Zhu Hui'an remained silent, and had been staring at the head in Jiang Li's hand ever since he appeared, as if it were some rare artifact.

Not until Elder Tianquan's laughter died down did the former Doctor of the Imperial College finally speak slowly.

"Did you kill him?"

He looked at Jiang Li, seemingly puzzled, yet he answered his own question, "Indeed, you killed him. The resentment inside the head is so intense that it nearly formed a cloud of malevolence, constantly surging, trying to backlash against you."

"You killed him, and you did it alone; otherwise, the resentment would have dispersed."

He had been observing the head, sensing the resentment within it.

After Zhu Hui'an's words were uttered, the night wind suddenly picked up, with faint fluctuations of Divine Sense within the breeze.

Moreover, someone had been keeping an eye on this place, the words of Zhu Hui'an were meant more for those observers than for Jiang Li.

"Alone... single-handedly!"

Not to mention others, even Elder Tianquan, who had been smiling, now showed a look of astonishment.

He had not expected Sect Master Zong Zheng to die, but this could be explained by Tianxuan's prior arrangements. With Tianxuan's cunning, it was unlikely he would let Jiang Li return to the sect without having made arrangements.

But now, the fact was telling Elder Tianquan that Tianxuan really hadn't made any arrangements; it was simply Jiang Li returning on his own.

With the strength to kill a fourth-rank.

"As it should be."

Jiang Li nodded, grasping the Sect Master Zong Zheng's head and turning it to the side to display, as if to give some hidden figures a clear view, "So, it's my turn now."

The wind hurried instantly, carrying a chilling Qi Force, forming a visibly flowing wave, its already exposed Divine Sense fluctuations seeming to signify its master's desperation.

Outside Dinghu, there were Yin Gods from the Yin Law Department stationed, and further away wandered the Divine Travel Grand Protector. Inside the Dinghu Sect, only Elder Tianquan had come forward; without internal interference, that would have been impossible.

It seemed that the Sect Leader was truly not within the sect at that time, and as the Gongsun Family Master, Tianxuan was also absent, so the affairs of the sect would be decided upon by the remaining elders.

Even if Elder Yuheng was away in Yong Province for matters concerning the Jiang family, and Elder Tianji had chosen to be an enemy of Jiang Li, there was still Elder Tianpeng, who had returned to the sect earlier.

Together, Elder Tianpeng and Elder Tianquan were enough to decide on the major and minor affairs within the sect. Alone, Elder Tianji couldn't possibly detain Elder Tianpeng using any excuse.

Not to mention whether Elder Tianji could defeat Elder Tianpeng, who was responsible for external battles, the two against one situation clearly left Elder Tianji without any upper hand when it came to decision-making authority. Dare to take action? Believe it or not, righteousness could justify a two-against-one.

As for Zhu Hui'an, it was already his limit to block the way outside; if he dared to stretch his hands into Dinghu Sect and influenced the sect, that would be a serious taboo, and his death wouldn't be considered unjust.

Thus, only one possibility remained.

— In the sect's Cave Heaven, the former elders in seclusion, or perhaps they should be called Supreme Elders.

These former sect leaders had, due to their advanced age and inability to withstand the mental effects of the Five Turbid Evil World, been in seclusion in the Cave Heaven Blessed Land, having long since handed over their power. However, they could still influence the sect if they really wanted to.

After all, no matter what, they were high-grade cultivators; strength was the basic guarantee of power. Besides, they also had the option of pulling rank through seniority.

The intense fluctuations of Divine Sense lasted for a long while, until finally, a voice filled with anger rang out.

"Jiang Li, what do you mean by this?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

Jiang Li shook the head in his hand, smiling and said, "In this world, there should be no logic where one can kill and not be punished, right? Even if it's an attempted murder. I have been passively beaten thus far, now, it is my turn to take initiative. To kill and compensate, to settle debts and claims, it is only right and proper."

"You killed the Ji Family's Sect Master and you still think you have justification?" the other person said coldly, "Even if it needs investigation, it is not your place to investigate."

The death of a fourth-rank had significant impact; note that among the six elders holding power in Dinghu Sect, there were only fourth-ranks, and the thousand-year-old distinguished families might only have one or two fourth-ranks. The death of Sect Master Ji Bogu would definitely cause a great uproar within the Ji Family and could lead to substantial fol

Jiang Li was using the Sect Master's head temporarily as a Dao Artifact, carrying the Kui Niu Dao Fruit.

This severed head was the evidence.

Killing a Devil Cultivator was not a crime; it was even rewarded. The Ji Family should thank Jiang Li for removing a calamity for them, even though many in the Ji Family likely knew that the Sect Master harbored the Kui Niu Dao Fruit...

Strength was the ultimate truth. For the sake of a Devil Cultivator, to give up a suitable Dao Fruit, even forsaking an advancement to fourth-rank, was foolish.

Furthermore, after Jiang Li had decapitated the Sect Master, Heaven sensed it and reviewed the cause and effect. Although Tian Ji and Jiang Li, master and disciple, had long anticipated the opponent might be fourth-rank, suspecting a ploy of fishing, this did not affect the judgment that the responsibility lay with the Sect Master and even his accomplices.

Because the Sect Master could have simply not taken the bait, no one was forcing him.

Both the law of Heaven and human law were on Jiang Li's side; this time, he truly stood on the moral high ground.

Moreover, combined with the demonstration of his fist just now, two moves had left that elder speechless.

"State your conditions."

A different voice from before rang out, deep and emotionless, revealing no feeling of joy or anger.

"It is refreshing to deal directly with this elder," Jiang Li smiled. "How should I address you? Are you my grand-uncle master, or great-uncle master? Or perhaps you are some uncle or cousin from the Ji Family visiting our Sect?"

"What do you want?" The person, however, avoided Jiang Li's inquiry.

Such matters were ultimately not glorious and difficult to bring to light, while there was also the need to guard against reprisal.

It was well known that the three individuals from Tian Ji's party were all narrow-minded.

To this, Jiang Li did not pay much heed; he just shook his head and then said, "My conditions are simple. One, the Ochre Whip, and two, I want to review the 'Form Tomb'—"

"Impossible!"

Before he could finish, the first voice interrupted, "Absolutely not."

Jiang Li's conditions seemed outrageous, demanding to see the 'Form Tomb,' which was as crucial to the Ji Family as 'Qi Tomb' was to the Jiang family.

Looking at how the Jiang family used the Divine Farmer's Cauldron to embody the mysteries of 'Qi Tomb' made the importance of this Cultivation Technique apparent.

Even the subsequently speaking deep voice said, "The 'Form Tomb' is a royal secret not to be shared externally. Although the Sect passes down various techniques derived from 'Form Tomb,' the essence of the 'Form Tomb' itself is never disclosed. Among all the Sect Leaders of past generations, only those from the Gongsun Family knew 'Form Tomb,' precisely because this technique is actually the Gongsun Family's method."

"Put yourself in our shoes. Would the Jiang family allow 'Qi Tomb' to be taught externally?"

It wasn't entirely out of the question.

Jiang Li pondered internally, if someone really wished to learn 'Qi Tomb' and could pay the price, Jiang would personally teach them, ensuring mastery.

After all, once taught, they essentially became one of their own.

At least for Jiang Li, learning 'Qi Tomb' from him had a fifty percent chance of making them one of his own. As for the other fifty percent... they were certainly dead.

"He is not an outsider."

A crimson light streaked across like a shooting star, appearing close by, revealing the figure of Gongsun Qingyue with a red puppy wagging its tail by her side.

Gongsun Qingyue inserting herself into this negotiation spoke in a calm yet unequivocal tone, "Jiang Li is my future husband and a member of the Gongsun family. Studying the 'Form Tomb' is his rightful duty."

"A mere affiliated son-in-law has what qualification to study the 'Form Tomb'?" the first voice coldly interjected.

"Whether he's qualified is not for you to decide, it's for the Family Head to decide," Gongsun Qingyue stood her ground, "My master is the Family Head, and if she says it's possible, then it is."

As they spoke, a Jade Seal appeared in Jiang Li's hand, from which a misty aura rose and transformed into a flying Yellow Dragon.

And Jiang Li, holding the Jade Seal in one hand and the head in the other, spoke with a smirk, "Tonight, I suppose quite a few uncles by courtesy must have been struck by Heavenly Thunder? If I were to search using this, I wonder how many I could find? And I wonder how many of those uncles by courtesy would have to pay with their lives?"

While it wasn't a direct attack like the Sect Master's, under the pursuit of cause and effect, those involved still couldn't escape retribution—at worst, they would suffer from a strike of heavenly thunder. If Jiang Li had died, perhaps others would have accompanied him in death.

Although Jiang Li did not know the exact identity of the others, by tracing with Heavenly Thunder as a clue, it wasn't impossible to uncover them.

Once found, if Jiang Li then took action to kill, it could still be regarded as a justifiable action.

Even though that would mean a complete fallout, and success wasn't guaranteed, there was at least one certainty.

—Jiang Li would not suffer from Heaven's Punishment.

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