"Your daughter is really something, Clan Leader Qiu!" Dongfang Qian said sarcastically when Qiu An Ping greeted him.
Naturally, Dongfang Qian would not be courteous to Qiu An Ping since his purpose of coming to the Qiu Clan was to seek justice for his clan. If he was courteous to Qiu An Ping, he would only be giving Qiu An Ping the upper hand. He knew this very well as the Clan Leader of Dongfang Clan.
On the other hand, the Grand Elder and Second Elder of Dongfang Clan only responded with a 'Hmph!' when their counterparts from the Qiu Clan greeted them. They acted as though Qiu Clan owed them a debt.
The Qiu Clan's Grand Elder and Second Elder were naturally dissatisfied with the response from their counterparts in the Dongfang Clan. However, there was nothing they could do since they were in the wrong.
"What do you mean, Clan Leader Dongfang?" The polite smile on Qiu An Ping's face disappeared when he heard Dongfang Qian's words. He had been courteous to Dongfang Qian for the sake of the Qiu Clan. However, he could not accept another person criticizing his daughter. It was fine if people were to insult him, but they could not speak a single ill word about his daughter. For this reason, the tone of his voice had changed when he spoke.
The atmosphere in the Main Hall turned tensed when the Clan Leader of Qiu Clan's tone changed. It seemed like there was no way to avoid conflict.
"What do I mean?" Dongfang Qian sneered at Qiu An Ping. "Qiu An Ping, I'm sure you know exactly what I mean. Don't tell me you're unaware of what your precious daughter has done?"
Dongfang Qian's gaze slowly s.h.i.+fted to Qiu Mu Qing who was beside Duan Ling Tian. One could see how cold his eyes were. It was as though he was waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.
At this moment, Qiu Gang Yi, the Second Master of Qiu Clan, suddenly said, "Clan Leader! Qiu Clan is clearly in the wrong regarding today's incident. I know you love the Young Miss dearly, but she's clearly at fault this time."
Qiu Gang Yi's words were out of Qiu An Ping's expectation. Qiu An Ping's expression turned solemn immediately.
Based on the expression on the Qiu Clan's Grand Elder's face, it was obvious he also thought Qiu Gang Yi had gone overboard.
The Qiu Clan's Second Elder was the only one who did not react to Qiu Gang Yi's words. It seemed like he agreed with Qiu Gang Yi.
'Is Qiu Gang Yi really part of the Qiu Clan?' Duan Ling Tian narrowed his eyes when he looked at Qiu Gang Yi. He felt like Qiu Gang Yi was more of a clansman from Dongfang Clan than the Qiu Clan.
It was within expectation for people from the Dongfang Clan to spout caustic words. However, as someone from the Qiu Clan, not only did Qiu Gang Yi not stand up for the Qiu Clan, but he even supported the Dongfang Clan's claims.
Even Duan Ling Tian who was an outsider felt Qiu Gang Yi's statement lacked consideration. It was as though he was shooting his own foot!

"Thank you for understanding, Second Master Qiu Gang Yi!" Dongfang Qian took the opportunity and thanked Qiu Gang Yi. He then looked at Qiu An Ping and sneered. "If it's not because Second Master Qiu Gang Yi's Martial Dao talent is slightly inferior to you, you wouldn't have become the Clan Leader of Qiu Clan!"
Dongfang Qian did not restrain his words when he insulted Qiu An Ping and praised Qiu Gang Yi.
Qiu An Ping's expression darkened even further when he heard this.
Duan Ling Tian could no longer hold it in, and he began to laugh loudly as though he had just heard a funny joke.
"What are you laughing about?!" Dongfang Qian asked coldly as he glared at Duan Ling Tian threateningly. Although he did not speak loudly, his voice contained Saint Origin so it drowned out Duan Ling Tian's laughter. He would have killed anyone who dared to act rudely to him if he was not in the Qiu Clan's Main Hall.
"I'm laughing at what you said!" Duan Ling Tian said as soon as he stopped laughing. He was not affected by Dongfang Qian's viper-like gaze at all. He said disdainfully, "Qiu Gang Yi is nothing but a weasel! Regardless if he's talented or not, someone like him would only bring ruin to the Qiu Clan if he's the Clan Leader. It's truly fortunate that he's not the Clan Leader of Qiu Clan. Otherwise, the Qiu Clan might have become a subsidiary clan under the Feng Clan. The Dongfang Clan would definitely be wiped out if that happens." Duan Ling Tian spoke unrestrainedly.
Qiu An Ping, the Clan Leader of Qiu Clan, the Grand Elder, and Second Elder looked at Duan Ling Tian with a shocked expression on their faces. Duan Ling Tian's words seemed to have jogged their memories.
Indeed. Qiu Gang Yi had once suggested that the Qiu Clan surrender to the Feng Clan and join forces with them to destroy the Dongfang Clan. He even said the Qiu Clan would benefit from it if the Feng Clan ruled Clarity City. However, his suggestion was rejected.
"Li Feng, you're seeking death!" Qiu Gang Yi's scowled. He was furious when heard Duan Ling Tian's sarcastic words. His Saint Energy seemed as though it was on the verge of surging out of his body.
"What's wrong? Are you angry because I spoke the truth?" Duan Ling Tian laughed mockingly.
Qiu Gang Yi was further infuriated when he heard this. There was no doubt he wanted nothing more than to attack Duan Ling Tian at this moment.
"Impudent!" A voice suddenly cried out at this moment. It was none other than the Qiu Clan's Second Elder who had spoken.
The Second Elder of Qiu Clan looked at Duan Ling Tian as he said coldly, "Who do you think you are, Li Feng? Who gave a useless sectless cultivator like you the right to speak in the Qiu Clan's Main Hall and insult a clansman of the Qiu Clan?"
A sectless cultivator!
Dongfang Qian and the people from Dongfang Clan were excited when he heard the Qiu Clan's Second Elder's words. They had been worried the purple-clad young man who had humiliated the Dongfang Clan had an extraordinary background. If that was truly the case, they would be helpless to do anything about the humiliation they had received. Now that they found out the purple-clad young man was just a sectless cultivator, they all sighed in relief. There was nothing for them to worry about if the purple-clad young man was only a sectless cultivator.
"Insulting a clansman of Qiu Clan?" Duan Ling Tian said as he turned to look at the Second Elder of Qiu Clan, "As the Second Elder of Qiu Clan, don't tell me you agree with Qiu Gang Yi's words that clearly sides with outsiders?" Duan Ling Tian's voice was cold.
Duan Ling Tian continued to say, "Moreover, your Clan Leader and the Grand Elder haven't even spoken. Don't you think you've overstepped your boundary as a Second Elder?" Duan Ling Tian questioned the Second Elder's action.
"You… You…" The Second Elder of Qiu Clan was frustrated by Duan Ling Tian until his face turned pale. However, he could not refute Duan Ling Tian's words. Could he admit that Qiu Gang Yi was right in siding with the Dongfang Clan or that he did not overstep his boundary as a Second Elder?
Out of the three Saint Celestial Stage powerhouses in the Qiu Clan, the Second Elder was the only one who agreed to marrying the Young Miss of Qiu Clan to the Second Young Master of Dongfang Clan.
Duan Ling Tian knew about this since Qiu Mu Qing told him about it when they were making their way to the Main Hall. Due to this reason, Duan Ling Tian's impression of the Second Elder of Qiu Clan was not good.
If the Second Elder of Qiu Clan had remained quiet, Duan Ling Tian would not have done anything. However, not only did the Second Elder speak up, but he even insulted Duan Ling Tian. There was no way Duan Ling Tian would let it go.
"Clan Leader, Grand Elder… I-I'm just stating facts. It's not my intention to tarnish the prestige of the Qiu Clan or side with the Dongfang Clan!" Qiu Gang Yi's expression changed immediately when he heard Duan Ling Tian's accusation. He quickly turned to the Clan Leader and Grand Elder of Qiu Clan and explained himself. He was afraid they would be angered.
A burst of laughter rang in the air suddenly. Dongfang Qian sneered as he said, "It seems like the Qiu Clan has lost its n.o.bility. Even riffraff like a sectless cultivator can speak freely in the Main Hall! If this happens in the Dongfang Clan's Main Hall, such a person would've been killed." He looked at Duan Ling Tian with killing intent when he spoke.
"Is that so?" Duan Ling Tian did not avoid Dongfang Qian's gaze as he sneered.
"Clan Leader Qiu!" Dongfang Qian said in anger and turned to look at Qiu An Ping after he saw how fearless Duan Ling Tian was. His expression was grim.
"As long as you hand this sectless cultivator over to me today, the Dongfang Clan will forgive Qiu Clan's transgressions!" Dongfang Qian's voice boomed in the Qiu Clan's main hall like a clap of thunder. "We can still be allies to fight the Feng Clan even if we can't be in-laws!"