922: Chapter 923 The Dust Has Settled!

Gu Changge's gaze fell upon the Second Elder, and his water-calm sight made the latter's blood nearly freeze.

The Second Elder opened his mouth, wanting to say some words of begging for mercy, but his throat felt as if it were blocked by something, and not a single word could be spit out.

Gu Changge's gaze drifted down indifferently, looking once again at the two people, Zhao Tianlong and Zhao Tianhu, his tone lacking the slightest fluctuation:

"Plotting together to cause chaos in the Sect, dispose of them all together."

As soon as the words fell, Xiaohei lightly lifted his foot, and three purple-gold Dao threads simultaneously flew through the air, entangling the Dantians and Divine Souls of all four.

Terrified to the point of his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, the Second Elder's knees frantically slammed against the bluestone ground, knocking a large patch of bloodstains on his forehead, crying out with a broken voice:

"Your Exaltedness, spare my life! I was only momentarily confused and bewitched by Third Elder Zhao Wuji, and I am definitely not truly plotting a rebellion! I beg Your Exaltedness to show mercy and leave me a remnant of my life. In this lifetime, I am willing to be an ox and a horse to redeem my sins for eternity!"

The twin sons of the Zhao family were even more limp all over, tears and snot streaming down, constantly kowtowing and begging for mercy, pushing all the blame entirely onto the dead Third Elder Zhao Wuji, only begging to survive by a thread.

But Xiaohei showed not a shred of hesitation, the Dao power at his fingertips suddenly erupting.

Three harsh, tearing sounds of "zi la" rang out simultaneously, the Dantian dao foundation and Origin Divine Soul of the three people completely shattering, their bodies collapsing softly onto the ground, completely losing all vitality.

In the blink of an eye, four rebel corpses lay horizontally across the main hall's floor, and the bloody Qi slowly diffused, oppressing everyone to the point of almost suffocating.

At this point, all the core figures of the Zhao family lineage were executed.

Gu Changge's gaze slowly shifted, ultimately landing on the last rebellious Heavenly King.

Peak Master of Xuanwu Peak Ji Linyan.

This powerful figure who once controlled one of the five main peaks of the Tianyuan Sect was kneeling prostrate on the ground at this moment, his entire body's Qi withered and listless.

His cultivation had already been sealed by Xiaohei, and at this moment he was no different from a Mortal.

Sensing Gu Changge's gaze falling upon him, Ji Linyan slowly raised his head.

In his eyes, there was no fear like Third Elder Zhao Wuji's before death, nor the unwillingness like the Second Elder's, only a patch of ash-like calmness.

He was clear that he had participated in forcing the palace and besieging the Sect Master, his hands stained with the blood of countless fellow Disciples, and today there was absolutely no possibility of surviving.

Without waiting for Gu Changge to speak, he fiercely clenched his teeth, the remaining Spiritual Qi around his body violently crashing inward.

He actually intended to shatter his own Divine Soul and end his own life, sparing himself the humiliation of being executed in public.

"Wait!"

A figure flashed like lightning to his front, striking heavily with a palm onto his shoulder.

Majestic Heavenly King Dao power poured in with a roar, forcefully suppressing the rampaging Spiritual Qi inside Ji Linyan's body back down.

Ji Linyan's body shuddered violently, a wisp of fresh blood overflowing from the corner of his mouth, as he raised his head to meet Sect Master Liu Zhenshan's complex eyes.

Sect Master Liu Zhenshan did not speak, only tightening the hand pressing on his shoulder slightly.

After a moment, he took a deep breath, turned around, and bowed deeply toward Gu Changge on the main seat:

"Your Exaltedness, this subordinate has an unbefitting request."

Gu Changge lowered his eyes to look at him without speaking, waiting for his continuation.

"Peak Master Ji here once saved my life in his early years."

"Back then, when I went out to execute a mission, I was ambushed and heavily wounded to the point of dying. It was Peak Master Ji who disregarded his own safety, charged into the heavy encirclement, and carried me out. This grace, I have always remembered it."

He paused, his head drooping even lower: "Today he participated in the rebellion, and his crime is unpardonable. This subordinate dares not ask for a full pardon for him, only begging Your Exaltedness to spare his life. The capital crime can be avoided, but the living crime is inescapable; it is better to let him go and guard the Northern Frontier Xuan Iron Ore Vein."

"That ore vein is located in a desolate and remote place with thin Spiritual Qi, adjacent to the Blood Fiend Sect's territory. Year-round, Yao Beasts run amok there, and no one is willing to go. Sending him there to redeem his sins, not allowing him to step out of the mining area half a step for the rest of his life, can also be considered giving him a conclusion."

As these words came out, everyone in the hall had varying expressions.

The Grand Elder furrowed his brows slightly, wanting to speak but stopping. Several Peak Masters looked at each other with complex gazes.

Anyone could see that Sect Master Liu Zhenshan was protecting Ji Linyan's life.

Although the northern frontier ore vein was a bitterly cold place, at least he would be alive. Compared to being executed on the spot, this was already a heavenly grace.

Ji Linyan was also stunned; he had not expected that, after participating in forcing the palace and besieging the Sect Master, Sect Master Liu Zhenshan would actually still plead for him.

He opened his mouth, his voice hoarse: "Zhenshan, you…"

On the main seat, Gu Changge fell silent for a moment.

The air inside the main hall seemed to have frozen, and everyone held their breath, waiting for the adjudication of that white-clothed Exaltedness.

Just at this moment, Gu Changge suddenly turned his head, looking at Xiao Ruobai by his side, and asked a sentence in an indifferent tone:

"Xiao Ruobai, what do you think?"

As these words came out, everyone's gaze in the hall once again converged onto Xiao Ruobai.

Xiao Ruobai was slightly startled, then recovered his wits.

He stepped forward, cupping his fists and saying: "Replying to Master, this Disciple believes that although Peak Master Ji is guilty, his crime lies not in private enmity, but in choosing sides."

He paused, looking calmly at the kneeling Ji Linyan, and continued:

"Previously in the Secret Realm, Peak Revered Master Ji's Disciple Zhao Qian and others repeatedly intercepted and killed us, and this Disciple was forced to kill them back; this matter has already become the past."

"As a Revered Master, Peak Revered Master Ji standing up for his Disciples, although excessive, is also understandable."

"The person who truly coerced him onto this path is Third Elder Zhao Wuji."

Hearing this, Ji Linyan abruptly raised his head, the gaze looking at Xiao Ruobai filled with astonishment.

He never expected that this young man whom he had originally wished to get rid of as quickly as possible would actually speak up for him, and an indescribable sense of shame surged into his heart.

Xiao Ruobai met his gaze, his tone calm yet carrying a majesty that made people dare not look directly:

"However, Peak Revered Master Ji, I also have a word to ask you to your Face."

Ji Linyan's Adam's apple rolled, his voice hoarse: "Little Friend, please speak."

"Your Disciples actively hunted me down, and I killed them back, which is completely reasonable and logical. Do you acknowledge this point or not?"

Ji Linyan was silent for a split second, slowly lowering his head: "I acknowledge it."

"Good."

"Then I will also state my words beforehand; today I am pleading for you out of consideration for the Sect Master's Face, and also because you are not the mastermind."

"But if in the future you still harbor grudges in your heart and want to take revenge for those Disciples of yours, then next time—you will definitely die!"

These words were spoken neither humble nor pushy, yet carried a stern and sharp edge.

Many people inside the main hall secretly drew a breath; a junior at the third layer of the Heavenly King realm actually dared to warn a Heavenly King to their Face.

Even though this Heavenly King had already had his cultivation sealed, this boldness was enough to make people look at him with new eyes.

"Martial Nephew Xiao is magnanimous, and I, Ji, am endlessly grateful."

Ji Linyan took a deep breath, suppressing his churning emotions, and heavily kowtowed toward Xiao Ruobai, his voice hoarse yet incomparably solemn:

"Little Friend, rest assured. After this calamity, if I, Ji, still cannot see things clearly, then I would have lived in vain for this lifetime."

"Those few Disciples of mine acted ostentatiously and domineeringly, running amok outside. Their fruit today is entirely the cause of the past, and I can blame no one else."

"From now on, I, Ji, will only peacefully guard the ore vein, and will never raise the slightest thought of revenge again. If I violate this oath, may heaven and earth destroy me."