Upon hearing this, Daoist Zhoutian immediately knew that he would likely not escape today.
He could not tell whether Yang Huai wished to settle a personal grudge, or whether Dao Ningzi, his old rival, was stirring up trouble behind the scenes.
But he knew that once he left, no one would ever again be able to halt the great momentum of the Nine Heavens Orthodox Path sweeping across the orthodox cultivation world of the Divine Land.
He glanced at Yang Huai and spoke only after a moment.
"Very well. Since that is so, this poor Daoist is willing to undergo Liberation by Violence and enter the cycle of reincarnation, thereby settling our old grievances with Fellow Daoist Yang!"
Yang Huai's expression remained calm. He paid him no heed.
Having said this, Daoist Zhoutian turned his gaze toward the many disciples and spoke softly.
"This matter stems from grievances this poor Daoist formed with the Tai Bai Emperor in the past. Once I undergo Liberation by Violence, all karma shall vanish. None of you disciples may keep this in your hearts and continue entangling yourselves in the matter, provoking trouble and strife. Any violator shall be expelled from the sect and forbidden from calling himself a disciple of this poor Daoist!"
With that, he directly handed a jade box to Scarlet True Son. The Primordial Spirit above his head, nearly that of a Golden Immortal, flew out—but Yang Huai seized it in an instant. A divine radiance of life-and-death reincarnation, neither living nor dead, emerged from the depths of his palm. In a flash, it dissolved all of Daoist Zhoutian's cultivation. His soul scattered away into the dim and unfathomable netherworld.
"What are you doing? You went back on your word?"
Only upon witnessing this sudden scene did the other Daoists