Chapter 2104: Blood Ceremony

The actions of the three major sects, exposed before everyone, severely damaged their reputations, and the dissolution of the Three Sects Alliance became a foregone conclusion.

Even if Eight Scenery Temple and Sweet Dew Zen Monastery don't collapse completely, they will find it difficult to recover.

This isn't like the lower realms, where controlling immortal palace resources guarantees eternal prosperity and stability. All clans and sects must now defer to Qin Sang. Unless he changes his view of them, they will remain suppressed while other sects rise. With this dynamic, Eight Scenery Temple and Sweet Dew Zen Monastery will gradually decline.

It remains to be seen if Skyhaze Tower can survive this ordeal.

Everyone looked at Old Demon Kurong.

Old Demon Kurong, with his remarkable composure, remained calm despite Old Demon Fan's accusations. "The position of sect master goes to the capable. I never used any insidious means to suppress the Grand Elder. This was merely normal internal competition within the sect. Grand Elder, do not let your resentment blind you and lead you to falsely accuse me. Dragging me down with you will bring no benefit whatsoever to the Fan family or to the sect; it will only cause grief to our loved ones and delight our enemies!"

Then, Old Demon Kurong bowed to Qin Sang. "Great True Immortal, please hear me. Long before the attack on the North Sea, this junior was in seclusion with the two sect masters, preparing to forge a treasure to counter the might of the Changyou Clan's chief. After more than ten years of diligent contemplation and effort, we are nearing completion of the treasure; it merely requires a period of nurturing before it is fully perfected. This is the treasure, and the two sect masters can attest to it..."

As he spoke, he opened his palm, revealing a small golden seal. The seal was blank, but golden threads continually twisted and writhed across its surface, suggesting true golden characters might emerge after some time.

Everyone silently praised Old Demon Kurong, acknowledging him as a true demonic titan. He had considered potential defeat before victory, preemptively distancing himself. His words painted Old Demon Fan's accusations as mere retaliation, and his subsequent mention of the Fan family sounded both like a threat and a promise: if Old Demon Fan took the fall, he would ensure the Fan family's safety.

Before Qin Sang, openly promising anything to Old Demon Fan was impossible; this was the most Old Demon Kurong could do.

However, Old Demon Fan seemed not to understand, or perhaps he no longer cared about anything, letting out a chilling, strange laugh. "You are the Sect Master of Skyhaze Tower! Without your scheming behind the scenes, how could the Three Sects Alliance obey my instructions? As for whether he knows or not, just ask the one named Hong; it will become perfectly clear!"

The latter half of his sentence was directed at Qin Sang.

Old Demon Fan had clearly given up, seething with hatred for Old Demon Kurong. "My current predicament is entirely your doing! You wish to escape? Dream on! The road to the Underworld is less lonely with company, haha..."

"You..."

Old Demon Kurong found Old Demon Fan, who was nearly insane and had lost all reason, incredibly difficult to handle.

What followed was the answer from the demonic cultivator named Hong, which effectively sealed Old Demon Kurong's fate.

It turned out that after the demonic cultivator named Hong allied with the Flood Dragon King, he reported the matter to Old Demon Kurong. Although Old Demon Kurong did not express his stance directly, Old Demon Fan later contacted Hong, undoubtedly having received instructions from Old Demon Kurong.

By this point, Old Demon Kurong could no longer remain calm, urgently shouting, "Great True Immortal, please do not believe the slander of this villain, this junior..."

Qin Sang's eyes were deep and cold. Before Old Demon Kurong could finish speaking, several chains burst through the sea of clouds, shooting towards Old Demon Kurong.

Old Demon Kurong was undoubtedly a demonic prodigy, with few in the Storm Realm able to rival him. He was one of the most promising cultivators to break through to the Void Refinement stage, making his death a regrettable loss. However, the cultivation world never lacks geniuses. The Flood Dragon King's cultivation was even higher; wouldn't his death be an even greater loss?

In Qin Sang's eyes, they were no different from ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators. He himself presided over the main altar, while Su Nü and others managed three sub-altars. Other individuals could only oversee ordinary sub-altars; whether their cultivation was slightly higher or lower made little difference, and there was no need to 'consider the big picture' for them. What Qin Sang wanted was to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys, to let everyone know that anyone daring to betray him, no matter how powerful, no matter their noble status as a sect master like Skyhaze Tower's or a demon king, would face the same fate!

*Bang!*

Old Demon Kurong and all others from the Three Sects Alliance who had participated in the conspiracy were bound and thrown before the main peak, awaiting their judgment.

Everyone fell silent, awestruck, with only Old Demon Fan's wild laughter echoing through the sky.

However, the reckoning was not yet over.

Qin Sang's gaze shifted to the seats of Canglang Sea. Bao Xi turned around, nodded to someone behind him, and a person wearing a bronze mask flew out, knelt before the main peak, and removed their mask, revealing the face of a delicate young boy.

Upon seeing the boy's appearance, a middle-aged cultivator in the Zhongzhou seats felt his pupils contract, a sense of foreboding rising within him.

The boy, his face full of sorrow, repeatedly kowtowed. "This junior is Yue Yi, from the Yue family of Canglang Sea. My father and several clan elders were invited to reinforce our North Sea allies, but villains exploited our absence, massacring hundreds of my Yue family members and plundering our entire clan. When my father heard the news and rushed back, he unexpectedly fell into an ambush set by the villains, who feared retaliation, leading to his tragic death. I implore the Great True Immortal to uphold justice!"

"Do you know who the culprit is?" Qin Sang asked.

"It's him!"

The boy raised his hand, pointing at the middle-aged cultivator, his eyes red. "He somehow learned that my Yue family treasured a piece of Cangbi Jade. He demanded it from my father, who refused, and so he held a grudge, murdered him, and stole the treasure!"

Those around the middle-aged cultivator erupted in an uproar. It was known that this man was an elder of the Lingweng Sect in Zhongzhou. Although the Lingweng Sect was not as powerful as top sects like Eight Scenery Temple in those days, it was still a renowned righteous sect. It was unexpected that he would commit such a heinous crime, not only stealing treasure but also committing murder. Some who knew recalled that the Lingweng Sect had a cultivation technique that required the aid of special spiritual objects, and Cangbi Jade seemed to be one of them.

"Slander!"

The middle-aged cultivator slammed his hand down, leaping to his feet and vehemently arguing, "This junior has never done such a thing! I beg the Great True Immortal to see clearly!"

"The Cangbi Jade is definitely still on him. This jade has a distinctive shape, and my father inscribed a secret mark on it using a special technique. If anyone else stole it, it would take at least a year to erase the mark."

The boy actually had a method for verification. The middle-aged cultivator froze, then suddenly felt his body tighten as his spatial artifact flew out on its own. Moments later, the restrictions shattered, and the contents spilled out. Indeed, there was a fish-shaped precious jade with a hidden mark, perfectly matching the boy's description.

The middle-aged cultivator's face turned ashen. The Lingweng Sect Master hastily stepped forward. "This matter was his own doing, gathering accomplices himself. Our sect was truly unaware; otherwise, this junior would have tried my utmost to prevent it. This junior failed to discern character properly and cannot shirk responsibility. I will certainly bring justice to the Yue family and compensate them for all their losses..."

"While allies risked their lives fighting on the front lines, they cowered and instead seized the opportunity to plunder! Death would not atone for this!" Qin Sang coldly declared.

*Whoosh! Whoosh!*

The middle-aged cultivator and his accomplices were bound with chains and dragged away.

Next, several more individuals stepped forward to testify. All those who had exploited the North Sea attack were apprehended on the spot at Green Goat Temple, and those who were absent would also not escape death.

Before Green Goat Temple's main peak, prisoners steadily accumulated, forming a dark, dense crowd. Among them were many influential figures whose very stomping could shake the Storm Realm, a truly shocking sight.

Finally, this great purge was coming to an end.

"The situation necessitates harsh laws and severe penalties! The Flood Dragon King was the second late-stage Nascent Soul expert after Immortal Liuli, and Sect Master Kurong is a demonic genius, yet their actions utterly disregarded the greater good and were detrimental to the Storm Realm, serving no benefit. The law shows no mercy; this humble Daoist must reluctantly execute them to make an example, warning all under heaven!"

Qin Sang's gaze was piercing, and wherever it fell, people lowered their heads.

"This is certainly not all of them. Some are well-hidden, and some haven't yet had the chance to commit evil. You'd best learn your lesson and remain hidden!"

The chains tightened one by one, slowly lifting, and each prisoner was suspended in mid-air.

They had initially harbored a glimmer of hope, believing that the law wouldn't punish everyone, and Qin Sang might keep them alive to fight external enemies. Now, seeing that Qin Sang truly intended to kill them, the scent of death approached, and fear surged into their hearts. Some wept bitterly, some desperately begged for mercy, and some, like Old Demon Fan, went mad—a true tableau of human nature.

Old Demon Kurong and the Flood Dragon King, however, were filled with unwillingness. They had been fortunate enough to be brought into the Great Thousand World by the Storm Realm; otherwise, they might not have ascended. Their futures should have been bright; even if the Storm Realm were to be destroyed, they could have escaped beforehand, preserved themselves, and continued their pursuit of the Great Dao.

Yet, due to a momentary misstep, they had lost everything!

"Roar!"

The final dragon roar abruptly ceased. The Flood Dragon King's head was severed at the neck, and the massive head rolled down, blood gushing like a spectacular fountain.

*Thud! Thud! Thud!*

At the same moment, everyone else was also beheaded. The pungent smell of blood rapidly spread, staining the white clouds crimson. The One-Breath Lotus, nourished by the blood, bloomed even more vibrantly and exquisitely.

On this day, heads rolled at Green Goat Temple.

This grand ceremony transformed into a bloody ritual, akin to a human sacrifice.

Heads lay scattered on the ground, while mutilated bodies hung suspended in mid-air, swaying with the wind.

This scene profoundly impacted everyone's minds, leaving them unable to forget it for a long time. The words "awe" and "reverence" were quietly etched deep within their hearts.

Although massacring so many people at once seemed cruel, the crimes of each individual were clear and well-defined, and the judgments were fair and just, leaving no room for complaint.

Mountain winds swept through the sea of clouds.

Only the sound of the wind seemed to remain, and everyone felt restless, watching the swaying remains suspended in the sky.

The grand ceremony had only just begun; no one knew what else awaited them.

Qin Sang waved his hand, and flames erupted on the bodies, incinerating them to ash, sweeping away the bloody smell. The previous display was sufficient warning; today was a joyous occasion for Green Goat Temple, and the bodies couldn't remain hanging in the sky indefinitely.

With the chief culprits eliminated, Qin Sang's expression softened slightly as he calmly said, "Everyone harbors selfish desires, and greed is insatiable; it's not surprising that villains appear. What brings this humble Daoist comfort is that in the face of calamity, none of our North Sea allies retreated, and many fellow Daoists were able to consider the greater good, such as the Buddhist Sect of the Western Lands, fellow Daoists of the Witch Clan, some fellow Daoists from the Demon Sea and East Sea, Four Saints Palace, Non-Thought Mountain, Ten Thousand Poisons Mountain, Qiongying Gate..."

Qin Sang looked at each of them, showing goodwill.

Master Huaiyin, Old Demon Fang, Poison King, Sect Master Murong, King Yu, Yuan Zhu, and others all nodded in response.

The atmosphere gradually relaxed.

"All of you must have long realized that the Storm Realm faces not only external threats but also internal problems, such as the incomplete legacies of various sects. Previously limited by the lower realms, their traditions were incomplete after the Nascent Soul stage. I presume many fellow Daoists face the dilemma of severed lineages and no cultivation methods available..."

Qin Sang paused deliberately.

Understanding the unstated meaning, everyone present was intelligent, and their eyes lit up.

Qin Sang smiled. "This humble Daoist also anticipated this issue. Our enemies have complete legacies, but we lack cultivation methods. Over time, the gap will only widen. Therefore, before coming here, this humble Daoist specifically collected some cultivation techniques and Daoist arts from the Great Thousand World. They may not be suitable for everyone, but they can at least offer some reference and hope to all of you. If time permits, this humble Daoist can also, as appropriate, assist some fellow Daoists in deducing cultivation methods..."

Hearing this, everyone was overjoyed, and their anticipation immediately overshadowed their previous fear. At the same time, they understood the meaning of "as appropriate." It sounded like Qin Sang would display the collected cultivation methods for everyone to study and practice. However, adapting to new techniques would certainly be less beneficial than having Qin Sang help deduce improvements to their existing sect legacies. Even if Qin Sang didn't understand their sect's specific cultivation methods, his insight was unparalleled. Simply pointing them in the right direction would make their own deductions much easier.

The gloomy atmosphere vanished, and everyone cheered in unison.

"We thank the Great True Immortal for your compassion! We shall certainly devote our lives to repaying the Great True Immortal!"

Qin Sang shook his head slightly. "This is not for me, but for yourselves. The Storm Realm is our shared home. This humble Daoist wishes for the Storm Realm to flourish more and more, and I'm sure all of you feel the same. Other matters can be discussed later. The immediate priority is how to resist external enemies; this humble Daoist already has some ideas. After the grand ceremony, I ask that all sect masters remain; this humble Daoist has matters to discuss."

After speaking, Qin Sang nodded to Li Yufu, stepped aside, and stood at the edge of the ritual altar, observing the ceremony.

After this upheaval, the disciples of Green Goat Temple had personally witnessed their Ancestor display immense power, dominating the entire realm, filling them with surging emotions and high morale. Even the dull and tedious sacrificial verses, when recited by them, carried an aura capable of shaking mountains and pulling up peaks.

The guest seats were significantly emptier. Seeing the vacant spots, everyone felt a silent chill, sat upright, and patiently watched the ceremony.

Grand ceremonies always followed fixed rituals. Li Yufu led the Green Goat Temple disciples, proceeding step by step without fault. It continued until deep into the night, and no one grew impatient.

Finally, the grand ceremony concluded. The attendees did not leave but followed the Green Goat Temple disciples to settle down for the time being.

The sect masters of various factions, as well as Old Demon Fang, Yuan Zhu, and others, were invited to Welcoming Peak.

Qin Sang was waiting for them at Welcoming Peak.

"Yuan Zhu greets the Great True Immortal."

"Fellow Daoist, there's no need for such formality. It has been over a thousand years since we parted. Recalling the past feels like a dream. It is truly fortunate that we can reunite," Qin Sang remarked with emotion.

Yuan Zhu also felt a sense of melancholy and shared sentiment. Back then, he and Qin Sang had almost died at the hands of King Nine Phoenix, their situation extremely perilous. At that time, neither of them could have ever imagined achieving such accomplishments.

Once everyone was seated, Qin Sang returned to the main seat, looking around. His gaze was no longer as aggressive as it had been during the day.

"What this humble Daoist said earlier today was not alarmist. Even with countermeasures, this humble Daoist cannot guarantee absolute infallibility. Therefore, the first thing this humble Daoist did was to find a refuge. You can select your talented junior disciples and send them there. Should anything unforeseen happen, at least a portion of our lineage can be preserved."