CHAPTER 481: CHAPTER 228 TOO WEAK (VOTE FOR MONTHLY TICKET)

"Defender Shen!"

Lin Yue’s complexion underwent a drastic change. He could hardly believe the other party really intended to follow through with such an act. Without any evidence, they were going to eradicate the entire Zhenyue Sect. Yes. Eradicate the sect. In Lin Yue’s view, Shen Changqing didn’t offer them any choice at all; there was only one outcome: the eradication of the sect. The other disciples and elders of the Zhenyue Sect also had their faces turn ashen.

Shen Changqing swept his gaze over the crowd. "All members of the Zhenyue Sect below the rank of Steward, this official grants you a quarter of an hour. Those who leave the sect will be spared death."

No one moved. All attention was on Lin Yue. They were waiting—waiting for the decision of the Sect Leader of the Zhenyue Sect.

At this moment, Lin Yue’s face was unsightly. "Defender Shen, your actions are too tyrannical! The Demon-Subduing Division claims the Zhenyue Sect violated the laws of Great Qin, and that alone is considered a violation, without any evidence needed. If this is the case, wouldn’t all the Jianghu forces in South Nether Prefecture be at the mercy of the Demon-Subduing Division? Can you decide our life and death based merely on your words?"

"How audacious!" Xing Yi barked furiously.

The other generals and members of the Demon-Subduing Division also had their gazes turn colder. The opposition’s words were evidently treacherous; if they spread, they would surely cause trouble.

Shen Changqing slightly raised his hand, stopping Xing Yi, then turned to look directly at Lin Yue.

"Tyrannical?"

"If you have the strength, you too can be tyrannical."

Those words made Lin Yue’s expression twist once more; the other party’s words had taken him completely by surprise.

At this moment, Shen Changqing spoke again, "Evidence is only needed by the weak. For the strong, this official’s words are the evidence. As to whether your Zhenyue Sect is suspected of sealing off the mountain and refusing to emerge, I believe you, Lin Yue, know better than this official."

Having said that, he shifted his gaze from Lin Yue to the Zhenyue Sect disciples standing behind him. "The quarter-hour is almost up. It seems you are all prepared to share the fate of the Zhenyue Sect. Since that’s the case, I shall oblige you—"

Just as Shen Changqing was about to give the order, a disciple cried out in panic, "I am willing to leave the Zhenyue Sect..."

"Traitor!"

An Elder of the Zhenyue Sect struck out directly, slamming a palm fiercely onto that disciple. The explosion of violent power was such that the disciple had no chance to react and was killed instantly.

The sudden turn of events made the faces of some previously wavering disciples change.

Shen Changqing’s gaze turned slightly cold. "Killing someone in front of this official? Zhenyue Sect, you are quite audacious. It seems I have been too lenient with you all."

He looked at the Zhenyue Sect Elder who had struck the blow and thrust a finger forward.

Divine Sun Collapsing Heavenly Finger!

The tangible Finger Gang shattered the air, instantly striking the Zhenyue Sect Elder.

BOOM—

The Elder’s Outer Gang shattered. His flesh was torn apart by a savage force, erupting into a cloud of blood that scattered in the air. In less than a breath, a Martial Artist who had reached the Innate Outer Gang Realm was annihilated by a single finger.

The speed was so swift it startled and angered everyone present.

Shen Changqing withdrew his hand, clasped it behind his back, and said indifferently, "I will give you ten more breaths. Anyone who hasn’t left the Zhenyue Sect by then will die!"

"I am willing to leave!"

"I’m leaving!"

"I..."

One after another, Zhenyue Sect disciples hastily broke from their ranks and moved aside. As they left, they also watched their surroundings cautiously, fearing a repeat of the previous incident.

Unfortunately for those hoping for intervention, the Zhenyue Sect Elders were already thoroughly intimidated by Shen Changqing’s finger attack and dared not make another move.

Many disciples left the Zhenyue Sect, but a portion still stood firm. It was evident that the Zhenyue Sect was not entirely without solidarity.

"You traitors! The sect treated us well in the past, and now that it faces difficulties, you turn tail and leave! It’s a disgrace!"

"Traitors!"

The remaining disciples glared at those leaving, their teeth clenched in anger. To them, these traitors incited more fury than the Demon-Subduing Division.

In response, many who were leaving lowered their heads in shame, yet some were unapologetic, countering scornfully, "We joined the Zhenyue Sect and have always worked diligently, owing the sect nothing. Now that we’re leaving, how can you call it betrayal? Besides, we are Qin People and should naturally follow the laws of Great Qin. The Zhenyue Sect blatantly defies the laws of Great Qin, which amounts to betraying the Human Clan. You who remain fail to recognize this, thereby abetting a tyrant."

Upon hearing this, some of the disciples who had initially felt guilty looked at the speaker as if seeing them for the first time. As for those who stayed, they were too overwhelmed with frustration to retort.

Before they could argue further, Shen Changqing said indifferently, "Those uninvolved, step back. Today, the Zhenyue Sect has abandoned the Human Clan and, according to the laws of Great Qin, shall be executed!"

As his words fell, he waved his hand mightily.

The experts of the Demon-Subduing Division and the army immediately took action.

"The Demon-Subduing Division wants us dead! Those who don’t wish to die here, break out on your own!"

"Kill!"

The Zhenyue Sect Elders had long been prepared. As soon as the Demon-Subduing Division members made their move, they immediately began to break out and flee in all directions.

"If you want me dead, you’ll die first!"

After a long silence, Lin Yue suddenly made his move. His Grandmaster Realm power erupted in full force as he viciously struck towards Shen Changqing with a palm. It was a terrifyingly powerful palm strike, but it suddenly dissipated within three feet of Shen Changqing.

It turned out Lin Yue’s move was merely a feint; at the moment of attacking, he was actually trying to escape from the Zhenyue Sect.

Seeing this, Shen Changqing did not move to stop him but simply watched silently as he fled.

Just as Lin Yue was about to leave the mountain gate of the Zhenyue Sect, a massive volley of arrows suddenly blanketed the sky, shooting towards him.

Though the arrows were fierce, ordinary arrows, which couldn’t even break through the Outer Gang of an Innate Martial Artist, posed no threat to a Grandmaster-level expert. But the problem was that these were not individual arrows but a dense, overwhelming barrage. In addition, these arrows were not crafted from ordinary materials but possessed properties that could suppress a Martial Artist’s Gang Qi.

Therefore, faced with the torrential rain of arrows, Lin Yue had no choice but to retreat.

Many other Zhenyue Sect members attempting to break out were also forced back by the arrow rain.

After the barrage of arrows, numerous Zhenyue Sect members lay dead. Each Innate Realm Elder was injured, and a few unlucky ones were riddled with arrows, nailed to the ground, dead.

Even in death, their eyes remained open.

As Lin Yue was forced back by the arrow rain, Shen Changqing took a step forward, already within striking distance.

Seeing Shen Changqing suddenly appear, Lin Yue’s heart surged with shock, and he struck out with his right hand with all his might.

BOOM—

The palm landed on Shen Changqing’s body, but not only did it fail to budge him in the slightest, a formidable, thunderous force rebounded.

That force sent Lin Yue flying. The paralyzing thunderous power left him unable to even stand, and he collapsed limply on the ground.

"You’re seeking your own death." Shen Changqing shook his head and slowly approached him.

On the ground, Lin Yue watched Shen Changqing approach step by step, his face awash with disbelief and shock.

"Why are you so strong?!"

Although he had long known that a Great Grandmaster was in a realm utterly above Grandmasters, he had not anticipated the gap would be so vast. His own full-powered palm strike could easily shatter stone steles; even cleaving rivers and shattering mountains wasn’t out of the question.

But even so, such a powerful strike had not injured his opponent in the slightest; instead, he himself was almost severely injured by the rebound force.

Such a vast gap left Lin Yue feeling deep despair.

"Do you have anything else to say?" Shen Changqing arrived in front of him and looked down.

Upon hearing this, Lin Yue struggled to stand, but he couldn’t shake off the paralysis. Looking at Shen Changqing’s face, his eyes showed a desperate yearning for life.

"Spare me—"

"You know that’s impossible." Shen Changqing slowly shook his head.

Lin Yue fell silent.

By now, he realized the other party intended to use his Zhenyue Sect to establish their authority. This Defender Envoy of South Nether Prefecture clearly hadn’t considered the repercussions of the Zhenyue Sect’s annihilation. Or rather, he had considered them but didn’t care in the slightest.

Lin Yue remained silent.

Shen Changqing raised his hand, a powerful force beginning to coalesce in his palm. "It seems you have nothing more to say."

"Even if my Zhenyue Sect is destroyed, the events of today will spread! Your brutal and tyrannical acts, Shen Changqing, will be known by all under heaven!" Lin Yue said viciously.

In response, Shen Changqing was unconcerned. "And then what? What difference does it make if all under heaven know?"

Lin Yue was rendered speechless by the retort.

Indeed, what difference would it make if all under heaven knew?

While Lin Yue was stunned, Shen Changqing continued, "It is the weak who are constrained by many concerns; the strong are inherently unrestrained. Today, I can destroy your Zhenyue Sect not because you violated the laws of Great Qin, but because, while doing so, your sect is also too weak. If you were strong enough, the outcome would have been different."

He said this for Lin Yue to hear, but also for himself. The Zhenyue Sect was too weak, hence it was at the mercy of the Demon-Subduing Division. Had the Zhenyue Sect been strong enough, Great Qin would not have touched them, even if they had violated its laws. Therefore, Shen Changqing knew he had to continually grow stronger; otherwise, one day, he might be the one lying on the ground.

Hearing Shen Changqing’s words, Lin Yue’s face twisted into a self-mocking smile.

Blunt, but true.

Before Lin Yue could utter another word, Shen Changqing’s palm descended. The mighty force crushed down, leaving an ordinary Grandmaster no way to resist.

In an instant, Lin Yue was suppressed and engulfed by that absolute power. The ground shook violently. Once the tremors settled, all that remained was a deep palm imprint on the ground and some traces of flesh and blood.

The Sect Leader of the Zhenyue Sect had utterly vanished.