The daoist in green robes did not speak, but there was naturally another cultivator who spoke up, saying, "The Sublime Bright Sect is a major sect within our Dao society, with a foundation and history of countless years. How can it be made to disappear just like that?"
This was the will of Daoism, or in other words, the will of the Infatuation Daoist Temple. However, the daoist in green robes did not respond.
The Warden looked at that person and did not speak.
He represented the Great Liang Dynasty, but the surrounding cultivators essentially represented the foreign cultivators. Facing a group of people by himself, and considering that the Warden was not good with words to begin with, the Warden chose silence. He was waiting for someone else.
Before long, a voice came from outside the main hall. It was that of a young man: "For so many years, the Sublime Bright Sect has been pillaging the people of Great Liang. I wonder how many innocent civilians have died at their hands. How should those lives be counted?"
A black-clad youth entered, and it was precisely Chen Chao.
The Warden was not particularly skilled at arguing, he was more adept in fighting and killing, so naturally, he kept his mouth shut. However, Chen Chao was really suited for arguments. Whether was it in the courtroom at the Ministry of Penalty or by the South Lake at the academy, Chen Chao had demonstrated his proficiency in argumentation.
The Warden had never personally witnessed this, but he had heard about it. So, he was awaiting Chen Chao's arrival to engage in the argument.
Looking at the youth who entered the hall, many people knew he was the top scorer of the Myriad Willow Convention's martial examination, but he was a teenager after all. Even if he had achieved some success, the true big shots present were unlikely to show him any good attitude.
At the very least, they would definitely belittle him.
As Chen Chao began to speak, that daoist stopped talking and simply snorted coldly, returning to his seat. He clearly felt that Chen Chao was not qualified to talk to him.
After a moment, a daoist in gray robes stood up and said calmly, "They were just ordinary people. What's there to be concerned about?"
He spoke in a very casual manner, with an ordinary expression. He naturally felt that he was talking about some trivial matters. But actually, many people in the room furrowed their brows, especially that daoist in green robes and the white-browed old monk.
Chen Chao narrowed his eyes and looked at the daoist in gray robes whose cultivation realm was naturally higher than him, and questioned, "May I ask, Daoist, were you born as a cultivator the moment you came into this world?"
The daoist in gray robes furrowed his brows, not quite sure why Chen Chao was asking such a question. Nevertheless, he quickly responded, "This poor daoist has been practicing cultivation for many years. Thanks to the guidance of my seniors, I was brought to the immortal mountain for cultivation and have made some attainments."
Chen Chao was expressionless as he said, "So, according to Daoist, before your cultivation, you were just an ordinary person."
The daoist in gray robes was just about to speak when Chen Chao spoke first, "Then, has Daoist ever considered that all those they killed behind the mountain were all youths? How many of them might have become cultivators in the future, and how many might have become remarkable figures? How can we call these people 'ordinary civilians'? "
Chen Chao's gaze was scorching, looking at that daoist in gray robes, both eyes like knives.
The daoist in gray robes felt somewhat uncomfortable but still waved his sleeves and said, "You're engaging in sophistry. They are all dead and you're casually making things up, what you say goes. If you say that every one of them would have become Nepenthe cultivators in the future, what proof can the fellow daoists have to verify it?!"
His response was skillful. Since Chen Chao had started making assumptions, then he could naturally do the same.
Chen Chao said with a sneer, "So, based on what Daoist said, if it can't be verified, they should all be considered ordinary civilians for the rest of their lives. Therefore, their lives and deaths don't matter, is that it?"
The daoist in gray robes snorted coldly, "Unless you can give me evidence, otherwise, what's the point of whatever you say?"
Chen Chao was not in a hurry to speak. The other party had said that they did not need to care about the life and death of ordinary civilians, so he began leading him on intentionally, trying to get the daoist to agree using cultivation potential. However, it was clear that the daoist had already agreed to this idea but had now raised a new question.
"If there's nothing that can be proven, what's with all this nonsense?"
The daoist in gray robes felt that victory was within grasp and thought that since all these youths had died, there would naturally be no evidence. The idea that people could not come back to life applied everywhere.
Sure enough, Chen Chao had been silent all this time.
Seeing Chen Chao's silence, the other cultivators who faintly felt that this matter might have been wrong, also did not speak up at this moment.
After some time had passed, Chen Chao spoke, breaking the silence.
"Of course, there is."
Chen Chao looked at the daoist in gray robes and slowly said, "Back then, among all those young people who were deceived here, one of them managed to leave."
The expression of the daoist in gray robes changed slightly, but he still asked patiently, "And where is this person now?"
Chen Chao was very calm as he said, "After leaving here, that young man began cultivating. Over half a year ago, he killed several qi refiners who were trying to seize the Great Liang Dynasty's dragon vein in Tianqing County. Then, he went to the Divine Capital, participated in the Myriad Willow Convention, defeated Song Changxi, and became the champion of the martial examination. Later, he came here and exposed the conspiracy of the Song Changxi Mountain. Now, he stands before you, talking with you about so-called principles."
The expression of the daoist in gray robes turned somewhat ugly. He was not a fool, he naturally understood that Chen Chao was talking about himself. This young man had long proven himself as a true genius during the martial examination. Furthermore, he was actually one of the youths who was once deceived into joining the Sublime Bright Sect. Then, everything he said before could be proven. If the daoist in gray robes wanted to say something at this moment, Chen Chao could use himself as an example. That group of so-called ordinary civilians could already be said to be not ordinary at this point.
If Chen Chao were to say that there were many more youths in that bunch who were even more talented than him, what could he say?
The daoist in gray robes fell silent, and the other cultivators who had wanted to speak also did not know what to say at this moment.
Those few daoists representing the Sublime Bright Sect looked at Chen Chao with ugly expressions. At this moment, they realized that the humiliation of the Sublime Bright Sect today, had been destined two to three years ago. That young man had already decided to return and seek revenge at that time.
Thinking up to here, their expressions turned somewhat ugly.
That was an escaped fish and they could not help but blame themselves for being too careless.
Someone said, "You were merely a coincidence, how can it prove anything?"
Although that person spoke, everyone could sense his guilt.
He was lacking in confidence.
Chen Chao ignored him and just said, "I've never felt that the lives of people with the potential for cultivation are worth more than civilians who cannot cultivate. In the eyes of the imperial court, they are all citizens of the Great Liang. Since they have been wronged, justice must be sought. I'm afraid none of you can refute this."
What the daoist in gray robes had said earlier was not appropriate in the first place. Some things were fine to keep to oneself, but saying them out loud, especially in front of a Great Liang Dynasty's official like the Warden, was not very suitable.
Chen Chao stared at the daoist in gray robes, wanting to see what he would say.
The daoist in gray robes could not say a word, and his expression looking ugly.
The other cultivators were also deep in thought.
They had cultivated for many years and while their cultivation realms might be higher than Chen Chao's, when it came to arguing, they probably would not be a match for him even if tied together.
"Enough."
A light and gentle voice sounded. It was precisely that daoist in green robes.
By speaking up at this moment, he was choosing to take a step back and also giving the daoist in gray robes a way out.
The daoist in gray robes snorted before sitting down. Chen Chao also looked at the back view of the daoist in green robes.
The daoist in green robes turned to the Warden and said in a warm tone, "The Sublime Bright Sect has existed for many years, even if they have committed a great offense, the Dao teaching probably still needs to continue. Not everyone on the mountain is evil. Let the cultivators who have not committed major wrongdoings rebuild the Sublime Bright Sect. It's probably the best way to handle this."
Listening to the daoist in green robes, the faces of the Sublime Bright Sect cultivators improved somewhat.
Although the daoist in green robes seemed to tacitly approve the earlier suggestion of the Warden, he also helped to preserve the lineage of the Sublime Bright Sect.
The Warden thought about it and said, "Since that's the case, so be it. However, let's find a new location to establish the sect, not on Mount Chongming."
Relocating the Sublime Bright Sect from the Sublime Bright Mountain would be akin to relocating the capital of the Great Liang Dynasty from the Divine Capital to another place. Once the Sublime Bright Sect migrated, this mountain would definitely be reclaimed by the Great Liang Dynasty. This would surely be a great humiliation for the Sublime Bright Sect.
Of course, compared to the complete destruction of the Dao teachings, this humiliation was much lighter.
The Sublime Bright Sect daoists remained silent. At this point, they were like fish on a chopping board, waiting to be carved up.
They had no say in who would wield the knife.
Nonetheless, when the Warden proposed this idea, objecting voices sounded out and it became rather noisy.
They did not care whether the Sublime Bright Sect still existed or not. What they were concerned about was the ownership of the ancient ruin on this mountain after the Sublime Bright Sect moved away.
As for why they came here today, it was for this matter.
Chen Chao was very quiet. Looking at those agitated cultivators, there was no emotion on his face. These were all considered prominent figures of the foreign lands. But at this moment, they were akin to clowns.
They would not reveal their true objectives, pretending to be righteous, which felt very disgusting.
The Warden paid no heed to those voices, he just looked at the daoist in green.
This daoist came from the Infatuation Daoist Temple, possessed the highest cultivation level, had the most prestige, and his words carried the most weight.
The white-browed old monk sighed quietly again. Then, his hands pressed together in prayer. Despite being situated in the foreign lands, they had significant ties to the Great Liang Dynasty due to a certain individual. Therefore, it was difficult to express any thoughts at this time.
The daoist in green robes looked at the Warden. He was silent for a long time before saying, "My Lord Warden, since ancient times, no secular dynasty has ever done such a thing."
He seemed to be stating a fact. But in reality, he was not.
That was a veiled threat.
This had not happened in the past, but it was happening now. What would be the price?
The Warden did not enjoy arguing, nor was he skilled in it. But that did not mean he was a stupid person and could not discern the overtones.
He looked at the daoist in green robes and said with a slight smile, "A few days ago at the Myriad Willow Convention, this little fellow claimed victory. This was also something that had never happened before."
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