Abandoned

In the blink of an eye, two days passed.

The Sixth Elder stood ready with the Clear Sky Sect's affiliated sects and some of its disciples.

He had volunteered for the task. Whatever happened, someone from the sect's leadership had to steady the Four Great Clans and take charge.

"Sixth Elder? Where are the sect master and the other elders?"

Yang Wudi stood beside him as he asked.

"They'll be here soon. They're still making preparations in the council hall."

"Haha! I've been itching to beat up Spirit Hall! The master killing Qian Xunji is wonderful news! He's brought glory to our Clear Sky Sect!"

"Tai Nuo! Learn from the master! Become a hero like him one day! No—become a worthy servant to him!"

"Yes, Father!"

The leaders of the other Three Great Clans shot Tai Tan and his people looks of disgust. How could Tai Tan be this stupid?

Even the Sixth Elder nearly lost his composure at those words.

A young man from the Breaking Clan looked questioningly at his friend. His friend pointed at his own head, shook it, and waved a hand.

The young man nodded in understanding.

"Who dares insult Spirit Hall?"

The instant the voice rang out, Tai Tan flew backward. His right arm tore free and flew the other way.

Once the shock subsided, everyone saw a man and a woman standing before them. The man was handsome, with gentle features and a calm gaze. He looked like a good person at first glance.

The woman wore a dark purple dress and held the Pope's Scepter. She looked noble and elegant.

The Sixth Elder did not recognize either of them and dared not address them carelessly. He took a deep breath.

"May I ask who you are?"

"Bibi Dong, Pope of Spirit Hall."

"Yang Tian, Eighth Worshipper of Spirit Hall."

"Greetings, Your Holiness."

The Sixth Elder bowed first, and the others followed. Only Tai Tan, lying on the ground, and the Strength Clan remained still.

Tai Nuo glared at Yang Tian.

The Sixth Elder and the members of the other Three Great Clans all tried to signal him discreetly.

Inwardly, the Sixth Elder cursed every last ape in the Strength Clan.

We're already at a disadvantage, and you hand them an opening. What a useless ally!

"Why aren't you bowing?!"

Yang Tian turned to the Strength Clan.

Overwhelming pressure bore down on them. They nearly dropped to their knees.

Tai Nuo held out against it and gritted his teeth.

"We of the Strength Clan kneel to neither heaven nor earth! We kneel only to our masters, the Clear Sky Sect and Tang Hao!"

"So you're supporters of the wanted criminal Tang Hao!"

An even greater pressure crushed down on them. This time, none remained standing. They all fell to their knees.

"Sixth Elder! Explain this! Why does the Clear Sky Sect have Tang Hao's supporters among its ranks? Is your sect still harboring him?!"

The Sixth Elder cursed Yang Tian's ancestors for eighteen generations in his heart, but answered dutifully.

"Your Holiness, Eighth Worshipper, this is the Strength Clan's own conduct and has nothing to do with the Clear Sky Sect. Our sect has always obeyed the law, kept to its proper role, and strived to help Spirit Hall maintain the continent's security."

"Mm. That makes sense. I believe the Clear Sky Sect."

The Sixth Elder breathed a sigh of relief.

"However... the Strength Clan is still affiliated with your sect. Since they've done wrong, you can punish them."

"Everyone from your sect who failed to bow just now will lose an arm. See to it."

"What?!" The Sixth Elder's head snapped up.

"What? Do you object? Or is the entire Clear Sky Sect made up of Tang Hao's accomplices, shielding him from justice?"

"We wouldn't dare."

"Then carry it out! Now!"

The Sixth Elder ground his teeth and lowered his head in thought. It was all those stupid apes in the Strength Clan's fault for handing Spirit Hall leverage.

If they had simply distanced themselves from Tang Hao, denied everything, and stalled until the Two Great Empires and the other sects intervened, they might still have had a chance. At the very least, Spirit Hall could not have gone to full-scale war with the Clear Sky Sect, and the clansmen who had fled might have been safe.

But the Strength Clan had put him in an impossible position. If he obeyed, morale would collapse, and once word got out, the Clear Sky Sect would lose all face.

If he refused, Spirit Hall would have both the opportunity and the grounds to condemn the sect further.

"Well? Is the Clear Sky Sect truly going to shield Tang Hao?"

"Sixth Elder! Let's fight them! There are only two of them! With our sect master and so many elders, how could we fail to take them down?!"

"Sixth Elder! The Strength Clan is willing to lead the charge!"

Listening to the voices around him, he remembered that the sect master and the others had already fled with the talented clansmen. They had no face left to save. He closed his eyes, clenched his teeth, and made his decision.

"Shut up! Seize every member of the Strength Clan! Take an arm from each of them as punishment!"

Everyone stared at the Sixth Elder in disbelief, including the Clear Sky Sect disciples who had stayed behind.

"What are you staring at? Seize them!"

Only then did everyone react. They rushed to subdue the Strength Clan, including members of the other Three Great Clans.

None of them wanted to be branded one of Tang Hao's accomplices. By now, they practically hated Tang Hao.

"Ah! I've bled for the Clear Sky Sect! What gives you the right?!"

"You traitors to the Clear Sky Sect!"

"Master! Avenge me!"

Before long, everyone in the Strength Clan had lost an arm. They knelt or sprawled on the ground like dead dogs.

"Mm, excellent. The Clear Sky Sect truly is full of law-abiding people, an important force for peace and stability on the continent!"

"You've helped Spirit Hall punish Tang Hao's remaining followers. Spirit Hall always rewards merit and punishes wrongdoing! You deserve a reward!"

"After this, everyone who carried out the punishment can collect ten Gold Soul Coins from Spirit Hall!"

"Thank you, Your Holiness. Thank you, Eighth Worshipper."

Everyone bowed again. But many had lost their spirit, and there was none of the earlier humiliation in their bows.

"Have you prepared the Clear Sky Sect's compensation?"

"Eighth Worshipper, Tang Hao has nothing to do with the Clear Sky Sect. We've already expelled him. Why should our sect pay compensation?"

"Sixth Elder, that's not quite right. As I understand it, Tang Hao had not yet been expelled from the Clear Sky Sect when he killed our Pope. So the Clear Sky Sect still owes us compensation."

"The Clear Sky Sect cannot raise such a sum at present. Please show mercy, Your Holiness, Eighth Worshipper. Once we have the means, we will certainly pay."

"Sixth Elder! What is that supposed to mean?! Spirit Hall has already shown your sect such leniency! Are you trying to shirk the debt?!"

"We wouldn't dare. The Clear Sky Sect simply cannot pay that much. Everything we have in the sect can be offered as compensation."

Hearing the Sixth Elder's answer, Qian Xunji could not help but marvel at how much the man could endure.

"As I understand it, the Four Great Clans are servants of the Clear Sky Sect, correct? If they're servants, use them to settle the debt. One million Gold Soul Coins each for the Defense Clan, Breaking Clan, and Speed Clan. How does that sound? Spirit Hall doesn't want the Strength Clan. You can keep them."

The other Three Great Clans showed no reaction. Had Qian Xunji proposed this at the outset, they might have resisted. Even if Spirit Hall had forced them into its ranks, they would never have submitted willingly.

But after everything that had just happened, they felt nothing. Their standing would probably fall if they joined Spirit Hall, but perhaps life there would not be so bad.

The Sixth Elder was furious and anxious. How could Spirit Hall be so greedy? Worse, its demands had grounds behind them. Even if the Two Great Empires and the other sects came to mediate, they would have no rebuttal.

The Sixth Elder was about to keep arguing when Qian Xunji cut him off.

"Never mind. I won't make things difficult for you. Bring out your sect master."

"Ahem. Your Holiness, Eighth Worshipper, the sect master is in seclusion. I have full authority to handle the compensation."

"Do you?"

"I do."

"And the other elders? What about Tang Xiao, Tang Hao's older brother? Are they all in seclusion too?"

The Sixth Elder took a deep breath and answered firmly.

"Yes! Once they emerge, I'll have them go to Spirit Hall and apologize in person."

"All in seclusion? You won't change a word of that?"

"Not a word!"

"Did you all hear that?! Your sect master, your elders, and Tang Xiao are all in seclusion!"

The crowd immediately realized they had been sold out. No wonder the sect master and the others were nowhere to be seen, along with the more talented disciples.

"I saw the Seventh Elder just yesterday!"

"Exactly! Tang Hu's gone too! He ran away!"

"And Tang Long!"

"They abandoned us!"

"Abandoning those four servant clans is one thing, but my surname is Tang! Was I left behind just because I lack talent?!"

As the angry shouts rose around him, the Sixth Elder's face grew darker. The leaders of the Three Great Clans also turned to him, waiting to see what he would do. They felt no loyalty to the Clear Sky Sect anymore.

Of course, Qian Xunji's covert use of Mind Control had also played a part, subtly changing their minds.