"Hall Master, I second Elder Ouyang's suggestion. Hand over the Supreme Divine Crown to ensure the overall stability of Moon Hall!"
"It is said that the Battle Saint King possesses peerless talent, and even managed to seize part of the past Great Emperor's Immortal Body from under the nose of an Ancient Sovereign. Even if we surrender the Supreme Divine Crown now, I believe he will be able to reclaim it in the future!"
"Hall Master, please agree to Elder Ouyang's suggestion. Hand over the Supreme Divine Crown to secure Moon Hall's safety!"
"Hall Master, please carefully consider Elder Ouyang's proposal!"
...
For a moment, many experts within Moon Hall spoke up. Quite a few were Heaven's Pride at the Divine King realm, whose words carried significant weight, and they all seconded Ouyang Yu.
Hearing this, the Goddess on the main seat immediately darkened her expression.
It wasn't just her; Yi Wu, Chen'er, Yaya, Little Chenxi, Qian Xun, Sun God, Ye Gucheng, and the others reacted the same way.
Although Ouyang Yu's words ostensibly showed concern for Moon Hall, they could easily discern his underlying motives.
Clearly, Ouyang Yu had ulterior motives, aiming to use this opportunity to tarnish the Battle Saint King's reputation.
After all, the Supreme Divine Crown, which Moon Hall had painstakingly obtained from other Ancient Path Overlords, did not belong to the Goddess. It was merely stored under heavy guard within Moon Hall. The true purpose of seizing it was for the Battle Saint King, the true master of Moon Hall whom they had never met.
This Supreme Divine Crown had never truly been in the possession of even an important expert like Ouyang Yu, who was second only to a Quasi-Monarch within Moon Hall. He had only seen it. Now, because of this crown, Moon Hall faced imminent destruction, which naturally left Ouyang Yu deeply dissatisfied.
Many others in the hall were also quite displeased, their hearts filled with extreme resentment towards the Battle Saint King.
Hearing the numerous voices of agreement within Moon Hall, the smile on Ouyang Yu's face brightened further. His entire body shone, his Dao Principles resonated, and divine radiance alternated around him, making him appear radiant and righteous. "Jingruo, you must have faith in the Battle Saint King. If he is truly powerful, he wouldn't even regard the three Ancient Path Overlords as significant. He would surely have the ability to seize it back from them. For now, as long as we hand over the Supreme Divine Crown, Moon Hall will be preserved. I believe that as the true master of Moon Hall, he would—"
"That's right! Elder Ouyang is absolutely correct. If the Battle Saint King is truly as powerful as the legends say, he wouldn't even need to take the three Ancient Path Overlords seriously."
"Hall Master, please hand over the Supreme Divine Crown to avoid Moon Hall's destruction."
"I support Elder Ouyang's decision."
...
Many among Moon Hall's experts echoed Ouyang Yu's words.
Seeing that nearly half the people responded, including quite a few female Heaven's Pride, the smile on Ouyang Yu's face grew even more brilliant.
"Jingruo, what do you think?" Ouyang Yu said, his gaze towards the Goddess containing an unconcealed heat.
If not for the Goddess, Yi Wu, and the others, he would never have joined Moon Hall.
With his strength, he was considered among the very top experts beneath the Nine Ancient Path Overlords across the entire Ultimate Ancient Path. Even other Ancient Path Overlords had eagerly invited him to join. He was the most promising peerless Heaven's Pride to become a Quasi-Monarch after the Nine Ancient Path Overlords, highly valued by the major Overlords.
Yet, he ultimately joined Moon Hall, all in the hope of pursuing the Goddess, Yi Wu, Chen'er, and the others. Even knowing they already had a husband—the Battle Saint King—this desire had never faded since he joined. On the contrary, as time passed, it burned even more fiercely.
After all, these several female masters of Moon Hall were exceptionally rare across the ages in terms of beauty, talent, and temperament, far surpassing any so-called immortal maidens he had seen before.
Even other Ancient Path Overlords had been quite taken with these female masters of Moon Hall back then.
To obtain any one of them would be an immense stroke of fortune.
His current scheming against the Battle Saint King was all for the sake of winning over these female masters of Moon Hall in the future.
The Goddess swept a cold glance at him, instantly sending a chill through the body of this strongest expert beneath the Quasi-Monarchs. She spoke coldly, "Elder Ouyang, please call me Hall Master next time. The name Jingruo is not for you to use. This Hall Master is not that familiar with you."
"As for those who agree to hand over the Supreme Divine Crown, you may choose to leave Moon Hall at this time. I, Zhao Jingruo, will not hold it against you. After all, there's no need for you to share life and death with Moon Hall."
"However, let me make this clear: Moon Hall was founded for our husband. The Supreme Divine Crown was contested for him. The Supreme Divine Crown will not be surrendered. We would rather fight to the death!"
"So, whether to stay or leave, you all should decide quickly. Otherwise, when the time comes, you will have no choice but to share life and death with Moon Hall!"
The hall erupted in an uproar. None of the many experts had expected the Goddess to be so resolute, preferring a life-or-death battle over surrendering the Supreme Divine Crown.
Ouyang Yu and the many who had seconded him all wore ugly expressions.
Especially Ouyang Yu, who never expected the Goddess to publicly distance herself from him like this, fueling a raging jealousy towards the Battle Saint King he had never met.
What virtue or ability did that Battle Saint King possess to make the Goddess and the others so devoted to him?
"Jing—Hall Master, are you truly willing to sacrifice yourselves in vain for that Battle Saint King who has never contributed a single ounce of strength to Moon Hall?" Ouyang Yu said, his face grim.
The Goddess, Yi Wu, and Chen'er all revealed firm expressions. "We are willing."
Upon hearing this, the hall fell into silence.
After a long while, Ouyang Yu angrily flicked his sleeve and said coldly, "Fine! Since Moon Hall is so stubborn and unyielding, I, Ouyang Yu, will not throw my life away for the Supreme Divine Crown either. Who is willing to follow me, Ouyang Yu, and leave this place of life and death that is Moon Hall?"
Many of Moon Hall's experts had originally followed Ouyang Yu here. Over the years, Ouyang Yu's methods could be considered first-rate, using various tactics to win over quite a few Moon Hall experts, all in preparation for taking over Moon Hall in the future.
At this moment, naturally, many experts responded to his call.
In the blink of an eye, over one-fifth of the experts responded.
Witnessing this scene, many loyal Moon Hall experts wore grim expressions.
Ouyang Yu's sinister intentions were now fully exposed.
"Everyone, come with me. Don't tie your fate to Moon Hall's life and death because of that Battle Saint King. It's not worth it." Ouyang Yu led the one-fifth of the experts out of the main hall.
The main hall suddenly seemed somewhat empty.
"Hall Master, we can't just let them leave like this!" Some Moon Hall experts anxiously looked at the Goddess and the other female masters of Moon Hall.
The Goddess's expression remained impassive. "It's fine. Let them go. If they stayed, they would only be ticking time bombs for Moon Hall, ready to explode at any moment. It's better to weed them out early."
"But this way—" Many Moon Hall experts were worried. Originally, facing the forces of three Ancient Path Overlords, Moon Hall was already at a disadvantage. Now, with one-fifth of its experts departing, the situation was like adding frost to snow.
"It's fine. With the Primordial Grand Array for defense, we can hold out for a while. Once Ruoxi emerges from seclusion, we can fight even if the three Ancient Path Overlords come." The Goddess said.
Then she rose to her full height, her gaze seeming to pierce through the ancient hall to the outside world. "Since they have come, Moon Hall cannot sit idly by. Let us go out now and properly meet these three Ancient Path Overlords!"