"Hall Master, think twice!"
As Chen Chang'an had guessed, despite the Right Dharma Protector's return with logical and well-reasoned arguments, the Blood Slaughter Emperor remained unmoved in his decision.
Moreover, the Left Dharma Protector standing nearby also strongly disagreed with the Right Dharma Protector's stance.
"Seems to me you're afraid of that Chen Chang'an, aren't you?"
"Boosting his morale while dampening our own?"
"Do you not understand the strength of our Blood Slaughter Hall?"
"Even if the War Division hasn't joined us this time, with the three of us—the Hall Master, you, and me—along with the Blood Slaughter Army, how could some unknown Chen Chang'an possibly turn the tides?"
The Left Dharma Protector was brimming with confidence in the Blood Slaughter Hall's might, dismissing the so-called Chen Chang'an without a second thought.
Though the Blood Slaughter Emperor harbored some wariness in his heart, he still agreed with the Left Dharma Protector's words.
In his eyes, the Right Dharma Protector was overly cautious, sweating the small stuff until his courage had all but withered away.
"The Left Dharma Protector is right."
"Right Dharma Protector, your courage has been shrinking by the day."
"You say Yun Xiao is suspicious—fine, I know that kid has ambitions. But at the mere Divine Ability Realm, his aspirations far outstrip his strength."
"Besides, I’ve already sent people to keep an eye on him. If he makes any moves, I won’t let him off."
"As for Chen Chang'an..."
Chen Chang'an was indeed a concern for the Blood Slaughter Emperor, especially after the incident with the heavenly tribulation, which made it hard for him to gauge Chen Chang'an's true power.
"Hall Master, everyone claims Chen Chang'an withstood the heavenly tribulation."
"But isn’t it possible this was all a ruse deliberately spread by the Alchemy Emperor Manor?"
"The Immortal Alchemy Emperor is at death’s door, beyond saving. Could Chen Chang'an really possess the heaven-defying ability to bring him back?"
"To prevent outsiders from disturbing the Alchemy Emperor Manor, Chen Chang'an and the Immortal Alchemy Emperor might have staged this whole act—a performance for the world to see."
"Even if the Immortal Alchemy Emperor is done for, there’s still Chen Chang'an."
"This way, anyone thinking of causing trouble or coercing the Immortal Alchemy Emperor into refining pills would have to think twice."
"Just consider it—from the Immortal Alchemy Emperor openly inviting alchemists to study that so-called broken pearl, to Chen Chang'an’s sudden appearance. Doesn’t it all seem too coincidental?"
"Everyone was helpless, then he shows up, and the pearl is refined just like that?"
"And what a coincidence—just as the Immortal Alchemy Emperor nears his end, Chen Chang'an happens to have a way to heal him?"
"Most absurd of all, the heavenly tribulation arrives when he does. And then—the heavenly tribulation, mind you—gets scolded away by him?"
"Don’t you think that’s just too ridiculous?"
The Left Dharma Protector’s words struck a chord with the Blood Slaughter Emperor. Indeed, how could there be so many coincidences?
Besides, Chen Chang'an was an unknown. If he were truly some supreme powerhouse, the Blood Slaughter Emperor would surely have heard of him before.
A rising star?
Yet there wasn’t a single tale of his exploits. Could he have just materialized out of thin air?
It didn’t add up!
There were far too many inconsistencies in this story!
Seeing the Blood Slaughter Emperor’s reaction, the Right Dharma Protector’s expression darkened.
A fool was bad enough, but a fool pretending to be clever was worse.
The Left Dharma Protector’s smug reasoning had just led the Blood Slaughter Emperor straight into a trap.
This made the Right Dharma Protector extremely anxious, after all, he had personally met Chen Chang'an—this man was far too mysterious, unfathomably profound. He was absolutely not the kind of fraud the Left Dharma Protector had made him out to be.
"Hall Master, we must not act rashly, we must not!"
"I've seen Chen Chang'an with my own eyes—he is anything but ordinary."
"A single misstep could lead to eternal damnation!" the Right Dharma Protector urged urgently.
Eternal damnation?
At these words, the Blood Slaughter Emperor's expression darkened. His gaze turned icy as he stared at the Right Dharma Protector and asked in a low voice, "Are you implying that I and my Blood Slaughter Hall will face eternal damnation?"
"All because of one Chen Chang'an?"
"You've been by my side for so many years—you should know my temper."
"If there's a next time, I won't spare you!"
The Blood Slaughter Emperor's words sent cold sweat trickling down the Right Dharma Protector's back, for he knew all too well that his earlier remark had crossed a line.
At this moment, the Left Dharma Protector sneered from the side and said, "Right Dharma Protector, you didn’t happen to strike some kind of deal with Chen Chang'an in Alchemy Emperor City, did you?"
"With your sharp intellect, how could you not see the issues here?"
"Yet you never once reported them to the Hall Master."
"That’s hardly your usual style as the strategist."
"Or could it be... you’ve long harbored disloyalty?"
The Left Dharma Protector’s words caused the Right Dharma Protector’s expression to shift. What was wrong with this guy today? Why was he so determined to corner him?
Though their relationship had never been harmonious, this was outright trying to bury him alive!
"Nonsense!"
"My loyalty to the Hall Master has never wavered—when have I ever been disloyal?"
"I simply believe your analysis and assumptions are not entirely accurate."
"Everything I’ve done has been for the Hall Master, for the Blood Slaughter Hall!" the Right Dharma Protector retorted angrily.
Seeing his furious reaction, the Left Dharma Protector smirked and asked, "Why so defensive?"
Defensive?
Hearing this, the Blood Slaughter Emperor also narrowed his eyes at the Right Dharma Protector.
A strategist like him—why was he so uncharacteristically agitated today? This was unlike his usual demeanor.
Little did they know, the Right Dharma Protector’s agitation stemmed entirely from the Left Dharma Protector’s inexplicable targeting.
"Hall Master, I—"
"You what?"
"In my opinion, you’ve been acting strangely today. Ever since returning from Alchemy Emperor City, you’ve been single-mindedly trying to persuade the Hall Master to retreat."
"I’d very much like to ask you—what exactly did you do in Alchemy Emperor City?"
"You’ve always been cautious, yes, but never this erratic."
"Could it be... they offered you some kind of benefit?" the Left Dharma Protector sneered.
"Absolutely not!"
"Hall Master, there must be something amiss in this matter. You know the Young Hall Master’s character better than anyone."
"How could he suddenly undergo such a drastic change in temperament, insisting on destroying Alchemy Emperor City?"
"There’s definitely something fishy going on here."
"Good!"
"Very good!"
"Now you’re even questioning the Young Hall Master?"
"Right Dharma Protector, it seems your intentions are truly malicious."
"Stirring up trouble like this—what exactly are you trying to accomplish?"
The Right Dharma Protector never expected the Left Dharma Protector to press him like this, sentence by sentence, as if determined to push him to his doom.
Was he really trying to pin a crime on him?
Though he had crossed the Left Dharma Protector more than once, was the hatred really this deep?
Or was it that this man...
At this thought, the Right Dharma Protector's expression changed as he addressed the Blood Slaughter Emperor, "Lord, you know best how the Left Dharma Protector usually behaves."
"Yet today, he’s eloquent and deliberately targeting me at every turn."
"I fear it is he who harbors ulterior motives!"
"Moreover, I suspect—"
"Enough!"
Far from taking the Right Dharma Protector’s words seriously, the Blood Slaughter Emperor grew increasingly suspicious of whether the Right Dharma Protector himself had turned traitor.
While the Left Dharma Protector was indeed impulsive, that didn’t mean he lacked wit. In fact, his performance today pleased the Blood Slaughter Emperor, who saw it as a sign of growth.
On the other hand, the Right Dharma Protector was acting far too strangely, his behavior a stark departure from the norm—how could that not raise doubts?
"You’ve questioned so many others. Now, are you going to question me as well?"
"Let me make this clear: no matter what you say, you won’t change my decision."
"If you repent now, I may spare you this once."
"Otherwise, don’t blame me for showing no mercy," the Blood Slaughter Emperor said coldly.
Hearing this, the Right Dharma Protector grew frantic. Acting so recklessly now would only dig his own grave.
"Lord, you may punish me however you see fit."
"But… I beg you to carefully consider my words."
"I truly—"
Boom!
Before the Right Dharma Protector could finish, the Blood Slaughter Emperor struck without hesitation, sending him flying with a single palm strike while he was completely defenseless.
"Utterly ungrateful."
"Do you truly think I wouldn’t dare to act against you?"
"The Alchemy Emperor City—I will destroy it without fail!"