Chapter 2531: Who Exactly Is It?

Chapter 2531: Who Exactly Is It?

"You."

Seeing Hua Shan Zhen Ren, the elders in the hall all rose to their feet. Indeed, this was the sect leader of Hua Shan.

Glancing at the expressions of the elders, they varied greatly. For instance, the group led by the Great Elder showed utter disbelief and confusion; those like Di Yuan Zhen Ren were filled with wild joy and excitement; and the neutral factions mostly stroked their beards, their faces revealing deep meaning.

In an instant, the oppressive atmosphere in the hall dissipated, and everyone turned their gaze toward Hua Shan Zhen Ren.

"Shibo, why do you look so displeased? Are you disappointed to see your shizhi again?"

Ultimately, it was Hua Shan Zhen Ren who broke the silence in the hall with these words, addressing the Tai Shang Da Zhang Lao as shibo.

Hua Shan Zhen Ren exuded great authority as he stepped forward, one step at a time, and took his seat reserved for the sect leader.

"Impossible." Tai Shang Da Zhang Lao snorted coldly, his face darkening. "Your yuan shen yu pai was clearly shattered."

"Who says that if the yuan shen yu pai is shattered, the person must be dead?" Hua Shan Zhen Ren brushed the dust off his shoulder.

"Was it deliberate?"

"Then, shibo, what do you think allowed your shizhi to become the Hua Shan sect leader?"

"You..." Tai Shang Da Zhang Lao was at a loss for words, his face flushing red. He had essentially been outmaneuvered and had underestimated this shizhi of his, who had deliberately shattered his own yuan shen yu pai. The purpose was now crystal clear.

Yet, he couldn't fathom how it had happened. The lineup of experts who had ambushed them was enormous, powerful enough to shake the foundations of Hua Shan—it was an absolute dead end. How had his shizhi managed to return alive?

It wasn't just him; Hua Shan Da Zhang Lao, the black-robed elders, and others were equally baffled. They had schemed extensively, involving immortals from the eight princes of Tian Ting, great demons and devils from the San Xian realm, elders from Hua Shan, and mighty figures from various sects. With so many experts and masters at play, how had they failed to eliminate a single Hua Shan sect leader?

What was laughable was that until just a moment ago, they had been completely in the dark, without even a hint of news. Hua Shan Zhen Ren's return had caught them completely off guard.

Something must have gone wrong.

Yes, something must have changed. That deadly ambush must have been thwarted by some hidden expert; otherwise, Hua Shan Zhen Ren couldn't have escaped death, nor would he have had the strength to flee.

Who exactly was it?

Tai Shang Da Zhang Lao gritted his teeth, desperate to know what had transpired in last night's siege and who had disrupted their carefully laid plans.

"Shibo, for this Wu Yue Dou Fa, your shizhi has brought you a great gift."

"How thoughtful of the sect leader." Tai Shang Da Zhang Lao replied with a forced smile.

However, when he saw the so-called great gift, his expression changed dramatically. It wasn't just him—even Hua Shan Da Zhang Lao and the others paled.

The gift from Hua Shan Zhen Ren wasn't some secret technique or divine weapon; it was a series of ethereal yuan shen forms. Each one belonged to an elder of Hua Shan, and all were from Tai Shang Da Zhang Lao's faction. They had been captured earlier, and Ye Chen had spared their lives.

"Sect leader, spare us! Spare us!"

"It was all the Great Elder and his group who instigated us, ordering us to ambush you midway."

"For the sake of our fellow disciples, please don't kill us."

The once ice-cold and majestic hall suddenly grew lively, filled with pleas for mercy. The released Hua Shan elders all knelt on the ground, bowing repeatedly like lowly ants, humbly begging. It wasn't Hua Shan Zhen Ren they feared, but Ye Chen—he was too powerful, strong enough to inspire sheer terror and despair.

"Rebelling and attempting an ambush—how audacious."

Di Yuan Zhen Ren snorted coldly, his icy aura surging forth. The elders loyal to the sect leader quickly surrounded them, glaring angrily at Tai Shang Da Zhang Lao's faction. Many had already drawn their weapons, ready for a fight.

As for the neutral faction, they remained quietly standing, observing. The sect leader had returned, but Tai Shang Da Zhang Lao's side might still turn things around. If they chose the wrong side, the consequences would be dire, so it was better to wait and see.

"Shibo, in your view, how should your shizhi handle this?"

"Excellent, truly excellent." Tai Shang Da Zhang Lao not only showed no fear but also laughed, looking at Hua Shan Zhen Ren. "My dear shizhi, I've truly underestimated you. Today, you've taught your shibo a valuable lesson."

"Man's plans are no match for heaven's will."

"So what of it?" Tai Shang Da Zhang Lao's lips curled slightly as he finally dropped his facade, revealing his ugly and hideous face—ferocious and terrifying. He still laughed at Hua Shan Zhen Ren. "I control five of Hua Shan's nine halls. So what if you've returned alive? What can you use to fight me?"

"Is this an attempted coup turning into a full-scale mutiny?"

"Since the masks are off, there's no point in talking more." Tai Shang Da Zhang Lao's smile grew more violent.

With those words, the elders from both factions unleashed their auras and summoned their magical tools, facing off against each other from east and west. Their combined pressure was overwhelming, making the entire hall rumble and shake.

"Step down from the sect leader's position, or blood will flow like a river."

"I'm afraid that will disappoint you again, shibo." Hua Shan Zhen Ren replied calmly.

No sooner had he spoken than five figures were flung into the hall, as if they had been struck down. Each one was covered in blood and bones.

Their identities were no trivial matter; each was a hall master.

Tai Shang Da Zhang Lao's expression changed instantly upon seeing them, for these five hall masters were all his direct loyalists.

"By the sect leader's order, the positions of the first, third, fourth, sixth, and ninth hall masters are revoked. Any defiance will be met with execution."

These cold and desolate words echoed into the hall.

Looking out, one could see Hua Shan Xian Zi standing in the void sky, one hand holding a blood-stained immortal sword and the other raising the sect leader's token.

This was why she hadn't entered the hall earlier. While Hua Shan Zhen Ren confronted them inside, she controlled the situation outside, wielding the sect leader's sword and token. In that moment, she represented the Hua Shan sect leader, and her commands were his.

Naturally, this couldn't have happened without Ye Chen's assistance. He was the one who had dealt with the five hall masters. In a mutiny, reclaiming military authority was the first priority.

"Surround the hall at once. No one is to leave without permission."

Before anyone could react, another commanding voice rang out, firm and resolute.

It came from four middle-aged men in armor, their eyes like stars and their black hair flowing like waterfalls. They entered the hall with drawn killing swords, each exuding a thick aura of slaughter, like seasoned generals on the battlefield. Without exception, they were hall masters loyal to Hua Shan Zhen Ren, unlike the previous five.

At their order, a thunderous roar followed as dark masses of figures swarmed from all directions, encircling the hall with an overwhelming presence.

Back in the hall, Tai Shang Da Zhang Lao's face had turned ashen. This turn of events had caught him completely off guard. His five loyal hall masters had been stripped of their positions, and without them, the forces of the five halls were leaderless and ineffective.

Still, he couldn't understand how the other side had the power to take down five hall masters so swiftly. Without those five halls' forces, how could he stage a mutiny or seize the sect leader's position?

Hua Shan Da Zhang Lao and the others also looked pale, like lambs awaiting slaughter without their military authority. Relying on them alone, they wouldn't even stand a chance against one hall.

The neutral elders finally made their move, aligning themselves with Hua Shan Zhen Ren.

At this point, even the densest mind could see who held the upper hand. With the five hall masters deposed and their forces rendered useless, the four halls under the sect leader's control were the trump card. With a single command, no one in the hall could escape.

"Will you continue to resist stubbornly?" Di Yuan Zhen Ren shouted.

The elders from the opposing faction said nothing, all looking to Tai Shang Da Zhang Lao.

Tai Shang Da Zhang Lao ignored the others, only staring at the sect leader with a sinister smile. "My good shizhi, you've truly impressed your shibo today."

"Lay down your weapons and abolish your cultivations, and you may all leave alive." Hua Shan Zhen Ren said calmly. "Your shizhi has found a secluded paradise in the mortal world for you elders and disciples to enjoy your later years."

"I'm not defeated yet!"

Tai Shang Da Zhang Lao roared and lunged without warning, striking at Hua Shan Zhen Ren with a palm. If the enemy could capture the king, so could he. Killing the current Hua Shan sect leader might still give them a chance to turn the tables. The five halls' forces were still there; they just needed someone to command them—and he would be that person.

His sudden attack caught everyone off guard, his palm infused with destructive divine power—a lethal strike.

Hua Shan Zhen Ren stood motionless, utterly composed.

Zheng!

At that moment, a buzzing arrow shot in from outside the hall.

Thud!

The ferocious-faced Tai Shang Da Zhang Lao was pierced on the spot, the arrow's power unmatched as it instantly abolished his cultivation.

The one who fired it was, of course, Ye Chen, hidden in the void outside the hall. From the instant Hua Shan Zhen Ren entered, he had already nocked his bow and arrow, ready to strike any wrongdoer.

He was Hua Shan Zhen Ren's greatest hidden card; with Ye Chen there, no one could harm the sect leader.

The hall fell silent, everyone staring in shock at the fallen Tai Shang Da Zhang Lao. He was a peak quasi-emperor, not weaker than Hua Shan Zhen Ren in combat, yet he had been crippled by a single arrow. How powerful must the attacker be?

In that moment, it wasn't just the opposing faction—even Di Yuan Zhen Ren and the neutral elders paled in shock.

No wonder Hua Shan Zhen Ren had remained so calm since entering the hall; he had a hidden expert aiding him. To cripple a peak quasi-emperor with one arrow, that person was undoubtedly a heaven-defying powerhouse.

Ha ha ha!

The collapsed Tai Shang Da Zhang Lao actually laughed, his laughter filled with grief and desolation. His cultivation was gone, and his ambitions destroyed.

At that point, he finally understood why the sect leader had escaped death—it was all because of this hidden expert. With such terrifying power, the people they had sent were far from enough to kill him.

To this day, he still didn't know who that person was. After cultivating for thousands of years, he had never heard of such a figure. He had calculated everything except for this unforeseen variable.

One misstep, and the whole game was lost.

"Shibo, you've lost."

"Lost, I've lost." Tai Shang Da Zhang Lao laughed as he staggered to his feet. "But I didn't lose to you; I lost to him."

As he said "him," he glanced back toward the hall's entrance, wondering who this mysterious figure was. But it no longer mattered. In this battle, he had been utterly defeated.

Ha ha ha!

Tai Shang Da Zhang Lao laughed again, but his laughter abruptly stopped as he slammed his head into one of the hall's copper pillars, dying on the spot.

Such was the fate of the vanquished.