Zhang Longsheng stepped forward and bowed, "Greetings, Saintess!"
The Saintess nodded, "Protector Zhang, you are here. Welcome, Mr. Ye."
Zhang Longsheng smiled, "Saintess, I have already discussed with Mr. Ye. Mr. Ye has profound cultivation, excels in medicine, and possesses great strength. I believe he is capable of serving as the Chief Protector."
Upon hearing this, several people seated in chairs immediately showed displeasure. Among them, a middle-aged man with a long face and white hair snorted, "The position of Chief Protector has been vacant for several hundred years. You suddenly bring it up now; are you joking?"
Zhang Longsheng looked at this white-haired middle-aged man, who was none other than Protector Kang, Kang Qian!
He said calmly, "Protector Kang, would I joke in such a setting? This Mr. Ye, in both character and strength, is more than capable of shouldering this responsibility!"
Kang Qian sneered, "To assume the position of Chief Protector, one requires the approval of the Witch Ancestor! Do you think anyone can achieve this just by finding someone?"
Zhang Longsheng replied, "Before the Witch Ancestor's approval, only the Saintess's consent is needed. We'll deal with the rest later."
He then turned to the Saintess, "I request the Saintess to state her stance."
Before the Saintess could speak, Kang Qian declared, "I disagree!"
Zhang Longsheng frowned, "Kang Qian, does your disagreement matter? In this matter, the Saintess alone decides!"
Kang Qian said indifferently, "The Saintess can decide. But now, she may no longer be our Saintess!"
Zhang Longsheng was furious, "What are you talking about?"
Kang Qian clapped his hands, and a woman, exceptionally beautiful and about eighteen years old, walked out from behind him.
Kang Qian announced, "This is our newly chosen Saintess!"
Zhang Longsheng narrowed his eyes, "Kang Qian, you have immense audacity. The Saintess is recognized by the Witch Ancestor within the Witch Cave; how can you casually deny or replace her?"
Kang Qian replied, "Indeed, I am not qualified. But the Witch Cave has a rule: if the Saintess does not maintain her purity, we have the obligation to execute her and then select a new Saintess, assisting her in gaining the Witch Ancestor's approval!"
Zhang Longsheng was shocked and turned to look at the Saintess.
The Saintess trembled with anger, exclaiming, "Kang Qian, how dare you slander me!"
Kang Qian clapped his hands again, and two handsome young men in their early twenties emerged, standing before him.
"Saintess, there's no need to argue. These two have voluntarily confessed to me that they have been intimate with you!"
Seeing this, the Saintess was stunned and somewhat at a loss.
Zhang Longsheng said coldly, "Kang Qian, do you think finding any two people can prove the Saintess's impurity? What a joke!"
Kang Qian stated calmly, "That's right. If I say so, then it is so!"
At this moment, two figures dressed as Daoists walked out from behind. Judging by their aura, both were Earth Immortals, and of a relatively high cultivation level.
Zhang Longsheng looked at these two Daoists. If Ye Tian were not present, he would indeed be alarmed. But with Ye Tian here, he remained incredibly calm and said dismissively, "Do you think by bringing two people, you can confront the Saintess and the entire Witch Cave?"
Kang Qian let out a series of cold laughs, "Everyone present, except you, will not oppose me! Zhang Longsheng, I invited two Earth Immortals this time to persuade you. What do you say, do I not value your Southwest region greatly?"
Zhang Longsheng sighed softly, "Kang Qian, you are becoming more muddled with age. If I, Zhang Longsheng, had no confidence, would I have attended today's assembly?"
Kang Qian snorted, "Zhang Longsheng, you're not referring to the person in front of you, are you?"
Zhang Longsheng bowed to the Saintess, "Saintess, at this critical juncture, when the Witch Cave's survival is at stake, I implore you to immediately appoint the Chief Protector and punish the traitor!"
The Saintess now understood the gravity of the situation. If no one stood up to turn the tide, she might be stoned to death by Kang Qian on the charge of impurity!
The position of Chief Protector was of immense importance. Under normal circumstances, the Saintess would never agree so readily and would require extreme caution. But at this moment, she had no time for further thought and immediately declared, "Mr. Ye, from this moment on, I request you to assume the position of Chief Protector of the Witch Cave!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Tian slightly nodded and bowed to the Saintess, "Thank you, Saintess, for your trust in me. I accept this position of Chief Protector."
After speaking, he looked at the two Daoists and said calmly, "The affairs of the Witch Cave do not require your intervention, sirs. Please excuse yourselves!"
The two Daoists frowned slightly. Just as they were about to react, a terrifying pressure emerged. Both were startled and exclaimed in unison, "Earth Immortal!"