Upon hearing Jiang Chen's words, Mo Tianze was stunned for a moment, a bitter feeling rising in his heart.

He could tell that Jiang Chen evidently did not intend to let the matter rest, yet as Jiang Chen said, Li Wushuang was the Second Elder's disciple, and his most valued senior disciple at that. If Jiang Minglong were to be injured because of this, he would have to seek justice for his disciple no matter what—but now...

Mo Tianze's eyes flickered as he turned to look at Lin Jiuxiao, speaking out loud, "Sect Master, Li Wushuang used despicable tactics during the battle, provoking the ire of everyone present. Please, Sect Master, make your judgement!"

Lin Jiuxiao was taken aback and couldn't help but glance at Jiang Chen.

Mo Tianze's mention of "provoking the ire of everyone" likely referred to Jiang Chen's own anger, or else he would not have added such a statement.

Considering this, Lin Jiuxiao started to feel uneasy. The punishment could not be too light—if it upset that young man, then they'd have celebrated prematurely.

"Sect Master!"

Just as Lin Jiuxiao felt troubled, Lu Zhengqiu spoke out assertively, "During a competition, using every means at one's disposal is permissible. Although Wushuang's act was indeed despicable, fortunately, nephew Ming Long was not injured. In contrast, Wushuang has been seriously wounded by nephew Ming Long. Let's let bygones be bygones!"

"Let bygones be bygones?!"

Jiang Chen looked coldly at Lu Zhengqiu, "Do you mean to say my father is wrong for not being injured? Are you saying Li Wushuang is injured and wronged? Is Chixiao Sect really such a sect that distorts right and wrong?"

"You..."

Lu Zhengqiu's complexion changed drastically, and he glared at Jiang Chen but couldn't come up with a rebuttal. He had indeed intended to use Li Wushuang's injury as a contrast to Jiang Minglong's lack of injury, to garner sympathy and suppress the issue. However, he hadn't expected Jiang Chen to point directly at the crux of the matter.

"Indeed! Is brother Ming Long wrong for not being injured?"

"In that case, can we also engage in despicable acts from now on, as long as no serious consequences arise?"

"Exactly, we can't just let this matter slide!"

"Right! Punish Li Wushuang, to rectify the sect's atmosphere!"

The inner sect disciples on the southern side of the arena shouted out one after another, while the disciples on the western side lowered their heads. Despite their differing stances, they too felt that Li Wushuang had gone too far!

"Fine, then we will punish!" Lu Zhengqiu declared loudly, "He shall be sentenced to guard the Rear Mountain Ancestral Hall for ten years!"

"Ten years?!"

"Guarding the Ancestral Hall for ten years? That's practically house arrest for ten years!"

"Elder Lu is actually sacrificing his own kin for justice!"

"Elder Lu is wise!"

A chorus of shocked exclamations came from the crowd of disciples.

Lin Jiuxiao and the others were taken aback and frowned as they looked at Lu Zhengqiu.

Lu Zhengqiu's face bore a righteous and stern expression, as if he were indeed determined to punish Li Wushuang.

"Heh, hah..."

Jiang Chen suddenly burst into mocking laughter, "Such a showcase of righteousness! Punishing him by sending him to the rear mountain for ten years? Are you punishing him or rewarding him? Do you think I don't know what's behind your sect's rear mountain? What was that subtle fluctuation from the rear mountain just now? You elders should be clearer about it than I am, right?"

When Jiang Chen had unleashed the Sky-cleaving Slash, he'd suddenly felt a subtle fluctuation coming from the rear mountain. The aura of that fluctuation was almost the same as the protective kind emitted by Dong Yuxin during her breakthrough, vast and profound, a realm Jiang Chen had yet to touch!

Upon hearing this, the people surrounding the platform were momentarily stunned, looking at Jiang Chen in confusion.

Lin Jiuxiao and the seven Great Elders, however, changed expressions simultaneously and turned to look at Jiang Chen, their eyes betraying a sense of disbelief.

"You felt the fluctuation?!" Mo Tianze exclaimed in a low voice.

Jiang Chen looked at Mo Tianze with surprise, "Didn't you feel it? With your strength... you should have been able to feel it, right?"

"A power of that realm cannot be detected by those within the same realm! You... you are the exception!"

Mo Tianze snapped back to reality, his eyes blazing as he looked at Jiang Chen, "I didn't expect it, really didn't expect it. I thought you were just an ordinary ancient martial artist, but you turned out to be... this is wonderful!"

Mo Tianze's emotions were clearly agitated, and his voice involuntarily grew louder, "You tell me, how do you want to deal with Li Wushuang!"

Jiang Chen was stunned. How do I want to deal with him? Can I decide just like that?

Jiang Minglong also looked at Mo Tianze in confusion. Was this the same ever so genteel master he knew? Why was he behaving so uncharacteristically today?

"Yes, it was your father that Li Wushuang attacked. Since Ming Long, as a disciple of the sect, can't make an entirely objective decision, it's perfectly suitable for you to make this decision!" A shout rang out, and Lin Jiuxiao came to his senses, speaking up loudly.

"Yes, you make the decision!"

"Exactly, dispose of him however pleases you!"

"Right, we all support you!"

"Whoever opposes, we'll expel them from the sect!"

"You decide, your word is final!"

With the exception of Lu Zhengqiu, everyone else began to speak up in agreement.

At this point, not just Jiang Chen and Jiang Minglong were dumbfounded, but all the disciples of the Chixiao Sect present in the square were as well!

"What's going on here?"

"Since when have the Sect Master and the great elders been so unanimous in opinion?"

"Has the Second Elder incurred the wrath of the masses?"

"No, it must be because of Brother Ming Long, right?"

"That's not it, it's because of the son of Brother Ming Long, isn't it?"

"It must be, an Innate Grandmaster in his twenties! And one who can stand against two Great Elders alone, his potential..."

"It seems the sect really wants to curry favor with this Jiang Chen!"

The disciples began whispering their speculations to each other.

"That Jiang Chen is so handsome!"

"If the sect wants to befriend him so badly, imagine if we could get involved with him..."

"That's definitely possible! With our talents, we can certainly captivate him!"

A group of fairly attractive female disciples gathered together, whispering among themselves. As they talked, they looked at the others with a hint of rivalry in their eyes.

Lu Zhengqiu's expression changed and changed again, then he stepped forward to Jiang Chen and his son, bowing deeply to the two, "I apologize, Wushuang's actions were despicable and it's my fault for not disciplining him properly. I ask for your forgiveness, I only ask that you spare Wushuang's life!"

"Master! You shouldn't beg them!" Li Wushuang, having recovered a bit, shouted as he watched Lu Zhengqiu bow.

The master was someone who was extremely proud, yet now, for his sake, he was bowing and apologizing to two juniors.

Li Wushuang felt extremely unsettled.

"Second Elder, what are you doing? Please, get up!" Jiang Minglong was startled and hastily helped Lu Zhengqiu to his feet.

Jiang Chen's eyes flickered with understanding. It seemed they had realized that he had been practicing ancient martial arts, and it appeared the martial arts he practiced were not ordinary!

"Forget it, Second Elder, let's leave this matter as it is!" Jiang Minglong glanced at Li Wushuang below the stage and exhaled softly, speaking calmly.

Lu Zhengqiu didn't respond but kept staring straight at Jiang Chen.

He was very clear that if Jiang Chen didn't relent today, the sect would certainly not tolerate Li Wushuang just to win over this young man. They might even kill Li Wushuang to eliminate any resentment Jiang Chen might hold towards the sect.

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