Chapter 398: The Reckoning Ceremony, Killing the Chicken to Warn the Monkey!
“Bring those two in.”
With Zhou Tong’s command, Gao Ming and Chu Yin were brought before him.
Among the two, Gao Ming had reached the Second Layer of Sage, while Chu Yin appeared to be a young man, but he was in his fifties or sixties, having attained the high-level Semi-Sage realm.
The reason they dared to attempt an assassination was due to a divine weapon called the Killing God Dagger.
This was a Sacred Forbidden Weapon, usable only once, yet enough to kill an Intermediate Sage upon striking the target.
As long as they could get close to Zhou Tong, they had a chance.
With a thud, the two knelt before Zhou Tong, with Gao Ming maintaining a calm expression, while Chu Yin’s face turned somewhat pale.
The youth on the throne exuded a tremendous oppressive aura; just his plain gaze made them tremble slightly, their hands and feet turning cold.
Moreover, the six strong warriors standing on either side possessed a chilling killing intent; once exposed, they would have no place to bury their bodies.
“Greetings, Young Master of the Li Family!”
Gao Ming took a deep breath and spoke calmly.
“How dare the people of Profound Sky Hall come to my doorstep? Do you all think you’re tired of living?”
Zhou Tong asked with a smile.
“No, I have come to pledge my loyalty to you, Lord. The Profound Sky Hall is unworthy; even as a Sage, I receive no rewards for my merits, nor am I exempt from punishment. I am treated like a beast, constantly insulted, feeling no respect whatsoever!”
“My patience has long been worn thin, so I decided to part ways with the Profound Sky Hall and seek a worthy master. I have heard that Young Master Zhou is a youthful hero and that the Li Family understands righteousness, so I have decided to come to you!”
“I hope you will not disdain my offer; I will serve you with utmost loyalty. Should I betray you, may Heaven and Earth punish me, and may gods and men unite to slay me!”
“I am the same!”
Chu Yin echoed, causing the head of the You Family to twitch, unable to contain his surprise at this dog copying his idea!
“Hehe… why should I believe you?”
Zhou Tong scoffed, rising to his feet, releasing streams of killing intent that sent shivers down the spines of the kneeling men.
Especially Gao Ming; despite his rank as a Second Layer Sage, he felt disoriented facing Zhou Tong, causing him great alarm!
“Calm down, Young Master! We have brought a Heavy Gift this time, enough to prove our sincerity.”
“Oh… let me see it.”
Zhou Tong’s expression turned interested, making the other party breathe a sigh of relief.
Gao Ming opened a spatial ring and took out a parchment.
“What is this?”
“Report to the Young Master, this is a layout plan of the Profound Sky Hall’s inner workings, clearly documenting vulnerabilities, including the dungeon where hostages are kept. Moreover, according to reliable sources, your father’s sworn brother is also imprisoned there.”
Upon hearing this, Li Mu’s eyes immediately began to moisten, his excitement getting the better of him as he rubbed his hands together.
“This is incredible! His unfortunate adopted son is still alive; it was all worth it!”
“Indeed, this is a great treasure; I quite like it.”
Zhou Tong smiled and nodded, showing his approval.
“Please allow us to present it in person for your viewing.”
As they spoke, the two stood up, preparing to approach.
“Wait…”
Zhou Tong gently waved his hand, causing their steps to halt, their hearts rising to their throats.
“My Li Family’s legitimacy has just been restored, and there’s still a ceremony to complete. It is said that past orders shall not be retracted, and future orders shall not be disobeyed. Please stay aside and observe the ceremony; after it is completed, I will then accept your sincerity!”
As his words fell, Zhou Tong’s expression turned extremely cold as he declared, “The merit and reward assessment has just concluded; now, it is time for reckoning. Everyone, follow me to the Li Family ancestral tomb!”
Gao Ming and Chu Yin were bewildered, carried along without understanding why the reckoning had to take place at the tomb.
Moments later, the group arrived at the Li Family ancestral tomb.
“Bring them up!”
With his back to the crowd, Zhou Tong commanded, and a total of one hundred and eight members of the Li Family, including Li Congxin and Lin Ruoxii, were brought forth.
These people were the principal culprits who had framed the Li Mu clan, and every one of their actions had been thoroughly investigated, leaving no room for injustice.
“Let go of me! I am the head of the Li Family; you are merely a group of traitors! What right do you have to treat me this way?”
Li Congxin resisted, struggling to stand tall, refusing to kneel even if it meant death.
Not only him; Lin Ruoxii was similarly enraged, her eyes blazing with fury, wishing she could shred Zhou Tong to pieces!
Because her own family had been exterminated by Zhou Tong, she was now a lone person, with nothing left to fear.
“How laughable; before the Profound Sky Hall, you were timid, yet now you are tough in front of me. Do you think I wouldn’t dare to act against you?”
Zhou Tong sneered, snapping his fingers, and a group of people entered bearing shovels.
Upon seeing this, Li Congxin’s pupils constricted!
“What do you want to do?”
“Dig up the graves!”
“You dare!!”
The moment these words were spoken, the others grew extremely agitated, their faces turning ashen.
Zhou Tong announced, “As the Young Master of the Li Family, I declare that these people have colluded with outsiders to harm their own kin. From today onwards, they are no longer members of the Li Family but rather its enemies. Act!”
With his words, the guards unhesitatingly began to dismantle graves, exhuming the ancestors of those traitors and scattering their ashes!
The former Ancestral Head received particularly special treatment; he was the initiator of the Refining Gu plan, and because of him, all eighteen-year-olds of the Li Family were left with just Zhou Tong.
For this, Zhou Tong had already contacted Zhe Mei in the little hell, instructing them to find the Ancestral Head’s soul and inflict a thousand forms of torture!
Even if reincarnated, he’d only become a beast!
“Ahhh… you little devil, how dare you! I will tear you to pieces!”
As this scene unfolded, not only Li Congxin but even those behind him panicked; having their ancestors’ remains scattered meant they would become rootless, doomed to wander as lonely ghosts after death!
“The account of the dead has been settled; now it is time to settle with the living!”
Zhou Tong maintained an expressionless demeanor, as if he were engaged in a trivial matter, a chilling attitude that sent shivers down spines.
“What… what do you want to do?”
Li Congxin asked, trembling, sensing something dreadful was approaching.
“I’m too lazy to waste words with you. Go to hell!”
As his words fell, Zhou Tong slapped down, intending to kill them all.
“You dare! Ahhh!!!”
In an instant, there was no turning back, like a hammer shattering an egg, crushing down effortlessly!
Just as everyone thought it was all over, Zhou Tong reached out and grasped two remaining souls, precisely the remnants of Li Congxin and his wife.
Their faces were filled with resentment and fear, bound by Zhou Tong, unable to escape no matter how they struggled.
“Let go of me; we are already dead! What more do you want?”
“Death is my mercy granted to others, and you are unworthy of receiving it. I will not allow you to die so easily!”
As his words fell, a powerful spiritual force spread from Zhou Tong.
“Seal Eight-Seven, Nine Star Soul Binding Lock!”
Two columns of energy formed from spiritual power descended, embedding themselves deep into the earth, and at once, the two souls were nailed to the columns, instantaneously releasing a piercing wail.
“Ahhh… kill me! Please, kill me! I can’t bear the pain any longer! Let my soul scatter! I would rather be a pig in my next life!”
Li Congxin and Lin Ruoxii twisted and struggled, resembling demons crawling out of hell, the pain unimaginable!
Watching the execution, representatives from various clans couldn’t help but shudder; through this scene, they firmly recognized the consequences of betraying Zhou Tong, making their loyalty even stronger.
Meanwhile, Gao Ming and Chu Yin were drenched in sweat.
Such a terrifying punishment had not even been witnessed in the Profound Sky Hall.
Worse yet, they feared that whether or not they succeeded in the assassination attempt, they would likely not escape this fate.
“Alright, the Reckoning Ceremony has concluded; you two may continue!”
Zhou Tong looked at the two, a smile that did not reach his eyes as he said.
