Translator: CinderTL
The difference between Soul Refinement and Void Harmony was like the gap between a celestial being and Foundation Establishment.
This was a transformation at the level of life itself!
The Void Harmony Realm was also known as the Dao Harmony Realm!
Those who reached this realm could begin to grasp the rules of the Dao and apply them. Even understanding these rules was difficult for ordinary people, let alone mastering them.
Xu Sanyan suppressed his violently pounding heart and called out in a trembling voice, "Hall Master?"
The Mad Daoist didn't respond.
Xu Sanyan gritted his teeth and raised his voice. "Hall Master, your disciple pays his respects."
Only then did the Mad Daoist stir slightly. He rubbed his nose, rolled over, and turned his back to Xu Sanyan, continuing to sleep.
Although the Mad Daoist still ignored him, Xu Sanyan and Song Wuqiu both breathed a sigh of relief. The deadly sense of crisis had vanished.
Xu Sanyan cautiously approached, and the earlier feeling was gone.
"Hall Master?"
The Mad Daoist covered his ears and curled up, as if annoyed by the noise. He still didn't respond.
After a moment's thought, Xu Sanyan hoisted the Mad Daoist onto his back and said to Song Wuqiu, "Let's go. We're heading to the Crimson Heart Hall."
"Uh... right," Song Wuqiu said, forcing a smile. He silently followed behind.
Xu Sanyan had requested the Hall Master's presence because he feared Wu Xin might deny everything. If Wu Xin were to disregard the situation and attack, Xu Sanyan wouldn't be able to stop him.
As far as Xu Sanyan knew, Wu Xin was at the Peak Stage of Soul Refinement cultivation. On Crimson Dragon Mountain, only the Hall Master could surpass him.
To be safe, Xu Sanyan had invited the Hall Master to oversee the situation. Even if the Mad Daoist remained unconscious, Wu Xin wouldn't dare to act as long as the Hall Master was present.
At that moment, in the Crimson Heart Hall, Wu Xin, clad in a Purple Robe, sat at the head of the assembly. He held a pair of Golden Orbs, slowly rotating them in his hands. His eyes were half-closed, and his face wore an expression of serene composure.
On either side of him sat the elders from the various halls, along with other elders without official positions, all seated in quiet contemplation.
Someone on Wu Xin's left spoke up. "Vice Hall Master Liu, why did the Holy Son summon everyone with such fanfare? What is this about?"
Liu Tang stroked his beard and smiled. "Patience, patience. You will all know soon enough."
Wu Xin opened a narrow slit in his eyes and said slowly, "It had better be important. Everyone is busy. We don't have time to indulge a mere child's whims."
Liu Tang retorted, "Elder Wu, are you calling the Holy Son a mere child? Do you have some grievance against the sect's Holy Son?"
"Heh..."
Wu Xin smiled faintly, choosing not to argue. Turning to the person beside him, he asked, "Why isn't Elder Song here?"
"I'm not sure. Perhaps he didn't receive the message."
"I hope so..." Wu Xin muttered under his breath, a bad premonition stirring in his heart.
"The Holy Son has arrived."
Someone spoke up, and everyone turned to the entrance of the hall. Two... no, three figures were slowly approaching.
Leading the way was Xu Sanyan, with Hall Master Mad Daoist strapped to his back. Behind them walked a figure Wu Xin knew all too well: Song Wuqiu.
Elder Wu's heart skipped a beat. His gaze sharpened, and he glared fiercely at Song Wuqiu.
Song Wuqiu kept his eyes lowered, avoiding their gaze.
The hall erupted in chaos. "Elder Song?"
"Why is he with the Holy Son?"
"Could it be...?"
The elders aligned with Wu Xin felt a chill run down their spines.
The other elders remained silent, but their eyes gleamed with shrewdness as they speculated in their minds.
"This racket is unbearable!"
At that moment, Mad Daoist grumbled, slowly opening his eyes with a dazed expression. "Huh... how did I get here?"
"Put me down," the Mad Daoist said, patting Xu Sanyan's shoulder, his mind clearing slightly. "Why did you carry me here?"
Xu Sanyan set him down. "A few days ago, the Hall Master appointed me to oversee all affairs on the mountain. I discovered someone abusing their authority to embezzle sect funds on a massive scale. Today, I've specifically requested the Hall Master's presence to witness this."
Wu Xin flew into a rage, abandoning all pretense of composure. He slammed his hand on the table and stood up. "You're slandering us! Because we refused to take orders from you, you've twisted the truth and maliciously defamed us. I implore the Hall Master to see through this!"
Xu Sanyan's expression held a hint of disdain. "Elder Wu, aren't you being a bit too agitated? I haven't even named anyone yet, and you've already jumped to your own defense."
The Mad Daoist found the nearest chair and sat down, unfastening the gourd at his waist and taking a swig. He turned to Xu Sanyan. "Do you have any evidence?"
"Yes!" Xu Sanyan pointed at Song Wuqiu. "Elder Song is known for his integrity and incorruptibility. He's long been disgusted by Elder Wu and the others' embezzlement of sect funds, but he was previously constrained by Elder Wu's influence. Now, he has chosen to abandon the darkness and embrace the light. I invite him to tell the Hall Master what he knows."
Listening to Xu Sanyan's fabricated story, Wu Xin almost laughed in fury. His eyes narrowed with murderous intent as he glared at Song Wuqiu. Integrity and incorruptibility?
He can't stand us hoarding spirit stones?
Damn it, he's the greediest of them all!
The Mad Daoist tilted his chin, signaling Song Wuqiu to speak.
Song Wuqiu bowed and said, "The Holy Son is correct. Just the Corpse Blood Hall, which I oversee, sees four to five thousand spirit stones annually diverted into the pockets of Elder Wu and his cronies..."
"What utter nonsense!" Wu Xin roared, trying to interrupt Song Wuqiu.
The Mad Daoist calmly glanced at Wu Xin, who froze in place. He lowered his head and obediently sat down. If one looked closely, they could see his body trembling violently, as if he had just narrowly escaped a great crisis.
"Continue," the Mad Daoist said.
"Yes."
Song Wuqiu swallowed hard. "Each hall is required to 'find a way' to contribute two to three tenths of its annual revenue, or treasures of equivalent value, to Elder Wu. He then tallies each hall's contributions and distributes rewards based on merit. I, for one, never wanted to accept these bribes, but my cultivation level is too shallow to refuse."
He emphasized the words "find a way."
Wu Xin listened, his body trembling with rage. How could anyone be so shameless?!
Every year, he was the loudest, clamoring for more. Now that he'd finally gotten his wish, he'd become a paragon of virtue with just a flap of his lips?
The Mad Daoist turned to the elders and asked, "What? Isn't the annual stipend I give you enough?"
Everyone lowered their heads, afraid to meet his gaze.
The Mad Daoist had no interest in managing the mountain gate's affairs. As long as nothing went wrong, he usually turned a blind eye. But now that this had been brought directly to his attention, he couldn't ignore it.
"Do you have anything to say?" the Mad Daoist asked Wu Xin.
Wu Xin calmed himself, his mind racing. He raised his voice in defense, "Elder Song's accusations are utter nonsense, baseless and unsubstantiated. I have never embezzled a single spirit stone from the sect. I implore the Hall Master to investigate thoroughly."
The Mad Daoist nodded slightly and turned to Song Wuqiu. "Do you have any evidence?"
"Yes..." Song Wuqiu replied softly.
Wu Xin was stunned. Had the old fool gone mad?
Presenting evidence would implicate himself as well. Was he trying to drag them both down together?
At that moment, Xu Sanyan spoke up. "Elder Song was forced to accept some bribes under duress. I beg the Hall Master to forgive his transgression."
The Mad Daoist waved his hand. "If this is true, you'll be credited for your service and absolved of any wrongdoing."
(End of the Chapter)
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