It had been no more than five minutes from the moment Lin Zitong received Yan Shouyi's message to her complete control over the Lu Yun Sect.
Five minutes to eradicate a sect.
Lin Zitong’s strength and decisive methods were self-evident.
When she was by Yan Shouyi’s side, she was a gentle and sensible girl. But when Yan Shouyi was not around and Lin Zitong handled matters independently, she was the final disciple of Lu Jinsheng, the successor to the position of Lu Shan Sect Leader.
Lin Zitong sat back in her chair, casting a faint glance at Shang Xuyi.
Shang Xuyi’s lips were pale, his throat choked. After a long moment, he managed to stammer out, “Martial Aunt, I know I was wrong. As the saying goes, it’s never too late to mend. On behalf of the Lu Yun Sect, I unconditionally support your succession as the Lu Shan Sect Leader and am willing to accept the consequences for my past mistakes!”
Luo Ning mocked, “You do have a very sincere attitude in admitting your mistakes. Is it that a true man knows when to yield and when to stand tall? But how are we to know you’re only saying this to save your life?”
Shang Xuyi indignantly declared, “All the mistakes, every single one, are mine alone and have nothing to do with the people of the Lu Yun Sect!”
“Very well.”
Lin Zitong smiled faintly. “It is rare for Sect Leader Shang to be so righteous. I presume you are well aware of the gravity of your mistakes. Then, as you said, let one man bear the consequences. You shall atone with your life.”
“Ah?”
Shang Xuyi was stunned. That was not what he meant!
He had intended to showcase his righteousness and then shift the blame to Lu Xin, letting Lin Zitong know he had only gone astray by being misled.
Shang Xuyi’s true objective was survival!
“Ah what?” Lin Zitong said coldly. “Do you know how many innocent common people were harmed by the talismans you sold?”
Shang Xuyi swallowed hard and shook his head blankly.
Helping Lu Xin sell talismans was merely a way to amass wealth. Shang Xuyi had only considered how it would allow the Lu Yun Sect to stand independently from the Lu Shan Sect and the Lin family, never contemplating the consequences of such actions.
Seeing Shang Xuyi’s bewildered expression, a fire seemed to ignite within Lin Zitong.
“In my heart, a fool is more detestable than a villain. A villain at least knows what they are doing!”
Lin Zitong stated coldly, “Luo Ning, do you still need corpses to refine into zombies?”
Luo Ning replied with a smile, “Do I need them? I can never have too many!”
Shang Xuyi was terrified to the point of his liver and gallbladder cracking. He quickly crawled before Lin Zitong, repeatedly kowtowing and admitting his fault.
But if Shang Xuyi could be forgiven, then who would stand up for those who had been harmed and killed by him?
Lin Zitong remained unmoved. Luo Ning directly pointed at Shang Xuyi, and the two fearsome Vajra Zombies seized him, carried him over the courtyard wall, and took him away.
As for where Shang Xuyi would be taken, and what kind of zombie he would be refined into, the disciples of the Lu Yun Sect had no idea. They only felt immense fear, dreading that they themselves might be the next to be taken.
“Who among you is the highest ranked below Shang Xuyi?” Lin Zitong asked.
The disciples of the Lu Yun Sect trembled, none daring to step forward and admit it.
Previously, they had coveted the second-in-command position within the Lu Yun Sect. Now, however, they were terrified of attracting trouble.
After a moment, an old man stepped out, trembling.
He said mournfully, “Martial Aunt, Shang Xuyi is my senior brother. When he colluded with Lu Xin, many in the sect were unaware. Today’s events were also at his behest…”
“What is your name?”
“Shang Guangyi.”
Lin Zitong stared at Shang Guangyi, deliberating for a moment.
Luo Ning whispered in Lin Zitong’s ear, “My suggestion is that we cut the weeds and remove the roots. By destroying the Lu Yun Sect, we will deter other sects. Then, who would dare support Lu Xin again?”
Lin Zitong frowned and shook her head. “But if we do that, then I would be no different from Lu Xin.”
Luo Ning thought for a moment, then shrugged. “You have a point. So, how do you plan to deal with them?”
Shang Guangyi was extremely nervous, not even daring to look up at Lin Zitong and Luo Ning.
At this moment, Lin Zitong’s clear and cold voice sounded:
“The Lu Yun Sect colluded with heretical outsiders and harmed the populace. Their crimes are unforgivable.”
Shang Guangyi closed his eyes, his heart filled with despair, believing he had no chance of survival.
But in the next second, Lin Zitong said:
“Effective immediately, there shall be no more Lu Yun Sect in Rongcheng. All of you shall have your cultivation crippled and return to your hometowns to live as ordinary people!”
Shang Guangyi’s head snapped up, and he gazed at Lin Zitong. After a long pause, he slowly kowtowed and exclaimed, “This disciple thanks Martial Aunt!”
Having their cultivation crippled and the Lu Yun Sect disbanded on the spot was the best possible outcome.
It could also be considered that Lin Zitong was merciful. Otherwise, it was likely that not a single person from the Lu Yun Sect would have been left alive.
Upon hearing this outcome, the disciples of the Lu Yun Sect also breathed a sigh of relief.
Being able to live was already quite good.
The disbandment of the Lu Yun Sect was also only natural.
With the tide turned against them, a faint smile appeared on the faces of the Lu Yun Sect disciples.
Even though they knew their past lives would cease to exist and their years of effort would turn to dust.
Shang Guangyi turned and looked at the disciples behind him, slowly saying, “Line up properly. This elder will personally cripple your cultivation.”
If Lin Zitong were to do it, the last shred of dignity for the Lu Yun Sect would be lost.
The disciples harbored no resentment and quietly formed a long line, their cultivation crippled by Shang Guangyi.
Finally, Shang Guangyi raised his hand and struck himself. He immediately spat out a mouthful of blood, and his entire person instantly aged decades.
Lin Zitong did not check if Shang Guangyi had truly crippled his own cultivation, nor was there any need to.
Her purpose in coming to the Lu Yun Sect was merely to ascertain the reasons for their betrayal.
The destruction of the Lu Yun Sect was an incidental act. With one Lu Yun Sect destroyed, many more would follow.
Thus, she stated calmly, “There is one more matter. I will trouble you to do it.”
Shang Guangyi, supported by his disciples, asked weakly, “What is it?”
“Go to the Lu Shan Sect and tell Lu Xin what I have done today. And help me deliver a message to her – tell her to wait at the Lu Shan Sect. I will be visiting her in person soon. What is mine, she cannot steal. If she wants a fight, we will fight to the end!”
This statement was resolute, not something one would expect a woman to say, but on the formidable Lin Zitong, it felt perfectly fitting.
Though she was generous, she absolutely would not tolerate others stealing what belonged to her!
Shang Guangyi nodded and accepted the task.
With the matter resolved, Lin Zitong lingered no longer. She rose directly, leading Luo Ning and Zhao Yiyao away from the Lu Yun Sect, and drove back to Rongcheng!
It was important to remember that there were as many as a dozen smaller sects that had defected to Lu Xin.
The Lu Yun Sect was merely the closest of these small sects to Rongcheng, but not the most powerful.
To reclaim these defecting sects one by one, the Lu Yun Sect was just the beginning.
However, Lin Zitong did not feel it was troublesome. Instead, she looked forward to it.
These sects harbored malicious intentions. If they caused trouble again after she succeeded as sect leader, it would be a greater problem. It was better to clear the house before her succession.
Lin Zitong also knew that her greatest enemy now was Lu Xin, and the task of clearing house would likely not go smoothly. It was highly probable that Lu Xin would make a move as early as tomorrow.