The speaker hovering mid-air above Third Peak was none other than Qiu Shaolong.
As Qiu Shaolong's words faded, he bowed respectfully with cupped fists towards the sky above the main peak of the Azure Hall, awaiting a response from the seven figures above.
"What does this Qiu Shaolong want?" Song Wuwen asked, puzzled by Qiu Shaolong's actions.
Li Xuan shook his head slightly upon hearing this, clearly as bewildered as Song Wuwen.
The peak masters, including An Batian and Liu Wen, hovering in the sky, exchanged glances but remained silent.
Seeing this, Di Renhai finally spoke, "What is it?"
Qiu Shaolong immediately bowed again and said, "Reporting to the peak master, in the Spirit Dragon Pool, Li Xuan took advantage of the situation to steal Senior Brother Di Yijie's opportunity, which is how he received the crimson light anointment. I implore the Sect Master and all peak masters to dispense justice for Senior Brother Di Yijie!"
"What? Li Xuan stole Di Yijie's opportunity?"
"I think this is likely true. Otherwise, with Li Xuan's strength at the Freedom Realm back then, dealing with a spirit dragon of five to six hundred zhang was extremely difficult, let alone a spirit dragon of a thousand zhang."
"But if that's the case, why didn't Di Yijie mention anything about it when he came out?"
"He must have been too ashamed to admit that Li Xuan stole his opportunity, hence his silence. Didn't you all see how grim Di Yijie's expression was when he emerged?"
"..."
As Qiu Shaolong's words echoed, the disciples hovering above each peak began to murmur amongst themselves. It was clear that most of them chose to believe Qiu Shaolong's account.
Di Renhai, seeing that An Batian and the other peak masters had no intention of speaking, said again, "Li Xuan, do you have anything to say?"
"Fifth Junior Brother, what exactly happened?" After Qiu Shaolong finished speaking, Su Yueze looked at Li Xuan with concern. Now that Di Renhai was questioning him, Su Yueze became even more anxious.
Li Xuan smiled and shook his head, "Eldest Senior Brother, it's nothing."
With that, Li Xuan took two steps forward into the air, bowed respectfully to those above, and then straightened up to say, "May I ask, Peak Master, does the Spirit Dragon Pool have rules about who can kill which spirit dragon, and who cannot? Or is it that only those with stronger power are deserving? Or if someone makes a move, others are forbidden from doing so?"
Di Renhai frowned slightly. Seeing that An Batian and Liu Wen still showed no signs of speaking, he continued, "Naturally not."
Li Xuan nodded with satisfaction. "If that is the case, then on what grounds does Qiu Shaolong accuse me of stealing Senior Brother Di Yijie's opportunity?"
As Li Xuan's words fell, the disciples on each peak nodded in agreement.
In the Spirit Dragon Pool, it was a matter of individual means to obtain spirit dragons, and there was no rule that others could not compete if someone made a move. Given this, Qiu Shaolong's claim that Li Xuan stole Di Yijie's opportunity was naturally baseless.
Li Xuan's response caused Di Renhai's expression to darken. As someone in Di Renhai's position, he quickly understood the situation. He cursed Qiu Shaolong inwardly for stepping forward to accuse Li Xuan.
Di Renhai was well aware of the matter concerning the thousand-zhang spirit dragon. After Li Xuan received the crimson light anointment, Di Renhai had intended to bury the matter. He hadn't expected Qiu Shaolong to jump out in an attempt to curry favor with Di Yijie.
However, the situation had escalated beyond his control. Di Renhai had no choice but to continue, "Qiu Shaolong, what do you have to say?"
Qiu Shaolong turned to look at Li Xuan and said, "Li Xuan, with your strength at the Freedom Realm, it was extremely difficult for you to deal with a spirit dragon of five to six hundred zhang. Yet, you received the crimson light anointment. Don't you think you should confess the truth before the Sect Master and all the peak masters regarding the tricks involved?"
Li Xuan immediately shook his head. "Qiu Shaolong, you truly are an idiot. Elder Liu Taiyuan said from the beginning that in the Spirit Dragon Pool, everyone relies on their own means and opportunities. I just happened to be lucky and picked up a half-dead thousand-zhang spirit dragon."
"Tell me, if it were you, would you choose to give up? Furthermore, if Senior Brother Di Yijie felt I stole his opportunity, why hasn't he spoken up? Are you acting like an idiot or a simpleton by jumping out like this?"
"You!" Qiu Shaolong's face turned ugly at Li Xuan's words.
Li Xuan's reasoning was not without merit. His current actions were indeed somewhat superfluous.
Moreover, Qiu Shaolong noticed that Di Yijie's expression was even more grim than before, as if he were about to freeze over. Yet, despite this, Di Yijie remained silent. There was clearly more to this than met the eye.
"Li Xuan's words are not unreasonable. It just so happened that he encountered a dying thousand-zhang spirit dragon. If it were me, I would also impulsively try my luck."
"Indeed. The Spirit Dragon Pool is a place where everyone relies on their own skills. I support Li Xuan."
"Yes, Senior Brother Di Yijie hasn't said anything, so Qiu Shaolong's intervention is indeed rather untimely."
"..."
Seeing Qiu Shaolong choked with anger, the disciples on each peak began to discuss amongst themselves. Their murmurs, of course, reached Qiu Shaolong's ears, making his expression even more contorted.
Not only that, but the disciples of Third Peak also looked somewhat embarrassed, as Qiu Shaolong was a disciple of Third Peak. Such behavior was detrimental to the reputation of Third Peak.
Di Renhai's eyes flashed with a hint of anger at the disciples' discussions, but he quickly suppressed it and said, "Let this matter be dropped. Li Xuan receiving the crimson light anointment was merely his own fortune."
"Qiu Shaolong, this matter is indeed your fault. You will return to Third Peak and meditate in isolation for three months as punishment."
"Disciple obeys the Peak Master's command." Hearing this, Qiu Shaolong glared at Li Xuan as if his eyes were spitting fire, then bowed to the sky above and complied.
"Wait a moment." Just as everyone thought the matter had concluded, another voice rang out.
The disciples on each peak were surprised. Upon seeing who had spoken, they became excited once more.
Elder Yulong, standing above the Spirit Dragon Pool, had a slightly grim expression. He then bowed towards the seven beams of light in the sky and said, "During this opening of the Spirit Dragon Pool, someone illegally used the Tyrant Dragon Blood Fruit."
"After my investigation, the thousand-zhang spirit dragon that appeared in the Spirit Dragon Pool this time was a result of this Tyrant Dragon Blood Fruit. Such methods not only violate the noble conduct of disciples of the Azure Hall but also harm the foundation of the Spirit Dragon Pool. It is likely that for at least the next five hundred years, no spirit dragon exceeding five hundred zhang will appear."
"Elder Yulong, is this true?" As Elder Yulong finished speaking, An Batian frowned. If this were the case, it would be a great loss for the Azure Hall.
"Reporting to the Sect Master, I personally investigated this matter and will not be mistaken. I implore all peak masters and the Sect Master to thoroughly investigate this incident." Elder Yulong bowed and replied.
"Sect Master, my lords, peak masters, in my humble opinion, it must have been Li Xuan who used the Tyrant Dragon Blood Fruit. And the previous words were likely concocted to deceive us. Otherwise, with his capabilities, how could he have received the crimson light anointment!"
Upon hearing Elder Yulong's words, Qiu Shaolong, as if grasping a lifeline, his eyes lit up, and he immediately shouted loudly again.
"Idiot." Li Xuan’s face flickered with a hint of amusement at Qiu Shaolong's words.
This Qiu Shaolong, even now, failed to grasp the situation. Although Li Xuan didn't know what a Tyrant Dragon Blood Fruit was, the significant impact it caused indicated it was not a legitimate method.
Furthermore, Qiu Shaolong had previously claimed Li Xuan stole Di Yijie's opportunity, thus indirectly pointing the finger at Di Yijie. Now, still blindly speaking out, it was clear he was blinded by rage and had lost his reason.
"Sect Master, this matter requires further investigation. In my opinion, let us detain Li Xuan temporarily. After a thorough investigation, a decision can be made."
Qiu Shaolong's statement caused Di Renhai's lips to twitch. Seeing that the other peak masters had opened their eyes, Di Renhai spoke.
An Batian frowned slightly. To investigate what exactly happened in the Spirit Dragon Pool, it seemed they truly needed to start with Li Xuan. Therefore, An Batian nodded slightly.
Di Renhai was ecstatic at this. He then waved his hand, and a massive claw reached out towards Li Xuan.
Liu Wen shook his head helplessly. Since the Sect Master had approved, he naturally had no reason to plead for Li Xuan.
However, Liu Wen failed to notice a sinister glint in Di Renhai's eyes, and within the spiritual energy of his hand, a different luminescence lurked.
Seeing the giant hand suddenly appear in the sky, Li Xuan frowned. But for some reason, Li Xuan sensed a hint of death from this massive hand.
Despite this, Li Xuan dared not make any move. Otherwise, the suspicion of using the Tyrant Dragon Blood Fruit would indeed fall upon him.
Just then, a clear voice suddenly rang out.
"My people from Seventh Peak, since when did it become the business of your Third Peak to interfere?"