"Wang Xiaozhi, what is wrong?" Palace Master Zhou noticed Wang Shiwei glaring at Ye Qin with intense hatred and asked in surprise. "Hmph," Palace Master Zhou knew perfectly well; no need to ask more!

Wang Shiwei snorted and turned away, ignoring Zhou Yu's inquiry. "Jing'er, don't be rude!" Palace Master Wang scolded Wang Shiwei, then turned to Palace Master Zhou with a grave expression, "It is no wonder Jing'er is so furious.

A few years ago, he discovered a rare demonic beast at the Blood Sand Stronghold in the Sea of Blood and led some Golden Core cultivators from the palace to hunt it. Who knew they would be ambushed halfway by a warship?

Caught completely off guard, they suffered heavy losses." Naturally, he couldn't swallow this anger. According to the disciples who narrowly survived reporting back, someone resembling an elder from the Purple Sword Palace was seen aboard that warship.

Today, having encountered Palace Master Zhou, this Palace Master also wishes to inquire: Did you dispatch any elder from the Purple Sword Palace aboard a warship to the Blood Sand Stronghold several years ago?" As Palace Master Wang spoke, his deep gaze flickered towards Ye Qin. Although he didn't name him directly, he was clearly pointing at Ye Qin.

In the battle several years ago when Wang Shiwei led men to surround and kill Ye Qin, more than ten core late-stage Golden Core cultivators from the Wanluo Palace died, resulting in devastating losses. Wang Shiwei almost had his position as the Young Palace Master revoked because of this.

However, after discussions between Palace Master Wang and the elders of the Wanluo Palace, they ultimately decided not to depose Wang Shiwei, merely punishing him with a year's confinement in the ice cave. The reason was simple.

In order to weaken the strength of other Immortal Palaces, the Golden Core cultivators of the Wanluo Palace had undertaken numerous secret actions against others. Wang Shiwei's actions had long been tacitly approved and indulged by the Palace Master and several elders.

Wang Shiwei's attempt to assassinate the Young Elder Ye Qin of the Purple Sword Palace was not wrong in principle; as long as the act was carried out flawlessly, without error or exposure, it would be fine. Otherwise, Wang Shiwei wouldn't have dared to be so bold as to target an elder of the Purple Sword Palace.

Wang Shiwei had brought over thirty late-stage Golden Core cultivators to surround and kill Ye Qin; under normal circumstances, this was an extremely cautious move with a very high chance of success. Once successful, it would have been untraceable.

The Purple Sword Palace wouldn't know who did it and would be left guessing. Unfortunately, Wang Shiwei ultimately misjudged the situation, fell into a trap, and suffered severe setbacks instead.

All the elders of the Wanluo Palace believed that this failure shouldn't be laid entirely at Wang Shiwei's feet; rather, the people of the Purple Sword Palace were too insidious and cunning, which caused Wang Shiwei to narrowly retain his position as the Young Palace Master of the Wanluo Palace. Palace Master Wang was perfectly clear on the entire cause and effect of the matter.

The only thing he was unsure of was who exactly was aboard that warship in the middle. "The Blood Sand Stronghold?

The Purple Sword Palace has been preparing for the Immortal-Demon War all these years and has had no warship movements. All the elders in the palace are occupied with important matters; how could they have the leisure to take a warship to the Blood Sand Stronghold!

The Wanluo Palace and the Purple Sword Palace are both Northern Immortal Palaces; one must not jump to conclusions in this matter!" Palace Master Zhou frowned slightly, pondering with a hint of surprise. If he had encountered this before today, he, as the Palace Master, would have stepped forward directly to shield Ye Qin from this trouble.

But now, he had to consider Ye Qin's own thoughts. Palace Master Zhou looked at Ye Qin.

"Elder Ye, what is your comment on this?" "Since Palace Master Wang brings this up, it reminds me of something..." Ye Qin glanced sarcastically at Wang Shiwei and said, "A few years ago, I traveled to the Sea of Blood, intending to find a quiet island for secluded cultivation. Along the way, I was attacked by a group of unidentified Golden Core cultivators wearing grey robes.

Although every cultivator attacking me had the cultivation of the Golden Core stage, their strength was underwhelming, and I ended up killing some of them. Because I never knew the identity of this group of cultivators, I couldn't pursue the matter and left, not taking it to heart..." Pausing here, Ye Qin glanced at Wang Shiwei.

"Could it be they were your men, Brother Wang? However, I am puzzled!

How could the Golden Core cultivators of the Wanluo Palace be so inept..." He had no intention of denying anything, his words laced with a trace of mockery. Wang Shiwei's face instantly turned the color of pig liver; trembling with rage, his eyes nearly spewed fire, and he roared, "What did you say!

If you hadn't ambushed us sneakily with that warship that day, how could my Wanluo Palace cultivators be your match..." "It seems Elder Ye's ambush is indeed related to Young Palace Master Wang!" Zhou Yu's expression immediately darkened. He looked at Palace Master Wang, his tone becoming extremely forceful.

"Palace Master Wang, Elder Ye of our Purple Sword Palace was attacked by cultivators from your Wanluo Palace. This is a matter of great consequence.

I will report this to the Elder Council, and they will dispatch people to investigate. This matter cannot just be dropped!" "Palace Master Zhou, the case where our Wanluo Palace cultivators were suddenly ambushed by Young Elder Ye while preparing to hunt a demonic beast at the Blood Sand Stronghold also needs a thorough investigation.

There were cultivators from several other Immortal Palaces passing by that day who witnessed the scene. They can testify that Elder Ye, piloting a warship, brazenly ambushed our Wanluo Palace cultivators!

These matters also require the Elder Council to investigate together," Palace Master Wang said with a chilling gaze, his meaning profoundly implied. He had swallowed this insult for several years and had prepared irrefutable evidence highly favorable to the Wanluo Palace.

All the evidence he held was sufficient to bring down Elder Ye of the Purple Sword Palace in one fell swoop. Jiang Zhenyuan watched the scene coldly, saying nothing, but secretly shook his head.

Palace Master Wang probably didn't know that Ye Qin was himself a member of the Elder Council, or he wouldn't have such a foolish idea. Ambush and mysterious disappearances were common occurrences among cultivators in the East Sea Cultivation World, making evidence almost impossible to find.

However, with Palace Master Zhou and Elder Ye cooperating in this manner, they had tricked Young Palace Master Wang into actively admitting the incident. For Palace Master Wang to suggest the Elder Council investigate the conflict between the Young Palace Master of the Wanluo Palace and the Young Elder Ye—wasn't this courting death?

"The Northern Branch Sect Assembly of the Heavenly Dao Alliance is about to commence. I request the members of the Elder Council and the four Palace Masters to take their seats..." A calm, temperate, aged voice resonated from within the palace, audible to everyone outside the hall.

Palace Master Zhou and Palace Master Wang exchanged glances and stepped into the main hall. In the vital grounds of the Heavenly Dao Alliance, apart from members of the Elder Council and invited Palace Masters, cultivators from the two Immortal Palaces had no right to enter.

"Elder Ye, let's go! The Elder Council will settle this minor issue quickly.

Today's priority is the Alliance Assembly; don't delay," Jiang Zhenyuan said calmly. Ye Qin nodded faintly and entered the hall without any hindrance.

Wang Shiwei was stunned. He opened his mouth but said nothing.

He was suddenly struck by a strong sense of impending doom. The Heavenly Dao Alliance palace in Linhai City was not as grand as the Immortal Palace in Xianque City, and its interior furnishings were very simple.

There were no chairs in the hall, only rows of woven rush mats. Dozens of Nascent Soul cultivators in various attire were already seated inside, murmuring amongst themselves.

A rather inconspicuous old man sat formally in the center, chatting and laughing with the surrounding cultivators. This person was none other than the Chief Grand Elder of the Northern Branch Sect Elder Council of the Heavenly Dao Alliance.

Ye Qin only knew this old man's surname was Zhong, and he was a rather legendary cultivator. Apart from Jiang Zhenyuan and the two Palace Masters, Ye Qin recognized none of the others.

He casually found a rush mat and sat down, listening to the discussions. As the only Golden Core cultivator present, he felt extremely restrained among these Nascent Soul ancestors.

When Palace Master Wang saw Ye Qin entering the hall without any obstacle, his heart sank instantly. Palace Master Zhou Yu approached the old man and whispered a few sentences, briefly explaining the conflict between Ye Qin and the Young Palace Master of the Wanluo Palace.

"Oh? Elder Ye was attacked?

He was the last Guest Elder promoted before Sect Master Yu passed away..." The old man exclaimed in surprise and looked towards Ye Qin. Ye Qin immediately felt himself being swept by an extremely powerful divine sense, daring not to move an inch.

"Palace Master Wang, does Elder Ye's ambush have a direct connection to you..." Fortunately, the old man's gaze soon shifted away, and he questioned Palace Master Wang. "Grand Elder, I, Wang Heng, swear by the heavens that I would never do something to harm a member of the Elder Council.

Wang Shiwei merely had some conflict with Elder Ye due to personal grievances; it was absolutely not ordered by the Wanluo Palace. These are three successive confrontations..." Palace Master Wang trembled slightly, his face stiff and dim.

He had calculated everything, except for the fact that Ye Qin was actually a member of the Elder Council. Knowing the situation was lost and he had no chance to turn the tide, he could only try to place all the blame on Wang Shiwei alone to minimize the impact on the Wanluo Palace.

"A misunderstanding? It better be so, otherwise the crime of attacking an Elder Council member is very severe..." The old man looked at Palace Master Wang and snorted coldly.

The grudges between the Purple Sword Palace and the Wanluo Palace were not hidden from him; if it hadn't involved a member of the Northern Branch Elder Council, he wouldn't even have been interested in inquiring. Jiang Zhenyuan was correct; this conflict between Ye Qin and Wang Shiwei of the Wanluo Palace was indeed a very small matter to the Heavenly Dao Alliance Elder Council.

Facing the impending Immortal-Demon Great Array, Grand Elder Zhong didn't even have much interest in dealing with such trivialities. Without even delaying the time it took for half an incense stick to burn, and without needing the deliberation of the entire Elder Council, the Grand Elder made his ruling directly.

Soon after, an enforcement cultivator from the Elder Council, along with the grim-faced Palace Master Wang of the Wanluo Palace, walked out of the hall. "The Grand Elder has reached a decision: Wang Shiwei, a cultivator of the Wanluo Palace, is suspected of assaulting Elder Ye due to private spite.

He is to be immediately arrested and confined to the Alliance Prison for verification and confirmation." The enforcement cultivator announced. The few Golden Core guards waiting outside the main hall immediately rushed down and apprehended Wang Shiwei, who was awaiting news inside his spirit beast carriage.

"What? Why is this happening?!" Wang Shiwei was completely stunned by the shock and did not resist.

"Wang Shiwei deceived his superiors and subordinates, privately attacking a Guest Elder. Effective immediately, Wang Shiwei's position as Young Palace Master of the Wanluo Palace is revoked, and he is expelled from the Wanluo Palace, having no further connection to it!" Palace Master Wang stated expressionlessly, without even looking at Wang Shiwei, and turned back toward the hall.

Using one Young Palace Master to quell this matter was a very worthwhile price to pay. Outside the hall, among dozens of cultivators from various Immortal Palaces, under their shocked gazes, the Young Palace Master of the Wanluo Palace was escorted away by the guards.