Silence blanketed the room. No one spoke.
Those who had repeatedly colluded and secretly contacted Nascent Soul True Lords of the Great Sun Sword Sect, the Righteous-Demonic Alliance, and the Great Sun Dharma Sect, intending to defect and seize the inheritance, all lowered their heads now, resisting the ever-deepening instinctive terror in their hearts.
"Does no one want my head?"
"You're being far too polite."
"Since that is the case,"
Jiang Ding said blandly, his gaze settling on the commander of the Tushan Maid Corps, Spring Sword, foremost maid of spring. "Your crimes are threefold.
"First, you withheld a large quantity of Nascent Soul-grade heavenly treasures and earthly materials, failing to include them in the thirty percent.
"Second, you secretly contacted forces such as the Great Sun Sword Sect to discuss terms of defection, though you did not take any concrete action to defect.
"Third, you allowed the maid corps's strong tendency toward independence to run unchecked, betraying your duty."
At the first charge, Spring Sword's body trembled.
By the time all three charges had been spoken, she was swaying uncontrollably, unable to restrain her instincts.
Even as a Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivator, she could not resist the terror in her heart. Smelling the thick scent of a deadly crisis, she could not help but feel profound regret.
"Are these things true?"
Jiang Ding asked quietly.
As a cultivator of the Great Sun Sword Sect, he could easily search anyone's soul; their cultivation techniques would actively cooperate.
These maids whom he had personally raised had no secrets at all before him.
"...They are true."
Spring Sword answered hoarsely.
These were facts. Amid the vast wealth of heavenly treasures and earthly materials, amid her suddenly transformed status, she had lost herself.
"You deserve to die."
"Truly."
Jiang Ding sighed faintly.