“Mount Shushan, don’t bully people too much!”

“We respect you, but we aren’t afraid of you.”

“Even Lu Ziyin, your master, never said anything about directly searching our Xiao Yao Sect.”

“We Five Peaks Mountain aren’t people to be bullied either. Mount Shushan may be strong, but there’s no need to insult us like this!”

The loudest voices came from the Sect Leader of Hongyan Mountain of Five Peaks Mountain.

When they went to seize the Xianxia Sect, his Hongyan Mountain branch was the most active.

All disciples were mobilized, fearing they would be too slow to grab what they wanted.

“You are slandering us!”

“Get lost!!”

“...........”

Lu Ziyin’s eyebrows twitched as he pressed his hand on the corner of the tea table.

The surrounding atmosphere instantly grew heavy, his expression darkened.

The Xiao Yao Sect and several cultivators from Five Peaks Mountain who had been babbling just moments ago suddenly fell silent.

Everyone nervously watched Lu Ziyin.

They dared speak to Lu Ziyin like this only because they believed that as a Mount Shushan peak master, he upheld a high moral standard and wouldn’t act rashly.

Lu Ziyin stood up, and everyone secretly panicked, afraid he would take action.

Fortunately, it was just a false alarm—Lu Ziyin left with a dark expression.

Everyone stared at his back and sighed with relief.

Li Xuanxiao silently followed behind.

Fox-faced man’s lips curled into a knowing smile, as if seeing through everything.

Mount Shushan, your fairness and justice—what will you do now?

Fox-faced man watched Lu Ziyin with great interest.

Lu Ziyin clasped his hands behind his back, looked up at the sky, and pondered for a long time before slowly saying:

“At this point...”

Fox-faced man narrowed his eyes to a slit, waiting for Lu Ziyin’s next words.

“Peak Master Lu, what will you do?”

“At this point, let’s eat first.”

Lu Ziyin said calmly.

Fox-faced man: ..........

Li Xuanxiao sipped tea quietly, showing no concern.

“I must say, senior brother, your insight is wise! As the saying goes, ‘Man is iron, but food is steel.’ Skipping a meal leaves one famished.

Only when our stomachs are satisfied can we think rationally and carefully plan our response.

This matter involves many sects and requires deep consideration and careful handling.

I’ve already inquired;

three hundred miles from here is the renowned First Tower. The chefs there are exceptional, their dishes perfect in color, aroma, and taste.

Senior brother, since we rarely come this way, shall we go try it?”

Lu Ziyin hesitated, then nodded.

“Very well.”

“Senior brother’s suggestion is sound. We can enjoy a meal here and still have Mount Shushan cover the expenses.”

Lu Ziyin nodded again.

Fox-faced man almost burst out laughing in disbelief.

He had thought Lu Ziyin, peak master of Silver Sword Peak, was a capable figure, but it turned out he was a complete pushover.

As for this Li Xuanxiao, even less to say—he was a total lackey.

“Gentlemen, I shall take my leave first.”

Fox-faced man cupped his hands and prepared to leave.

The three parted ways.

Fox-faced man felt like his time had been somewhat wasted.

He had hoped to see how Mount Shushan people truly operated.

The law does not punish the crowd.

More than ten sects participated in the destruction of the Xianxia Sect, with nearly a thousand cultivators involved.

Since Mount Shushan claims to uphold order in Zhongzhou, they should naturally seek justice for the Xianxia Sect.

But how should they seek it?

Mount Shushan can annihilate over ten sects and wipe out all their disciples by force, but can they silence the endless gossip of the world?

Is Mount Shushan really seeking justice for the Xianxia Sect, or just using that as an excuse to eliminate dissenters?

Fox-faced man guessed Lu Ziyin must have seen through this.

But unfortunately, Lu Ziyin did not have thunderous measures.

To deal with enemies, one must be fiercer and more ruthless than them!!

Lu Ziyin was all talk with no bite.

But indeed, his strength was impressive—his master’s words were true.

In a one-on-one fight, Fox-faced man would not last a day against Lu Ziyin.

In the past, Fox-faced man always thought he was strong.

His master constantly suppressed him, telling him how Mount Shushan disciples were superior.

He had some doubts.

But now, just after meeting once, Fox-faced man felt a chill run down his spine.

Not to mention that deceased Xue Yun.

Fox-faced man could hardly believe how strong Xue Yun had been in life.

But no matter how strong, what use was it?

Those so-called prodigies of Mount Shushan were merely empty names.

Fox-faced man rode his horse slowly along the ancient road.

“Buzz~”

Several ladybugs silently followed behind him.

At the same time, Fox-faced man raised his hand.

The ladybugs instantly changed course.

Fox-faced man chuckled inwardly, “This is Mount Shushan’s petty skill? Truly laughable. Let’s go!”

His chestnut horse lifted its hooves.

Fox-faced man didn’t notice a tiny black dot nestled in the horse’s rear, eyes wide open and carefully observing the surroundings.

It was clearly a living creature, no bigger than a drop of ink.

“.............”

Half a month later,

Five Peaks Mountain.

The fifth disciple, third disciple, second disciple, eighth disciple, vice sect leader, and sixth elder all died tragic deaths.

The Hongyan Mountain branch was slaughtered.

The sect leader’s control was weak, suffering heavy losses.

Later investigations found traces left by demonic cult disciples among the wreckage.

Compared to Five Peaks Mountain, the fate of Qingcheng Sect was even more tragic.

The Qingcheng Sect’s sect leader, a Transformation stage cultivator, was killed, and half of the Qingcheng disciples perished.

Xiao Yao Sect lost over two hundred disciples.

Their lineage was almost completely broken...

At the scene, marks of the Tian Sha Hall were found.

But these sects had no grudge with Tian Sha Hall.

Some said Mount Shushan was secretly behind it all, disguising their actions as Tian Sha Hall’s.

Mount Shushan had already uncovered the mastermind behind the destruction of Xianxia Sect but kept it secret.

Others said Mount Shushan was secretly eliminating dissenters.

In less than a year, the fall of the Xianxia Sect dragged almost all surrounding sects and powers into the turmoil.

Rumors spread everywhere.

Some even claimed the Xianxia Sect’s sect leader once had an affair with Mount Shushan’s Sect Leader Lingxu.

Therefore, it must have been Mount Shushan’s doing.

Mount Shushan naturally denied this.

In fact, after Lu Ziyin reported the matter, the sect’s response was to downplay the incident and turn a blind eye.

Who could have expected such a mess?

No explanation could clear the air.

However, behind the rumors,

Everyone said Mount Shushan’s sword was still sharp.

Their thunderous measures!!

Allowing no room for doubt—if evil cults did this, what does it have to do with Mount Shushan?

It was quite a good excuse.

Stopping those who harbored ill intentions and were itching to act.