Facing Lin Yun’s onslaught, the Tiansha Sect leader showed no weakness, unleashing his full power. His warblade erupted with blue flames, meeting Lin Yun’s attack head-on.
Bang, bang, bang!
After several clashes, despite fully unleashing his strength, the Tiansha Sect leader couldn’t hold his ground—the gap between them was too vast!
Pfft!
Once his defence was breached, Lin Yun’s sword pierced through his soft armour, striking his heart.
“Pfft!”
The Tiansha Sect leader spat out blood, glaring at Lin Yun.
He was, after all, a seventh-stage Tribulation Realm cultivator, yet he was powerless before Lin Yun.
“You had a chance to live, but you made the wrong choice,” Lin Yun said, looking at him.
With that, Lin Yun withdrew his sword.
The Tiansha Sect leader of Dongyuan Prefecture was dead!
At that moment, the hall was so silent that a pin dropping would have been audible.
The patriarchs and sect leaders didn’t dare breathe loudly.
The Tiansha Sect leader, head of the second greatest sect in Dongyuan Prefecture, held significant prestige. Countless sects and families feared the Tiansha Sect!
Yet now, he had been slain, delivering an even greater psychological shock to the crowd.
They all thought to themselves, how could this new prefectural lord be so ruthlessly decisive?
Even as prefectural lord, publicly killing such a major sect leader required immense resolve and courage. If it sparked resistance, the prefectural lord and his guards might not withstand the dozens of Tribulation Realm cultivators present.
Lin Yun, hands behind his back, issued an order, “Huo Zhen, Meng Shan, immediately lead the personal guards and a battalion of city guards to the Tiansha Sect. Announce that the Tiansha Sect leader was killed for treason. Whichever elder submits will take over the sect.”
“Understood!”
Huo Zhen and Meng Shan accepted the order and strode out.
The crowd knew Lin Yun was killing the chicken to warn the monkeys, and the effect was indeed enough to instil fear!
Lin Yun sheathed his sword.
“Everyone, just a minor interruption. The banquet continues,” Lin Yun said, returning to his seat.
Once seated, Lin Yun continued, “Let’s resume discussing the joint effort to purge demonic beasts. As I said, we’re all smart people, so let’s be frank. Your so-called support so far has been sending a few people to placate me. What I need is your full, unreserved effort. Apart from the Zhu family, Guifeng Sect, and Ziqing Sect, the rest of you patriarchs and sect leaders, state your positions.”
As he finished, Lin Yun slowly raised his head, looking at the crowd.
The hall remained silent.
“Fine, if you’re unwilling, I won’t force you.”
Then, Lin Yun glanced at the two corpses on the floor, “I killed the Tiansha Sect leader and his son because they violated imperial law, as you all clearly understand.”
“But among you, how many are completely clean? Without a single blemish? If I investigated thoroughly, eight or nine out of ten could be dragged out and executed.”
Lin Yun raised his head slowly, “What do you think?”
At these words, many sect leaders and patriarchs’ legs began to tremble.
Lin Yun’s unhesitating killing of the Tiansha Sect leader and his son had instilled deep fear and apprehension.
Still, no one took the lead to speak.
Lin Yun turned to the Jiuxuan Sect leader, “Sect Leader Hanwei, the Tiansha Sect leader is dead and can’t speak. You take the lead. State your position.”
The Jiuxuan Sect was the top sect in Dongyuan Prefecture, and Lin Yun clearly intended for him to set an example.
“Well…” The Jiuxuan Sect leader faltered.
Though his Jiuxuan Sect was stronger than the Tiansha Sect, Lin Yun had casually killed the Tiansha Sect leader, and he wasn’t much stronger.
Moreover, they had brought few people to the banquet and couldn’t use teleportation artefacts in the prefectural city. If danger arose, escape was impossible!
“Sect Leader Hanwei, with great power comes great responsibility. As a major sect, you have a duty to eliminate demons and protect the people, don’t you? Of course, if you’re unwilling, I won’t force you. I just wonder if you have any dark history that wouldn’t withstand scrutiny?” Lin Yun said with a smile.
“This…” Cold sweat dripped from the Jiuxuan Sect leader’s forehead.
He knew Lin Yun had left him no room to equivocate.
And Lin Yun’s slaying of the Tiansha Sect leader had truly intimidated him.
“You’re right, Lord Prefectural Lord. As the top sect in Dongyuan Prefecture, my Jiuxuan Sect should lead the charge against demons. I declare that if you continue the great purge against the demon race, my Jiuxuan Sect will answer the call, sending our grand elder with five thousand elites!” the Jiuxuan Sect leader said loudly, his tone resolute.
“Good! Sect Leader Hanwei, I toast to you. As long as your Jiuxuan Sect contributes sincerely, I won’t pursue any past misdeeds!”
Lin Yun raised his wine cup as he spoke.
“You’re too kind, Lord Prefectural Lord. As the top sect in Dongyuan Prefecture, fighting demonic beasts is our duty,” the Jiuxuan Sect leader said with a dry laugh.
Hearing Lin Yun’s words, he felt a wave of relief.
After the toast, Lin Yun looked at the others at his table, “Sect Leader Jiuxuan has spoken. What about the rest of you?”
“Lord Prefectural Lord, my Bao family will fully answer the call, sending one Tribulation Realm cultivator and four thousand elites!” Patriarch Bao stood, his voice firm.
“My Lanwu Sect will fully answer the call, sending one Tribulation Realm cultivator and five thousand elites!” The Lanwu Sect leader stood.
“My Huanhai Sect…”
…
In no time, every patriarch and sect leader at Lin Yun’s table had stood and declared their commitment, without exception!
Their statements clearly set a precedent.
Then, patriarchs and sect leaders from other tables began to rise.
“Lord Prefectural Lord, my Liang family will fully answer the call!”
“My Canglang Sect will fully answer the call…”
…
Resounding declarations echoed throughout the hall.
Seeing this, Lin Yun finally let out a long sigh of relief.
It had worked.
He had planned carefully but wasn’t certain he could convince these self-interested factions to contribute without reward—a daunting task.
If they all continued to equivocate, Lin Yun couldn’t kill them all. They represented Dongyuan Prefecture’s most powerful families and sects, and doing so would plunge the prefecture into chaos.
