Chapter 581 - Chapter 581: Chapter 582 The Power of Public Opinion

Chapter 581: Chapter 582 The Power of Public Opinion

Similar events were occurring throughout Aolai Country.

Situ Guixiong’s eyes shimmered with a bloodthirsty gleam, offending him had led to this outcome, and by tomorrow, when the news spread, not even the three Family Heads would be able to ignore it.

They would be compelled by the situation to arrest Li Xiaobai and execute him on the spot.

“This is the power of public opinion, to oppress with momentum. What can Li Xiaobai do with his Mahayana Realm cultivation against the force of the masses? He has but one path—to confess his crimes and submit to the law!”

A cruel smile played on Situ Guixiong’s lips; he was itching to see the sight of Li Xiaobai’s execution.

“Heh heh, he’s just a foreigner after all, hardly a match for Brother Situ. Brother Situ, you’re giving that boy too much credit.”

“Exactly, over half of the people within Aolai Country are ours, and even the third Family Head is our support. Even if he possesses great abilities, could he really be an enemy to the majority of Aolai Country?”

“Upon our return, his death is certain!”

The disciples of the various families also revealed sinister smiles; Situ Guixiong’s strategy truly deserved to be called vicious and ruthless. They could only admire his expert maneuvers.

They were grateful to be cultivators on the same side and not his enemies; otherwise, they might have been trapped to death. Li Xiaobai was a lesson from the past.

“Let’s go, make our way back to the mansion. First, we’ll head to Chunxiu Tower for a drink and wait for any movement from the Punishment Hall. As for the other clans, the Situ Household has already taken care of it. No one will blame you.”

“Rather, striking against the arrogant momentum of the three major families’ store openings is a great merit for our families!”

Situ Guixiong said with a chuckle, his figure flickered, and he vanished into the night in a few blinks.

The others swiftly followed suit, disappearing into the curtain of darkness in an instant.

…

Within a chamber of the Punishment Hall.

The door cracked open slightly, and Li Xiaobai entered without a sound.

“Junior Brother is back. How did it go?”

Liu Jinshui opened his eyes and asked cheerfully. He was eager to see the Situ Household’s setback.

“Hehe, don’t worry about my work. I’ve tossed all the masks into the Situ Household, and I even left a piece of Long Xue’s Inner Armor. By tomorrow, anyone passing by the Situ Household will see it at first glance.”

Li Xiaobai said with a sinister smile. The next morning, any cultivator passing by the Situ Household would find piles of masks and the Inner Armor on the branches. By then, the Situ Household would be unable to defend themselves, marked by an indelible stain.

Meanwhile, he would divert some attention of the Sea Clan, letting the Situ Household share some of the enmity directed at himself, a plan killing two birds with one stone.

“Then I am relieved.”

A fierce glint passed through Liu Jinshui’s eyes as he slowly closed them, awaiting the dawn’s arrival.

Inside the grand hall of the Punishment Hall.

A line of Elders sat on both sides, seated on the ground, meditating with eyes closed, waiting for instructions from the three Family Heads.

The Great Elder was on the high platform reading a letter freshly delivered by the Great Elder, his brow furrowed once more.

The reply in the letter was brief, with just one line: “Act according to the situation, refrain from acting rashly.”

What does this mean?

Even though the letter was addressed to the Great Family Head, ultimately, it was for the third Family Head to decide. Why would such a sentence be given?

Refrain from acting rashly—does it mean to neglect this matter?

But with the witnesses and the criminal brought forth, how could he possibly ignore it?

What is the third in command really thinking?

“Great Elder, what’s the word? What did the Great Family Head say? Is he going to execute Li Xiaobai on the spot?”

Elder Wang asked.

“Hehe, the Great Elder is kind-hearted and always seeks fairness. How could he act like some people, resorting to killing at the drop of a hat?”

“In my opinion, the Great Family Head must want to investigate this matter thoroughly and catch all those hidden rats without letting a single one escape!”

Elder Sun said indifferently, his words obviously targeting Elder Wang.

“Enough, stop the wild guesses. The Great Family Head wants us to ‘wait and see’.”

The Great Elder stroked his beard, his brows almost twisted into a knot.

He couldn’t understand what the other party wanted him to do or why they were speaking in riddles.

“Wait and see?”

“What does that mean? Could it be that the criminal is right in front of us, and yet we aren’t allowed to act?”

“Are we supposed to stand by and watch as the situation continues to deteriorate?”

Elder Sun’s face showed confusion, while a flicker of rage passed through his eyes.

“This, I truly do not know. But since the Great Family Head has said so, he must not wish for us to meddle on our own. He probably has his own plans, right?”

The Great Elder spoke calmly.

“How can this be possible? Why would the Great Family Head issue such an order? This isn’t the style of the Punishment Hall. Our Punishment Hall has always prioritized the welfare of the people, but now, why do we have to keep tolerating these sinister villains?”

Elder Sun’s face twisted in anger, his eyes burning with fury as he spoke resentfully.

“Hehe, Elder Sun, don’t be so hot-tempered at your age. We, as subordinates, just need to follow the instructions from above. It’s better not to speculate about the Great Family Head’s thoughts.”

Elder Wang said with a light smile, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes. With such a decision coming from the Great Family Head, the third in command must have exerted significant effort.

The third in command is protecting the Situ Household. With this powerful support, the Punishment Hall won’t make any trouble, and their family clans are unlikely to face any problems. Currently, with the Vice Leader absent, it seems the Great Family Head is completely suppressed by the third in command.

It makes sense. A ruler who held a high position for many years might naturally be less guarded against subordinates and could not compete with the third in command who has been scheming and planning all the time.

Having recognized this, they decisively chose to stand with the third in command.

When Aolai Country’s powers are reshuffled, they will be the meritorious ones and will receive substantial rewards. Not to mention other things, their fiefdoms will at least be more than double what they are now.

The other Elders also nodded secretly, their eyes revealing a sense of relief. Not investigating means indulging their families in causing trouble. It’s a signal to plunge Aolai Country into greater chaos.

The Great Elder observed everyone’s reactions without a word and quietly turned the other letter inside the envelope to ashes.

There were two letters from the Great Family Head, one for all the Elders to see, and the other for his eyes only.

The content of the latter was even more succinct, with just eight short words: “On the competition stage, uproot them all!”

Clearly, the third in command’s scheme had reached a substantial stage, and action was imminent.

What he needed to do now was to root out all the hidden scoundrels one by one and settle accounts after the fall!

As for the time to settle the grand total, naturally, it would have to wait until after the competition stage. Not only would he have to identify those with ulterior motives among the upper echelons, but he would also look for clues in the reactions of the family disciples. The competition stage provided an excellent opportunity.