What's all the noise about?
Sect Master Zhou Wentao walked over slowly, accompanied by Grand Elder Xia Hongjue.
Although their auras were slightly disordered, their combined power as peak True Immortal still silenced the entire arena.
"Greetings, Sect Master! Greetings Grand Elder!"
Everyone bowed in greeting.
Seeing that his Master was also there and that he was in the right, Xing Tian immediately stepped forward and explained the whole story.
He bitterly denounced the Heavenly Calamity brought about by Zhang Lingyun, and strongly argued that Jiang Pojun should not be killed and that Zhang Lingyun must be severely punished to appease the Sword Sect's anger.
Although Xia Hongjue and Zhou Wentao already knew the general outline, their brows furrowed even more as Xing Tian recounted the details.
Theoretically speaking, everything Xing Tian said makes perfect sense.
Although Jiang Feng of the Sword Sect is domineering and ruthless, indiscriminately killing innocent people, the root of everything lies in the personal feud between Zhang Lingyun and the Jiang Family.
Now that the Sword Sect is no longer restrained by Confucianism, it acts without restraint. If the Soul Refining Sect were to incur a deadly enmity with it, it might truly bring about its own annihilation.
Jiang Ling.
Xia Hongjue frowned, his gaze sharp as lightning, and shot towards Zhang Lingyun:
I have also heard about your feud with the Jiang Family.
But times have changed. Confucianism has lost its deterrent effect, and the Sword Sect no longer has any scruples about its actions.
"Our Soul Refining Sect must never forge a blood feud with the Sword Sect."
He paused, his tone turning cold:
"This Jiang Pojun —he must be released."
Although Zhou Wentao did not speak, his silence was an admission.
Feeling the will of the entire Soul Refining Sect's higher-ups, Zhang Lingyun stared at the wisp of Remnant Soul struggling wildly in her hand, and a surge of resentment welled up in her heart.
A thousand-year-old blood feud, the enemy is right before her eyes, yet she cannot kill him.
Although she was crazy, she understood the difficulties of the Soul Refining Sect.
Hahaha -- Jiang Ling.
Don't you hate me?
"Why don't you just do it?!"
Seeing that the higher-ups of the Soul Refining Sect had yielded, Jiang Pojun felt greatly relieved. His Remnant Soul laughed wildly, his voice filled with resentment and provocation:
"I'll tell you without hesitation, the very scheme I devised to seal your father's memories, send him to the mortal realm to cultivate the Ruthless Dao, and then slaughter your entire family was my doing!!"
He was certain that the entire Soul Refining Sect would protect his life, so he recklessly revealed everything.
"I..."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Lingyun's eyes turned red, and she desperately wanted to kill Jiang Pojun, only to find that she was unable to move.
Zhou Wentao and Xia Hongjue's gazes were calm, but their auras were already locked on Zhang Lingyun, fearing that she might act impulsively.
"Hahaha, an ant is still an ant, even if it cultivates into Land Immortal, it is still an ant."
Jiang Pojun stared at Zhang Lingyun with disdain:
"You, your deceased mother, your brother, and your entire family are no different from anyone else."
Whether you resent it or hate it, the outcome won't change.
With his hands behind his back, Jiang Pojun looked down at Zhou Wentao, Xia Hongjue, and the others, shouting fiercely:
"What are you waiting for? Capture Jiang Ling immediately and take her to the Sword Sect to plead guilty."
Otherwise— the Sword Sect will mobilize its entire strength to raze your mountain gate, annihilate your lineage, and leave no one alive!
All around was deathly silent.
Having witnessed Jiang Feng's near-invincible terror and experienced the Sword Sect's unbridled behavior after losing the Confucianism suppression, no one in the Soul Refining Sect dared to rebuke or provoke them as before.
Although they felt aggrieved and were extremely angry at Jiang Pojun's arrogance, they could only silently lower their heads.
A variety of gazes, some complex, some indifferent, some fearful, quietly fell upon Zhang Lingyun.
Sacrificing Jiang Ling to give the sect a chance to breathe.
This seems like a very good deal.
Looking at the clamoring Jiang Pojun and sensing the almost tangible sense of compromise around her, Zhang Lingyun felt an unprecedented despair welling up inside her.
She didn't hate the people from the Soul Refining Sect.
Faced with the pressure of life and death, they had no reason, nor any obligation, to bear the calamity of the destruction of their sect for her alone.
Vice Sect Master Helian Jue silent for a long time, finally letting out a long sigh, his voice weary:
"Jiang Ling, the Sword Sect's strength far exceeds our expectations. Our Soul Refining Sect... is truly powerless to contend with it."
He looked at her, his eyes filled with reluctance, yet he still slowly uttered those four words:
"You... accept your fate."
As soon as the words were spoken, several figures quietly stepped forward, forming a swarm that trapped Zhang Lingyun in the center.
A hint of pleasure flashed in Xing Tian's eyes, Xia Hongjue silently lowered his eyes, and Zhou Wentao slowly closed his eyes.
The overall situation is settled.
Whose dog is farting? It stinks horribly!
Suddenly, a lazy voice came from behind.
A figure in Red Dress floated over leisurely, his feet not touching the ground, traveling through the air—it was Zhang Yu.
Zhang Yu is now at the late Cultivation the Late Feathered Realm, and can still fly through the air even without external assistance.
"Zhang Yu?"
When Zhang Lingyun saw it was him, her heart tightened immediately.
Fearing that Zhang Yu would be implicated, she hurriedly said:
"Sect Master, Grand Elder, this is my newly accepted disciple. He doesn't know the rules, so please don't take offense at him."
He has no grudge against me, so please, Sect Master, do not make things difficult for him.
She was so flustered that she didn't notice that the expressions on Xia Hongjue and Zhou Wentao's faces had changed from solemn to a barely perceptible hint of apprehension.
They were underground, and they had witnessed firsthand how this young man made the ferocious and terrifying Soul Snatching Chain submit to his will.
He also vaguely guessed that the mysterious force that had just clashed with Jiang Feng and even the Eye of Heavenly Punishment was probably related to this person.
Upon seeing Zhang Yu appear, both of them were on high alert, yet they couldn't discern his true intentions and dared not act rashly.
At the same time, they were curious: how could such a mysterious figure be Jiang Ling's disciple?
Jiang Pojun had never been underground and knew nothing about Zhang Yu's background.
His Remnant Soul flickered, a cold light flashing in his eyes, as he stared at Zhang Yu and sneered:
"You little bastard, since you're also in the Soul Refining Sect, it saves me the trouble of searching for you."
He turned his head and shouted sharply at Zhou Wentao and Xia Hongjue:
"This boy is also Jiang Ling's accomplice; he should be apprehended and taken to the Sword Sect for punishment."
"That's only right."
While Zhou Wentao and Xia Hongjue were still in shock and uncertainty, Xing Tian impatiently stepped forward, a fawning smile plastered on his face, and bowed to Jiang Pojun's Remnant Soul, saying:
Everything will be done according to your wishes.
We hope that after you return to the Sword Sect, you will put in a good word for us.
Today's events are entirely Jiang Ling's personal grudge and have absolutely nothing to do with my Soul Refining Sect.
He turned his head, his face suddenly turning cold, and shouted sharply:
"Men, seize Jiang Ling and her accomplices—all of them!"
At his command, several disciples of the Punishment Hall immediately stepped forward, their killing intent palpable, and charged straight at Zhang Yu.
Xing Tian stared at Zhang Yu with a cold smile, his eyes almost overflowing with pleasure.
Are you going against me?
Today I will make sure you die without a burial place!
"Sect Master!!"
Zhang Lingyun's face turned deathly pale. She knelt down with a thud and pleaded with Zhou Wentao in a pitiful voice:
"This matter has nothing to do with Zhang Yu. We beg the Sect Master to have mercy and not implicate him."
"He's your disciple, how can it be unrelated?"
Xing Tian grinned maliciously, his tone chilling:
"Master and disciple are one, and both are guilty of the same crime!"
Today, none of you will escape!
He raised his hand and pointed, and the disciples of the Punishment Hall were already in front of Zhang Yu.
Jiang Pojun looked at the Soul Refining Sect members who were being extremely respectful to him, and then glanced at Zhang Yu and Zhang Lingyun, who were trapped in prison, feeling extremely smug.