Under those circumstances, Wu Tian had no reason to frame Cang Jin.
"Elder Zhou, can you hand over Cang Jin now?" Shi You couldn't help but remind him.
If they weren't in Sun Sect, and if Ji Tianran and the others weren't present, Shi You would've attacked him already.
"I won't hand him over."
Zhou Ao tossed the jade aside and stood up. "Cang Jin, come with me."
Finishing his words, Zhou Ao's eyes did not waver as he walked straight to the entrance of the hall.
"You're going too far!"
Crack!
An angry shout rang out, followed by the sound of wood shattering.
Shi You smashed the wooden table with his palm and was about to get up to attack. However, at this moment, a withered palm landed on his shoulder.
"Second Brother, don't be reckless. This is Sun Sect!"
Unexpectedly, Shi You slapped Xiu Kong's shoulder away and shouted, "So what if it's Sun Sect?!
"Can't I even ask for an explanation after my only disciple was killed?!
"Am I supposed to swallow my anger and watch as the murderer of my disciple swaggers away in front of me?!"
The cold shout, which was mixed with endless anger, reverberated in the main hall and clearly entered everyone's ears.
At this time, Shi You took a step forward, and his face was filled with rage.
"Elder Ji, if you can't make the decision, I will personally take action today and bring the murderer of my disciple back to Star Sect.
"If I've offended you in any way, please forgive me, Elder Ji!"
Without waiting for Ji Tianran's reply, Shi You's eyes glinted fiercely, and he slammed his palm toward Cang Jin!
All of this happened in the time it takes for a spark to fly off a flint.
"How dare you!"
Xuan Wenmin couldn't stand it anymore. If she allowed Shi You to kill Cang Jin in front of them, it would be a disgrace to Sun Sect!
With a cold shout, Xuan Wenmin was about to attack.
However, someone else was even faster than him, and that was Zhou Ao.
"If you want to kill Cang Jin, you'll have to get through me first!"
Zhou Ao shouted furiously while his hair and beard fluttered. He neither dodged nor gave way, and he similarly slapped out with his palm to collide ferociously with Shi You's palm!
Bang!
The dull sound of flesh colliding was like muffled thunder from the Ninth Heaven, deafening to the ears.
Formless shockwaves capable of ripping apart cultivators below the Star Refinement Realm began to wreak havoc in the surroundings!
With a muffled grunt, Zhou Ao staggered back three or four steps, but he managed to block the terrifying shockwaves for Cang Jin.
Ji Tianran casually waved his hand, dispersing the aftermath as if it had never appeared.
"Done."
Just as Shi You was about to approach again, Xiu Huang's unquestionable voice rang out.
Hearing this, Shi You glared at Zhou Ao and returned to his seat unwillingly.
"Brother Xiu, I understand the situation. The three of you have come from so far away. I will naturally give you an explanation."
In an instant, Zhou Ao's expression changed. His eyes were filled with anger and confusion.
However, Ji Tianran was still calmly sipping his tea, as if what he had just said was a trivial matter.
Zhou Ao was infuriated by his calm demeanor.
"Great Elder, you … what is the meaning of this?"
Putting down the teacup in his hand, Ji Tianran looked at Xiu Huang and the other two seriously for the first time.
"The three of you have come from afar as guests, but you've done something that guests should not have done.
"If it was before, I would have definitely expelled the three of you, but now, I cannot do so.
"Because there is a reason for this, I have been tolerating it. I hope that Brother Xiu can restrain the two elders."
With that, Ji Tianran turned to look at Zhou Ao. "Since Cang Jin killed Elder Shi's disciple, he must pay the price for it.
"Eighth Brother, do you want to hand Cang Jin over to Elder Shi, or do you want to make amends for this matter and pay the price?"
As soon as these words came out, Zhou Ao's white eyebrows furrowed together, his old face was solemn.
Suddenly, he glanced at Xuan Wenmin, and the latter shook her head at him.
Instantly, Zhou Ao's heart burned with anxiety.
He knew that Ji Tianran had stood up at this time to give him the right to make a choice.
Should he hand over Cang Jin, or should he pay the price and make amends for it?
"What kind of compensation should I make so that this matter will no longer be pursued?"
After a few moments of silence, Zhou Ao asked in a low voice.
Hearing this, Shi You, Xiu Huang, and Yu Chenghai looked at each other and nodded in unison.
"Wu Tian was this old man's only direct disciple, and I have spent most of my time on him.
"Although he was killed because his skills were not as good as others, he was still this old man's disciple.
"If you don't want to hand over Zhou Ao, then give me one thousand high-grade Star Guiding Stones as compensation."
What?!
One thousand high-grade Star Guiding Stones?!
Not only was Zhou Ao completely dumbfounded, even Ji Tianran, who was usually unfazed even when the sky collapsed, held his breath.
For a moment, the entire conference hall was so silent that one could hear a pin drop.
"Elder Shi, aren't you asking for too much?"
Zhou Ao's expression was especially ugly, and the veins on his forehead bulged as if he was suppressing his anger.
Unexpectedly, Shi You laughed coldly. "What?
You think it's too much? "
"The great Blazing Sun Sect, second of the Nine Sects, can't even take out this little bit of Star Guiding Stones?"
Instantly, Ji Tianran's eyebrows twitched slightly.
"Brother Xiu, was this your idea?"
Hearing this, Xiu Huang grinned and shook his head. "Brother Ji's words are wrong. This old man is only here to accompany Second Elder to demand an explanation.
"As for what Second Elder wants as compensation and how he wants to do it, it's all up to him. This old man cannot interfere."
Hearing this, Ji Tianran did not say anything else. Instead, he looked at Zhou Ao with questioning eyes.
Seeing that everyone's gaze was on him, Zhou Ao said with some difficulty, "I will not hand over Cang Jin, nor do I have one thousand high-grade Star Guiding Stones.
"If Elder Shi reappears and changes the compensation method, as long as it's within my capabilities, I will naturally agree."
"Very well, then two thousand mid-grade Star Guiding Stones and ten million Star Coins. How about that?"
Finishing his words, Shi You laughed coldly. "If Elder Zhou still feels that it's impossible, then this old man can only take your disciple away!"
Shi You's words were extremely rude and even contained a hint of threat.
Zhou Ao's wrinkled face instantly darkened. He was only the Eighth Elder and did not have such a rich background.
"It seems that you are determined to take my disciple away today?"
Hearing this, Shi You snorted coldly. "If Elder Zhou can do as I say, then there is no need to take Cang Jin away.
"On the other hand, I can only take Cang Jin away. After all, he killed my beloved disciple."
"Since the ancient times, a life for a life and a debt for a life has always been repaid. I believe that Elder Zhou understands such a simple and easy to understand principle, right?"
The cold voice caused the temperature of the air to drop by a few degrees, and Zhou Ao fell into a dilemma for a moment.
Was he really going to hand over his beloved disciple?
"There's no need to do this. I am the one who killed Wu Tian, not Cang Jin."
Just then, a clear voice suddenly rang out. Everyone immediately looked in the direction of the voice.
They saw a thin silhouette approaching from afar.
The empty sleeve on his left arm was still fluttering.