There was no need for the Grand Elder of the Disciplinary Hall to explain any further—everyone present understood the weight of the situation.
First, the Wandering Sword Sect was on the verge of losing a once-in-a-millennium genius. A young man who had an extremely high chance of reaching the pinnacle of the Great Dao in the future.
Second, the sect’s reputation would take a serious blow.
To so casually accuse a young disciple of a grave crime and throw him directly into the Demon Suppression Tower—if word of this got out, the sect would become the laughingstock of others.
Worse, during future disciple selection ceremonies, many potential recruits would likely become hesitant.
Why join a sect that punishes disciples before finding out the truth?
Wouldn’t that just be walking into death?
Mu Bailing sat in silence, lips tightly pressed, her grip on the Baixiao Sword trembling slightly.
“Ah…”
A sigh escaped from a middle-aged man who had observed everything quietly.
Dressed in splendid robes, his aura was unfathomably deep, every movement exuding authority. This man was none other than the Sect Master of the Wandering Sword Sect—the Sword Master Tai Xu.
Mu Bailing was one of his personally taught disciples.
He knew well her stubborn temperament. She was never good at expressing her emotions, and even worse at lowering her head to admit fault.
In the past, she had often used such extreme methods to oppose him, leaving even him with headaches.
Now, seeing her like this, he could tell she was beginning to feel genuine regret.
Mu Bailing took a deep breath and said seriously, “I will investigate this matter thoroughly. Perhaps I shouldn’t have trusted Liu Ruyan’s account so one-sidedly.”
Her words only fueled the Grand Elder’s rage.
“Hmph! If only you had thought that way from the beginning! Would things have gotten to this point?”
“I heard clearly from some disciples that Gu Han’s explanation was logical and articulate—it was obvious there was more to the situation!”
“Besides, Gu Han was your very first disciple. After all these years, don’t you know what kind of person he is?!”
Facing the harsh reprimand, Mu Bailing kept her head bowed in silence.
Indeed, Gu Han was her first disciple. Who he was—shouldn’t she know best?
But the way he had acted earlier was nothing like the obedient and gentle disciple she once knew. He seemed like a different person entirely.
That had made her angry without realizing it.
Add to that Liu Ruyan’s testimony, and she had completely dismissed Gu Han’s defense.
The other Peak Masters began criticizing Mu Bailing as well.
After all, everyone had seen Gu Han’s peerless talent. Many had envied Profound Feather Peak for having such a brilliant disciple.
And yet, this priceless gem wasn’t nurtured with care—instead, she falsely accused him and cast him aside. It was pure madness!
“Enough.”
“There’s still a chance to make this right.”
“The Disciplinary Hall has already begun its review and is preparing to use the Heaven-Questioning Mirror to uncover the truth.”
“Once the elders bring Gu Han back, this matter should be resolved satisfactorily…”
Before he could finish—
“Not… not good!”
A panicked figure burst into the hall, his face stricken with fear.
“The elders didn’t catch up to Gu Han… he’s already entered the Demon Suppression Tower alone!”
In that instant, the entire hall froze in silence. Even the Sect Master’s face turned stiff.
It took several heartbeats before the crowd snapped out of their daze.
“What were the tower guardians doing?!”
The Sword Master Tai Xu erupted in fury.
“How could they let Gu Han enter the Demon Suppression Tower so easily?!”
The panicked disciple stammered, “The elders had already made a move to subdue and bring him back…”
“But just as Gu Han approached the tower’s domain… he was pulled in by some unknown force—dragged into the Demon Suppression Tower!”
His voice fell.
Everyone’s expression turned even more horrified, as if struck by lightning.
Deep beneath the Demon Suppression Tower, the sect imprisoned a monstrous creature—an ancient, unimaginable horror.
Legend said that countless eras ago, this terrifying beast had rampaged through the realms, annihilating sects and leaving carnage in its wake.
It had taken the united efforts of the Wandering Sword Sect’s most powerful ancestor and many legendary figures from ancient times to suppress and seal it deep within the tower.
Now… could that creature be waking?
And had it dragged Gu Han inside to devour him?
If that were true, Gu Han was as good as dead.
Targeted by such an abomination—not even the Sect Master could survive, let alone a young cultivator!
“Gu Han…”
Mu Bailing no longer heard the words exchanged between the Sect Master and the elders.
The moment she heard her disciple had been forcefully pulled into the Demon Suppression Tower by an unknown monstrous force, her mind completely unraveled.
Her face turned as pale as paper.
Clang!
The Baixiao Sword slipped from her trembling hand, clattering to the ground. This story is hosted at g.com.
She sat like a lifeless shell, almost falling from her seat.
This scene didn’t escape the Sword Master Tai Xu’s eyes.
Now that the child was lost, she finally regretted everything.
This was her own doing.
…
Elsewhere—
Gu Han, who had been mysteriously dragged into the depths of the Demon Suppression Tower, felt a wave of dizziness and nausea.
It took quite a while before his thoughts and vision began to clear.
He had entered the Demon Suppression Tower before.
But seeing the massive interior again still left him awed and speechless.
The entire tower was built from some unknown material, its surface dark and foreboding.
Countless intricate and cryptic ancient runes were carved into its walls, arranged in precise formation, adding an air of mystery and solemnity to the place.
The air was thick with a chilling, oppressive aura of demonic energy.
If one stayed here too long, the energy would seep into their meridians.
At best, it would drive them insane. At worst—it would kill them, their body and soul devoured as nourishment for the imprisoned great demons.
After all, the Demon Suppression Tower was so ancient its origins were untraceable.
The creatures locked within were all monstrous beings that had once plunged entire eras into chaos.
Even while sealed, the slightest trace of their released aura was enough to end the lives of any intruder.
And every night at midnight, the tower’s demonic energy would surge and transform into terrifying entities that launched frenzied attacks on those inside.
Once someone entered the Demon Suppression Tower, it would seal itself automatically—only reopening a month later.
Most people couldn’t even survive a single day.
[Ding! Detected that host has successfully entered the Demon Suppression Tower. Would you like to check in?]
The sudden system prompt snapped Gu Han back to reality.
“Check in.”
[Please note: Each random check-in allows you to consume Villain Points for critical hit rewards. Every 2,000 points increases your reward by 2x, up to the max limit.]
Hearing this, Gu Han wanted to curse.
What the hell? Guaranteed draws? Spending Villain Points for crit bonuses? What kind of sleazy gacha scheme was this?!
[Ding! However, since this is your first check-in, the reward has been automatically upgraded to max critical bonus!]
Though Gu Han suspected the system was baiting him—hooking him in with a taste of big rewards—he wouldn’t say no.
[Ding! Congratulations, host has received: Breakthrough Divine Pills ×20 (Can instantly break through one minor realm below the Saintly Realm).]
[Congratulations, host has received: Suppression God Physique (A supreme body from the Ancient Immortal Era, capable of dominating an era. When cultivated to the peak, can suppress all laws above and below the heavens).]
[Congratulations, host has received: Special Grade Treasure – Phantom Demon Mask (Can fully conceal or disguise your aura for a short time. Even Emperor Realm experts cannot see through it. Increases in grade with host’s cultivation level).]
[Congratulations, host has received: Special Item – Shatter Void Divine Source (Can transform into any weapon in existence. Evolves with host’s cultivation level).]
[Congratulations, host has received: Emperor Grade Technique – Heavenly Demon Art.]
[Congratulations, host has received: Special System Reward – Key to the 19th Floor of the Demon Suppression Tower.]