Xu Dong had thrown all caution to the wind!
As long as he could become the new President of the Alchemist Association, even if it meant offending the Prince, he deemed it of little consequence! After all, the Prince had no authority to appoint or remove the President of the Alchemist Association.
Zhou Shangyun then gave Xu Dong a deep look.
Technically, Xu Dong, the Vice President of the Alchemist Association, was not entitled to sit at this long table and speak his mind so freely. If Li Xingjiu, the current President, had not left Lanqu County City, then Xu Dong wouldn’t have had the qualifications to attend this meeting at all.
The Clan Leaders of several Great Families, when looking at Xu Dong, had a glint in their eyes.
Especially the Lu Family Patriarch, whose emotions were complex at the moment. On one hand, he somewhat feared the Prince’s power, but on the other hand, he felt an uncontrollable excitement.
Undoubtedly, the Commandery Prince was the most powerful authority in the Commandery. If these prominent families and powerful factions could withstand the Prince even once, it would indeed be an exhilarating event.
Ambition was subconsciously driving them, instilling the desire to confront the Prince.
"Prince, if you’ve already taken action against Dark Night Master Yin and have captured him, should you not have left him alive? Now that Master Yin is dead, with no testimony to counter, there is even less evidence to prove that the Wen Family employed Master Yin, isn’t it?" the Lu Family Patriarch raised his eyebrows and said slowly to Zhou Shangyun.
"I also think this matter is of great importance! The Wen Family is one of the major families in Lanqu County City. If, Prince, you truly intend to deal with the Wen Family, I fear the impact would be significant—especially since there is no conclusive evidence of the Wen Family’s guilt," interjected the Yuan Family Patriarch.
Guan Yue, the Dean of Divine Wind Academy, sat there, eyes half-closed, looking as if he was resting.
It seemed that this Council meeting was spiraling out of the Prince’s control.
If Prince Zhou Shangyun were to persist in his obstinacy, it could indeed lead to chaos. Should Lanqu County City truly fall into disorder, the center of the Heavenly Origin Continent—the Holy City—might also conclude that Zhou Shangyun was incapable of overseeing Lanqu County City, and consider replacing him.
As the Great Family Clan Leaders finished speaking, a cold smile appeared on Zhou Shangyun’s face.
"Don’t be hasty! Jing Yan, come out and speak!" Zhou Shangyun called toward the inner side of the Council Hall.
Everyone was immediately taken aback.
What meant by having Jing Yan come out and speak?
What was the Prince implying? Wasn’t Jing Yan already dead?
A look of surprise appeared in everyone’s eyes. Among those present, only Prince Zhou Shangyun and Chief Manager Mu Liantian knew that Jing Yan was not dead. Even the Dean of Dao Yi Academy was unaware of Jing Yan’s survival.
Under their astonished gazes, Jing Yan slowly emerged from a room within the inner chamber.
While in the inner hall, Jing Yan had heard all the speeches from those outside, loud and clear.
Now, he finally understood the difficulties faced by Prince Zhou Shangyun. Zhou Shangyun indeed held a high position and significant power, but it was clear he couldn’t fully control the major families of Lanqu County City, especially these top-tier families and forces.
As Jing Yan stepped out, Clan Leaders like those from the Lu Family, Yuan Family, and Cai Family were all taken aback.
Jing Yan was still alive?
How could Jing Yan possibly be alive?
Guan Yue, the Dean of Divine Wind Academy, who had previously appeared unfazed, now had his eyes wide open, staring fixedly at Jing Yan.
Wen Guang, the Dean of Dao Yi Academy, showed shocked eyes yet with a hint of joy.
Those lesser forces’ leaders, seated farther away and listening in, were also stunned as they gaped at Jing Yan.
"Prince!" Jing Yan stepped out and first offered a salute to the Prince.
Then he turned to face the illustrious individuals seated at the long table. "Greetings to all the dignitaries!"
While speaking, the corners of Jing Yan’s mouth lifted slightly. He knew many here were disappointed to see him alive.
"You... Jing Yan, you’re still alive?" Xu Dong seemingly saw a ghost.
"Vice President Xu Dong, I am indeed alive," Jing Yan replied, looking at Xu Dong with a flash of his white teeth.
"Jing Yan, we heard you were assassinated by Dark Night Master Yin, and we thought you were..." Alchemist Liu Wen trembled slightly with excitement; he and Jing Yan went way back.
"Alchemist Liu Wen, that Dark Night Master Yin did indeed go to Haofeng City to assassinate me. However, I am not so easy to kill," Jing Yan said, returning Liu Wen’s greeting with a friendly smile.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Let me explain what happened," Jing Yan narrowed his eyes slightly, pausing for a moment before generally recounting the incident of his assassination. Of course, he neglected certain details, such as the fact that he had hidden in the Qiankun Small World to break through his realm before finally killing Master Yin.
The existence of the Qiankun Small World absolutely could not be revealed, at least not to a second person for now.
"Jing Yan, what do you mean by all this? Are you trying to say that you’re the one who killed Master Yin?" Xu Dong was the first to jump out and question Jing Yan.
"The Dark Night Ace was indeed killed by me," Jing Yan looked at Xu Dong. "This Master Yin also confided to me in his own words that he was hired by the Wen Family!"
"Hahaha..." Xu Dong burst into loud laughter.
At this point, Xu Dong truly became agitated. If he could calm his mind and think clearly at that moment, he might realize that, given his status, it was not appropriate to be the ringleader. But his mind was in disarray, entirely forgetting that any person seated at that long table was of equal or greater status than himself.
"Jing Yan! Do you think we are fools?"
"Do you believe that such tricks could deceive us?"
"You claim to have killed Master Yin? I must ask, how could you kill Master Yin? Just because you’ve recently advanced to the Dao Spirit Realm as a Martial Artist? Do you know what strength Master Yin possessed? A warrior in the Middle Dao Master Realm, and adept in assassination! Yet you, a newly advanced Dao Spirit Realm warrior, claim to have killed Master Yin, how can we believe you?" Xu Dong bellowed.
However, Xu Dong’s words made many people nod in agreement. They had all been shocked that Jing Yan had not been killed by Master Yin, but now that they had calmed down, it wasn’t hard to come to this realization.
With Jing Yan’s strength, how could he possibly have killed Master Yin, who was at the Middle Dao Master Realm? Not to mention a mere Jing Yan, even among those present, how many could confidently say they were a match for Master Yin? Let alone kill him.
This Dark Night Ace was known for thriving in darkness and speed; even if you could slightly suppress him, you might not be able to kill him.
That included Dean Wen Guang of Dao Yi Academy, who also expressed his astonishment. If it were suggested that Fang Ruoyu had secretly helped Jing Yan kill Master Yin, that would be highly plausible. But Jing Yan was claiming that he had personally ended the life of Dark Night Ace Master Yin!