Feigning injury?

Manjusri Guangfa Venerable was stunned for a moment, and then his eyes suddenly burst into flames.

"Zhao Gongming!"

"You are pushing too far!"

"It was clearly your nephew who leveraged the power of the Spiritual Treasure and took away my Dragon Escape Stake, snatched away Ci Hang's brother's Glazed Bottle, and even captured him inside it...

This kind of treachery in stealing treasures is utterly incompatible with sharing the same sky!!"

"Hehe!"

Zhao Gongming snorted coldly with a sneer: "You speak as if it's the truth! According to your words, it seems like my nephew Yu Yuan has been bullying the five of you Chan Sect Golden Immortals?"

"This..."

Manjusri Guangfa Venerable was slightly startled, somewhat at a loss for words.

Although in a certain sense this was the truth, they couldn't admit it!

Even if there were dozens of Immortal Gods who had witnessed everything, if they were to spread the word, it would only be treated as hearsay and not many would believe it...

But if they personally admitted it, that would be different.

If someone recorded the admission and it spread, the reputation of the Twelve Golden Immortals would plummet, and it was very likely to affect the prestige of the entire Chan Sect.

At this time, Guang Chengzi spoke out in anger: "It's just relying on the power of the Spiritual Treasure! He used a Copper Coin with wings to get the Dragon Escape Stake and Glazed Bottle first, claiming these two spiritual treasures for himself, then trapped Manjusri and captured Ci Hang..."

Having said this, he changed his tone, becoming gentler.

"Now, if you quickly release my brother Ci Hang and return these two Spiritual Treasures, let's consider today's matter settled!"

"Ah?"

Zhao Gongming looked at Guang Chengzi and said, "I didn't hear clearly, what did you just say?"

Guang Chengzi: "..."

His expression was gloomy, and his fists clenched tightly within his sleeves.

These Jie Sect disciples... really are pushing too far!

Could a Daluo Golden Immortal not hear his words clearly?

He was clearly just toying with him!

If it weren't for their inability to defeat him, he would have taught him a lesson with the Sky Flipping Seal!

Suppressing his anger, he repeated his words once again.

"Oh~"

Zhao Gongming drew out his response, then unhesitatingly said, "Don't even think about it!"

"You few are the ones who started the fight over my nephew's treasures, and I haven't even settled the score with you yet! And here you are, shamelessly asking for the Spiritual Treasures back... Apart from anything else, your thick skin is really quite impressive!"

He scorned Guang Chengzi mercilessly, causing the latter's face to alternate between blue and red, his complexion ominous enough to wring out water.

"Wealth of the world belongs to those with virtue!"

Guang Chengzi spoke resolutely: "These treasures within the Grotto Heaven were first discovered by we Chan Sect disciples; you Jie Sect people abruptly interfered halfway and snatched the treasures!

If you do not return the Spiritual Treasures today and release Ci Hang, I will personally go to Biyou Palace and consult my uncle... to see whether 'Lotus of various colors, lotus roots and leaves; the Three Sects are originally of the same family' is just a jest!"

Zhao Gongming sneered coldly, just as he was about to retort angrily, he heard Yu Yuan's voice rising from the depths of his heart.

He remained composed, and the twenty-four Ocean Stabilizing Divine Pearls encircling him suddenly burst into Divine Light, enveloping himself and Yu Yuan, along with all the Chan Sect disciples.

The twenty-four Ocean Stabilizing Divine Pearls transformed into Heaven and Earth, creating a small world completely isolated from the outside.

The faces of Guang Chengzi and the other Chan Sect disciples instantly changed, with a hint of panic flashing in their eyes.

"What are you trying to do?" Chi Jingzi asked guardedly.

"Merely preserving some face for you." Zhao Gongming laughed aloud: "Now without those onlookers, it's just us who can discuss at length what to do about this matter..."

The Chan Sect disciples looked at each other, and eventually, Guang Chengzi was the one to speak: "What do you want to do?"

"Simple!"

Zhao Gongming spoke loudly: "Today's matter is a consequence of your own greed! Had you not been driven by momentary avarice to gang up on my nephew, how could you have been bested and lost the Spiritual Treasures?

Thus... you few must apologize to my nephew!"

"Us, apologize to him?!"

Guang Chengzi widened his eyes, burning with fury: "Zhao Gongming, don't get too arrogant!"

"Me, arrogant?"

Zhao Gongming sneered: "I specifically created this small world to isolate others' prying eyes just to save some face for you... Rest assured, I've already come to an agreement with nephew Yu Yuan; as long as you apologize to him, he will return the two Spiritual Treasures to you.

Oh, right, and Ci Hang too... Nephew, let Ci Hang out first, and let Manjusri go as well."

"Understood... Uncle!"

Yu Yuan lowered his head, his tone not good and seemed very reluctant, but in the end, he obediently retrieved the Dragon Escape Stake and also released Ci Hang from the Glazed Bottle.

He held the Glazed Bottle in one hand and supported the Dragon Escape Stake in the other, facing the Chan Sect disciples with a cold look, showing reluctance.

It seemed he didn't want to let the matter rest, but he was compelled to do so under Zhao Gongming's pressure.

Seeing this scene, Guang Chengzi and the rest slightly changed their perception of Zhao Gongming.

Although this Jie Sect's senior outer disciple was somewhat unpleasant in speech, the fact that he commanded Yu Yuan to release Ci Hang and Manjusri showed he had some sense of measure.

But his condition was quite excessive!

Asking several Chan Sect Golden Immortals to apologize to a junior...

Hmph!

There's no way they would apologize; even if they had to abandon the two Spiritual Treasures, they would absolutely not apologize!

Unfortunately, Zhao Gongming's stance was equally firm.

If they wanted the Spiritual Treasure back, they had to apologize with sincerity, and not just any apology—every single disciple from the Chan Sect had to express their regrets convincingly.

The standoff continued for quite some time, with Zhao Gongming adamant about his condition.

"Senior brothers, why don't we... just apologize to him?"

Manjusri hesitantly looked towards Guang Chengzi and Chi Jingzi.

Ci Hang, with her picturesque beauty in white, also turned towards the two, her willow brows slightly furrowed and a hint of pleading in her almond eyes, whispering: "Dear senior brothers, our Spiritual Treasures were bestowed by our master and hold extraordinary significance... I implore you to help us retrieve them."

Guang Chengzi and Chi Jingzi exchanged a glance, seeing a trace of helplessness in each other's eyes.

The reverence the junior brothers held for their Spiritual Treasures – wouldn't refusing their request affect the camaraderie among disciples?

"Would our apology ensure that those two Spiritual Treasures are returned by your nephew?"

Chi Jingzi looked at Zhao Gongming and asked cautiously.

Before the words fell, Zhao Gongming responded furiously: "Have you not inquired about what kind of person Zhao Gongming is?

Since I have said that I will have my nephew return the two Spiritual Treasures in their original state, then there will be no falsehood!

If you distrust my words, then so be it!

Right now, I will take my nephew and leave Wuyi Mountain; consider those two Spiritual Treasures as compensation for my nephew's offense. I would like to see who dares to stop me!"

With that said, he activated the Ocean Stabilizing Divine Pearl, causing the entire microcosm to shake and seem as if it was on the brink of dissolving.

Seeing his resolve to leave, Manjusri and Ci Hang were immediately startled, and even Guang Chengzi along with his peers felt their hearts skip a beat.

"Wait!"

Guang Chengzi gritted his teeth and sighed with utmost reluctance: "We will apologize."

After speaking, he turned to Yu Yuan and said stiffly: "Disciple Yu Yuan, we overstepped just now by taking advantage of you... is this satisfactory now?"

"Of course not!"

Zhao Gongming scoffed without a trace of politeness: "Where is the sincerity I am asking for?"

Guang Chengzi was fuming with anger, "Zhao Gongming! Don't push it too far!"

"Hmph, if you think it's over the top, then forget it!"

Zhao Gongming waved his hand dismissively, causing the pocket dimension to shake violently, as if it could collapse at any moment.

Guang Chengzi glanced at Manjusri and Ci Hang, noticing both junior brothers looking at him with particularly complex expressions in their eyes.

Unspoken words, indescribable feelings.

"Sigh~"

Guang Chengzi let out a soft sigh, looking solemnly at Yu Yuan: "Today, I wrongfully seized the treasures from you, indeed, it was my fault...

I offer my apology, hoping you won't hold it against us."

Yu Yuan's stern expression slightly eased.

"Good!"

Zhao Gongming's face revealed a smug smile, "Isn't that settled then? We're all disciples of Xuanmen; there's no need to create an ugly scene, unnecessarily making ourselves a laughingstock for others!

There's nothing difficult about admitting one's mistake... come on, with a bit more sincerity like this, the next person, continue."

Manjusri Guangfa Venerable stepped forward quickly and neatly apologized to Yu Yuan.

Following him were Daoist Ci Hang and the Real Man Puxian.

Finally, with a soft sigh, Chi Jingzi also apologized to Yu Yuan.

Once he finished, Manjusri Guangfa Venerable immediately shouted: "We've apologized, now return the Spiritual Treasures quickly!"

"Don't rush; I'll have my nephew return them to you now!"

While Zhao Gongming was saying this, he looked towards Yu Yuan, "Nephew, please return those two Spiritual Treasures to them."

"I won't return them!"

Yu Yuan bluntly replied.

Zhao Gongming spread his hands, looking helplessly at Guang Chengzi and the others: "My apologies, everyone, it seems my nephew is still cross… he doesn't want to return them."

While speaking, he pulled out an Image Retention Pearl wrapped in layers of mana from his sleeve.

A scene materialized before him, showing the recent events where Guang Chengzi and the other four members of the Chan Sect took turns admitting their mistakes... every detail, every sound and appearance, was meticulously captured without error!

"You're being deceitful!"

"You tricked us?!"

"Zhao Gongming! You... you're shameless!"

Guang Chengzi and the other five Chan Sect Golden Immortals immediately realized what had happened, each of them furiously condemning the act.

"When have I ever been deceitful? I've already asked my nephew to return the treasures, but if he refuses there's nothing I can do..."

Zhao Gongming spoke with undisturbed composure: "You Chan Sect Golden Immortals, blinded by greed, robbed my nephew of his treasures, and still showed no remorse, planning to complain to Biyou Palace!

Hmph! Now that the Image Retention Pearl has recorded your admissions of guilt, I'd like to see how you can still complain to Biyou Palace!

Or perhaps I should take this pearl to Kunlun Mountain and let Second Master properly see what kind of 'excellent' disciples he has raised!

Oh, and I should first show the Independent Immortals outside what has transpired here. They must be quite curious about our affairs.

The humiliation of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect apologizing to a junior disciple—should this spread, I believe many would find it most interesting, wouldn't they?"

"You! You! You!"

Guang Chengzi was so livid his lips were trembling uncontrollably, and he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes flooded with rage and sorrow.

"Zhao Gongming, I've always thought of you as a noble and candid man, yet it appears I've been quite mistaken in my judgment! Your lesson has been well received! Today has indeed been enlightening!"

Zhao Gongming raised an eyebrow. Though such a scheme was not usually to his taste, seeing Guang Chengzi and the others tremble with fury was genuinely satisfying for him.

It turns out, Disciple Yu Yuan was right after all!

To deal with these deceitful and hypocritical disciples of the Chan Sect, the best course is to fight fire with fire!

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