"What is there to explain?" Sect Leader Yin Qin scoffed. "I am only expressing my concerns due to news that your Armed Ape Tower had to beg the Black Tortoise Sect for help, all because you messed up your own ancestral tree. In fact, I've even heard news that the tree is still not fixed despite Elder Feng's intervention. Seeing how absolutely unreliable your current generation is, isn't it only natural that I would worry for your sect's younger generation?"
"You...!" Elder Xiong Yan was stumped for a moment, clearly caught off guard by the other party's knowledge of their current predicament.
At the same time, Zhao Yunxiao was also shocked to hear Sect Leader Yin Qin's words.
It had already been almost two months since Elder Feng Wanjia visited the Armed Ape Tower. Had they still not been able to fully resolve the issue with the Zodiac Tree?
Had the Zodiac General really created such a complicated construct?
Perhaps if there was an opportunity, he could try to find out what the current issue was. Armed with the memories of the Zodiac General, even if they were fragmented, perhaps he would be able to share some insights into the matter.
No, no! What was he thinking?
That was the last thing he should be doing unless he wanted to be investigated for knowing the sect secrets of the Armed Ape Tower!
Well then, maybe not the part on sharing insights, but there was no harm in finding out more if there was a chance...
"Well, well, what do we have here?" a middle-aged-looking man casually walked up to stand between the two parties. "This is a joyful day for everyone to come together as companions, so why don't the two of you just drop things and get seated, instead of continuing to act like immature idiots?"
"That's Hall Master Tie Lieya, leader of the Steel Fang Hall," Zhao Yunxiao introduced. "The Steel Fang Hall is widely known as the strongest faction under the White Tiger Sect."
"...Another strongest?" Lu Zhiying was surprised.
"That's probably the reason why he felt the need to step up in the first place," Zhao Yunxiao replied.
"I'd advise you to mind your own business, Hall Master Tie," Sect Leader Yin Qin cautioned. "My Golden Hawk Sect doesn't take lightly to insults – be it from them or from you."
"Hey, hey, sorry if you felt offended, but I definitely didn't mean to insult you. I'm just here to mediate things between you two!" Hall Master Tie hurriedly waved his hands in shock.
"What an interesting way of mediating things. How about I mediate things with my fists the next time your Steel Fang Hall gets into a conflict?" Elder Xiong Yan was similarly enraged.
How could they not be, when the other party had directly called them immature idiots in front of their disciples?
"You must have misunderstood me; I am genuinely here to mediate!" Hall Master Tie Lieya let out a disappointed sigh before gesturing towards the distance. "That said, it really is best that you stop here. Or would you rather show our hosts this ugly scene?"
His actions caused both Elder Xiong Yan and Sect Leader Yin Qin to look in the same direction, and their expressions immediately softened a little.
In the distance, they could see a large group of people slowly making their way over. They were none other than the members of the Vermilion Bird Sect, accompanied by their subordinate sect – the Thunder Feather Palace.
"Damn that Bootlicker Lei, always sticking to the Vermilion Bird Sect like a parasite," Elder Xiong Yan harrumphed. "Stand down, everyone!"
With that, the members of the Armed Ape Tower immediately eased up, no longer exuding the intense fighting spirit from before.
"Tch! That bootlicker saved you this time, but don't think that this is over just yet!" Sect Leader Yin Qin said. "Everyone, stand down as well!"
Similarly, the members of the Golden Hawk Sect stopped posturing, the clear fighting spirit erupting from them calming in an instant.
It would look too strange for them to suddenly turn around and head to their seats, so the three groups decided to stand right where they were, waiting for the arrival of the Vermilion Bird Sect.
As the Vermilion Bird Sect approached, the three leaders stood in a line and clasped their fists in respect. In fact, it was not just them. Everyone who was already present stood up from their seats and clasped their fists towards the new arrivals.
"Greetings, Elder Que!"
Leading the Vermilion Bird Sect and Thunder Feather Palace group was a lady who looked to be in her late twenties. Her silky long black hair was held up by several golden hairpins, each exuding a unique sense of exquisiteness. This revealed her beautiful countenance, which coupled with her slim figure to complete the living work of art that she was.
Elder Que Yuyan – First Elder of the Vermilion Bird Sect.
In other words, apart from the sect leader, she was the one who wielded the greatest authority within the sect!
"It's a pleasure to meet everyone today," Elder Que Yuyan replied with a smile. "Please don't mind me and take a seat. The meet is about to begin."
"Yes, Elder Que," the three faction leaders nodded and left for their seats immediately.
"Ah, our seats are over there. Allow me to guide you there," the old man standing just behind Elder Que Yuyan quickly stepped forward to lead the way.
This obvious act of currying favour by a fellow faction leader immediately drew frowns from the other faction leaders. However, they could do nothing but glare at the old man, who promptly ignored their disapproving gazes.
The various faction leaders truly looked down on this man's antics. But if Elder Que Yuyan did not have anything against it, it was not their place to say anything about it either.
"That's the Vermilion Bird Sect, with their First Elder Que Yuyan taking the lead. Beside her is Palace Master Lei Yugong, the leader of Thunder Feather Palace," Zhao Yunxiao introduced.
"Let me guess... the Thunder Feather Palace is the strongest faction under the Vermilion Bird Sect?" Lu Zhiying asked.
"That's exactly the case!" Zhao Yunxiao gave her a light pat on the head.
"Heh," Lu Zhiying smirked in pride. "So, who is the strongest among all the subordinate sects?"
The moment she asked that, Gu Qiansi could sense everyone seated around them leaning closer, clearly not wanting to miss Zhao Yunxiao's response.
"That is a question that is up for debate," Zhao Yunxiao said. "Even though none of the leaders or elders have ever made an official statement about it, the Azure Dragon Sect has traditionally been regarded as the strongest among the Four Great Symbol Sects, at least judging from their overall performance in the past decades. By association, the Golden Hawk Sect has always prided themselves on being the strongest of the subordinate sects, but the other three naturally do not agree. That is why there has always been tension among the four of them, each treating the others as direct competition. Unfortunately for them, no one has ever been able to emerge as the clear victor."
"So, we don't know?" Lu Zhiying frowned, clearly dissatisfied with that conclusion. "Wait, that is the official response, isn't it? What about Senior Martial Brother Zhao? Personally, who do you think is the strongest?"
"In the past, I would have gone with the Golden Hawk Sect as well," Zhao Yunxiao rubbed his chin in contemplation. "However, the Armed Ape Tower has been gaining huge momentum in recent years. If the rumour is true about the Armed Ape Tower looking to break free from being subordinate to the Black Tortoise Sect and becoming an ally on equal footing instead, then it is likely that they have actually been hiding their strength all this time. Because of that alone, I am putting my bet on the Armed Ape Tower."
"Oh..." Lu Zhiying nodded.
"Don't go spreading rumours like that before it has been confirmed," Gu Qiansi cautioned. "We don't want any unnecessary trouble."
"I said 'if it is true'," Zhao Yunxiao shrugged. "Look, Junior Martial Sister Lu, our good friend is here as well."
"Our good friend?" Lu Zhiying looked down and narrowed her eyes. "Her, eh?"
At this moment, the Vermilion Bird Sect members were casually making their way towards their allocated section. Even so, the air about them was clearly a level above that of the subordinate sects.
They exhibited a natural air of pride – something that could only be achieved through sheer confidence in their abilities.
This was especially true for the inner disciples who were walking near the front of the group, not to mention the core disciples at the very front. And among these core disciples was none other than the one person whom Zhao Yunxiao had drawn Lu Zhiying's attention to – Infernal Claw Quan Hui.
"I can't wait to grow stronger so that I can pay that vicious woman back for the disrespect back then!" Lu Zhiying pouted.
"Don't say that! No matter what, she's still a core disciple of the Vermilion Bird Sect!" Gu Qiansi chided.
"Your Senior Martial Sister Gu is right. The walls have ears, so these things are better left mentioned in private," Zhao Yunxiao chimed in. "After all, who knows how many of these people would sell you out in a heartbeat?"
His words immediately drew strong reactions from the male disciples seated around them.
"Wha-? No, I will definitely not sell out Junior Martial Sister Lu!"
"You know I'm always on your side, right, Junior Martial Sister Lu?"
"I agree with you actually. She is really too arrogant!"
What Infernal Claw? More like Infernal Spawn!"
"Yeah, to hell with that bitch!"
"Hey, hey, that's going a little too far..."
"I've been frank since we are all close fellow disciples, so there's no way anyone would tell on me, right...?" Lu Zhiying looked around and asked meekly.
"Of course not! If anyone dares to breathe a word about this, I will be the first to kill him!"
"Don't worry, I will vouch for you even if someone tries to act against our code of honour!"
"I have been wanting to teach her a lesson for a while now. I will help you beat her up next time!"
"Hey, hey..."
Lu Zhiying's vulnerable expression immediately riled up the sense of valour within these hot-blooded young men, many of whom were even getting to their feet as they declared how they would help to keep the others in check.
Zhao Yunxiao exchanged another glance with Gu Qiansi, both amazed at just how well Lu Zhiying was handling all these flies.
That said, they were not the only ones watching the arrival of the core disciples of the Vermilion Bird Sect. All around the Black Guardian Hall, almost everyone who had already arrived started paying close attention to these proud sons and daughters of heaven.
Among them was an inner disciple named San Wanfan.
In recent weeks, his name had spread high and wide not just within the Black Tortoise Sect, but throughout the other three great sects as well.
The inner disciple who had led his party to victory against two core disciples of the Vermilion Bird Sect – this was how everyone had referred to him lately.
And now that the very opponents upon whom he had stepped to rise in fame were walking into the venue, numerous eyes had fallen upon him as everyone was once again reminded of the miraculous feat that he had attained within the Four Symbols Mystic Realm.
San Wanfan puffed out his chest, lifting his head in pride as he relished the unending compliments and praises that his peers were drowning him in right now.
Many who doubted the factuality of the rumour carefully observed Quan Hui, wanting to see if there was any discrepancy in her reaction. In return, what they witnessed was how a proud and arrogant disciple like Quan Hui did not look in San Wanfan's direction even once.
She dared not even look in San Wanfan's direction!
Upon seeing this, even the non-believers were finally convinced about the details in the released reports. San Wanfan had truly done the impossible in the mystic realm!
They could not help but look at San Wanfan with a different lens, understanding that after such a gargantuan accomplishment, his rise in the sect had already become an inevitability!
Of course, this was only what it appeared to be on the surface.
How could the proud Infernal Claw Quan Hui not dare to look in San Wanfan's direction?
On the contrary, she simply had not even noticed San Wanfan's group looking at her, just like how she had not noticed Zhao Yunxiao's group making comments about her.
From the moment she entered Black Guardian Square, she only had one person in her sight. It was none other than the true person who had defeated her in the mystic realm – Crimson Sword Cheng Kai!
Her glare contained a mix of both anger and indignation. Even though nobody in the Vermilion Bird Sect had brought up the matter in front of her since the opening of the mystic realm, she knew for a fact that everyone must have been talking behind her back about how she had lost to a mere inner disciple.
How utterly embarrassing!
Quan Hui clenched her fists, thinking that she definitely had to find a way to take revenge soon. Otherwise, she would find it difficult to properly face her junior martial brothers and sisters in the sect!
Yet despite the strong emotions in her glare, this time it was her turn to be completely ignored.
Sitting among the inner disciples, Cheng Kai had his eyes closed in meditation, showing absolutely zero interest in anything that was happening in the Black Guardian Square right now.