Chapter 362: Swearing in front of the banner, clear conscience
The disciples of Xima Mountain dared not do anything, not even to move, for fear that any movement would attract the attention of the killer, who would drag them out and behead them on the spot as a warning to others.
Gong Mengbi killed his way from one side to the other, killing countless people and causing blood to flow like a river.
The stone platform in front of the hall was stained red with blood. The disciples knelt in a pool of blood, trembling all over.
Click.
As the last head fell, Gong Mengbi lamented, "These are the pillars of our Xima Mountain. They should have been peacefully pursuing the truth, inheriting the blessings of their predecessors and paving the way for future generations. Instead, they have all gone astray."
The deep regret and sorrow in his words made one's spine tingle. The person who said this should be a respected elder who was devoted to the sect, or a kind person who cared about the younger generation and gave them earnest teachings.
The Ma Qingji in front of him was indeed an elder who was wholeheartedly concerned about the sect, but the methods he used made people shiver all over.
The disciples of Xima Mountain were not new to death; most of them were quite skilled in the art of killing and taking souls. It was only when their positions shifted, when their invincible elders were slain like mere mortals, when they became lambs to be slaughtered, that their fear was finally awakened.
Gong Mengbi raised his gaze from the beheaded elders and looked at the disciples of Ximashan.
The disciples of Xima Mountain could no longer endure it and cried out, "Master, please spare my life! I will never dare to do that again!"
"Please, Grandpa, spare my life!"
Gong Mengbi said: "Bring up those who have refined the Yinhun Banner!"
"Master! Spare my life!"
One by one, the disciples of Xima Mountain were brought forward by the ghost immortals. Their sharp cries circled in front of the hall, with screams and unwillingness intertwined.
But Gong Mengbi's heart was extremely cold and hard, and he remained unmoved.
Gong Mengbi stood before them and said, "The word 'immortal' is inseparable from human nature. You have disregarded the path of cultivation, harming the heavens and killing people, taking their souls. You must be executed!"
He killed with his sword, and the cold blood flowed on the stone steps. The screams and unwillingness, anger and hatred all disappeared under his sword, becoming nothing.
Seven out of ten disciples from Xima Mountain were gone in front of the hall, leaving only the last thirty percent crawling on the ground, shaking like sieves.
The stone platform in front of the Ximashan Temple had been soaked with blood, and the cracks in the stone were bright red.
Gong Mengbi said, "Everyone, raise your heads and look! Open your eyes wide and watch!"
The disciples of Xima Mountain could only look up at the falling heads. Among them were their elders and fellow disciples. No matter how domineering and fierce they were in the past, all of it was gone now.
Gong Mengbi said, "If we were to count them one by one, you would all deserve death. However, I have already killed the main culprit today, and eliminated the vicious and stubborn ones, so I will give you a chance to live."
"Thank you, Master, for sparing my life!"
Gong Mengbi placed the Hundred Souls Banner in a pool of blood. The pungent smell of blood lingered in people's hearts like a nightmare, and would become an unforgettable scene in their lives.
"Everyone, come forward and kneel down."
The disciples of Xima Mountain who had managed to survive walked tremblingly to the Hundred Souls Banner, and the servants and attendants also came forward and knelt at the foot of the Hundred Souls Banner.
"I want you to swear an oath to this banner, to turn over a new leaf, mend your ways, and never do evil again. Otherwise, this banner will take your soul away, and you will be punished by heaven and earth!" Gong Mengbi said coldly.
How could these disciples dare to disobey? They all swore vicious oaths to the Hundred Souls Banner.
Gong Mengbi said quietly, "The oath you made today will be fulfilled if you break it in the future."
The Hundred Souls Banner emitted a scattered glow, and the solidified blood on it seemed to come alive, condensing into strange spells on the banner.
With the oath as an agreement, Gong Mengbi easily controlled their energy and cast a spell.
From now on, if they do not repent, the curse will take effect and they will die as promised.
These disciples prostrated themselves at Gong Mengbi's feet and said, "Disciples dare not."
Gong Mengbi said, "Collect their bodies and bury them properly."
Gong Mengbi turned and walked into the hall. Looking at the magnificent gold and jade decorations in the hall, he sighed softly.
A moment later, the only surviving elder of Xima Mountain also walked into the hall. Seeing Gong Mengbi dozing on the cloud platform, he knelt before him and said, "Master, their bodies have been buried."
Gong Mengbi opened his eyes and looked at him, and asked, "Do you know why I spared your life?"
The only surviving elder had a look of dejection on his face and said, "Disciple, I don't know."
Gong Mengbi pointed at his eyes and said, "Because you are the only one who can be considered a disciple of Xima Mountain. It is rare that you can keep yourself clean in Xima Mountain and not be tainted by the sin of killing. Do you blame me?"
The elder shed tears and said, "I knew they would end up like this. If our master doesn't enforce discipline today, they will cause trouble in the future, bringing disaster to Xima Mountain."
Gong Mengbi nodded and said, "What's your name, and what do you do in the mountains?"
The elder said, "My disciple Qiu Yun used to manage the medicinal fields on the mountain. Later, the fields needed to be irrigated with living souls, so I went into seclusion to cultivate myself and no longer managed anything."
Gong Mengbi nodded and said, "From now on, Xima Mountain will be under your charge. Although I have killed a number of evildoers, among the remaining disciples, some are talented and have decent personalities. They can be carefully cultivated. However, there are also some vicious and unruly ones who need your swift and swift control."
Qiu Yun said: "Disciple obeys your command."
Gong Mengbi said, "It's easy to do good, but difficult to do evil. I'll need you to take care of me from now on."
Qiu Yun walked out of the hall. The sunlight fell on him, giving him a slight warmth and alleviating the fear and chill that came from his bones.
The disciples and servants scrubbed the blood from the stone platform in front of the hall, but it was impossible to wash it away. The dark red blood that seeped into the cracks of the stone had already solidified, and no amount of water could wash it away.
The disciples and servants of Ximashan were all busy, no one was talking, as if their souls had been destroyed along with the master's ruthless hands.
Even an elder like Qiu Yun couldn't control himself, let alone those younger generations, ordinary people who hadn't even set foot in the door.
But after this ordeal, Ximashan was able to break away from the past and did not fall deeper into the evil path.
Qiu Yun was a rare lucid man, but living in Xima Mountain, the more lucid he was, the more painful it was. He had no way to change, and no way to escape.
On one side are his fellow students and teachers who raised and taught him, and on the other side are those who yearn for the right path and know the pros and cons.
He had no other choice but to practice in seclusion.
But now, it is like a heavy snow falling, and everything is clear and bright.
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