From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 432 Conflict Erupts at the Exchange Meeting

Amid the rustling of the bamboo forest, I took a deep breath, feeling the tense atmosphere in the air.

The turmoil at the Peace Camp had just subsided when the exchange between immortals and demons officially began at the venue.

However, long-standing prejudices between the two sides act like an invisible wall, standing between us and hindering any genuine communication.

At the outset, the representatives of both sides engaged in heated arguments over some historical issues and conflicts of interest.

Li Xianren stood in the center of the hall, his eyes blazing, his voice sharp and piercing: "The Demon Clan has never truly let go of its hostility towards the Immortal Clan; every move they make is full of conspiracy!"

His words were like sharp blades, piercing the heart of the demon representative.

Mo Yan, as the representative of the demon race, instantly turned ashen-faced.

He stood up abruptly, his voice booming: "Immortal Li, your prejudice has blinded you! Immortal Li's words are like pouring cold water into boiling oil, no, they're like throwing explosives directly into a pot!"

Mo Yan's face, which had been trying to maintain a calm demeanor, suddenly turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

I could feel that the demonic energy around him was becoming unstable, like boiling water that was about to burst open at any moment.

He suddenly stood up, his tall figure exuding the oppressive aura unique to demons, his voice like thunder, "Immortal Li! Has your prejudice blinded you, or has your heart never even considered peace?!"

"Peace?" Immortal Li sneered, flicking his whisk. His arrogant demeanor made it seem as if those of us who hoped for peaceful coexistence were fools. "Talking about peace with a bunch of demons who might betray us at any moment? What a joke! In thousands of years, when has it ever been you demons who started the trouble first?!"

"Bullshit!" A fiery-tempered demon elder jumped up, pointing his finger at Li Xianren's nose. "It's clearly your immortal sect that prides itself on being superior, constantly encroaching on my demon territory and seizing my resources, and then turning around and blaming me!"

"That's right! You hypocrites!"

"Kill them! There's nothing to talk about with them!"

"Quiet!"

The demons erupted in chaos, shouts of battle rose and fell, demonic energy surged, and the air became scorching, carrying the smell of sulfur and blood.

The immortals were not to be outdone. Several of their young and spirited disciples drew their swords with a series of "whoosh" sounds, their sword energy crisscrossing and their cold light flashing, illuminating the bamboo forest with a bright white glow.

I saw anxiety and helplessness on Mo Yan's face.

He tried to quell the anger of his people, opened his mouth, and shouted, "Calm down!" But his voice was quickly drowned out by the even louder commotion.

It's like trying to stop a flood with your bare hands—it's like trying to put out a dam with a drop of water.

He looked pleadingly at the Wind Demon King in the main seat. The demon leader just squinted, tapping his fingers on the armrest, revealing no emotion, but the oppressive aura he exuded made the atmosphere in the entire hall even more stagnant.

On the immortal side, Fairy Zhao was so anxious that she kept stamping her feet. She wanted to say something, but when she looked at her fellow cultivators around her who were indignant, she swallowed her words and could only cast a worried look at me.

Elder Sun looked troubled, glancing here and there, his brows furrowed so deeply they could trap a fly. He clearly didn't know which side to take, or rather, he didn't want to offend either side.

Just as the two sides were about to roll up their sleeves and start fighting, the spiritual energy and demonic energy collided in the air, making a "sizzling" sound and sparks flying everywhere, as if blood would be spilled on the spot at any moment.

I was so anxious. The peace talks hadn't even started yet, and they were already going to fight to the death?

Then all our previous efforts would have been wasted!

No, absolutely not!

"Stop it all!"

A surge of energy suddenly rushed up from my dantian. I don't know where the courage came from. Maybe it was because I had suffered too much since I transmigrated and knew all too well the value of peace. Or maybe it was because I couldn't hold back anymore when I saw these people who could have lived peacefully together killing each other because of prejudice.

I channeled my spiritual power; my voice wasn't loud, but it was like a clear spring, forcefully piercing through all the noise and roars, reaching everyone's ears clearly.

For a moment, the entire venue seemed to be paused.

All eyes suddenly turned to me.

There was surprise, doubt, disdain, and also a tiny bit of curiosity.

I took a deep breath, calmed my wildly beating heart, stood up from my seat, and walked step by step to the very center where the immortals and demons were facing off.

The bluestone slabs under my feet were icy cold, but I felt as if my back was on fire.

I could feel the murderous glare from Immortal Li, and I could also sense the scrutiny and suspicion coming from the demons.

I straightened my spine and scanned everyone, from the dignified elders to the demonic warriors. Finally, I looked at Immortal Li and Demon Flame.

“I know,” I began, my voice trembling slightly with emotion, but I tried to keep it steady. “I know everyone is angry, wronged, and distrustful. Thousands of years of grudges and resentments cannot be resolved overnight.”

I turned my gaze to Immortal Li. “Immortal Li, you said that the Demon Clan has never put aside its hostility and is full of conspiracies. That’s right. In history, the Demon Clan has indeed acted ruthlessly and invaded the Immortal Realm, causing us great pain.”

Before Li Xianren could reveal a smug expression, my gaze shifted to the demons, especially their excited warriors. "But! Is our immortal sect completely innocent? Ask yourselves honestly, have we, out of greed for power and thirst for resources, used the banner of 'acting on behalf of Heaven' to encroach on the demons' living space? Have we, due to inherent prejudice, regarded all demons as evil that must be eradicated?"

These words caused an uproar among the immortals, and many people's expressions changed.

Li Xianren was so angry that his beard bristled. "You! Xiao Yao! Whose side are you on?!"

"I stand on the side of peace!" I answered resolutely, my voice suddenly rising. "I stand on the side of all those who yearn for a peaceful life! Whether they are immortals or demons!"

I took a step forward, stretched out my hand, not pointing at anyone, but spreading it out in front of my chest. "I, Xiao Yao, was once considered a 'useless' person, without any spiritual roots, who came here by chance. I have seen the compassion of immortals, and I have also seen their hypocrisy; I have felt the cruelty of the demon race, and I have also felt their true nature! I almost died at the hands of immortals, and I was also saved by my friends from the demon race!"

My experience, though not a glorious one, is the most authentic.

I pointed to my heart. "Here, there is no distinction between immortals and demons, only between good and evil! Must we allow the hatred of the past to blind us, and let our descendants continue to live in endless suspicion and slaughter?"

"Look at yourselves! Look at each other! Do you want your loved ones and friends to die in such a pointless conflict? Peace is not for the other side, it is for ourselves! It is for our future!"

My voice was choked with emotion, yet full of strength.

I'm speaking from the heart; this is the deepest realization I've had since I traveled through time.

This damn cultivation world, isn't there enough fighting and killing already?

The venue was deathly silent.

The tense atmosphere seemed to melt away little by little with my words.

I saw some young disciples of the immortal sects put down their swords, their eyes filled with confusion and contemplation.

Those irritable demon warriors also restrained their demonic energy and were no longer the fierce, baring-toothed creatures they once were.

Mo Yan looked at me with a complex expression, a mixture of gratitude and admiration.

Fairy Zhao gave me a relieved smile and nodded gently.

Even Elder Sun, who had been hesitant, stroked his beard, seemingly deep in thought.

Only Li Xianren's face was ashen, his lips trembling, as if he wanted to refute but couldn't find the right words.

The Wind Demon King's deep eyes remained fixed on me, with a look of inquiry in them.

He didn't speak, but the fingers that were tapping the armrest stopped.

I stood in the center of the venue, feeling the focus of countless gazes, like a storm temporarily subsiding, but the dark clouds in the sky not dissipating.

I took a slow breath, looked at the demonic flames opposite me, then at the immortal representative behind me, and with all my might, maintained my composure, and said, "Now, can we... sit down and talk?"

The Wind Demon King's deep, magnetic voice broke the silence without warning: "Interesting."