The cultivators present all watched coldly.
Sun Qingde looked around at the Immortal Sect members, realizing few supported him, and burst into laughter.
"Since when do a bunch of Rebirth Stage cultivators dare look at me like this?"
As he laughed, Zhu Xiaosuo felt his blood surge, his head spinning.
Beside him, Ba Mingyang's face turned crimson, clearly uncomfortable.
The cultivators present were all swaying, struggling to stand.
"Elder Sun!"
Zhu Jingyue's shout stopped Sun Qingde's laughter.
Zhu Xiaosuo felt his body return to normal, cold sweat on his forehead as he gasped for air.
"Elder Sun, everyone here is very concerned about the spirit collapse, but it's due to objective factors that we can't start work immediately. There's no intention of targeting you. Elder Sun, you shouldn't be so sensitive."
Sun Qingde glared at Zhu Jingyue viciously:
"Very well, City Lord Zhu, it seems you don't respect the Sect Elders! Just wait for the Sect to hold you accountable!"
"Elder Sun, everyone here can testify that I've only been explaining the objective difficulties and situations, without any disrespect to the Sect Elders. Even if you can't understand, you shouldn't have such an extreme attitude. It will only lower the Sect's prestige among cultivators and hinder future work. Rest assured, Elder Sun, I've recorded everything from start to finish with a memory orb. After handling the spirit collapse incident, it will be submitted along with the results to the state."
As he spoke, a blue orb appeared in his hand.
"You... fine, you're quite capable, City Lord Zhu. I underestimated you."
With the memory orb, it would be difficult for Sun Qingde to frame Zhu Jingyue and Ba Shanyue.
The incident of over a hundred cultivators perishing while excavating the spirit vein would surely shock the entire land of the Exiled Immortals.
Moreover, he hadn't even reported this spirit vein to the Sect!
All the profits went into his own pocket.
If the spirit vein resulted in heavy casualties, he would definitely face accountability.
He must save it!
But he was merely a Mission Elder.
He could only mobilize Sect members from the mundane realm near the City of Seeking Immortality.
He had no authority to mobilize the Sect disciples and Inner Disciples currently training within the Sect's domain.
The cultivators before him were his only available rescue force for the spirit vein.
After a moment of contemplation, he devised a plan and announced:
"I declare that if this spirit collapse incident results in more than twenty cultivator casualties, the Sect will suspend the mission examination for ten years. Although the examination is suspended, the Sect rules remain unchanged."
"What?!"
Suspend the examination for ten years? The Sect rules remain unchanged?
According to the Sect rules, before becoming a Sect disciple, one must complete an examination every three years.
Failing to complete three examinations would result in losing all support from the Sect.
Suspending the examination for ten years meant that all cultivators present who were not yet Sect disciples would sever their ties with the Sect.
It would also end their path to immortality.
Zhu Xiaosuo was stunned.
Could Sun Qingde, a Mission Elder, wield such power?
Could he casually decide that the Sect wouldn't accept new members for ten years?
All the cultivators who were not yet Sect disciples were in a state of panic.
It was like sitting at home and having a disaster fall from the sky.
More than twenty casualties?
It's possible that the spirit collapse alone could result in more than twenty casualties.
Who could say for sure?
Going on missions without compensation, and possibly being expelled from the Sect for no reason?
At this moment, someone spoke up:
"Elder Sun, according to the Sect rules, if a mission results in more than twenty cultivator casualties, the primary responsible person is dismissed. If the spirit collapse really causes such a big problem, you should first worry about whether you'll keep your position as an Elder!"
Zhu Xiaosuo looked over and saw it was Ba Mingyang!
Sun Qingde followed the voice and saw Ba Mingyang in a beggar's attire.
Ba Mingyang looked at Sun Qingde with a deadpan expression, his eyes cold.
Zhu Xiaosuo didn't know why Ba Mingyang would speak out against Sun Qingde.
He was a Sect disciple, and even if he ignored Sun Qingde, it wouldn't affect him.
Yet he stood up.
Was it out of righteousness, or was he hoping to gain fame?
Ba Mingyang, to make his name known?
Zhu Xiaosuo chuckled to himself.
However, it seemed Ba Mingyang only remembered the content of the Sect rules, not the rule number.
Compared to himself, he was still lacking.
Zhu Xiaosuo had thoroughly studied the Sect rules in the Cultivator's Beginner Guide.
Whenever he quoted a Sect rule, he would cite the source.
The cautious Zhu Xiaosuo noticed a hint of malice in Sun Qingde's eyes.
Just like the night Zhuang Yun had grabbed him by the throat.
He had murderous intent!
Zhu Xiaosuo's heart tightened, Ba Mingyang was in danger!
But clearly, Ba Mingyang hadn't realized the impending crisis.
Zhu Xiaosuo didn't hesitate; he had to save Ba Mingyang.
He despised this narrow-minded Elder Sun, who had ruined his future for no reason.
If he could gain Ba Shanyue's protection, things might improve.
Zhu Xiaosuo quickly looked at Ba Shanyue.
Ba Shanyue didn't seem to recognize the beggar as his son.
He was still whispering with Chen Guisou.
Zhu Xiaosuo sensed that Sun Qingde could strike at any moment.
But he alone couldn't possibly stop Sun Qingde's attack.
He could only hope Ba Shanyue would intervene.
Sure enough, Sun Qingde said:
"Insulting a Sect Elder is a crime punishable by death!"
Indeed, he intended to kill.
At the same time, Zhu Xiaosuo immediately shouted:
"Ba Mingyang!"
He believed these two words would alert Ba Shanyue.
Sure enough, Ba Shanyue immediately turned around in surprise, looking at Ba Mingyang.
Finally, he recognized his son.
He also realized Sun Qingde was about to make a move.
"Die!"
"You dare!"
Zhu Xiaosuo saw Sun Qingde raise his hand, and a terrifying aura locked onto him and Ba Mingyang.
They were both immobilized.
Just as every hair on his body stood on end, at the critical moment, a figure stepped in front of them.
With a "boom," Zhu Xiaosuo was blown away by the shockwave.
He crashed into the nearby mountain wall.
Zhu Xiaosuo felt his organs shift, overwhelmed by pain.
Looking up, he saw Ba Mingyang lying not far away, with a nosebleed.
"Ba Shanyue, what do you mean by this?"
Ba Shanyue had taken Sun Qingde's blow head-on and was not in good shape.
His clothes were mostly torn.
"Elder Sun, you were about to kill my son. What do you think I mean?"
Sun Qingde sneered:
"Your son insulted a Sect Elder; he deserves to die."
"Sun Qingde, if you dare say that again, I'll fight you to the death!"
"Just you? A mere Late Stage Honoring the Ancient cultivator, I don't even consider you a threat. If you dare make a move, I can kill you according to Sect rules."
"I don't need to fight you. I just need to ensure you can't find the spirit vein! Sun Qingde, with over a hundred cultivators buried in the spirit vein, if they all die, the blame will crush you!"
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As the two faced off, City Lord's advisor Chen Guisou quietly said to Zhu Jingyue:
"Guardian Ba is involved too. City Lord, we need to stop the memory orb's recording. Otherwise, if it's submitted to the state, Guardian Ba will also be held accountable."
"You don't need to tell me. I stopped the memory orb when Ba Shanyue stepped in to block Sun Qingde's attack."
Chen Guisou sighed:
"City Lord, your foresight is impressive!"