Chapter 88: Chapter 88: A Master in the Water is Still a Master

Translator: 549690339

Task Hall, the grand conference room.

Familiar scenes, familiar people, different talismans, and different moods.

Three Core Formation cultivators sat at the head of the conference room.

The host Peng Jun occupied the foremost seat.

Also representing the Immortal Sect, Lei Buxiao sat to the first seat on Peng Jun’s left.

Representing the Aquatic Tribe, Lanye, sat to the first seat on Peng Jun’s right.

Following them were the direct parties involved in this incident: Task Hall Elder Sun Decai, President of the Talisman Master Association Lu Wang, President of the Artifact Refiners Association Yu Hui, and the well-known talisman inventor from Jiang Cheng—Wuyue.

Beyond these direct parties, a good number of Tongtian Sect forces were also indirectly involved.

The Enforcement Hall of Tongtian Sect’s Wuyue division was responsible for enforcing the Sect’s regulations.

The Array Masters Association of Tongtian Sect was in charge of setting up monitoring formations at various associations and the Task Hall.

The External Propaganda Department was tasked with maintaining the image of Tongtian Sect to external forces.

Safety Hall was responsible for guarding the Sect’s interests and eliminating potential security threats.

The Archives Department was charged with organizing and recording the Sect’s history.

In short, during the tug of war process of pulling each other, all the departments under the Wuyue division of Tongtian Sect eventually gathered in full.

Once all who should have arrived did.

Peng Jun spoke with unwavering righteousness, “Now that everyone is here, let me reintroduce to you all the cultivator on my right hand side. Lanye, Daoist Lanye. He is a Core Formation cultivator of the Ming River Aquatic Tribe, holding high status and reputation within his tribe, including the entire downstream area of the Ming River.”

Lanye stood up, bowed solemnly with hands clasped, and said, “Greetings to all the Daoist friends of the Human Race.”

Then, Peng Jun continued, “According to Daoist Lanye, someone from our Human Race has used a malicious talisman in violation of the rules. Their intention is to eradicate the descendants of the entire Ming River Aquatic Tribe. This reusable talisman is the evidence provided by Daoist Lanye.”

Peng Jun took out the “Fishing Talisman,” showed it clearly to everyone, and then placed it on the table.

The Cultivator from the Archives Department, while activating the Memory Sphere, was also writing furiously! This was a historic event stemming from the dispute over talismans, potentially the fuse for a larger-scale conflict! Not a single detail could be missed!

Peng Jun’s eyes moved slightly as he surveyed the expressions of everyone present. Some were nervous, some were watching the drama unfold—all quite normal. The only exception was Jiang Cheng, the talisman drawer himself, who had an utterly righteous look on his face. It was as if he were the plaintiff and Lanye the defendant.

Peng Jun even began to wonder if Lanye had made a mistake. After all, this young man looked every bit the good person.

“Daoist Lanye, do you have anything to add?” Peng Jun asked Lanye.

Lanye spoke with a resonant voice: “In nature, survival of the fittest is the law of all creatures, the logic of nature. Therefore, even when the Human Race massively fished and killed fish in the past years, we from the Ming River Aquatic Tribe never objected. However, this talisman is entirely different from all previous fishing and killing! It specifically targets the potential young ones within our tribe! This is no longer a matter of natural law but a targeted extermination! This act seriously violates the peace treaties established by the Immortal Sects. It constitutes an act of genocide against our Aquatic Tribe! I implore the Daoist friends of the Immortal Sect to speak up for our tribe!”

After Lanye’s speech, many in the audience began nodding in agreement.

What he said wasn’t wrong.

They weren’t forbidding fishing.

It was just asking not to selectively prey on the fish with potential.

A perfectly reasonable demand.

Peng Jun looked towards the head of the Enforcement Hall: “Daoist Zheng?”

Zheng Chun added, “Lanye’s request is both reasonable and lawful. Citing the ‘Peace Ordinance,’ Article 21, Clause 3, no power shall impose targeted, systematic restraints on another power, including blockades, slaughter, enslavement…”

Peng Jun nodded, his eyes sweeping over the crowd.

Sun Decai, Lu Wang, and Yu Hui all had rather restrained and nervous expressions, fitting the mood of the moment.

But it was only that Qi-cultivating cultivator named Jiang Cheng who gave Peng Jun the impression of being not only unafraid but actually eager to try something.

Jiang, you’re the mastermind, do you know that?

Peng Jun had intended to call out Jiang Cheng and have him respond directly to Lanye’s accusations, but Jiang Cheng’s excitement made him a bit afraid.

Something isn’t right about this kid!

To be safe, Peng Jun decided to first let the most cunning and experienced Lu Wang take the lead.

“President Lu, what do you think about what Lanye mentioned?”

Lu Wang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

He knew it!

The moment he had helped Jiang Cheng, he knew this day would come!

He never should have trusted Jiang Cheng in the first place!

He should have risked losing face and not certified Jiang Cheng’s talisman!

But it was too late for such regrets now.

He just had to think of a way to muddle through this.

“Helmsman, I, Lu Wang, am a Talisman Master. I don’t understand the big picture or the friendship between the two races as well as the seniors here. But as Wuyue’s only third-grade Talisman Master, I think I do have some insights into talismans. From a talismanic perspective, the ‘Animal Encouragement Talisman’ that Jiang Cheng submitted to our association for certification doesn’t seem to be any problem.”

As soon as he finished, Lanye immediately showed his displeasure.

The look from the Core Formation elder swept over Lu Wang, putting him under immense pressure.

Peng Jun said in a timely manner, “Lanye, let’s hear him out.”

Lei Buxiao, who had a history with Lu Wang, also spoke up, “Old Lu, just speak plainly.”

Lu Wang continued, “Although not everyone here is a Talisman Master, I believe you all have used talismans. Thanks to the efforts of many predecessors in the talismanic arts, the classification of talismans is very clear. Offensive talismans are for attack. Healing talismans, well, the vast majority are for healing.

“Likewise, this ‘Animal Encouragement Talisman’ is undoubtedly a first-grade blessing talisman. All talismans under the blessing category possess no coercive power, which is a unique feature of the blessing category. Fellow cultivators, that’s all I have to say.”

Although Lu Wang did not spell it out, his meaning was quite clear.

It’s just an encouragement talisman; it naturally lacks the conditions for “extermination,” because those fish voluntarily take the bait.

You can’t forbid fish from striving, can you?

To draw a parallel: smartphone: carries risks; grandfather: insists on visiting.

You can’t blame the smartphone if you fall victim to it, right?

All who persist in visiting, who isn’t willingly hooked?

Let me tell you, don’t be resentful. In the water, if it acts arrogantly, it’s because it’s accustomed to it, spending its days besides eating just taking the bait, nothing more. Why use chicken necks as bait? Who are you steaming for? Is it about life and death? Don’t overdo it and become unpalatable.

“Nonsense! If there’s nothing wrong with the talisman, why does it specifically target potential juniors?” Lanye exclaimed angrily.

Peng Jun signalled Lanye to calm down and continued, “Yu, the reusable type talismans fall under your jurisdiction, do you have anything to say?”

Yu Hui glanced at Lu Wang and, steeling himself, said, “The reusable talisman Jiang Cheng submitted, apart from that encouragement talisman, all other parts are made of commonly available standard components that are widely circulated in the market. So, there’s no question about it passing our association’s reliability certification. As for our association helping to assemble the talisman afterwards, this is indeed a legal and standard collaboration, with all related documents available in the association’s archives for anyone to check.”