Xiao Mu felt the concern from Zhou Xuanmen and helplessly defended himself, "Actually, I didn't want to kill Chen Ming under such circumstances either, but back then, it was unavoidable. The people from the Heavenly Court were causing destruction in the Ancient God Village. I wanted to intervene, but Chen Ming forcibly stopped me, not allowing me to go."

Zhou Xuanmen sighed, vaguely able to picture Xiao Mu's predicament at the time, "If he wouldn't let you go, you shouldn't have gone. In the end, if something happened because of Chen Ming's obstruction, the blame wouldn't fall on you. However, since you killed him, it's a completely different situation."

"Where is Xiao Mu?"

A thunderous voice suddenly came from above the Floating Sky Mountain, and right after, a mass of Five Elements divine cloud flew down from the mountain, directly heading towards Zhou Xuanmen and Xiao Mu's direction.

"Oh no!" Upon seeing the appearance of the Five Elements cloud, Zhou Xuanmen's face changed once again, "Jin Yuan, Qi Gu, Fei Xuan, they are all on the mountain waiting for you, ready to detain you immediately and hold you accountable for killing Chen Ming."

"This is Xiong Jin coming to hold you accountable."

Xiong Jin?

Upon hearing the name Xiong Jin, Xiao Mu was immediately furious as this was Chen Ming's mentor, and there was definitely a connection between Chen Ming's scheme against him and this person.

"Thank you, Senior Zhou, for your concern. Xiao Mu is deeply troubled. Please rest assured, Senior Zhou, I have a way to deal with the eight Grand Elders."

Zhou Xuanmen unhappily glanced at Xiao Mu, "You don't want me involved in your affairs, but do you think I won't get involved?"

"Rest assured, before meeting the Human Emperor, no one among the eight Grand Elders can touch you. Currently, the Divine Phoenix Maiden is pleading with the Human Emperor on your behalf for the killing of Chen Ming, hoping that the final punishment will be just to suppress you for a period of time."

As he spoke, Zhou Xuanmen sighed deeply.

The speed of the Five Elements divine cloud was very fast, and soon, Xiong Jin was riding the cloud towards Xiao Mu and Zhou Xuanmen.

The moment he saw Zhou Xuanmen, his anger flared up. He glared at Zhou Xuanmen with hatred and coldly shouted, "Zhou Xuanmen, are you shielding Xiao Mu? Xiao Mu unjustly killed Chen Ming, it is a monstrous crime, he should be executed on the spot."

"Executed on the spot?"

Zhou Xuanmen gave Xiong Jin a faint glance, "Grand Elder Xiong, how to deal with Xiao Mu is not for you to decide, is it? I am laying it out here; before meeting the Human Emperor, no one can lay a finger on Xiao Mu."

Xiong Jin was furious, glaring tightly at Zhou Xuanmen, "Zhou Xuanmen, you still want to protect Xiao Mu? Are you really going to fight me, the Grand Elder, if I move against him?"

Zhou Xuanmen remained calm, "The Grand Elder Xiong might as well give it a try and see if I, Zhou Xuanmen, will allow you to make a move on Xiao Mu at this time?"

"You..."

Furious, Xiong Jin glared endlessly at Zhou Xuanmen.

Zhou Xuanmen remained unperturbed, giving off the impression that he didn't care about Xiong Jin at all.

Eventually, Xiong Jin backed down, not daring to make a move against Zhou Xuanmen.

He knew that Zhou Xuanmen's strength surpassed his own, and fighting would surely put him at a disadvantage.

"Zhou Xuanmen, very well, I hope you can successfully protect this Xiao Mu!"

Xiong Jin glared fiercely at Zhou Xuanmen, and finally, after eyeing Xiao Mu with anger in his eyes as well, he said nothing further and left on a cloud towards the Floating Sky Mountain.

"What a pity, that old thing is cunning. I planned to take the opportunity to teach him a lesson, but unfortunately, the old bastard had too little courage and held back."

Zhou Xuanmen's face bore a smile filled with regret.

Xiao Mu looked at Zhou Xuanmen, saying nothing, but feeling somewhat moved inside.

Zhou Xuanmen protected him like this, understanding that the eight Grand Elders wanted to hold him accountable, came down the mountain early to greet and protect him, and blocked Xiong Jin when he came to kill him.

This heartfelt protection from Zhou Xuanmen made it impossible for Xiao Mu to not be touched.

"You are still too impulsive, why did you have to kill Chen Ming?" Zhou Xuanmen looked at Xiao Mu, shaking his head slightly, full of regret.

"It will be difficult to pass through with the Human Emperor's side, at the lightest, you might be suppressed for decades. After all, nowadays, sigh!"

As he spoke, Zhou Xuanmen sighed again and lamented, "The Human Emperor's power hasn't recovered, and the influence of the eight Grand Elders is too great, even the Human Emperor has to be somewhat wary."

"In the past, the Human Emperor might have easily pardoned your crime. Now it is difficult, the Human Emperor cannot help but maintain the eight Grand Elders."

"Otherwise, it would be troublesome if the eight Grand Elders were to rebel."

Is it really like this?

Xiao Mu looked at Zhou Xuanmen with a peculiar expression.

Upon mentioning the Human Emperor, his expression became somewhat odd. Was the Human Emperor truly afraid of the eight Grand Elders? Was the Human Emperor's strength truly unrecovered?

Xiao Mu harbored doubts.

However, he did not dare to share this information, which only he was aware of, with Zhou Xuanmen.

After thinking it over, he smiled, "Please, Senior Zhou, do not worry, regarding the matter of killing Chen Ming, I have plenty of ways to extricate myself."

"What means do you have?" Zhou Xuanmen dismissed the idea, glaring at Xiao Mu and reprimanding him, "When you stand before the Human Emperor, and the Human Emperor asks you, just sincerely confess, saying that you and Chen Ming had prior conflicts."

"This time, you encountered Chen Ming because of past grievances, resulting in a fight where you accidentally killed him. Remember, it was an accident. Divine Phoenix Maiden and I will do our utmost to protect you."

"This..."

Stunned, Xiao Mu was simultaneously crying and laughing, "Senior Zhou, I won't lie to you, I really do have a way to get myself out of this."

"What means do you have?" Zhou Xuanmen looked at Xiao Mu with curiosity.

"This... can't be disclosed now."

Xiao Mu hesitated for a moment but ultimately did not say anything.

"Nonsense!" Zhou Xuanmen reprimanded Xiao Mu, internally convinced that Xiao Mu had no means, reminding him again, "When you face the Human Emperor, act according to Divine Phoenix Maiden and my cues, sincerely confess, insisting that the conflict with Chen Ming was due to old grievances, resulting in accidentally killing him. Divine Phoenix Maiden and I will do everything we can to protect you."

"Alright!" Xiao Mu didn't want to continue arguing with Zhou Xuanmen and simply agreed for now.

As for how to extricate himself when the time comes, he had already thought of a way, so he wasn't worried about his fate at all.

When the time comes, he would give Senior Zhou and the Divine Phoenix Maiden a surprise.

"Xiao Mu is here, Xiao Mu is here!"

"It's Zhou Xuanmen, Zhou Xuanmen brought Xiao Mu!"

"Bold Zhou Xuanmen, put down Xiao Mu! Xiao Mu unjustly killed Chen Ming, his crime merits execution. As the Grand Elder, I will take Xiao Mu immediately to justice!"

On Floating Sky Mountain, as Xiao Mu and Zhou Xuanmen approached, they saw seven clouds of mist. These seven clouds of mist all belonged to the eight Grand Elders, including Jin Yuan, Qi Gu, Fei Xuan, Xiong Jin, and others such as Yan Ming and Lei Zhanghua.

After Xiong Jin was thwarted by Zhou Xuanmen in trying to seize Xiao Mu, he told Jin Yuan and the others about Zhou Xuanmen's obstruction.

Thus, Jin Yuan led the other Grand Elders stationed on the mountain, specially waiting for the arrival of Xiao Mu and Zhou Xuanmen.

"Grand Elders, Zhou Xuanmen greets you, what is the reason for blocking my Cloud Road?"

Zhou Xuanmen bowed his head and smilingly saluted the seven Grand Elders.

"Spare the nonsense, you know very well why we're blocking your Cloud Road, Zhou Xuanmen, hand over Xiao Mu." Yan Ming yelled at Zhou Xuanmen, "Xiao Mu killed Chen Ming, we only want to hold him accountable, this matter has nothing to do with you, Zhou Xuanmen, stand aside quickly!"

"Xiao Mu?"

Zhou Xuanmen smiled and replied, "Xiao Mu killed Chen Ming, I'm right about to take him to see the Human Emperor for judgment. Since you all are here for Xiao Mu's killing of Chen Ming, why not accompany me to see the Human Emperor together?"

"Stop with the nonsense! A murderer like him is unworthy of seeing the Human Emperor?"

Xiong Jin suddenly leaped out, pointing at Zhou Xuanmen and cursing viciously, "Xiao Mu's killing is conclusive, seeing the Human Emperor will still end in death."

"Whether it's sooner or later, it results in death. Leave Xiao Mu, let us execute him on the spot to avenge Chen Ming."

"That won't do!"

Zhou Xuanmen's face remained smiling, his gaze mockingly fixed on Xiong Jin, "Whether Xiao Mu is guilty, and what his crime might be, should be judged by the Human Emperor."

"Grand Elder Xiong, what is your status? You and I are both merely Grand Elders, do you have the right to decide for the Human Emperor? Grand Elder Xiong, you disregard the Human Emperor and overstep your authority, are you planning to rebel?"

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