As soon as the list appeared, it ushered in another controversy, criticism flooded in like a tide. How had those three non-Wukang Mountain disciples also managed to attend?

They already knew such criticism would arise, so someone had explained publicly that Xiang Laner, Shi Chun, and Wu Jinliang had formally become Wukang Mountain disciples, with quite a high status at that, as many present were their juniors in terms of the sect's hierarchy.

Pang Tiansheng, after scrutinizing the list, almost snapped his own thigh from laughter that he couldn't stop.

Anyone could see that the Sect had hastily accepted those three disciples simply to bear the brunt of the lightning meant for the true Sect disciples.

Bian Weiyin was stunned upon seeing the official list of attendees and immediately rushed to find her mother to uncover the truth.

Bian Weikang, looking as though he had lost his parents, hastily returned to his humble abode and pulled Xiang Laner aside to ask what was going on.

Xiang Laner tried to smile calmly and said, "I volunteered to sign up. This is an opportunity to become a true disciple of Wukang Mountain. If your parents accept us, it will be easier for them, and Wukang Mountain will have no reason to reject me. I can't just watch you suffer alone; I have to do something."

Bian Weikang supported her by the arms, fighting the sting in his nose, but in the end, he sat down on the ground, crying like a child.

He wasn't foolish; how could he not know that Xiang Laner had signed up under pressure?

During his time back at Wukang Mountain, outsiders couldn't imagine what he had undergone. Under Bian Jixiong's deliberate arrangement, he daily gritted his teeth to endure various forms of obstruction and humiliation, laboring through all kinds of tough, dirty, and menial tasks, facing ridicule and mockery, being bullied by fellow disciples, and even getting beaten.

These days, he had suffered humiliations he had never before experienced in his life.

Such a short time had profoundly made him understand what it meant to lose the status of the young sect leader of Wukang Mountain, what it meant to lose power.

Those disciples who would normally hover around him making him comfortable suddenly became fierce and malevolent, which reminded him of his fair-weather friends from the past, who scattered the moment he lost his wealth and status.

For the sake of giving Xiang Laner a future, he had been enduring it all, forcing a smile when he returned to her, which turned a once bright and cheery person somewhat gloomy.

Only now did he realize how high above the Sect Master was, not just anyone could see him whenever they wished.

So, this was reality.

But he truly hadn't expected that, even after bearing so much, he still couldn't protect his own woman.

Crying wouldn't solve anything. He wiped his tears with his sleeve and dashed off.

"Dear, dear..." Xiang Laner called out several times, unable to call him back, eventually letting out a long sigh.

She had sources in Wukang Mountain, how could she be unaware of the humiliation Bian Weikang was currently suffering? What's more brutal was yet to come, when Bian Weikang realized that his best friend and benefactor had helped him only to win over his woman, what kind of blow would that be to him?

To be honest, she felt a bit too compassionate, thinking that Bian Jixiong was indeed a ruthless father, truly set on grinding his own son into the dust!

Bian Weikang ran to seek an audience with his father to no avail, then with his mother, with the same result.

Later, he forcefully stormed into the Law Hall and did see Elder Ke. Kneeling and pleading for mercy, he hoped the elder would spare his woman.

Elder Ke coldly laid out the reality for him: once a name was submitted, even the Sect Master couldn't arbitrarily change it, pleading was useless, unless one day you become a figure like the Shengzhou Domain Master, only then can you solve it with a word.

Then, he had people drive Bian Weikang out.

Having no other choice, Bian Weikang then went to find his sister, Bian Weiyin, pleading with her to take care of Xiang Laner. Bian Weiyin readily agreed, leaving Bian Weikang immensely grateful and so moved he almost knelt down to thank her, especially since he remembered what had happened that night at the City Lord Mansion.

Bian Weikang returned to his dwelling, wiped away his tears, and put on a smile as if nothing had happened to reassure Xiang Laner, "Laner, I've asked around. The Sect will provide you with plenty of talismans for your own protection. My sister Weiying is the leader; she will look after you. You will be fine. I'll wait for you to return..."

The day of departure arrived quietly, related to hardly any of the Wukang Mountain disciples—they went on with their business as usual.

At dawn, when the first light of day appeared, outside the assembly hall, other than the high-ranking officials of the Sect bidding farewell, it didn't disturb anyone else.

Shi Chun, Wu Jinliang, and Xiang Laner had all donned the chestnut-colored disciple garments of Wukang Mountain.

Wu Jinliang still stood out in the crowd, the tallest one, with the largest knife—he was easily distinguishable as a non-Wukang Mountain disciple, yet he mingled with them, making the higher-ups feel bothered by his presence.

Yet that was his weapon, accustomed to his use, and they really couldn't make him abandon it.

Elder Ke was in charge of sending them to the Domain Mansion, not bothering the second-in-command with the task, better for him to handle it all the way through. He brought along five accompanying disciples.

After bidding farewell to Bian Jixiong and others, Elder Ke went over to Shi Chun and the rest. Suddenly, with a flip of his hand, a metal sphere resembling a pine cone materialized. As soon as it shined in his palm, it emitted blue light, and it seemed to melt in his hand as countless locust-like objects flew out, whirring skyward from his palm, a cluster of blue, scale-like pieces whirling in the air.

After the metal sphere resembling a pine cone had fully dissipated, Elder Ke flicked his fingers and chanted an incantation. The swirling scales immediately swooped down, swiftly enveloping the group set to depart. They whirled around the individuals rapidly, sometimes forming a cylindrical shape, sometimes cone-shaped, sometimes shuttle-shaped.

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