Behind these elders, atop the nine steps, Dongfang Bubai, with his hair tied up and wearing a golden crown, sat regally on a pure gold chair.
Although his posture was casual and relaxed, his domineering aura seemed almost tangible.
In his hand, he was looking at a stack of papers slowly and deliberately.
If Yaoyue or Qu Feiyan were here at this moment, they would immediately recognize that what Dongfang Bubai was holding was the manuscript of the novel written by Chu Qinghe three days ago.
However, as Dongfang Bubai's gaze focused on these manuscripts, his brows, which had been perfectly composed before, suddenly furrowed tightly.
The dissatisfaction was almost palpable.
Noticing Dongfang Bubai's furrowed brows, all the disciples of the Sun Moon Sect in the entire hall remained silent, not daring to look up at Dongfang Bubai on the high platform.
As Dongfang Bubai's gaze slowly swept over the manuscript, Sang Sanniang, who had returned to Blackwood Cliff with Dongfang Bubai earlier, waved her hand, and the Sun Moon Sect disciples standing around the hundred or so people raised their blood-red whips and lashed them at the people kneeling on the ground.
And along this long whip were iron barbs.
Each time the long whip struck those kneeling on the ground, a piece of flesh would be torn off the barbs, and a shrill scream would echo throughout the hall.
If anyone dares not immediately kneel back down after being whipped, the long whip in the air will immediately fall on their body again.
In just a few dozen breaths, as these crimson whips were swung, bloodstains had already formed on the ground.
The piercing screams echoed throughout the hall, causing all the disciples of the Sun Moon Sect to keep their heads down, their hearts filled with fear.
Only when the hundred or so people in front of her were covered in whip marks, their skin torn and flesh trembling uncontrollably from the pain, did Sang San Niang raise her hand to stop the disciples around her who were wielding long whips, and then turn her gaze to the three elders at the head of the group.
"Tell me, why did Ren Woxing suddenly leave?"
On the way back to Blackwood Cliff from Chu Qinghe's side, Dongfang Bubai also ordered the people of the Sun Moon Cult to report Ren Woxing's movements at any time.
The frequency was so high that news would come from the Sun Moon Cult almost every half hour.
Yesterday evening, just as Dongfang Bubai returned to Blackwood Cliff, Ren Woxing also stepped into Longyue City, ten miles away from Blackwood Cliff.
Just as Dongfang Bubai was about to close the net, Ren Woxing did not go up Blackwood Cliff at night. Instead, he quietly left Longyue City with Xiang Wentian, his wife and daughter Ren Yingying, and others.
Upon seeing this, Dongfang Bubai immediately ordered the arrest of all the Sun Moon Cult elders and disciples who had been identified as having connections with Ren Woxing over the past few days.
Faced with Sang San Niang's question, the Sun Moon Sect disciples, who had been whipped several times and whose faces were pale, couldn't help but beg for mercy and said that they were unaware of Ren Woxing and the others' sudden departure.
Only the three elders kneeling at the front remained silent, gritting their teeth and enduring the excruciating pain emanating from their bodies.
Seeing this, Sang San Niang could only turn her attention to the three elders in front of her.
“You have been captured, while Ren Woxing has left alone. Clearly, you have been used as pawns by Ren Woxing. In that case, why do you still resist?”
After a brief pause, Sang San Niang looked at the middle-aged man closest to her and slowly said, "Elder Qian, you are also a senior member of the sect. Over the years, you have worked hard in the sect, even if you have not made any great contributions. If you are willing to confess Ren Woxing's affairs, the sect leader is magnanimous and may spare your life."
Faced with what Sang San Niang said, Elder Qian lowered his head and said with difficulty, "Master, I, Qian Zaisun, am loyal to you and would never betray you. I am afraid that this matter is a frame-up by a villain. I beg you to investigate!"
However, as soon as she uttered the words, Sang San Niang let out a cold laugh.
“Slander? The messages you exchanged with Xiang Wentian, one of Ren Woxing’s men, these past few days have all been backed up in my sect.”
As she spoke, Sang San Niang waved her hand.
When the Sun Moon Cult disciple carrying a wooden tray approached, Sang San Niang picked up a slip of paper from the tray and threw it in front of Qian Zaisun.
Then, Sang San Niang looked at another elder kneeling next to Qian Zaisun.
A moment later, in front of the three men, there was more evidence of their betrayal of the Sun Moon Cult.
In an instant, the eyes and faces of Qian Zaisun and the other two elders of the Sun Moon Sect were quickly filled with fear.
Seeing this, Sang San Niang continued, "If I were you, I might honestly confess everything now to atone for my crimes, rather than asking for trouble. After all, others may not know what the punishment hall of our Divine Sect is like, but the three elders should know what it is like."
Upon hearing what Sang San Niang said, Qian Zai Sun, who had previously looked wronged, trembled and quickly said, "Your subordinate knows his mistake, your subordinate is willing to confess, your subordinate is willing to confess."
Upon seeing this, the other two elders nearby also hurriedly spoke up.
A quarter of an hour later, Sang San Niang turned around and bowed to Dongfang Bubai, saying, "Master, Qian Zaisun and the others have already admitted to betraying you and joining Ren Woxing. However, none of them know anything about why Ren Woxing suddenly gave up going to Blackwood Cliff last night."
However, Dongfang Bubai did not respond immediately to what Sang San Niang said, and kept his eyes on the remaining manuscripts in his hands.
As the number of pages in the manuscript dwindled, Dongfang Bubai's expression grew increasingly grim.
Later on, his face became ashen.
Seeing this, Sang San Niang swallowed her questions and quickly lowered her head, bent over, and squeezed her legs together.
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