Volume One, Chapter 16: Having Finished My Speech, Who Is For It, and Who Is Against?

Jian Wu Bei was momentarily stunned, then instinctively spoke up, “I have finished speaking. Please, Sect Leader Senior Brother, punish me as you see fit!”

Jian Xuan nodded slightly, his expression remaining unchanged.

“How dare she destroy the Enforcement Hall!” The peak master nearest to Yao Xi exploded with rage, and without any reasoning, a palm wind slammed down toward Yao Xi on the ground. “As good as dead!”

The sudden attack from the peak master startled everyone.

Too eager to show off.

“Stop.”

Jian Xuan furrowed his brows. His gray robe fluttered without wind, and a powerful aura surged forth, just in time to intercept the peak master’s palm strike aimed at Yao Xi.

With a muffled bang, Yao Xi lay sweetly on the ground, completely unharmed. The peak master was directly repelled by the counterforce, staggering back a dozen steps before regaining his balance.

“Sect Leader!”

The peak master was shocked and said gravely, “This woman has committed a capital offense; why don’t you let me behead her?”

Jian Xuan’s brows twitched imperceptibly.

Kill?

Is that all you know?

By usual sect rules, this peak master wasn’t wrong.

But could this young woman be judged by ordinary standards?

Jian Xuan’s thoughts were quite the opposite.

If this young girl in green truly destroyed the Enforcement Hall, what were those elders who died there worth?

In front of so many people, he dared not lose his temper, but inwardly he was furious—was this peak master foolish or just plain stupid?

The Enforcement Hall was indeed wiped out.

But this only proved that the girl’s talent was peerless, destined to reach the pinnacle in the future.

Calling her an unparalleled prodigy would not be an exaggeration.

Such a rare genius should be nurtured, not killed.

The destruction of the Enforcement Hall was their own incompetence. In this world where strength rules all, power means everything.

Jian Xuan glanced at Yao Xi, then waved his hand. A purple light fell into Jian Wu Bei’s palm. “This is a fifth-grade spirit-nourishing pill from the sect. It can help your female disciple from Sword God Peak rebuild her sword spirit. Not only will her foundation remain unaffected, but she will also ascend to a new level.”

Everyone was dumbfounded. This was a saint-grade pill, of which the entire Sword Soul Sect had no more than five. No one expected Jian Xuan to give it so casually to Luo Qinghan.

But Jian Wu Bei frowned, displeased, thinking, “What is Senior Brother Sect Leader’s intention? Could it be...?”

Suddenly, a thought struck him.

Could it be to shut me up and clear Yao Xi’s name?

And what about the Enforcement Hall incident?

Jian Xuan ignored the stunned crowd.

In this world ruled by the strong, there was nothing more to say.

Besides, the Enforcement Hall killed first.

Now they were being counterattacked by a little girl—it was a laughingstock, a fate they brought upon themselves.

Jian Xuan felt they deserved no sympathy.

“The sect competition will start in three months. I do not want complications from other matters.”

“If you have personal grudges, settle them later in the arena.”

“Besides, Luo Qinghan’s sword spirit was destroyed, but I have already given him a fifth-grade spirit-nourishing pill. As for Lin Chen...”

Jian Xuan’s voice faltered for a moment, then he cursed, “Such petty tricks! Do you really think I’m that easily fooled?!”

With his cultivation, he could clearly sense Lin Chen’s steady breathing, yet he still dared to feign death!

Jian Xuan’s words shocked Lin Chen, who immediately jumped up as if struck by lightning.

Everyone focused their eyes and saw Lin Chen alive and well, finally realizing the truth.

“Damn!”

“This guy is mocking us!”

The disciples were furious, itching to tear Lin Chen apart.

Facing the cold, piercing gazes shooting at them, Lin Chen and Luo Qinghan shivered involuntarily.

However, in Luo Qinghan’s eyes was a trace of unwillingness. To think the Enforcement Hall was destroyed and yet she was unharmed—she could not accept this.

“Please, Sect Leader, you must punish Yao Xi! She was too ruthless. Otherwise, what is the Sword Soul Sect’s discipline?”

She spoke without thinking, “She committed an act that outrages both gods and men. One word—execution! Even the reincarnation of the Sword Saint wouldn’t be spared!”

“Hmph! Such impudence!” Jian Xuan’s brow rose.

Suddenly, he stomped his foot, creating a faint, almost invisible pit in the void. The disciples shuddered and fell to the ground like sacks of grain.

With a flick of his sleeve—

*Pfft!*

Luo Qinghan’s delicate body was flung backward, crashing hard into the ground, blood trickling from her mouth.

After all, this entire matter originated from Luo Qinghan.

Jian Xuan despised such petty behavior all his life. Now she had gained the upper hand and shamelessly acted innocent—she was courting death.

This was Jian Xuan restraining himself, too lazy to annihilate Luo Qinghan outright.

“Take this seventh-grade spirit-nourishing pill and leave…”

A divine radiance bathed the area. Jian Xuan’s tone was calm, without anger or fury, yet it conveyed an overwhelming authority.

He didn’t even bother to deal with such a small character.

Silent dignity.

Luo Qinghan spat blood from the corner of her mouth and climbed up, her face pale. She kowtowed deeply to Jian Xuan. “Sect Leader, Qinghan knows her mistake.”

“As for her accidental killing in the Enforcement Hall, I will take her back for punishment. There is no need for you all to persist.”

Jian Xuan said calmly, “Furthermore, the rules are set by me. How I punish is not for you to dictate.”

“This matter ends here!”

Accidental killing?

This matter ends here?

Inwardly, the crowd was boiling. Could it really be settled just like that?

It seemed talent and strength truly decide one’s fate.

“Is it really over?” A peak master, stunned, stepped forward. “But she destroyed the Enforcement Hall…”

Such injustice was hard for them to accept.

“Then what do you want me to do?”

Jian Xuan’s voice sharpened, abruptly cutting them off. “If any disciple from your peak could destroy the Enforcement Hall at such a young age, then II'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.