Chapter 977: Gathering for a Group Fight

The Wind Rises in Kyushu

In the elegant courtyard, nearly twenty True Lake Realm cultivators were fighting fiercely. Tables, benches, and pavilions lay shattered, and drinks and food were spilled everywhere, creating a chaotic scene.

Shen Manzi was desperately trying to mediate, but at this moment, no one paid attention to her words, treating them as idle chatter. They were solely focused on pummeling their opponents.

The immense commotion naturally startled the many cultivators in the front hall, who rushed over to watch. Such a scene was rarely witnessed in Haotian City, and everyone was amazed, watching with great interest.

"Madam Boss, what should we do?" a servant from Baixiang Tower asked.

Shen Manzi's skirt billowed. She subtly kicked a member of Team A-5 who had fallen in front of her, sending him back into the fray. With a soft sigh, she said, "Report it to the Law Enforcement Division." She couldn't stop them, but she also couldn't just watch the situation escalate. After all, it was happening on her premises. For now, the two groups were relatively restrained; apart from Lu Ye and the ninth-level youth occasionally using spiritual power, no one else showed signs of doing so. But if the fighting continued like this, no one could guarantee how things would unfold. If someone accidentally died, every single person involved in the brawl, from both sides, would face severe consequences.

No sooner had Shen Manzi finished speaking than the formidable aura of a Divine Sea Realm grand cultivator suddenly rose from somewhere in Haotian City, rapidly approaching their location. It turned out that someone among the spectators had already reported it to the Law Enforcement Division. The powerful aura, emanating from the Law Enforcement Division's main hall, reached above Baixiang Tower within mere moments, revealing a figure: Qian Wudang.

Concurrently, across Haotian City, streams of divine sense spread out and converged towards this spot. Clearly startled by Qian Wudang, cultivators were using their divine sense to investigate the situation. Upon realizing the conflict here, the Divine Sea Realm cultivators scattered across the city were all astonished. They had never imagined such an incident could occur within Haotian City. However, since this was ultimately an internal matter for the Law Enforcement Division, these Divine Sea Realm cultivators had no intention of appearing, opting instead to let Qian Wudang handle it himself.

Looking down from above, Qian Wudang's face twitched slightly, and he roared, "Everyone, stop this instant!"

As he spoke, his aura exploded, and an invisible heavy pressure descended from the sky. Many cultivators who had been watching the spectacle from the air were caught off guard and tumbled downwards like dumplings, cries of alarm erupting all around. They were merely affected by the residual power. The real targets were those fighting in the elegant courtyard, who suddenly felt immense pressure, making it difficult to breathe.

The chaotic scene froze.

King Gengwu was bruised and swollen, holding a defensive stance. As the strongest in Team A-3 and a body cultivator, he had been surrounded by several opponents. Xiao Ruyun lay on the ground, his legs locked around an opponent's waist like shackles. His hands were clasped over the opponent's cheeks, thumbs pressed into their eye sockets, as if threatening to gouge out their eyeballs. The opponent's expression was grimacing, clearly in discomfort. Kang Yuanqiao, usually a steady and composed person, was now straddling an opponent's neck, hands clenched into fists, poised to strike. Shangguan Qiu was the one taking the beating... there was nothing he could do. Spell cultivators generally have weaker physiques, offering no advantage in such brawls. His brow bone was split open, and blood streamed down his face. Xiao Xinghe's clothes were tattered. Two opponents glared at him, clearly having suffered losses themselves. Lin Yinxiu, Mu Zheng, and three female cultivators from the opposing side confronted each other from several feet apart. All the women had disheveled hair and were panting, indicating they had undoubtedly exchanged blows for a while. Lu Ye, meanwhile, was astride the ninth-level youth, who had his hands clasped over his head, defending against Lu Ye's furious assault before Qian Wudang arrived. And Amber... with his maw wide open, he had a cultivator's head entirely inside. Only the cultivator's body was visible, making it seem, at first glance, that Amber was eating a person, a terrifying sight.

Qian Wudang's gaze swept across the scene, pausing for a moment on Lin Yinxiu. Seeing her disheveled state, his heart ached, almost making it impossible to breathe. When she was by his side, Yinxiu, though a bit mischievous, would never act in such an undignified manner. How could she have descended to brawling like a shrew after only a few days with Lu Yiye? What a disgrace!

His anger surged, and the pressure in the courtyard intensified. The entire group dared not take a single breath. After a good while, Qian Wudang coldly barked, "Everyone, stand straight!"

At his command, every single cultivator in the elegant courtyard abandoned their opponent and straightened up. Only Amber, with an innocent expression, spat out the opponent he had in his mouth, transformed into the size of a cat, and quietly slipped away to the side. The cultivator Amber spat out was covered in slobber, his face showing an expression of utter despair.

"Captains, step forward!" Qian Wudang barked again.

King Gengwu and Lu Ye stepped forward, heads held high, chests out. On the other side, the ninth-level youth and another person also stepped forward.

Qian Wudang, enraged, laughed mockingly. With his hands clasped behind his back, he nodded slightly. "King Gengwu, Lu Yiye, Zhou Kui, Zhang Cheng, you four are doing a splendid job as captains, leading your team members in a mass brawl right here!"

Standing beside King Gengwu, Lu Ye's expression subtly shifted.

King Gengwu, head high and chest out, responded in a deep voice, "Sir, you've misunderstood. We were merely gathered here for drinks. In the heat of the moment, the brothers decided to have a friendly spar. We never intended to cause such a commotion and alarm you, Sir. Please forgive us."

Lu Ye, Zhou Kui, and Zhang Cheng understood tacitly, all chiming in simultaneously, "It was just a friendly spar!" Regardless of how they had been fighting moments ago, their stance now had to be unified.

"Do you take me for a blind fool or an idiot? A 'spar'?" Qian Wudang's anger flared. "Is this how you 'spar'? Look at how much property you've damaged! Look at your own injuries! And you have the nerve to call it a 'spar' to my face!"

King Gengwu shrank his neck and weakly said, "That's the truth..." Qian Wudang glared, and King Gengwu immediately fell silent. He knew that this incident had escalated too much, drawing the silent attention of many Divine Sea Realm cultivators. Even if Qian Wudang wanted to downplay it, it wouldn't be possible.

"As members of the Law Enforcement Division, you've engaged in drunkenness, disorderly conduct, and mass brawling here, deliberately breaking the law! King Gengwu, tell me, what punishment do you deserve?" Qian Wudang demanded.

King Gengwu stiffened his neck. "This humble subordinate will go to the penal department to receive punishment. However, the cause of today's incident lies with me and is unrelated to anyone else. I implore you, Sir, to be merciful and let me bear all the blame alone."

"You want to take all the blame yourself?" Qian Wudang looked at him angrily. "You don't have that ability! Everyone involved in today's incident, get yourselves to the penal department! Each captain will receive ten lashes, and everyone else five lashes. This is a minor punishment as a warning to others. If you dare to reoffend next time, I will show no mercy!"

At his words, every single cultivator in the elegant courtyard trembled. Lu Ye couldn't help but grimace. He had experienced the taste of the Reverse Dragon Thorn before; it wasn't pleasant.

"Now hurry up and get out!" Qian Wudang roared, feeling more exasperated than he had ever been in his life. Such an incident occurring under his Law Enforcement Division left him no face. With so many Divine Sea Realm cultivators secretly watching, he had to provide an explanation no matter what. This punishment was already the best solution he could offer.

At his command, everyone immediately rushed off, heading towards the penal department. Gone was the passion and fervor of their earlier brawl. Each person's gaze was downcast and uneasy, especially the female cultivators, whose faces were somewhat pale. Even if they hadn't personally experienced the power of the Reverse Dragon Thorn, they had heard about it. No one knew if they could withstand five lashes.

"What are you looking at? Disperse!" Qian Wudang turned and yelled at the onlookers, feeling irritated by everyone today. With a flick of his sleeve, he also headed towards the penal department.

At the entrance to the penal department, the on-duty cultivators watched the large procession of Law Enforcement Division members with beaming smiles. Although Baixiang Tower wasn't close to their location, Qian Wudang's earlier roar had been heard throughout Haotian City. So, even staying here, they knew what had happened. They felt their eyes had been opened today, having never seen so many people come to the penal department to receive punishment all at once. Like hospitable hosts, they enthusiastically led the group inside. Qian Wudang also followed them into the penal department.

As they went deeper, the gloomy and dark environment became even more eerie. Thinking about the torture they were about to endure, everyone felt a chill run down their spines.

"Now you know how to regret? What were you doing earlier?" Qian Wudang, who had somehow ended up at the front, scoffed.

No one spoke.

They soon arrived at the execution area. Old One-Eye, in charge of punishments, was drinking. Sensing Qian Wudang's aura, he quickly rose to greet him. Then, seeing the vast crowd behind Qian Wudang, he was startled. "Sir Commander, what is this...?"

"They made mistakes and are here to receive punishment," Qian Wudang said, turning to look back, an expression of exasperated disappointment on his face. Everyone he looked at lowered their heads.

"So many!" Old One-Eye was surprised. "This old man will be quite busy today." Saying this, he slowly walked to the area where the Reverse Dragon Thorn was kept, took it down, and gave it a casual flick. *Snap!* It sounded like thunder. That single crack seemed to lash at everyone present, making many of them shiver.

"You four, who wants to go first?" Qian Wudang's gaze fell on Lu Ye and the others standing at the very front. He stood to the side with his hands clasped behind his back, clearly intending to personally supervise their punishment.

Lu Ye turned and gave King Gengwu a glance. King Gengwu understood immediately. The next moment, both of them simultaneously took a step back. Zhang Cheng, the one called Zhang Cheng, also realized and hastily retreated. Someone in the group behind them let out a chuckle, which lightened the solemn and tense atmosphere considerably.

Leaving Zhou Kui standing alone, belatedly realizing, "You all..."

"Excellent!" Qian Wudang praised with a strained smile. "Then Zhou Kui, you go first!"

"Sir, I didn't..."

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Qian Wudang reached out and grabbed Zhou Kui, tossing him under the whipping frame. "It's one cut whether you stick your neck out or pull it back. Better to get it over with quickly!"