80: overreaction

High above the Southern Domain, an Emperor-grade Spirit Sword was speeding toward the Chess Sword Pavilion.

The sonic booms caused by the scattering Spiritual Qi constantly echoed in the air.

Nangong Li, standing on the Spirit Sword, was covered in sorrow.

The Soul Jade Slips of Chu Cangfeng and Xuanyuan Hai shattered within the span of an incense stick, giving her an extremely bad premonition.

Something major might have happened at the Chess Sword Pavilion.

She had to rush back as quickly as possible to investigate the cause.

"Cangfeng, rest assured. Your Revered Master will absolutely not let you die in vain. I will definitely find your killer and avenge you!"

Filled with indignation, Nangong Li continuously channeled her Spiritual Power.

The Emperor-grade Spirit Sword drew a long trail of smoke across the Vast Firmament.

At this moment, inside the Chess Sword Pavilion's Mountain Gate, the Ancient Bell had rung seven times, and all Disciples who were outside had gathered within the gate.

Lord Youyang personally guarded the Mountain Gate, watching the Disciples returning via Sword Flight from all directions, his deep eyes reflecting unknown thoughts.

"Vice Sect Master, what exactly happened?"

Nangong Li's fourth Disciple, Xie Pingan, also left the Hidden Sword Pavilion after hearing the bell ring to ask for the reason.

"Something major has happened. The Soul Jade Slips of your Senior Brother and Elder Xuanyuan have both shattered."

"What? Senior Brother is dead?"

Hearing this news, Xie Pingan was instantly dumbfounded.

"How could this be? Senior Brother is at the Peak of Soul Transformation. Everything went smoothly during his seclusion at the Extreme Ice Pond. How could he have died like this?"

"The specific situation can only be investigated after we overcome this catastrophe. Pingan, remember to guard the Scripture Depository well, and absolutely do not let anyone approach."

"Please rest assured, Vice Sect Master, I understand."

After Lord Youyang finished speaking, he looked at the Cultivators returning outside the Mountain Gate, and his brow furrowed into a dark line again.

"Who rang the Ancient Bell!"

Just then, an old man holding a Golden Sword suddenly appeared in front of Lord Youyang.

Lord Youyang's scalp tingled from the roar. He looked up, saw who had arrived, and quickly changed his expression.

"This Junior greets Elder Lin."

Although Lord Youyang was the Vice Sect Master, he still had to refer to himself as a Junior in front of this old man named Lin Yang.

"Why did you ring the Ancient Bell? Did my Chess Sword Pavilion provoke some formidable existence?"

Lin Yang showed no Face to Lord Youyang, the Vice Sect Master, immediately launching into a series of questions.

"Do you know when this Ancient Bell was rung for the last time?"

"Do you know what the bell ringing signifies?"

"Speak! Are you mute?"

Lord Youyang clenched his fist and replied, "Elder Lin, the Sect Master's Disciple Chu Cangfeng and Elder Xuanyuan both had their Soul Jade Slips shatter within the span of an incense stick.

This Seat believes that my Chess Sword Pavilion must have provoked a powerful entity. Ringing the Ancient Bell now to recall the Disciples outside and activating the Sect Protection Grand Array is also a precaution!"

"Ridiculous!" Lin Yang immediately retorted. "Even if a few Disciples died or were injured, it's not enough reason to ring this Ancient Bell.

If the other Sects in the Southern Domain find out, how will they mock the Chess Sword Pavilion? Have you considered the consequences?"

Lord Youyang: "Elder Lin, there is no need to say more. This Junior will bear all the consequences."

"You'll bear it? How will you bear it! The reputation of the Chess Sword Pavilion, built over tens of thousands of years, will be ruined by your mistaken decision! Can you afford that?"

After a roar, Lin Yang flicked his long sleeve.

"Now, immediately clarify to the Disciples that the Ancient Bell ringing was just an accident, so they don't have to worry!"

"Impossible!"

Lord Youyang refused Lin Yang's request without hesitation.

"For the lives of the tens of thousands of Disciples in the Chess Sword Pavilion, I must act cautiously. Elder Lin, do not say more. This Seat is the Vice Sect Master of the Chess Sword Pavilion, and all decisions are mine to make!"

"You!" Lin Yang nodded furiously. "Fine, fine, putting on the airs of a Vice Sect Master for this old man, are you? Alright. When the Grand Elders emerge from seclusion, you can explain it to them yourself!"

After speaking, Lin Yang snorted coldly and turned to leave.

Just then, the sound transmission stone on Lord Youyang's waist rang.

He picked it up, saw it was from Nangong Li, and immediately connected.

As soon as it connected, Nangong Li's anxious voice sounded from the sound transmission stone: "Lord Youyang, what exactly happened in the Sect? How did Cangfeng and Elder Xuanyuan die..."

"Sect Master, where are you?" Lord Youyang interrupted. "I have rung the Chess Sword Ancient Bell. It has sounded seven times. After the ninth ring, the Sect Protection Grand Array will activate automatically."

"What exactly happened that requires activating the Sect Protection Grand Array, which hasn't been moved in a thousand years?"

"It's hard to explain right now. I have a feeling that the deaths of Cangfeng and Elder Xuanyuan this time...

...involve a power we cannot afford to provoke. I only took this drastic measure to prevent unforeseen changes in the Sect."

"Forget it. I'm only half a day's journey away and will definitely rush back to the Mountain Gate before the ninth ring. We can discuss the details when we meet."

"Understood."

Cutting off the sound transmission stone, Lord Youyang took a deep breath.

Just then, Lu Qingyi arrived late.

Seeing Lord Youyang, she immediately put on a worried expression, stepped forward, and bowed: "Disciple greets the Vice Sect Master. May I ask, Vice Sect Master, what happened at the Mountain Gate?"

"It's good that you're back. By the way, where are your Fellow Disciples?"

Seeing only Lu Qingyi return, Lord Youyang couldn't help but feel suspicious.

Lu Qingyi replied, "I apologize, Vice Sect Master. We were ordered to pursue an Evil Cultivator, but we encountered an accident halfway. The rest of my Fellow Disciples..."

As she spoke, two drops of tears fell from her eyes.

Lord Youyang frowned: "What happened?"

"Vice Sect Master, this matter is of great importance. I must tell you privately."

"You go back and rest first. When your Revered Master returns, come together to the Xuanzhao Hall and tell me the details."

"Yes, Disciple takes her leave."

Lu Qingyi bowed to Lord Youyang and then returned to her room.

At this moment, outside the Medicinal Field on the Back Mountain, Shen Lian closed his eyes to regulate his breathing and recover his state.

After the Ancient Bell rang seven times, his consciousness drifted back to the experiences of his Previous Body.

"Junior Brother, if you want us to forgive you, you can, as long as you crawl like a dog in front of everyone."

"What, you don't want to? You kept saying you would take care of us for life, yet you won't even agree to such a small request?"

"Yes, hahaha, just like that. Junior Brother, you really look like a dog now!"

His emotions, replaying the memory of Nangong Li repeatedly rubbing her Foot on his Face, made him increasingly furious.

At this moment, the Waves of Qi emanating from Shen Lian's body were like the precursor to a volcanic eruption, wildly pulsing and boiling.

"Damn it!"

With an angry shout, the released Spiritual Qi instantly exploded, destroying several miles of Medicinal Fields in an instant.

"How could the Physical Body I refined be occupied by such trash!"

Every time he thought of the scenes where these bitches humiliated this body, he wished he could drag that Cuckold out and sacrifice him directly into the Medicine Cauldron, preventing him from ever reincarnating!

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got, and he fiercely cursed that Cuckold's ancestors eight generations back.

"My Medicinal Field!"

Just then, Du Bingyan's startled cry sounded from behind him.

Looking at the Medicinal Ground that had completely turned into mud, she was so anxious she started crying.

Shen Lian was already vexed, and hearing a woman's voice made him even more enraged.

The moment he turned around, he saw Du Bingyan clutching a Spirit Medicine in her hand, kneeling in the mud pile and constantly shedding tears.

"I painstakingly cultivated this; it took a full three years, but..."

She glanced around again, picked up another Medicinal Material, and looked like she wanted to speak but stopped.

Finally, she said nothing, just gripped the Silver Spiritual Plant and burst into loud sobs.

"Enough! Stop crying!"

Shen Lian's loud shout immediately stopped Du Bingyan's crying.

"These Trash Medicinal Materials, they're ruined, so what are you crying for!"

Hearing this, Du Bingyan, finding courage from somewhere, threw down the Spiritual Plant in her hand, stood up abruptly, and glared at Shen Lian through tear-filled eyes.

"These Spiritual Plants might be worse than trash in the eyes of a powerful person like you, but do you know that,

"these very pieces of trash you look down upon are the results of three years of my dedicated care,

"Now, they've been destroyed by you without reason! Can the strong just wantonly bully the weak?"