Hearing the sound from the main hall entrance, Jin Yuan's expression changed.
He was, after all, the peak master of the Discipline Peak within the inner sect, presiding over a main peak.
Furthermore, any wrongdoing by inner sect disciples fell under his jurisdiction, naturally placing him in a relatively high position among the inner sect elders.
Now, to have someone call him by his given name, Jin Yuan immediately felt displeased, his face darkening as he looked at the newcomer.
Zhang Ergou also turned his head curiously towards the entrance upon hearing the voice.
He saw that the newcomer was not tall, but sturdy and powerful, with two small eyes set upon a round, pancake-like face.
Judging by his appearance, the man seemed to be in his forties or fifties, but Zhang Ergou knew that cultivators, upon reaching a certain level of attainment, could freely control their appearance.
Noticing Zhang Ergou looking at him, a cold glint shot from the man's small eyes, and a sharp killing intent made Zhang Ergou shiver.
"Xu Chengtiao, my actions are not for you to judge. I preside over the Discipline Peak, and whether my judgment is fair or not is not for you to decide with a single word!"
Looking at the newcomer, Jin Yuan retorted without politeness.
The newcomer was none other than Xu Chengtiao, Qian Wenchao's master. He had come for two reasons: first, to retrieve his disciple's corpse, and second, to seek justice for his disciple, Qian Wenchao.
However, upon arriving at the entrance of the Discipline Peak hall and hearing Jin Yuan's leading question, Xu Chengtiao could not hold back and immediately confronted him.
But after his words left his mouth, he already regretted them. His standing within the inner sect was far inferior to Jin Yuan's.
Moreover, Jin Yuan was already at the Half-Step Nascent Soul cultivation level, while he himself was only at the peak of the Golden Core stage.
No matter how he compared them, he didn't seem to be Jin Yuan's match. But at this point, regret was useless.
Xu Chengtiao could only blame all his faults on Zhang Ergou.
It was this brat who had killed his disciple, leading him to irrationally question Jin Yuan, the peak master of the Discipline Peak.
Hearing Jin Yuan's cold words, Xu Chengtiao's hatred for Zhang Ergou deepened.
When he entered the hall and saw the tragic state of his disciple, Qian Wenchao, who was unrecognizable, Xu Chengtiao's face immediately showed a sorrowful expression.
"My dear disciple, it is all my fault for arriving too late, allowing you to suffer such a cruel fate. Rest assured, I will not let the murderer escape punishment."
Xu Chengtiao did not answer Jin Yuan's words but instead rushed towards his disciple. Jin Yuan's expression softened slightly. After all, they had not yet cultivated to the point of being stone-hearted when it came to the grief of losing a disciple.
Jin Yuan was not an unreasonable person. He also had disciples and could naturally feel that Xu Chengtiao's grief was not feigned.
He also had some understanding for Xu Chengtiao's earlier rudeness, his expression easing a little. However, since Xu Chengtiao had offended him first and questioned his judgment, Jin Yuan naturally wouldn't give him a pleasant look.
...
"It was you, brat, who killed my disciple. Therefore, an eye for an eye, I will avenge my disciple now."
Suddenly, Xu Chengtiao stood up, glared at Zhang Ergou, and raised his palm to take his life.
"Presumptuous!"
Bang!
A deafening roar echoed in the Discipline Peak hall, the violent spiritual energy shaking and cracking a stone pillar in the center of the hall.
"Xu Chengtiao, do you take me as nonexistent?"
Jin Yuan shouted in anger. Xu Chengtiao's sudden move caught him off guard. If he hadn't relied on his deep cultivation, he might not have been able to block Xu Chengtiao's palm.
Jin Yuan's face turned frighteningly grim. If Xu Chengtiao's words upon entering had made him somewhat angry, he was now utterly furious.
What did he take his Discipline Peak for, a battlefield for arbitrary attacks?
Xu Chengtiao had originally intended to catch Jin Yuan off guard and strike Zhang Ergou with a surprise attack, but what he hadn't expected was that Jin Yuan's strength was so much greater than his own.
Failing to land a blow, he had now missed the best opportunity to attack. Xu Chengtiao's gaze towards Zhang Ergou became even more unfriendly.
However, Jin Yuan's expression was now even uglier.
"Xu Chengtiao, do you think my Discipline Peak is empty?"
Seeing Xu Chengtiao remain silent, Jin Yuan bellowed.
"Hmph, this brat killed my disciple. According to reason, he should pay with his life for my disciple. What is wrong with me making a move?"
Xu Chengtiao argued stubbornly. He was determined today to make Zhang Ergou pay the price.
"Xu Chengtiao, don't forget your identity. This Discipline Peak is not a place for you to speak. The matter of the duel between Zhang Ergou and Qian Wenchao will be investigated and decided by my Discipline Peak."
"Where is it your turn to speak?"
Jin Yuan's large eyes bulged wide. Xu Chengtiao's actions were no longer just a lack of respect for him; they were a challenge to his authority.
How could Jin Yuan tolerate this? Having presided over the Discipline Peak for so many years, even the Sect Master treated him with courtesy. Now Xu Chengtiao was provoking him repeatedly.
Even an effigy would have its temper, let alone Jin Yuan, the peak master holding great power.
"The matter is already clear. What else needs to be investigated? Zhang Ergou intentionally killed my disciple Qian Wenchao. According to inner sect rules, he must pay with his life. What else is there to investigate?"
Xu Chengtiao naturally did not accept Jin Yuan's words. He was convinced in his heart that Zhang Ergou had killed his disciple, and Zhang Ergou had to pay with his life to appease the soul of his beloved disciple.
"Presumptuous, Xu Chengtiao, am I giving you too much face? In a duel between disciples, swords have no eyes, and accidental mishaps are inevitable. Which eye of yours saw Zhang Ergou intentionally kill your disciple?"
Jin Yuan was enraged. He immediately refuted Xu Chengtiao's unreasonable claims, his words clearly showing favoritism towards Zhang Ergou.
"Senior Brother Jin, as the peak master of the Discipline Peak, your judgment naturally carries great authority. But the fact that Zhang Ergou killed my disciple Qian Wenchao, that cannot be wrong, can it?"
Unable to match strength for strength, Xu Chengtiao retreated to a secondary position. Today, no matter what, he had to make Jin Yuan convict Zhang Ergou.
"That is indeed the case. Am I not investigating it now? The situation was urgent and extremely complex at the time. It was inevitable that Zhang Ergou, in his haste, might have made a mistake."
Jin Yuan naturally did not deny that Zhang Ergou had killed Qian Wenchao. However, killing was also a skill, and there were many subtleties involved.
There was a significant difference between intentional killing and accidental killing. If Zhang Ergou were truly judged to have intentionally killed Qian Wenchao, then even the Sect Master would have to abide by the inner sect rules.
But accidental killing was different; there was much more room for maneuver, and the severity of the punishment could be either great or small. As the peak master of the Discipline Peak, Jin Yuan was fully aware of the regulations in this regard.
"This is favoritism, blatant favoritism. Senior Brother Jin, what reason do you have to say Zhang Ergou killed him by accident rather than intentionally?"
Xu Chengtiao looked at Jin Yuan with a face full of anger. He could see it now; this old fellow was determined to favor Zhang Ergou today.
If that were the case, would his disciple not have died in vain?