Exposing the Yiling Laozu

- 1 -

The war had long been won. The sects returned back to their homes and started focusing on rebuilding and recruiting new disciples. The balance of the cultivation world was tipped, and soon the weaknesses and helplessness of the sects was taken advantage of and the Jin sect leader had been elected as the chief cultivator. 

It might have been done out of greed and wishing for an advantageous position by supporting the biggest and richest sect, or just because the sects had their own problems to solve and couldn't bother with this new power balance. If they saw any injustice, it didn't matter as long as they were safe. However, one spirit was against this policy and had stood up against the chief cultivator, making him lose face in front of the other sect leaders, making him an enemy to the cultivation world.

If that wasn't reason enough to pit the Jiang sect leader, still young and pitiful, jealous of such power even when it was in his own hands; then the matter of his new path and his defect from the Yummeng Jiang would make the rumors only grow more. The wilder, the better.

That was the reason he had organized today's banquet. He wasn't sure if the other sects were stupid enough to believe whatever he said or if they are already investigating the Burial Mounds. However, he didn't wish to take a risk. With the scroll on his table, he watched with barely concealed excitement as the sect leaders and their disciples walked into the magnificent hall and sat down wherever tables they were assigned.

Jin Guangshan stood up and went to greet the sect leaders, his recently married son and his wife by his side. And once the sect leaders of the great sects were seated, he returned back to his own seat on the elevated throne. The Jin sect leader could feel the glare directed at him by the Nie sect leader but decided that ignoring him was all he would do; after all it was only one person against all the attendees.

"Er-ge, I hope you are doing well. However, I cannot see Hanguang-jun, is he not here?"

As usual, Jin Guangyao was subtle and a slimy bastard, the only reason his father kept him. Tuning out everything else, the man focused on the ongoing conversation between the two sworn brothers.

"I have been well A-Yao. Unfortunately, Wangji has gone to a night hunt two days ago so he cannot join us."

Jin Guangshan clicked his tongue. He had been hoping to have the alpha here. Lan Wangji was known to be righteous and had seen him pester the demonic cultivator over and over. So it cannot be mere rumor that he hated him. He could be invaluable having him against the man since most looked up to him and would obviously believe his judgment. However, he didn't let it bother him since Grandmaster Lan was here and was known to loathe the ex- head disciple of the Jiang sect.

Not wanting to lose any time, the chief cultivator stood up and smiled down at everyone present. "I welcome everyone today. I am sure you are all confused on why I had invited you to a banquet out of the blue." Smiling serenely, his eyes swept over the crowd and seeing that almost all of them hang on his words, he hummed in satisfaction before continuing. 

"Even though the war was already won, there are still tensions in the air and I believe that we all know the reason for such atmosphere. After killing our guards and freeing the Wens, no one had seen the Yiling Patriarch. Who knows what he is doing this moment in his cursed mountain?! Killing people every day, kidnapping disciples, turning them into fierce corpses and amassing an army! We didn't exhaust ourselves in the war a year ago just to go into another one this soon!"

Hushed whispers were heard before one of his followers raised his hand into a fist.

"I agree with the chief cultivator! That Wei Wuxian!" The name was spat in disgust and only the two Jiang siblings reacted. "Causing the destruction of the Jiang sect and now helping the enemy. I must say that he will soon be the new Wen Ruohan if we do not act swiftly"