C13 Su Yinjian Deceived the Son of God!

The Great Elder watched Su Yinjian with a mix of astonishment and disbelief. It was unexpected for Su Yinjian to make such a statement, especially considering Lu Chen's usual courtesy in their interactions. Clearly, he was provoked, or he wouldn't be so urgent.

Su Yinjian's convincing rhetoric had duped the Great Elder and the others, leaving him with a twinge of guilt. He had deceived those who trusted him, driven by his own ulterior motives for inviting so many from different sects to witness the battle.

He had pondered over every disciple in the sect, concluding that the Great Elder would likely choose the Son of God to represent them. The Son of God was the most gifted among them, yet a defeat before an audience could shatter the morale of the others. If even the most talented could fall, what hope would the rest have to continue their cultivation?

"Elder Xu, if you truly believe your people can best my disciples, then send them forth. Rest assured, I won't hinder their battle at such a time," Su Yinjian declared.

The Great Elder and his peers were troubled, yet they were determined not to show weakness.

Their concern stemmed from the knowledge that their sect, while not the strongest, excelled in cunning and strategy, often securing victory in contests through such means. This made them particularly anxious for their Son of God.

"Very well, we'll do as you suggest. But I must say, your sect is rather modest. We'll stay at the inn below your mountain. Inform us when your guests arrive. I'd hate to be kept waiting," Elder Xu said with a mocking laugh before departing. Su Yinjian gave the Great Elder a knowing look, his mind on an odd detail.

"Great Elder, they've only recently mastered that formidable formation. I've seen its power, and it should be employed with care. Surely, they wouldn't have let someone breach the sect and harm the disciples otherwise," Su Yinjian remarked, feigning displeasure to divert the Great Elder's focus from the upcoming challenge. After all, he still needed to sway the Son of God.

The Great Elder offered an apologetic glance. "We overlooked that. Our intent was for the other disciples to familiarize themselves with the formation, especially since some had descended the mountain to vanquish demons and were unaware of the new development. We didn't anticipate a direct challenge."

Su Yinjian was aware of their connections with the townsfolk below the mountain, as the sect often aided them against demonic threats. With a sheepish smile, he added, "I hadn't considered that some disciples were away. We can't very well close the sect now. Keep an eye on their whereabouts to avoid any clashes with the Brass Plunderers."

With a heavy heart, Su Yinjian retreated to his room, his concern evident. The Great Elder and the others exchanged looks, sensing that the sect's reputation had taken a hit. The challengers were ruthless, caring little for the means of victory. Elder Xu's underhanded nature only heightened their unease.

All the sects that had previously clashed or sparred with the Brass Plunderers found themselves ambushed just as they were on the verge of victory. Yet, no one could ever produce evidence of foul play, which only fueled the widespread disdain for the Brass Plunderers.

The Great Elder then spoke up, "Keep a close watch on the Sect Leader in the coming days. If the Brass Plunderers resort to poisoning him in secret, it would spell disaster for our sect."

Upon returning, Su Yinjian sought out the Son of God, knowing full well that he would be the one to enter the fray. His plan was to ensure the Son of God would lose to the Brass Plunderers' champion, as per his instructions.

The Brass Plunderers were notorious for their arrogance. A victory in this competition would see them boast far and wide, leaving Su Yinjian's sect utterly humiliated.

Su Yinjian was aware that his scheme was somewhat dishonorable, but desperate times called for desperate measures to salvage his sect's reputation.

The Son of God had barely emerged from his retreat when Su Yinjian found him. Observing the path with reverence, Su Yinjian appraised the man before him—this was their Son of God, seemingly a disciple of mild temperament.

"Do you know why I've summoned you?" he asked.

The Son of God, taken aback, met Su Yinjian's gaze, his eyes clouded with confusion. He genuinely didn't grasp the reason for the summons.

"I am unaware, Sect Master. I seek your guidance," he replied.

Su Yinjian's face was etched with concern, a look that only served to unsettle the Son of God further. He couldn't fathom what could be troubling Su Yinjian so deeply.

Within their sect, Su Yinjian was revered as the most formidable, his seemingly absurd decisions often leading to significant advancements for the sect members, with several elders breaking through their limits.

"The Brass Plunderers have thrown down the gauntlet, and we must respond. But should you emerge victorious, it could have repercussions. Have the disciples who descended the mountain not yet returned?" Su Yinjian laid out the situation directly to the Son of God. The truth was, he had no idea where those disciples were—perhaps they were off training elsewhere, but they certainly hadn't come back.

"So, Elder Xu has abducted our disciples?" The Son of God's face registered shock. "They went to aid the common folk against minor demons. Why haven't they returned?"

It hadn't occurred to him that such a scenario was possible. To him, they were all honorable members of a reputable sect, incapable of such vile acts.

Yet, the certainty in Su Yinjian's demeanor, coupled with his previous actions, convinced the Son of God of the veracity of his words. The Sect Leader's claims had to be true—someone had indeed taken their people.

The Son of God's panic was palpable as he looked to Su Yinjian for answers. How could they address this crisis without even knowing the whereabouts of the kidnapped disciples? What steps could they take to locate them?

As Su Yinjian met the Son of God's earnest gaze, a twinge of guilt washed over him. Despite this, he knew sacrifices had to be made for the greater good of the sect, and so, with a heavy heart, he composed himself once more.