"Did not all that I, Jun Xuan, did, serve our Emei Sect?"
At this moment, Abbess Jun Xuan was emotionally charged, seemingly having lost her reason. Her face contorted, near madness, as she roared at everyone present, especially at Abbess Yun Bai and Abbess Jin Yu. Pointing at Zhou Ruoxi, who stood beside Wan Yunting, she fumed, "Why should she, Zhou Ruoxi, be the sect leader? Just because Feng Ling said so on her deathbed, she passes the Sect Leader's Seal to her?"
"I, Jun Xuan, am not convinced. Why should such a young girl be the sect leader, while I, Jun Xuan, joined the Emei Sect at ten and have dedicated over fifty years of my life, pouring all my energy into the sect, only to receive the position of Grand Elder? Do I, Jun Xuan, not have the qualifications to be the sect leader?"
These words left Zhou Ruoxi, Abbess Yun Bai, and Abbess Jin Yu speechless.
Indeed, Abbess Jun Xuan had dedicated herself to the sect for so many years, her contributions were undeniable. Among everyone present from the Emei Sect, no one had sacrificed more than her.
Even Zhou Ruoxi had considered giving up her succession, letting Abbess Jun Xuan take the position!
"Preposterous!"
Abbess Yun Bai stared coldly at Abbess Jun Xuan and said, "Sister Jun Xuan, I admit you have contributed much to the sect. However, the position of sect leader is not determined by merit alone. Sister Feng Ling passed the Sect Leader's Seal to Zhou Ruoxi on her deathbed."
"And what have you been doing all this time? Colluding with Junior Brother Guo, forming factions within the sect—wasn't all this just for this very day?"
Immediately, Abbess Yun Bai looked around and called out to the sect leaders and elders from various factions present, "All you sect leaders are here today. Please, judge for yourselves. Am I speaking reasonably?"
Sect Leader Liu, Sect Leader Shi, Sect Leader Lu, and Elder Zuo Qi exchanged glances. Sect Leader Yuan of the Kunlun Sect even nodded and said directly, "Abbess Yun Bai is right. Abbess Jun Xuan, what you have done is indeed excessive!"
"Yes..."
Sect Leaders like Tan Song and Elder Zhang Qing nodded in agreement.
When they had first heard that Abbess Jun Xuan had become the acting sect leader of Emei, everyone had understood her intentions to seize the true leadership of the sect, but no one had dared to voice it.
After all, the martial world had its rules; members of other factions were not to interfere in the affairs of other sects!
"Excessive? In what way am I excessive?"
Abbess Jun Xuan's old eyes widened, and she glared furiously at everyone present, shouting, "I am merely the acting sect leader, managing the sect's affairs on her behalf. I haven't said that she wouldn't succeed as sect leader in the future. Was my good intention met with ingratitude?"
Seeing Abbess Jun Xuan begin to quibble and evade, Wan Yunting picked up his phone and replayed the video, saying, "Everyone, listen carefully to this segment. This is a conversation between Abbess Jun Xuan and her disciple Zhang Xincai. It reveals a crucial clue as to why Abbess Jun Xuan wanted to use this wedding to invite me, Wan, to the Emei Sect!"
Beside him, Tan Song, straining his ears, exclaimed in shock after listening to the video dialogue, "Abbess Jun Xuan has colluded with outsiders!"
Elder Zuo Qi, Sect Leader Liu, and Sect Leader Yuan also heard clearly, and their brows furrowed. They all turned their heads to cast sidelong glances at Abbess Jun Xuan, truly surprised.
Wan Yunting looked at Abbess Jun Xuan and smiled, "Abbess Jun Xuan, this is my first time meeting you since coming to the Emei Sect. By all rights, I have no enmity with you, so why would you target me?"
"Heh heh, there's only one reason: someone instructed you from behind!"
As soon as these words were spoken, Abbess Jun Xuan, who had just calmed down slightly, saw her old face instantly contort again. Her eyes were filled with fury as she glared at Wan Yunting, so enraged that her whole body trembled. Her clenched fists seemed to wish they could strike and kill this young man.
"Who?"
Tan Song immediately asked.
Everyone present also looked at Wan Yunting with curiosity, but some had already guessed.
"The Sima Family!"
Wan Yunting declared loudly to everyone, without any concealment. Then he turned to Abbess Jun Xuan and smiled, "Sima Boyong, right, Abbess Jun Xuan?"
Tan Song's eyes lit up, and he preemptively said, "It's Sima Boyong, the one who poisoned and killed Junior Brother Duan, the Master of Wuliang Daoist Temple, back then!"
"Poisoning his brother and usurping the position of Master, a heinous and shameful scoundrel!"
"That's right, I heard that Sima Boyong has already fled!"
"I never expected that even after leaving China, his influence could still reach our martial world. This person is dangerous!"
"Indeed, who would have thought there was a mastermind behind this? It remains to be seen what the relationship is between Abbess Jun Xuan and that Sima Boyong!"
The sect leaders, sect masters, and elders from the various factions present began to discuss.
Wan Yunting and Zhou Ruoxi stared straight ahead, watching the increasingly panicked Abbess Jun Xuan, and asked, "Abbess Jun Xuan, I am also very curious, what exactly is your relationship with the Sima family?"
Abbess Jun Xuan's heart was in turmoil, her mind in disarray, and she shouted, "Nonsense! I have no relation to the Sima family..."
"No relation? Then why did you plot against me?"
Wan Yunting suddenly took a step forward, his eyes locked onto her, and questioned her sternly.
"I..."
Abbess Jun Xuan, under the powerful aura radiating from him, instinctively took a step back, completely flustered and lost.
She understood that if her connection with Sima Boyong was truly exposed, she would have no chance of recovery!
For a moment, all eyes were on the visibly changing Abbess Jun Xuan. Gritting her teeth, she remained silent, locked in a stalemate with Wan Yunting.
But at this moment, Celestial Master Lin Yi Ping of Longhu Mountain, who had been sitting there, stood up and sighed, "Jun Xuan, so you have been in contact with Sima Boyong all along..."
"Lin Yi Ping, shut your mouth!"
Hearing Lin Yi Ping speak, Abbess Jun Xuan seemed to lose all reason. Her old face instantly contorted with fury, and she turned to him, roaring angrily.
Wan Yunting, Zhou Ruoxi, Abbess Yun Bai, Abbess Jin Yu, and all the sect leaders, sect masters, and elders present straightened their expressions and turned their gazes towards Celestial Master Lin. He looked bitter, shaking his head and saying, "You lied to me back then, and you've been lying until now. Jun Xuan, you have truly disappointed me!"
Completely driven mad, Abbess Jun Xuan lunged forward, grabbed the collar of Lin Yi Ping's ornate robes, and roared, "I told you to shut your mouth...!"
Lin Yi Ping's expression dimmed. He looked up at the ferocious, reasonless Abbess Jun Xuan and gave a bitter smile. "Jun Xuan, let it go. What is not yours, you cannot force. As long as you let go, there is still hope!"
"Hypocrite."
Abbess Jun Xuan fiercely pushed Lin Yi Ping away. Her emotions spiraling out of control, she looked like a madwoman at this moment. She suddenly turned and glared furiously at Wan Yunting, pointing at him and yelling, "Wan Yunting, it's all your fault for ruining my plans! I'll kill you...!"
Before her words had even fallen, Abbess Jun Xuan's right hand transformed into a palm, and she struck ferociously at Wan Yunting...
As if time had slowed, in the blink of an eye, Abbess Jun Xuan attacked Wan Yunting with her powerful aura, catching him off guard...
The people around widened their eyes, watching as Wan Yunting was about to be struck by Abbess Jun Xuan's palm. But the next second, a gray figure blocked in front of Wan Yunting, also extending a palm to meet Abbess Jun Xuan's attack...
*Pa!*
As their palms collided, a surge of potent energy repelled Abbess Jun Xuan several steps before she could stabilize herself. She looked closely and saw that the person blocking Wan Yunting was none other than Abbess Jin Yu.
Wan Yunting hadn't expected Abbess Jin Yu to react so quickly and take Abbess Jun Xuan's palm for him, leaving him momentarily stunned and unable to comprehend.
"Sister Jun Xuan, are you still intending to kill someone?"
Abbess Yun Bai, having recovered, scolded sternly.
"Abbess Jun Xuan, this is going too far!"
Immediately, the sect leaders from various factions present spoke out, condemning Abbess Jun Xuan for daring to commit violence in public.
Abbess Jun Xuan naturally ignored the people from the various factions who were supporting Wan Yunting. Her old eyes glared furiously at Abbess Jin Yu in front of her. She hadn't expected her to step in and take her palm strike for Wan Yunting. This made Abbess Jun Xuan's face turn ashen with anger, realizing that her position was now completely lost and there was no room for recovery.
"Jun Xuan, come with me."
Lin Yi Ping stepped forward and grabbed her arm, intending to lead her away.
Abbess Jun Xuan tried to shake him off, but Lin Yi Ping held her arm tightly. Realizing that her situation was irretrievable, Abbess Jun Xuan understood that staying would offer no chance of turning things around. She could only follow the downward slope, being led away by Lin Yi Ping.
"Brother, you're just going to let her go like that?"
Lu Xiaodie watched as Abbess Jun Xuan, being led away by Lin Yi Ping towards the main hall's exit, Wan Yunting narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled, "What else can I do? Am I supposed to keep her here for the feast?"
"Pfft..."
Jiang Tingxia couldn't help but chuckle at his words.
Lu Xiaodie rolled her eyes at him. Wan Yunting turned to look at Abbess Jin Yu beside him and smiled, "Thank you, Abbess Jin Yu, for intervening. Otherwise, I really wouldn't know how to receive Abbess Jun Xuan's palm strike!"
Abbess Jin Yu remained expressionless, maintaining a cool and elegant demeanor, but her exceptionally stunning beauty continuously attracted the gazes of the sect leaders from various factions present.
After all, the martial world had long rumored about the astonishing beauty of Abbess Jin Yu, the Fourth Elder of Emei Sect. However, very few people had managed to see her. Today, upon seeing her, her beauty was indeed breathtaking, captivating all who beheld it.
Abbess Jin Yu said nothing and retreated to the side.
Abbess Yun Bai stepped forward to preside and said apologetically to the sect leaders, sect masters, and elders present, "Esteemed guests, our Emei Sect has encountered such an incident, causing you all to witness this spectacle. We hope you will forgive us."
"Abbess Yun Bai, there is no need for such apologies."
Elder Zuo Qi of the Wudang Sect stepped forward and waved his hand, "We never expected that such a matter would arise behind Abbess Jun Xuan. We all understand."
"Yes..."
Others nodded in agreement, expressing their understanding.
After all, incidents like this within the Emei Sect were constantly happening throughout the history of various factions, so everyone was accustomed to it.
"In that case, this wedding has been canceled, and there is no need for us to linger any longer," Sect Leader Dong said, looking at everyone.
Sect Leader Liu and Sect Leader Yuan also nodded. With Abbess Jun Xuan and Lin Yi Ping gone, the wedding was naturally canceled, and there was no point in continuing. Therefore, the sect leaders and sect masters present were all thinking of buying plane or train tickets to return home later...
"Everyone, please don't be in a hurry!"
However, Wan Yunting spoke up and smiled, "We still need to have the banquet. It's just not a wedding banquet, but a congratulatory toast for the Emei Sect's new Sect Leader's enthronement!"
"Oh..."
Upon hearing this, everyone present exchanged glances and turned their gazes towards Zhou Ruoxi, who stood beside Abbess Yun Bai...