Chapter 58

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Chapter 58: Fight Outside the Hall

When Mo Qianxun heard Zhou Zhengqing’s words, his face darkened immediately. As the esteemed Clan Leader of Mo Sect, being overshadowed by some brat naturally didn’t sit well with him.

But since Fang Lie had ascended through proper sect rules, even the Clan Leader couldn’t overturn this.

With a grim expression, Mo Qianxun snapped, "These are ancestral rules. What can I do?"

Zhou Zhengqing’s eyes lit up at this, but before he could speak, Mo Qianxun cut him off. "Save your breath—I know what you’re thinking. I won’t lift a finger against Fang Lie, nor will I aid him. If he climbs up through his own strength, I’ll gladly step aside. Given his temperament, he likely won’t remove me as Clan Leader. If he fails? Not my concern."

With that, Mo Qianxun vanished.

The other two exchanged glances and left, leaving Zhou Zhengqing seething. He wrestled with the urge to eliminate Fang Lie himself, but feared the consequences.

Today’s events showed that targeting Fang Lie could drag the entire Zhou Family into chaos. Their clan boasted hundreds of renowned Cultivators and generations of prosperity. Was gambling all that for one insignificant whelp worth it?

Like smashing a vase to kill a rat. After long deliberation, Zhou Zhengqing shamefully backed down. Risking everything for trash wasn’t worth it.

He shook his head bitterly, muttering, "Fine. I’ll let it slide this time. But when the opportunity comes, you’ll pay." Then he too disappeared.

After settling the Lin Family affair, Fang Lie noticed fewer surveillance eyes around him. Family disciples now avoided his gaze instead of glaring with hatred.

This petty victory amused him. Those spoiled brats only cowered after being beaten down. Had he known cruelty worked sooner, he’d have used it during the Yuan Family conflict.

In the following days, Mo Sect’s atmosphere shifted noticeably. Outer disciples, once oppressed, now thrived like spring had dawned.

Previously, their Sect Benefits and contributions were stripped to bare scraps. Now, only twenty to thirty percent got taken—with nervous excuses from those in charge.

This change spread across all Mo Sect territories, benefiting hundreds of thousands of outer disciples.

Grateful, they credited Fang Lie. Smart observers linked the reforms to his public shaming of Zhou Hongjian and denouncing Zhou Family’s exploitation. Clearly, the Higher-ups had intervened after learning of their plight.

Meanwhile, gossip buzzed about the Zhou-Fang clash.

It centered on Zhou Hongjian, left naked and humiliated. His crucial position and young age made him vulnerable—such disgrace could shatter his Dao heart, crippling his cultivation future.

Zhou Zhengqing had poured immense resources into grooming this heir. Letting him crumble was unthinkable.

Though unable to rescue him via Ancestral Hall, Zhou Zhengqing attempted damage control. Soon after Fang Lie left, a Zhou Family Immortal cast Fog Dao magic around Zhou Hongjian, veiling his nakedness with mist.

But they underestimated Fang Lie’s resolve. Having sworn justice for his siblings’ decade of forced labor, he wouldn’t tolerate tricks.

The Immortal barely finished casting when a dozen Law Enforcement Heavenly Soldiers stormed from the Ancestral Hall. Without a word, they seized him, stripped him bare, and strung him up beside Zhou Hongjian.

At the same time, golden light flashed in the Ancestral Hall. The mist enveloping Zhou Hongjian dissipated completely, exposing their naked bodies once more.

The attempt to rescue Zhou Hongjian had failed miserably, costing them an additional Immortal. The Zhou Family Immortal, hundreds of years old, had never endured such humiliation. Overwhelmed by shame and fury, he hung there vomiting blood continuously. Observers worried he might perish within three days from sheer rage.

Fang Lie’s drastic retaliation further enraged the Zhou Family. They devised another strategy: "Since we can’t touch the Ancestral Hall, we’ll simply prevent anyone from approaching it."

Mobilizing their forces, the Zhou Family deployed hundreds of high-level Cultivators to blockade the Ancestral Hall’s surroundings. Given the location’s usual quietness and the Zhou Family’s influence, even passersby chose detours rather than confrontation.

The Ancestral Hall became completely deserted. Without spectators, the naked duo’s situation became slightly less humiliating. Emboldened, the Zhou Family believed they’d finally gained the upper hand against Fang Lie.

They underestimated Fang Lie’s ruthlessness.

Just as the Zhou Family grew complacent, enormous projections suddenly appeared above crucial sect locations like Gentle Breeze Tower – crystal-clear images showing Zhou Hongjian and the Zhou Family Immortal hanging naked, every detail visible down to body hair.

The entire Mo Sect erupted in chaos. Daily operations at Gentle Breeze Tower involved tens of thousands handling sect affairs: claiming resources, exchanging Dao magic, accepting missions, purchasing spirit pills and treasures. Now hundreds of thousands of Mo Sect disciples witnessed the humiliating display. If maintained for three days, most sect members would see the pair’s "little birds."

The Zhou Family realized their mistake too late. Blockading the remote Ancestral Hall would’ve limited exposure to mere thousands, but now practically the entire sect saw everything. How could the two ever show their faces again?

Fang Lie escalated further through the protective array: "Zhou Family thinks you can control everything? Try stopping this! Let’s see if you can paralyze the entire Mo Sect!"

Zhou Family higher-ups nearly died from rage but stood powerless. Vital facilities like Gentle Breeze Tower couldn’t suspend operations for three days without crippling the sect. Despite their influence, the Zhou Family couldn’t justify halting all sect activities.

This confrontation ended in complete Zhou Family defeat. Zhou Zhengqing, the mastermind behind the scenes, vomited blood in fury before retreating into closed-door training to avoid further humiliation.

Three days later, Zhou Hongjian returned home under heavy escort. Whispers claimed he wept uncontrollably and vowed vengeance against Fang Lie.

Temporary peace settled over Mo Sect. Nobody dared provoke Fang Lie, while he ceased targeting family disciples. Surface calm prevailed, though everyone understood this was temporary. The Eight-Hundred-Generation Families wouldn’t forget their slaughtered thousands – they merely awaited an opportunity for retaliation without risking Fang Lie’s counterattacks.

Ten days after the Lin Family’s destruction, a cave dwelling on a sacred mountain’s slope opened. Yuan Zhenggang emerged, pallid and exhausted – the Yuan family’s sole surviving Cultivator. His failed Purple Palace level breakthrough attempt ended with shocking discoveries: no guards remained, only a weeping old steward.

"Young master! Disaster has struck!" the steward cried.

"What disaster? My father handles everything," Yuan Zhenggang snapped impatiently.

"The master’s dead! Beaten to death in the Ancestral Hall!"

"What? How? Where were my uncles?"

"All dead! Your uncles, aunts, grandfather the Family Head Immortal – everyone! The entire Yuan family slaughtered except you!"