The tightly clenched fist slowly relaxed. Mitian answered, "Yes!"
"No time to waste. Set out now." Yang Kai jerked his chin to the side, not willing to wait even a moment longer.
Mi Qi had no choice but to wave his decree toward the gathered elders. "You all heard what Sect Leader Yang said. Go..." He waved his hand, looking utterly dejected.
Several elders who were still nursing their wounds exchanged glances, unable to hide the grief and fury in their eyes. But what good was resentment? They weren't his match, and even their own sect master had bowed his head. All they could do was obey.
Immediately they split into different directions, transforming into streaks of light and flying off. Their injuries hadn't fully healed, but they weren't life-threatening—they could recuperate along the way. Only now did they understand why those two demon kings had wounded them without killing them. It had all been a setup—keeping them alive so they could run errands.
This had been premeditated.
If every Emperor Realm expert in the Mitian Sect had been killed off, who would have been left to read Mi Qi's decree? Sending anyone else to read it wouldn't have carried any weight. Only the Mitian Sect's own elders and protectors reading it could make the matter official.
It wasn't hard to imagine that the news of the Mitian Sect's submission to Lingxiao Pavilion would spread very quickly. Mi Qi let out a long sigh inwardly, his entire spirit wilting noticeably, as though he had aged several years overnight.
"All of you, rise. Stop kneeling—from now on we're family." Yang Kai glanced around at the Mitian Sect disciples still kneeling on the ground and raised his hand.
The crowd looked at Mi Qi, not daring to move.
Mi Qi barked, "Are your ears deaf? Did you not hear what Sect Leader Yang said? If you want to kneel, then kneel there until you die—don't bother getting up ever again!"
What a useless bunch. How had the Mitian Sect raised such a gaggle of cowards? Their cultivation might be inferior to the enemy's, but that was no reason to drop to their knees over a few words, was it?
With a rustling sound, the group scrambled to their feet, their expressions awkward.
Mi Qi let out another cold snort. "From this day forward, you don't have to listen to me, but you absolutely must listen to Sect Leader Yang. Understood?"
"Yes!" The response came in a ragged, listless chorus. Having their own sect master speak to them like that left them feeling thoroughly ashamed.
Mi Qi forced a smile. "Does Sect Leader Yang have anything to say?"
Yang Kai waved his hand. What was there to say to them? Handling Mi Qi was enough. He turned to look at Elder Tao over there. "Elder, if you would not find it beneath you, please come inside for a chat?"
Behind him, Mi Qi felt the urge to roll his eyes. This was the Mitian Sect, not Lingxiao Pavilion! But Yang Kai had clearly already treated this place as his own territory. Mi Qi didn't dare say a word, though. Since he had chosen to submit, the Mitian Sect really was his territory now.
Elder Tao considered it for a moment, then nodded. "You are too kind, sir. In that case, this old man will impose upon your hospitality."
He wanted to understand the relationship between Liu Yan and Jiu Feng as well.
"Please!" Yang Kai gestured with his hand. Elder Tao politely deferred, and the two walked inside side by side.
The three great demon kings followed close behind. Mi Qi deliberately hung back, walking alongside Li Jiao.
The two had known each other for years. Last time, Li Jiao had even come to try to talk sense into Mi Qi, but Mi Qi hadn't listened, thinking that bringing in Elder Tao would guarantee his safety. Who would have thought that Elder Tao couldn't shield him from disaster either? Now he had ended up like this. Li Jiao couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy. He reached over and patted Mi Qi's shoulder, unsure what to say.
Mi Qi transmitted via voice, "Brother Li, you and I have been acquainted for many years—our friendship is no ordinary bond. Give me the real reason. Why does Sect Leader Yang insist on humiliating my Mitian Sect? I don't believe I've ever offended him. Every year's tribute has been delivered on time. So why does he act this way, showing absolutely no regard for the Mitian Sect's dignity?" And on top of that, he hadn't given him any breathing room at all—he'd immediately sent those Emperor Realm elders on their way.
He had originally planned to stall for a while, then think of other ways to see if he could avert this catastrophe. But now there was no chance.
Li Jiao glanced ahead and thought to himself, What good is trying to get chummy with me now? Last time I went over, you threw me right out. But he had no heart to mock him. He only smiled bitterly. "Brother Mi, do you think Sect Leader Yang was humiliating you?"
"Was he not?" Mi Qi's eyes widened. If it wasn't humiliation, why make him write the decree and send his own Emperor Realm experts out to read it everywhere?
"Not at all." Li Jiao shook his head.
Mi Qi pressed, "Then why?"
"To establish authority!" Li Jiao uttered two words.
Mi Qi froze. "Establish authority? What authority?" Lingxiao Pavilion might not have risen to prominence for very long, but it was already recognized as a top-tier sect in the Northern Region—this was universally acknowledged. If it was already a top-tier sect, its prestige was already on full display. What authority did it still need to establish, and for whom to see?