Abundant Martial Arts Virtue

Fuyun Sect.

Precepts Hall.

Sect Leader.

Supreme Elder.

Eight Great Precepts Elders.

And thirty-six law enforcement cultivators, hundreds of cultivators.

Gathered together.

In the tense atmosphere, a figure descended from the sky, landing in the hall.

"Greetings, Sect Leader and Elders."

Wu Xiaode clasped his fists and said.

"Do you know your crime!" A Precepts Elder shouted.

"I know my crime, of course I do," Wu Xiaode laughed, "I was originally in solitary confinement, shouldn't have left secretly, and went to the market."

"Hmph, violating precepts, leaving the sect without permission, do you know the consequences?" the Precepts Elder asked.

"Solitary confinement time tripled." Wu Xiaode replied.

A figure landed in the hall, speaking coldly:

"Do you think it's that simple?"

It was Junior Master Zhang.

"If not, then what else? I didn't do anything else." Wu Xiaode said.

Junior Master Zhang didn't even look at him and bowed towards the stage, saying, "This criminal attempted to kill a fellow disciple with a disagreement; it's a heinous crime."

"I implore the Sect Leader to abolish this criminal's cultivation and expel him from the sect, as a warning to others!"

The disciples discussed fervently like a boiling pot.

"Silence!"

The Sect Leader's face turned iron blue, demanding, "Fang Yuming, do you have anything to say?"

"How could this be? I don't know about attempting to kill anyone, please enlighten me, Junior Master Zhang." Wu Xiaode said.

"On the market street, according to sect precepts, I ordered you to return to the sect immediately, yet you attacked me, placing a sword at my throat." Junior Master Zhang said.

Vroom—

In the Precepts Hall, the murmurs that had just calmed down rose again.

How could a Golden Core hold a sword at a Nascent Soul's throat?

It's a joke!

However, the eight Precepts Elders didn't laugh.

The Sect Leader's gaze was indecisive.

As for Junior Master Zhang—

His face full of humiliation transformed into murderous intent.

There was no choice.

What happened in the market would eventually spread.

He had been defeated by a Golden Core.

With one move!

When people saw Fang Yuming in the future, they would certainly remember that he once defeated a fellow junior master of higher realm.

He was that junior master!

Rather than letting this drag on, it was better to trigger the incident himself and use sect precepts to suppress it, leaving no place for this kid to die.

—Only in this way could his reputation be cleansed!

"Are there any witnesses to this matter?" the Sect Leader asked.

"The law enforcers from the market can all testify." Junior Master Zhang said.

"Go, bring the law enforcers." the Sect Leader said.

Two Precepts Elders took their leave.

The market wasn't far from Fuyun Sect; they would return quickly, so everyone could just wait silently.

At this moment, another figure descended from the sky.

Fu Caier.

She noticed the two Precepts Elders flying past her toward the market and immediately understood how far things had progressed.

Fu Caier said nothing, lowered her head, walked over to the female disciples' side, and once she stood still, she scanned the hall and gazed at Junior Master Zhang.

Junior Master Zhang nodded slightly, transmitting a message:

"Cai Er, watch me abolish this scoundrel's cultivation for you today."

"He will never bother you again."

—He wanted to kill Fang Yuming.

But would the Sect Leader be willing to kill such a genius as Fang Yuming?

To defeat a Nascent Soul with one move!

However, the Precepts Hall had already started today, making it difficult to resolve peacefully.

Should she stand out to help Fang Yuming?

Fu Caier looked around at the disciples' expressions, then at Fang Yuming and Junior Master Zhang in the hall, and quickly made a decision.

The situation wasn't urgent.

If she rashly stood out to support Fang Yuming at the start, it would seem too lowly.

So she stood silently among the disciples, waiting quietly.

Time passed.

Shortly.

The two Precepts Elders returned with the law enforcers from the market.

One law enforcer stepped forward and laid out the details of the situation.

The Precepts Hall went silent.

So it was true.

Golden Core Stage Fang Yuming defeated Nascent Soul Stage Junior Master Zhang in one move.

Too powerful!

Junior Master Zhang cleared his throat and spoke righteously:

"At the time, I saw Fu Caier standing in the crowd, surrounded by cultivators with ill intentions watching her, and I was distracted."

"Moreover, I never imagined someone would show such disrespect by attacking an elder of the sect."

The words were reasonable.

Everyone's hearts agreed it was so.

Junior Master Zhang raised his voice in anger: "I never thought this kid would use a sword! He intended to kill me!"

The hall was silent.

His voice echoed in the Precepts Hall.

The cultivators said nothing, thinking this time Fang Yuming was done for.

Suddenly, a lazy voice sounded:

"Then... why didn't his sword kill you while it was at your throat?"

Fang Yuming!

—Or should I say Wu Xiaode!

Wu Xiaode spoke leisurely: "If I truly intended to kill you and seized the moment to attack with my sword at your throat, you should be dead."

Reasonable!

Everyone nodded silently.

Junior Master Zhang yelled in rage: "In the market, law enforcers were everywhere, eyes were everywhere; if you killed someone in public, you couldn't escape, that's why you stopped ultimately!"

Also reasonable!

Everyone nodded silently again.

"As you said," Wu Xiaode shrugged, "in the market, law enforcers were everywhere, eyes were everywhere; how could I dare to kill you?"

Still reasonable!

They both have valid points!

Junior Master Zhang cupped his hands towards the Sect Leader on the stage and said:

"I implore the Sect Leader to take charge and cleanse the sect!"

Wu Xiaode also cupped his hands and said, "Disciple was just playing around with Junior Master Zhang, he couldn't handle it, Sect Leader."

The Sect Leader flung his whisk.

The two immediately fell silent.

After a pause of seven or eight breaths.

The Sect Leader pondered aloud, "Regardless, Fang Yuming indeed took action, that fact is undeniable."

"Therefore, Fang Yuming violated the sect's rules."

"Great Elder of Precepts, what is the punishment for such a situation?"

The Great Elder shouted sternly, "Defying superiors, wielding a weapon to harm, betraying masters and ancestors, according to the law, he should be executed!"

His voice thundered through the Precepts Hall.

The cultivators all began to stir.

Disciples who had benefited from Fang Yuming in the past all had reddened eyes, and several could no longer hold back from stepping forward to plead.

It was at this moment!

Fu Caier gently tidied her hair, took a deep breath, and stepped forward.

Fang Yuming.

Today I save you, and you will be mine.

In the future, you must be grateful, and with your newly shown outstanding talent and amazing aptitude, lead me forward.

You must treat me well with all the resources of your great cultivation family.

You must bring me straight to the heavens!

"Sect Leader, esteemed elders," Fu Caier said tearfully, "Disciple has something to report."

Everyone turned to look at her.

"Speak, Cai Er, if you have grievances, just speak before the Sect Leader." Junior Master Zhang quickly said.

He looked toward the Sect Leader.

The Sect Leader nodded, "As long as it concerns today's event, you may speak freely."

At that moment.

All sound disappeared.

The entire Precepts Hall suddenly fell into a bizarre stagnation.

Everyone maintained their original posture and expression, not moving a bit.

Wu Xiaode's expression changed.

Lines of small bronze characters quickly appeared before his eyes:

"Entered crucial destiny node:"

"Precepts Hall Trial."

"This node was originally set to activate two months later."

"Fang Yuming attacked a junior master, was injured in the dantian, and further punished by the Precepts Hall, stripped of his true disciple status."

"Due to all your actions, this node was advanced to today."

"Changing the trajectory of this crucial node will alter Fang Yuming's destiny script."

"Success will grant the status of: Fang Yuming, resulting in unforeseeable changes."

"Failure will bring the backlash of the Law of Destiny, leading to immediate obliteration!"

All the small characters flashed away.

Wu Xiaode's gaze tightened, becoming entirely serious.

It was supposed to be one day.

As a result, his actions triggered the node's early appearance!

—It must be changed!

In the Precepts Hall.

Everything returned to normal.

The Sect Leader had just finished speaking.

Fu Caier's expression and actions also returned to normal.

She wiped her tears, cried, and knelt beside Wu Xiaode, saluting the stage:

"I really don't want my second senior brother to end up like this."

"He only violated the confinement order at first, and later… it was all my fault; I destabilized his emotions, leading to his grave mistake."

"I beg the Sect Leader to show him leniency!"

"If the Sect Leader deems his fault severe, please punish me as well!"

She knelt beside Wu Xiaode, pleading for him.

This scene immediately ignited the already eager disciples.

Many disciples all knelt down, loudly pleading to the stage:

"We beg the Sect Leader to show leniency to our second senior brother!"

"He is always extremely good, caring for us disciples greatly."

"He taught me without asking for anything in return."

"Second senior brother was just momentarily confused; we beg the Sect Leader to see this clearly!"

If previously the one with the most prestige was Fang Yuming, then with him already accused, at this moment Fu Caier stepping forward to plea for him represented the voice of the broad disciples.

After today, she is now a new leader!

—The disciples all approved of her action!

The elders of Precepts watched the scene below, feeling somewhat moved.

As the saying goes, the law does not apply to the masses.

What to do now?

Sect Leader Bai Zongmang kept a blank face, but in truth, he had a splitting headache.

In this entire affair, the more important factor was the heart of the people.

If the people's hearts scatter, the sect will decline.

Handling such a group event truly tests a sect leader's wisdom.

What to do?

"Do not punish her!"

Fifth Senior Brother Li Tao suddenly stepped forward, half running, and knelt beside Fu Caier, cupping his hands toward the stage:

"Please do not punish Junior Sister Cai Er!"

"In truth, it's all my fault!"

"Your fault? What do you mean?" Sect Leader Bai Zongmang immediately asked.

—Could there be hidden matters to this event?

Then it must be thoroughly investigated!

Li Tao's face carried a look of determination as he resolutely said, "I gathered a few junior brothers to go to the market and settle accounts with second senior brother."

"I called Junior Sister Cai Er over, which angered second senior brother."

"May the Sect Leader see clearly, if punishment must be dealt, then punish me!"

Fu Caier covered her mouth in surprise, unable to speak, crying a torrent of tears.

—Li Tao really is unreliable.

When everyone knelt to plead earlier, he should have stepped out.

Yet he hesitated for a whole three breaths of time!

I'm kneeling here!

He watched for three breaths before standing out!

Curse him!

Curse Li Tao!

For his delay, I will abandon him as well!

"Fifth senior brother, I didn't know that the communication talisman was to meet second senior brother, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have gone!"

Fu Caier cried grievously.