Chapter 4038: Shatter Peak’s Peaking Anger

"I’ll be honest with Senior," Daoist Bone Ruler finally said.

He paused, weighing every word with the caution of a man who had accumulated thousands of years of experience and had recently learned that careless words could result in mountains being thrown at him.

"The jade slip recording Senior provided has been examined. According to the authentication standards used by the Law Division, there are... questions concerning its origin."

Zhenyu’s eyebrow rose. "Questions?"

"The recording itself appears intact," Daoist Bone Ruler clarified quickly. "There are no obvious signs that its contents were directly altered after being recorded. The problem concerns how the recording was supposedly obtained."

Lin Mu remained silent.

Daoist Bone Ruler continued, "I personally pressed the matter using my authority. However, several council elders have objected to accepting it as conclusive evidence. Their argument is that the Wild Peak Vault contains no registered recording formations capable of producing such a record."

Zhenyu’s fingers slowly moved through his beard. "So?"

"They claim the recording could have been fabricated through an external formation and later presented as though it originated from within the Vault," Daoist Bone Ruler explained. "Since the formation that supposedly created it cannot currently be identified or inspected, they refuse to certify the recording under the Law Division’s usual evidentiary standards."

High Elder Shatter Peak frowned.

"What recording?" he finally interrupted. "What proof are you two talking about?"

Zhenyu glanced toward him. "I suppose you should see it too."

"See what?"

"I’ll show you." Zhenyu retrieved a jade slip and activated it.

Light immediately gathered in the air before them, gradually forming an image. High Elder Shatter Peak watched. At first, his expression merely showed confusion. Then Taegong appeared within the recording.

The confusion disappeared.

He watched Taegong’s interactions with Little Bull. He watched the deliberate provocations, the manipulation, and the way the situation had been guided from the beginning. Then he watched Little Bull being imprisoned.

High Elder Shatter Peak’s expression grew darker as the recording continued.

Taegong returned to his office. His words concerning the Wild Peak followed. His satisfaction at having obtained an opportunity to weaken them became clear. Then came the parts revealing that the entire situation extended beyond one man’s actions.

High Elder Shatter Peak said nothing and that silence disturbed Daoist Bone Ruler more than shouting would have.

He had known Shatter Peak for a long time. The man shouted when irritated. He shouted when angry. He shouted while fighting, and on at least one memorable occasion, he had shouted while unconscious after being struck by a soul technique.

Seeing him completely silent was deeply unnatural as his aura gradually vanished as well. Daoist Bone Ruler’s instincts immediately warned him that this was considerably worse. Shatter Peak’s rage had gone beyond the point where it needed to be expressed.

The recording finally ended and for several breaths, nobody spoke.

Then High Elder Shatter Peak asked a single question. "So Little Bull was sent to the Mad Demon Depths?"

His voice was frighteningly calm.

"Yes," Zhenyu answered.

The High Elder’s fingers curled and the stone beneath his feet quietly cracked.

"And before you decide to destroy another dozen buildings," Zhenyu added, "listen."

High Elder Shatter Peak’s gaze immediately moved toward him.

"I was trapped within the Mad Demon Depths as well," Zhenyu continued. "Little Bull became involved in the circumstances surrounding my escape. He is still within the Mad Demon Depths right now."

High Elder Shatter Peak’s expression changed. "He’s still there?"

"He is." A terrible pressure began building around Shatter Peak.

Zhenyu raised one hand. "He is safe."

The pressure stopped.

High Elder Shatter Peak stared at him. "You’re certain?"

"I wouldn’t say it otherwise." Lin Mu knew he needed to make that point very clear.

If High Elder Shatter Peak believed Little Bull was currently suffering inside the prison, the man might immediately charge toward the Mad Demon Depths.

Considering how much trouble Lin Mu had already caused there, the last thing he needed was Shatter Peak punching his way through every level searching for someone who was currently standing directly in front of him under another identity.

High Elder Shatter Peak slowly exhaled.

"Little Bull is safe," he repeated quietly. "That’s good."

But Daoist Bone Ruler did not relax. High Elder Shatter Peak was calmer, yet the anger remained. It had simply changed shape. Then High Elder Shatter Peak turned toward Zhenyu and his eyes moved across the massive old man’s figure before settling upon his face.

"Ancestor."

Zhenyu raised an eyebrow.

"As of now, Peak Head Mountain Roar is outside the Heavenly Stream Guardian World," Shatter Peak said. "He’s far enough away that returning quickly isn’t possible."

Daoist Bone Ruler’s eyes narrowed and he suddenly had a terrible feeling.

High Elder Shatter Peak continued, "That means our Wild Peak currently lacks its highest authority."

Zhenyu stroked his beard. "And?"

"Among everyone belonging to the Wild Peak who is currently present in the sect, your seniority is the greatest." High Elder Shatter Peak stated.

Daoist Bone Ruler’s terrible feeling became significantly worse. "High Elder Shatter Peak," he interrupted.

But High Elder Shatter Peak ignored him. "I, High Elder Shatter Peak of the Wild Peak, hereby put forth my vote for Senior Mengli Zhenyu to take the mantle of Interim Peak Head until Peak Head Mountain Roar returns."

Hearing that Lin Mu blinked. He had expected several things after freeing High Elder Shatter Peak, but this had not been among them.

Daoist Bone Ruler’s eyes widened. "High Elder Shatter Peak, that’s not how things go!" he immediately said. "The appointment of a Peak Head, interim or otherwise, requires procedure. One High Elder cannot simply declare a vote and appoint whoever he pleases!"

High Elder Shatter Peak slowly turned his head and his cold gaze settled upon Daoist Bone Ruler. Then he ignored everything the man had just said.

"Senior," High Elder Shatter Peak asked Zhenyu, "did the other Wild Peak elders come here with you?"

Zhenyu paused before nodding. "They’re waiting outside."

"Good." High Elder Shatter Peak immediately started walking and then his walk turned into a run.

Within moments, the High Elder was practically charging through the Law Division prison complex.

Daoist Bone Ruler stared after him. "Wait!"

Zhenyu chuckled and followed. Daoist Bone Ruler suddenly felt that releasing High Elder Shatter Peak might have been a tactical mistake. He hurried after them, followed by the other Law Division members.