When Ming Qi uttered these words, the faces of all the surrounding innate masters, including Prince Xu, turned extremely grim. Ming Qi's actions showed complete disregard for their existence.
As a young, acquired-stage outer disciple of the Biyou Sect, he had so blatantly protected a demon. If word got out, the elders and masters of the Biyou Sect would probably be too embarrassed to leave the house.
However, not everyone present was intent on exorcising the demon.
"Haha, you're quite courageous, boy. I like you."
Zhao Qi took a few steps forward, approaching Prince Xu, who stood sword-wielding, and said, "Prince, you're already so old, why don't you change your temper?"
Zhao Qi and Prince Xu were of the same generation within the Biyou Sect, so naturally, they didn't hold back when speaking. As for the others, they were almost all several generations younger than them, so while they might have some thoughts in mind, they couldn't bring themselves to speak.
"Sword-wielding Elder, I dare to ask for your mercy."
Finally, one of the elite disciples spoke up.
It was Yue Dongqing, the first to speak up in Ming Qi's defense.
As soon as Yue Dongqing spoke, the surrounding innate masters all expressed surprise.
Yue Dongqing had previously presided over the Tianqi Academy disciples at the Golden Autumn Festival, and it seemed she had some connection to the academy, but she didn't seem to have gone so far as to disregard the sect's reputation.
"How should we deal with this demon?"
Prince Xu, instead of answering, asked Yue Dongqing the crucial question.
Yes, the appearance of a demon within a dignified and righteous sect would inevitably become a laughing stock if no reasonable means were taken.
Furthermore, the Biyou Sect was secretly brewing a major transformation. If the situation became public, disastrous consequences would undoubtedly follow.
"How about handing them over to the disciples?"
Yue Dongqing asked. Crown Prince Xu didn't respond immediately, but pondered.
"No!"
At this moment, a figure suddenly stood up, bowed, and said to Crown Prince Xu, "Elder Sword Wielding, if this demon isn't eliminated, it will inevitably cause catastrophic harm. You must not harbor any mercy."
The figure spoke with a resounding tone, each word like a sword, its edge unflinching.
He stood there, resembling a murderous spear.
"Yan Zhuihun, are you deliberately going against me?"
Yue Dongqing didn't give in, and spoke directly to him.
The speaker was none other than Yan Zhuihun, an elite inner sect disciple. He wielded the Longkong Locking Cloud Spear, and his power was terrifying.
"I dare not."
Zhan Zhuihun, neither humble nor arrogant, gazed at Yue Dongqing with hawk-like eyes, saying, "As the Canglong Guardian, you are responsible for enforcing the law. You don't need my advice on how to deal with this."
"Indeed, Senior Brother Yan is right. The demon is causing trouble and must be immediately sent to the Demon Slaying Platform."
Xiao Longzhen, standing nearby, also stepped forward.
Yue Dongqing's expression, hidden beneath her mask, instantly changed. Yan Zhuihun and Xiao Longzhen, two elite inner sect disciples, had opinions that could not be ignored. Their arguments were well-reasoned and irrefutable.
Seeing Yue Dongqing remain silent for a moment, Yan Zhuihun smiled slightly and said, "Canglong Guardian, am I right?"
"That being said, everything is subject to change. I don't think the current situation warrants immediate execution."
Yue Dongqing didn't speak, but someone beside her spoke.
Beichen Academy's Dean, Zong Weiyi, surprised Ming Qi somewhat. He hadn't expected Zong Weiyi to speak up for him in such a situation.
"Dean Zong?"
Yan Zhuihun was also quite surprised. Zong Weiyi had always been low-key, so why had he gotten involved at this moment?
"Since you keep saying she's a demon, how can you prove it?"
Zong Weiyi's face was as sullen as water, as calm as ever, without a flicker of emotion.
"Her resistance to the Sword-wielding Elder is proof!"
Yan Zhuihun immediately pulled Prince Xu out. Prince Xu had determined she was a demon, so was Zong Weiyi going to question him?
"Hehe."
Zong Weiyi didn't ask Crown Prince Xu. Instead, he chuckled twice and said, "Then if I say you're a demon and want to kill you, will you just sit there and wait for death?"
Yan Zhuihun's face changed. "You're just quibbling!"
Indeed, Zong Weiyi's statement did seem a bit of a sly joke, but if you think about it carefully, it's not completely unfounded.
What is the righteous path in this world? What is the devil's path?
Punishing evil and benefiting the people is the righteous path. Bringing disaster to the world and harming nature is the devil's path.
If a cultivator commits great evil, how is that different from the devil's path? On the other hand, if a demon hides his demonic nature, refraining from harming innocent people or killing living beings, is there any reason to kill him?
"Good and evil can be separated by a single thought. Don't let some unknown reason cause you to lose your composure and lose the dignity of an immortal."
Zong Weiyi was so good, he even ended up discussing Yan Zhuihun's character.
"I think it's best to consider this matter carefully. After all, this junior brother may have the blood of the Fire God." The newly promoted elite disciple Yan Chaofan also spoke up.
As she spoke, her eyes were fixed on the flaming Fire God wings behind Ming Qi.
Only those with Fire God bloodline, after their bloodline awakens, can summon the Fire God wings. Yan Chaofan, with her extraordinary experience, understood this.
The only thing that puzzled her at this moment was whether these magnificent and powerful wings were truly the Fire God's.
If they were, then if the Fire God's wrath were to be incurred and divine retribution were to befall, the tiny Biyou Sect would be reduced to ashes in a blink of an eye, completely wiped out from the face of the earth.
As if Yan Chaofan's words had reminded everyone, everyone present who genuinely cared about the Biyou Sect immediately considered this serious issue.
They were naturally familiar with the legend of the Fire God. As innately powerful beings, their reverence for the deity went far beyond the simple worship of ordinary people. Their awe was not merely the god's power, but its wrath.
After a long silence, Crown Prince Xu regained his composure and said to the crowd, "I was hasty. Let Dongqing handle this matter."
He glanced at Yue Dongqing and then slowly walked out of the crowd.
Seeing Crown Prince Xu leave like this, the rest of the group was speechless, each returning to their own homes with their own thoughts.
Watching everyone leave one by one, Yue Dongqing was about to step forward to inquire about the matter when she saw the massive Fire God's wings behind Ming Qi suddenly dim and vanish completely. Then, his body swayed, and he collapsed unconscious.
Ming Qi was truly exhausted. He'd only vaguely caught a few words from the crowd's discussions, and then his consciousness completely faded.
He had long since given up. The Fire God's Wings, never truly his own power, showed signs of disintegrating after withstanding Prince Xu's terrifying attack. But he held on with a tenacious will until he saw Prince Xu turn and leave. He knew he'd escaped a crisis, and the momentary relief caused him to fall completely into unconsciousness.
Still, Ming Qi felt relieved. He had protected the one he wanted to protect, just as Meng Ling had desperately rushed to save Ming Qi upon seeing him engulfed in flames.
He had to do the same thing!
Only Ming Qi knew that those flaming wings weren't the legendary Fire God's Wings.
Those wings, imbued with flaming power, came from a magical formula.
The Vermillion Bird Burning Heaven Sutra!
After Ming Qi endlessly poured mid-grade Yuan Crystals, imbued with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, into the Supreme Mountain and Sea Map, the map finally underwent another drastic transformation.
The flames, symbolizing the power of fire, finally burst out of the map uncontrollably, incinerating everything around it.
However, Ming Qi himself was fiercely protected by the Supreme Mountain and Sea Map's source power. Even the all-consuming flames could not consume the last shred of clarity in his spiritual core.
Finally, this supreme flaming power merged into a supreme technique, imprinted within Ming Qi's mind.
The Suzaku Burning Heaven Sutra condensed the Suzaku Divine Wings, allowing them to soar across the sea of fire. The true name of those wings imbued with the power of fire is Suzaku Divine Wings.
In Ming Qi's memory, Suzaku was the Holy God of Fire. His power was in no way inferior to that of a true Fire God, and the might of the Suzaku Divine Wings was no less powerful than the wings of the Fire God of this world. However, Ming Qi preferred the name Suzaku Divine Wings.
The moment he was engulfed by the merciless Burning Heaven flames, Ming Qi fully felt the flames' power. He yearned even more for the day when he could control them, sweeping away all obstacles and reaching the pinnacle of his dreams.
Although he had obtained the supreme Suzaku Burning Heaven Scripture, Ming Qi knew that to truly master the power of fire through cultivation, he must enter the Xiantian realm. Only then could he truly open the door to the God of Fire.
Ming Qi's coma lasted for an unknown period of time. In his trance, he could only sense the profound ciphers of the Suzaku Burning Heaven Scripture swirling and echoing in his mind, occasionally hearing the gentle footsteps around him and the greetings of unidentifiable voices.
But every time he tried to move his body, or even open his eyes, he felt powerless.
He couldn't do it. It was as if his body was no longer his own, completely out of control, and his soul was like a stranger inhabiting a strange shell.
It felt like dying all over again!
Ming Qi thought this countless times.
Those who have died once, upon returning to life, are particularly afraid of death, and Ming Qi was no exception. Therefore, throughout his life, he would unswervingly pursue the pinnacle of control. In his view, only by reaching the pinnacle, controlling everything, could he control his own life and death, and avoid facing the fear of death again.
After an unknown amount of time, Ming Qi finally felt a flicker of consciousness return to his body, first from his eyes, then throughout his head, and then to his body.
With difficulty, he opened his eyes and saw a pair of bright, jewel-like eyes staring back at him.
As their eyes met, those bright, beautiful eyes instantly smiled beautifully.