Jin Mo cast a sidelong glance at Shui Ye and the others, inwardly protesting his innocence.
I absolutely did not aim in that direction on purpose — it was pure coincidence! It definitely wasn't because this fool acted so arrogantly before our Hall Master and dared to covet the Hall Master's wife that I struck him so ruthlessly. Absolutely not!!!
…But how will the Hall Master reward me later?
Thanks to Ling Quan serving as an unwilling human cushion, the subordinate hadn't suffered grave internal injuries. However, Jin Mo's punch had smashed his jaw askew; blood and several teeth had already flown free.
The man staggered away, trying desperately to speak, but only pitiful "woo-woo-woo" sounds escaped his mangled mouth. He fumbled forward, reaching to pry his commander — his captain — out from the cracked stone pillar.
Whether from clumsiness or sheer bad luck, his fingers inevitably pressed against Ling Quan's fresh wounds.
Ling Quan's eyes bulged in fury. He glared murderously at the man before him, inwardly roaring:
You brainless oaf! Did you leave your mind back at the clan? Why are you prying at me here? Shouldn't you be feeding me a healing pill first? And you're yanking so hard — do you want to tear me in half?!
The subordinate, however, misinterpreted the frantic nodding and muffled "woo-woo" as encouragement.
Captain is urging me to hurry!
Determined, he planted one foot firmly against the pillar for leverage and prepared to haul with all his strength.
Just as he braced himself —
A hand suddenly tapped his shoulder.
He turned instinctively.
A fist filled his vision.
A vicious left hook landed square on his face.
Teeth, blood, and spittle sprayed in a graceful arc as the man was sent flying like a rag doll.
Two more Boundless Heaven Hall elders immediately pounced, turning the airborne man into the centerpiece of a one-sided group thrashing.
Meanwhile, another elder used a surge of Dou Qi to forcibly wrench Ling Quan free from the pillar like pulling a radish from soil — then casually tossed him into the growing pile of groaning bodies.
Ling Quan never imagined that his grand mission — the one he had boasted about to every commander who would listen — would end like this: beaten unrecognizable before he could even finish a single sentence.
Outside the fray, Hai Bodong and Jin Mo stood with arms crossed, overseeing the "lesson."
Whenever any Black Annihilation Army member tried to circulate Dou Qi in resistance, a precise interruption would arrive — either an ice spear from Hai Bodong or a casual palm strike from Jin Mo.
"Tsk tsk," Hai Bodong clicked his tongue in mock admiration. "Old Jin, look at these fellows — truly resilient. Beaten to this state and still refusing to beg for mercy. Impressive fortitude."
"Cough, cough, cough—" Jin Mo nearly choked on his own laughter.
As expected of someone the Hall Master favors. His ability to spout nonsense with a straight face is truly unmatched.
How could the victims beg when their faces were swollen like pig heads, mouths smashed to pulp, jaws dislocated, and several fingers already broken to prevent hand seals?
Inside the grand hall, miserable screams and the dull thuds of fists and feet formed a chaotic symphony.
They deliberately targeted faces, mouths, and hands — ensuring not a single intelligible word could escape.
Shui Ye glanced toward the palace exterior and spoke calmly.
"There's still one rat hiding outside. Leave the rest here to me."
His figure flickered and vanished from the hall.
High above the palace, in the open sky, Shui Ye's voice rolled out like distant thunder.
"Who dares spy on my Boundless Heaven Hall?"
Space rippled.
A young man clad in flowing cyan robes materialized opposite him.
The youth's brows furrowed slightly.
"Who are you people? I am here by clan order to retrieve—"
"How impudent!"
Shui Ye cut him off with a cold sneer.
"You barge into my Boundless Heaven Hall and still dare question me with such arrogance? Spirit Serpent Water Scroll!"
Sensing the faint familiar aura shared with the Black Annihilation Army members below, Shui Ye's eyes flashed with understanding.
Without another word, he struck.
A colossal water serpent erupted from the void before him — jaws gaping wide, scales shimmering with chilling blue light as it lunged straight for the cyan-robed youth.
The young man was utterly dumbfounded.
"Brother… are you truly this ill-tempered? I only asked one question and you attack without a word? Where is your honor as a senior?"
He had no time for further complaints.
The water serpent carried terrifying pressure — its master was clearly a six-star Dou Zun, while he himself stood merely at the peak of two-star Dou Zun.
Solemnity flashed across his eyes.
His footwork abruptly changed; faint dragon and serpent phantoms flickered behind him. His figure turned ghostly, evading the serpent's snapping jaws in a series of bewildering afterimages.
He opened his mouth to speak again —
But how could Shui Ye grant him the chance?
"Think you can escape?"
Shui Ye sneered.
With a flick of his sleeve, the massive serpent twisted violently mid-air. Its enormous body coiled like a true python, changing direction in an instant and pursuing with ferocious speed.
Winds howled in its wake; space itself warped and distorted around the serpent's thrashing form.
The cyan-robed youth's movements grew increasingly erratic as he dodged desperately — yet the serpent seemed to read his every intent.
"Damn it!"
Left with no path of retreat, he let out a low growl. Dou Qi surged wildly within his meridians.
"Earth-tier Mid-grade Dou Technique: Sky Fiend Shattering Void!"
He clenched his fist.
A ferocious, malevolent aura enveloped his hand like black flames. He punched forward —
A terrifying fist imprint roared forth, shattering space wherever it passed. Ear-splitting cracks of fracturing void echoed through the heavens.
A cold gleam flashed in Shui Ye's eyes.
He controlled the serpent to whip its tail with crushing force.
The colossal tail swept out like a falling mountain range, smashing directly against the incoming fist imprint.
"BOOM—!"
A deafening explosion rocked the skies above Tianbei City.
The fist imprint shattered instantly.
The serpent's tail — carrying howling gales — continued unabated, smashing toward the cyan-robed youth's body.
"Sky Fiend Body Protection!"
Alarm flashed across the youth's face.
He hastily summoned his protective Dou Qi layer.
The massive tail struck true.
His defensive barrier exploded like glass.
The terrifying impact sent him hurtling backward dozens of zhang through the air.
When he finally stabilized his figure, blood and qi roiled violently within him. A thin line of fresh blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
He raised his head, eyes filled with wariness and lingering shock as he stared at the blue-robed elder hovering calmly before him.