All the Jie Sect Disciples looked toward the sound.
A figure appeared before Biyou Palace.
Who else could it be but Tongtian?
In that instant, the suffocating dread brought on by the Fierce Aura vanished without a trace.
Zhao Gongming breathed a sigh of relief.
Thankfully, Master had arrived. Otherwise, if this had gone on any longer, who knew how many low-level Jie Sect Disciples would have been injured by the Fierce Aura?
Yunxiao, still shaken, put away the Primordial Chaos Golden Dou.
If Master hadn't arrived in time, Lu Changsheng would have been in danger.
But while some were glad, others were worried.
Tongtian's arrival was good news for every Jie Sect Disciple on Golden Ao Island.
There was only one exception.
Dingguang Xian!
Tongtian's low, deep voice might not have sounded like much to the others, but to Dingguang Xian, it was like thunder crashing in his ears.
Dingguang Xian's expression stiffened. The madness and savagery in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by fear.
As one of the Suishi Qixian, Dingguang Xian feared no one in the entire Interception Sect—not even Duobao, the Jie Sect Senior Brother.
But Tongtian was different. He truly feared him.
Now that he had calmed down, Dingguang Xian was filled with regret.
What had he done?
Hadn't he merely lost to Lu Changsheng?
What did one victory or defeat matter? He'd have countless chances to take revenge on Lu Changsheng in the future.
Yet he'd made the worst possible decision.
He'd used the Six Souls Banner without permission!
And he'd disregarded the other Jie Sect Disciples.
It was over!
Fear engulfed Dingguang Xian in an instant.
His face turned deathly pale with terror.
He looked up at Tongtian as he approached and stammered,
"Sec—"
Tongtian stopped before Dingguang Xian and took back the Six Souls Banner.
"Chang Er, do you know what you did wrong?"
"Th-this disciple did wrong!"
Dingguang Xian cried out at once.
"If you know you were wrong, why did you do it?!"
As he spoke, Tongtian's gaze turned cold.
Dingguang Xian let out a scream. A bone-chilling series of cracks rang out as his bones and flesh were crushed to pieces.
But the pain in his body was nothing. The agony deep within his Primordial Spirit was what he couldn't bear.
This Golden Immortal Peak, who had just been so arrogant, could only lie on the ground, wailing in agony.
Tongtian was truly angry.
In truth, nothing on Golden Ao Island escaped his notice.
That included all the Cultivation Resources Dingguang Xian had taken for himself over the years.
He hadn't intervened because there'd been no need.
As a Saint, if he had to step in over every little thing, wouldn't he be kept busy to death?
If anyone was unhappy with Dingguang Xian's actions, they could use their own strength to claim justice.
Tongtian had also watched the duel between Lu Changsheng and Dingguang Xian.
He knew very well that Dingguang Xian was no match for Lu Changsheng.
When Lu Changsheng had fought Huanglong Zhenren on the edge of the East Sea, he had looked completely at ease.
Beating Dingguang Xian wouldn't be a problem.
He had wanted Lu Changsheng to teach Dingguang Xian a lesson and show him that even the Suishi Qixian couldn't act with impunity.
But even Tongtian hadn't expected Dingguang Xian to do something so reckless after losing—to bring out the Six Souls Banner.
That had truly infuriated Tongtian.
Taking a few Cultivation Resources for himself from time to time was one thing. But now, just because he'd lost a duel, Dingguang Xian had tried to harm a fellow disciple.
"Chang Er, you're arrogant and overbearing, and you've bullied your fellow disciples. Today, you even used the Six Souls Banner without permission, nearly causing a grave disaster."
"I hereby confine you to your cave abode for a hundred thousand years, where you will suffer the daily torment of your spirit being corroded by Killing Intent!"
Tongtian pointed with his right hand, and a wisp of Killing Intent from the Six Souls Banner fell into Dingguang Xian's cave abode.
The Jie Sect Disciples watched in horrified silence, their scalps tingling.
They'd already experienced how terrifying the Six Souls Banner's Fierce Aura was.
Dingguang Xian was to be confined for a hundred thousand years?!
Wasn't that a little too harsh?
But then they thought of how Dingguang Xian had just disregarded their lives.
In that light, perhaps he deserved this punishment.
Dingguang Xian, who had been screaming nonstop, turned deathly pale when he heard Tongtian's words.
"Master, I know I was wrong! Master!"
"Please show mercy!"
A hundred thousand years of having his spirit corroded by Killing Intent wouldn't just be painful.
It also meant his cultivation would stagnate for a hundred thousand years.
Wouldn't that leave him the weakest of the Suishi Qixian by the time his confinement ended?
Tongtian looked at Dingguang Xian impassively.
"You don't know you were wrong. You know you're afraid."
"Use these hundred thousand years to reflect on your actions."
In truth, he'd already shown Dingguang Xian mercy.
Dingguang Xian trembled all over. Suddenly, he thought of something and hurriedly looked at Lu Changsheng.
"I-I apologize to you!"
"I'm sorry. I looked down on you before, and I was arrogant..."
Dingguang Xian knew that, ultimately, the duel had been a matter between him and Lu Changsheng.
If Lu Changsheng let the matter go and pleaded for him, there was a good chance the Sect Leader would lessen his punishment.
"Master, I have something to say about Dingguang Xian."
Lu Changsheng spoke up.
Dingguang Xian looked as if he'd seen a glimmer of hope.
"Lu Changsheng, I really did misunderstand you before. Don't worry, I'll change my ways from now on!"
Yunxiao's expression darkened.
Was Lu Changsheng really going to plead for Dingguang Xian?
That kind of misplaced mercy was unacceptable.
Just as Yunxiao was about to speak, Lu Changsheng glanced at Dingguang Xian.
"I think you're mistaken about me now, too."
Then he looked at Tongtian and said in a solemn voice,
"Master, Dingguang Xian has used his status as one of the Suishi Qixian to bully his fellow disciples and withhold their Cultivation Resources."
"If someone like him remains one of the Suishi Qixian, it could damage your reputation."
"Therefore, I suggest that his status as one of the Suishi Qixian be revoked."
At this, all the onlooking Jie Sect Disciples were stunned.
That was so like Lu Changsheng.
Bixiao's mouth hung open as she stared blankly.
"That's harsh."
"Is it? I don't think it's harsh at all."
Qiongxiao said calmly.
"Little sister, remember this: mercy to your enemies is cruelty to yourself."
Yunxiao's expression also stiffened before her red lips curved upward.
It seemed her worries had been completely unnecessary.
Lu Changsheng was more levelheaded than she'd thought.
While the others marveled at Lu Changsheng's decisive ruthlessness, Dingguang Xian stared at him in shock.
Before he could recover from his disbelief, Tongtian's voice rang out.
"Effective immediately, I revoke your status as one of the Suishi Qixian."
"If you mend your ways over the next hundred thousand years, you may be reinstated then."
Now Dingguang Xian was truly panicking.
The torment of having his spirit corroded by Killing Intent was certainly terrifying, but compared to his status as one of the Suishi Qixian, it was nothing.
That status was Dingguang Xian's true source of support.
Without it, he would be insignificant in Honghuang. A Golden Immortal Peak was nothing special.
"I-I know I was wrong!"
Dingguang Xian shouted.
But his body flew uncontrollably toward his cave abode.
"No, Lu Changsheng, you can't do this to me!"
"We're fellow disciples! I'll apologize to you, I'll make it up to you..."
At this point, Dingguang Xian knew there was no chance of getting Tongtian to show mercy.
His only hope was Lu Changsheng.
"Master, I have one more thing to say."
Dingguang Xian, who was flying toward his cave abode, stopped. It seemed he'd found one last lifeline.
With Dingguang Xian gazing at him hopefully, Lu Changsheng spoke slowly.
"Master, when Dingguang Xian and I made our wager earlier, the stakes included his future Cultivation Resources."
"Since Dingguang Xian is to be confined to his cave abode, would it be possible for you to give me his resources from now on?"
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