The crowd flew down into the arena, their long swords unsheathed in unison. A cold light rippled like a silver wave, and within a breath, they had formed a sword array.
Ming Ran stood at the eye of the array, the tip of her sword pointing straight at Feng Qing on the jade steps, her eyes burning with rage. “The affairs of Nine Saints Hall are not for outsiders to decide!”
Song Yao raised an eyebrow.
These kids were actually quite capable.
Especially Ming Ran. She was incredibly quick-witted and had actually managed to lead so many of her fellow disciples to form such an array.
But unfortunately, the gap in their cultivation was a massive chasm. Even if there were ten thousand more Ming Rans, they still wouldn't be a match for their opponents.
The faces of several Nine Saints Hall elders on the ground instantly changed, and they roared in anger, “Who allowed you to come out?! Get back and stay hidden!”
The cultivators capable of fighting had already been deployed elsewhere. The newly joined disciples were still young and had shallow cultivation, so they had been hidden away in a spatial realm in the back mountain. No one expected them to run out at a time like this.
Ming Ran pointed her sword diagonally toward the ground, her fingertips turning white from her tight grip. There wasn't a single trace of retreat in her eyes. “When Nine Saints Hall is in trouble, there is no reason for us to hide!”
She took a step forward and barked an order, “Strike!”
A hundred long swords vibrated in unison, their silver light merging into a massive screen of blades. Sweeping forward with biting sword qi, they charged straight toward the high platform.
The young disciples' eyes blazed with fire as they poured every ounce of their spiritual energy into the attack.
The elders of Taiqing Pavilion looked over with disdain. The leading elder let out a cold snort and simply pressed his hand down casually.
A solid golden palm print fell from the sky. The moment it collided with the sword screen, the seemingly sharp sword array shattered into pieces like thin ice.
The massive palm print's momentum was far from spent, and it crashed down toward the crowd. Ninth Elder, who was closest, forced his heavily injured body up and raised his sword to block it for the disciples. However, the strike was too heavy. He was sent flying once more, and the residual spiritual pressure slammed brutally into everyone else.
Muffled groans echoed through the air.
Ming Ran was violently blown away from the eye of the array, tumbling several yards. A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of her lips. She tried to stand by propping herself up with her broken sword, but her knees buckled, and she fell heavily back to her knees.
The other disciples were scattered across the ground in complete disarray, their breathing ragged and chaotic. None of them had the strength to stand up.
“How utterly undisciplined,” Feng Qing sneered and brushed her sleeves, her tone casual yet laced with a bone-chilling cold. “Showing such disrespect to your elders and teachers, it's no wonder this place bred a disciple who colluded with evil cultivators. From this day forth, this venerable one shall teach you on behalf of your Hall Master what respect and hierarchy truly mean.”
She turned to look at the five elders, her voice turning even colder. “Until they learn the rules, not a single person from Nine Saints Hall is to leave.”
The five of them acknowledged in unison. At the same time, they raised their hands to form hand seals, chanting incantations under their breath.
In midair, a golden light grew increasingly bright. With Fuguang Platform as the center, an invisible barrier rapidly expanded in all directions.
Xie Zhou's expression shifted slightly. He grabbed Song Yao's wrist, his spiritual energy surging as he prepared to send her out. “You go first.”
“Wait, wait, wait!” Song Yao had no choice but to grab his arm in return. “I can't leave. Lin Shui is still on the main peak.”
With most of her body pressed against his arm, her soft, warm herbal scent drifted over. Xie Zhou's temples throbbed. “Be good.”
Song Yao clung even tighter. “They're so brutal! What if they stew my chickens and ducks later?”
Xie Zhou: “...”
With her so close, his breathing became slightly erratic. He wanted to throw her out directly, but he was afraid she would just crawl back even if she got hurt.
While they were arguing, the golden light in the sky flared brilliantly.
A heavy, transparent barrier crashed down, covering everything from the summit of the main peak to the mountain gates at the base, completely sealing off all the mountains and forests of Nine Saints Hall.
As the golden light rippled, not even a flying insect could slip through.
Song Yao immediately let go of him cleanly and comforted Xie Zhou as an afterthought. “It's fine. There are so many disciples in Nine Saints Hall. It wouldn't do any good if Fourth Senior Brother only protected me.”
Xie Zhou: “...”
Did she really think he was insisting on her leaving just to protect his fellow disciples?
Song Yao had no idea what he was thinking and even found the leisure to smile at him. “Besides, don't we have a backup plan? As long as we don't die before the backup arrives, we'll be fine, right?”
“...”
As long as they didn't die. Easier said than done.
The two of them were currently standing a peak away. Because they were far, they hadn't been spotted. Xie Zhou said in a slightly cold voice, “Then take your Lin Shui, hide in the back mountain realm, and do not wander around.”
Song Yao clung to a boulder. “Sure, sure. Let me watch a bit more...”
Just as she finished speaking, the array became fully formed.
Feng Qing lazily rose from her high seat, her voice carrying across with spiritual energy. “From this day forth, this venerable one is the Acting Hall Master of Nine Saints Hall! All matters of Nine Saints Hall shall be decided by this venerable one!”
The expressions of the Nine Saints Hall elders shifted slightly. They exchanged looks, shook their heads subtly, and gritted their teeth to endure it.
However—
“Bah!” Ming Ran propped herself up with her half-broken sword, barely managing to push herself up into a half-kneeling position from the ground.
The trail of blood from the corner of her mouth dripped down her chin, staining her moon-white robes. There was not a shred of fear in her eyes, only a rebellious fire. “What kind of thing are you? How are you worthy of stepping into the position of Nine Saints Hall's Hall Master? How utterly shameless!”
The smile on Feng Qing's face slowly faded, and her tone turned cold as ice. “Is this how the disciples of Nine Saints Hall speak to their Hall Master? Utterly insolent.”
She raised her eyes. “Since you do not understand respect and hierarchy, we shall start setting the rules with you. Someone, teach them a good lesson. Make sure they remember what should be said and what should not be done.”
As soon as her words fell, orderly footsteps echoed from the direction of the foot of the mountain.
Thousands of cultivators from Taiqing Pavilion and Beiyao Sect poured in, their armor forged from spiritual energy gleaming with a cold light. In just a brief moment, they surrounded Fuguang Platform so tightly that not even wind could pass through. The glint of sabers and swords reflected the sunlight, cold and intimidating.
With this display, Feng Qing was clearly planning to make an example out of these young disciples to warn the others.
Second Elder and Ninth Elder could no longer hold back. With a sharp ring, they drew their swords. The clear, cold sword light flashed before them as they stepped forward, shielding the injured youths behind them.
Second Elder endured his injuries, his hair and beard bristling with anger. His furious voice made even the stone steps seem to tremble. “Nine Saints Hall has its own sect rules. There is no place for outsiders to meddle! Sect Master Feng, leave some room for leeway in all things. Do you truly wish to drive us to absolute ruin?”
Feng Qing acted as if she hadn't heard a thing. She merely turned her head and glanced at the attending cultivator beside her, speaking with a touch of blame, “Blind fools. Can't you see the elders are standing? Hurry up and bring some chairs so the elders can sit and rest.”
Attendants immediately brought over armchairs and stepped forward, reaching out to support Ninth Elder.
Ninth Elder violently swept his sleeve, throwing them off. The force was so great that the two attendants stumbled back several steps.
He held his sword across his chest, his eyes nearly splitting with rage. “Cut the hypocritical act! If you dare touch even a single hair of these disciples today, I will risk my life to make sure you pay!”
“The elders should still sit down,” Feng Qing let out a soft laugh, though the warmth didn't reach her eyes. “Today, this venerable one will not only teach the disciples the rules, but also teach you elders how to discipline disobedient juniors.”
Rate on N.U.
