Everyone in the Heavenly Sword Palace had no idea about Qing Xiaoting's origin. All they knew was she had a special status—no one could command her. How did she become their ancestor, the palace founder?
Furthermore, according to common knowledge, even an expert at the peak of the Divine Ascending Tribulation Realm could not live more than four thousand years. How could Qing Xiaoting still be alive after five thousand years?
Moreover, no matter how they looked at her, she didn't seem to resemble someone at the end of her lifespan. What was going on here?
Under everyone's horror gaze, Qing Xiaoting glanced at the old man and said softly. "You have neglected your duty, Wuming."
The old man, Jian Wuming, trembled and quickly landed one knee on the ground. "Please punish this disciple."
Seeing this scene, the expressions of Jian Ning and the others behind him went paler. They were always aware of how aloof Jian Wuming was. However, he was actually like a wronged child in front of Qing Xiaoting.
Qing Xiaoting sighed softly. "Well, it cannot be blamed on you solely, after all."
She glanced at Jian Ning and the others. "I have never expected all of you, the later generations, to abide by my teachings from the beginning. After all, a human's heart is too profound and impossible to understand thoroughly."
"This time, all of you were driven by greed, and there was someone like Jian Xu to take the lead. It would be strange if all of you weren't tempted."
Jian Ning and the others quickly knelt on the ground and said. "We were blinded by greed. Please punish us, Ancestor."
Seeing his disciple's terror appearance, Jian Han let out a sigh of disappointment and closed his eyes, unwilling to look at him further. He had already warned him many times, but he didn't listen. If Qing Xiaoting wanted to kill Jian Ning, he wouldn't say a word.
Qing Xiaoting looked at Jian Ning and said. "You have repeatedly provoked and sowed discord among the inner disciples for many years. A person with a treacherous mind like you is not suitable for touching a sword again."
Jian Ning shuddered. His entire body was drenched in a cold sweat as he hurriedly kowtowed. "This disciple is wrong. Please give me a chance, Ancestor. I promise that I will change."
Qing Xiaoting turned deaf ears. She glanced at Jian Wuming and asked. "What's the punishment for him?"
Jian Wuming quickly responded. "Anyone who violated the rules by using their status to suppress others shall have their status and profound strength deprived."
Qing Xiaoting said softly. "Do it according to the rules."
"Yes, Ancestor." Jian Wuming replied solemnly and turned to Jian Ning.
At this moment, Jian Ning's face was pale as a white sheet, and his eyes were full of terror. Once his status and profound strength were removed, those harmed by him wouldn't let him go for certain.
"No! Palace Master, you can't do this to me! I have a very high talent! You cannot do this!" Under pressure from his own mind and Jian Wuming, Jian Ning's mentality defense immediately broke. He shouted hysterically and even tried to escape.
However, those elders around him quickly seized this chance to make merit. They immediately brought Jian Ning down and pressed him to the ground, offering him to Jian Wuming.
"You!" Jian Ning was so furious to the point he coughed up blood. He glared at these people with deep hatred and bellowed. "Do you think they will let all of you go!? You will definitely have the same fate as mine!"
"Don't talk nonsense! Although we were blinded by the supreme elder… No. I mean that old bastard Jian Xu, we have never done any despicable deeds like you." One of the elders shouted, fearing Qing Xiaoting couldn't hear it.
"That's right! I remember it now. You are the one who harmed my disciple back then. I want to kill you!" Another elder said angrily and gave Jian Ning a kick.
"Enough!" Jian Wuming said coldly, and everyone immediately shut their mouths.
He swept his gaze on these people and said. "All of you will be demoted to the outer elder and shall not return to the current position in five hundred years."
Hearing this, the elders were naturally unwilling in their hearts, but they didn't dare to refute it. Anyway, they could still save their lives as well as their profound strength.
"We accept the punishment!" They quickly said in unison.
Jian Wuming glanced at Jian Ning and pointed at him. Suddenly, a streak of sharp light shot out of the tip of his finger and went straight to Jian Ning's Origin Core before breaking it apart.
"Noooo! Puff!" Jian Ning cried in terror and spat out a few mouthfuls of blood. His profound strength gradually left his body, and his eyes turned dull. From today onward, he would be a mortal for the rest of his life.
Those elders nearby glanced at him in pity, but no one had genuinely sympathized with him. After all, they were well aware of how despicable Jian Ning was. They wouldn't work with him from the beginning if it wasn't for Jian Xu.
"By relying on his status to bully others, this punishment is too soft." Shen Liqiu pouted. As a young miss of the Shen Clan, she had seen a lot of people like Jian Ning. In her opinion, these kinds of people should be killed on the spot.
Yun Lintian smiled and said. "This is the best punishment for people like him. Without status and profound strength, his life will be worse than death."
"Throw him out and announce to the world that he's no longer the Heavenly Sword Palace's disciple from now on." Jian Wuming waved his hand dismissively.
"Don't worry, we are good at this, Palace Master." One of the elders quickly said with a flattering smile and hurriedly dragged Jian Ning away.
Shen Liqiu glanced at Jian Wuming and said in a low voice. "This old man is so sinister. This is simply throwing meat to a bunch of sharks."
Yun Lintian curled his lips and said nothing. He could understand Jian Wuming's current mood. As someone who did something wrong, it was normal for him to be this eager to seek merit. He didn't believe that this old man didn't know about Jian Xu's uprising.
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