The undercurrents brought by the Righteous Alliance reinforcements did not calm because of Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng's tough stance, but became even more turbulent beneath the surface of seemingly peaceful aid. Rumors spread like a plague, quietly spreading among disciples of the reinforcements and some Qingxu Temple survivors - Tang Xiaoqi possessed a strange treasure, was the culprit who brought the demonic disaster; Qingxu Temple brought complete destruction upon itself by secretly harboring precious treasures, affecting the surroundings...
This rhetoric was undoubtedly pouring salt on Qingxu Temple's unhealed wounds, and pushing Tang Xiaoqi to the forefront of scrutiny.
Inside the medical hut, Xiaoqi was not entirely unaware of the external turmoil. Though he guarded Second Brother day and night, the occasional whispered discussions of fellow disciples and those gazes from the reinforcements with their subtle probing and scrutinizing looks all made him clearly feel that invisible pressure.
He looked at Second Brother's still ashen face, felt his own growing weakness from constant loss of life-origin essence, and thinking of Master's sacrifice, the sect's ruin, and his father's blood-soaked entrustment... an indescribable anger and resolve accumulated in his heart.
He could no longer remain silent. Letting rumors ferment would not only chill the hearts of those who fought bloody battles but might also cause the sect to fall into internal strife while suffering from external demonic troubles. He had to stand up, not to defend himself but for Qingxu Temple, for all the disciples who sacrificed themselves, and for... his father's only hope.
One day, when several alliance elders (including True Person Ling Feng from Heavenly Sword Sect, True Person Yun Shang from Flowing Cloud Pavilion, and others) once again used "discussing defensive arrangements" as an excuse but in reality still making pointed remarks about the "strange treasure" and "demonic cultivator targets," Xiaoqi made his decision.
He gently placed Second Brother's hand back on the straw mat, tucked his ragged blanket around him, then slowly stood up. Days of strain made him sway slightly, his face as pale as paper, but his eyes were startlingly bright, like tempered cold stars.
He did not inform Senior Brother or consult anyone, directly walking out of the medical hut toward the main hall ruins where the alliance elders and Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng were.
His appearance immediately drew everyone's attention. Those probing, suspicious, and even slightly greedy gazes pierced him like needles. Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng saw him, a flash of surprise and worry in his eyes, about to speak and stop him, but was gently stopped by Xiaoqi's gaze.
He walked before everyone and stopped. First bowing slightly to Senior Brother and several sect elders, then turning around, calmly facing those alliance elders, especially True Person Ling Feng and True Person Yun Shang.
His voice was somewhat low due to weakness yet exceptionally clear, carrying a steadiness unfitting for his age, echoing through these ruined halls: "Junior Tang Xiaoqi greets the alliance seniors."
True Person Ling Feng snorted coldly, offering no comment. True Person Yun Shang fanned with interest, examining him up and down.
Xiaoqi ignored their attitudes, continuing, his tone neither servile nor overbearing: "Recently, junior has heard many rumors regarding this demonic disaster, caused by junior alone, that junior possesses a so-called 'strange treasure,' which brought disaster upon the sect."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone, seeing unconcealed agreement on some faces and complexity in others' eyes.
"Today, junior stands here wishing to clarify some facts for the seniors." He deliberately emphasized the word "some."
"Shadow Serpent Pavilion's massive invasion this time, their ambition is definitely not just about junior or one treasure. Junior indeed possesses some opportunities related to junior's origins, originating from Xulan Manor, long ago destroyed by Shadow Serpent Pavilion." He hid the core secrets of the jade pendant and "Purification Origin," only mentioning Xulan Manor, which alone was a dust-covered tragedy in the cultivation world sufficient to evoke speculation.
"But this opportunity is by no means Shadow Serpent Pavilion's true target - at least, not the only target!"
His voice raised slightly, carrying indisputable force: "According to what junior witnessed in the Black Wind Mountain Range and clues obtained in this defensive battle, Shadow Serpent Pavilion's true scheme is far vaster and more terrifying than we imagined. They are not fighting for some treasure but carrying out a shocking conspiracy involving the entire cultivation world's safety. The Demon Pattern Valley's formation is merely a decoy to distract attention!"
Several alliance elders' faces slightly changed. True Person Ling Feng's gaze was sharp as a sword; True Person Yun Shang also dropped her casual demeanor.
"Junior witnessed personally that behind Shadow Serpent Pavilion, an extremely ancient and powerful demonic soul will is controlling everything. Its power level far exceeds ordinary demonic cultivators. This attack on Qingxu Temple is merely one part of its vast plan. Their purpose is to overthrow the righteous and let demonic flames burn again, bringing suffering to all beings!"
Xiaoqi's voice carried irrepressible excitement as he briefly described his father's forced action and the terrifying pressure of that demonic shadow (hiding details of his father's soul control), focusing on the demon head remnant's terror and Shadow Serpent Pavilion's overall threat.
"Distinguished seniors!" Xiaoqi's gaze swept over everyone present, finally fixing on True Person Ling Feng and True Person Yun Shang, his tone earnest yet sharp: "With the demonic catastrophe before us, Shadow Serpent Pavilion and the demon head behind them are the common life-and-death enemies of all of us righteous cultivators. If at this moment we still insist on pursuing so-called 'responsibility,' coveting others' opportunities, and endless internal consumption, wouldn't we be falling right into the demonic cultivators' scheme, destroying our own defenses?
"All of Qingxu Temple fought to resist the demonic catastrophe, refusing to retreat despite bloody battles, paying a heavy price! Martial Ancestor Xuan Lin even sacrificed himself! The blood we shed was to protect the peace of this land, not to satisfy certain people's selfishness and suspicion!
"Junior hereby declares that the opportunities junior carries are private matters, unrelated to the sect, and will certainly not be handed to anyone for 'safekeeping'! If anyone harbors ill intentions toward Qingxu Temple or junior personally, junior... and all Qingxu Temple disciples will fight to the death!
"The current priority lies in unity, in abandoning grudges, jointly facing Shadow Serpent Pavilion and that demonic head's threat. Only with righteous hearts united can we resist the demonic flames and restore clarity to the world!"
Xiaoqi's words rang with weight, like hammer blows striking everyone's hearts. He did not weep and complain of injustice nor bow and beg, but in a posture of near equality, laid out facts, explained principles, clarified advantages and disadvantages, pointed to the core. He elevated a personal matter to the level of the entire Righteous Alliance versus demonic path confrontation, and defined Qingxu Temple's sacrifice as a heroic deed of guarding the righteous path.
For a moment, the hall fell into complete silence. Those elders with their originally accusatory and coveting gazes all became grave. Xiaoqi's words may not have completely dispelled their greed but successfully made them realize the severity of the matter - there might really be an ancient demon behind Shadow Serpent Pavilion threatening everyone's survival.
Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng watched Xiaoqi's thin yet upright back, a flash of relief and complexity in his eyes. He knew this junior brother was growing in a way he hadn't anticipated, rapidly maturing, facing the storms alone.
Xiaoqi's declaration, like a stone thrown into a lake, could not instantly calm all the waves but successfully changed the direction of the conversation, redirecting everyone's attention from investigating and coveting him personally back to the larger picture of confronting the common threat.
This was undoubtedly a risky gamble, but it might also be the only way to break the deadlock and win Qingxu Temple precious time to recover.