Chapter 267

Chapter 267: Kneel!

The real world.

　　Jidian was still locked in battle with that Xiao Zhuguo, the two of them evenly matched, the fight fierce beyond measure.

　　Jidian’s strength had surpassed everyone’s expectations, including Ye Tianming’s. Back when this guy had come to the Guanxuan Universe and been defeated by Yang Jia’s sword, it was honestly a bit of a raw deal — if he hadn’t run into the Sword Ancestor, there were truly very few people in the real world at that time who could have handled him.

　　Without that one exception, this guy would have been nearly unbeatable.

　　Boom!

　　As a thunderous explosion erupted from that special battlefield, Jidian and Xiao Zhuguo were both sent flying back repeatedly.

　　Before them, waves of Great Dao pressure swept through like a violent storm, utterly terrifying.

　　Xiao Zhuguo fixed his gaze on Jidian, “Do you know what your actions will bring upon the Ji Clan?”

　　Jidian laughed loudly, “Me, I’m a pretty simple-minded person, I don’t think that much. My philosophy in life is: if you don’t like it, fight it out. Simple as that.”

　　With that, he hurled another fierce punch straight at Xiao Zhuguo.

　　Seeing Jidian like this, Xiao Zhuguo’s expression immediately darkened. He hadn’t imagined that there truly existed someone in this world who acted without using their brain at all.

　　He had no time to dwell on it, because Jidian was already charging at him with fists swinging.

　　Xiao Zhuguo raised his hand and threw a punch, three streams of Great Dao power surging out, crashing hard into Jidian.

　　Boom!

　　The moment their Great Dao forces collided, the entire void battlefield’s space and time exploded outright, terrifying waves of Great Dao pressure spreading outward in all directions.

　　On the other side, Si Ling seemed to have received some order and suddenly looked toward where Ye Tianming was, “Capture this one alive. The rest — slaughter them all.”

　　The words had barely fallen before those Ancient Dragon Guards and the powerful warriors clad in flame battle armor immediately charged toward Ye Tianming and the others together.

　　And with that charge, they were on the verge of shattering the entire real world to pieces.

　　These people were all far too powerful — when they fought without restraint, the real world simply could not withstand their strength.

　　Seeing this, the Wubian Lord beside them immediately furrowed his brow. He lunged forward and yanked both hands apart with force.

　　Rip!

　　Above the Guanxuan Academy, the entire sky was torn clean in two by his bare hands. In the next instant, he forcibly dragged all the powerful warriors of the Shenlin realm into a brand new space-time domain.

　　The Wubian Lord looked at the group of Shenlin realm warriors he had pulled into the new battlefield, smiled faintly, and said nothing. He simply took out a cigar, lit it, took a drag, then exhaled the smoke, “You want to start a fight at Guanxuan Academy — did you ask me first?”

　　Everyone: “…….”

　　Si Ling stared at the Wubian Lord, “Do you know who you’re making a move against right now?”

　　The Wubian Lord glanced at her sideways, “Idiot, still talking threats at a time like this — did your brain migrate to your chest? Do I look like someone who’s scared of threats?”

　　Si Ling’s expression instantly turned utterly ugly. In terms of sharp words, she had met her match for the first time, and what’s more, she was helpless, because she couldn’t beat him.

　　Outside, after watching the Wubian Lord drag those Shenlin realm warriors into a new space-time, Ye Tianming’s gaze fell upon the group of Guanxuan Expeditionary Forces.

　　Feeling Ye Tianming’s gaze land on them, the Guanxuan Expeditionary Forces’ expressions immediately shifted as though facing a great enemy — every single one of them released their full aura, taking a defensive stance.

　　Toward this young lord, they were deeply wary.

　　He was far too decisive and ruthless!

　　He had killed the Nalan Clan without a second thought.

　　Although these Guanxuan Expeditionary Forces had all just declared rebellion, Ye Tianming did not strike immediately. Instead he asked, “Are you truly going to rebel?”

　　The Guanxuan Expeditionary Forces commander stared hard at Ye Tianming, “So what if we rebel……”

　　His words were not yet finished —

　　Swish!

　　A sword cry suddenly rang out, and in the next instant, a streak of sword light tore straight through their combined sword aura, then with lightning speed pierced between the brows of the Guanxuan Expeditionary Forces commander.

　　Ye Tianming looked at the Guanxuan Expeditionary Forces commander, “Did I give you permission to speak?”

　　Everyone: “…….”

　　The Guanxuan Expeditionary Forces’ combined battle aura was naturally formidable — without the Sword Ancestor, Ye Tianming could never have broken through it so effortlessly. But he had the Sword Ancestor.

　　After the Sword Ancestor pierced through the commander’s skull, his face was filled with utter disbelief. But Ye Tianming gave him no chance for regret, and with a single thought, had the Sword Ancestor erase his divine soul entirely.

　　With the Guanxuan Expeditionary Forces commander slain, the remaining troops instantly fell into disarray, every one of them panicking.

　　Ye Tianming looked at them, “Have you thought about your families?”

　　Families!

　　Hearing Ye Tianming’s words, the faces of those Guanxuan Expeditionary Forces soldiers immediately changed. Right — they still had families.

　　Ye Tianming looked at them, “I’ll say this once. Kneel within three breaths and you may live…… One!”

　　One!

　　Ye Tianming’s voice struck like a heavy hammer against every Guanxuan Expeditionary Forces soldier’s heart.

　　”Two!”

　　Ye Tianming’s voice rang out again, like the scythe of death itself laid across the throats of every last one of them.

　　Not a single person doubted that the young lord before them was bluffing.

　　Just as Ye Tianming was about to speak again, one of the Guanxuan Expeditionary Forces soldiers immediately dropped to their knees, “Young Lord, I was wrong.”

　　And with that soldier kneeling, the psychological defenses of the remaining Guanxuan Expeditionary Forces warriors instantly collapsed, and one after another they all knelt down.

　　They could live — no one wanted to die, especially now, when the strength Ye Tianming had displayed was truly terrifying.

　　Every last one of them knelt.

　　Ye Tianming looked down at the kneeling Guanxuan Expeditionary Forces, “Your death sentence is pardoned, but living punishment cannot be escaped. All of you are hereby stripped of your posts on the spot, your cultivation abolished, all personal assets confiscated, and you will be imprisoned in the ‘Heavenly Prison’ for 300 years. After 300 years, you will be free to start anew.”

　　These words sent another wave of shock through everyone present.

　　They had all assumed Ye Tianming would take these people under his command, but no one had expected that he wouldn’t.

　　After all, these Guanxuan Expeditionary Forces were among the strongest combat forces in the Guanxuan Universe right now — and he was just going to imprison them outright?

　　Even the Guanxuan Expeditionary Forces themselves hadn’t expected that this young lord would refuse to use them.

　　They had originally assumed the reason he was doing this was to bring them under his command — after all, they were quite confident in themselves. In the real world, their combat power was at the very top, not the least bit inferior to Sword Sect.

　　At this moment, one of the Guanxuan Expeditionary Forces warriors suddenly said, “Young Lord, we are willing to atone for our crimes through service.”

　　The others quickly followed, “Young Lord, we are willing to atone for our crimes through service.”

　　Ye Tianming said directly, “Not needed. Take them away, seal their cultivation, imprison them for 300 years.”

　　The Sword Sect warriors received the order and immediately moved, taking those Guanxuan Expeditionary Forces away. None of them dared to resist — resisting now would be nothing short of seeking death.

　　After the Sword Sect warriors took the Guanxuan Expeditionary Forces away, Ye Tianming turned to look at the surviving clan and sect warriors.

　　The faces of those clan and sect warriors immediately changed. At this moment, they felt genuine fear toward the young lord before them.

　　Ye Tianming turned to look at Qin Feng not far away, “How many clans and sects came to participate today?”

　　Qin Feng immediately stepped forward, “The Nalan Clan, the Helian Clan, the Tuogu Clan, the Zhou Family, Nanling……”

　　Ye Tianming waved a hand, cutting Qin Feng off directly, “All those who participated — those still alive — have their cultivation abolished and are imprisoned in the ‘Heavenly Prison’ for 300 years.”

　　Qin Feng hesitated for a moment, then asked, “And those who didn’t participate……”

　　Ye Tianming said, “First, confiscate all clan and sect assets, and publicly disclose the sources of their wealth to the people. If obtained through legitimate means, return it to them. If not, return it to the people. Second, establish an ‘Investigation Committee’ to thoroughly investigate all clans and sects. Any positions obtained through improper means are to be fully revoked……. The investigation process must be open and transparent, broadcast to all citizens via recording devices!”

　　Hearing this, the surviving clan and sect warriors’ faces turned ashen.

　　It was over.

　　Completely over.

　　Meanwhile, An Yan and the others nearby were brimming with excitement — they had finally seen hope.

　　”Take them away!”

　　At this moment, Ye Tianming’s voice rang out again.

　　The Sword Sect warriors immediately moved, taking all the remaining clan and sect warriors away. Naturally, not a single one dared to resist.

　　At this moment, Miss Ding’s voice suddenly sounded in Ye Tianming’s ear, “Why not eliminate them all completely?”

　　After a long silence, Ye Tianming said softly, “Miss Ding, killing them all would feel great, very satisfying — but after wiping them out entirely, whatever new forces rise up will become exactly like them.”

　　Miss Ding looked at him, “Then what do you plan to do?”

　　After a brief pause, Ye Tianming said, “Step one: root out the corruption of the clans and sects, but I must preserve them — let them serve as a check against new forces in the Guanxuan Universe, because if new clans and sects have nothing to restrain them, before long they’ll become just as greedy as the old ones.”

　　Miss Ding asked with some curiosity, “And step two?”

　　Ye Tianming glanced at her, “Miss Ding will know when the time comes.”

　　Miss Ding was briefly taken aback, then smiled.

　　Ye Tianming added, “Miss Ding, I don’t have much time left, do I?”

　　After a brief pause, Miss Ding nodded, “Mm.”

　　Ye Tianming nodded, “Then let’s make the most of the time we have left.”

　　With that, he looked toward the young lord Xin not far away. Xin suddenly laughed, “Impressive moves. I truly underestimated you and the Yang family. I remember when I first entered the Guanxuan Universe, I knew — no matter how hard I tried, I would only ever be working for someone else, never able to……”

　　Ye Tianming suddenly pressed his sword down lightly.

　　Thud!

　　With that press, a terrifying sword aura directly forced Xin to his knees on the ground.

　　The Sword Ancestor’s aura was naturally not something Xin could resist.

　　Ye Tianming extended one finger and pointed lightly at Xin, “You don’t need to make any speeches, because I have no interest in listening.”

　　Everyone: “…….”