Chapter 466

Chapter 466: Settling Father’s Vengeance

Following Master Da Fang’s lead, the surrounding Semi-Immortals exchanged glances and sighed. They reluctantly began offering apologies.

"I am Master Bai Quan of Great Thunder Sound Temple. Our sect formally apologizes for past wrongs. We will discipline those involved and clear your late father’s name. Please accept our apology!"

"I am Master De Fang of Putuo Temple. Our sect formally apologizes for past events. We will punish our members and restore your late father’s honor. Please forgive us!"

"I am Master Bei Lian of Great Compassion Temple. Our sect sincerely apologizes for previous matters. We will hold our disciples accountable and seek justice for your late father. Please show understanding!"

Seeing the four Buddhist Semi-Immortals submit, Sect Leader Lan Shan of West Kunlun sighed and bowed. "I, Immortal Lan Shan, formally apologize on behalf of West Kunlun. Our sect will discipline those responsible and clear your father’s name. Please accept this apology!"

Though West Kunlun maintained good relations with East Kunlun, this didn’t mean blind allegiance. With East Kunlun clearly at fault, supporting them would only damage relations with Mo Sect and Fang Lie while bringing heavy losses.

Immortal Lan Shan couldn’t prioritize friendship with Sword God over his sect’s interests.

Thus, the Four Great Buddhist Sects and one Tao Sect branch – the six prime culprits – had officially apologized to Fang Lie. Only East Kunlun remained.

All eyes turned to Sword God, whose face flushed with suppressed rage. He seethed internally: *These scoundrels expect me to grovel too? After losing the Star Gold Element Core to extortion? Am I a fool?*

Choking back his words, he growled, "Urgent matters await. I take my leave!" With that, Sword God vanished.

The crowd sighed understandingly before turning expectantly to Fang Lie and Mo Qianxun. Their submissive postures pleaded: *We’ve humbled ourselves – don’t press further.*

Though victorious, Fang Lie found no joy. Memories of past suffering made his jaw clench, emotions flickering between rage and grief.

Mo Qianxun grew anxious. Publicly rejecting these apologies would spark endless feuds. He urgently reminded Fang Lie: "Remember my pleading? You gave your word! Don’t break promises now!"

His pitiful tone masked deeper meaning – everyone should remember this debt to Mo Sect.

Fang Lie never broke promises. Though resentment burned, he rasped: "Enough! Since you apologize sincerely, the Fang Family considers my father’s case closed!"

"Gratitude, Benefactor!" The group chorused in relief.

Master Da Fang then ventured timidly: "Our sect’s treasures…"

"Consult your Sect Leader!" Fang Lie thrust the collected treasures at Mo Qianxun. "I return to cultivation. Farewell!"

As he turned to leave, Master Bai Quan blurted: "Benefactor Fang! Certain treasures seem missing!"

"Missing?" Fang Lie scowled.

"Our temple’s Eighteen Arhats?" Bai Quan stammered.

The West Kunlun Sect Leader interjected curiously: "Your Arhats were never lost! When did this happen? Why claim Benefactor Fang has them?"

Bai Quan reddened, tongue-tied.

Fang Lie sneered disdainfully, "Master, when I spoke of settling the grievances between everyone and my late father, I wasn’t referring to resolving matters between us!"

"What? Fang Lie has issues with Great Thunder Sound Temple?"

"Involving the Eighteen Arhats?"

"Seems there’s hidden history here! Benefactor Fang, could you clarify?"

Fang Lie promptly answered, "Simple enough. During the last Secret Realm expedition, a high monk from Great Thunder Sound Temple – with cultivation matching a Tao Sect’s Fire Tribulation Immortal – sneaked in with the Eighteen Arhats treasured item to kill me!"

"What?! Such a senior bullying a junior? Shameless!"

"Could this be mistaken?"

"No mistake. Otherwise, Senior Brother Bai Quan wouldn’t demand the Eighteen Arhats from Fang Lie!"

The Buddhist Sect members chattered excitedly. Despite shared Buddhist roots, conflicts between Mahayana and Hinayana teachings prevented true unity.

Master Bai Quan flushed with shame. "That was personal action, not our sect’s will. My apologies. But since you’ve already killed him, please return our sect treasure without grudges!"

"Wrong!" Fang Lie shrugged. "He died from Heavenly Tribulations, not me. I couldn’t challenge a Fire Tribulation Immortal then! The Secret Realm’s laws trigger tribulations for power exceeding Golden Pool level. About returning the Eighteen Arhats…" He produced the items. "They’re damaged."

Master Bai Quan’s giant robe billowed with rage. The Eighth-Rank High-Grade treasure had degraded to Seventh-rank, requiring ten thousand years to restore.

"You—" The master pointed tremblingly.

Fang Lie spread his hands. "Blame the Heavenly Tribulations. Had he not attacked me, the Arhats wouldn’t be damaged."

Mo Qianxun interjected smoothly, "Senior Brother Bai Quan, Fang Lie didn’t force anyone to bring treasures in. The loss isn’t his fault." His words subtly condemned Great Thunder Sound Temple’s actions.

Other Semi-Immortals chimed in: "No one forced them to bring treasures!"

"Your disciple’s fault entirely. Fang Lie’s the victim here!"

Eager to curry favor, they backed Fang Lie, leaving Bai Quan fuming silently.

Reluctantly, the master conceded, "We’ll overlook the damage. Just return them."

Fang Lie nearly laughed aloud. Expecting free returns? Ridiculous. But open defiance would seem rude.

He handed the Arhats to Mo Qianxun. "This humble junior can’t decide such matters. Discuss it with our Sect Leader." With a bow, he flew away instantly.

Cornering Mo Qianxun, Bai Quan demanded, "Your thoughts?"

"Negotiations over tea?" Mo Qianxun smiled. The others quickly agreed, anxious to reclaim treasures.

At Glorious Heavenly Palace, tea preceded verbal battles. Though outnumbered, Mo Qianxun exploited their weaknesses masterfully. After daylong arguments, defeated Semi-Immortals departed sweating.

Mo Qianxun laughed triumphantly. Finally avenging Mo Sect’s decade-old humiliation when framed elites died disgracefully. Now, using Fang Lie’s gained treasures, he’d made all opponents bleed dearly.

West Kunlun paid dearly – 360 star flags including 36 Seventh-rank High-Grade main banners. Their prized Energy Cycle Star Array normally never sold, but Mo Qianxun’s leverage forced compliance. Value-wise, these flags tripled their retrieved sect treasure’s worth. Yet ancestral relics demanded recovery – leaving them unclaimed would brand West Kunlun’s Higher-ups as unfilial failures.