Before he could continue, Tianhong, one of Yuan Longxuan's divine swords, tore a hideous gash across the Great Elder's chest.
Flames from the sword's ultimate power sealed the wound almost instantly, leaving him paralyzed and gasping.
The First Elder, witnessing this, realized that the slightest sound from his mouth could mean instant death.
"Alas," Yuan Longxuan said, stepping closer to Tang Hao, "I intended to give you a chance to show respect,
but you chose defiance. I am merciful, so I will grant one final opportunity to live."
Tang Hao and Tang Xiao, battered and broken, could barely lift their heads.
Yet their eyes, filled with both resentment and awe, followed Yuan Longxuan as he addressed them. "
Your sect's interference ends here. Kneel, kowtow, and admit your mistakes. Fail to comply, and today your Clear Sky Sect dies."
The elders froze, realizing the severity of their predicament.
Even their sneaky tactics, coordinated with Tang Hao and Tang Xiao, had failed miserably.
Yuan Longxuan's overwhelming aura, combined with the destructive power of his Dragon God bloodline, left them powerless.
Reluctantly, the four elders dropped to their knees. Tang Hao and Tang Xiao, exchanging a fleeting glance, mirrored their elders' action.
Pride and stubbornness dissolved under the weight of undeniable power.
"A man's knees are worth gold!" one of them muttered bitterly under his breath, acknowledging the humiliation yet understanding its necessity.
"Dong dong dong," the sound of continuous kowtows echoed across the ruined sect grounds. Yuan Longxuan watched, eyes calm but sharp, as the sect's proudest members repeatedly lowered themselves in submission.
Even the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, standing proudly by his master's feet, seemed to smirk, satisfied with the display of control.
The collective kowtowing of the Haotian Sect was not just a display of submission
; it was a symbolic gesture acknowledging that their arrogance, deceit, and reckless attacks had no place before a true master.
Yuan Longxuan's presence had not only destroyed their pride but also reshaped their understanding of power.
Once the kowtowing ceased, Yuan Longxuan finally spoke, his voice calm yet laced with authority:
"Remember this day. Remember the consequences of attacking without foresight. Let this be a lesson for you and your sect for generations to come."
The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger wagged its tail, happy to see the humans finally humbled.
It nuzzled Yuan Longxuan's feet, a silent reminder that loyalty and strength were rewarded under a wise master.
As Yuan Longxuan turned to leave, his gaze swept over Tang Hao and Tang Xiao one last time.
Though battered and humiliated, they had survived....a small mercy granted by his strategic restraint.
Their sect may have crumbled in spirit, but under his watch, they might learn from their failures.
Outside the ruins, the surviving disciples of the Haotian Sect emerged from hiding, trembling.
Their eyes, wide with terror and awe, followed Yuan Longxuan as he and the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger departed.
Behind him, the sect lay in ruins, a vivid testament to the consequences of arrogance and defiance.
In the aftermath, the four elders huddled together, their faces streaked with blood and tears.
Their collective pride had been shattered, leaving only the raw understanding of their inferiority before Yuan Longxuan.
"Brother…" one whispered.
"Second brother…" another muttered, as if seeking strength in shared suffering.
"Eldest brother…" the final voice broke, trembling with a mix of guilt and fear.
Meanwhile, Yuan Longxuan, indifferent to the distant cries of the sect members, felt a subtle vibration in his system prompt.
[Warning! Warning! Bibi Dong, the person contracted to protect the teleportation talisman, has fallen into a coma! Warning! Warning!]
"Sure enough," Yuan Longxuan muttered to himself, "even with my participation, old Qian Xunji would still betray his apprentice. Predictable."
Far away, in Wuhun City, the Pope's Palace was silent except for the struggle between the Spirit Hall Pope, Qian Xunji, and the young Saint, Bibi Dong.
Qian Xunji, a figure once revered, now revealed himself as a tyrant, forcibly restraining the girl as a white pill dissolved in her mouth.
Bibi Dong's cultivation was blocked, leaving her powerless, yet her mind raced with fear, anger, and defiance.
"As long as you give birth to a child for me, perhaps you'll forget that fool outside," Qian Xunji sneered, dragging her toward a hidden passage. Bibi Dong's heart sank.
Her perception of her master....once tall, holy, and revered...had collapsed completely. Before her stood nothing but a monstrous demon cloaked in the guise of a teacher.
Walking through a long, narrow, dark passage, Qian Xunji dragged Bibi Dong by the neck and led her to a cold, cramped chamber.
A bed was already prepared, and Qian Xunji roughly threw Bibi Dong onto it.
"Bang!"
She hit the bed hard, and at the same time, the heavy iron door was locked shut.
Bibi Dong barely had the strength to lift her head, her eyes filled with anger and despair.
"Dong'er, your teacher trained you for almost thirteen years, and now you leave the Spirit Hall for a useless man who's been dead for four years? You brought this on yourself!"
Qian Xunji grabbed Bibi Dong's throat roughly, his golden eyes shining with greed and lust.
"Qian Xunji, you… you monster!"
Bibi Dong gritted her teeth, her once-clear eyes bloodshot with rage. She tried to move, but her body refused to obey.
"I've invested my resources in you for twelve years, hoping you'd become the Pope and uphold the Spirit Hall.
But now… it seems my little disciple is just a delicacy."
Qian Xunji reached out to tear away Bibi Dong's last veil. Tears streamed down her face as she closed her eyes in despair.
Suddenly, his hand was stopped mid-air.
Qian Xunji froze, confused. It felt as if his hand was trapped in iron clamps, unable to move.
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