Chapter 37: Chapter 35: Coming to Demand an Explanation

"How are things?" Wang Xinglong asked, rubbing the space between his eyebrows. His face was haggard as he sat in his chair.

The death of Wang Hao had hit him hard, making him look as if he had aged several decades.

Xu He’s eyes were dark, flashing with a cold light. "Through our secret manipulations," he said, "seventy percent of the Elite Disciples have shown intense dissatisfaction with Mo Qi. Many believe that if they can defeat him, they can take his place as a Core Disciple."

"Although the cultivation of these seventy percent isn’t very high, their strength is in their numbers. And according to our spies, a portion of them have already gone to cause trouble for Mo Qi."

"And the result?" Wang Xinglong asked with a frown.

Xu He quickly replied, "Aside from the first batch of disciples, who were crippled and thrown down the mountain, none of the others who went in ever came back out."

Wang Xinglong’s expression flickered. "You’re saying a batch of disciples was crippled?"

"That’s right. All four limbs broken and their teeth smashed to a pulp. It wasn’t fatal, but it was brutal. Old Monster Ding’s eldest disciple, in particular, was beaten to a bloody pulp. We don’t know how he offended Mo Qi."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xinglong made his decision. "It’s not enough. Stir up the remaining thirty percent of the Elite Disciples as soon as possible, especially those whose cultivation has reached the Refining God Seventh Heaven or higher. Have them go make trouble for Mo Qi. I’d like to see if you, Mo Qi, dare to offend every single one of them!"

"Also, contact Old Monster Ding in the name of the Punishment Hall. Hmph. Crippling fellow sect members is a grave offense. You know what to do."

"Understood." Xu He nodded, then as if suddenly remembering something, he added, "Right, I found out that Fang Min left the Void Sect before the incident. It’s said that Wang Hao drove her away."

"Fang Min?" A cold light flickered in Wang Xinglong’s eyes. "The main culprit who caused the duel between Hao’er and Mo Qi?"

"Yes. Third Senior Brother, how do you want to deal with her?"

"No rush." Wang Xinglong waved his hand dismissively. "Send people to watch her. After we’ve dealt with Mo Qi, we’ll capture her and make her accompany Hao’er in death!"

...

"This is outrageous!"

Old Monster Ding slammed his palm down, shattering the stone table before him. His old face was twisted with fury.

Before him, a dozen or so figures lay on beds, wrapped head to toe in bandages with only their eyes and noses showing, looking exactly like mummies.

These were the unlucky bastards from the first group to confront Mo Qi, the ones whose limbs had been broken and teeth smashed in by Liu Hui.

"Master, you must get justice for us!"

Old Monster Ding, whose real name was Ding Wei, was an Honored Elder of the Void Sect with a status comparable to Wang Xinglong’s.

Although he was furious, he had also made inquiries and learned about Mo Qi’s identity.

The disciple of the Void Sect’s Chief Alchemy Master, Yu Liang. That alone was enough to prevent him, Old Monster Ding, from making a move.

Not to mention that behind Mo Qi stood Yang Ming, a man whose cultivation had broken through to *that* legendary stage.

If he rashly went to demand an explanation, not only would he likely fail to get justice, but he would also offend two major figures at the same time.

But was he supposed to just let his disciples’ grievances slide?

Just as Ding Wei was caught in this dilemma, Xu He arrived at his door with a group of old acquaintances.

"Brother Ding, we’ve known each other for years, so I’ll get straight to the point," an elder in green robes said angrily. "We’ve gathered here today to demand an explanation from the newly promoted Core Disciple, Mo Qi!"

He was Chen Liang’s master and also an Honored Elder.

Chen Liang had gone to make trouble for Mo Qi and never returned, leaving him extremely worried.

"That’s right! I don’t know how that arrogant punk has treated my disciple, Huang Hao. I only heard that someone saw him get injured and dragged inside by one of Mo Qi’s lackeys."

The speaker was a middle-aged man with an anxious expression.

"My three disciples still haven’t returned either! We must go and demand an explanation!"

"Same here. He must hand them over."

"Count me in!"

...

Seeing the numerous elders he had gathered united against a common foe, Xu He was very satisfied. He cleared his throat.

"Everyone, if I may have a word."

The crowd fell silent and looked at Xu He.

"As you all know, my Punishment Hall is in charge of the Void Sect’s order. Its authority is sacred and inviolable. Yet that Mo Qi, relying on his status, has repeatedly challenged the sanctity of our laws."

"Now, he’s grown so rampant as to openly injure, cripple, and imprison fellow disciples. It is no exaggeration to say that he is the greatest cancer the Void Sect has seen in several thousand years."

"The Punishment Hall is willing to act as your sharp spearhead. Let us join hands to cut out this cancer and restore clear skies and justice to the Void Sect!"

"What do you all say?"

Xu He’s speech was passionate and filled with righteous indignation.

The elders looked at one another. ’With so many of us together,’ they thought, ’even if Yu Liang is protective of his own, he’ll have to consider the bigger picture, right?’

"Alright, count me, Ding Wei, in!" Old Monster Ding was the first to stand up and support Xu He.

"I’m in," Chen Liang’s master said.

"Me too," Huang Hao’s master nodded.

"Count me in as well!"

"I agree!"

...

In that moment, the elders present reached a consensus and set off together for Mo Qi’s mountain peak.

Meanwhile, Mo Qi’s restaurant received its final batch of troublemakers. They were thoroughly beaten into submission by a transformed Liu Hui and followed him meekly into the restaurant.

Under Liu Hui’s threatening gaze, the group had no choice but to bite the bullet, spend one hundred contribution points, and order the Purple Bamboo Golden Fragrant Rice.

Yu Liang and Yang Ming looked at each other, finally understanding why the disciples had looked so aggrieved when they first arrived.

’Who could possibly put up with this?’

However, they didn’t intervene. In all honesty, the Medicinal Cuisine Mo Qi prepared—whether in taste or medicinal effect—was absolutely worth one hundred contribution points.

The Purple Bamboo Golden Fragrant Rice, Essence Qi Strength Pills, Top-Grade Big Mess, and Spiritual Chrysanthemum Hot and Sour Soup—though all were made from First-Level Spirit Medicines, even Yu Liang and Yang Ming ate with great relish. A pleasant warmth spread through their bodies, and they wished they could have several more servings.

BOOM!

Just then, the restaurant’s main doors were blasted to smithereens by an immense force.

A dozen or so figures filed in, led by none other than Xu He, the head of the Punishment Hall.

However, before Yu Liang and Yang Ming could fly into a rage, the hundred or so Elite Disciples, who had been meditating and cultivating after eating the Medicinal Cuisine, were startled awake by the commotion. One by one, they exploded with fury.

Being disturbed is the greatest taboo in cultivation. If not for the fact that Mo Qi had processed the Medicinal Power in the cuisine to be gentle in nature, just being startled awake mid-session would have been enough to cause all of them to suffer from cultivation deviation.

In a mild case, their True Essence would flow in reverse, damaging their Meridians and causing their cultivation to regress. In a severe case, their heart meridian would be damaged, and they would die.

This was practically attempted murder!

"Which damn bastard wants to die?! Who ruined my big moment?! Get the hell out here!" the short-tempered Huang Hao was the first to leap to his feet.

He had been on the verge of breaking through from the Refining God Sixth Heaven to the Refining God Seventh Heaven, only to be forcefully interrupted. The frustration made him angry enough to kill.

Huang Hao’s eyes spat fire as he scanned the room for a target, his gaze finally landing on Xu He and his group.

He wasn’t the only one in this situation. After all, for a price of one hundred contribution points, Mo Qi hadn’t cut any corners. Above all, he did things with a clear conscience.

Meanwhile, Xu He and the elders with him were dumbfounded.

The room was full of Elite Disciples who were alive and kicking. Judging by that furious roar just now, they didn’t look injured in the slightest.

The rest of the disciples were all frantically devouring Purple Bamboo Golden Fragrant Rice.

This was not what they had imagined. The scene was far too harmonious.