Divine Emperor Demon Emperor

Hearing what the two women said and seeing the jealousy on their faces, it was obvious they were telling Lin Yun, ’We’re jealous, and it’s up to you to fix it.’

Seeing this, Lin Yun just smiled and explained to them, "Where are your minds wandering? Do I seem like that kind of person?"

"Hmph! It’s not that you seem like it, you *are*," Lan Xi said, wrinkling her nose playfully. "Come on, Sister Bingning, let’s ignore him." With that, she pulled Lu Bingning away.

Watching their retreating figures, Lin Yun shook his head with a wry smile. ’When did these two rascals learn this trick?’

With the matter concluded, the members of the other three great forces left one after another. At that point, Lin Yun and the other eight Core Disciples explained what had happened with Gong Lingqi to the four Supreme Elders.

Gong Lingqi’s master was not among the four Supreme Elders who had come. After listening to everyone’s account, one of them said, "Gong Lingqi is a Core Disciple. We should take him back to Flawless Palace first and let Luo Feng decide his fate."

Hearing this, the other three Supreme Elders nodded in agreement. Soon, the group mounted their Firebirds and flew toward Flawless Palace.

The journey was uneventful. If anything was troubling Lin Yun, it was Lu Bingning and Lan Xi.

Ever since the incident with Xi Zijin, the two women would put on an exaggerated display of jealousy whenever they saw him. Comforting girls was hardly Lin Yun’s strong suit, and for the past few days, he had no idea how to even begin explaining himself to Lu Bingning and Lan Xi.

Finally, the group returned safely to Flawless Palace. Since they had traveled back on Firebirds, news of the events at the Saint’s Relics had not yet spread. After returning the Firebirds to Demon Beast Ridge, the four Supreme Elders spoke to Lin Yun and the other eight Core Disciples.

"You will all accompany us to the Main Hall."

They were going to the Main Hall, of course, to deal with Gong Lingqi. A Supreme Elder had already sealed his Cultivation, making escape impossible. He had no choice but to obediently follow the group to the Main Hall.

Luo Feng, who had already been notified, was waiting in the Main Hall with two other Supreme Elders. The moment Lin Yun’s group entered, before they even had a chance to bow, Gong Lingqi’s master shot to his feet and roared at his disciple.

"You ungrateful disciple! Have you forgotten everything I taught you? You’ll be the death of me, you treacherous brat..." Cursing, Gong Lingqi’s master strode forward and kicked his disciple squarely in the backside.

"That’s enough. Calm down. Let’s all sit and discuss this properly," another Supreme Elder advised, seeing the outburst.

Having calmed down, Gong Lingqi’s master finally returned to his seat, which gave Lin Yun and the others a chance to properly pay their respects.

Kneeling on the floor, Gong Lingqi’s face was incredibly grim. He hadn’t uttered a single word from start to finish, but in his heart, he already hated Lin Yun to the very core.

’If it weren’t for Lin Yun, I wouldn’t be in this situation.’ Gong Lingqi blamed Lin Yun for everything.

’Lin Yun, just you wait,’ Gong Lingqi thought viciously. ’No matter the cost, I will kill you.’

After Lin Yun and the others finished paying their respects, Luo Feng asked about Gong Lingqi’s transgressions. The disciples recounted everything one by one, from his refusal to fight to his collaboration with Song Tianyang of the Wuji Sect.

After listening to them, Luo Feng turned to Gong Lingqi’s master and said, "Senior Uncle, Gong Lingqi is your disciple. I think it best that you handle this matter."

This gesture from Luo Feng was clearly an offer of leniency. Hearing his words, Gong Lingqi’s master looked back at him. His expression didn’t change much, but he understood Luo Feng’s intent.

Deep down, he certainly didn’t want Gong Lingqi to be punished too severely. After all, Gong Lingqi was different from Chang Jing. Chang Jing had outright betrayed Flawless Palace, whereas Gong Lingqi had not. To be blunt, Gong Lingqi had only committed such a foolish act because of his petty character and narrow-mindedness.

"Very well! Gong Lingqi, you ungrateful disciple! I sentence you to one year of contemplation at Jingsi Cliff! You are not to take a single step away from there without my permission!" Gong Lingqi’s master bellowed.

To be honest, this punishment was far too light. One year of contemplation at Jingsi Cliff—what kind of punishment was that?

Hearing the verdict, the eight other Core Disciples all turned to look at Lin Yun. Noticing this, Luo Feng also asked, "Lin Yun, do you have anything to say?"

Lin Yun, who hadn’t spoken a single word since entering, finally responded to Luo Feng’s question. "No. I will defer to Master’s judgment."

’As for Gong Lingqi’s punishment, I’m not overly concerned,’ Lin Yun thought. ’If he learns his lesson, I won’t bother with him again. But if he still wants to make a move against me, then he can’t blame me for being ruthless next time.’

Since Lin Yun had no objections, the other eight Core Disciples naturally voiced none either. An Elder from the Punishment Hall promptly escorted Gong Lingqi to Jingsi Cliff.

With Gong Lingqi’s matter dealt with, it was time for praise. The expedition to the Saint’s Relics had been a resounding victory for Flawless Palace. Not only had they obtained the Saint’s inheritance, but they had also acquired countless treasures.

Luo Feng and the Six Supreme Elders were all smiling. According to sect rules, half of all treasures obtained from the relics had to be turned over to the Palace.

In front of Luo Feng and the Six Supreme Elders, Lin Yun and the others submitted their spoils. Of course, they had all kept some useful items for themselves. The other Direct Disciples had also held back treasures and Spirit Grass they found useful.

This was Flawless Palace’s greatest harvest in decades. After everything was collected, Luo Feng looked at Lin Yun with a smile. "Excellent, excellent. You all must be tired from your journey. Go and get some rest."

Back at Flawless Palace, Lin Yun took a few rare days to rest. Lu Bingning and Lan Xi’s jealousy had also subsided, and Lin Yun’s life returned to a state of peace, with him spending every day in Cultivation.

If there was one thing that had changed, it was the attitude of the Flawless Palace disciples toward him. Now, no matter where he went within the sect, any disciple who saw him would respectfully call him "Eldest Brother."

Word of Lin Yun’s performance at the Saint’s Relics had long since spread throughout the Eastern Domain: he had annihilated the disciples of the Wuji Sect, grievously wounded Song Tianyang, wiped out the disciples of Celestial Eagle Valley, and fought Lin Jianhong to a standstill.

Of course, these rumors weren’t entirely accurate. For instance, the part about fighting Lin Jianhong to a standstill—that had been all Wei Yunhang’s doing.

One thing, however, was certain: the Martial Artists of the Eastern Domain now regarded Lin Yun as the sixth Great Demon Fiend. The established order of the Five Great Demon Fiends had been shattered by his arrival, ushering in a new era of six rivals vying for supremacy.

Now, when disciples of Flawless Palace encountered those from the other Four Great Forces, they were no longer as timid as before. Because of Lin Yun, the disciples of the other major powers had learned some restraint and would no longer hunt down Flawless Palace disciples with impunity as they once did.

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