Master Heavenly Daoist Yu Luming had departed. He had not retreated, but rather to escort the soul of the child, who had been restraining Yan Shouyi, back to Dragon Tiger Mountain.
This reason was plausible.
However, the over four hundred disciples from renowned sects present were now without support, left to fend for themselves.
Seeing Yu Luming leave, these disciples felt a wave of despair.
But what could they do?
They were the ones who had come to Rongcheng themselves. Now, they either had to confront Yan Shouyi and his allies, or slink away shamefully and return whence they came.
A few, perhaps suspecting they had been used as pawns, did not hesitate to turn and flee.
The majority, however, were still immersed in the fantasy of demon eradication and righteousness, engaged in a bloody battle with the members of the Folklore Research Society.
"Let's go. It's good that he's gone."
Yu Luming's departure removed Yan Shouyi's final reservations.
The Yan family still had descendants. He had given his brother this opportunity, and his sister was equally fortunate, for regardless of the outcome, she would at least remain with her parents.
The separation of the siblings this time would undoubtedly lead them to different opportunities and lives.
"Next, it's time to get down to business."
Yan Shouyi did not bother to find out where Yu Luming had gone. Instead, he turned his gaze to the other two main instigators of this incident.
Master Henghua, the esteemed monk of Guangde Temple, and Elder Tang Zhongxue of the Red Robe Cult!
Upon sensing Yan Shouyi's gaze, both men broke out in a cold sweat.
Their cultivation was not weak, but when Yan Shouyi's true form had appeared moments ago and instantly killed Hong Sifang, it had instilled fear in them.
Things had escalated to this point. While this was the outcome they had desired, the current situation was somewhat akin to a fox pretending to be a tiger.
Having witnessed Hong Sifang's demise and now caught in the crossfire, being eyed by the god of slaughter, Yan Shouyi, their only thought was to flee!
The two exchanged glances and simultaneously fled in different directions!
They unhesitatingly shoved aside any disciples from the renowned sects who obstructed their path, like kicking away pebbles in their way.
The disciples who were fighting the members of the Folklore Research Society were suddenly backstabbed by Master Henghua and Tang Zhongxue, throwing them into disarray. The members of the Folklore Research Society seized the opportunity, reaping lives in an instant.
At the end of their lives, they finally understood... Master Henghua and Tang Zhongxue had never taken them seriously!
Pitiable as they were, they had been risking their lives to support them!
And these two scoundrels were already making their escape!
Unfortunately, they no longer had the chance to reprimand Master Henghua and Tang Zhongxue.
"Get out of the way, you obstacles!"
Master Henghua shoved a young novice aside, his steps swift.
The young novice, thrown to the ground, looked at Master Henghua in disbelief: "Master Henghua, you..."
"Your mother's a thousand times over! Stop calling my name!"
Master Henghua had shed his benevolent monk demeanor, resorting to vulgar curses that were fouler than those of street thugs.
He feared the young novice might utter his name and attract Yan Shouyi's attention.
However, his worry was evidently in vain.
For Yan Shouyi had never stopped watching him!
Amidst the crowd, Yan Shouyi's true form pursued relentlessly, an inescapable specter.
Master Henghua was so terrified he was about to wet himself. He paid no heed to cursing the novice, turning to continue his escape.
"Why are you fleeing? Is this not the outcome you wished for, Ding Zi?"
A voice like that of a phantom echoed beside Master Henghua's ear.
He abruptly stopped, turning back to look with terror at Yan Shouyi's true form, which had already caught up behind him.
Yan Shouyi had not addressed him as "Master Henghua" but rather as "Ding Zi."
"You, you know my identity?" Master Henghua asked, shocked.
"Abbess Miaohui told me everything about all of you," Yan Shouyi added coldly. "And by the way, she is 'Mao Zi' among the Twelve Heavenly Stems."
Master Henghua was filled with a mixture of shock and rage.
He had been betrayed long ago!
Regarding Mao Zi's identity, Master Henghua knew little. He was unaware that Mao Zi was the founder of the Twelve Heavenly Stems, nor did he even know that Mao Zi was the previous sect leader of Mount Emei, Abbess Miaohui.
None of that mattered now.
The leak of the Twelve Heavenly Stems' identities was a disaster of epic proportions for the surviving members.
One could only imagine the retaliation Yan Shouyi would unleash upon the Twelve Heavenly Stems after this incident passed.
"Let's not dwell on those matters. I ask you, are you prepared?" Yan Shouyi asked abruptly.
Master Henghua did not understand Yan Shouyi's intent: "Prepared for what?"
*Swoosh!*
A line of blood flashed, and Master Henghua's vision suddenly darkened.
His sight uncontrollably dropped downwards, rolling several times on the ground, before he saw his own standing body.
Yan Shouyi flicked the Ancestral Dragon Sword, shaking off the blood on the blade.
He turned and said indifferently, "Prepared to die."
*Thump!*
Master Henghua's head was severed by Yan Shouyi without any warning.
He didn't even have the chance to beg for mercy.
Perhaps the deceased Master Henghua might feel a sliver of regret, regretting his decision to come to Rongcheng and provoke the god of slaughter, Yan Shouyi.
However, Yan Shouyi had not considered this question. The moment he killed Henghua, he had also destroyed his soul.
He would not give Henghua a chance to be reborn, nor would he allow him to reincarnate. He wanted him to die completely in this life, to pay the price for his actions on behalf of the Twelve Heavenly Stems!
"Master Henghua is dead! Master Henghua has been killed by Yan Shouyi!!"
Amidst the crowd, the hothouse flowers let out terrified screams.
Their morale was collapsing, their previous pride gone. They were being slaughtered by the members of the Folklore Research Society, their defenses in tatters.
In contrast, the Folklore Research Society, along with the Lu Mountain Sect and the Zhao family, were in a state vastly different from the disciples of the renowned sects. They unleashed their fury, born from long-suppressed oppression, displaying combat power far exceeding their usual.
Most importantly, they had nothing left to lose.
This unwavering conviction was something the disciples of the renowned sects lacked.
The news of Master Henghua's swift execution by Yan Shouyi soon reached Tang Zhongxue, who was fleeing in a different direction.
This news turned Tang Zhongxue's face ashen, and he fled outwards with utter disregard.
But as he broke out of the crowd, he found Yan Shouyi's Dharma body already waiting for him outside.
The Dharma body held nothing in its hands but was drenched in blood. On its way to chase Tang Zhongxue, it had incidentally dealt with quite a few disciples from the renowned sects.
Tang Zhongxue's legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.
He frantically kowtowed to the Dharma body, each blow more forceful than the last, until his forehead was bloody within moments.
"Please spare me. I was also misled by Hong Sifang and the others. We have no enmity between us; there's no need to show me no mercy!"