As Li Yundong and the entirety of the Fox Zen Gate celebrated Ao Wushuang's escape, while simultaneously worrying about the cultivators released from the Liantian Panhuang Bell whose intentions were unknown, most of the cultivators from other sects had already returned to their respective orders.

Among them, Zhang Cunyi and his group were brought back to the Green Sheep Palace by his fellow disciples Qian Tong and Zhao Ping. Before even entering the mountain gate, they were shouting at the top of their lungs: "Help! Someone, quickly!"

It was already deep into the night, and their shout startled the mountain birds into flight and the chickens and dogs in the village into a clamor. Several Daoists rushed down quickly: "What's all the ruckus in the middle of the night? Who is it?"

But the moment these Daoists saw Zhao Ping and Qian Tong, they burst into laughter: "Haha, it's you two? What, is the Lotus Picking Assembly over? Where's Senior Brother? How is he?"

The speaker was suddenly nudged in the shoulder by the Daoist next to him. He immediately realized his mistake, seeing Zhao Ping and Qian Tong’s grim expressions, especially Zhao Ping, who was carrying someone on his back—a person slumped over his shoulder, seemingly neither alive nor dead. Though the face was obscured from the side, even a fool could guess who it was.

The Daoist's heart instantly sank, and he tentatively inquired, "This, this couldn't be Senior Brother?"

They moved closer for a look and indeed saw Zhang Cunyi, teeth clenched and eyes tightly shut, lying motionless on Zhao Ping's back, unsure if he was alive or dead.

At this sight, the Daoists panicked. One immediately dashed inside, flung open the mountain gate, and screamed down the path: "Disaster! The Young Master is in trouble!"

The Green Sheep Palace was the foremost Daoist temple in Western Sichuan, boasting thriving incense and numerous disciples. This cry immediately brought a throng of Daoists rushing over, all crowding around and speaking at once: "Heavens, what happened to Eldest Senior Brother?"

"Did he lose a duel?"

"I don't know, but with the Three Sovereigns Sword in his hand, which bastard could possibly defeat him?"

"Exactly! Could he have fallen for someone's trickery?"

"Hmm, possible!"

Seeing the Daoists blocking their path, Zhao Ping couldn't help but roar in anger: "Move aside! Move aside! What are you crowding here for! Go quickly and summon the Palace Master and Martial Uncle Zhangdian! Quickly!"

With that, they themselves went to the backyard of the Hall of the Three Pure Ones, placing Zhang Cunyi in a small room. As they administered the spiritual elixirs brought by other disciples, they nervously watched Zhang Cunyi's complexion.

The other Daoists of the Green Sheep Palace craned their necks, watching the situation inside the room with eager anticipation. Their hearts were filled with suspicion, but none dared to speak. For a moment, the backyard was silent save for the persistent chirping of the night insects.

After a short while, someone suddenly whispered, "The Palace Master is here, and Martial Uncle Zhangdian is here too!"

As they spoke, the Daoists parted with a rustle, making way for a Daoist of medium build, with a sallow face, green beard, and clad in a dark cyan robe, and another Daoist with tiger eyes, a lion-like nose, a full beard, tall in stature, and wearing a dark green Tai Chi Daoist robe, to enter.

The sallow-faced Daoist walked in front; his features bore a strong resemblance to Zhang Cunyi. He was Zhang Tongtian, the Palace Master of the Qingcheng Sect. The Daoist beside him, walking a step behind, was Zhang Huashui, the Zhangdian (Chief Steward) of the Green Sheep Palace.

Though Zhang Tongtian was not tall, his square face, the deep 'Chuan' character frown etched between his eyebrows, and the profound, authoritative nasolabial folds defined his stern presence. He swept his gaze around and coldly commanded, "What are you all doing here? Return to your posts! Are you here to watch a show?"

At Zhang Tongtian's reprimand, the Daoists immediately fell silent, bidding farewell to Zhang Tongtian and Zhang Huashui before slowly dispersing, murmuring amongst themselves.

Martial Uncle Zhang Huashui was Zhang Cunyi's biological uncle, having raised him since childhood, thus spoiling him greatly. Once everyone had left, he couldn't help but step forward quickly, getting ahead of Zhang Tongtian, and thoroughly examined Zhang Cunyi. A flash of anger crossed his eyes, and in impeccable Sichuan dialect, he coldly stated, "Who struck with such force? They are fellow cultivators; did they not know to hold back their strength?"

Zhang Tongtian also stared intently at Zhang Cunyi, his eyes showing sorrow and pity, but more so, the frustration of disappointment. He sneered, "Useless trash, he deserves it. What is there to ask?"

Zhang Huashui seemed not to hear him. He glared with his tiger eyes, his fury directed at the still-standing Zhao Ping and Qian Tong.

Zhang Huashui’s appearance was formidable; a mere glare from him could make the Green Sheep Palace Daoists’ legs turn to jelly. Zhao Ping and Qian Tong were no exception. They exchanged glances, tacitly urging the other to speak.

Zhang Huashui roared, "You two sons of bitches! Qian Tong, you speak!"

Zhao Ping let out a breath, as if narrowly escaping danger, but Qian Tong wore a long face. He recounted the events of the Lotus Picking Assembly, selectively omitting details. He deliberately concealed the fact that Zhang Cunyi had used trickery to drive Li Yundong out of the assembly, and that Shenxiu had seized the Three Sovereigns Sword. He merely glossed over Shenxiu's defeat of Zhang Cunyi.

Hearing this, Zhang Huashui exploded in rage: "Are you saying that some Japanese brat at the Lotus Picking Assembly beat Zhang Cunyi to this state! Damn it, where are those three Japanese devils? I'll go wipe them out!"

Zhang Tongtian sat down, still as a mountain, his eyes slightly narrowed, the corners of his mouth drooping. With great authority, he asked, "Did Wan Zhenyuan just stand by and allow these Japanese to cause trouble?"

Qian Tong whispered, "Those Japanese... were too powerful; no one could defeat them."

Zhang Huashui cursed again, "Nonsense! Bullshit! Call them over here, I'll finish them off with one finger!"

Zhang Tongtian asked again, "Even Zhang Cunyi, holding the Three Sovereigns Sword, couldn't win?"

Qian Tong couldn't help but exchange a glance with Zhao Ping. He stammered timidly, "Senior Brother Zhang hadn't even drawn his sword when he was... was defeated."

Zhang Huashui couldn't help but curse again, "What? That Japanese must have used some trickery! Call him over, I'll crush them with one finger!"

Qian Tong and Zhao Ping inwardly smiled bitterly, thinking: Where are we supposed to call them from?

Zhang Tongtian suddenly asked, "What about the other sects?"

Qian Tong murmured, "The other sects... were all defeated."

Zhang Huashui’s eyes widened instantly, bristling with anger: "Trash! A bunch of trash! You make me sick!"

Zhang Tongtian’s eyes snapped open in alarm: "They were all defeated? Don't tell me those Japanese shamed our entire Chinese cultivation world at the Lotus Picking Assembly?"

Qian Tong and Zhao Ping exchanged another glance. This time, Qian Tong bowed his head, completely unwilling to say more. Zhao Ping had no choice but to quietly say, "Palace Master, later this Shenxiu was defeated by Ziyuan..."

Both Zhang Huashui and Zhang Tongtian were stunned. Zhang Huashui nodded: "Yes, Ziyuan, I've seen that child. Not bad, very capable, truly worthy!"

Zhang Tongtian also nodded slightly, stroking his beard: "Good. At least our Chinese cultivation world did not lose face before those Japanese devils. Ziyuan did well; worthy of being Wang Yuanshan's esteemed disciple."

Unexpectedly, Zhao Ping whispered again, "But... later Ziyuan was defeated by their shrine maiden, Tachibana Chiko..."

Zhang Huashui and Zhang Tongtian exclaimed together, "What?"

Zhang Huashui's eyes bulged like bronze bells: "Then what happened?"

Zhao Ping glanced at Qian Tong, seemingly very reluctant to utter the next part. Qian Tong, however, acted as if he didn't see him, keeping his head down like a sealed jar.

Zhang Huashui had a fiery temper. Seeing this situation, he slapped his thigh in anger: "Are you two sons of bitches trying to drive me to death? Speak up! Zhao Ping, you speak!"

Zhao Ping sighed in resignation and said, "L-later, Tachibana Chiko was defeated by Li Yundong."

"Li Yundong?" Zhang Huashui was momentarily stunned, as if he had just heard news of Martians attacking Earth. He stammered, "The sect master of the Fox Zen Gate? No, impossible! How did he defeat that Japanese girl? Tell me!"

Zhao Ping swallowed hard. He could only recount the duel as simply as possible, omitting many details unfavorable to Zhang Cunyi, wildly exaggerating Tachibana Chiko's power, and minimizing Li Yundong's strength, describing the duel as incredibly arduous, with Li Yundong winning only by sheer luck.

Zhang Huashui ground his teeth as he listened: "If those Japanese hadn't used tricks, with the Three Sovereigns Sword in hand, Zhang Cunyi wouldn't have feared them! Damn bastards, they make me so angry!"

Zhang Tongtian remained silent, his gaze sharp as he fixed on Zhao Ping and Qian Tong. Seeing their shifty eyes and vague descriptions, he knew they were hiding something. He suddenly slammed the table, stood up, and roared furiously: "Wrong! You are lying! Confess everything from beginning to end! What exactly happened! If I find even one word of falsehood, I'll kick you out!"

Zhao Ping and Qian Tong both trembled. They knew Palace Master Zhang Tongtian possessed eyes that could pierce the soul and read minds, but they had held onto a sliver of hope that they could gloss over this humiliating affair. Now that they were exposed, they had no choice but to exchange words, telling the whole story clearly, incident by incident.

Zhang Huashui’s mouth gaped wider and wider as he listened, almost wide enough to fit his fist. Zhang Tongtian’s expression grew darker, his eyes filled with cold mockery.

Once Zhao Ping and Qian Tong finished their confession, Zhang Tongtian repeatedly sneered but said nothing. Zhang Huashui suddenly burst into laughter: "Well done, Li Wudi! Good, good! Truly, there are always new talents rising!"

Zhao Ping and Qian Tong exchanged a look. Zhao Ping whispered, "Martial Uncle Zhangdian, I think there's something fishy about this."

Zhang Huashui stared wide-eyed: "What's fishy?"

Zhao Ping whispered, "Why couldn't so many people defeat that Japanese shrine maiden, yet Li Yundong hadn't even thrown a single palm strike before she conceded? And why did those Japanese happen to show up so conveniently?"

Zhang Huashui frowned and asked, "What are you implying, child?"

Qian Tong leaned in and whispered, "We discussed it on the way back, and we both think... this might have been planned by Li Yundong in collusion with those Japanese!"

Zhang Tongtian couldn't help but roar in disbelief: "What are you talking about? What is there to collude about?"

Zhang Huashui gave a cold laugh: "Palace Master Senior Brother, you are a man of high moral standing; you probably don't understand this kind of petty trickery. This bastard Li Yundong colluded with the Japanese, then showed off his might at the Lotus Picking Assembly. Heh heh, this bastard has gained both fame and fortune! If Zheng Yuan hadn't snatched the Immortal Pen away, humph... Li Wudi might have truly become invincible!"

Zhang Tongtian frowned. He dismissed Zhao Ping and Qian Tong: "You two step out first!"

After they left, he said to Zhang Huashui in a deep voice, "Junior Brother, the whole situation is unclear yet; don't rush to conclusions. I know Cunyi's temperament; he has always been arrogant and conceited. He surely failed because of that this time. Hmph, he brought this upon himself!"

Zhang Huashui waved his arm angrily: "My nephew is beaten like this, and I'm distressed, yet you, his father, don't seem to care? Why is our Green Sheep Palace utterly defeated while that crooked Fox Zen Gate shows off its power? Hmph! A sect full of 'demons' can be so formidable? I won't believe there wasn't foul play! I'm going out there to demand justice!"

Zhang Tongtian looked down at the unconscious Zhang Cunyi. Though his words were harsh, this was his own son. Moreover, the current situation touched upon the Qingcheng Sect's reputation. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly and asked, "How do you plan to demand justice?"

Zhang Huashui sneered, "A mere Yang God expert daring to call himself invincible? Ridiculous! I'll let him know what a true expert is! How to demand justice? Naturally, by storming his door! These two fists of mine are justice!"

Zhang Tongtian couldn't suppress his anger: "Nonsense! You're talking rubbish! Regardless of whether Li Yundong colluded with the Japanese, the entire cultivation world now owes him a favor. If you cause trouble now, how will others view us? Furthermore, if he truly didn't collude, how will you save face later?"

Zhang Huashui was momentarily choked up by this argument. He jutted his neck out and retorted, "Then I'll go find him for a friendly spar, is that acceptable?"

Zhang Tongtian forced down his anger and said, "Junior Brother, listen to me, endure this for now. Later, write a letter to Zhang Ling of the Zhengyi Sect, inquire about the situation, test her reaction, and then we'll plan! Even if you must act, there is no rush now. In another month or two, the succession ceremony for the Ling Palace Sect Master will take place—that would be a better time for you to make your move! These days will give us time to investigate the matter thoroughly!"

Zhang Huashui considered it and nodded: "Senior Brother, your planning is indeed more thorough. I will listen to you!" With that, he strode over to a nearby study, dipped his brush in ink, and wrote a few lines on the paper. He folded the letter, blew a whistle near his lips, and instantly, a celestial crane swooped down by the window.

Zhang Huashui tucked the letter into a bamboo tube and secured it beneath the crane's wing. Then he patted its head and said cheerfully, "Alright, go find Zhang Ling of the Zhengyi Sect in Longhu Mountain. Remember to deliver the letter to her hand! I'll wait for your news!"

The celestial crane let out a long cry, seemingly understanding human speech. With a flap of its wings, it vanished into the horizon in the blink of an eye.