260: Chapter 260 The Wuding Cauldron Cracked?!

In fact, according to the plan originally set by Ling Hao and Di Fuling, Di Fuling was supposed to fake a battle with Ling Hao when the Moonshadow Sect's army arrived, creating the illusion of escaping through a fake death before Zheng Nanxun and Su Fengyi could notice or arrive.

However, Ling Hao's sudden Undergoing Tribulation disrupted all deployments, and the plan deviated.

If Ling Hao were to directly step in to protect her now, it would inevitably give people cause for gossip and lead to criticism.

As the crowd surged with emotion, Di Fuling forced herself to remain calm; what exactly would her master do?

Would he discard her as a useless pawn to preserve the Moonshadow Sect's reputation? Or would he protect her?

Ling Hao looked around at the indignant Cultivators and met Di Fuling's gaze.

"Di Fuling, you were born into the Di Family; this is an 'original sin' you could not choose. However, you placed righteousness above family and exposed the True Demon, performing a service that ensured the survival of Cangwu Province; this is the 'redemption' you chose for yourself."

"Today, if you were killed because of your origin, it would be unjust and would block the path for those who wish to leave the darkness for the light. If there were no punishment at all despite your contributions, it would be unrighteous; it would fail to console the souls of the victims in heaven, and it would fail to show the hatred for the True Demon's crimes."

"Therefore, this seat rules: your merits and faults offset each other, and the death penalty is waived."

As his voice fell, Ling Hao's figure moved slightly, and he was already in front of Di Fuling. He held his fingers together like a sword and struck toward her Dantian Qi Sea as fast as lightning.

An irresistible force surged into her body, and like crushing dry weeds and smashing rotten wood, it disintegrated the powerful Foundation she had painstakingly cultivated for ten thousand years and consolidated through two Loose Immortal tribulations.

"I have abolished your cultivation; do you have any resentment?"

The feeling of weakness from the total loss of cultivation hit her instantly, as if all the strength in her body had been drained. Di Fuling's face suddenly turned pale, blood seeped from the corner of her mouth, and a flash of loss and pain crossed her eyes.

Abolishing her cultivation—was this the master's choice? Ten thousand years of hard cultivation gone in an instant; how could she have no resentment at all?

But Di Fuling merely lowered her eyes, burying all her emotions deep inside, her voice calm and without ripples:

"No resentment."

Seeing Di Fuling like this, Ling Hao shook his head and sent a voice transmission into her Sea of Consciousness. Di Fuling's beautiful eyes lit up once more.

The entire field fell into a deathly silence.

Abolishing cultivation... for a Cultivator who had once stood at the height of the Tribulation Transcendence Stage (Loose Immortal), it was a fate worse than death. This was perhaps even more sigh-inducing than killing her directly.

Zheng Nanxun and Su Fengyi looked at each other and sighed silently, unsure whether to be relieved that a greater slaughter had been avoided or to feel regret for the fall of a powerhouse.

Some radical Cultivators still wanted to say something, but they were held down firmly by the shoulders by quick-witted companions or suppressed by weathered old Cultivators.

"Brother, watch your words! Since the Supreme has already decided, do not push it further."

"If you want to die, go ahead, but don't drag this old man down with you!"

Being pulled back and suppressed by that Aura, those radical Cultivators also came to their senses.

Before the Supreme expressed his stance, their shouting could perhaps be called "public opinion"; but once the Supreme had spoken his golden words, to raise further objections would be equivalent to coercion and questioning.

The expressions of the high-level members of those seventh-grade forces also softened considerably.

It was enough.

Handling it this way neither entirely erased Di Fuling's merits nor failed to give the victims an explanation; it took both sides into account and was considered well-rounded.

"As for you all..."

Ling Hao's gaze swept over the people of the Wanxian Dynasty kneeling on the ground,

"Die!"

Hearing the sentence, the remaining high-level members of the Wanxian Dynasty turned ashen. Emperor Di Hongyu, as if grasping at the last straw, wailed to Di Fuling:

"Old Ancestor Ling! I truly had no knowledge of this! I beg you to ask the Supreme..."

"Yes! We beg the Old Ancestor to save our lives!"

"Supreme, have mercy!"

Cries and pleas for mercy rose one after another in a chaotic mess; it was already a desperate attempt to find any help.

Behind Ling Hao, Ximen Huaping's gaze swept across the group and landed on that Beautiful Woman in Blue who had once been aggressive on the Cangwu Yuji Platform.

The woman in blue felt this gaze and looked up slightly, meeting Ximen Huaping's calm face. Her body stiffened as she immediately remembered the harsh words she had uttered before leaving the Cangwu Yuji Platform.

"Heh..."

The woman in blue gave a self-mocking laugh, wanting to say something, but in the end, nothing came out. she pressed her head deep against the ground, tears rolling down, her body shaking like a sieve.

Ling Hao said no more and casually waved his sleeve.

Poof! Poof! Poof!

Including Emperor Di Hongyu and several core Old Ancestors, several figures instantly exploded into clouds of blood mist, their Divine Souls completely destroyed.

As for the rest of the Wanxian Dynasty Cultivators, the Elders and Disciples of the Moonshadow Sect naturally stepped forward to deal with them.

The massive amount of resources accumulated by the Wanxian Dynasty over thousands of years was systematically taken over by the Moonshadow Sect, like a hundred rivers returning to the sea.

At a quiet mountain peak.

Clouds and mist swirled, and the mountain breeze was slightly cool. Ling Hao stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the churning sea of clouds before him.

Zheng Nanxun and Su Fengyi stood not far behind him.

"Speak, why have you invited me here? There is no one else here besides us." Ling Hao did not turn around, his voice calm.

After a brief silence, Zheng Nanxun spoke carefully, saying nervously:

"Supreme... we just wanted to confirm... do you... do you and the True Demon Realm... really have no... relationship?"

Su Fengyi also looked up, her gaze complex as she watched Ling Hao's back.

This was the thorn currently in their hearts.

Hearing this, Ling Hao slowly turned around, a half-smile playing on his lips:

"If I were from the True Demon Realm, with my current cultivation, do you think you would still be able to stand here and talk to me?"

This blunt and powerful counter-question made their hearts turn cold, instantly dispelling their doubts.

Zheng Nanxun hurriedly said, "It was our slip of the tongue."

Su Fengyi immediately asked another question that had been weighing on her heart, her voice slightly tight:

"Then... is the shuofang tripod really in your hands, Supreme?"

Ling Hao nodded frankly, "That's right, it's in my Moonshadow Sect."

His gaze swept over the two of them, "What, do you want it?"

There was nothing to hide now. He was now a Mahayana Supreme, and being in Cangwu Province, he was confident that no one could take this tripod from his hands.

"We wouldn't dare!"

"We have no such intention!"

The two of them spoke at the same time, hurriedly waving their hands in denial.

"Then it's my turn to have a question!"

Ling Hao said with a beaming smile,

"I want the wu tripod; are you going to give it to me or not?"

The System's main mission was to stabilize the tripods in Cangwu. No matter what, he had to at least get his hands on the wu tripod; at the very least, he had to touch it, or perhaps gain nominal ownership?

Zheng Nanxun took a deep breath and said solemnly, "The Supreme's cultivation is unsurpassed in Cangwu. The wu tripod of Cangwu Province, as well as that shuofang tripod, should naturally be held by you so that they can exert their maximum power and protect the peace of our Cangwu Province."

"Oh?"

Ling Hao's eyebrows rose slightly. Oh, so cooperative?

He nodded,

"Good. Then the wu tripod is in Cangwu City within the Yunmeng Great Marsh?"

"Exactly."

Su Fengyi took over the conversation,

"However... the wu tripod is currently... having some issues. This trouble, I'm afraid, can only be solved by you, Supreme."

Ling Hao's lips twitched.

Heh, no wonder they agreed so readily; it turns out something went wrong with the wu tripod, and they want him to clean up the mess.

"What's the problem?"

"The wu tripod... has cracked..."

Oh, so it's this prob—wait?!

Cracked?!

The expression on Ling Hao's face froze instantly, his eyes became sharp, and he stared at the two of them with an unfriendly look.

"Are you sure?"

"Certain!"

Damn, the tripod is cracked; can the System mission still be completed?

"What happened? Explain clearly!"

Ling Hao's voice deepened,

"Was it your doing?"

Zheng Nanxun and Su Fengyi looked at each other again, their faces showing nothing but helpless, bitter smiles.