"What, you... you killed our senior disciple?"
He Yunxia and Meng Yan stared at Jian Shisan with shock and anger, yelling at him. Yan Changjian, standing nearby, also had a ferocious and enraged expression, demanding, "Speak, why did you impersonate our disciple?"
Jian Shisan spread his hands, adopting a fearless stance, and let out a cold laugh, "What else could it be but to disrupt your grand martial arts assembly!"
Upon hearing this, the sect leaders and masters, along with their disciples, from the various sects began to whisper amongst themselves. Yuan Gaowu and Abbot Renxin raised their eyebrows, surprised that a disciple of the unorthodox Tianyan Zhushen Sect had infiltrated their martial arts assembly with the intent to sabotage it.
"Stop filming..."
Shi Yizhen quickly instructed Elder Liao Haikuo to tell the media to cease filming, not wanting the matter to be exposed. After all, it was not an honorable situation. If the outside world learned that someone from an unorthodox sect had infiltrated the martial arts assembly hosted by the major sects, it would undoubtedly become a laughingstock and negatively impact the reputation of the martial arts world.
Zhong Yulong and Zhang Xuanliang looked at Wan Yunting, who remained silent, and felt that the matter was not as simple as it seemed.
"Meng Yan, Yunxia, capture this person!"
Yan Changjian, having regained his composure, roared at Jian Shisan. Meng Yan and He Yunxia responded with a "yes" and, leading the disciples of the Shenjian Sect, immediately charged forward to surround Jian Shisan and apprehend him.
"Wait!"
Wan Yunting tossed the fake skin mask he was holding onto the ground and called out to Meng Yan and He Yunxia, the disciples of the Shenjian Sect who were about to capture Jian Shisan. He then smiled at Yan Changjian and said, "Sect Leader Yan, this person's relationship with your Shenjian Sect has not yet been clarified. Why are you so eager to capture him?"
These words caused Jian Shisan and Yan Changjian's hearts to tighten. Their gazes simultaneously fixed on Wan Yunting, wondering if this young man knew something.
"What do you mean?"
Yan Changjian stepped forward, glaring at Wan Yunting and reprimanding him, "Are you suggesting that my Shenjian Sect is involved with the heretical sects?"
This question surprised the leaders and masters of the various sects. Liu Bing seemed to have caught on and asked Wan Yunting, "Sect Master Wan, do you know something? Hurry and tell us what's going on."
"Yes, could it be that the Shenjian Sect is truly colluding with the Tianyan Zhushen Sect?" Lu Chenzi questioned with wide eyes.
Abbot Renxin, Zhong Yulong, Zhang Xuanliang, Yuan Gaowu, and other sect masters all looked at him. Wan Yunting took out his phone and played a recording of himself impersonating Yan Changjian to test Jian Shisan the previous night, presenting it directly to Zhong Yulong, Shi Yizhen, and the others to listen to.
Upon hearing the recording, Jian Shisan understood that the person who had impersonated Yan Changjian the previous night was this very individual, a realization that filled both him and Yan Changjian with hidden resentment.
"My goodness, the Shenjian Sect is truly colluding with the Tianyan Zhushen Sect!"
"This Yan Changjian actually wants to challenge Sect Master Zhong and seize the position of president of the Martial Arts Association!"
"It's truly unbelievable that they are secretly colluding and plotting such shameless schemes!"
"Indeed, it's fortunate that Sect Master Wan saw through this. If they had succeeded, it's unimaginable what the consequences would be if an unorthodox sect were to become the president of our righteous martial arts association!"
At this moment, everyone present heard the content of Wan Yunting's recording and learned of Yan Changjian's collusion with the Tianyan Zhushen Sect and his plot to challenge Zhong Yulong for the presidency of the Martial Arts Association. The thought of it sent shivers down their spines, filling them with trepidation.
Instantly, the gazes of Sect Master Zhong Yulong, Zhang Xuanliang, Abbot Renxin, Shi Yizhen, and the other sect leaders, as well as all the disciples from the various sects present, shifted towards Yan Changjian and the disciples of the Shenjian Sect.
"Sect Leader Yan, do you have anything you wish to explain now?" Liu Bing glared at Yan Changjian and said coldly.
"I never expected your Shenjian Sect to truly collude with the heretical sects. You are veritable traitors to our righteous path!" Lu Chenzi also shouted in anger.
Zhong Yulong, Zhang Xuanliang, and Abbot Renxin wore solemn expressions. The Shenjian Sect's collusion with the Tianyan Zhushen Sect was truly beyond everyone's expectations.
"Slander!"
Yan Changjian's face was filled with rage. He pointed at Wan Yunting and yelled at Shi Yizhen, Liu Bing, and the others, "Based solely on his recording, you accuse my Shenjian Sect of colluding with heretical sects? This is too much. Haven't you considered that this recording might be fabricated by him to deliberately frame our Shenjian Sect?"
His words caused Liu Bing, Lu Chenzi, Shi Yizhen, and Yuan Gaowu to exchange glances. What Yan Changjian said was not unreasonable.
"Sect Master Wan, how did you obtain this recording?" Yuan Gaowu inquired.
Wan Yunting saw that the sect leaders seemed to lack faith in him. He then proceeded to explain in detail to Zhong Yulong and the others how he had impersonated Yan Changjian the previous night to test Jian Shisan.
Zhang Xuanliang remarked, "But you were also present at the meeting in the hall last night, weren't you?"
Wan Yunting replied, "The one participating in the meeting was a fake. It was our Qi Shixiong from the Wuliang Daoist Temple who impersonated me!"
"Oh, no wonder you didn't speak much at the assembly last night. So someone else impersonated you." At this, Liu Bing, Shi Yizhen, and the others finally understood. After dinner the previous night, they had gathered in the main hall for a brief meeting. At that time, Qi Wu, impersonating Wan Yunting, sat aside, remaining silent, only nodding or shaking his head in agreement with the discussions. The sect leaders and masters at the time had found his unusual behavior puzzling. It turned out that Wan Yunting had been impersonating Yan Changjian to test Jian Shisan.
"Esteemed Sect Leaders, you should all know my character, Wan Yunting." Wan Yunting looked at Zhong Yulong, Zhang Xuanliang, Abbot Renxin, and the others, saying solemnly, "The Shenjian Sect is colluding with the Tianyan Zhushen Sect with the aim of targeting our various sects and preventing our unity..."
"Nonsense."
Yan Changjian angrily interrupted Wan Yunting, scolding, "With just a recording, you cannot possibly prove our collusion with the heretical cult. You are slandering my Shenjian Sect."
Zhang Xuanliang, Zhong Yulong, and the others exchanged glances. Yuan Gaowu asked, "Sect Master Wan, do you have any other evidence?"
Wan Yunting shook his head slightly and said, "This matter is serious, and I didn't have time to gather evidence. Only this recording remains, but please believe me, esteemed sect leaders, this is absolutely true. The Shenjian Sect is colluding with the Tianyan Zhushen Sect..."
"Heh heh, Wan Yunting, you yourself have connections with our Tianyan Zhushen Sect. Why are you deceiving them?"
Suddenly, Jian Shisan, who was behind them, spoke up and said to Wan Yunting with a sinister smile. He then loudly proclaimed to Zhong Yulong, Zhang Xuanliang, Abbot Renxin, and everyone else from the various sects, "You all likely don't know this yet, but Ren Daozi from our Wuliang Daoist Temple was once the leader of our Tianyan Zhushen Sect. And the Thirteen Ghost Gate Needles that Wan Yunting practices are divine needle techniques of our Tianyan Zhushen Sect!"
"What? Ren Daozi of the Wuliang Daoist Temple was the leader of the Tianyan Zhushen Sect?"
Elder Zhang Qing of the Kunlun Sect's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Yang Jingyi and Wan Yunting from the Wuliang Daoist Temple.
For a moment, the expressions of everyone from the various sects present were stunned. They were all shocked by Jian Shisan's words and looked at Wan Yunting with disbelief. Yang Jingyi, having recovered, quickly said, "Utter nonsense! None of that is true..."
Jian Shisan looked at Wan Yunting, who was now expressionless and frowning, and a sinister smile played on his lips as he said, "What, you dare not admit it?"
"But facts are facts. When our Tianyan Zhushen Sect had not yet left China, our fourteenth generation sect leader mysteriously disappeared. I believe people from your various sects should know something about this, right?"
Elder Zhang Qing nodded and said to Yuan Gaowu, Zhong Yulong, and the others, "Indeed, we did hear about the disappearance of the Tianyan Zhushen Sect leader back then. Later, the sect leader who fled to Joseon succeeded him!"
"Yes, I've heard about it too."
Shi Yizhen, the sect leader of the Huashan Sect, who was older, also nodded. He then raised an eyebrow and asked, "Could it be that Ren Daozi of the Wuliang Daoist Temple is indeed the mysteriously disappeared sect leader of the Tianyan Zhushen Sect?"
Yang Jingyi, standing beside Wan Yunting, looked at the sect leaders questioning her and felt a surge of nervousness and worry. She quickly shook her head and denied it, "It's not true. Uncle-Master Ren Daozi is definitely not a member of the Tianyan Zhushen Sect. He is deliberately slandering us. Please, esteemed sect leaders, believe us."
"Sect Master Wan is correct. The words of an unorthodox individual are not worth believing."
Liu Bing, Yuan Gaowu, and others nodded in agreement, feeling that Jian Shisan's words were not to be trusted.
However, Jian Shisan let out a sinister laugh and took out his phone from his embrace, opening it and displaying it to Wan Yunting with a wicked smile, "Wan Yunting, I have something to show you!"
Wan Yunting raised an eyebrow, his sharp gaze fixed on Jian Shisan, wondering what he intended to show him. Zhou Ruoxi, Gu Luotang, and the sect leaders of various sects also looked at them with curiosity.
"What, you're afraid to look?"
Jian Shisan's lips curved into a playful smile and he said, "If you're afraid, I guarantee you'll regret it."
Wan Yunting stared at him coldly, but Jian Shisan's words gave him a vague sense of foreboding. Wan Yunting then walked towards Jian Shisan, who immediately opened his phone and held a video up for Wan Yunting to see.
Upon seeing the scene in the video, Wan Yunting's eyes widened abruptly. His previously expressionless face instantly showed an anxious and flustered demeanor, and he glared at Jian Shisan, "You..."
"Heh heh..."
Jian Shisan then crushed the phone in his hand, scattering it into fragments on the ground. Seeing the man's sudden emotional change, Zhou Ruoxi and Gu Luotang behind him immediately sensed that something was amiss. The sect leaders and masters of various sects also exchanged glances, unaware of what Jian Shisan had shown Wan Yunting that caused such a strong emotional reaction.
"Shhh..."
Jian Shisan made a shushing gesture to Wan Yunting, indicating for him not to speak. He then took two steps forward and whispered with a playful smile to Wan Yunting, "As long as you admit that Ren Daozi is our Tianyan Zhushen Sect leader, I will ensure their safety. Otherwise, you will see two corpses!"
These words caused Wan Yunting's eyes to widen in fierce and hateful glare, staring intently at Jian Shisan. His heart filled with anger, he clenched his fists tightly, wishing he could strike down this despicable scoundrel.
"Oh, right, there's one more thing I forgot to mention..."
Jian Shisan then loudly announced to all the sect leaders and everyone present, "Earlier, when I was sparring with him, he suddenly imitated my Fenglin Fist technique. Don't you find that strange?"
Jian Shisan's words made the people from the various sects recall the earlier sparring match where Wan Yunting's fist technique had changed, injuring Jian Shisan. At the time, everyone had found it peculiar.
"What he used was precisely the Xiao Wu Xiang Gong of the Xiaoyao Sect!"
Jian Shisan pointed at Wan Yunting and laughed loudly at everyone present.
"What? Xiao Wu Xiang Gong?"
As soon as these words were uttered, sect leaders and masters like Liu Bing and Lu Chenzi looked at Wan Yunting in shock, asking, "That is a technique from the Xiaoyao Sect. How do you know it, Sect Master Wan?"
Wan Yunting's face turned terrifyingly grim. Facing the questioning gazes of the sect leaders, he ignored them and glared fiercely at Jian Shisan. However, Jian Shisan maintained a smiling demeanor, as if to say, "Let's hurt each other!" Indeed, Wan Yunting had used Xiao Wu Xiang Gong to imitate Jian Shisan's fist technique, thus injuring him and exposing his true face. However, Wan Yunting hadn't expected Jian Shisan to also reveal his inheritance of the Xiaoyao Sect's legacy and his identity as Ren Daozi of the Wuliang Daoist Temple in front of everyone.