The scene fell silent.
About half an incense stick later, a gust of wind swept through, and a towering figure appeared before the crowd.
He was an old man of about seventy, over seven feet tall, with a head of white hair and beard. He wore a loose white robe, and his back was as straight as a green pine.
In Shi Lan's perception, the old man's aura was constantly changing. At one moment, he seemed no different from an ordinary person; the next, he was as unfathomable as a vast ocean.
"Greetings, Grand Sect Master." Qiu Hongxin bowed slightly.
The elders standing before the main hall bent deeply at the waist. "Greetings, Grand Sect Master."
"Hongxin, why have you asked me to leave seclusion?" The old man glanced around and asked softly.
Qiu Hongxin stepped forward and briefly explained what had happened.
The old man's calm expression turned dark as water. He glanced at Sikong Qian, then looked at Shi Lan. "Are you with the Demon Suppression Army?"
Shi Lan nodded. "That's right."
Seeing the dark look on the old man's face, Sikong Qian couldn't tell what the Grand Sect Master was thinking. He ventured to speak. "Grand Sect Master, please hear me out..."
"Bastard!" the old man roared. Before Sikong Qian could finish, he swung his hand and slapped him flying.
Sikong Qian hurtled dozens of yards through the air, smashed through a wall, and flew into a side hall. Then he fell silent.
At the old man's outburst, the elders were as silent as cicadas in winter. Even the few who had just spoken up for Sikong Qian stared at their noses and their noses at their hearts, not daring to say another word.
"Sikong Qian tried to rob the Demon Suppression Army. He deserves to die.