Chapter 23

"Precedent? That was before my time! I, Liang Miaozǐ, do not know what the predecessors who once presided over the Jīngyīng Hall were thinking. However, I will not tolerate it under my watch! Moreover, the headmaster has long issued an edict: our Língyún Sect must not interfere in any disputes of the Eastern Lin Cloud Continent."

Liang Miaozǐ's voice suddenly turned cold, and she sternly threw back the Língyún Zhu Ling: "I return this Língyún Zhu Ling to you. If you have any difficulties, feel free to seek help. However, as long as I am in the Língyún Sect, I will not tolerate those who do not follow the proper path and seek to join our sect. To join our sect is simple; just pass the examination!"

Huáng Yì furrowed his brow, no longer daring to argue, and could only look back at the three people with an apologetic gaze.

Zōng Shǒu's expression remained cold and icy from start to finish. Yín Yáng, standing in front, was so angry that his body trembled slightly. But after a moment, he gritted his teeth and knelt down, bowing to Liang Miaozǐ: "Elder, your words are just. Yín Yáng also knows that this is a difficult request. But now, my young master has no other way out and can only seek refuge under the Língyún Sect. I beg you, Elder, to be lenient—"

Sù Chūxuě also hurriedly bowed, not knowing how to speak, and could only look at Liang Miaozǐ and Huáng Yì with a pleading gaze.

Zōng Shǒu was almost grinding his teeth to pieces. His chest felt as if it were being scorched by a fierce flame, almost unable to contain his anger. In his previous life, whether in the real world or the virtual world, he had opposed the Língyún Sect for decades and had never bowed or submitted to them!

Yín Yáng and Chūxuě had utterly disgraced him.

But then he sighed inwardly. Hadn't these two also given up everything for him, the Dry Heaven Mountain Young Master, completely disregarding their dignity?

Even if what they truly did was not for him, he still felt a surge of emotion and empathy.

After all, he had the thirteen years of memory of this body, and in a sense, he and the previous Zōng Shǒu were one.

"Leniency? Not everything in this world can be lenient."

Liang Miaozǐ showed no emotion, her face filled with ridicule: "However, this girl has good talent. Cultivating both spirit and martial arts, she has achieved remarkable success. If she is willing to join our sect, she can be directly admitted as an inner disciple after the examination. If there is nothing else, you may leave the mountain!"

Yín Yáng said nothing, only bowing heavily, his forehead hitting the bluestone steps with a dull, thunderous sound. Sù Chūxuě followed suit, and in a moment, her snow-white forehead was already bloodied and bruised.

Zōng Shǒu was so angry that he was almost mad, but he was utterly helpless. His fingernails were deeply embedded in his flesh.

Liang Miaozǐ sneered: "If bowing were useful, why would we need sect rules and regulations? However, if I just let you go, it would indeed be inhumane. You may stay at the foot of the mountain for half a year. Within half a year, our sect will protect your safety. As for the Língyún Sect order, you can use it to request elixirs, magical weapons, martial arts secrets, and spirit techniques from our sect. But to admit a dual-meridian person into our sect is absolutely impossible! If there is nothing else, then—"

Yín Yáng's brows furrowed again, about to speak. If they couldn't join the Língyún Sect, staying under the sect's protection for a few more years would be good. But the next moment, Liang Miaozǐ's tone changed, cold and stern: "You can leave now!"

As the words were spoken, her voice was like a thunderclap. The word "leave" was accompanied by a surge of gale force. Yín Yáng was the first to be hit, flying backward dozens of feet and rolling down the steps. When he landed, he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Just a few words had left Yín Yáng severely injured. Chūxuě was also thrown back dozens of feet, but her condition was slightly better, her face pale.

Zōng Shǒu's internal energy also churned slightly. He knew it wasn't because Liang Miaozǐ had held back, but because of her Thunder Sound Secret Technique. The stronger one's internal energy, the greater the impact. Therefore, he, the weakest in cultivation, was unharmed.

But the anger in his heart burned even more fiercely, like adding fuel to the fire, almost driving him to lose his reason. His eyes were faintly red.

Huáng Yì was also unaffected, looking at the three people with a hint of pity. Although they were fellow disciples, he felt that his uncle had been a bit too harsh. No matter what, those who held the Língyún Zhu Ling had some favor to the sect. But he could not intervene, only sighing slightly: "Uncle Liang Miaozǐ is the head of the Jīngyīng East Hall, overseeing the admission of all disciples in and out of our sect. Since a decision has been made, it cannot be changed. Shall I escort you down the mountain?"

Zōng Shǒu showed no expression, did not answer, and simply turned around, walking to Yín Yáng and Chūxuě.

The former was not someone to be trampled on. After standing up, he did not beg Liang Miaozǐ again. His face was ashen, his fists clenched, and his eyes filled with rage.

Chūxuě was even more furious, her hand gripping the hilt of her sword tightly, her lips bleeding from biting them.

At this moment, from the direction of the Dao Palace gate, a light mocking voice came: "Ha! With the Língyún Zhu Ling in hand, they were still driven out—"

"Exactly! We are ashamed to be in the company of such incompetent people! No matter how good their family background, what can they do?"

"Ah, the Dry Heaven Mountain Young Master! I remember, didn't the Demon King Zōng Wèirán of the Dry Heaven Mountain Sect die two months ago? I've also heard of Zōng Shǒu, who studied art at our Linhai Academy for three years but achieved nothing. It was rumored that he was about to be expelled. How did he end up here?"

The voices were light, but to the ears of martial artists, even from a hundred feet away, they were still clearly audible. Chūxuě's face flushed, and she suddenly drew her sword halfway, the cold light flashing. Huáng Yì's face darkened: "Three guests, I advise you not to make a mistake! This is the Dānlíng Mountain of the Língyún Sect!"

Yín Yáng shook his head and held Chūxuě back: "Don't be impulsive! Let's go down the mountain first—"

Before he finished speaking, Zōng Shǒu suddenly laughed lightly.

In those thirteen years of memory, he indeed had not been taken out by Yín Yáng and Chūxuě but had been expelled from the Linhai Academy.

If he were still the original Zōng Shǒu, he might have had to swallow his pride and endure it.

But now, he would never become meek and humble. He would never hide his sharpness.

The noisy voices from the Dao Palace gate continued to flood his ears. Liang Miaozǐ stood on the steps, hands behind her back, looking down at the three people from a height, like watching ants.

Zōng Shǒu's anger, surprisingly, completely disappeared, and he laughed: "Uncle Yín, it's not too late to go down the mountain later. Let's see Zōng Shǒu take revenge for you first, shall we?"

At this moment, his mind was as clear as a mirror, his heart as cold as ice. The realm he had spent decades reaching in his previous life had suddenly been achieved.

No wonder some say that whether in martial cultivation or spirit mastery, one must experience all the bitterness and sweetness of the world.

Yín Yáng was stunned, instinctively wanting to dissuade him. But suddenly, he felt an unparalleled dignity from the young man before him.

Despite his smiling face, the feeling was like a volcano about to erupt. The imposing aura made even Huáng Yì, a Secret Martial Artist with eight body wheels, feel uneasy and speechless.

Then, Zōng Shǒu turned around and walked directly to the Mingjian Platform on the right.

"I've heard that the founding master of the Língyún Sect once set up a Small Luo Tian Sword Array on Dānlíng Mountain with eighteen puppets, claiming that no one below the Celestial Rank could break it. Those who can withstand a hundred breaths without using true energy can become true disciples. Those who can withstand three hundred breaths can become direct disciples. Those who can destroy one puppet can directly join the sect's headmaster's disciples!"

Step by step, he climbed the stairs, suddenly drawing his sword and looking at the eighteen wooden puppets standing silently before him.

"Didn't you say there would be an examination? Zōng Shǒu, though not talented, wants to test whether this Small Luo Tian Sword Array lives up to its name—"