Inside the Combat Secret Realm.
Liang Min's eyes locked tightly on the flickering spatial ripples before him.
Moments later, a tall figure stepped out of the void.
Liang Min froze for a moment.
—That's not Wang Yuyao?!
"Who are you?" he blurted out instinctively.
Though Liang Min was one of Si Nantong's lackeys, he was actually much older than him.He had joined the sect even earlier than Wang Jianqiang, and by the time Wang was famous in the outer sect, Liang Min had already been promoted to the inner sect.So he didn't recognize Wang Jianqiang.
"Your grandpa!"
Wang Jianqiang grinned and pointed at him.
"Little Chick, get him."
The tiny chicken on his shoulder lazily lifted its head, its emerald-like eyes flashing with twin phantom flames of blue-green fire.
In an instant, Liang Min's spiritual power ignited within his body.
His cultivation was only at the early Foundation Establishment Stage, far weaker than Si Nantong.Even Si Nantong had struggled against Little Chick's flames—Liang Min didn't stand a chance.
Before he could even crush his secret realm escape token, his whole body burst into blue fire.Within seconds, he was nothing but ash.
The battle ended as quickly as it began.The secret realm collapsed, and Wang Jianqiang was teleported out—along with a small pile of gray dust.
Countless gazes turned toward him.They lingered on Wang Jianqiang for a moment before shifting to that pitiful heap of ashes on the ground.
That… was Liang Min, wasn't it?
Wang Yuyao glanced at the ashes, then hurried to Wang Jianqiang's side, anxiety written all over her face.
"Senior Brother Wang, the Discipline Hall will be here soon. Shouldn't we leave first?"
Wang Jianqiang shook his head."The Discipline Hall must be faced sooner or later. Running isn't the solution."
Then he smiled faintly."Besides, what people see isn't always the truth."
"Who knows—maybe I didn't slay fellow disciples. Maybe I'm just cleansing the sect of parasites."
Wang Yuyao blinked, confused.
Wang Jianqiang only smiled and turned his gaze toward the distant horizon.
Moments later, a powerful aura descended from the sky.A cold, thunderous voice echoed from afar:
"How dare you kill your fellow disciples within the sect! Courting death!"
Before the voice even faded, a figure had already crossed several hundred meters and appeared midair—Yan Biao, the Discipline Hall enforcer Wang Jianqiang had once met before.
Today, however, his four subordinates were nowhere in sight.Whether they were still recovering from injuries or sent elsewhere, no one knew.
Yan Biao's sharp eyes swept across the scene.When they fell on the headless corpse on the ground, his expression changed drastically.
That aura…
—It was Si Nantong!
The Discipline Hall could monitor the entire sect through the grand protective formation, sensing where powerful energy fluctuations appeared.However, this surveillance only detected the intensity of battle—not who was fighting.
So until he arrived, Yan Biao didn't know the participants' identities.
But now that he saw Si Nantong dead on the ground, his mind went blank.
No one knew better than him just how special Si Nantong's background was.
The Great Hall Master of the Discipline Hall, Si Tianyong, was infamous for his romantic escapades in the mortal world—leaving behind countless "stories."Among them, Si Nantong was one of his illegitimate sons.
Si Tianyong had sired many children outside, most without spiritual roots—he'd ignored them.But Si Nantong was different.He was gifted, born with a superior spiritual root, so Si Tianyong secretly brought him into Hehuan Sect, the Sect of Harmonious Joy.
Still, the sect wasn't part of the demonic path.Having too many mortal "offspring" was a scandal.To save face, Si Tianyong never acknowledged Si Nantong publicly, leaving him to grow within the outer sect.
Even so, Si Nantong received numerous "coincidental" privileges, and the higher-ups all tacitly understood who was protecting him.
He rose like a comet, becoming the outer sect's top prodigy of his generation.When he advanced to the inner sect, Si Tianyong personally taught him his signature art—the Soul Dominion Technique.
Now, that same beloved disciple lay dead before Yan Biao's eyes.
His face darkened.
This matter must be handled flawlessly, or he'd risk enraging the Great Hall Master himself.
His cold gaze swept the surroundings."Who killed Si Nantong?!" he barked.
"I did."
The voice was calm, even casual.
Yan Biao turned—and froze.
"You again?"
"That's right," Wang Jianqiang nodded slightly. "Hall Master Yan, we meet again."
Yan Biao's temples throbbed.
The sect hadn't seen a disciple kill another in years…And this brat—barely a few days into Foundation Establishment—had already killed two!
Was he a curse in human form?!
Yan Biao's expression twisted with mockery and rage as he recalled how he'd once been humiliated in front of Elder Yan Qingshuang because of this same youth.
Perfect.New hatred and old—he'd settle them both today.
He sneered."Did you think that just because Yan Qingshuang supports you, you can act with impunity?"
"Come quietly to the Discipline Hall and accept punishment!"
He raised his hand, spiritual power surging.
"Wait."
Yan Biao paused mid-gesture, lips curling into disdain."What? Trying to stall for time until someone saves you?"
"Don't bother. No one can save you today."
If Wang Jianqiang had killed an ordinary disciple, maybe Elder Yan Qingshuang could've shielded him.But Si Nantong?He was Si Tianyong's own son.
Even Yan Qingshuang couldn't protect him from that.
Wang Jianqiang simply shook his head.
"Are you so sure I killed a fellow disciple?"
Yan Biao snorted. "So many witnesses, and you still dare deny it?"
Wang Jianqiang's lips curved faintly."Sometimes, seeing isn't believing."
"Yes, I killed Si Nantong. But I didn't murder a fellow disciple.""I was punishing corruption—purging the sect of rot."
With that, he lifted his palm.
A faint wisp of soul remnant floated above it.
Yan Biao's eyes widened, and his fury erupted."You even extracted his soul?!"
His killing intent surged, spiritual pressure crashing down like a tidal wave.
But just before it reached Wang Jianqiang, a glimmering turquoise barrier flared around him, blocking the strike entirely.
Yan Biao's pupils shrank as his gaze flicked toward the small chick on Wang's shoulder.
That bird… was powerful.
Wang Jianqiang smiled slightly."Why so agitated, Hall Master Yan?"
"This Si Nantong was deceitful and vile. Years ago, he even murdered another sect prodigy."
"Unfortunately, the Discipline Hall could never find proof."
"Now…"He raised the faint, flickering soul wisp."I've simply gathered some evidence—for the Discipline Hall."