Chapter 23: Accountability and Explanation
Then he swept his sleeve and left, without a trace of hesitation.
It seemed as though killing Qin Shaokong and defeating Qingyao were such trivial matters.
“Gu Fan… he—he—he ate Qin Shaokong!”
“No wonder he broke through to the Spirit Sea Realm so quickly—it turns out he practiced the Soul‑Devouring Technique!”
“Another rising star of the demonic path? I wonder how many people he had to kill before he could master the Soul‑Devouring Technique to this level.”
“He’s too fierce—one punch to defeat the veteran Inner‑Sect senior sister Qingyao!”
“Haha, what’s so special about senior sister Qingyao? She’s trash—Brother Gu Fan is truly mighty!”
But Gu Fan paid no attention to what happened behind him—just defeated opponents, nothing more.
Once he surpassed someone, they could never catch up to him.
What mattered now was promptly settling the matter of his identity—a pressing concern.
…
Disciple Identity Registration Hall.
After demonstrating his strength, Gu Fan received an Inner‑Sect disciple token.
Only now did he understand that there were hierarchies within the Inner‑Sect.
Even among Inner‑Sect disciples, if you were personally chosen by an elder or a high‑ranking figure, your status was considered higher.
Those without a master were regarded as lower in status.
But there was a benefit: these disciples could go to a place called the Law‑Demonstration Pavilion, where elders from the sect would give lectures from time to time, like attending advanced classes.
Other than that, the only difference was slightly better treatment.
Monthly spirit stones increased to ten pieces.
“Class divisions are truly everywhere—Inner‑Sect competition is fierce,” Gu Fan thought with a smile.
He didn’t care at all.
In fact, he welcomed it.
With the abundant living souls from the zombie world and the Apocalypse Flower—his twenty‑four‑hour‑a‑day cultivation machine—he didn’t need any teacher!
As he mused, two black‑clad disciples suddenly appeared in front of him.
“Newly promoted Inner‑Sect disciple Gu Fan?”
“Yes, that’s me!”
“Good. The Sect Leader and Elders’ Council wishes to see you to discuss a matter.”
Gu Fan’s brow furrowed slightly, then he asked with curiosity:
“May I ask, senior brothers, what matter would the Sect Leader and Elders want to see a humble Inner‑Sect disciple about?”
Both black‑clad disciples shook their heads.
“We don’t know what it’s about. Better go see for yourself, Brother Gu!”
Gu Fan thought likewise, then politely cupped his fists and said:
“In that case… please, senior brothers, lead the way!”
On the way, Gu Fan considered possible scenarios, already having a good idea of what it might be.
Before long, the two guiding disciples escorted Gu Fan to a grand hall near the mountaintop.
“New Inner‑Sect disciple Gu Fan has arrived. The disciple takes his leave!”
With a bow, they reported, then slowly withdrew.
Gu Fan lifted his eyes to the figures seated inside the hall—he could feel their gazes on him, intensifying the pressure.
“Disciple Gu Fan, greetings, Sect Leader, greetings, respected Elders of the sect!”
Silence in the hall lingered until Gu Fan felt stifled, and then someone finally spoke to break the quiet.
“Gu Fan, do you know your crime?”
The voice thundered, shaking Gu Fan’s head and ears.
Gu Fan regained composure, and immediately felt resentment rise within him!
He slowly lifted his head, no longer remaining in a bow, but straightened his back and looked ahead.
There were five people on the platform.
The man in the center hadn’t moved, as if pretending to be dozing.
By his side stood two individuals on each side.
The one who had just spoken was the first elder on the right.
“What crime has this disciple committed?”
“Heh heh, a tough one, even when facing death he dares to talk back!”
“Alright. I ask you—were you the one who went to investigate the Immortal Tribute task in Luoyang City?”
“Yes, disciple went.”
“And the massacre of an entire city of Luoyang—was that your doing?”
Gu Fan’s heart tightened—it indeed concerned this issue.
But ultimately, it had nothing to do with him, and he wasn’t afraid to say so.
“Honorable Elders, I already briefly reported the situation in Luoyang City when I turned in the task. It was the City Lord Shi Xuan, together with all the family heads, practicing demonic techniques, who plotted it for an entire year and sacrificed all living beings in Luoyang City!”
“When this disciple arrived, it was already too late to turn things around, so I had no choice but to execute Shi Xuan and the others!”
As Gu Fan finished speaking, the elder who had spoken earlier sneered again:
“Still trying to argue? Just now, word came from Shangqing Sect saying that the entire Luoyang City was slaughtered by you to cultivate demonic techniques!”
Gu Fan raised an eyebrow, not backing down in the slightest.
“Heh, Elder, you seem to put too much trust in Shangqing Sect. Anyone unaware might think you're an elder of theirs instead.”
“If their words were so credible, then why even question me? Just use it as evidence and pass judgment directly!”
The elder on the right looked increasingly grim.
“Sharp-tongued brat, still daring to talk back? Kneel!”
As he spoke, he extended a large palm toward Gu Fan, attempting to suppress him!
“Hold it!!”
Clang!!
A thunderous boom!
Another elder on the left, who had remained silent until now, intervened and blocked the strike.
As the two large hands clashed, the entire space trembled.
“Elder Zhao Ting, why the rush to punish him? Could it be that the recent death of your disciple has clouded your judgment?”
Disciple killed?
Gu Fan's gaze turned cold as he looked at this Elder Zhao.
From the moment he had entered, this man had targeted him, and now had even tried to suppress him!
So, he was Qin Shaokong’s master!
At this moment, the elder on the left who had blocked Zhao Ting’s attack smiled and said:
“Heh, Gu Fan, is it? The sect will naturally investigate thoroughly and won’t wrong you. Elder Zhao only lost control because you killed his disciple just now.”
“However, we all saw it—just now, the other side clearly provoked you first, and you retaliated. Killing Qin Shaokong was not excessive.”
These words made Elder Zhao’s face turn even darker.
Gu Fan’s expression showed confirmation—it was just as he suspected!
A classic case of “hit the junior, and the elder comes for revenge.”
But a dead so-called genius was nothing!
Although he had killed Qin Shaokong, it was clear that the sect would not pursue the matter too much over a deceased Inner‑Sect disciple.
This was the Heavenly Evil Sect!
The elder on the left continued:
“Gu Fan, we will send people to re-investigate what you reported, but your explanation might not be enough to shut Shangqing Sect’s mouth. Word has already spread—once you leave the sect in the future, trouble will likely follow.”
Gu Fan felt that this left‑side elder seemed to appreciate him and humbly cupped his hands in salute:
“This disciple understands. So-called righteous path disciples are nothing but rabble. No matter how many come, they’re just courting death.”
These words made Elder Zhao’s expression turn even more sinister.
Gu Fan’s words were clearly a veiled jab at both of his disciples.
Qin Shaokong was already dead, and Liu Qingyao was still seriously wounded!
This thought made him feel even more irritated with Gu Fan.
He could only coldly snort and continue questioning.
“Fine! Let’s set aside the Luoyang City matter due to lack of evidence!”
“Then explain your cultivation level. Cultivating the Soul‑Devouring Technique requires large amounts of living souls. How do you explain that?”
Elder Zhao sneered as he looked at Gu Fan.
By now, Gu Fan fully understood that this elder was out to get him, so he didn’t bother with courtesy.
“Ridiculous! Our Heavenly Evil Sect is the pinnacle of the demonic path—isn’t devouring souls and cultivating demonic techniques only natural?”
“As for where the souls came from, naturally Luoyang City! They were already dead, their flesh and blood drained. I extracted their souls to improve my strength and then killed Shi Xuan and the rest to avenge them—consider it settling a karmic debt. What’s wrong with that?!”
Zhao Ting hesitated, trying to respond.
Just then, the man in the center slowly spoke:
“That’s enough. Today was meant to be an inquiry—when did it turn into an interrogation?”
“No one from Shangqing Sect has the right to meddle in our Heavenly Evil Sect’s affairs. This ends here—we won’t have outsiders thinking our sect fears the Shangqing Sect!”
“As for Luoyang City, unless there’s new evidence proving it was Gu Fan’s doing, no more mention of it!”
The elders exchanged glances, though Zhao Ting clearly remained unwilling.
But since the Sect Leader had spoken, he had no choice but to lower his head and say respectfully:
“As you command, Sect Leader!”