Chapter 32: If he says so, it is so, just because he is the Eternal Emperor!
A single word stirs up a thousand waves!
The originally silent plain now buzzes with anticipation as all major forces wait for the An family’s choice.
However, everyone has always felt that there was no suspense in the answer.
Therefore, after hearing An Shanyuan’s words, they were all somewhat taken aback.
No one dared to believe that at this moment, the An family would dare to decisively refuse to open the ban on Cangwu Mountain.
This was undoubtedly challenging more than half of the cultivation world with their own strength!
Praiseworthy courage!
But are they really not afraid of being annihilated?
After a brief commotion, silence returned once again. However, at this moment, the gazes of those who had come towards An Shanyuan had already turned cold.
Powerful auras erupted from them!
Since the An family has made a choice, they must bear the consequences of that choice.
“Please listen to me one more time!”
An Shanyuan had prepared himself thoroughly and anticipated this situation happening.
Even so, he couldn’t help but tremble inwardly and wiped away a cold sweat.
He hurriedly waved his hand and faced the crowd again, saying, “Fellow Daoists!”
“Doesn’t every family have some secrets?”
“I want to ask everyone, can the ancestral shrines of the secret realms entered by your sects be casually opened for public viewing?”
Upon hearing this, the scene fell into another silence.
Many people shook their heads silently; who in the cultivation world doesn’t have some secrets?
But to expose these secrets?
It’s impossible.
But if this secret belongs to someone else and involves a great opportunity?
That’s a different matter.
An Shanyuan’s few sentences could garner some sympathy, but wanting to dissuade others from entering Cangwu Mountain is like talking nonsense.
Moreover, the more the An family tried to conceal things, the more it aroused suspicion among the crowd.
“The An family has risen rapidly over ten thousand years…”
“Could it be because they have mastered the secrets of Cangwu Mountain?”
“It’s possible!”
“Even the Eternal Emperor said that this is a secret concerning the entire cultivation world. How could it be monopolized by a single family?”
“In any case, the An family must hand over Cangwu Mountain!”
In an instant, people began to discuss fervently, and their eyes became even more fervent.
At this moment!
“Quiet!”
A voice mixed with spiritual power echoed across the plain.
Everyone looked towards the source of the sound, and a slightly pale, distinguished nobleman walked out.
“That is Jiang Yanlong of the Jiang family!”
“He is also an outstanding young talent, reaching the Transcendent stage at such a young age, impressive!”
“There are rumors that the Jiang family has always been on good terms with the An family. What is he doing standing up now?”
The Jiang family is a long-standing cultivation clan.
Many people present recognized Jiang Yanlong, and when they saw him step forward, many murmured quietly.
Yuan Ruoyu narrowed her eyes, sizing up Jiang Yanlong.
On the other side, Ye Qingge sat in the imperial carriage, pulling aside the curtain, her gaze also fixed on Jiang Yanlong.
In an instant, all eyes focused on him.
Jiang Yanlong took a deep breath, stood tall, and stepped forward, bowing to An Shanyuan before asking sternly:
“Old Master An, although our two families are old acquaintances!”
“But this time, I do not agree with Old Master An’s viewpoint. The Emperor’s diary records a great secret about Cangwu Mountain concerning all cultivators!”
Jiang Yanlong paused and then continued, “So, Cangwu Mountain should be opened for all cultivators to see, rather than being monopolized by one family!”
Hearing this, everyone was surprised.
Many nodded continuously.
They thought Jiang Yanlong was speaking in favor of the An family, but they didn’t expect this outcome.
An Shanyuan glanced at him indifferently, his face growing colder.
“Haha…”
An Shanyuan laughed mockingly and then addressed the crowd, “If the Emperor’s diary says there is a great secret, does that mean it exists?”
“Would you also dig up the treasure in your ancestor’s tomb if the Emperor said it was there?”
Jiang Yanlong’s face froze: “This… Old Master An makes a reasonable point!”
Many people exchanged glances.
Yuan Ruoyu quietly observed this scene, deep in thought.
An Shanyuan hesitated for a moment, then suddenly swept his gaze over the crowd seriously and asked, “Have you ever considered a question?”
“What if the Emperor’s diary was intentionally exposed by Lin Feng? He might be trying to achieve some goal through this method!”
“Or perhaps to eliminate former opponents and enemies?”
Upon hearing this, people were first shocked, then their expressions changed, and they remained silent for a long time.
An Shanyuan’s words struck the core of people’s hearts.
In fact, many people wondered to themselves, what if the Emperor’s diary exposed something about their own family?
Seizing the momentum, An Shanyuan added, “Everything is just the Eternal Emperor’s one-sided statement. He can write whatever he wants in his diary!”
“And we fight over the contents of the diary, spilling bl**d for it. Is it worth it?”
Many people’s resolve wavered.
At least, they weren’t as firm as at the beginning. Seeing this, An Shanyuan relaxed a little.
It was impossible to dispel everyone’s doubts, but if some people believed in the An family and the other families secretly assisted, the An family still had a fighting chance.
—
Yuan Ruoyu’s voice echoed in everyone’s ears: “Old Master An, do you mean that your family once had a grudge with the Eternal Emperor?”
This statement heightened everyone’s alertness.
Eyes were tightly fixed on An Shanyuan.
An Shanyuan frowned, pondering for a moment before saying, “I don’t recall any grudges!”
“Who knows? My family has millions of members, and the Eternal Emperor is mysterious. It’s possible that a disciple from our family once incurred a grudge with him unknowingly.”
This explanation seemed plausible.
An Shanyuan, as a leader, had a certain persuasive power in his impromptu response.
Seeing the crowd’s attitude soften, he continued, “Do we have to blindly follow what the Eternal Emperor says?”
“Wouldn’t that lead to chaos in the world?”
“Writing nonsense at will and influencing the fate of the world would only invite ridicule!”
An Shanyuan hit the nail on the head with his questions, leaving the crowd speechless.
For a moment, the air grew silent once more.
Just as An Shanyuan thought his plan might succeed, Ye Qingge moved.
She stepped out of the imperial carriage, her gaze cold and domineering as she declared:
“Yes!”
“Whatever he says goes!”
“Just because he is the greatest emperor in history! If he wanted to destroy your An family, he wouldn’t need to go through such trouble; he could obliterate you with a mere gesture!”
An Shanyuan’s face turned green as he exclaimed, “You…”
“Your An family’s words are merely empty excuses!”
Ye Qingge interrupted him coldly, her tone icy and filled with killing intent:
“I, Ye Qingge, declare here that Cangwu Mountain must be opened!”
“Otherwise, war!”
An Shanyuan opened his mouth to argue, but was interrupted again!
Qian Ruoyu’s voice, equally cold and filled with killing intent, echoed, “Indeed, my Jade Pool Sacred Land will stand firm with you!”
Many present had witnessed the conflict between both sides a few days ago.
Unbeknownst to them, they had converged once more.
Some people suspected that Ye Qingge and Qian Ruoyu had planned this together.
Regardless, it did not deter others from making up their minds and expressing their positions.
With the support of the Jade Pool Sacred Land and the Liyue Celestial Dynasty, what else could they fear?
“Yes! War counts us in too!”
“The mountain must be opened!”
“It cannot be monopolized by one family; it should be shared by all cultivators!”
“Within three days, lift the seal on Cangwu Mountain. Otherwise, the An family will bear the consequences.”
“Don’t think you can hide the truth with empty words!”
In an instant, everyone was stirred up, and their fervor and ambition reached its peak!
Ye Qingge, in a few words, shattered all the doubts meticulously constructed by An Shanyuan.
Seeing the aggressive demeanor of the crowd, An Shanyuan harbored intense hatred towards Ye Qingge.
He gritted his teeth. At this point, he could only take a risk and try another approach.
An Shanyuan burst forth with a powerful aura, and his surging spiritual power surged outward as he roared:
“If it must be so, can I speak one last time?”
“Otherwise, let’s go to war. My An family is not easy to bully. Even if we fight to the last man, we will protect the peace of our ancestors!”
Ye Qingge sneered, “Then there’s no need to say anything. With so many forces, are we afraid of your An family fighting to the d*ath?”
“Very well! Then fight to the last man of your An family!”
Their exchange quieted the crowd significantly.
An Shanyuan’s eyebrows twitched, anger rising to the point where he almost spat bl**d.
He looked at Ye Qingge, thinking, “What have I done to offend you?”
Jiang Yanlong stepped forward, stopping the crowd, and said, “Old Master An, you have one last chance to speak. Say what you have to say!”
“Better not be evasive, or else…”
An Shanyuan was grateful inwardly but kept his expression unchanged as he quickly said,
“Alright, I agree…”
He paused, his gaze fierce as he continued, “To avoid rivers of bl**d, we can hold a duel to the d*ath!”
“All forces present can select three representatives to challenge our three An family elders!”
An Shanyuan continued, “A fair duel, to the d*ath regardless, best two out of three!”
“If we lose, everything will be at your mercy!”
“On the contrary, if we win, you must not bring this up again and leave Ningzhou!”
Hearing this, everyone looked at An Shanyuan with admiration.
Though their stances differed, An Shanyuan and the An family’s performance deserved respect.
Making such a decision required great courage!
If the forces present chose their three strongest representatives to challenge the An family elders and still lost, they would have no face left to compete for this opportunity.
Even Ye Qingge remained silent at this moment.
“Good! Agreed!”
“Three days later, we will select our representatives and engage in a life-and-d*ath battle with your three An family elders!”
All the forces present agreed to this proposal.
This way, not only could the impact be minimized and a bloody scene avoided, but…
With so many top-tier forces present, couldn’t they select three capable fighters?
