Sun Sea Sect would incite Frigid Rain Sword King to destroy it. The problem doesn't stop with your people."

"Sect Leader Ling, what are you implying?"

Bu Xingyun looked lost, "That sneaky punk is clearly behind the disaster of Sun Sea Sect. What do I have to do..."

Ling Yuntian cut him off with a wave, "As sect ruler, we need to have perspective. Zhuo Fan is very cunning and an expert in passing the blame. You saw it too. We went to him and he didn't deny anything, always finding an explanation, always having an answer. But the thing we wanted most, we didn't get. The Soaring Sword remains sealed, the Heaven Sealing Sword is still gone and he still has leverage on us."

"What do you suggest, torture him for them? He made his move, so what's there to force? To settle the score for the dead? Ha-ha, he has two cards of ours and we have reached an agreement now. They will soon be back in our hands. Doing this petty thing to ruin any chance of getting the divine swords, the central area would mow us down. Who will take the blame then, Sect Leader Bu?"

Ugh!

Bu Xingyun choked.

Ling Yuntian shook his head and sighed, "Zhuo Fan's speech balanced demand and compromise, giving us no chance to gain advantage, and letting him control the negotiation. He had taken everything into account before it even began. He had his guard flee with the Heaven Sealing Sword before we could take it back. All the power we have can't help change this fact. He may be in jail, but looking at it in perspective, we're the ones having our strings pulled in his hands.

"Moreover..."

Ling Yuntian turned to Shangguan clan and Exalted Double Dragons with a sharp glint, "He is very close to these two lands' people, implicating many and affecting their interests. They'll never agree to us laying a finger on him. Not that we intended to either, and ruin our chances of getting Heaven Sealing Sword back. Thus, of the four lands, three have reached a silent agreement. Only southern lands is against it. That Murong Xue has such a stubborn temper, but alas, all alone. From the very start, even with his cultivation sealed, we, the strong majority, couldn't touch a hair on him despite having him surrounded. He is confident in his position."

Bu Xingyun's heart sank and a chill went through him, "That's terrifying! He gives nothing away while having every one of us tied."

"Yeah, western lands has gone and got themselves a man like no other. But now he isn't part of western lands any more." Looking at Exalted Double Dragons, Ling Yuntian frowned and sighed.

Murong Xue stormed out of the dungeon and stomped away in anger.

Ling Yuntian watched her go.

Murong Lie followed after her, but Sect Leader Ling went to stop him. He did not mind a girl's temper, but Murong Lie's dissatisfaction had to be resolved, for the good of the alliance.

Ling Yuntian bowed and looked apologetic, "Murong Clan Head, forgive me. Heaven Sealing Sword is too important to us and have lost decorum..."

"I know, Sect Leader Ling. I understand my sister's temper the most. Sect Leader Ling did what you had to." Murong Lie nodded calmly.

Ling Yuntian eased a smile, "Murong Clan Head, I'm relieved to know you are a man of principle. I'll wait for miss Murong to calm down then apologize to her and make it right..."

"Report!"

A disciple rushed over in panic, scrambling to give a jade slip to Ling Yuntian, "Sect Leader, there's an urgent report from the frontlines. The army of the Sword Star Empire led by Dragon Cleaving Sword King Danqing Shen is advanced on northern lands!"

[What?!]

Everyone was stunned at this grave news.

Sword Star Empire's oppression had begun at last...