409: Chapter 410 Arrogant at first, obsequious later!

He squeezed out a smile, uglier than crying, at Pavilion Master Qi Changchun, "Pavilion Master... Pavilion Master Qi, is... is there perhaps some misunderstanding in all of this?"

He dared not believe, or rather, was unwilling to believe, that this matter had actually involved that supreme existence.

Pavilion Master Qi Changchun watched his servile appearance, his disdain growing even deeper.

He slowly raised his hand and displayed a token.

It was a token crafted entirely from purple-gold divine metal, engraved with two ancient, profound immortal characters... "Ziwei".

From the token, an incomparably noble Aura, seemingly transcending all living beings, rushed toward them.

Although the Ancestor of the Long Family and the others had never seen the real object, the various legends surrounding Ziwei Hall had long since spread throughout the Eastern Star Domain.

They recognized it at a glance; this was the identity token of the Nine Young Masters Mansion!

Moreover, judging by the style and Aura of this token, it was definitely not something an ordinary servant could possess!

At this moment, the last shred of luck in their hearts was completely shattered.

Pavilion Master Qi Changchun had truly made a connection with Young Lord Gu Jiu!

Everything he said was the truth!

"Do you believe it now?" Pavilion Master Qi Changchun withdrew the token, looking down from a position of superiority at this group of True Immortal Old Ancestors who had completely lost their temper.

"I... I believe..." The Ancestor of the Long Family swallowed with difficulty, his attitude making a 180-degree turn, becoming incomparably humble.

"Pavilion Master Qi, this matter... this matter was our recklessness. We... we shall leave at once!"

Just kidding, if they didn't leave now and the Ninth Young Lord's wrath burned down upon their own Family, it would be too late for everything!

Whatever grandson's revenge, whatever Family prestige—in the face of the four words 'Young Lord Gu Jiu', it was all bullshit!

Being able to preserve the Family Legacy and not get implicated was already a tremendous stroke of good fortune!

However, just as they were preparing to slink away, Pavilion Master Qi Changchun spoke again.

"Wait."

The Ancestor of the Long Family and the others stiffened, their hearts skipping a beat as the color drained from their faces.

It's over, he won't let us off!

The Ancestor of the Long Family turned around, his face plastered with a fawning smile, almost kneeling: "Pavilion Master Qi, do... do you have any other instructions?"

Watching the Ancestor of the Long Family and the others in their frightened and terrified state.

Pavilion Master Qi Changchun was filled with disdain, but his face revealed an "earnest" expression.

"Fellow Daoists, don't be so nervous. I called you back to offer a reminder, if only for the sake of our years of cultivation together in the Shenfeng Realm."

Upon hearing this, the Ancestor of the Long Family and the others did not relax; instead, their hearts lifted even higher.

They didn't believe for a second that this old fox would be so kind.

Pavilion Master Qi Changchun didn't beat around the bush and said directly: "As far as I know, His Highness the Ninth Young Lord has personally ordered that Ling Hongzhi's cultivation be crippled and that he be brought back alive to the Shenwu World for disposal. As for his Disciples, the order given is 'guilt warrants collective punishment, leave none alive'."

He deliberately emphasized the four words "guilt warrants collective punishment".

The Ancestor of the Long Family and the others were all old foxes who had lived for countless years; they instantly understood the deeper meaning behind these words.

Guilt warrants collective punishment!

These four words felt like a heavy mountain, pressing ruthlessly upon their hearts.

Their descendants were Ling Hongzhi's Disciples.

Did that mean their Families were within the scope of "guilt warrants collective punishment"?

At the thought of this possibility, the Ancestor of the Long Family and the others felt the world spinning, nearly fainting on the spot from fear.

If, because of one deceased descendant, the entire Family ended up being targeted by Young Lord Gu Jiu, it would truly be a tremendous injustice, leading to eternal damnation!

"Many... many thanks to you, Pavilion Master Qi, for the reminder! Great kindness needs no thanks! We... we understand!"

The Ancestor of the Long Family instantly grasped Pavilion Master Qi Changchun's "good intentions"; he was pointing out that they needed to quickly draw a line between themselves and the deceased Long Aotian!

He bowed deeply to Pavilion Master Qi Changchun; his attitude was even more respectful than it would have been toward his own father.

"Pavilion Master Qi, regarding today's events, we were blind and failed to recognize a superior, causing much offense."

"I hope you are a magnanimous person and will not hold this against us. We shall return now, immediately handle our Family affairs, and absolutely will not cause you, or His Highness the Ninth Young Lord, any trouble!"

Having said this, he dared not stay for another moment, turning into a streak of light and fleeing toward the ancestral lands of the Long Family at the fastest speed of his life.

The remaining True Immortal Old Ancestors also snapped out of their stupor, each thanking Pavilion Master Qi Changchun profusely before scrambling to escape this place of trouble.

When they arrived, they were aggressive, a dozen True Immortals coming together to suppress the heavens and earth.

When they left, they were faster than one another, as wretched as stray dogs.

Pavilion Master Qi Changchun watched their disappearing backs and let out a sneer of disdain.

"A bunch of rabble."

He knew that after today's events, his status—and that of the Canghai Sword Pavilion behind him—in the Shenfeng Realm would no longer be shaken by anyone.

...

The Long Family's Divine Palace.

The Ancestor of the Long Family rushed back at top speed.

Just as he landed, the woman who had been wailing and shrieking earlier rushed up to him again.

"Old Ancestor! How did it go?"

The Ancestor of the Long Family looked at this muddled granddaughter-in-law, feeling only a sense of irritation.

He did not answer, merely bypassing her expressionlessly and walking into the Divine Palace, his majestic voice spreading throughout the entire ancestral land of the Long Family.

"Pass on my order!"

"Long Family descendant Long Aotian, disrespectful to his teacher, of poor character, colluding with rebels—his crimes are heinous!"

"From this moment on, he is expelled from the Long Family genealogy, and all his titles and resources are confiscated! Announce to the outside world that this child has no further connection to our Long Family!"

"Furthermore, his mother, the Fang woman, failed to teach her son properly; she is to be confined to the 'Cliff of Contemplation' for a millennium. Without my personal Decree, she is not to leave!"

Once the order was issued, the entire Long Family was shaken.

The woman outside the Divine Palace was struck as if by lightning, collapsing directly to the ground with a face full of disbelief.

Not only had she failed to seek justice for her son, but she herself had been implicated and was to be confined for a millennium?

The current head of the Long Family, a middle-aged man at the Heavenly Immortal realm, although filled with shock and confusion, dared not show the slightest defiance and immediately bowed to accept the order.

"I respectfully obey the Old Ancestor's Decree!"

He knew very well that the Old Ancestor must have a deeper meaning for doing this.

Although he did not know exactly what had happened, for the Old Ancestor to make such a resolute decision, the matter behind it must be unimaginably vast.

The Ancestor of the Long Family coldly glanced at the woman collapsed on the ground, feeling not a shred of pity.

If not for the fact that she had borne other offspring for the Long Family, he would have even stripped her of her status as a Long Family daughter-in-law.

The woman opened her mouth, wanting to say something more, but upon meeting the Old Ancestor's cold and heartless gaze, she shuddered in fear and swallowed all her words back.

She finally realized that if she said anything more about Long Aotian, she might not even be able to keep her own life.