Volume 11, Chapter 777 – Exterminating the Immortal Alliance (Part 3)

Hearing these words, the people of the Immortal Alliance once again tensed up, while the millions of onlookers sharpened their attention.

“This humble woman values justice when taking action. Many of you here have suffered in one way or another under the persecution of the Immortal Alliance. Why not take this chance, in front of so many witnesses, to speak out and let everyone judge for themselves?”

Qi Huang bent her knees slightly in a graceful salute.

“How strange! Why does Qi Huang look like a completely different person?”

“Yes, just now she looked like a simple girl, but now she carries the bearing of a refined lady of a noble household.”

“Don’t bother yourself over it. Perhaps this is just her eccentric amusement. I, for one, want to know whether her talk of persecution is real.”

“It must be false, right? The Immortal Alliance is known as the government office of the cultivation world. How could they go around persecuting others? Surely she’s just trying to make herself look good.”

The crowd murmured among themselves.

But those close to Qi Huang were not surprised; after all, this state of hers had lasted several years already.

Cheng Hongling gazed at Qi Huang with tender affection, as though a “husband” looking at his cherished young wife.

And indeed, that was the truth. Regarding Qi Huang’s two personalities, Cheng Hongling always distinguished between them: when Qi Huang was in her male persona, she treated him as her husband, relying on him deeply; when she appeared in her female persona, she treated her like a pampered wife, indulging her with love.

“Well then, let me, an ancestor of the Jiang Clan, take the lead.”

Jiang Feng was the first to stand. He revealed his scarlet eyes and sharp fangs without hesitation.

“My heavens! A fiend! He’s a fiend!”

The spectators shrieked in horror.

“Outrageous! You dare collude with fiends while calling yourselves cultivators!”

Lu Lin instantly realized this was the perfect chance to turn defense into offense, and so he stoked the crowd’s emotions: “Everyone has seen it—this man is a zombie! These rebels are actually consorting with a fiend. How could such people be anything but villains?”

Qi Huang’s smile did not falter. “Indeed, this ancestor of the Jiang Clan is a zombie. But the culprit behind it all is none other than the Immortal Alliance.”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

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Lu Lin’s expression was one of shock.

“She speaks no nonsense.”

Jiang Feng broke his silence, recounting his identity and how, a thousand years ago, when he sought to purge the Pingshan Mass Burial Ground, he was betrayed by a traitor from within the Immortal Alliance.

“Is that true?”

“No one knows. It happened a thousand years ago, there’s neither evidence nor witnesses. Who dares to pass judgment?”

“Most likely false. The Immortal Alliance has always been sworn enemies with fiends. Why would they obstruct Jiang Feng’s crusade against the Pingshan Mass Burial Ground?”

“Yes, that makes no sense at all.”

The spectators began debating, most leaning toward skepticism.

“Heh, laughable! That was over a thousand years ago. With no witnesses or evidence, do you really think anyone will believe you?”

Lu Lin sneered with disdain.

“Who said there are no witnesses?”

Qi Huang summoned with a thought, and the Four-Eared Wolf, Bai Yun, appeared before her.

“That’s… that’s a Four-Eared Wolf! No, wait… it’s a Four-Eared Wolf zombie.”

“What’s a Four-Eared Wolf?”

“It’s a kind of robust wolf with extraordinary combat power. They have four ears, allowing them to see in and hear in all directions. They were once the best choice for great clans to guard their estates.”

“Then why don’t we see them anymore?”

“I heard the Immortal Alliance exterminated their entire race.”

“What? Why would the Immortal Alliance exterminate them?”

“Who knows? It was thousands of years ago. I only happened to read about it in a book.”

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Some spectators instantly recognized Bai Yun.

“As you can all see, I was once a Four-Eared Wolf in life, and became a fiend haunting the Pingshan Mass Burial Ground in death. As for how I became a fiend, let my master explain.”

Bai Yun’s hatred of the Immortal Alliance was bone-deep, so he willingly cooperated.

Zhen Feiyan had waited far too long for this day. She too stood, shedding her disguise, and recounted how she and Bai Yun had been persecuted by the Immortal Alliance.

“How could the Alliance Leader be so cruel? For the sake of his granddaughter’s single finger, he exterminated the entire race of Four-Eared Wolves, not sparing even one of them.”

The crowd roared with condemnation.

“It’s you? You’re that fiend who attacked the Immortal Alliance headquarters six years ago?”

At this moment, Lu Lin recognized Zhen Feiyan.

“Yes, it was me. Now do you understand why I came to trouble you?”

Zhen Feiyan sneered coldly.

“After being persecuted by the Immortal Alliance and turned into fiends, we stayed in the Pingshan Mass Burial Ground until…”

Bai Yun continued, describing how Jiang Feng’s crusade against the Burial Ground was sabotaged by an Immortal Alliance traitor.

“Absurd! The Immortal Alliance has always been irreconcilable with fiends. How could we obstruct him?”

Lu Lin refused to admit it.

“The reason is simple. From ancient times until now, your Alliance has abided by an unspoken rule: the Wolf-Rearing Tactic.”

Qi Huang walked with graceful steps, her voice calm yet piercing: “The so-called tactic means deliberately letting fiends run rampant, all to preserve your own status and worth. Because you know that once monsters are gone, mortals will have little need for cultivators. That would directly damage the Immortal Alliance’s interests.”

“Exactly!”

Cheng Hongling stood, adding, “That is why our Jiang Clan ancestor’s crusade against the Pingshan Mass Burial Ground was something the Alliance never wanted. So they secretly obstructed him, leading to the downfall of heroes who sacrificed for the nation and its people.”

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At the word “heroes”, Jiang Feng’s face lit up with surprise and joy. He had never expected that this rebellious granddaughter would one day praise him.

“My heavens! So there are such depths of corruption! This Wolf-Rearing Tactic sounds very plausible.”

“Now I finally understand why the fiends of the cultivation world have never been eradicated. It turns out the Alliance intentionally let them be. These people put their own profit above the safety of the people. Truly shameless.”

“Who would have thought? The Immortal Alliance, who always flaunts righteousness, are nothing but hypocrites.”

The spectators cursed through clenched teeth.

“Don’t be deceived! That beast was already in league with her. Can he count as a witness?”

Lu Lin quickly tried to sway them again, then snapped at Qi Huang: “You demoness! Do you think slandering the Alliance will conceal your rebellion? Where is the evidence?”

“You rebels are shameless… fabricating stories to smear us. As long as one stain sticks, you’ll call yourselves the righteous side, is that it? But without witnesses or evidence, who will believe your lies?”

Elder You also chimed in.

“Wanting witnesses and evidence for a ‘story’ like this? That’s easily done.”

Qi Huang maintained her polite smile, then turned to the royal clans of several Central Continent nations: “Elder Sister Jin Xue, Elder Sister Yu Ning, Elder Sister Ouyang Yi, would you please recount how you were abducted by the Immortal Alliance to serve as bait?”

“Of course!”

The three women rose, and together recounted how they had been taken captive.

“Enough! This slander was already used years ago. Soon afterward, they themselves issued a notice apologizing to the Alliance. The entire cultivation world knows this. To bring it up again now… How shameful.”

Lu Lin mocked with feigned composure.

“Yes, we all know of this. Six years ago those nations issued a joint statement condemning the Alliance, but not long after, they publicly exonerated them. Who would believe it now?”

The crowd echoed him.

“The only reason they compromised back then was because the Immortal Alliance threatened them, so they endured in silence.”

Qi Huang explained on behalf of the three nations.

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“What’s the use of all your words? Where’s the evidence?”

Lu Lin pressed.

“Hehe, want evidence? Simple. Did you imagine that I, too, was among those captives?”

Qi Huang smiled charmingly. With a thought, the Shadow-Retaining Mirror floated before her, and she replayed every scene captured during their venture into the Kapok Valley Treasure Land.

“Giggle… We were all in the party back then. You never knew, did you?”

Ruan Lingyu and several senior sisters taunted as well.

Lu Lin’s face hardened, and he urgently transmitted to the elders nearby: “Why are you still standing there? If the Immortal Alliance’s reputation collapses, do you think you’ll be spared?”

Several elders from immortal clans wore conflicted looks. They truly had endured enough, yet none wished to be the first to act.

“Eldest Brother, Second Brother! If others won’t move, fine. But just now that demoness wounded me and your nephew. Do you mean to stand by? In this gathering, only your names are inscribed upon the Immortal Stele.”

The one speaking was Zheng Pan, the man whose abdomen had first been pierced by Qi Huang. His eldest brother was Zheng Qian, peak master of Zhizun Peak and father of Zheng Wei, while his second brother was Zheng Kun, an elder of the Immortal Alliance.

“Let me handle this. After all, this demoness came today to challenge the Alliance.”

Zheng Kun finally stepped forth from the Alliance ranks. He knew his move was best. If he lost, Zhizun Peak would remain untouched.

“Demoness! First you harmed my clan members of Zhizun Peak, now you seek to blacken the name of the Alliance. I, Zheng Kun, will not allow you to run wild here! Didn’t you want to witness the might of the Immortal Stele? Then as you wish!”

Zheng Kun slowly summoned his treasured sword.

“Retreat! Quickly retreat!”

Lu Lin’s face changed, hastily warning the others of the Alliance to fall back.

“Run! Elder Zheng is about to act!”

The higher-ups and disciples of the Immortal Alliance all knew well the terrifying power of the Stele. Panic-stricken, they fled backward, and even the distant spectators withdrew in fear, scattering far away.