CHAPTER 158: 158 - YOUR DISCIPLE IS A LIAR!

The central square of the city of the scarlet dragon was filled with silence.

No one dared to make a single sound, only the faint whistling of the wind in the ears of everyone there could be heard.

Young Master Shen was shaking with anger as he pointed in Qingyi’s direction.

The leader of the Serene Cloud Sect focused his gaze on the handsome young man, unable to contain his powerful aura from the peak of the Burning Blood Realm that was involuntarily leaking out.

So that was the brat who dared to attempt the life of his beloved son?

"Jinhai... I hope you have a good explanation for that." He took a step forward, his eyes bloodshot and the noble features of his middle-aged face hardening like ice.

Jinhai turned his face, staring at Qingyi, whose expression remained serene and calm despite the glint of murderous intent inside his beautiful black eyes.

"You’ve been to the Heavenly Thunder Realm, right?" Jinhai asked.

He already knew the answer to that question, but he wanted confirmation from Qingyi himself.

"Husband..." Feiyan called out anxiously, her long, delicate fingers entwining with Qingyi’s and clenching nervously.

"Don’t worry," he whispered, returning the tanned beauty’s squeeze.

Raising his head, Qingyi replied: "Yes, sect leader, I’ve been to the Heavenly Thunder Realm and fought against Young Master Shen in the Tempest Secret Realm."

Those words sent shock through the crowd, dozens of hushed whispers ringing out among the people watching them.

"But-" Qingyi opened his mouth, but before he could even complete his sentence, Young Master Shen’s voice interrupted him.

"I told you, he’s the one who tried to murder me, I demand justice!" The arrogant young man shouted, clutching his father’s robes while his eyes fixed on the sword that hung from Qingyi’s waist. "That’s the artifact he stole from me!"

"You’re right my son," The leader of the Serene Cloud Sect closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, they were filled with murderous intent.

"Such an act deserves punishment!" He growled, his saber sliding out of its sheath and launching a single slash of wind Qi towards Qingyi.

The handsome young man raised his heaven-defying thunder sword and pushed Feiyan away.

Jinhai wasn’t moving and it looked like he would have to fend for himself.

That attack obviously carried only a fraction of the Serene Cloud sect leader’s power, but it was still a powerful blow.

A loud bang echoed through the square, followed by a powerful shockwave.

The heaven-defying thunder sword flickered softly and Qingyi gritted his teeth, carefully controlling his Qi to prevent it from showing beyond the peak of the golden core realm.

He was forced to take two steps back, his arms trembling as smoke left the sword in his hands.

His lightning sword Qi spread across the silver-purple blade, making the air around him boil.

At that moment, the pitying looks in his direction turned to absolute shock.

That young man from the Golden Core realm had just fended off a blow from an expert at the peak of the Burning Blood realm and one of the most powerful cultivators in the entire outer region of the Blue Moon Continent?

Even a hundredth of the power of the leader of the Serene Cloud Sect should be enough to crush Qingyi like an insect! How could that be possible?

When they saw that Jinhai wasn’t moving, they all believed it was the end of Qingyi.

But now they realized the truth, Jinhai hadn’t moved because he didn’t think it was necessary!

"Sect leader," Qingyi turned towards Jinhai, ignoring the shocked looks. "May I explain myself?"

Deaths between sect disciples were common.

Disputes over resources, duels for honor, all of this occurred regularly and even though there were technically laws between the sects prohibiting murder, these rarely had any real effect.

But there was an exception to that. Rich and powerful people killed in unofficial confrontations.

Naturally, Qingyi trying to kill the son of the leader of one of the three great sects was seen as an extremely serious matter.

"Go ahead," Jinhai replied, turning to the leader of the Serene Cloud Sect.

"Shen Lianhe, allow my disciple to defend himself before passing judgment. I will ignore this initial disrespect, but if it is repeated..."

Jinhai’s voice changed, losing its dignity and being dominated by a powerful, furious aura.

The faint, enormous image of a golden dragon appeared on his back, pulsating with ancient power.

Lianhe took a step back, breaking out in a cold sweat.

Turning his face, he observed the leader of the Burning Heart Sect, who had exactly the same look as him.

Although they both had the same cultivation as Jinhai, his lineage was simply too powerful for them to confront.

"Very well," Lianhe controlled the tremor in his voice, turning to Qingyi. "Go ahead, boy," he said, holding his son by the shoulder.

"Thank you for your understanding, Senior. I did indeed fight your son, but it was in self-defense, so much so that, as you can see, I used my fists instead of my sword to immobilize him." Qingyi spoke, unable to hide the mockery in his last words as he looked at Young Master Shen’s scarred face.

"Lies! He attacked me, tried to murder me and steal what was rightfully mine!" Young Master Shen roared, clutching his father’s robes.

"Daddy, I demand his life! Please, my Dao heart will never be the same if I don’t wash away this shame!"

"Ah..." Lianhe sighed heavily, his aura exploding from his body in full power, colliding with Jinhai’s.

"You’ll have to compensate me, either with blood or with the boy’s sword. My son has an interest in this item and I believe it is suitable as an apology." Lianhe spoke.

He was inferior to Jinhai, but he couldn’t let his face be thrown into the mud like that.

He had to protect the honor of his sect and his son.

"My disciple has already said it was self-defense, and I believe him. Back off, I’d rather not stain this sacred place with blood," Jinhai replied firmly.

"Your disciple is a liar!" Lianhe retorted furiously.