C122 Judgement(1)

"Do you think you're worthy of discussing the spirit of martial arts with me?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Yue Jiuxiao sprang to his feet, and everyone in the room gasped in shock. When Yue Jiuxiao said something like this, people nodded in agreement, but coming from Woo Zhengyang, it seemed outrageously arrogant.

The main issue was that Yue Jiuxiao was already seething with anger, and instead of easing the tension, Woo Zhengyang directly challenged him. This was undoubtedly a provocation.

Everyone held their breath, waiting to see how Yue Jiuxiao would react and how Woo Zhengyang would handle the situation. Yet, Woo Zhengyang continued to smile calmly and asked, "What’s the matter? Elder Yue, are you planning to prove your martial spirit through your strength?"

At that moment, Yue Jiuxiao genuinely wanted to crush Woo Zhengyang, but with so many disciples and the other two elders present, he couldn't act rashly. Moreover, he knew that the people interested in this matter extended beyond those in the room, and even if he did act, it might not lead to any resolution.

After a long pause, Yue Jiuxiao finally unclenched his fists and said, "Very well, since you're so confident, why don't you explain your understanding of the spirit of martial arts?"

"Elder Yue, aren't we here to judge my supposed crimes today? Let's finish that first before you seek my insights. Mixing personal and official matters wouldn't be appropriate," Woo Zhengyang replied with a hint of surprise.

"You..."

The crowd was in an uproar, and Yue Jiuxiao was almost livid with anger.

Woo Zhengyang, who had initially brought up Yue Jiuxiao, was now scolding him, all while wearing an innocent expression. The situation was already tense between the two, but the words "seeking advice" and "mixing personal with professional" made everyone wonder if Woo Zhengyang was provoking Yue Jiuxiao into action.

As a respected martial arts master at the Shape Gathering Stage, being told by a mere Martial Disciple that he was seeking advice from him was intolerable for anyone.

Woo Zhengyang was indeed pushing Yue Jiuxiao to act because he wanted to quickly ascertain the stance of the Profound Heaven Sect, rather than just Yue Jiuxiao's position, to better plan his next move. He had no intention of leaving his fate in someone else's hands after a lengthy debate.

Unfortunately, despite Yue Jiuxiao's narrow-mindedness, his patience was formidable. Even when provoked by Woo Zhengyang, he managed to restrain himself. With no other choice, Woo Zhengyang continued speaking.

"However, since Elder Yue is humbly seeking my advice, I might as well share my thoughts, as it pertains to my innocence." Since Yue Jiuxiao didn't react, Woo Zhengyang felt no need to hold back.

Yue Jiuxiao was seething with anger inside but couldn't vent his fury. In the end, he forced himself to calm down and sneered, "Fine, let's see if you can make any sense."

Woo Zhengyang was determined to provoke Yue Jiuxiao until he was utterly exasperated. He pulled a folding fan from his Hidden Heaven Bag, opened it, and waved it a few times before speaking leisurely, "The heart of martial arts has nothing to do with age or cultivation level. Of course, if your martial heart is steadfast, your future is bound to be far broader than those who just get lucky—like me!"

His words were layered with meaning. Although he didn't explicitly say who the "lucky ones" were, everyone understood that Woo Zhengyang believed he would surpass Yue Jiuxiao.

Faced with Woo Zhengyang's confidence, the crowd could only respond with wry smiles. The title of "Outer Sect Number One Madman" didn't quite capture the extent of Woo Zhengyang's arrogance.

"What does this have to do with your crimes? Just because you're arrogantly confident, do you expect us to overlook your wrongdoings? Even if your future is limitless, does that give you the right to harm your fellow disciples?" Yue Jiuxiao seized the opportunity to question him.

Woo Zhengyang remained unfazed, continuing to fan himself. "Elder Yue is always so eager to convict me. Isn't it just about Lyi Huamei and Zhongli Huo's schemes against me? That's actually quite easy to explain..."

Finally returning to the main issue, many in the crowd felt a sense of relief. Although not everyone understood the details, they knew Yue Jiuxiao wouldn't be confronting Woo Zhengyang directly.

However, Woo Zhengyang was truly exasperating. Everyone was waiting for him to continue, but he stopped halfway and just sat there fanning himself. Yue Jiuxiao was so frustrated he couldn't even speak. Finally, the inner sect elder sitting to Yue Jiuxiao's left couldn't take it anymore and urged, "Go on!"

"This is easy to explain. The reason they plotted against me is that, like some people who just get lucky, they lack a steadfast martial spirit. Instead of thinking about how they could obtain the Ice Crystal Fire Grass themselves, they pinned their hopes on me!"