The Azure Dragon Sect Master's Misery

"Can't kill you? You're exactly who I'm killing."

Li Xiao spoke indifferently. The next instant, a gigantic golden hand seized them.

Their expressions changed, and they swiftly activated their cultivation techniques.

In an instant, phantom tortoise shells enveloped them-a cultivation technique of the Black Tortoise Sect, one of the Four Symbols Sects.

But no technique worked before Li Xiao. With absolute strength suppressing them, there was no need for any of those flashy tricks.

The next instant, Li Xiao curled his hand slightly, and the gigantic golden hand followed his movement, closing around them.

A flash of golden light swept past. Before everyone's eyes, those Half-Saint Realm experts were crushed like ants, bursting into a cloud of bloody mist.

"If anyone else wants to cause trouble, come straight to me, Li Xiao. Don't worry, next time I won't let you feel any pain. It'll be quick."

Li Xiao gave an amiable smile as he spoke, then disappeared into the crowd.

Everyone exchanged looks, dumbstruck.

"Holy shit, the Li Lineage's young master is way too overbearing. Weren't those Black Tortoise Sect elders? He killed them without even blinking."

"Rumor had it that the Li Lineage's young master had reached the peak Saint realm. Seeing him today, it really was true."

"With strength like that, even the Black Tortoise Sect Master couldn't do anything if he came. They'll just have to swallow their broken teeth."

After Li Xiao's intervention, no one caused trouble at the Li Lineage's grounds again. Everyone obediently joined the back of the line and waited, afraid that breaking the rules would get them killed out of nowhere.

The Azure Dragon Sect.

Sect Master Du Lie looked at the elders stirring restlessly right under his nose and spoke indifferently.

"As you all know, the Li Lineage is recruiting guest elders today. Quite a few elders of our Azure Dragon Sect couldn't resist the temptation and were poached."

At this point, Du Lie sighed, turned around, and continued,

"But those who want to leave cannot be kept. If you can find better prospects in the Li Lineage, I, as your sect master, won't tie you down. Anyone who wants to go should leave now."

Du Lie's expression shifted rapidly, and he forced out a tear.

There shouldn't be any flaws. Seamless. This ploy of suffering to win sympathy should win quite a few of them back. I'm truly a genius.

Du Lie thought to himself.

A moment later, Du Lie slowly turned around. The sight before him left him dumbstruck; his vision went black, and he nearly fainted.

Two-thirds of the original elders had already left, leaving only one-third behind. Some of those remaining had ideas of their own, but since they had not reached the half-Saint realm, they could only continue holing up in the Azure Dragon Sect.

Du Lie's face turned livid. Looking at the sole remaining Half-Saint expert beside him, he could not help breathing a sigh of relief.

"Old Yao, you're the good one after all. I wasn't wrong about you."

The elder named Old Yao gave an awkward smile and said,

"Sect Master, I haven't received my monthly allowance yet. Could I collect it before I leave?"

At these words, a desolate feeling welled up in Du Lie's heart. At that moment, he felt abandoned by the entire world.

His face livid, he pointed a trembling finger at Old Yao. "You... get out. Get out right now."

Seeing that Du Lie was about to erupt, Old Yao hurriedly turned and fled for his life, not forgetting to mutter,

"You can't blame us. The Li Lineage is simply offering too much."

"Get out!"

After a bout of roaring, Du Lie eased the stifling frustration in his chest. His figure seemed to have aged ten years.

Fuck, the Li Lineage is playing dirty.

Poaching people so openly-they're trying to drive the Four Symbols Sects to their deaths.

He seemed to think of something.

Right, the Four Symbols Sects. His Azure Dragon Sect wasn't the only one in this situation. The other major sects were all the same. Didn't that mean his Azure Dragon Sect was still the Azure Dragon Sect? They'd merely all been weakened together. Did it make any difference?

No. He knew the Li Lineage's strength. Since they could no longer be stopped, why not go along with them?

Ultimately, his Azure Dragon Sect was still one of the Four Symbols Sects, while his ancestor and the previous Azure Dragon Sect Master were with the Li Lineage.

If the Azure Dragon Sect was in trouble, the Li Lineage couldn't possibly ignore it, given those ties.

In other words, weren't his Azure Dragon Sect's people also the Li Lineage's people? They were merely living somewhere else. But the other three sects were different-their foundations had truly been shaken.

At this thought, Du Lie chuckled.

It didn't seem to be a bad thing, either.

The elders below exchanged looks as they watched their sect master's deranged behavior. Had their sect master been driven mad with anger?

Off to the side, the Azure Dragon Holy Son sneered inwardly, an inexplicable gleam flashing through his eyes.