The speaker was Old Master Hong, Banner Master of the Black Nether Banner. However, he made no mention of Gold Crane and the other Chixiao people who had defected to the Immortal Dynasty. Instead, he questioned the Immortal Dynasty's arrest of the Crimson-Letter Sect branch helmsmen.
"So what if we arrest your Crimson-Letter Sect helmsmen?"
The arrogant Liuguang Jiaoying sneered, "Do you think you outdated old relics can contend with our Immortal Dynasty?"
"Jiaoying, do not be disrespectful to Senior Hong."
Liuguang Qinghong gently reprimanded him, then turned to Old Master Hong and said, "'Arrest' is too strong a word. We merely wish to invite the Crimson-Letter Sect helmsmen to assist in an investigation."
Liuguang Qinghong descended to the ground and sat on a chair. A Nebula Immortal Official immediately poured fine wine for him. He continued, "Senior Hong, are you aware that a man named Gu Qingfeng recently killed dozens of Immortal Officials from the Northwest Immortal Estate?"
"I have heard some rumors."
"I heard he claims to be the successor of Gu Tianlang."
"This world is filled with countless people who claim to be successors of the Monarch."
"Heh... Indeed."
Liuguang Qinghong picked up a cup of wine, took a light sip, and added, "However, I've also heard that quite a few among your Chixiao people have already acknowledged Gu Qingfeng's identity, even going so far as to kneel before him."
"We kneel to the Monarch. As for whether that Gu Qingfeng is or is not the Monarch's successor, we old folks have never acknowledged it."
"Heh..." Liuguang Qinghong gave a faint smile, drained his cup, and said, "So it was all a misunderstanding. In that case, my apologies for the offense. I hope you senior Chixiao members will forgive us."
No one knew what game Liuguang Qinghong was playing. Lord Xun didn't know, the Star Radiance Immortal Noble didn't know, and Liuguang Jiaoying was even more clueless. He asked, "Brother Qinghong, are you really going to let these old relics leave?"
"Jiaoying, I told you not to be disrespectful to our seniors."
Liuguang Qinghong truly appeared like a modest gentleman as he continued, "Moreover, our mission this time is solely to apprehend the criminal Gu Qingfeng. Since you senior Chixiao members do not acknowledge the criminal Gu Qingfeng's identity, you naturally have nothing to do with this matter."
"But..."
"No buts!"
Liuguang Qinghong cut off Liuguang Jiaoying, then smiled at Old Master Hong and asked, "The misunderstanding has been cleared up. Do you seniors have any other business?"
"Gold Crane, come back with me now, and I can pretend this never happened."
Old Master Hong then looked at Minghui and the other ten Crimson-Letter Sect helmsmen. "The same goes for all of you. Come back with me, and all will be forgiven!"
Gold Crane responded fiercely, "Hong! I've already said it! From today on, we are no longer Chixiao people! We are people of the Immortal Dynasty!"
Minghui also spoke up, "Master, thank you for your teachings and guidance. However, this disciple must say: your era has passed. The Chixiao Sect is gone. The Chixiao Monarch is dead. The Present Era is ruled by the Immortal Dynasty. We do not wish to spend our lives as sinners of the immortal path, nor do we wish to bear the blame for the great crimes you committed back then!"
"You beasts! You don't even realize you're being used!"
"Gold Crane, you old traitor! Come out and face your death!"
The thousand-plus Chixiao people were all furious, their Bloodfiend aura erupting, their Dragon-Elephant Spirits roaring in wrath.
Seeing this scene, Liuguang Qinghong leaped into the air, appearing before the thousand-plus Chixiao people. Simultaneously, Liuguang Jiaoying and the other Immortal Nobles, along with Star Radiance and the rest, followed closely behind. The Nebula Immortal Officials, Hundred Tribulation Elders, and over a thousand Nine-Star Immortal Officials within the area also closed in, surrounding them.
"My apologies," Liuguang Qinghong said. "They have already sworn allegiance to the Immortal Dynasty and have received its official appointments. They are now Immortal Officials of our dynasty. Do you intend to kill Immortal Officials of our dynasty within the Immortal Estate?"
When Liuguang Qinghong finished speaking, Lord Xun finally understood their true intention. Searching for the criminal Gu Qingfeng was merely a pretext. Arresting the Crimson-Letter Sect branch helmsmen was also a pretext. Their real goal was to use the defectors like Gold Crane to provoke these old Chixiao veterans. If these old Chixiao members dared to kill Immortal Officials, then the Immortal Dynasty would have sufficient justification to eradicate the Crimson-Letter Sect.
Yes.
Sufficient justification.
The Immortal Dynasty had always wanted to eradicate the Crimson-Letter Sect but lacked a suitable pretext. After all, at the end of the Ancient Era, the Crimson-Letter Sect had slain demons and monsters, contributing greatly to the peace and stability of this world. They were heroes in the eyes of many.
Eradicating the Crimson-Letter Sect without cause would undoubtedly damage the Immortal Dynasty's prestige and might plunge the world into chaos once more.
However.
If the Chixiao people killed Immortal Officials, then the Immortal Dynasty could use that as an excuse to eliminate them. That way, no one in the world could voice any criticism.
Lord Xun understood this. And Old Master Hong and the other Chixiao people understood it even more clearly.
Though they disliked it, they had to admit that the Present Era's Immortal Dynasty was far more powerful than the Ancient Era's Immortal Dynasty.
That wasn't important.
They weren't afraid.
Even if they were truly outmatched, they had never feared.
However, there was one point they all understood clearly. In the old days, the Chixiao people were all individuals without homes, families, sects, or attachments. If a fight broke out, they could battle the Immortal Dynasty to the death without a care. But in the Present Era, most of them now had descendants, families, and loved ones. They had attachments. They could no longer fight the Immortal Dynasty with the same fearless abandon as in the Ancient Era. They themselves did not fear death, but they feared implicating their loved ones.
"I ask once more," Liuguang Qinghong said, the smile on his lips growing more pronounced. He took a step forward. "Well? Do you dare?"
"You think I don't dare?"
A furious roar!
Scar-face Kui's rage soared to the heavens, his Bloodfiend-Gang wildly burning.
Whoosh!
Brilliant light flashed around Liuguang Qinghong as a Great Sun condensed and manifested—the Great-Sun Radiance Dharma Form. At the same time, swish! Swish! Swish!
The Great-Sun Radiance Dharma Forms of Liuguang Jiaoying, Star Radiance, Ying Nian, and the twenty to thirty other Immortal Dynasty scions all manifested.
Roar!
The Bloodfiend-Gang of the thousand-plus Chixiao people opposite them shot toward the sky, their Dragon-Elephant Spirits roaring forth.
Simultaneously, over a dozen Nebula Immortal Officials, a hundred Hundred Tribulation Elders, and over a thousand Dharma Form Great Sovereigns all summoned their Immortal Protections. Even so, facing the Bloodfiend-Gang Dragon-Elephant Spirits of the Chixiao people, their minds still trembled uncontrollably.
Both sides were at a standoff, poised for battle.
Over thirty Great-Sun Radiance Dharma Forms hung in the air like thirty blazing suns, dominating the sky, overwhelmingly powerful, sacred, radiant, and inviolable.
Opposite them, the Bloodfiend-Gang rage of the thousand-plus Chixiao people dyed the firmament crimson. Their thousand-plus Dragon-Elephant Spirits seemed to roar within a sea of blood, baring fangs and brandishing claws, ferocious and violent, glaring fiercely at those Great-Sun Radiance Dharma Forms.
"Scar-face, stop!"
Old Master Hong's voice rang out. Scar-face Kui turned his head and shouted, "Old Hong! They're bullying us right to our faces! And you still want to hold back?"
"I! Said! Stop! Now!"