"You claim you were misled?"
Bingchuan Fashen took a step forward, his tone laced with hesitation.
Tang Zhongxue, seeing a glimmer of hope for survival, quickly explained:
"That's right, Hong Sifang and the others exploited my sense of justice and dragged me here to condemn you. I actually knew nothing. If you want to blame anyone, blame Hong Sifang and Heng Hua. They both knew you were framed, yet they insisted on pushing you into a corner!"
Tang Zhongxue was already speaking incoherently, desperate to shift all responsibility onto the two deceased. He failed to realize his own flimsy excuses were riddled with loopholes.
From Yan Shouyi's actions to the demise of Hong Sifang and Master Heng Hua, neither of them had ever interacted with Tang Zhongxue. How could Tang Zhongxue suddenly 'awaken' and know all the inside story at this moment?
Bingchuan Fashen walked up to Tang Zhongxue and said to him:
"Are you willing to testify for me and identify Hong Sifang and the others for their actions?"
Tang Zhongxue quickly nodded, a fawning smile on his face, "I am willing! I am willing!"
"Very well, then when you see King Yama, remember to explain clearly to him that I, Yan Shouyi, did not kill innocent people. I only killed those who deserved to die!"
After Bingchuan Fashen finished speaking, Tang Zhongxue couldn't help but widen his eyes.
'How is this different from what I imagined?!'
"I didn't mean it like that!" Tang Zhongxue shouted. "Don't you need a living witness? If I die too, how will you explain yourself to the prestigious sects? Don't you want to clarify things?"
"Clarify? Does clarification help?"
Bingchuan Fashen reached out, grabbed Tang Zhongxue by the neck, and lifted him into the air.
"I brought back Daoist Master Jin Bi, and Abbess Guanyun also appeared here alive. Yet, among you people, did any of you listen to half a word of my explanation? My explanation is simply not important. Your goal is to exterminate the folk sects!"
Tang Zhongxue's face contorted in fear as he struggled.
However, Bingchuan Fashen gave him no chance to resist. The cold poison instantly surged into Tang Zhongxue's body through his palm!
Tang Zhongxue's blood vessels, meridians, and internal organs were rapidly eroded by the cold poison, freezing into ice in the blink of an eye.
Agony spread through every corner of Tang Zhongxue's body. After a few struggles, he ceased to move, turning into a giant popsicle that Yan Shouyi casually tossed to the ground.
With a thud, the giant popsicle shattered into countless small pieces.
Hong Sifang, Master Heng Hua, and Tang Zhongxue all met their end at Yan Shouyi's hands.
Having finished this, Yan Shouyi turned back to survey the battlefield.
The disciples of the prestigious sects had lost their leader and were now demoralized, retreating steadily.
Just as Yan Shouyi had said before the battle, everything that happened today would be deeply etched into the souls of these disciples from the prestigious sects, causing them to wake up in a fright on every quiet night, their minds replaying the events of today.
They would forever live in the shadow of the folk sects!!
"Brother Yan..."
At the entrance of the Folk Customs Research Association, Long Feicheng watched Yan Shouyi from afar.
Yan Shouyi's reversal at a critical moment and his direct declaration of war on the prestigious sects might have been fate.
But Long Feicheng knew clearly that the inner demon must have played a part in this...
The inner demon had amplified Yan Shouyi's emotions. After sending off the child, his rage had overcome his reason, leading Yan Shouyi's true form to directly kill Hong Sifang.
"But no matter what, this war has finally begun..."
Long Feicheng clenched his Caiwei sword and gritted his teeth, "There's no turning back once we've started. Death is but a journey for a bird. If we don't fight this battle, our children will have to. It's better that we lead the charge, wrapped in our burial shrouds, and create a stable world for future generations!"
Atop the tall tower.
Yan Chou watched the battle at the main gate, falling into a long silence.
The Dog Daoist pressed the cigarette butt onto Old Huangtou's head, extinguished it, and flicked it off the high tower with his finger.
"In the end, he couldn't hold back and acted," the Dog Daoist puffed, exhaling smoke. "But I must say, it feels damn good to act!"
The Dog Daoist held no good feelings for these hypocritical fellows and had long wanted to make a move.
Monk Miaoji clasped his hands together, "Amitabha, there will be more bloodshed, and who knows how many will fall."
"Shouyi sending the child to Yu Lumin was likely hoping Yu Lumin could protect the Yan family's lineage," Wei Changqing sighed.
At this moment, Sanlong and La Li Tou asked Yan Chou:
"Big Brother, the war has begun. Our plan must also be accelerated."
Yan Chou finally broke his silence.
He nodded and murmured to himself:
"Shouyi has gathered information on the Twelve Yuan Chen. You will dispatch people immediately to clear them out. Remember, leave none of them alive."
The Dog Daoist added, "These guys have caused immense harm. Not only should they not be left alive, but they shouldn't die easy deaths either! La Li Tou, help me torture them thoroughly!"
"No problem!" La Li Tou flashed a cruel smile.
Torturing people was his specialty.
However, Sanlong also expressed his concerns:
"Big Brother, this incident has blown up so much. I fear even the first-tier sects won't be able to stand by and watch. If they come looking for us, how will Shouyi handle it?"
"Let them come."
Yan Chou said indifferently, "I will be stationed at West Lake from now on. No matter how many people they send, I am confident I can make them stay here forever!"
Such arrogant words, spoken by anyone else, would only elicit laughter.
But coming from Yan Chou, the effect was entirely different.
Sanlong was shocked, "Big Brother, you were in seclusion for quite some time. Could it be that you..."
Yan Chou did not elaborate on his specific improvements in strength, merely stating his prowess with a casual remark:
"There are only two people in this world who can kill me. Among them, Old Celestial Master Zhang Yin has already passed into the west."
Old Celestial Master Zhang Yin, known as a terrestrial immortal, the strongest on earth!
He was the closest to divinity in the past hundred years.
Yan Chou's words were as if to say: I am invincible below the divine, and I can trade blows with those above!
What tremendous confidence, what immense arrogance!
With Yan Chou's guarantee of strength, Sanlong and La Li Tou had no further worries.
This battle was also one they had long anticipated.
Since neither you nor I can stop the rolling tide, why not become a part of that rolling tide together!
A single spark is destined to engulf the entire grassland!
Li Genmiao, your objective has been achieved...
But the final outcome will be decided by us!