As the group joined the lineup of the side which was closer to the mountain crevasse previously defending against the beast wave, Wu Long’s eyes went through the faces of the people on the other side, noticing that there were two more Grand Elders of both Cloud Piercing Sect and Profound Martial Arts Valley.

He also saw that three of the five Grand Elders of the Frozen Garden Palace stood behind Wen Mei, effectively leaving only Grand Elder Qu on the side of Palace Master Qiu as the latter nodded to Wu Long when he approached.

The last face he saw was a familiar one which now was not as pale and had a smug grin.

It was Guo Dinshan, a Core Disciple of the Profound Marial Arts Valley who slipped away during the battle before, now gaining confidence as he was on the ‘winning side’ among many powerful cultivators. His eyes were brimming with joy at Wu Long’s ‘predicament’.

“Grand Elder… shouldn’t we-…”

Elder Jue of the Profound Music Palace, the only neutral side slightly guiltily looked at Wu Long and then turned to whisper in the ear of the Grand Elder of his sect that he arrived with, but received only a rebuking gaze which told him to shut up.

Wu Long smiled at this. He may not be very interested in men in general, but he knew how rare true goodwill was, and recognized the value of people like Elder Jue.

“Grand Elder Wen… or should I call you just Wen Mei now that you have risen against your own Sect? Either way, it is unfortunate you decided to go this route” .

He then turned forward once more, speaking with a more solemn expression, even though Hua Ziyan standing next to him knew he was not that worried about this whole situation.

“Hah! I tried getting you on the right side, but you did not listen! And it is Palace Master Wen from now o-…”

“Presumptuous! Palace Master Qiu is the only Palace Master of the Frozen Garden Palace!”

Grand Elder Qu’s voice full of fury cut into Wen Mei’s triumphant speech. And even though the latter’s eyebrow twitched at being interrupted, a sneer still appeared on her face in the next moment.

“As uptight as ever. Finally I could say: would yOU PLEEEASE, SHUT! UP!”

Wen Mei’s voice rose to a thunderous roar echoing throughout the canyon.

“God it feels good to finally say it!

You can’t imagine how long I wanted to…

That shrill voice nagging at everyone anytime and anywhere haunted me for hundreds of years ever since we were fellow apprentice-sisters entering the Sect”

Her first word was spoken with an exonerated sigh of relief, as the furious expression she revealed as she shouted turned into a satisfied smile. She did so as her hands touched up her hair to remove a few stray locks that fell to her face when she shouted to the sides.

Grand Elder Qu widened her eyes at this completely unfamiliar to her behavior from the fellow Sect member she knew for centuries.

“If you had let me finish… I would have explained….

Now, where were we Daoist Wu?

Ah yes… you can call me Palace Master Wen, since now I represent the Frozen Garden Palace, and those you have there by your side are renegade members who were banished and will in time be executed”

Wen Mei’s speech was received with furious frowns of the members of the Frozen Garden Palace standing behind Wu Long and Palace Master Qiu, the latter opening her mouth to speak.

“Hah! You have some nerve Gra-… no, Wen Mei”

“Nerve? Hah, look around you, Qiu Yilao! Who supported you? Only younger generation! Disciples and Sect Protectors! Most of the Grand Elders are on my side, and I have more than half the Elders’ support!

Most importantly, retired Elders who were in seclusion are mostly on my side, and those who weren’t never left their seclusion chambers”

“You filthy…”

“Hahaha! Filthy? I am just living in reality!

It is you with your old ways who was going to lead us into ruin!

You want to stand on principle? Go on! Well I am sure as hell not interested in witnessing the fall of our Great Sect because of your outdated principles and going down with you! And neither are those who care about the Sect and their own good, those, who supported me!”

Wen Mei seemed liberated as her words freely fell from her lips, her eyes filled with excitement and delight. .

“We also recognize Palace Master Wen as the rightful inheritor of the Frozen Garden Palace by the authority of the Five Great Sects.

The found hidden will of the recently deceased Sect Ancestor Qiu named Grand Elder Wen as the true inheritor-…”

“Shameless lies!”

“That’s a fake!”

“Cheap excuse and nothing more!”

As one of the newly appeared Grand Elders of the Cloud Piercing Sect started proclaiming, the ladies of the Frozen Garden Palace began shouting in fury, but the man continued without being swayed by the heckling.

“…of the Sect Master position.

The majority support of the Grand Elders and Elders also speaks of the validity of Palace Master Wen’s claim for the title of the Sect Master.

Therefore, former Palace Master Qiu, is to be treated as an usurper who schemed and conspired to take over the Frozen Garden Palace, and anyone supporting her is to be treated as a traitor to the Sect.

We as allies and fellow member-Sects of the Five Great Sects are willing to defend the integrity and interests of our fellow Sect!”

The Grand Elder spoke over the noisy voices of the furious fairies of the Frozen Garden Palace.

“Hahahaha! Grand Elder Ro seems to feel quite the camaraderie for other sects! Since when did ya feel so passionate about your ‘allies’, huh, Ro Banshui?!”

Grand Elder Gan of the Brilliant Sun Temple laughed with a booming, naturally loud voice, revealing white teeth with a wide grin.

“Gan Shihan! Stay out of it if you are not going to help! The Brilliant Sun Temple seems to like supporting renegades and conniving liars”

“Hahaha! Bold Words! If only they were convincing!”

The two who seemed to know each other from long ago stared into each other’s eyes, neither of them willing to back down.

“Are you that fraud to claims to have comprehended the Sword Domain that only the Sword God, the respectable leader of our Sect alone was capable of achieving throughout this world?”

A Grand Elder of the Cloud Piercing Sect then turned to Wu Long, instantly earning a sharp gaze from Hua Ziyan whose fists tightened.

But unlike all expectations, Wu Long suddenly began laughing the man in the face, not bothering with answering the question or attempt any talks.

“Hah! As we thought, you’re even afraid of admitting it in front of real sword masters. How disdainful”

The Grand Elder and those around him looked satisfied with their remarks, an aloof look of superiority apparent in their eyes.

The disciples who went into the Secret Realm with Wu Long wanted to start arguing, but were held back by Xue Bing whose turquoise eyes captured his silhouette. Hua Ziyan also did not say anything, although if a look could kill, hers would have already obliterated the entire delegation of that Sect.

𝑖𝘦.𝑐𝘰𝘮