"You!!!"
Nangong Chunyue stared at Duan Liufeng, and the fury that had filled her eyes now gave way to terror.
She realized that against Duan Liufeng, she felt utterly powerless — which meant his strength far surpassed hers.
"Elder Duan, show mercy."
"Nangong Chunyue is a Wolong Elder. You cannot kill her."
"If you kill her, you yourself will not escape the death penalty."
Wolong Elder Xia Zhicheng urged Duan Liufeng.
In truth, did they not all know what Nangong Yuliu had done?
Setting aside Nangong Yuliu, setting aside the fact that Nangong Chunyue had gone on a killing spree today — even if they looked purely at the past, by the laws of the Wolong Martial Sect, Nangong Chunyue should have been dead long ago.
Why had she been kept alive?
Simply because her strength was exceptional, and she was one of the Wolong Martial Sect's rare and powerful fighting forces.
That was why even the Sect Master had turned a blind eye.
Though Duan Liufeng was formidable and had stunned everyone with his display today, if he truly killed Nangong Chunyue, he would not escape punishment.
In Xia Zhicheng's eyes, it would be a loss for the Wolong Martial Sect.
"Not escape the death penalty?"
"Then I'd very much like to see who can make me face the death penalty."
Duan Liufeng's face twisted with disdain. Then he flipped his palm, and a token appeared in his hand.
"That's!!!"
Upon seeing that token, not only the bystanders — even the Wolong Elders were struck with shock.
It was a Wolong Elder's token, but Duan Liufeng's token differed slightly from those of the other Wolong Elders.
In addition to the four characters "Wolong Elder" on its surface, it bore one additional character: "Head."
Seeing this token, many people suddenly understood.
Now they knew why Duan Liufeng possessed such tremendous strength.
Within the Wolong Martial Sect, there were ten Wolong Elders, but the most powerful among them would receive a special token, and his authority and status would surpass those of the other nine.
The Head of the Wolong was a mysterious existence. Apart from the Sect Master, no one knew his true identity.
He rarely appeared. He would only take action when a matter proved too difficult for anyone else to handle.
But... whenever he did act, he could resolve with ease what no other Wolong Elder could.
Li Fengxian and the others had all seen the Head of the Wolong before.
Yet they had never once laid eyes on his true face.
People had merely assumed the Head of the Wolong was some senior of distinguished standing.
No one had ever imagined that the Head of the Wolong was, in fact, Duan Liufeng.
"You've seen the token — and still you don't bow?"
Duan Liufeng swept his gaze across the crowd.
"We pay respects to the Head of the Wolong!!!"
Li Fengxian, Xia Zhicheng, and Huyan Xiaotian all hurriedly performed a deep bow of respect.
Though they were fellow Wolong Elders, before the Head of the Wolong, they too had to show deference.
Seeing this, the others all followed suit with deep bows.
The disciples went even further, dropping to their knees in full prostration.
"Chu Feng, bow quickly."
By now, the Head Steward of the Northern Province had deactivated his protective formation and was bowing deeply to Duan Liufeng. Seeing that Chu Feng had not yet bowed, he hurriedly urged him on.
"Chu Feng is my sworn brother. He need not kneel to me."
After saying this to Chu Feng, Duan Liufeng turned his gaze back to the crowd.
"I know what you're thinking. You must find this incredible — unwilling to accept it."
"You're surely wondering how that good-for-nothing whose cultivation had regressed could possibly be the Head of the Wolong."
"But some of you must also be afraid — afraid of my retribution."
"To those of you who once spoke ill of me, don't be afraid. If I were the sort to seek revenge, you wouldn't have lived to see today."
"But let me make this clear."
"Chu Feng is my brother."
"What you've done to me, I can let go. What you did to him in the past, I can also let go."
"Your scheming, your jockeying for power, your backstabbing — I, Duan Liufeng, will not meddle in any of it."
"But from this day forward, if anyone dares lay a hand on my brother Chu Feng, I, Duan Liufeng, will show no mercy."
The moment those words left his lips, there was a wet, tearing sound — not only had the blade in his hand pierced through Nangong Chunyue's Dantian, but his entire arm had punched clean through it.
"Aaargh—"
Nangong Chunyue screamed in agony.