Chapter 1066: Chapter 1066

Gusu Qingwen saw clearly that if Ding Fan hadn't acted decisively just now, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Whether it was Shang Jiuzi or Guan Zhongtian, if either of them were injured, today's scene would have been uncontrollable, and a fierce battle would have been inevitable.

The time for the Hidden Gate Conference was drawing closer, and everyone attending the conference had mostly arrived, the people from the Spirit Sect, led by Luv Shanqi, had all arrived at the stage.

"Alliance Leader, can we begin?" At this moment, Luv Shanqi came over and asked Ding Fan.

Although this Hidden Gate Conference was being held on Serpent Island, because the Immortal Sect was involved in many recent incidents, the hosting duties were taken on by the Spirit Sect.

Ding Fan nodded slightly.

Seeing Ding Fan's agreement, Luv Shanqi walked to the front of the stage.

"Friends!" As Luv Shanqi's voice dropped, the originally noisy scene immediately fell quiet.

Luv Shanqi made a brief opening speech and then said, "Now, I declare the official start of this Hidden Gate Conference."

As Luv Shanqi finished speaking, the crowd responded with a tide of applause.

After waiting for the applause to settle, Luv Shanqi said, "I assume everyone knows, in the last couple of months, sects have been repeatedly annihilated. We are holding this Hidden Gate Conference today to explain the investigation's findings during this period. Now let's welcome Alliance Leader Ding Fan."

Although Ding Fan never liked being in the spotlight, preferring to keep a low profile, at this moment, if he didn't stand up to clarify things, the Hidden Sects would inevitably be drawn into a battle, giving others an opportunity to exploit.

Ding Fan stepped forward to face the crowd.

"Through our investigation during this period, I can prove that the incidents involving Wan Hualiang of the Sea Sect and the Li Family of Black Mountain were not the work of the Immortal Sect."

Ding Fan spoke directly, without preamble.

After Ding Fan's words, the scene erupted in discussion.

Almost everyone believed these incidents were related to the Immortal Sect, yet Ding Fan stood up and claimed they were unrelated.

"Alliance Leader Ding..." Just as Ding Fan was about to finish, Wang Sen stood up.

Everyone turned to look.

"Within our Hidden Sect Alliance, should we favor those with greater power? The Sea Sect and Li Family may not be significant, but if we allow the Immortal Sect to grow unchecked, it will be the next Ghost Sect."

Wang Sen's words were quite impactful.

"Clearly, this is favoritism towards the Immortal Sect, isn't it?"

"The Immortal Sect is one of the Three Great Hidden Sects, even the Spirit Sect cannot directly provoke it."

For a moment, everyone's thoughts were aligned with Wang Sen.

"Elder Guan, you're the eldest here; I doubt you'll be satisfied if this matter is settled so easily," Wang Sen said.

Ding Fan glanced at Wang Sen.

It was clear he was eager to muddy the waters. It seemed that cultivator Guo Jing had influenced Wang Sen considerably.

"Alliance Leader Ding, my disciple Wan Hualiang was harmed by the Immortal Sect. If this is the result you present, our Beiqi Sect will withdraw from the Hidden Sect Alliance," Guan Zhongtian declared fervently.

The scene was once again in uproar.

The Hidden Sect Alliance was founded at Chessboard Mountain to unify efforts against the Ghost Sect.

Given Guan Zhongtian's status as the eldest elder among the Hidden Sects, his suggestion to withdraw was shocking.

"If Alliance Leader Ding conducts affairs , the Wanhua Sect will also withdraw from the Hidden Sect Alliance!" Wang Sen boldly chimed in.

Due to Guan Zhongtian and Wang Sen's agitation, many others stood up as well.

"Isn't it said that the law should be enforced equally regardless of status? Are the people of the Immortal Sect human, and are the members of our small sects not?"

"If a fair explanation isn't given today, we'll also exit the Hidden Sect Alliance. What's the point of such an alliance?"

In the face of the emotionally charged crowd, Ding Fan remained calm.

He had anticipated these events beforehand.

"Everyone calm down," Ding Fan said calmly.

Although Ding Fan's voice wasn't loud, he projected it with True Qi, reaching everyone present, who then fell silent.

"I only shared my investigation results; I haven't enumerated my evidence yet. Isn't everyone concluding a bit too early?" Ding Fan continued.

Hearing this, the crowd felt Ding Fan made sense.

Ding Fan continued to speak, "Firstly, I have found the person who slew Wan Hualiang of the Sea Sect." The rıghtful source is 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝓷𝓮𝓽

The crowd exchanged glances in amazement.

On one side, Guan Zhongtian stood up with great focus.

Ding Fan glanced at the time. "According to the timing, the person who killed Wan Hualiang will soon be brought here. If we just wait , it would be a waste of everyone's time. Why don't we first capture that person's accomplice?"

Ding Fan glanced back at Wang Sen. "Head of Wang Sect, what do you think?"

Wang Sen had a vague feeling that something was wrong when he heard the word accomplice. Now, being called by name by Ding Fan, he felt even more uneasy.

Wang Sen knew his own affairs.

The Guo Jing beside him had orchestrated a lot of things after coming to his side.

Just like last time when Wan Hualiang was slain, he hurried over with Sect Leader Na Cheng of the Ming Sect to verify that Wan Hualiang had offended the Immortal Sect and was killed upon arriving at Serpent Island.

And this time, Wang Sen was helping Guo Jing and the others muddy the waters to stir discord among the Hidden Sects.

At this moment, Ding Fan called his name, how could he not panic?

"Sect Master Ding, what do you mean by this? Are you saying I am the murderer of Wan Hualiang?" Although Wang Sen was scared to the extreme, he still appeared calm. "On that day, Sect Leader Na Cheng of Ming Sect was with me, and he can prove that I was with him when Wan Hualiang was slain."

Wang Sen continued, "Alliance Leader Ding, could it be that you're shifting the focus and using me as a scapegoat?"

Ding Fan laughed lightly. "Head of Wang Sect, your cultivation has advanced quite quickly recently. I remember when we met a month ago, you were only at First Grade of Profound Level, but now, you seem to have reached Third Grade of Profound Level."

When Ding Fan saw Wang Sen, he already felt the dramatic increase in the other's cultivation. That couldn't be possible without consuming a Pill refined from the Corpse Flower.

Everyone present was shocked by this revelation.

Those familiar with Wang Sen used their telekinesis to probe, and indeed, Wang Sen's cultivation had broken through to Third Grade of Profound Level.

It's known that above Profound Level, each grade advancement might take decades to complete, yet Wang Sen achieved it within a month from First Grade to Third Grade.

This is simply unbelievable.

"I... I... I obtained some fortuitous encounter by chance, which considerably boosted my cultivation... This should be feasible, right?" Wang Sen busily adjusted his emotions and said.

Ding Fan gave a light snort. "You are truly a pitiful and laughable person."

Wang Sen looked at Ding Fan with confusion, not understanding the meaning behind his words.

Ding Fan continued. "First, let me tell you all about something called the Corpse Flower."

When Ding Fan mentioned the Corpse Flower, the man with a straw hat behind Wang Sen couldn't help but show a change in expression.

Ding Fan continued, "The Corpse Flower is a type of Spirit Grass. Its seeds need to be planted in the frontal bone of a person, drawing nutrients from the human body to sustain its growth. Once the Corpse Flower fully absorbs a person's nutrients and blooms and bears fruit, the body will turn into a corpse."

The audience, even those accustomed to witnessing life and death, felt a shiver upon hearing about the planting of the Corpse Flower. Such a planting method was excessively cruel.

"After the Spirit Grass bears fruit, it is refined into a Pill. Whoever consumes it will see their cultivation increase greatly in a very short time... But there's one point, which I believe everyone understands, that a level others achieve through decades of cultivation, you achieve in just a month. Think about it, what would this insane elevation in cultivation bring us?"

Upon hearing Ding Fan's words, Wang Sen's eyes widened.

Ding Fan continued, "That means, after consuming this Pill, in one year, your entire body's meridians will be thrown into chaos, leading to sudden death... But if you're lucky, you might become vegetative and spend your remaining days in a hospital bed..."

"Gosh, this Pill is too vicious."

"I'd rather stay at Heavenly Level cultivation all my life than take this Pill..."

The audience discussed intensely.

At this point, Ding Fan turned to Wang Sen. "Head of Wang Sect, what do you think?"

"No... Impossible... Impossible." Wang Sen's brows furrowed tightly, his face full of disbelief.

The lifespan of a Martial Artist is much longer than that of ordinary people. Given Wang Sen's current cultivation, living for several more centuries was not a problem.

Yet, if what Ding Fan said was true, wouldn't Wang Sen have less than a year left to live? For a moment, Wang Sen felt a bit flustered.

"Now press against your Qu Chi acupoint," Ding Fan said calmly to Wang Sen.

By now, Wang Sen couldn't care about anything else, he hurriedly followed Ding Fan's instruction.

"Press it, then inject a trace of Inner Strength and see what happens there," Ding Fan said.

After Ding Fan spoke, Wang Sen hurriedly injected Inner Strength following the instruction.

"Ah!" After testing it, Wang Sen let out a sudden cry of alarm.

Upon injecting Inner Strength, the acupoints felt as if they were being gnawed by ten thousand ants, an unbearable sensation felt like death.

By now, there was no need for Ding Fan to say more; Wang Sen realized on his own that Ding Fan's words were true.

Wang Sen, as if mad, strode directly towards the straw-hatted man behind him. "Mr. Guo... What is happening? Why... why is this?"

The people present, even the fools among them, now understood that what Ding Fan said must be true. However, what puzzled them was why Wang Sen was approaching his attendant?

Could it be that the attendant was unusual somehow?