It wasn’t just White Crane Immortal — everyone was shaken by Mo Liusu’s coldness.
A master who could be so heartless toward her own disciple was one of a kind.
“He courted his own death — no one to blame but himself!”
Tang Qi could barely contain the excitement in his eyes; he had to clench his fists to suppress the urge to shout for joy.
With his greatest threat now eliminated, and given his talent and acting ability, it was only a matter of time before he trampled everyone else underfoot and turned them into his servants!
At that thought, the look he cast at Mo Liusu grew openly greedy, brimming with possessive desire.
What a beauty she was — so cold, so haughty, the very poison of every man.
If one day he could shatter that reserve and haughtiness on her face, pin her beneath him, and make her weep and beg, pleading sweetly for mercy, he would die without regrets!
But his expression quickly darkened.
He saw Mo Liusu staring fixedly at the Celestial Mirror, which showed the retreating figure of Zhou Tong.
The sight disgusted him beyond words.
“Stare all you like — that man is finished.
He can never compete with me again!”
For some reason, Tang Qi couldn’t hold back his surging rage, wishing he could ravage Mo Liusu by the cruelest means until her eyes held only him.
“White Crane, where do you think you’re going?”
Mo Liusu spoke abruptly, having noticed White Crane Immortal preparing to leave.
“The road ahead is far too dangerous.
Zhou Tong is, after all, a junior of ours — I intend to see him part of the way.”
At that, Mo Liusu’s eyes quivered for an instant, then shot out a fiercely piercing glare.
“Absolutely not!”
“Why?”
White Crane Immortal’s expression shifted, a flicker of anger rising within her.
Even if their bonds were severed, this was going too far.
“White Crane, you had better remember your place.
You are an Elder of this sect, and you want to protect a traitor — what kind of spectacle is that!”
The moment the words left her mouth, Mo Liusu erupted with an even fiercer aura, cowing White Crane Immortal outright — even the other Elders turned pale.
One could only say she deserved the title of top-tier genius.
Among her peers, Mo Liusu already had few rivals, and even the older generation of experts had to look at her with new respect.
She pressed down with a single palm; White Crane Immortal’s face changed at once as she was sent stumbling back, spitting blood — she was utterly outmatched.
“Seize her!”
At another command, the members of the Enforcement Hall closed in and pinned White Crane Immortal from both sides, leaving her no room to move.
“You—!” White Crane Immortal trembled with fury, yet she had no strength to resist in the least.
“Listen well, all of you.
From this day on, anyone caught secretly protecting or aiding that traitor will face my wrath — and sect discipline!”
At that, the Elders exchanged glances and fell into silence.
“Isn’t this making a mountain out of a molehill?” an aged Elder muttered to himself.
“Hmph!
This was his own choice.
Didn’t he think himself so formidable?
Today I’ll make him understand that without the backing of this sect, he is nothing but a drifting weed, trampled by anyone!
Even if he regrets it now and begs my forgiveness, he’ll have to crawl to me on his knees, kowtowing at every step — and then serve three years as the lowliest menial before I’ll even consider it!”
Mo Liusu’s voice was cold, not particularly loud, yet carried by the broadcast of the Way of Heaven it reached everyone’s ears — including Zhou Tong’s.
That was the outcome she wanted: to smash Zhou Tong’s pride with brutal reality, to force him to grovel at her feet for his life and never dare defy her again.
Yet in the Celestial Mirror, Zhou Tong’s back remained straight and unyielding, without the slightest hesitation, growing farther and farther away.
“I’d like to see how long you can keep up the act.
Your legs must already be weak with fear, aren’t they?”
Mo Liusu thought to herself that once Zhou Tong met with danger, he would cave in at once.
“Without my protection, you are nothing!”
Mo Liusu declared with certainty.
She could guarantee that the moment Zhou Tong stepped beyond the sect’s gates, he was doomed to struggle at every turn.
All of a sudden, in the Celestial Mirror, other disciples appeared around Zhou Tong — more and more of them gathering, drawing the attention of many Elders.
“What are these brats up to?
Surely they’re not kicking a man when he’s down!” an older Elder said gravely, having seen far too much of this sort of thing.
“See that?
The wretch can’t even make it out of the sect!” Mo Liusu said triumphantly, shooting White Crane Immortal a sidelong glance.
But an instant later, the smile on her face abruptly froze.
With a single rustling thud, over a hundred disciples knelt in perfect unison, gazing at Zhou Tong with sincere eyes and unspoken gratitude.
“Senior Brother, we bow to your great kindness!”
At the sight, the Great Judgment Hall went dead silent — even Zhou Tong was stunned.
“What kindness have I ever shown you?”
“Senior Brother must have forgotten.
The day I fell into qi deviation while practicing my sword, you intervened to save my life…”
“And me — I remember when I was still a mortal and my parents fell ill beyond cure, you came to my aid with open generosity, lifted my plight, and set me on the path of cultivation…”
“Senior Brother saved me thirteen times during the beast tides — can you truly have forgotten?”
“Senior Brother taught me the arts of alchemy and guided me to enlightenment — a debt I shall never forget!”
One by one, the old tales were dredged up, and the trail Zhou Tong had left behind — like a dusty road swept clean — came into dazzling focus before everyone’s eyes.
“And me!
Me too!
I also received Senior Brother’s help!”
More and more people were drawn over, pressing close to bow to Zhou Tong with profound sincerity, respecting him from the bottom of their hearts.
Only now did the Elders realize just how much Zhou Tong had done — and they grew even quieter.
“That’s all in the past — why bring it up now?
I’ve left the sect.
The mountains are high and the roads are long, so let’s part ways for good.”
Zhou Tong waved a hand, and said with easy grace.
“Senior Brother, wait — allow us to escort you part of the way!”
The crowd rose and encircled Zhou Tong like stars around the moon, leaving him no room to refuse.
“I’d like to see who dares!”
At that moment, Mo Liusu’s furious voice came thundering through the conduit of the Way of Heaven.
“Anyone who dares go near that traitor will face the sect’s judgment!”
Everyone assumed the disciples would quickly scatter from Zhou Tong — but the outcome defied all expectations.
“Senior Brother saved my life.
Now that he’s fallen on hard times, if I don’t lend a hand, how am I any better than a beast?
If the sect stands in my way today, I’ll leave the sect.
If it still blocks me, then kill me!”
The leading disciples declared in unison, and the rest voiced their agreement one after another!
“We will repay Senior Brother’s kindness without regret!”
The young voices merged into one, shaking the heavens and reverberating through the Great Judgment Hall.
Mo Liusu’s face had turned ashen, her whole body trembling uncontrollably.
Even she could not punish so many disciples at once — to do so would invite a backlash far too heavy to bear.
What infuriated her even more was that Zhou Tong had quietly won over so many people behind her back!
This was clearly premeditated!