Once a cultivator broke into the Heavenly Manifestation Realm, they could borrow the power of sky-vein energy to briefly walk through the air.
Yet at this moment, Geng Shiqiu stood suspended in midair—
not through sky-vein energy…
but through earth-vein energy.
Streams of earth-vein power surged upward beneath him like an invisible pillar, holding him aloft.
From this alone, it was obvious—
his cultivation was terrifying.
His aged voice rolled across the entire Wind Thunder Sect like thunder.
"Tingxuan Peak disciple Lin Ye—"
"for the murder of Affairs Hall Manager Xu Liang…"
"by sect law, I hereby declare: Lin Ye is stripped of his status as a disciple of the Wind Thunder Sect!"
"Lin Ye, surrender immediately!"
The proclamation echoed like divine judgment.
Across the seven cultivation peaks, countless disciples were shaken.
Little Bamboo Peak
Liu Qingyu had been refining the remaining medicinal power inside her body.
The last trace of the Wind Spirit Heart-Purifying Pill Lin Ye had given her surged outward.
Her aura erupted.
Her meridians opened.
Her dantian trembled.
With a sharp burst, she crossed the threshold.
"I… I broke through!"
"I actually reached the Qi Sea Realm!"
Qi Sea Realm.
Once someone stepped into this realm, they could pass a basic examination and become a core disciple, receiving vastly superior treatment within the sect.
But before she could even feel joy—
that roaring voice swept across the skies.
"Senior Brother Lin Ye… murdered Xu Liang?!"
"How is that possible?!"
Liu Qingyu didn't even have time to steady her breathing.
She rushed out immediately, sensing a terrifying presence over Tingxuan Peak.
Something major had happened.
"No… it can't be him."
She began sprinting toward Tingxuan Peak without hesitation.
Even if she couldn't help…
she needed to understand what was happening.
At the very least—
she wanted to speak for him.
Because she had seen it with her own eyes.
Lin Ye was not someone who acted without reason.
Tingxuan Peak
Lin Ye heard Geng Shiqiu's declaration.
He was not surprised.
He calmly put away the fifth-rank giant serpent skull he had been using to block attacks.
The moment the old man revealed himself—
Lin Ye already knew what was coming.
If they could not kill him in the shadows,
then they would ruin him openly.
By publicly stripping Lin Ye of his identity as a sect disciple,
he would lose all rights to inherit Lin Zhonghai's legacy.
Once that identity was removed,
whatever Lin Zhonghai left behind…
would have nothing to do with Lin Ye anymore.
If they could not kill him—
then they would first destroy his reputation, his standing, and his legitimacy.
Then, once he was isolated…
they would erase him completely.
But Geng Shiqiu did not intend to kill Lin Ye personally.
If he did, it would create unnecessary complications and leave a stain on his name.
It could become a weapon used against him in the future.
What he wanted was simple:
force Lin Ye to leave the sect.
If Lin Ye were captured and imprisoned,
some of Lin Zhonghai's old allies might still fight to clear his name.
Lin Ye had to die—
but not inside the Wind Thunder Sect.
And certainly not by Geng Shiqiu's own hands.
Yet when Geng Shiqiu looked into Lin Ye's eyes…
he saw no panic.
No fear.
Only calm.
As if Lin Ye had anticipated this outcome from the very beginning.
That made a faint sense of unease rise in Geng Shiqiu's heart.
Because everything about Lin Ye had become abnormal.
And tonight…
Lin Ye had killed Xu Liang.
That alone made him a dangerous future threat.
But—
it still was not time to kill him.
Not yet.
Lin Ye raised his gaze and stared at the old man.
A cold smile curved his lips.
"Old man."
"I'll remember your face."
Then he turned—
and fled.
He did not waste breath on pointless threats.
Threats were cheap.
And Lin Ye knew:
Geng Shiqiu would not kill him now.
Letting him flee would cement the accusation.
He would become a fugitive.
A traitor.
A criminal by decree.
Lin Ye's body blurred into darkness, his presence shrinking to nothing.
His aura became so silent it was as if he had vanished from existence.
Within moments, he had already escaped beyond the boundaries of the Wind Thunder Sect.
Geng Shiqiu made no move to stop him.
The commotion drew the attention of several other elders.
They rushed over, faces grim.
"Sixth Elder, what happened here?"
Geng Shiqiu's expression was cold.
"Lin Ye has defected and fled."
"All disciples of the Wind Thunder Sect—listen well!"
"If Lin Ye is encountered…"
"Kill on sight!"
Kill on sight.
Tingxuan Peak — Yawen Residence
Inside his courtyard, Zhang Wenxu had been hiding in bitterness ever since he was beaten.
The moment he heard that order…
his gloom vanished completely.
"Hahaha!"
"Lin Ye… Lin Ye!"
"I didn't even get the chance to deal with you myself…"
"And the elders already crushed you!"
Inner Disciple Courtyard
Tao Lang froze.
He felt as if lightning had struck his skull.
"My god…"
"What is happening?!"
"Lin Ye killed Manager Xu Liang?!"
He knew Lin Ye was strong—
but he never imagined Lin Ye could kill someone like Xu Liang.
And now Lin Ye was being hunted by the entire sect.
Tao Lang's mind went blank.
Ray River Branch Hall
Shen Miaoyu and Sun Yun heard the decree as well.
Their faces turned pale.
"How could this happen?"
"Why would Lin Ye kill Xu Liang?"
"Was it because of Deacon Gu Qing…?"
Questions flooded Shen Miaoyu's mind.
There was clearly a massive hidden truth behind all of it—
but she was only a disciple.
She had no ability to influence such a situation.
"…Maybe only Senior Sister Chu Mengxi can uncover what really happened."
Shen Miaoyu clenched her teeth.
She decided to report everything to Chu Mengxi immediately.
Elder Council Hall
The Sect Master was still in secluded cultivation.
The First Elder and Second Elder were guarding him within the forbidden grounds.
For now, sect affairs were handled by the Third Elder—
Wen Lang.
Wen Lang was known as carefree and indifferent.
A man who disliked trouble.
Unless a disaster threatened the sect itself,
he almost never appeared.
But today—
he convened an emergency elder meeting.
All elders were required to attend.
Wen Lang sat at the head seat.
His posture was relaxed.
But his eyes carried sharpness like a hidden blade.
"Elder Geng."
Wen Lang looked directly at Geng Shiqiu.
"You claim Lin Ye killed Xu Liang?"
"Then explain this clearly to everyone."
Among the elders, Wen Lang was not particularly old.
But more importantly—
Wen Lang and Lin Ye's father, Lin Zhonghai, belonged to the same generation.
They had once opposed each other fiercely.
But in truth—
they respected each other.
Though Lin Zhonghai had died…
Wen Lang had quietly protected Lin Ye ever since.
That was why Lin Ye had been able to remain a core disciple for so long.
This meeting—
was held for Lin Ye.
Geng Shiqiu replied calmly.
"How Lin Ye killed Xu Liang…"
"you should ask Lin Ye himself."
"If he were innocent…"
"why would he flee?"
Wen Lang raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Oh?"
"A mere core disciple…"
"escaped from you, Elder Geng?"
Geng Shiqiu's expression remained unchanged.
"I delayed briefly trying to save Xu Liang."
"Lin Ye used a forbidden technique. His cultivation surged."
"I underestimated him."
"And he escaped."
Every word was controlled.
Every line was prepared.
Even if the elders doubted him—
what could they do?
Lin Ye had already fled.
There was no one left to question.
One elder beside them spoke coldly.
"Regardless, Lin Ye killing Xu Liang is a fact."
"Our priority should be capturing Lin Ye."
"Once he is brought back, everything becomes clear."
Several elders nodded in agreement.
But many of them—
were already thinking about something else.
Lin Zhonghai's legacy.
A dead man's inheritance.
Now that Lin Ye had been stripped of his identity—
that legacy was open for them to seize.
Wen Lang's eyes narrowed.
"I don't care what any of you intend to do."
"Before I personally see Lin Ye…"
"no one is allowed to kill him."
"Otherwise…"
He leaned forward slightly.
"…you become my enemy."
A killing intent spread across the entire hall.
Even the other elders felt their hearts sink.
A man who survived Slaughter Island…
was never someone to take lightly.
Wen Lang stood and prepared to leave.
But Geng Shiqiu's voice stopped him.
"Wait."
"Since Lin Ye is no longer a disciple of the Wind Thunder Sect…"
"according to sect law…"
"Lin Zhonghai's legacy must now be contested among the elders."
"This matter…"
"should be scheduled."
Geng Shiqiu's aged eyes gleamed with certainty.
He had already won.
Why hide anything?
The other elders immediately nodded, their eyes filled with greed.
Lin Ye was only a disciple.
The sect was held up by elders like them.
And rumors said Lin Zhonghai had left behind priceless treasures.
If they could seize even a portion—
it would be worth everything.
End Hook
As the elders began discussing dates and rules with greedy enthusiasm…
none of them noticed—
far beyond the sect's borders, a lone figure slipped through the darkness.
And deep within his blood-sea consciousness…
something ancient was beginning to rise.