Hua Teng Zūnzhě swept his gaze around the hall before speaking slowly.
"This accident during the Five Region Grand Tournament happened because Huaxian Gate's preparations were inadequate, giving the evil cultivators an opening. On behalf of Huaxian Gate, this Zūnzhě apologizes to all present."
He rose and cupped his hands to the crowd.
The expressions of the gathered cultivators were calm. One apology could not make up for the losses across the regions.
Xiang Sizi lifted her eyes to Hua Teng Zūnzhě, a hint of irony flashing within them. Only two from the Western Region Loose Cultivators Alliance had walked out of the Shanhe Scroll alive, and that was thanks to Ran Xi's extra care. Otherwise, their alliance would have been wiped out. She flicked her fingernail and said,
"Hua Teng Daoyou, none of us wished for this. But with so many elite disciples fallen, we deserve to know where the problem lay.
The Shanhe Scroll is Huaxian Gate's sect-guarding treasure. How did it end up controlled by evil cultivators for no reason? What method did they use to tamper with it right under the Ancestors' noses of Huaxian Gate?
Leaving other matters aside, Ran Xi of our Western Region Haoran Sect blew up her own protective immortal artifact to stop Long Ya from breaking away from the seal. That is not a loss the juniors trapped inside for ten years should have borne."
Silently, many in the hall agreed. Only Xiang Sizi Zūnzhě dared say it aloud, but she spoke to every heart. One's own children hurt the most.
Nearly two hundred entered the Shanhe Scroll. Only thirty-five came out alive. The rest died battling evil souls. They had privately asked the five survivors, and after Ran Xi provided a forced-breakthrough potion, eighty percent of the nearly two hundred had advanced to Divine Transformation, one step short of tribulation. If they had walked out alive, they would have become Divine Transformation Zūnzhěs.
To lose so many near-certain Divine Transformation cultivators at once, who would not feel it a pity. Though this was the evil cultivators' scheme, Huaxian Gate still bore responsibility that could not be shrugged off.
Hao Yan, Hao Qing, and Yu Ling did not interject. Words carried more weight coming from Xiang Sizi than from them.
Besides, the three knew that Ran Xi had painstakingly turned Xiao He and obtained vital information that the evil cultivators would act during the tournament. They had shared that intel with Huaxian Gate without reservation, the express purpose being to warn them not to be careless.
Judging by the outcome, the warning had not been heeded. Otherwise, matters would not have come to this. The poisoning of Kunmo Sect disciples earlier had already been a signal, yet Huaxian Gate clearly had not taken it to heart.
Hua Teng Zūnzhě sighed inwardly. What must come would come. He sat and said,
"This Zūnzhě knows all of you are upset, and we too grieve for the fallen. Huaxian Gate bears unshirkable responsibility. We will compensate the families of all who perished. As for the thirty-five who endured to the end, Huaxian Gate will provide ten years of cultivation resources to help stabilize their realms.
As for Ran Xi Xiaoyou's destroyed immortal artifact, after discussion among the Ancestors, the decision is to offer the Shanhe Scroll to Ran Xi as compensation, to show our sincerity."
At once, every gaze turned to Ran Xi.
Yun Xi arched a brow, unwilling to accept. She glanced at her Master.
Yu Ling's expression did not change. He sent a transmission. "This is yours to decide."
Yun Xi had no interest in that scalding hot potato. The Shanhe Scroll had already fallen under evil control once. Who knew whether its artifact spirit had been tainted. For what would she take it, to worship it on a shelf? She cupped her hands and said,
"The Shanhe Scroll is Huaxian Gate's sect-guarding treasure. This junior cannot take what you love. Moreover, it seems tied to the Spirit Realm. I would not dare covet it.
If Huaxian Gate wishes to compensate this junior, then repay me with one top-grade spiritual vein. My protective immortal artifact is worth a top-grade vein."
Hua Teng Zūnzhě's eyes flickered, then he nodded. "Very well. We will compensate Ran Xi Xiaoyou as you request."
Hearing this, Xiang Sizi cursed "insidious" in secret and sent a quick transmission,
"Ran Xi, Hua Teng banked on you refusing the Shanhe Scroll, which is why she offered it publicly. You should have accepted, and we would see what face she would show then."
Yun Xi's apricot eyes narrowed slightly.
"Senior, you said it yourself, she is only putting on a show to display Huaxian Gate's sincerity. I never intended to pick up that hot coal. Did you not notice, up to this moment she has dodged and deflected, never saying how the scroll was seized.
If evil souls linger within, or if the artifact spirit was tampered with, and one day evil souls escape again, would they not dump the blame on me? I would be a fool to accept it."
Xiang Sizi had thought of that too, but anger burned. The Loose Cultivators Alliance had suffered heavily. She said no more.
"Amitabha. Hua Teng Daoyou, may we know precisely why the Shanhe Scroll fell under evil control? Have you found the hand behind it? We cannot leave any hidden dangers, nor allow the evil cultivators a second chance," Master Yun Yi asked.
Knowing there was no avoiding it, Hua Teng Zūnzhě sighed.
"Shameful to say, our sect's Hua Bai fell prey to heart demons and was enticed by evil cultivators. Using his status as a Supreme Elder, he tampered with the Shanhe Scroll when it was brought forth, which led to the accident during the Nascent Soul tournament.
After the incident, Xianyu Hall traced it to Hua Bai. An Ancestor personally moved and captured him. He is under interrogation now. We hope to pry more clues of the evil cultivators from him and follow the vine to the melon."
An uproar broke out. Hua Bai was a Divine Transformation cultivator. How could he be swayed so easily.
Ran Xi, Hao Yan, Hao Qing, and Yu Ling all thought the same four words, "So it was him." Yun Xi even felt the man had likely intended to target her alone, only to be used by the evil cultivators.
To her, it was a tie of ill fate that refused to end. But she was Divine Transformation now. If Hua Bai dared cause trouble again, she would hit back hard. Of course, quietly, without letting Huaxian Gate notice.
The flash of killing intent in Yun Xi's eyes did not escape Yu Ling. He frowned and sent a transmission. "Ran Xi, once back at the sect, it would be best to cultivate your temperament for a time. Do not rush to train. Settle your heart. The killing aura on you is too heavy."
Yun Xi's heart tightened. She agreed at once. She knew the evil qi of the sealed ground had stained her. Ten years of unending battle would warp anyone's heart. That she had endured owed to hidden cards in her hand and a dao heart already set. Otherwise she would have been bewitched long ago.
The Divine Transformation Zūnzhěs present were all veterans. Though Yun Xi's killing intent flashed and vanished, reined in at Yu Ling's reminder, some still sensed it.
Those who had fought alongside Yun Xi, Yun Chen, Han Lian, Xun Kun, and Xian Feng, noticed it. So did the veteran Divine Transformation Zūnzhěs at Yun Xi's side. All understood why she had killing intent.
They too wanted to kill Hua Bai. But since Huaxian Gate meant to keep him alive to catch the mastermind, they held their tongues. Still, many sighed inwardly. Ran Xi was still too young.