Frightened, truly frightened.

Quite a few people were frightened, even Yashan’s own people couldn’t help but suck in a cold breath.

First was Jian Chou’s terrifying stance of turning hostile at the slightest disagreement and attacking without warning. Second was this completely unreasonable, almost crushing level of strength!

What kind of joke was this?

Lu Song’s Return to Void stage great power cultivation wasn’t something randomly picked up halfway through!

How many exchanges had they made? He was directly subdued without even room to counterattack!

They had long heard this Yashan Senior Sister Jian Chou had always been terrifyingly powerful in battle, having no pressure fighting stronger opponents above her level during Golden Core and Nascent Soul stages.

But this was Return to Void after all!

Even bystanders and the parties involved hadn’t reacted before the battle was already over!

Lu Song was, after all, just a normal cultivator who hadn’t deliberately cultivated his body like Jian Chou, Qu Zhengfeng and others. The moment he crashed into the extraordinarily hard silver-veined rosewood pillar behind him, he felt excruciating pain as if his whole body had fallen apart.

But more terrifying was the dark gold palm shadow pressing against his neck.

Others might not see it clearly, but how could he not?

Though this palm shadow didn’t look large, certainly not frightening, the aura emanating from it was identical to the technique Jian Chou had used to crush tribulation lightning!

Heaven-Flipping Seal!

And it was the Heaven-Flipping Seal after her strength had soared to Return to Void stage!

Lu Song’s strength wasn’t actually this weak. His current predicament was half due to underestimating his opponent, or rather, not expecting Jian Chou’s attitude to be so unyielding.

Hearing her words, he nearly ground his teeth to pieces.

“You know you’re a junior? Then have you considered you’re still a Yashan disciple?!”

The sharp questioning carried genuine anger, not showing the slightest guilt or weakness despite being currently restrained. Lu Song had always been this stubborn – even three bulls couldn’t pull him back once decided. Everyone in Shijiu Zhou knew this!

But hearing this, Jian Chou immediately frowned.

Just as she was about to do something, sounds of cutting through air suddenly came from the void. Several figures flew over, and the space inside the tower immediately rippled.

A figure appeared out of thin air, immediately saying: “Please calm down, Senior Sister!”

Those flying over were cultivators from other sects who had sensed the situation at Lanke Tower.

The one using displacement technique was the slightly plump Yashan Sect Master Zheng Yao. His face was solemn at this moment. Just after standing firm, he began trying to stop things, afraid something irreversible might truly happen.

“Everyone should talk things through properly. We gathered together not for fighting. Please, no one should resort to violence.”

With Zheng Yao’s arrival, everything could naturally be discussed.

Though Jian Chou felt Lu Song was truly problematic, with everyone having arrived, her angry attack earlier had indeed been somewhat excessive. If she remained unreasonable now, others would think Yashan acted too domineeringly.

Frowning slightly, she reconsidered and ultimately released her grip, laughing once.

“Sect Master is right. My attack was too hasty earlier, indeed appearing somewhat discourteous. Pavilion Master Lu isn’t seriously harmed, is he?”

These words…

Everyone listening sucked in a cold breath.

They sounded like yielding and apologizing, but actually contained no real remorse.

The golden palm shadow quietly dissipated as her arm dropped.

But Lu Song’s neck bore a terrifying deep purple mark, showing how heavy Jian Chou’s killing intent and force had been.

However, Lu Song wasn’t really injured, just his qi and blood somewhat disturbed.

Once the palm shadow dispersed, he stood straight safely, though his gaze toward Jian Chou wasn’t much friendlier, clearly hearing the slight sarcasm in her words.

So his eyes blazed with fire looking at Jian Chou: “Do you think I, Lu, want to haggle with you? Fine, let’s discuss reason. Today, before all these fellow daoists, let’s talk reason and explain what’s happening with this evil demon! Even if your Yashan is indeed the leader of our Central Domain, there’s no justification for acting this way!”

At this point, Zheng Yao was actually most troubled.

Who didn’t know Lu Song was a firecracker?

His natural dao was like this – too many twists and turns in his character and he couldn’t have cultivated to today’s realm.

Usually when encountering him, some casual pacifying would suffice without too much effort, but today…

He couldn’t help looking toward Jian Chou, also glancing at Fu Chaosheng standing behind her without saying a word, feeling like his head was ten times bigger!

What could he say?

This person – no, this demon’s origins – he wasn’t clear about either!

However, before using displacement to arrive, he did know Jian Chou’s explanation, so he quietly gave Jian Chou a look, then turned back with a face full of smiles, cupping his hands to Lu Song.

“Pavilion Master Lu, regarding Fellow Daoist Fu’s matter, it’s indeed our Yashan’s oversight in not promptly informing everyone. We also didn’t anticipate such a big misunderstanding would occur today.”

“Misunderstanding?”

Lu Song had dealt with demons and spirits for countless years – how could he not see their nature? Moreover, this demon indeed bore some bloody aura, absolutely hadn’t wronged him!

He coldly laughed, pointing at Fu Chaosheng: “Do you take me for blind? This demon is definitely no good person – what kind of misunderstanding could there be?!”

“Not being good people, or being what Pavilion Master Lu calls demons, means they can’t appear here?”

Regarding Fu Chaosheng’s matter, Zheng Yao and others indeed knew little. After all, their ancestor hadn’t told them much, but Jian Chou knew very clearly.

So to explain this matter, she had to do it herself.

With this counter-question, Lu Song fell silent.

He knew her words weren’t finished, so he simply waited to see what flowers she could produce.

Jian Chou turned to glance at Fu Chaosheng.

For some reason, he slightly frowned, his eyes tinged with demonic aura looking steadily at her, as if puzzled about something.

Completely ignoring the many cultivators and the “crisis” before him.

Truly a great demon.

Having caused such a mess, he was the most composed and carefree one.

Feeling somewhat helpless, Jian Chou withdrew her gaze and continued in a normal tone: “Fellow Daoist Fu is indeed a demon, but not an evil demon. He and I have known each other for quite some time and once shared hardships together. Everyone in Shijiu Zhou knows I disappeared for sixty years out of nowhere, but few know I disappeared for sixty years because I fell into the Extreme Domain.”

“What?”

At these words, countless cultivators immediately cried out in shock!

They truly didn’t know this.

After Jian Chou returned, she stayed at Yashan. This matter was only mentioned to her sect. At most, some sect masters and elders from Kunwu, Yashan, or Left Three Thousand knew, but it wasn’t widely spread among ordinary cultivators.

Saying it now was extremely shocking.

Why were all these people gathered here today?

Wasn’t it all to oppose the Extreme Domain?

That was a place no living person could enter. Since the last Yin-Yang Boundary War, it could be said that except for the Buddhist sect, no one knew what it was like there.

But now, Jian Chou actually said she had “fallen into the Extreme Domain”?!

Discussion immediately arose.

But Lu Song frowned. He had long known this matter and naturally knew how important Jian Chou was to all of Shijiu Zhou, but didn’t know what relation this had to Fu Chaosheng.

Ignoring others’ words, he asked: “Young Friend Jian Chou won’t tell me that this Fellow Daoist Fu of unclear origins also fell into the Extreme Domain?”

It had to be said, Lu Song’s mind was actually quite sharp.

Jian Chou smiled, following his words and praising him: “Pavilion Master Lu’s guess isn’t very accurate, but not far off. Fellow Daoist Fu indeed spent time in the Extreme Domain, and longer than me, knowing it more deeply and extensively. However, I accidentally fell in while he deliberately infiltrated to investigate certain matters, looked after me, and helped me leave the Extreme Domain. Afterward, he lurked in the Extreme Domain for several years, once using a false identity as a Grand Judge of the Eight Directions Yama Hall.”

Deliberately infiltrating the Extreme Domain!

Even served as a Grand Judge of Eight Directions Yama Hall?!

In this instant, everyone’s expressions and gazes toward Fu Chaosheng changed – some wary, some shocked and suspicious, some horrified.

Not only had Lu Song not expected this, even the Yashan disciples who had decided to lie together with their Senior Sister showed dreamlike, unreal expressions.

Zheng Yao also felt dizzy.

He turned to look at Jian Chou, then at Fu Chaosheng, feeling his facial features were somewhat askew.

At such a special time, even an idiot would know Fu Chaosheng’s value.

Jian Chou needn’t explain further.

She only looked toward Lu Song, asking flatly: “Does Pavilion Master Lu now think he’s unqualified to appear here?”

“…”

Undeniably, he was qualified.

But Lu Song also believed his feelings weren’t wrong. His thoughts were extremely complex at this moment. His gaze lingered on Jian Chou’s face for a long time before finally returning to Fu Chaosheng.

In his view, this was an arrogant great demon.

Intelligent demons and spirits, after entering Shijiu Zhou human cultivator territory, would first restrain their demonic aura to avoid discovery, and second, cleanse the bloody scent from themselves to avoid exposing their guilt of taking lives before cultivators with demon-detecting eyes.

But Fu Chaosheng hadn’t – not concealing anything, not even showing the slightest guilt.

Cold intent spread through his heart. Lu Song remained silent for a long time, the gravity in his voice not diminished by half: “But he’s ultimately a demon, and his strength far exceeds yours and mine. Cooperating with him is like seeking skin from a tiger.”

“Seeking skin from a tiger?”

Jian Chou found these words quite amusing, so she raised her hand pointing toward the cultivators outside Lanke Tower who were quietly observing developments.

“Then in Pavilion Master Lu’s view, how would one avoid seeking skin from a tiger? With them, or with them?”

Lu Song looked where Jian Chou pointed.

Those were cultivators who had come earlier to discuss or listen to Dao discussions – various cultivation levels, different heights and builds. From their different attire, one could judge their different origins.

Some were desperadoes from Mingri Xinghai, some were old and young demons from Southeast Wilderness’s three demon paths…

At this point, Lu Song already understood what Jian Chou wanted to say.

Jian Chou withdrew her hand, her smile looking somewhat strange – seemingly mocking, yet seemingly sighing.

“How many cultivators in the world haven’t shed human blood? How many of these friends from the three demon paths are good people? Yet at this crucial moment when Shijiu Zhou will war with the Extreme Domain, even righteous and evil sides can set aside disputes and gather here. Jian Chou wants to ask Pavilion Master Lu – do you have deeper enmity with my great demon friend than with the three demon paths?”

Though over a thousand years had passed, when the three demon paths caused chaos, they had given all other major forces in Shijiu Zhou quite a hard time. Only after Kunwu’s Eight Extremes Dao Venerable led people to flatten Southeast Wilderness and reclaim the “Nine Curves River Map” did they settle down somewhat.

Even so, conflicts over the years hadn’t been few.

The Qingfeng Nunnery’s hidden realm had multiple conspiracies and schemes. Jian Chou still remembered clearly, and other places couldn’t have simply laid down arms.

Especially the Central Domain.

It could be said Left Three Thousand and Southeast Wilderness’s three demon paths were naturally incompatible, their accumulated grudges beyond what one “deep” could describe.

Jian Chou’s words were completely irrefutable.

What could be refuted?

Say that because Fu Chaosheng was a demon, he just couldn’t accept it? Then what about the three demon paths? Surely they couldn’t kick them out and declare to the world that this opposition to the Extreme Domain could be handled alone?

Just thinking about it showed how foolish that would be!

Kick out the three demon paths, then lose the battle and everyone dies together. If they didn’t lose, even better – after a great war ends, righteous path forces weaken, and the three demon paths aren’t stupid, they’d directly strike while you’re weak!

Either way, it came down to one word: “death.”

Lu Song was speechless.

In all of Lanke Tower, the previous good atmosphere of Dao discussion had completely vanished. All sectarian prejudices, all hidden contradictions, subtly rose at this moment.

No one spoke, but the gazes surveying the scene each carried their own implications.

Zheng Yao also hadn’t expected that when Jian Chou spoke, she would be so sharp, even having a kind of bold directness like a suddenly thrust knife.

He felt inexplicably admiring.

Seeing the situation, he ultimately couldn’t let everyone become too antagonistic, quickly coming out to play his peacemaker role.

“Pavilion Master Lu, right or wrong, it’s all our Yashan’s fault for not explaining clearly.”

He smiled amiably, appearing extremely kind.

“Originally, Fellow Daoist Fu’s matter was of great importance. We weren’t trying to hide it, just wanted to wait until Kunwu’s Hengxu Zhenren arrived so everyone could gather and discuss together. But unexpectedly, before we could speak, your Tongling Pavilion’s secret treasure had already discovered Fellow Daoist Fu’s traces. Really a misunderstanding, truly a misunderstanding.”

People like Zheng Yao were naturally suited to be sect masters.

Or rather, with Yashan’s deep foundation, even if everyone truly devoted themselves to the Dao, finding a few socially adept ones wasn’t difficult.

Having been in this position for many years, he naturally had his own methods for handling things.

Right now, his choice of words and attitude couldn’t be faulted in the slightest. Every word took responsibility onto Yashan itself while overtly and covertly minimizing this incident.

If you didn’t listen carefully, it really seemed as he described.

Among those present, the sharp-minded could hear Zheng Yao’s purpose, but Lu Song had never been sharp-minded.

His straightforward nature was headache-inducing. The only reason he hadn’t been killed yet was his cultivation supporting him – others couldn’t easily kill him, so he lived well until now.

Hearing Zheng Yao’s words, his anger finally subsided somewhat.

Though his brow remained furrowed, he was no longer as aggressive as before. His words carried some confusion: “You mean whether to cooperate with him still depends on everyone’s opinion?”

“Right, exactly that principle.”

Knowing Lu Song was easy to fool, Zheng Yao answered without pause, following what he wanted to hear.

“After all, this Mingri Xinghai gathering aims to unite all Shijiu Zhou cultivators’ strength to reclaim reincarnation. Naturally, Yashan can’t make all decisions. So Pavilion Master Lu needn’t be anxious. Looking at Kunwu’s tribulation, there’s no major movement now. Probably Hengxu Zhenren will arrive soon, and this matter will soon give Pavilion Master Lu an explanation.”

Zheng Yao thought that when they sat down to discuss, most would be old foxes.

If truly as Senior Sister Jian Chou said, Fu Chaosheng had such great value, wouldn’t everyone turn a blind eye? Even if it was seeking skin from a tiger, they’d “seek” first then discuss.

So the eventual result had no suspense.

But Lu Song thought that if there was still room for discussion later, there was indeed no need to tear off all pretenses now.

After all, there was still the meeting!

He didn’t believe everyone could accept such a great demon covered in blood with unfathomable cultivation.

So, one scheming and experienced, one honest and upright, they immediately hit it off on the surface.

Regarding Jian Chou directly attacking him earlier, Lu Song didn’t mention it at all, acting as if he hadn’t taken it to heart. With a serious face, he told Zheng Yao: “Sect Master Zheng has always been as good as his word. I, Lu, believe you keep your promises. Whether this demon cooperates with us will be discussed then!”

“Naturally…”

Wasn’t this settled?

Zheng Yao finally breathed a sigh of relief, quickly agreeing and even laughing.

But Fu Chaosheng listening nearby felt something was odd.

He looked toward Zheng Yao and Lu Song, who were clearly shaking hands and making peace. His face was calm when a shocking statement suddenly slipped out: “When did I ever say I would cooperate with you?”

“…”

“…”

“…”

Complete silence, complete stupefaction.

Shen Jiu, who had been preparing to slip away, heard these words and felt he’d applied too much oil to his feet, nearly falling face-first to the ground!

Zheng Yao’s expression had already stiffened.

Lu Song’s eyebrows immediately stood on end!

Jian Chou, who had wisely maintained silence since Zheng Yao began mediating, felt like someone had poured a basin of cold water from head to toe, her vision darkening.

No one understood better than her why Fu Chaosheng was standing here.

Her earlier words were actually just to resolve the crisis at hand. Though angry, she couldn’t really fight Lu Song – what would that look like?

But she had calculated everything except Fu Chaosheng!

This wasn’t a person, but a demon!

A mayfly who hadn’t devoted thought to human customs, who needed half a day to ponder even her jokes!

At this moment, Jian Chou was too late to stop him.

Fu Chaosheng glanced at her, seemingly completely unaware that his question had just destroyed all of Zheng Yao’s diplomatic efforts, then calmly added another sentence.

“I’m here only because of my old friend Jian Chou. If there’s cooperation, it’s with her. What do you have to do with me?”

You…

Zheng Yao suddenly felt his knees really hurt.