Blood trickled from the corner of Yue Liang Ze’s mouth as he struggled to wipe it away. The sword hummed continuously, and he could hear the excitement and killing intent within it.
The young woman stood before him against the light, her long sword’s edge sharp and gleaming, reflecting the drifting white clouds above.
Ling Luo truly couldn’t bear to watch anymore.
If these worthless people could beat Yue Liang Ze to this state, why couldn’t she?
If anyone was going to beat him, it should be her!
In her previous life, she had always wanted to see him kneeling under her sword, begging for mercy!
“Ling Luo… let’s talk this through calmly, please don’t be impulsive!” Qin Yuan watched trembling at the side. She had thought Ling Luo was going to rescue him, but who would have expected that the sword tip would suddenly be pointed at Senior Brother Yue!
Ling Luo said through somewhat gritted teeth: “Stand up, draw your sword.”
Yue Liang Ze wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and slowly stood up.
He was half a head taller than Ling Luo. Now he lifted his eyelids slightly to look at the person before him.
The sword tip pressed against his throat. If Ling Luo thrust forward just a bit more, it would slice open his skin and pierce straight through.
“Private dueling is forbidden here.” A gentle voice came from above as Yu Xiu could no longer stand by and watch.
“Hall Master…” Senior Brother Xiu Man, who had just gotten up from the ground, saw the two figures at the top of the steps and turned pale with fright.
Hong Mao and the other two were also terrified. They immediately knelt and said, “Disciples acknowledge our mistake!”
Hall Master Fan was so obese that even walking on the ground was difficult, so he always sat cross-legged on a velvet mat, moving in the manner of sword flight. He arrived at the bottom of the steps, his face kind, his gaze sweeping around. He chuckled and said, “Since you know you were wrong, go to the Discipline Hall now to receive your punishment.”
“Yes!” Hong Mao and the others immediately stood up and retreated.
One of the most fearsome Hall Masters among the three sects was this man before them.
Because he was fair in rewards and punishments, strictly enforcing the sect rules and regulations, showing absolutely no mercy or leniency.
Hall Master Fan looked at the two who hadn’t moved and smiled, “Are you two unwilling?”
Yue Liang Ze lowered his eyes, offering no defense. He sidestepped Ling Luo’s sword and walked away.
Ling Luo, well aware of Hall Master Fan’s temperament, didn’t waste words either, following behind Yue Liang Ze.
Qin Yuan wanted to follow but didn’t dare. She could only watch with helpless concern as Hall Master Fan made a spirit seal and flew towards the notice board.
“Let’s go,” Yu Xiu said to her gently. “Today’s martial test is about to begin.”
Qin Yuan turned away dejectedly. Since Ling Luo had been punished for going to the Discipline Hall, she couldn’t participate in today’s martial test.
If Ling Luo had only used her sword to send Hong Mao and the others flying without pointing at Senior Brother Yue and saying “Draw your sword,” Hall Master Fan wouldn’t have punished her for private dueling.
But why was Senior Brother Yue, who had only been beaten, also being punished?
Discipline Hall.
Fighting between fellow disciples, private dueling.
According to sect rules, the punishment was kneeling in contemplation for three hours, fasting for one day, and being assigned to work in various compounds for seven days.
So generally, even during conflicts, people wouldn’t resort to fighting.
And if they did fight, they would avoid being seen by Hall Master Fan.
Ling Luo knelt in a small, dark chamber. Hanging on the wall was a portrait of East Island Tianji’s founding Sect Master.
The portrait style was extremely simple, like a line drawing. With just a few strokes, it depicted the silhouette of an exquisite figure. Although the surrounding immortal mountains, white clouds, flowers, and all things were more detailed than he was, when appearing in the same painting, they were merely accompaniments to this person.
The founding ancestor had led a legendary life, leaving East Island Tianji with a legacy spanning thousands of years.
The title of a great immortal sect was not just for show.
The twelve great immortal sects, each had existed for several hundred or even a thousand years.
Among them, East Island Tianji, South Mountain Snow River, North Court Moon Palace, and West Sea Primordial—these four had the highest seniority, all being immortal sects with over a thousand years of history.
This was not Ling Luo’s first time at the Discipline Hall. She had been punished before and had the honor of experiencing two of the Discipline Hall’s four major tortures.
In this life, she would undoubtedly experience it again, in the not-too-distant future.
The chamber was so small it could only accommodate one person. Under the portrait of the founding ancestor was an oil lamp. One had to kneel until the oil lamp extinguished to complete the punishment.
Ling Luo looked up at the portrait for a while, then lowered her head in boredom. She formed a seal with three fingers, conjuring a small flame flower.
In the past, she had spiritual power but didn’t know how to use it properly, relying entirely on her master’s guidance. Now, having avoided those detours, she knew various sword techniques and talisman seals by heart and had even created some of her own.
However, her current spiritual power was not what it used to be. Even knowing how to use it, she lacked the strength to sustain it.
Moreover, her magical instruments were not at hand.
Without experiencing the hardships of the past, she wouldn’t be able to obtain the power of demonic cultivation.
Ling Luo gazed absently at the flickering flame flower on her fingertip.
If she had been reborn two years earlier, perhaps she would have made different choices.
But at this point, everything was too late.
Ling Luo extinguished the flame flower on her fingertip and formed hand seals, practicing her previous sword techniques and talisman seals.
The three hours passed quickly without her noticing.