Chapter 838: Chapter 9: Evil Venerate
As soon as Jiang Mingyue spoke, it immediately caused an uproar.
Many cultivators had received benefits from Jiang Mingyue and were inclined towards him. Now, hearing Jiang Mingyue speak like this, they all turned their gazes to Zhou Yan. Unconsciously, the animosity and hatred towards the Jiang family instantly shifted to Zhou Yan.
Jiang Mingyue’s tactics could not be called anything but ruthless. Without any evidence, merely a suspicion, she spoke such words, diverting calamity and cleansing Jiang family of hatred.
"So it was you!"
"I hadn’t expected it to be you. I had thought something was off about you before!"
"Indeed, earlier that black-faced fat guy by his side even provoked Li He King. Truly nothing good!"
Immediately, several cultivators were furious, as if they had already confirmed the crimes of Zhou Yan and his group.
Jiang Mingyue’s gaze was cold and filled with killing intent as she stared at Zhou Yan. It seemed she was ready to act at any moment to rid the world of evil, exhibiting a heroic and extraordinary aura, like a female war god descending to the mortal world.
"You’re talking nonsense! My master is the Lord of Ten Thousand Spirits Holy Spirit, an unparalleled venerable level figure, who would even bother with you bunch of mongrels!"
Zhou Yan hadn’t spoken yet when Liu Haoxin jumped out immediately, swearing without any restraint. With a stance like a fishwife scolding in the street, everyone’s shock turned into a strange glance at Zhou Yan.
The many cultivators were also somewhat skeptical of Liu Haoxin’s words, unsure of their truth.
However, Liu Haoxin’s uproar instead drew everyone’s attention, and their hatred was suspended without erupting immediately.
"Hmm? Who do you think you are to speak to me like this? A disciple with no sense of respect or hierarchy, it seems your master isn’t much either!"
Jiang Mingyue’s expression darkened as she shot a look as sharp as lightning at Liu Haoxin, seemingly intending to suppress him with eye power.
But Liu Haoxin blinked his eyes, then suddenly stared heavily at Jiang Mingyue’s full chest before reluctantly saying, "Why don’t you try my master yourself and see? I guarantee it’ll be heavenly bliss, but you, b*tch, are not worthy—"
"You’re courting death!"
Jiang Mingyue coldly scolded, and suddenly a great power of space crushed down on Liu Haoxin.
Beside Liu Haoxin, Hua Qiudao moved as if to intervene, but Zhou Yan casually waved his hand, preventing him.
And just with that light wave, Jiang Mingyue’s lethal strike was immediately dissolved.
Jiang Mingyue’s beautiful gaze narrowed slightly, and even the other cultivators involuntarily stepped back a few steps, putting some distance between themselves and Zhou Yan’s group.
"You’re the little girl from the Jiang family, Jiang Mingyue? Not bad, you’ve grown quite a bit."
Zhou Yan looked calmly at Jiang Mingyue with a gaze identical to the one Jiang Mingyue had cast at Jiang Wanfeng before—equally indifferent and emotionless, making one’s heart uneasy.
"I am Jiang Mingyue. I wonder, senior, who might you be?"
Jiang Mingyue’s face grew slightly more solemn. Zhou Yan’s casual demeanor made her inexplicably uneasy and nervous, a feeling she had never experienced before.
"Since you don’t know who this venerable one is, how can you assume any relation to the Thunder Expansion Sacred Land? I do have some minor connection to Thunder Expansion Sacred Land, but it’s limited to just knowing a thing or two."
Zhou Yan spoke with a voice filled with indifference, his demeanor utterly calm.
As he said this, there was a blend of divine soul energy that spread around, causing the hostility from the surrounding cultivators to instantly vanish.
Jiang Mingyue’s earlier calculated attempt to frame was almost immediately undone.
Jiang Mingyue’s expression slightly darkened, and she said, "Since the senior has acknowledged this, does that mean it’s true that the senior deliberately had Elder Jiang Wanfeng kill people earlier, and then seized the cultivators’ spirit to grow stronger? Senior, are you trying to deliberately frame our Jiang family?"
As Jiang Mingyue spoke, she once again kindled hatred, pointing her sword at Zhou Yan.
It was evident that she understood some of these ordinary cultivators had significant backgrounds and were not to be offended.
However, Zhou Yan did not concern himself with Jiang Mingyue’s words.
He merely smiled indifferently, saying, "Young girl, your manner of framing others is not to my liking. But for the sake of your family, Jiang He Ancestor, let’s forget about this matter. In the path of cultivation, righteousness is the supreme way. To follow the Jiang family’s schemes and plotting will not lead you far."
Zhou Yan spoke as if he were an elder admonishing a younger generation.
Jiang Mingyue’s expression was slightly unpleasant. His words seemed to directly tarnish the Jiang family’s reputation. Yet, she suddenly found herself at a loss for how to refute him. It was as though every word he said carried a power that resonated with the soul, making it utterly convincing, like the Heaven and Earth Dao.
Jiang Mingyue pondered briefly and said, "The senior’s words are not wrong, but neither are they impartial. Now it is the senior who is resorting to means of murder and manipulation among the other ordinary cultivators. How does that get pushed onto our Jiang family? That is indeed curious."
"Little girl, usually a Venerable wouldn’t stoop to explain, but since you are so stubbornly ignorant, I will tell you, and let all the cultivators understand this relationship."
Zhou Yan was slightly displeased, seemingly not enjoying Jiang Mingyue’s demeanor.
Beside him, Hua Qiudao, Zhao Xiaoxiao, and Liu Haoxin stood calmly and respectfully without interfering any further.
"Predecessor, please speak clearly."
Jiang Mingyue seemed determined to persist.
"I am the clan leader of the Wanling Race’s Blood Witch Clan, known as the ’Evil Venerate.’ My clan cultivates using the spirit, essence, and soul of cultivators as its origin, but the purpose of the clan is not to deliberately frame or slaughter cultivators to strengthen ourselves. This point, I presume, is known by many cultivators present."
"As for Jiang Wanfeng and other members of the Jiang family, if they do not have the intention to kill, no matter what anyone says, it cannot stop their actions. If they have murderous intent, then the deaths of those cultivators are just normal. Could it be the Venerate hopes in my heart for you to kill others, and you would listen and slaughter other cultivators? Your acts only show that Jiang Wanfeng killed too many, and surely some of those cultivators are important figures that cannot have their deaths easily covered up. Jiang Wanfeng will certainly be killed by other cultivators.
Hence, you killed Jiang Wanfeng, making it look like a Jiang family member meets death at the hands of their own, preserving their dignity rather than being killed by an outsider. Additionally, it’s a warning to other Jiang family cultivators to be cautious, so it’s also displaying the Jiang family’s stance to other cultivators.
By taking advantage of a doomed soul to accomplish these purposes, it is an achievement that serves multiple gains. Afterward, promising various benefits to win hearts and cancel the enmity cultivators harbor towards the Jiang family, deliberately shifting attention to some powerful but seemingly conquerable unfamiliar factions, transferring the original hatred onto them, letting them become scapegoats, and releasing the Jiang family’s sins completely to escape a predicament.
Little girl, should I fully articulate these means for you? You think by hiding a strong Venerable level figure behind you, these tactics can be applied to me without worry, diverting calamity?"
Zhou Yan’s simple explanation made many cultivators suddenly realize and understand Jiang Mingyue’s insidious intentions. Almost all original goodwill towards her shattered, and all cultivators glared at her with envy, leading to a dramatic shift in the scene!
"So that’s it; no wonder the previously arrogant Jiang family suddenly seems so magnanimous."
"The most venomous woman’s heart, abominable, we not only lost relatives and friends, but nearly were used to target the mystical Blood Witch Clan of the Wanling Race!"
"How powerful were the Blood Witch Clan in ancient times? And the opponent is a young Venerate, how would they take action against us?"
"It’s detestable how the Jiang family is so deceitful and malicious; we should have seen this coming!"
...
A group of cultivators were finally moved, reigniting intense hatred towards the Jiang family, and Jiang Wanfeng’s death not only failed to appease them but intensified their resentment.
Revenge, isn’t it more satisfying to personally execute the enemy?!
"Predecessor, you are making baseless accusations!"
Jiang Mingyue’s complexion drastically changed, she shouted angrily,
"You scoundrel, only your mother makes baseless accusations, did you not emerge from your mother’s filthy mouth!" Liu Haoxin couldn’t stand to see this woman act superior and immediately cursed.
His words instantly caused a sensation, evidently interpreting ’blood mouth lies’ in such a manner was surprising.
Jiang Mingyue’s pretty face turned crimson; she spoke no more and suddenly unleashed her formidable and invincible space power directly to suppress Liu Haoxin beside Zhou Yan.
Liu Haoxin showed no weakness and immediately displayed powerful Qi Blood power, but this time, Zhou Yan stepped forward to block Liu Haoxin, saying, "You are no match for her. Behind her lurks a secretive Venerable ready to ambush at any moment. Isn’t the Jiang family fond of capturing cultivators with strong Qi Blood for mechanical research? Be careful!"
Zhou Yan warned Liu Haoxin.
Liu Haoxin was not foolish; upon hearing the advice, he cooperated and said, "Indeed, my elder brother disappeared for long, from what we’ve investigated since leaving seclusion, the Jiang family clearly has connections with the Mechanical Clan, aiming to replicate Immortal strongmen’s mechanical people. We need to be cautious."
Liu Haoxin was audacious, not caring how hats were placed on him.
Zhou Yan’s figure moved, blocking Jiang Mingyue’s attack, leaving no room for her to explain further, he said, "Bring out the Venerate hiding behind you. Such a despicable act is tarnishing the reputation of Venerable level strongmen."
"A mere Sword Saint dares be so arrogant! The Venerate seeks to witness if your Blood Witch Clan is as legendary in strength and defiance!"
Suddenly, a force as overwhelming as the heavens rose in the sky, boiling over as it immediately locked this void, seemingly intent on bringing death to all cultivators here, ensuring nothing from here leaks outside!
"I’ve been expecting you, vermin-like creature, how dare you act so bold!"
Zhou Yan spoke, storing Emperor Xuan Yuan’s Energy abruptly infused his soul, making the originally forming soul suddenly conclude in a crack, almost forming into a Soul Fetus, catapulting his entire power instantaneously to the Sword Venerate realm.
"Hmm? Some kind of sinister method. I am Jiang Wu, Supreme Heaven Sword Venerate of the Jiang family, remember this name that denies your reincarnation!"
The black-robed figure appeared in the void, spoke coldly.
"I, Evil Venerate, clan leader of Wanling Blood Witch Clan, will take your head within ten moves."
Zhou Yan said indifferently.