Thus, she straightened her spine, glaring fiercely at Wu Bingyi and gritting her teeth: "Master Wu, this matter has been settled, now the Saint Water is calm and steady!"

Wu Bingyi simply asked: "So it never happened, then?"

"This matter hasn’t caused any harm to the present world! The bitter fruit brewed by the Blood River Sect, we have already reaped it ourselves!" Kou Xuejiao shouted angrily: "What more do you want?!"

Wu Bingyi furrowed his brow: "The Master of the Sword Pavilion came to Saint Water for no reason, is that not a loss? The dean of Twilight Drum Academy came, I came from the Cliff of Celestial Punishment, Supervisor Ruan came from South Xia, are our time and efforts something that your Blood River Sect can waste at will, is that what you mean?"

He looked coldly at Kou Xuejiao: "Protector Kou! I indeed want to ask you, if today Saint Water had not been subdued, if Huo Shiji had died in vain, would you still speak so generously to me, saying, ’This matter hasn’t caused any harm to the present world’?"

"But the fact is that the disturbances of Evil Sea have indeed been quelled! The esteemed identities of several lords would not act lightly, and our Blood River Sect is willing to make amends for the loss." Kou Xuejiao suppressed her anger: "But what time is it now? You have just stepped out of the Door of Mortal World, our Sect Master just died defending Saint Water. Master Wu, speaking of accountability at this time, doesn’t it chill people’s hearts?"

"Indeed, the disturbances of Evil Sea have been quelled, so the sins of your Blood River Sect can be reduced at discretion." Wu Bingyi said expressionlessly: "As for you asking me what time it is now, executing judgment has never depended on time. Is the time of Protector Kou very important?"

Kou Xuejiao, with reddened eyes, said: "From the beginning, we knew the mistake was already made, and we never stopped trying to make amends!"

"But from the beginning you chose to conceal it, didn’t you? It seems that Protector Kou also knew about this matter. Knowing and concealing is harboring and indulgence." Wu Bingyi surveyed around with a solemn gaze: "Up and down the Blood River Sect, not only is it Huo Shiji indulgent in evil conduct. Your Blood River Sect has major problems! Is punishing one person enough?"

Kou Xuejiao was amazed into silence by this remark.

The last sentence of Wu Bingyi seemed to ask if punishing one person would suffice, but in reality, this phrase originated from the Legalist classic "Five Punishments General Theory."

Written by the Middle Ancient era Legalist sage Wei Xing,

The text says: "Is punishing one person enough? Is punishing ten thousand people enough?"

And the answer is—"No excuse for any crime!"

This classic reflects the Legalist ideology of eradicating evil without mercy.

In Wu Bingyi’s current context, it articulates an intent to initiate a large-scale purge!

How could Kou Xuejiao not be startled?

"Master Wu." At this moment, Chen Pu, the dean of Twilight Drum Academy, spoke: "Law is accompanied by humanity; none of us wanted things to develop to today’s situation. However..."

Wu Bingyi didn’t even glance at him, only speaking faintly: "The Palace of the Palace oversees the laws of the land, all dangerous territories fall under its responsibility. If Dean Chen has any objections, you may come to my Cliff of Celestial Punishment to discuss."

He simply did not give face to anyone, not even allowing Chen Pu to finish speaking!

Ruan Qin was new to this matter and had only heard a rough outline, standing with arms folded and not intending to speak.

Si Yu’an, with a grass sword at his waist and his hands behind him, also refrained from speaking.

"Does Master Wu insist on this?" Kou Xuejiao said with hatred: "Our Blood River Sect has already paid a sufficient price for this!"

"Whether the price paid is sufficient is not for you to decide, nor for me, but for the laws of the land. Sentencing and conviction are based on their principles. The responsibility of the Blood River Sect is to guard Saint Water, Sect Master Huo died for his duty, died rightly. He fulfilled his responsibility, his mistakes have been erased, but he can only represent himself." Wu Bingyi’s expression showed no change, speaking calmly: "Who stirred the waves of Saint Water and caused great misfortune... will they stand up themselves, or wait for me to investigate?"

Kou Xuejiao’s face looked extremely displeased.

If Wu Bingyi were to investigate himself, the Blood River Sect probably wouldn’t only be handing over one True Man.

Yet if she were to hand over her own True Man just like that, how could she willing?

The entire square fell into a somber mood.

At this moment, Ruan Qin suddenly turned his gaze afar, as if he noticed something.

Wu Bingyi was even more direct, reaching out, grabbing through the air!

No grandiose light and shadow, not even a noticeable oscillation of power.

Yet across tangible and intangible barriers, he seized something, brought it before him, and slammed it heavily onto the ground!

Illusory light and shadow solidified into substance, a magnificent elderly man with white hair was directly smashed onto the square, bones fractured, tendons snapped, in agonizing pain!

"Elder Xu!"

This elder seized by Wu Bingyi and thrown onto the square was none other than Xu Mingsong, one of the three elders of the Blood River Sect.

Seeing this person in this state, many disciples of the Blood River Sect almost swarmed over.

But they were sharply stopped by Kou Xuejiao’s stern shout: "What are you doing!? Stand back!" 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Facing an expert of Yan Dao like Wu Bingyi, the gap is far beyond what numbers can bridge.

Without an army of a hundred thousand, without a top-tier military formation, without a highly skilled Military Dao True Man leading, what could compete against a Yan Dao True Monarch?

All disciples of the Blood River Sect on this entire square, even adding the already fainted Peng Chongjian, truly facing Wu Bingyi, would only be sending themselves to death.