Suppressing the murderous intent in his heart, Zane Fate raised the jade slip in his hand and spoke in a heavy tone, "I have just received word that all thirty-six disciples our Fatespire Sect sent to the Twilight Immortal Domain to capture Loraine Puregate have perished. The Twilight Immortal Domain is filled with mere domain-level ants who have only recently ascended, and among our disciples, two were even at the Grand Yi Immortal stage. It is certain that they must have fallen at the hands of Loraine Puregate..."
A black-bearded man in coarse robes stood up, cupped his fists toward Zane Fate, and said, "Sect Master Zane, I know a bit about Sect Master Puregate's character. If you say she would strip the fortune from a newborn Immortal Domain, I believe this matter requires further investigation. May I ask, Sect Master Zane, when did your thirty-six disciples pursue Sect Master Puregate?"
Zane Fate's face was dark and unpleasant, but he had no choice but to respond. If it were anyone else, he would have plenty of henchmen to speak for him. But the man speaking was no ordinary cultivator—he was Lucas Infinity, the sect master of Infinity Sword Path. A late-stage Immortal King powerhouse, his strength was at least equal to Zane Fate's, if not greater.
Although the Fatespire Sect is the guiding force of the Immortal Realm and Zane Fate's words can rally many sects, he knows very well that he cannot influence Lucas Infinity. Infinity Sword Path is also one of the top sects in the Immortal Realm; in terms of strength, it surpasses Fatespire Sect. Their authority comes not from words, but from the swords in their hands.
Sure enough, after Lucas Infinity spoke up, many sect masters turned their gaze toward Zane Fate.
Fatespire Sect holds immense influence in the Immortal Realm, but much of it stems from the lingering prestige left by Emperor Magnus Fate.
Now that there are no Immortal Emperors in the Immortal Realm, Infinity Sword Path stands as the top sect. The question Lucas Infinity raised is one that concerns many cultivators, and Zane Fate must answer.
Zane Fate nodded, "Even if Sect Master Lucas hadn't asked, I would have explained these matters. For years, I have been searching for the whereabouts of the newborn Immortal Domain, and only three years ago did I finally find some clues..."
When Zane Fate mentioned finding clues to the path of the newborn Immortal Domain, everyone held their breath, listening intently to his words.
Within the grand hall, only Zane Fate's voice echoed, "Three years ago, I led some disciples to the newborn Immortal Domain to observe the flow of its fortune..."
No one doubted Zane Fate's words. If there is any sect in the Immortal Realm capable of observing the flow of fortune, it must be the Fatespire Sect. Many sects relied on Fatespire Sect to survey their locations in the past.
"It was exactly because of this that I saw Loraine Puregate stripping away the Immortal Realm's fortune, and I finally understood why the fortune of the newborn Immortal Domain was dissipating. I rebuked Loraine Puregate on the spot; she was clearly alarmed when she saw me approach. She promised to return all the fortune to the Immortal Realm, and even vowed to use Puregate Sect disciples to suppress the flow of fortune..."
Previously, Zane Fate only wanted to pin the blame on Loraine Puregate, and given the status of Fatespire Sect, no one should have dared to refute him. Now that Lucas Infinity had stepped forward to challenge him, as he explained, Zane Fate suddenly realized there was a major flaw in his story...
Even though he knew his words had a flaw, Zane Fate still sighed deeply. "Fatespire Sect and Puregate Sect were originally two of the top-tier sects in the Immortal Realm, so I always considered Puregate Sect as a kindred sect. I never expected Loraine Puregate to suddenly plot against me..."
While many sect masters were sighing, just as many had noticed something was wrong.
Lucas Infinity was the first to catch the problem. He calmly asked, "Sect Master Zane, the Grand Skywall Array between the newborn and Twilight Immortal Domains was set up by you and the others. In order to do so, several sect masters even lost their lives. The array banner to activate the Grand Skywall Array is in your possession. Even if Sect Master Puregate managed to ambush you, surely she couldn't have taken the array banner that opens the Grand Skywall Array so easily?"
Zane Fate's heart sank; he hadn't expected Lucas Infinity to show him no courtesy, exposing the flaw in his story so blatantly.
Everyone stared at Zane Fate. He knew his words had been exposed. With an expressionless face, he said, "The reason I was able to lead everyone in setting up the Grand Skywall Array is that Fatespire Sect had studied it before. Back then, the founding ancestor of Puregate Sect and the founding ancestor of Fatespire Sect were close friends; both had researched this array. I suspect that after the Grand Skywall Array was set up, Loraine Puregate had been searching for a way to break it. It was only a few years ago that she finally succeeded, and that’s when she began to strip away the fortune of the newborn Immortal Domain."
The explanation was a bit forced, but it was plausible. Back then, Puregate Sect and Fatespire Sect were indeed closely intertwined—one overt, one covert—both famous throughout the Immortal Realm. Rumor had it that their founding ancestors had a complicated relationship.
Lucas Infinity cupped his fists and said noncommittally, "So that's how it is. But your thirty-six disciples pursued Sect Master Puregate into the Twilight Immortal Domain, and only after three years did they all suddenly perish at the same time. Isn't that rather odd? Logically, they should have split up to search for her three years ago."
Zane Fate's expression darkened as he said coldly, "Sect Master Lucas, I issued the Grand Convocation Decree to discuss how to resolve the crisis of the newborn Immortal Domain entering twilight, not to be interrogated by you."
As soon as he spoke, Zane Fate's aura surged, clearly reaching the peak of the Immortal King realm.
If he threatened anyone else, it might have worked. But threatening Lucas Infinity—even here at Fatespire Sect—was useless. Lucas Infinity remained fearless and said without hesitation, "I doubt your words, because I know very well that the Puregate Sect Master could not have ambushed you. I personally witnessed you ambush Elder Lorraine Lin, Sect Master Puregate's junior sister, and after that, Elder Lorraine Lin vanished."
"You're slandering me..." Zane Fate's face grew grim, and his murderous intent surged.
Lucas Infinity laughed heartily. "I, Lucas Infinity, always speak my mind. Your Fatespire Sect may be powerful, but you can't threaten my Infinity Sword Path."
Zane Fate seemed to think of something, and the murderous intent on his face faded. "Since Sect Master Lucas doubts me, do as you wish. We are here to work together, not to suspect one another."
Lucas Infinity sneered, "Even if you hadn't said that, I wouldn't have stayed for this meeting. I only hope Sect Master Zane will open the Grand Skywall Array and let Infinity Sword Path return to the Twilight Immortal Domain."
Zane Fate replied without hesitation, "The Grand Skywall Array concerns the entire newborn Immortal Domain. It can't be opened just because you say so."
"Hahahaha..." Lucas Infinity laughed loudly, though his face showed no trace of amusement. After laughing, he pointed at Zane Fate and said, "Zane Fate, your Fatespire Sect can go to the Twilight Immortal Domain whenever you wish, but now that my Infinity Sword Path wants to go, it's suddenly not allowed? Heh, when we entrusted the array banner to your sect, it wasn't so Fatespire Sect could claim the Grand Skywall Array as its own."
Sure enough, after Lucas Infinity spoke, many sect masters looked displeased.
To put it plainly, the array banner for controlling the Grand Skywall Array was merely kept by Fatespire Sect; it wasn't meant for their exclusive use, nor to prevent others from using it.
After Lucas Infinity finished, he didn't wait for Zane Fate's gloomy rebuttal. He cupped his fists to the assembled sect masters and continued, "Fellow sect masters and daoists, Infinity Sword Path will not participate in this hypocritical assembly any longer. If Fatespire Sect hadn't instigated war in the past, the Twilight Immortal Domain wouldn't have suffered so much bloodshed. Later, I learned that Fatespire Sect only wanted to reduce the number of cultivators entering the newborn Immortal Domain. But how many of their own died back then? Infinity Sword Path owes them nothing. If Fatespire Sect tries this again, we will not go along with it."
"Lucas Infinity, you're courting death..." Even Zane Fate, with all his cunning, couldn't suppress his killing intent. He pulled out an array banner, activating a killing array that instantly shrouded the entire guest hall in murderous intent.
The sect masters still in the guest hall panicked, each one bringing out their own magical treasures.
Tamor Grand, sect master of Grand Origin Palace, was the first to stand beside Lucas Infinity. "Grand Origin Palace stands with Sect Master Lucas."
"Nine Harmony Sect stands with Sect Master Lucas..."
"Southern Peace Immortal Palace..."
In a short time, at least half the sect masters and major powers had gathered at Lucas Infinity's side.
How many fools have survived to this day?
Even if Lucas Infinity hadn't spoken, many had begun to doubt the events of the Twilight Era. The key point was that after the Twilight Era, of all the sects in the Immortal Realm, only Fatespire Sect had not lost any disciples.
What made everyone most suspicious was that Lucas Infinity had seen Zane Fate ambush Lorraine Lin, and yet Zane Fate was still trying to pin everything on Loraine Puregate. Everyone knew who Loraine Puregate was—if anyone believed she would strip away the Immortal Realm's fortune, Zane Fate's words would be hard to accept.
If that wasn't enough, Zane Fate's refusal to let Lucas Infinity enter the Twilight Immortal Domain, while his own disciples could come and go freely, was the final straw.
(Second update will be posted later.)