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As the blue-robed youth began to speak, Lin Beisheng finally took notice of him.
Clothed in flowing blue robes, the youth carried an impressive air, but had initially been overlooked by Lin Beisheng due to his young age.
"Who might you be?" Lin Beisheng inquired tentatively.
"I am the Great Void Sage," the blue-robed youth declared.
Beneath him, the Nine Phoenix let out a series of sharp cries as bundles of fiery red flames burned intensely, their piercing calls resonating through the entire firmament.
"The Great Void Sage," Lin Beisheng almost bit his own tongue.
The Elders and Disciples below shivered uncontrollably, unable to utter a single word.
In that instant, Lin Beisheng felt a tingling sensation on his scalp as if some terrifying existence had set its sights on him.
He should have thought sooner that no one apart from the powerful Bei Tian could possess a Fire Phoenix from the Melting Heaven’s peak as a mount.
The only explanation was that the Fire Phoenix was the Sage’s mount.
Just mentioning the title ’Sage’ was enough to shatter everyone’s pride.
In an era where Divine Kings were almost extinct, and it was rare for them to step onto the Immortal Path, in their absence, the Sages stood as the absolute pinnacle.
A sect could stand at the summit of the secular world simply by the presence of a Sage.
The so-called Sage, leader of the Great Dao, possesses the power to reach heaven and earth, undeniably formidable.
"Nine Heavens Imperial Sect’s Sect Master Lin Beisheng pays respects to the Great Void Sage," Lin Beisheng bowed with both hands, slightly bending forward in greeting.
"I have not come today to overwhelm others with my power. A Sage like myself shouldn’t be angered by the likes of juniors like you, lest I be accused of pettiness," the Great Void Sage said.
"I am merely here to seek justice. What’s black is black, what’s white is white, and they cannot be reversed."
"The Sage is wise," Lin Beisheng nodded in response.
"Now let me ask you, was it not my Holy Sect that supported your Nine Heavens Imperial Sect in your time of desperation and established the grand Nine Heavens event to provide a broader future for the promising younger generation?" the Great Void Sage asked.
"It is true that the Holy Sect has helped us, but the Nine Heavens event was not just for our sake," Lin Beisheng said.
"What do you mean?" Bei Tian asked with a frown.
"If the Sage is willing to listen, then today, even at the risk of a fallout, I shall speak plainly. Everyone is well aware," Lin Beisheng pondered for a moment.
He then said, "The Holy Sect’s support for our Nine Heavens Imperial Sect is undeniable, but the young generation of disciples represents the hope for a sect’s future development.
By setting up the Nine Heavens event, you gathered these youths into the Holy Sect and made them part of your ranks.
The way I see it, this setup makes it seem as though our Imperial Sect is being groomed to supply fresh blood to your ranks.
Even more, there is a distinction between the Main Clan and the branch families, with those from the Main Clan considering themselves superior.
You even secretly sowed division among our Nine Veins, causing us to check and balance each other, thus fulfilling your aims, right or not?"
"Nonsense," the towering Bei Tian scoffed from above, "Lin Beisheng, do you have any evidence for these claims?"
"I have no evidence, but as the Sage said, what’s black is black, what’s white is white, and cannot be interchanged. Everyone is well aware," Lin Beisheng stated.
"I do not wish to dwell on past matters. Now that my Nine Heavens Imperial Sect is independently established, I don’t want any relations with your high and mighty Main Clan. Must you really force the issue?"
"No matter how eloquent you are, you cannot deny that you killed our Holy Sect’s Elder Qin Hansheng," the Great Void Sage said.
"Bring out your son, I want to ask him face to face where he got the courage."
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"Qiu’er has already left, and is no longer within the sect," said Lin Beisheng, shaking his head.
"If the son is untaught, it’s the father’s fault, and I won’t bully the weak either," the Great Void Sage spoke.
"I might spare the Nine Heavens Imperial Sect, but you should still come back to the Holy Sect with me. Wait for your son to personally exchange your place."
Upon hearing the words of the Great Void Sage, Lin Beisheng’s gaze sharpened.
On the surface, the Great Void Sage said he would only take him, but now the Nine Heavens Imperial Sect had just been established, and without the cornerstone that he was.
The disciples’ sense of belonging was weak; if the Holy Sect’s people stirred trouble in secret, this newly independent sect gate might collapse again.
"What if I refuse to go?" Lin Beisheng looked at the Great Void Sage and said indifferently.
With his dignity already torn apart, he had no concern for appearances anymore.
"I’m afraid it’s not up to you to decide," said the Great Void Sage.
"In this vast Southern Domain, aside from the Eternal Ancient Divine King, who else can stop me?"
"Hasn’t the Saint ever considered where we got the courage to kill Qin Hansheng and establish an independent imperial sect?" Lin Beisheng asked.
"Oh?" The Great Void Sage looked at Lin Beisheng with interest and spoke, "I really want to know where exactly you get your courage from."
At this moment, Lin Beisheng didn’t know if the sect-protecting divine beast left by Xu Zimei could withstand the Saint, but clearly, he had no more roads to take.
"If the Saint truly wishes to oppress others with power today, for the future of the Imperial Sect, I, Lin Beisheng, fear not death, and must try whatever method possible," Lin Beisheng replied with a raised voice.
"I advise you all to return. The rise of the Imperial Sect is unstoppable. In future meetings, we can still address each other as Dao companions."
"Such arrogant words," the Great Void Sage snorted coldly and exclaimed, "Do you know what the consequences of offending a Saint are?"
As his voice fell, the Fire Phoenix raised its head and let out a piercing cry, spewing out flames from its sharp beak.
Witnessing this scene, the disciples at the foot of the Great Skies Peak turned pale, knowing it was too late to dodge.
Lin Beisheng’s eyes were red with rage, and he threw the Myriad Beasts Token he held, bellowing, "Where is the sect-protecting divine beast?"
The moment the Myriad Beasts Token was thrown, with a "boom," the spiritual energy contained within burst forth.
The entire sky was swept up in a storm of spiritual energy, and beneath the central Great Dao Peak that surrounded Great Skies Peak, a pair of crimson eyes slowly opened.
A thick aura of beastly might enveloped the entire Nine Heavens Imperial Sect.
Purple Qi came from the east, covering ninety thousand li. The ground trembled as if some peerless creature was about to awaken.
"Boom, boom, boom," explosions mixed with deep beastly roars resounded.
The disciples of Great Skies Peak trembled, suppressed by the beastly might to the point of not daring to lift their heads.
The most obvious reaction was from the Fire Phoenix in the sky, which shrieked uneasily while flames consumed half the firmament.
But upon a closer look, one could see that the Fire Phoenix was trembling, its body shaking uncontrollably as if it had encountered a fearsome entity.
"Ancestor," Bei Tian looked at the Great Void Sage with some confusion.
"Don’t be afraid," the Great Void Sage gently stroked the Fire Phoenix’s head, calming it down.
He then spoke with a deep gaze, "Something that can cause a Melting Heaven pinnacle Fire Phoenix to fear like this, I’m afraid it could be..."
Before the Great Void Sage could finish, Bei Tian’s expression shifted slightly and he said, "Surely not, what kind of virtue and ability does the Nine Heavens Imperial Sect have..."
