"Shi Tian, you never would have imagined this, would you? You've committed monstrous crimes, yet I've investigated and uncovered them one by one. Hurry up and confess!"
Shi Yutian spoke with righteous conviction, condemning him with every word. The factional forces under his command also began shouting loudly.
"Please, Sect Master, confess!"
"Please, Sect Master, confess!"
"Please, Sect Master, confess!"
The crowd seethed with excitement, and their shouts shook the heavens.
For a moment, nearly half of the people in the Lion Underworld Sect were shouting at Shi Tian, clearly intending to force him from power.
"Shi Tian, aren't you going to confess?"
Shi Tian clenched his teeth so hard they creaked. He wished he could grind Shi Yutian's bones to dust.
"I confess... I confess your mother—"
In an instant, Shi Tian struck viciously. He drew a long, ice-blue sword and thrust it fiercely toward Shi Yutian.
How could Shi Yutian still be afraid? He retreated dozens of steps in succession, dodging Shi Tian's attack, while his foul mouth continued to shout at the top of his lungs.
"Shi Tian suddenly attacked me, intending to silence me and destroy the evidence in my hands! This conduct is utterly evil. Does he think that silencing me can silence the murmurs of the whole world? Sect elders, hurry and join me in capturing this despicable villain! We must eradicate evil completely! Waaaah..."
All the elders and factional forces under Shi Yutian climbed onto the platform, intending to surround Shi Tian.
The thousand-plus sect leaders present secretly pondered the situation. It seemed Shi Tian was finished. If Shi Yutian successfully seized power today, then he would become the one guiding the Lion Underworld Sect from then on.
Far away, She Qingqing found it strange and said, "Why did Shi Tian change weapons? Didn't he used to wield a sixth-tier broadsword?"
Ye Qianqian sensed that something was wrong as soon as she heard this.
Seeing the elders surround him, Shi Tian sneered. "Elder Shi Yutian, you certainly have some ability. You actually want to seize power from this sect master? Do you really think I made no preparations?"
As soon as Shi Tian finished speaking, numerous experts flew in from all directions. They were all at the Dou Zong or Dou Venerate level, and they surrounded Shi Yutian's elder faction as well.
The mantis stalked the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
After receiving She Qingqing's message, Shi Tian had made preparations too. He had specifically ordered his subordinates to lie in ambush around the area, waiting for Shi Yutian's rebellion.
Shi Yutian's pupils contracted. He had never expected Shi Tian to be so wary. He immediately glanced toward the Misty Cloud Sect members below and said, "Shi Tian, I truly underestimated you. But you're still going to die today!" He then shouted toward Ye Qianqian and the others, "Lady Ye Qianqian, please lead your people into action!"
That shout immediately shocked Shi Tian. He also looked toward Ye Qianqian and the others below.
The other sect leaders looked over as well. They had never expected Shi Yutian to have ties with the Misty Cloud Sect. What a baffling development.
"Ahem..." Ye Qianqian said awkwardly, "I'm sorry, Elder Yutian. The few of us aren't feeling well today, so it isn't convenient for us to fight. But we still support you in spirit. To show our remorse, we'll cheer you on from here."
"You..." Shi Yutian's beard trembled with rage. These shameless wretches had accepted his benefits, yet they refused to do anything for him. Disgraceful! Infuriating!
"Hahahaha!" Seeing the Misty Cloud Sect stand aside, Shi Tian's confidence immediately swelled. "Shi Yutian, did you really think the honored ladies of the Misty Cloud Sect would help a sanctimonious traitor like you? Let me tell you the truth. Last night, I already reached an agreement with Elder She Qingqing of the Misty Cloud Sect. Now, the honored ladies of the Misty Cloud Sect will help me purge the sect!"
"What?" Shi Yutian was consumed by fury. Shi Tian's words left him both shocked and frightened.
Shi Tian cupped his hands. "Elder She Qingqing, please help this sect master purge the sect."
The situation had taken one unexpected turn after another. Everyone felt as if they were watching a performance about competing for power and influence. Shi Yutian and Shi Tian fighting for authority was one thing, but no one had expected the Misty Cloud Sect to become involved.
She Qingqing smiled brightly and said to Shi Tian, "Sect Master Shi Tian, I ate something bad last night, and my stomach still hurts terribly. I can't accompany you in killing the villains. However, I'll cheer you on by myself. Love you, mwah mwah."
"Pfft!"
Shi Tian spat a mouthful of blood three zhang into the air. She Qingqing's words left him dizzy and unsteady on his feet. Never mind whether She Qingqing would keep her word—just imagining a several-hundred-year-old woman winking and blowing kisses at him was already unbearable.
Since the Misty Cloud Sect had declared its neutrality, the outcome of the battle between Shi Tian and Shi Yutian remained uncertain.
The people on the platform immediately clashed. They were all high-level combatants from the Lion Underworld Sect, and the moment they exchanged blows, the battle became earth-shaking, with battle qi flying everywhere.
Many sect leaders feared being caught in the fighting and hurriedly retreated far away. Yet they did not want to leave, because they all wanted to see who would emerge as the final victor.
Because Shi Yutian's own strength was that of a Three-Star Dou Venerate, he suppressed Shi Tian as soon as he attacked, forcing him back and leaving him unable to defend himself. Shi Tian had no choice but to order his subordinates to form a great array to deal with the frenzied assault of Elder Shi Yutian's faction.
"The Nether Lion Roaring Array?"
Shi Yutian recognized the array at a glance. It was a unique formation within the Lion Underworld Sect, passed down only to the sect masters throughout the generations.
Once the array was formed, everyone's battle qi would pour into it, creating a majestic lion formed from condensed battle qi.
The lion stood seven zhang tall. Its head was broad and massive, its bright eyes radiating a sharp and imposing light.
It was majestic and awe-inspiring, its entire body emanating the noble, dignified, fierce, and powerful aura of a beast king.
Under its mighty, thunderous roar, waves of soul-shaking sound swept out and quaked the heavens and earth.
"Hurry! Disrupt their formation! We can't let them fully complete the array!"
Shi Yutian inwardly cried out that things were going badly. Once the Nether Lion Roaring Array was fully formed, even a Five-Star Dou Venerate would perish here.
"Hahaha, it's useless, Shi Yutian! You intended to usurp the sect and seize the throne, harboring treacherous designs. Today, this sect master will crush you, you old beast, into dust and vent the hatred in my heart!" Shi Tian swung his sword. His subordinates responded in unison, bringing their hands together in a heavy clap.
"No! Stop!" Shi Yutian shouted frantically, but it was already too late.
The majestic lion condensed from battle qi let out a deep, bell-like roar. Endless forceful qi blasted from its mouth, tearing space apart and shaking the earth. One exquisite pavilion after another was reduced to rubble by the sound waves. Everyone present covered their ears and cried out in agony.
Shi Yutian and the others were trapped inside the array and bore the brunt of the attack. Under the sound waves released by the lion, the bodies of both Dou Zongs and Dou Venerates gradually disintegrated, finally turning into eerie white bones scattered across the ground.
The sound waves vanished. Not a single enemy remained inside the array, while several of Shi Tian's subordinates had exhausted their battle qi from activating it.
Shi Tian let out a sigh of relief. Shi Yutian had finally died.
"Wow!"
The thousand-plus sect leaders were collectively stunned. The Lion Underworld Sect's array was unbelievably ferocious. It had actually killed so many Dou Venerate experts in an instant. It was terrifying.
"My apologies, everyone. Elder Shi Yutian rebelled against the sect just now, and this sect master has already dealt with him. I hope you won't hold it against us." Shi Tian's face was pale as he politely cupped his hands toward everyone in apology.
The crowd hurriedly waved their hands in fright.
"Not at all, not at all. Sect Master Shi Tian's bravery is unparalleled. You killed that old bastard Shi Yutian, and we can only look at you with newfound respect."
"Exactly. Sect Master Shi Tian was benevolent and gave Shi Yutian chance after chance, but he refused to appreciate it. He deserved to die."
"Yes, we had long been displeased with Shi Yutian. He even dared to slander Sect Master Shi Tian and that rat... Ahem, he deserved to die."
When the wall fell, everyone pushed it down. Whether it was the thousand-plus sect leaders or the disciples of the Lion Underworld Sect, they all began singing Shi Tian's praises, afraid that he would hold a grudge against them.
But at that moment, waves of fluctuations came from deep within space. An aged hand tore open the spatial barrier, leaving everyone dumbfounded.
The owner of that hand was none other than Shi Yutian. It turned out that when he saw the situation turning against him, he had immediately concealed himself within space.
"You... You're still alive? That's impossible!" Shi Tian's pupils shrank violently. When he saw Shi Yutian, dressed in tattered clothes, emerge once more, he was so frightened that he could not speak.
Shi Yutian sneered and tore open his ragged robe with one hand, revealing a set of glowing purple crystal armor on his chest.
"The North Sea Profound Crystal Armor?"
Some people recognized the armor at a glance. It was the eighth-tier profound armor that countless experts across the northwestern continent had frantically fought over several hundred years ago.
This profound armor had been forged from purple crystals mined beneath the North Sea. It could withstand a full-power strike from a Nine-Star Dou Venerate. No one had expected such a treasure to end up in Shi Yutian's hands.
"Sect Master, leave quickly! We'll hold this old bastard back!"
Seeing Shi Yutian stride toward Shi Tian, a group of subordinates hurriedly raised their weapons and blocked his path.
"All of you can die!"
Shi Yutian's battle qi was currently full, while Shi Tian's subordinates had long since exhausted themselves. How could they possibly be his opponents? One after another, they charged forward like eggs striking a rock.
Shi Yutian grabbed them one by one, disemboweling them, ripping out their tendons and bones, and tearing them into pieces. His methods were brutally savage.
Shi Tian's calves cramped in terror as he scrambled backward again and again.
"Get over here!" Shi Yutian reached out with one hand and seized Shi Tian, then burst into laughter. Looking toward the thousand-plus sect leaders present, he said, "Shi Tian is nothing but a good-for-nothing drunkard. How could he possibly manage my Lion Underworld Sect? Don't you all agree?"
Cold sweat broke out on the foreheads of everyone present. That sudden reversal had been terrifying. The North Sea Profound Crystal Armor was actually on Shi Yutian. They hurriedly began echoing him again.
"Elder Yutian is mighty! Shi Tian is trash! Elder Yutian is the true leader of the Lion Underworld Sect!"
"Elder Yutian's cultivation is peerless! You're fully qualified to become sect master!"
"Shi Tian, you offended Elder Yutian. You got what you deserved!"
The people who had just collectively supported Shi Tian now changed sides with the wind and began supporting Shi Yutian instead. They clapped and gave thumbs-up, lavishly praising Shi Yutian's great achievements.
Shi Yutian held Shi Tian as easily as if he were a chick. After glancing at his terrified expression, he said nothing and struck Shi Tian on the crown of his head with his palm.
'Shi Tian' wailed and sobbed before shouting, "Sect Master Shi Tian, save me!"
Before you continue