Surging Undercurrents

Faced with Ye Xiu's questioning, Fang Qiong could only grit his teeth, lower his head, and admit his fault in the end.

It was not that he wanted to bow his head, but under the pressure of the crowd, he had no choice but to apologize.

This was no longer simply a matter of whether Fang Ye lived or died.

His attitude toward Ye Xiu now determined the Fang Clan faction's reputation within the Yin Harmony Sect. Under such immense pressure, even though Fang Qiong wanted nothing more than to eat Ye Xiu alive, he could only keep a smile on his face.

"Junior Brother Ye, this matter truly was this senior brother's fault."

Drawing a deep breath, a flicker of pain passed through Fang Qiong's eyes.

He pushed aside the Origin Recovery Pill Ye Xiu offered him and instead took out a small bottle of pills himself.

"You brought my clansman's remains back, sparing him from being left to rot in the wilderness. The Fang Clan will remember this kindness."

"These Blood-Nourishing Pills are highly restorative. Junior Brother has endured battle after battle and must recuperate properly."

"The advancement tournament will be held soon. This senior brother looks forward to seeing you then."

After saying this, Fang Qiong gave Ye Xiu no chance to continue speaking and hurried away with the Punishment Hall disciples.

He feared that if he stayed any longer, the sight of Ye Xiu's victimized face would make him unable to resist striking out.

Ye Xiu naturally responded with proper grace.

Having prepared for so long, he would naturally not falter at the final moment.

But once Fang Qiong had left, Ye Xiu was immediately surrounded by the disciples nearby.

"Senior Brother Ye understands righteousness so well. This junior admires you. If Senior Brother has the time someday, please visit my mountain gate."

"Senior Brother Ye, if we are fortunate enough to carry out a sect mission together next time, please look after this junior."

Facing the enthusiastic disciples, Ye Xiu responded to each of them with a gentle smile.

He had spent so long plotting for precisely this: to establish himself as a trustworthy, good-natured man.

Do not think such a persona was foolish in a demonic sect where everyone schemed against one another.

On the contrary, in Ye Xiu's eyes, a persona that looked easy to swindle was the very best kind.

When everyone approached you with hidden daggers in their hearts, that was also when you could make use of everyone.

After all, who would remain wary of a good-natured man?

Looking at the crowd before him, Ye Xiu wore an amused smile.

Taking this opportunity, he had finally managed to take his first solid step toward establishing himself in the outer sect.

At the same time.

The outer sect's Punishment Hall was shrouded in an oppressive atmosphere, as though the wind had filled the tower before the mountain rain came.

"Trash! Trash!"

The sounds of smashing rose one after another. Several core members of the Punishment Hall huddled in the corner like quails, watching Fang Qiong furiously smash things without anyone daring to speak up and dissuade him.

Everyone knew that Fang Qiong had lost tremendous face before the public today, and the Punishment Hall's prestige had suffered greatly along with him.

Moreover, Fang Qiong's recent closed-door cultivation had not gone smoothly, and Fang Ye, his right-hand man, had died as well. Taken together, the Punishment Hall truly had suffered a great calamity.

After smashing everything within reach to pieces, Fang Qiong finally sat down in the seat of honor, panting heavily.

He closed his eyes in silence for a while. When he opened them again, his usual coldness had returned to his face.

"Tell me. What should we do next?"

Exhaling deeply, Fang Qiong forced himself to calm down again.

Fang Ye was dead, and Ye Xiu had set a trap for him in front of everyone.

With the losses impossible to recover, Fang Qiong thought of that person in the inner sect and could only forcibly suppress the displeasure in his heart.

The selection of the sect's next Holy Son had already been placed on the agenda.

For the selection of the sect's Holy Son, aside from one's own strength being sufficient, the most important thing was the ability to command the entire sect.

The inner sect disciples were easier to handle. Those qualified to compete for the position of sect Holy Son were themselves from the inner sect, so they could be approached according to one's own plans.

But the Yin Harmony Sect's outer sect disciples were as numerous as the hairs on an ox. How could it be easy to make them obediently listen?

Inner sect disciples devoted themselves to cultivation and could not show their faces easily, while the outer sect disciples needed someone to unite them. Considering both sides, that Senior Brother Xu had chosen to cultivate someone from the ground up.

He secretly backed Fang Qiong, providing resources, manpower, and all manner of assistance.

With the inner sect's support, the Punishment Hall's status had risen with the tide, and as Fang Qiong's prospects of passing the assessment grew brighter and brighter, more and more outer sect disciples submitted to the Punishment Hall's management.

As long as Fang Qiong could enter the inner sect successfully, then with the Fang Clan members he had gathered, the Punishment Hall would certainly be able to unite the entire outer sect in one stroke.

It could be said that Fang Qiong had led people to apprehend Ye Xiu partly to establish his authority.

Yet who could have expected that this move, which seemed a sure victory, not only failed to reverse the decline caused by Fang Ye's death, but even further diminished the Punishment Hall's credibility.

Thinking of this, Fang Qiong's face grew several shades colder.

He knew clearly that everything he possessed today came from that person in the inner sect.

And since that person could give it to him, he could likewise take it back...

Fang Qiong no longer dared to think any further.

Just as everyone looked at one another in silence, none daring to speak, a wisp of green smoke suddenly emerged from thin air inside the secret chamber.

The green smoke churned and formed into a human shape. Everyone present, including Fang Qiong, immediately dropped to their knees.

"Fang Qiong, are the rumors that the Punishment Hall acts wantonly true?"

The man formed from green smoke sat in the seat of honor, his tone calm. Yet upon hearing these words, Fang Qiong's body began trembling uncontrollably.

"Senior Brother, this was an accident. That brat who fortunately obtained an opportunity made ample preparations. I..."

Before he could finish, Fang Qiong's body suddenly bent over, and he violently coughed up a mouthful of blood.

"When did I say I wished to hear your explanation?"

The man's voice remained calm, but it carried an authority that permitted no dispute.

"Senior Brother's reprimand is justified. This junior overstepped."

Fang Qiong's face was pale as gold paper, yet he did not dare reveal the slightest resentment.

"Enough. It seems the righteous sects are making moves, and I have no time to concern myself with such trivial matters."

The man shook his head and tossed over a bottle of pills.

"Refine these Essence-Cultivating Pills properly. There must be no mistake in the advancement tournament. You will not have a second chance."

Fang Qiong heavily struck his head against the floor.

"This junior will obey Senior Brother's instruction."

The others in the room likewise heavily struck their heads against the floor.

The man snorted coldly. After a gust of wind swept through the room, he vanished without a trace.

Only long after he had disappeared did Fang Qiong, still kneeling on the ground, slowly raise his head.

Looking at the pill bottle before him, a chilling killing intent appeared in his eyes.

"Ye Xiu, the humiliation I suffered today will be repaid to you a hundredfold at the sect tournament!"

Naturally, Ye Xiu did not know that Fang Qiong had placed all his hatred upon him.

But it made no difference to him.

After all, before Fang Qiong had wanted to get rid of him, he had already begun plotting to get rid of Fang Qiong.

"How is this thing?"

Lightly tapping the table, Ye Xiu smiled as he watched Xie Lan, whose eyes were practically glued to the shell before her.