Chapter 434 - Punishment

Chapter 434 - Punishment

An ancient star appeared above the chamber, radiating a suffocating power that penetrated even the spiritual arrays. Cracking sounds echoed from the central control system as numerous spiritual arrays shattered.

"What's going on?" Elder Yi Xuan asked upon his return, puzzled by the scene of five disciples battling a lone opponent.

The two elders, recognizing the gravity of the situation, didn't dare to conceal anything from Elder Yi Xuan. The matter had spiraled beyond their control.

Upon learning that Liu Wuxie had killed so many people, Elder Yi Xuan gasped with a hint of regret. They had all fallen for Qing Mu's trap; Liu Wuxie was not as simple as they had believed.

The five screamed when the ancient star descended from above.

"How could this be?!" the woman cried out in anguish, helpless as the star crushed her to death.

The other four fared no better because no one could withstand the combination of Primordial Astral Fist and Frost Finger. This meant Liu Wuxie was invincible unless it was someone in the Heavenly Phase Realm.

The entire Martial Hall trembled as a large crater formed in the chamber. Numerous spiritual arrays were damaged, rendering the Martial Hall inoperable and in need of extensive repairs.

"Damn it! Damn it!" The two elders beside Elder Yi Xuan stomped their feet in frustration, unsure of how to explain this disaster to the sect's higher-ups.

"Kill him! We have to kill him!" The elder on the right said with bloodshot eyes. They had to kill Liu Wuxie to compensate for the losses.

"That's enough!" Elder Yi Xuan roared. Given the situation, it was obvious that Qing Mu's plot was to try to use them to get rid of a threat.

"This kid has destroyed so many spiritual arrays. How will we explain to the sect if we don't kill him? The three of us will be punished if an investigation takes place!" The elder on the left realized the seriousness of the matter, and they could only try to cover it by blaming him.

"This is our fault, and I will explain everything to the sect. I will take the responsibility for this matter. Open the Martial Hall and let everyone out. The Martial Hall will be closed for three days," Elder Yi Xuan said with a weary expression. He had made a mistake and didn't want to make another.

It was still possible to prevent further escalation of this matter before it reached an irreparable point.

After hearing that Elder Yi Xuan would take the blame, the two elders had nothing to say. They walked over to the central control system and began injecting spiritual runes into the core to restore everything to normal.

After killing the five, Liu Wuxie collected their interspatial rings and was prepared for the next wave.

"There's an error in the spiritual arrays; everyone must leave. Starting today, the Martial Hall will be closed for three days to repair the spiritual arrays." The announcement echoed through the hall, instructing everyone to evacuate due to the temporary closure.

Liu Wuxie remained indifferent as the bloodshot hue in his eyes gradually subsided. Ignoring his injuries, he calmly exited the chamber.

Everyone, including Fan Zhen's group, began to leave and reached the first level.

One day wasn't enough for them to fully grasp the martial techniques given to them by Liu Wuxie. The five had wounds on them caused by an entire day of fighting with their lives on the line.

"Wuxie, why do you have so many injuries?" The five of their faces changed because Liu Wuxie was covered in blood.

"I'm fine. What about the five of you?" Liu Wuxie replied, consuming some pills. His wounds, though gruesome, weren't fatal. With his current physique, he could recover quickly without any lasting scars.

If Mu Tianli wanted to rectify the sect, the best way was to uproot some people entirely.

"Young man, you better not disappoint me. What you will face next isn't a group of people but a pack of wolves and tigers." Mu Tianli's eyes flashed with a hint of concern.

As the sect master, Mu Tianli understood that Qing Mu had not broken any rules and therefore would not be held accountable. However, the presence of certain troublesome elements within the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion posed a significant threat to its stability. These "parasites" needed to be addressed to prevent the sect’s eventual collapse, a situation that weighed heavily on Mu Tianli.

He was determined to act decisively if the opportunity arose. Many elders and deacons had been exploiting the sect's rules, creating problems even he struggled to control. Liu Wuxie's emergence offered a glimmer of hope, someone unbound by conventional limitations, willing to challenge even the heavens if necessary.

......

After returning to the sect and resting for a day, the long-awaited reward from the Celestial Spirit Cave arrived. Disciples were instructed to assemble in the Mission Hall the following day, where they would be escorted to the cave.

Liu Wuxie felt a wave of relief upon hearing the news. The Celestial Spirit Cave represented a crucial opportunity for advancement, and how far he could progress would hinge on the three days he spent there.

He had amassed considerable energy from his numerous kills and was carrying millions of spirit stones. Additionally, he possessed a substantial number of pills, distributing some to Fan Zhen and the others while retaining the rest for himself. He had refrained from using them, saving them for his time in the Celestial Spirit Cave.

Song Ling returned alone after reaching the seventh level of the Array Tower. He had lost weight, so he indulged in a feast upon returning.

"Headmaster, I need you to help me investigate Elder Yi Xuan and the Hou Clan's information for your next task, including their whereabouts in the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion."

All five of them had become inner disciples, which made it easier for them to carry out their tasks in the sect.

"Wuxie, you don't have to address me as headmaster anymore. You can call me by my name." Fan Zhen was now the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion's disciple, not the Imperial Academy's headmaster. Thus, it was inappropriate to address him as headmaster.

"Then, I'll address you as Old Fan from now on!" Liu Wuxie didn't mind that because it was just a form of address.

"Understood. I'll get right on it!" Fan Zhen appreciated being addressed by his name, signifying Liu Wuxie's respect and recognition rather than treating him as merely a servant.

Then again, Liu Wuxie had never considered the five as his servants.

"Master, what should I do?" Lan Yu felt anxious because they didn't want to idle and wanted to find something to do.

"You're responsible for gathering information on the ten major sects, especially the Azure Crimson Gate." This was a perfect task for Lan Yu to be assigned.

"Master, what about me?" Bi Gongyu stood up with anticipation on his face.

"You head to the Treasure Pill Pavilion to become an alchemy disciple. It's better if you can apprentice under an elder, making it easy for us to carry out our plans." Liu Wuxie had used most of his formulas, while the others were useless for mortals because they were immortal pills. He couldn't steal them from the Treasure Pill Pavilion and only send Bi Gongyu over.

"Yes, master!" Bi Gongyu was happy because alchemy was his lifelong pursuit.

"Big brother, what about me?" Song Ling wiped the grease from his mouth and looked at Liu Wuxie.

"You and the third princess focus on cultivating." The two were too young and inexperienced, unlike Fan Zhen and others who were more experienced. Those three even surpassed Liu Wuxie in some aspects.

With that, a team centered around Liu Wuxie began to take shape.