Chapter 77: Farewell, Elder Wu!

The moment Lin Yun finished speaking, Zhao Fa's psychological defenses completely collapsed. He knelt on the floor, a blubbering mess of snot and tears, crying with heartbreaking sorrow. Even Lin Yun was taken aback by the display.

Jiang Zhengqing sighed, his expression hardening. "What use is crying? Tell me what this is all about, right now. Or must I truly punish you according to sect law?"

Only then did Zhao Fa speak. "Sect Master… do you remember Xu Lin?"

Jiang Zhengqing was surprised. "Her? But… isn't she already dead?"

"Yes," Zhao Fa said in a low voice. "But I heard that the Flowing Cloud Sect has a secret art, one that can open a path to the Nether Abyss and ferry the souls of the dead. If I had that art… perhaps I could bring her back."

Hearing this, Jiang Zhengqing couldn't help but let out a long sigh. In the end, he is just a man lost to foolish love.

Lin Yun hadn't expected that the timid Zhao Fa would be capable of going to such lengths for the woman he loved. "I was in the Flowing Cloud Sect for many years, and I never once heard of such a secret art," he said. "Besides, even if it did exist, did you really expect them to just hand it over to you? They would only use it as leverage to exploit your position as the Fifth Elder."

Zhao Fa's face turned the color of dead ashes.

"Who told you to steal the survey map from the Ming Pavilion?" Jiang Zhengqing demanded.

Zhao Fa's eyes darted toward Wu Boyan. "Sect Master… it was Senior Brother Wu."

Wu Boyan exploded with rage, his face instantly flushing a deep red. "Zhao Fa, you venomous snake! What grudge do you have against me that you would persecute me like this? Is it because Xu Lin's death had something to do with me? Have you held that grudge for all these years?"

Lin Yun laughed. "No need to be in such a hurry to defend yourself, Elder Wu. The men from the Disciplinary Hall are already on their way. I believe they will be bringing back the survey map you have hidden very soon."

If Wu Boyan had possessed even a sliver of hope before, that last sentence was the final straw that broke the camel's back.

It was all over.

Lin Yun had calculated everything. He had anticipated their every move.

Wu Boyan's gaze fell on Lin Yun, his expression turning frigid. You brat. You schemed against me to this extent.

"Even if I die today," he roared, "I'll be damned if I let you get away with this!"

He lunged, striking out at Lin Yun with his palm.

The sudden attack caught Jiang Zhengqing completely by surprise. In that instant, Zhou Damao threw himself in front of Lin Yun. "Elder Wu, how dare you! To commit violence in the Great Hall!"

"Hah! So what if I do? When the Disciplinary Hall arrives, I'm doomed either way!" Wu Boyan snarled. "You all dream of using this boy to revitalize the sect? Today, I will shatter those dreams!"

As he spoke, he clashed with Zhou Damao. A terrifying surge of vital energy erupted. Zhou Damao's sleeve exploded instantly, and his right arm was covered in savage, blood-red veins.

"Pfft!"

Zhou Damao coughed up a mouthful of blood and was sent flying out of the Great Hall.

Wu Boyan didn't stop. In a flash, he was before Lin Yun, his hand aimed to decapitate him.

At the critical moment, the Frigid Flame Sword and Xiao Bai appeared simultaneously. With a furious roar, Xiao Bai's eyes shot out a brilliant gleam of light, colliding with Wu Boyan's attack.

"BOOM!"

With a deafening crash, Wu Boyan himself was thrown backward. His left chest caved in, several ribs clearly broken.

Though Lin Yun's defense had been timely, he was still facing a Myriad Law Realm expert. The aftershock of the blow alone sent him staggering back several steps, a trickle of blood leaking from the corner of his mouth.

Wu Boyan stabilized himself in mid-air, his face turning the color of a pig's liver. "Impossible… You are a mere Origin Sea cultivator! How did you block my attack?"

Suppressing the surge of vital blood in his chest, he charged forward once more.

The moment Lin Yun had been attacked, Ning Changkong and Duan Wuya had turned their attention to the fray. When Xiao Bai made its move, a flicker of change had crossed their expressions. Now, as Wu Boyan moved again, the two elders intervened.

"Wu Boyan, you have some nerve! How dare you act so wantonly in the Great Hall?"

A terrifying cross-current of vital energy surged forth. Wu Boyan, having taken only two steps, was slammed to the ground, pinned helplessly.

Lin Yun coughed twice, wiping the blood from his lips with a faint smile. "You can't kill me, Elder Wu. But I suggest you start thinking about your own fate."

Perched on Lin Yun's shoulder, Xiao Bai chirped twice. It looked exhausted, and with a flash, it returned to the Yuqili bracelet.

Ning Changkong exchanged a look with Duan Wuya. A silent conversation passed between them.

Did you see that? The boy's spirit beast is unusual. It's not a standard taming.

Indeed. To block Wu Boyan's strike head-on, it must have the power of a Spirit Cauldron Realm beast at the very least. How could an Origin Sea cultivator possibly control such a creature?

A spirit beast acknowledging a master?

The same thought flashed through both of their minds. It was the only plausible explanation.

Wu Boyan was still struggling on the floor. "Jiang Zhengqing, let me go! If you dare to touch me, the Flowing Cloud Sect will not spare you!"

Seeing his junior brother still so obstinately refusing to see the error of his ways, Jiang Zhengqing was deeply grieved. "Junior Brother Wu, even now, you are still so deluded. When has the Flowing Cloud Sect ever spared anyone? Even Junior Brother Li died at their hands. Do you truly expect them to spare us?"

After so many years, the Beast Taming Sect had long since abandoned such fantasies. If they wanted to rise again, they would have to fight. It didn't matter who the opponent was. Even if it was the Flowing Cloud Sect.

Wu Boyan laughed maniacally. "Haha! With just you lot? How can you possibly fight the Flowing Cloud Sect?"

Jiang Zhengqing gestured with his hand. "Take him away. Once the evidence is confirmed, he will be dealt with according to sect rules."

Several disciples from the Disciplinary Hall entered. They fastened something around Wu Boyan's wrists, and his vital energy instantly vanished. Lin Yun's eyes widened at the sight. They have something that good?

"Kun Yuan Locks," Xu Miaoyun explained, likely sensing his thoughts. "They only work on those who have lost the ability to resist."

Lin Yun felt a pang of disappointment. The locks looked impressive, but if you had to wait until an enemy was already helpless, you might as well just finish them off. The locks didn't seem all that important then. What a pity. If only they could be modified.

After Wu Boyan was led away, Jiang Zhengqing turned to Zhao Fa. "Fortunately, Lin Yun discovered this matter in time, preventing a greater disaster. Junior Brother Zhao, you will enter seclusion to reflect on your faults. I will visit you in due time."

Zhao Fa was stunned. He looked up at Jiang Zhengqing. "Sect Master… you're not… not punishing me?"

Jiang Zhengqing shook his head. "Locking you away, forcing you to repent your mistakes day after day—that is your punishment."

Zhao Fa kowtowed, deeply moved. "Thank you, Senior Brother." Two disciples led him away, though without the Kun Yuan Locks.

After all this was done, Jiang Zhengqing finally turned to Lin Yun, a faint smile on his face.

"Now, it's your turn."