29: So-called fellow disciples

An oppressive Aura, a wildly arrogant posture.

At this moment, Chi Chao finally understood that the weak and humble Shen Lian, who had been bullied by the entire Sect, had completely changed.

His sharp, cold gaze was filled with the flames of vengeance; if one did not submit to his will, he would not hesitate to snap their neck.

"I'll talk, cough, cough, cough..."

Under the life-threatening Aura Pressure, Chi Chao finally yielded.

Shen Lian released his grip, giving Chi Chao a moment to catch his breath.

He then turned around, gently waving his Folding Fan, waiting quietly for an answer.

"It was Senior Sister Lu, Senior Sister Liu, and Senior Sister Mu, along with the Old Ancestor, who set up this trap to clear obstacles for Junior Brother Ye."

"The reason."

Shen Lian asked straightforwardly, without any extra words.

"A thousand years ago, Tianji Pavilion divined a hexagram for the Old Ancestor, saying that a son of heavenly mandate would join the Heavenly Feather Sect, and at that time, the Heavenly Feather Sect was destined to become a Holy Land of the profound Sects."

"However, Ye Fan's path of Luck was not smooth; everyone who hindered his expansion of Luck had to be removed one by one."

"So, Shen Chuyun is the person hindering Ye Fan from reaching the pinnacle of his heavenly mandate?"

"I don't know. I only know that Sect Master Shen repeatedly defied the Old Ancestor and was determined not to take Ye Fan as her Disciple. The Old Ancestor feared she would slip out of control, which is why he set up this trap."

"Ha, just because of the words of that old charlatan from Tianji Pavilion, you would go so far as to harm a Sect Master? You truly are an Old Wall Lamp of Tianyu. Why did those seven white-eyed wolves get involved as well?"

Hearing this, Chi Chao couldn't help but feel slightly surprised.

Shen Lian actually called those seven people white-eyed wolves?

One had to know that no matter how much Shen Lian was bullied by those seven, he had always maintained a humble attitude of 'I'm willing, it's all my fault.'

Could it be that he had truly let go?

Hearing no response from behind, Shen Lian added, "Do you want me to ask a second time?"

His calm tone was filled with intense killing intent.

Chi Chao was startled and hurriedly said, "The seven Senior Sisters have long been dissatisfied with the Sect Master. The Sect Master possesses the Spirit Phoenix Immortal Body, which is rumored to be an excellent Cauldron Physique."

"They once privately suggested to the Sect Master that she should engage in Dual Cultivation with Junior Brother Ye to improve his cultivation."

"But after hearing this, the Sect Master immediately rebuked them for having no shame and even attacked them. If the Old Ancestor hadn't intervened in time..."

"...the seven Senior Sisters might have died by the Sect Master's sword. After this incident, the seven of them have held a grudge against the Sect Master."

"Moreover, the Sect Master always protects you, Junior Brother, preventing them from harming you more severely, so this time they decided to directly ruin her innocence."

Hearing this, Shen Lian tilted his head slightly and cast a mocking glance at Chi Chao.

"So, you also joined in to frame Shen Chuyun, is that it?"

Chi Chao struggled to get up, only to realize his arms were already gone.

He could only lean against the tree trunk and beg bitterly, "Junior Brother Shen, this was all the Old Ancestor and the Senior Sisters' idea. I beg you, for the sake of our fellow-Disciple ties, spare my life."

"I am now a cripple and have already received the retribution I deserve. I beg you, please don't make things difficult for me anymore, okay?"

"Hmph."

Shen Lian gave a soft hmph, his gaze turning to the low-level Demonic Beasts gathering in the distance, drawn by the smell of blood.

"You had better look around. Thousands of Heavenly Feather Sect Disciples, the very fellow Disciples you speak of, have now been killed by my own hands, leaving not even bones behind."

"At this point, don't you think it's ridiculous to talk to me about so-called fellow-Disciple camaraderie?"

After saying this, Shen Lian slowly walked to the side of the netherworld chariot and patted the warhorse.

"If our positions were reversed today, would you have spared me?"

"Chi Chao, although Shen Chuyun is indifferent by nature, she has never neglected the Sect duties she was supposed to fulfill."

"She entrusted the Yushen Peak to you because she trusted you deeply."

"Yet you, in order to cling to the so-called powerful figures of the heavenly mandate, did not hesitate to collude with a bunch of animals."

"Even if Heaven could tolerate you, once you've fallen into my, Shen Lian's, hands, don't think about surviving."

Upon hearing this, Chi Chao's Face turned ashen.

"Sometimes, humans are truly inferior to animals. I have only spent a mere three days with this Spirit horse, yet it is loyal to me."

"In contrast, these so-called fellow-Disciple ties are just one scheme after another, plotting to kill their own people. How truly pathetic and hateful."

Shen Lian stepped onto the carriage, and in the moment he lifted the carriage curtain, he added another sentence.

"Rest assured, I promised you that I would not kill you, but I never said you wouldn't die today. Face the rest of your life well."

The next moment, the hooves thundered, and the netherworld chariot slowly pulled away.

"Whew..."

Chi Chao, whose heart had been in his throat, finally let out a sigh of relief.

At his level of cultivation, what he cared about most was longevity.

Even as a cripple, as long as his cultivation Foundation remained, he could survive for nearly another thousand years.

But...

"Woof, woof~"

A shrill barking of dogs echoed in his ears.

Chi Chao focused his gaze and was instantly drenched in a cold sweat.

At some point, dozens of low-level wild dogs had appeared before him, baring their teeth with vicious glares, staring fixedly at him.

"No, don't come over, get away, get away!"

The shadow of death loomed, and he screamed incessantly, trying to drive the pack of beasts away.

Looking again at the slowly moving carriage, he realized that Shen Lian had never intended to let him live from the very beginning.

"Shen Lian, you don't keep your word!"

"Woof, woof~"

As he let out a long howl, the leading second-level wild dog lunged forward first, biting down on his only remaining leg.

"Ah~ No~"

"Woof~"

With a shrill scream, more low-level wild dogs swarmed forward, instantly engulfing his figure.

"Junior Brother Shen, I know I was wrong, I know I was wrong, please save me~"

"Ah~~"

The wild dogs tore at him frantically, instantly chewing Chi Chao into a bloody mess.

Amidst his desperate cries for help, his body was slowly dragged by the wild dogs deep into the dense forest, until his neck was finally bitten through, ending this shameful life.

Feeling Chi Chao's breath cease, Shen Lian, sitting inside the carriage, smiled slightly.

"Three of the five Peak Masters are gone, with two remaining. I wonder, after the Old Wall Lamp comes out of seclusion and sees the Heavenly Feather Sect in such a dilapidated state..."

"...what kind of ridiculous fit she will throw. Don't worry, I will strip away everything you possess one by one, then trample it under my feet while watching your desperate and miserable expressions. Hahahaha~"

Wild laughter erupted again, and the netherworld chariot, seemingly sensing its master's joyful mood, accelerated its pace, speeding deeper into the Monster Beast Mountain Range.

At this time, at the second line of defense of the Barrier, the Heavenly Feather Sect's Spirit Treasure Peak Master, Lin Zhi, had just finished dealing with an attacking Demonic Beast.

The next second, he felt a sudden tightness in his chest.

"What's going on? Why do I suddenly feel chest tightness and shortness of breath for no reason?"

While he was puzzled, another person, the Sky Blade Peak Master, Huyan Lie, arrived on the wind.

"Old Lin, is there any situation on your end?"

"No, what about your side?"

"Hehe, same here, nothing. The Demonic Beasts charging the formation nearby have all been cleared. Once the Beast Den is sealed, everything will be a complete success."

"Hmm, remember to set up the Barrier. Don't let any outsiders get close, so as not to ruin the Senior Sisters' big plan."

"Rest assured, everything has been arranged properly. Perhaps after it's done, we can also savor the Sect Master's enchanting figure."

"Hehehe..."

The two of them wore lecherous expressions, laughing particularly obscenely.

Clatter, clatter~

Just then, the sound of iron hooves of death approached from afar, racing like the wind and moon towards the two of them.

"Who goes there!"

Lin Zhi and Huyan Lie were both startled.

"Schemes and plots, utterly ridiculous!"

Following this was a deafening sonic attack.

Boom, boom, boom—

In just an instant, hundreds of surrounding Heavenly Feather Sect Disciples could not withstand the pressure brought by this sound wave, and they all exploded and died together.

"Who goes there!"

Huyan Lie covered his ears and, forcing himself to gather his spirit, roared.

"The Grim Reaper sent to send you two pieces of trash to the Yellow Springs!"

As soon as the voice fell, two massive palm forces shot rapidly from inside the netherworld chariot's curtain.

Bang, bang—

Huyan Lie and Lin Zhi tried their best to block, but both were shaken, injuring their internal organs.

Boom—

The next moment, the netherworld chariot crashed directly into the two of them, throwing them both high into the air.