"Precedents? Those were before me! What the former masters of the Jiying Hall were thinking, I, Liang Miazi, do not know. But under my watch, it shall never be tolerated! Furthermore, the Sect Master issued an edict long ago: our Lingyun Sect must absolutely not interfere in any disputes within the Eastern Lin Cloud Continent."

Liang Miazi's voice suddenly turned cold, sharp, and severe as she tossed the Lingyun Crimson Token back: "This token is returned to you. If you have any difficulties, feel free to ask for help. However, for as long as I, Liang Miazi, am in the Lingyun Sect, I will never allow those wastes who entered through improper means to step inside our gates. Wanting to join our sect is actually simple—just pass the assessment!"

Huang Yi frowned, daring not to argue further, only turning back to look at the three people with an apologetic gaze.

Zong Shou's expression remained as cold as ice from beginning to end. Yin Yang, standing at the front, was trembling slightly with anger. But after only a moment, he gritted his teeth and knelt down, bowing to Liang Miazi: "The Immortal Elder speaks the truth. Yin Yang knows this request is difficult. It is just that now my Young Master has no other path left, and can only seek refuge under the Lingyun Sect. We implore the Immortal Elder to show mercy—"

Seeing this, Su Chuxue hurriedly knelt down as well. Unsure how to speak, she could only look at Liang Miazi and Huang Yi with eyes full of pleading sorrow.

Zong Shou, at this moment, had almost ground his silver teeth to dust. His chest felt as though it were being scorched by a fierce flame, and he could barely restrain himself. In his previous life, whether in reality or in the virtual world, he had opposed the Lingyun Sect for decades, yet he had never once bowed his head or yielded to them!

This Yin Yang and Chuxue had utterly ruined all his face.

Then, thinking further, he secretly sighed. For the sake of him, the Young Master of the Qiantian Mountain, had these two not cast aside everything? They completely disregarded their own dignity.

Even if what they were truly doing was not entirely for him, he could not help but feel a surge of emotion, a genuine tenderness.

After all, bearing the thirteen years of memory belonging to this body, in a certain sense, he and the former Zong Shou were already one.

"Mercy? Not everything in this world can be reasoned with or softened."

Liang Miazi remained unmoved, a hint of mockery deepening on her face: "However, this young girl has decent innate talent. Cultivating both Spirit and Martial arts shows uncommon attainment. If she is willing to join our sect, after verification, she can directly be accepted as an inner disciple. If there is nothing else, you may all descend the mountain now!"

Yin Yang said no more, only striking his head heavily against the green stone slab, producing a muffled sound like thunder. Su Chuxue followed suit; in moments, her snow-white forehead was already a bloody mess.

Zong Shou was furious to the point of frenzy, utterly depressed, yet utterly helpless. The nails of his ten fingers dug deeply into his own flesh.

Liang Miazi let out a cold laugh: "If kowtowing worked, then what need would there be for sect rules and discipline? Though, letting you leave just like this would indeed be a little inhumane. You three may remain below the mountain for another half a year. Within that time, our sect can guarantee your complete safety. As for the Lingyun Token, you can use it to seek elixirs, spiritual artifacts, or even martial arts secrets and profound incantations from our sect. But having someone with dual meridians enter our gates is absolutely impossible! If there is nothing further, then you—"

Yin Yang’s brow furrowed again, preparing to change his plea. If they couldn't enter the Lingyun Sect, then seeking shelter within the sect grounds for a few more years would still be acceptable. However, the next moment, Liang Miazi's tone shifted again, becoming utterly glacial: "You can scram now!"

As the words left her mouth, her voice boomed like thunder. When the single word 'scram' emerged, fierce winds surged. Yin Yang bore the brunt of it; his entire body was violently thrown backward over several dozen zhang, tumbling down the steps. When he hit the ground, blood poured from his mouth.

A mere few sentences had abruptly dealt Yin Yang a severe injury. Chuxue was also knocked back dozens of zhang, though her condition was slightly better than Yin Yang’s, her face utterly pale.

Within Zong Shou’s body, his qi and blood also churned slightly. He knew this was not Liang Miazi showing mercy, but rather her Thunder Sound Secret Art. The stronger one's inner breath, the more powerful the impact received. Thus, it was ironically he, with the weakest cultivation, who remained completely unharmed.

However, the raging fire in his chest burned even more intensely. It was like adding oil to a blaze, scorching him until his reason was almost entirely lost. His eyes faintly flashed red.

Huang Yi was equally unaffected, and his gaze toward the trio now held a degree of pity. Though a fellow disciple, he felt his Martial Uncle had gone slightly too far. Regardless of the situation, someone holding the Lingyun Crimson Token held a degree of kindness owed to the sect. Still, he could not interject, merely sighing softly: "Martial Uncle Liang Miazi is the Hall Master of the Eastern Branch of our sect’s Jiying Hall, overseeing the enrollment of all disciples both inside and out. Since a decision has been made, it cannot be changed. Shall I escort you down the mountain?"

Zong Shou remained expressionless and did not reply, simply turning and walking directly to Yin Yang and Chuxue.

The former was not one to be trampled upon either. After standing up, he never begged Liang Miazi again. His face was ashen, his fists clenched tight, the hatred in his eyes almost solidifying.

And Chuxue’s fury was overwhelming; her hand gripped her sword hilt tightly, and her lips were bitten until they broke.

Just then, a lightly mocking voice drifted from the direction of the palace gate: "Heh! Holding the Lingyun Crimson Token, yet still being driven out—"

"That is how it should be! Our generation should be ashamed to associate with such incompetent people! No matter how high one's family status, what good is it?"

"The Young Master of Qiantian Mountain, I recall! Didn't the Demon King of Qiantian Mountain, Zong Weiran, perish two months ago? I’ve heard of this Zong Shou too; rumor has it he studied art at Linhai Academy for three years but achieved nothing. Not long ago, word spread that he was about to be expelled; how did he end up here?"

Though the voices were light, to the ears of martial artists, even across a hundred zhang, they were heard clearly. Chuxue's fair face flushed crimson, and the sword in her hand suddenly drew out half a foot, its cold light flashing. Huang Yi’s expression immediately darkened: "Three guests, I advise you not to act rashly! This is Lingyun Sect's Danling Mountain, after all!"

Yin Yang also shook his head, restraining Chuxue: "Don't be impulsive! Let's go down the mountain first—"

Before the words had even fully settled, Zong Shou suddenly let out a soft chuckle.

In those thirteen years of memory, he was indeed not brought out by Yin Yang and Chuxue; it was tantamount to being expelled from Linhai Academy.

If it were the original Zong Shou, he probably would have had to swallow his anger and endure it silently.

But for the current him, it was impossible to cultivate a gentle, yielding temperament in this lifetime. And it was also impossible to conceal his own sharp edge.

The noisy discussions outside the palace gates continuously flooded his ears. Liang Miazi stood on the steps, hands behind her back, looking down upon the three as if they were ants.

The angry thoughts in Zong Shou’s mind, however, strangely vanished entirely. Instead, he laughed aloud: "Uncle Yin, it's not too late to descend the mountain later. Let Zong Shou vent this frustration for you first, shall we?"

At this moment, his mind was crystal clear, his intent cold as ice. The realm he had striven for decades to reach in his past life, he now attained in a single leap.

No wonder some said that whether for a Martial Cultivator or a Spirit Master, one must experience all the world's bitterness and sweetness during cultivation.

Yin Yang was stunned and instinctively wanted to dissuade him. But suddenly, his expression changed; he realized that the youth before him now subtly exuded an unparalleled majesty.

Though he was smiling affably, the feeling he gave off was like an erupting volcano. His imposing aura made even him, a Secret Martial Master who had opened eight body wheels, feel a tremor of fear, rendering him momentarily speechless.

Then, they watched as Zong Shou directly turned and walked toward the Bright Sword Platform to the right.

"I heard long ago that the Ancestor of Lingyun Sect once set up a Minor Heaven and Earth Sword Array here on Danling Mountain using eighteen puppets, claiming that no one below the Heavenly Rank could break it. Without using true force, anyone who could withstand a hundred breaths would qualify as an inner disciple. Three hundred breaths, and they could become a direct heir. One who shatters a single puppet would immediately be accepted as a disciple under the Sect Master or an Elder!"

Ascending the steps one by one, Zong Shou suddenly drew his sword and looked before him at the eighteen wooden figures standing silently in battle array.

"Didn't you say there was an assessment? Zong Shou is unlearned, but I wish to test if this Minor Heaven and Earth Sword Array lives up to its name—"