Fantasy: I Can Control the Script of My Life

Gu Xiande pondered for a moment. He wasn't very confident about this.

"I feel that at this point, it's irrelevant whether they were involved or not," said Zhen Mingyu, the Fourth Elder of the Flowing Cloud Sect. "But this matter requires a scapegoat. Otherwise, how can everyone continue to fight on?"

He had advocated for entering the palace at the earliest opportunity, but the battle between the righteous and evil factions had been too fierce, so they hadn't dared to act. Now, with the intervention of the native inhabitants, their advantage had vanished. If they didn't go now, the opportunity would be lost.

"The people I sent to hunt down Lin Yun have also disappeared without a trace," Gu Xiande's expression was grim. "It seems that in the end, I was played by that boy again." If the situation weren't so tense, he would have personally killed Lin Yun himself.

These past few days, he had been searching for Xiao Pingtian. Although the Flowing Cloud Sect had reached a prior agreement with the Crimson Ghost Sect, this so-called cooperation was merely superficial. After capturing Xiao Pingtian, the Crimson Ghost Sect had not been lenient. Just a few days ago, Gu Xiande had found Xiao Pingtian's remains. He had been thrown into the sacrificial grand array that had been prepared beforehand.

"Sect Master, we must not delay. It's time to make a decision," urged Zhen Mingyu.

A cold glint flashed in Gu Xiande's eyes. "A few days ago, the battlefield was stable. Then, the sudden appearance of the natives dealt us a heavy blow. Of all the sects, only the Beast Taming Sect was spared from calamity. This is a matter that certainly requires an explanation."

Just as Jiang Zhengqing was transferring the last of the Beast Taming Sect's disciples, he was surprised to find that the other sects had blocked their path. Now, the final group could not leave.

Looking at the disciples of the so-called prestigious and righteous sects before him, Jiang Zhengqing frowned. "Everyone, what is the meaning of blocking our path?" he asked, his tone still polite.

But he never expected that these people would show him no face at all.

"Jiang Zhengqing, we are all allies," said Zhen Pingqing, the master of the Constant Sun Sect. "On this battlefield, we should be supporting each other. But not only did your Beast Taming Sect refuse to fight alongside us, you even backstabbed us at this critical moment. Tell us, how did you know in advance that the natives were going to attack?"

The other sects echoed his sentiment. Seeing the expressions on their faces, Jiang Zhengqing laughed.

"And here I was, wondering what this was all about. It turns out you suspect us of being traitors?"

Gu Xiande stepped forward. "Brother Jiang, we have never said such a thing. It's just that under the current circumstances, we can't help but be suspicious. Every sect has suffered heavy losses in this battle, yet yours has suffered almost none. And now, at the most critical moment of the war, you wish to leave. It's only natural for us to be suspicious of each other."

He wore a mask of hypocrisy, as if he had stepped forward only to uphold justice for everyone.

Jiang Zhengqing saw it all clearly. "Sect Master Gu's words are most reasonable. But I have already explained the ins and outs of this entire affair. And I told you all long ago that the war in this place could not be sustained for long." His tone was firm. He had known this day would come long before, which was why he had shared the intelligence about the war with the others, hoping they would prepare.

But to this day, how many of them had truly believed him? The current outcome was something the various sects had brought upon themselves.

"At the end of the day, if you had truly taken my words to heart, how could things have ended up like this? The Crimson Ghost Sect is already a spent force. Fighting them here is no good for anyone, yet you all insisted on continuously raising the stakes. Do you really think we don't know what you were all planning in your hearts?"

The expressions on the faces of the other sect masters turned ugly. They all knew about each other's selfish little schemes. But to have them pointed out so directly left them all feeling embarrassed.

Gu Xiande, however, was completely unbothered. "Sect Master Jiang, you exaggerate. As prestigious and righteous sects, it is our duty to root out traitors and eliminate evil. The Crimson Ghost Sect has killed so many this time and was on the verge of summoning the source of a chaotic era. As the head of the Four Great Sects, the Flowing Cloud Sect naturally cannot ignore this."

It had to be said, Gu Xiande's performance was truly admirable. If you didn't know the man's true character, you might actually think he was benevolent.

"That was your choice. It has nothing to do with me," Jiang Zhengqing stated. "The Beast Taming Sect has already done what it was supposed to do. Now, the seal on the Void Heavenly Palace has been broken. The key will inevitably be taken. As for whose hands it falls into, that will depend on each party's own ability. What we need to do now is prepare to face the coming chaos!"

After speaking, he prepared to leave again. But the experts from the various sects blocking their path showed no intention of moving.

"You're in such a hurry to leave before things have been properly explained? Do you really take us all for idiots? If you can't give us a proper explanation today, we will absolutely not let you leave."

Seeing their firm and decisive expressions, Jiang Zhengqing looked at Gu Xiande. He knew this old fox was behind it all.

Gu Xiande just shrugged. "Brother Jiang, surely you don't think this was all at my behest? In fact, I'm the one who calmed everyone down. Otherwise, with their tempers, they wouldn't be negotiating with you here today." A smug smile hung on his face. Did Jiang Zhengqing think leading these people away would be so easy? Gu Xiande was already displeased that he had failed to weaken the Beast Taming Sect's strength this time.

"In my opinion, Brother Jiang, you should have your disciples stay behind for now," he said with a triumphant grin.

Jiang Zhengqing's expression darkened. "In a war of this scale, everyone has their own choices to make. Now you want to force us to stay? On what grounds?"

Zhou Zeming from the Constant Sun Sect shot back, "On the grounds that your Beast Taming Sect managed to escape unscathed while we suffered heavy losses!"

The moment his words fell, the sound of applause echoed from the distance.

"What a fine group of 'prestigious and righteous sects.' This has truly been an eye-opener for me."

Lin Yun walked forward slowly. The moment Gu Xiande saw him, a flash of killing intent crossed his eyes. You stinking brat, you still have the nerve to come here? He hadn't had the chance to kill Lin Yun before, but now, he was itching to do it himself.

Lin Yun, however, seemed to pay Gu Xiande no mind at all. He simply walked to the front of the Beast Taming Sect's group and faced the crowd.

"The information you're questioning came from me. If you have any problems, you can ask me."