Chapter 4107: Firefight

Kou Hongliao's expression darkened. "Sect Master Ni, I think there's a misunderstanding here. Give us some time, and we'll investigate thoroughly and give you an explanation then."

"Misunderstanding?"

Ni Sakong scoffed, "The Soul Imprint of my Sect's Saint Emperor is on your Second Elder. You're telling me it's a misunderstanding?

This matter couldn't be clearer. Does it still need investigation? Then tell me, what else is there to investigate?"

At this moment, he was convinced that Gongshu Zhan was the murderer.

It must be said that the scapegoat Ye Bufan chose was perfectly suitable: a Fourth Grade Saint Emperor with enough power to instantly kill Liu Wuzhou, Zhuo Putian, and Tan Xiu.

At the same time, the method of framing was extremely unique, leaving the other party no room for defense.

After all, the Soul Imprint was a unique technique of Lingxiao Sect, used for so many years, and no one had ever been seen to remove it, let alone re-implant it onto a Fourth Grade Saint Emperor.

Seeing that the other party was insistent, Kou Hongliao's expression also turned grim.

Although he couldn't figure out what was going on, he still had to stand by his own people.

"Sect Master Ni, I've already said, this matter is by no means simple.

Not only did your Lingxiao Sect lose people, but our Xingyao Sect also lost nine Saint Emperors. You're asking us for an explanation, but who do we ask?"

By the end, a hint of anger seeped into his words.

After all, as a Sect Master, he also had his own dignity and could not tolerate Lingxiao Sect's aggressive behavior.

Moreover, having suddenly lost nine Saint Emperors earlier, and still unable to find a trace of the murderer, how could he not be annoyed? How could he have any patience to explain?

Seeing his demeanor, Ni Sakong's anger intensified.

"Your Xingyao Sect losing a few people is your business; it has nothing to do with my Lingxiao Sect.

But when our people died, their Soul Imprint was on your Second Elder.

If you want to investigate, you can, but hand Gongshu Zhan over to our Lingxiao Sect to investigate."

"You want to take away our Second Elder? What do you take Xingyao Sect for?"

Seeing Ni Sakong's relentless focus on Gongshu Zhan, Kou Hongliao directly tore off the pretense.

With the Sect having suffered heavy losses and nine Saint Emperors dead, how could they possibly hand over a Fourth Grade Saint Emperor to the other party?

Moreover, if the Sect's Second Elder was handed over to the other side, how would Xingyao Sect ever establish itself in the Upper Heaven Domain in the future? Wouldn't it become a laughingstock among the Five Great Sects?

"Are you harboring the culprit? Since you won't hand him over, I'll take action myself!"

With things escalating to this point, Xingyao Sect couldn't hand over the person, and Ni Sakong couldn't back down either.

Firstly, he had already determined that Gongshu Zhan was the culprit, and secondly, Ye Bufan and Qin Jian Mountain Manor had clearly witnessed everything that just transpired.

If he couldn't get justice for the three deceased Saint Emperors, he would lose the trust of his Sect members, and Lingxiao Sect would be unable to establish itself in the Upper Heaven Domain.

It was precisely for this reason that he disregarded the face between the two great Sects and directly moved to apprehend the person.

The Domain of a Five-Rank Saint Emperor suddenly erupted, five elements intertwined, finally transforming into a large Immortal Essence hand that grasped downwards from the sky.

In essence, a Saint Emperor had not transcended the realm of an Immortal Emperor, but a Five-Rank Saint Emperor's ability to control the elements of heaven and earth was immeasurably more powerful than that of an ordinary Immortal Emperor. When he attacked with full force, his might was truly terrifying.

"Ni Sakong, how dare you!"

How could Kou Hongliao let him take Gongshu Zhan right in front of him? With an angry roar, he met the attack, unleashing a punch.

The confrontation between two Five-Rank Saint Emperors unleashed earth-shattering power. As their fists collided, violent Qi currents swept around, and even space began to tremble.

"Kou Hongliao, it seems you're truly determined to protect your own today. Then I'll see how much you've improved over the years!"

Ni Sakong grew even more enraged and attacked again. The two Sect Masters officially engaged in battle, fighting until the sky was dark and the sun and moon were obscured.

Since the Sect Leader had taken action, the remaining people couldn't just watch. From Lingxiao Sect's side, Grand Elder Huyan Zhuo and Elder Guang Chongqiao led their powerful subordinates in a surge.

Xingyao Sect was not to be outdone; Grand Elder Ju He and Elder Gongshu Zhan led their people to meet the challenge.

The strongest in the Upper Heaven Domain were the Five Great Sects. In the past, any conflicts would be resolved within a certain scope, but such large-scale fighting had not happened for many years.

As time passed, both sides fought with true fury.

Huyan Zhuo's sword strike directly cut down a Second Grade Saint Emperor of Xingyao Sect.

"Damn it, you old bastard, how dare you!"

Grand Elder Ju He roared in anger. Xingyao Sect had already suffered heavy losses, and now another Saint Emperor had died, how could he not be furious?

His long whip swept out, similarly pulverizing a Second Grade Saint Emperor of Lingxiao Sect.

The Killing Intent on both sides grew heavier and heavier, and their attacks became more and more ruthless. For a time, screams rose and fell, blood splattered, and one powerful expert after another fell.

Xingyao Sect had previously lost nine Saint Emperors to Ye Bufan, suffering heavy losses, while Lingxiao Sect was slightly better off in comparison.

However, not many of their powerful experts had arrived, and the two sides were evenly matched in strength. After a desperate struggle, both suffered casualties.

Seeing his subordinates' strength reduced by half again, Kou Hongliao's eyes turned blood red. "Ni Sakong, are you insane?

Do you want our two great Sects to perish together? If we keep fighting, I'm afraid we'll both have to withdraw from the ranks of the Five Great Sects!"

Ni Sakong's expression was grim. He naturally understood the reasoning behind this. Previously, three Saint Emperors had died, and now, with the dead and wounded, another seven or eight had been lost.

The crucial point was that the two sides were evenly matched in strength. If they continued to fight, it would only result in mutual damage, and he wouldn't gain any advantage.

"Kou Hongliao, my Lingxiao Sect will remember this debt!"

With that, he waved his hand and led the Lingxiao Sect members away from the area.

"Damn it, what on earth happened!"

Watching their people leave, Kou Hongliao breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time, he was incredibly infuriated.

Just a few hours ago, when he dispatched nine Saint Emperors to deal with Ye Bufan, he was full of confidence.

He believed that as long as they obtained the Chaotic Origin Energy, Xingyao Sect would become the strongest among the Five Great Sects in the future.

But he never expected that first, nine Saint Emperors would die, and now they had inexplicably fought a fierce battle with Lingxiao Sect, suffering heavy casualties. Why was all this happening?

It must be said that events had now far exceeded his initial expectations.

Thinking of this, he angrily looked at Elder Gongshu Zhan: "Tell me exactly what happened. Did you kill the people from Lingxiao Sect?"

"No, it's really not me!"

Gongshu Zhan was on the verge of tears. He recounted the events truthfully, finally saying helplessly, "The other party was too cunning; everything was calculated down to the smallest detail.

The purpose of the first Clone they sent out was not to do anything to me at all, but to intentionally let me capture it and tear off its veil.

Then, it impersonated me, causing me to lose focus for a moment. In that brief instant, another Clone planted the Soul Imprint on me.

The unfortunate thing is that those two were just Clones; they subsequently dissipated into the Void Realm, leaving no trace of evidence.

Elder, this is a frame-up; I didn't do it, but I can't explain it clearly!" Having understood what happened, Kou Hongliao's face turned extremely grim. He was an old fox himself and naturally saw that both he and Lingxiao Sect had been played by the person behind it all.