Chapter 1280: Disposal

Huanling City.

A corner of the Outer City District.

A large number of Black Scale Lineage Cultivators gathered, all bowing their waists and kowtowing in the same direction.

In the direction they were all bowing toward.

An ethereal, fairy-like figure was floating in mid-air.

At this moment, her gaze was fixed on the tall, thin Elder in front, or rather, to be precise, on Tianyu who was bound beside the tall, thin Elder.

Seeing Tianyu's miserable state, the look in her beautiful eyes instantly turned icy.

"Let him go."

She looked at Kuteng; although her pretty face was calm, her voice remained ethereal and melodious.

But the moment he heard this voice, Kuteng felt an inexplicable, bone-chilling coldness pierce his heart for no reason.

"Princess, this Tianyu defied clan rules, this Tianyu he..."

He gritted his teeth, wanting to continue saying something.

But before his voice could fade, the Mermaid Princess's cold voice suddenly rang out again, "I said, let him go!"

This time, her words still carried no trace of emotion, but the volume had increased slightly.

At the same time.

The three dragon-horses in front of the White Jade Sedan seemed to sense her mood and looked toward Kuteng in unison.

In an instant.

The dragon-horses' gazes seemed to materialize, like three heavy hammers falling upon him simultaneously.

He let out a muffled groan, his face instantly turning deathly pale.

The power restraining "Tianyu" instantly dissipated.

Having lost the restraint of his power, "Tianyu" immediately fell helplessly toward the ground.

The Mermaid Princess was startled and instinctively moved to catch "Tianyu."

But then she suddenly realized what she was doing, suppressed the impulse in her heart, and moved her intent.

One dragon-horse instantly retracted its Spiritual Power rope and detached from the White Jade Sedan.

With a flash of Spirit Light, it appeared beneath "Tianyu" and caught him steadily.

Seeing this scene.

Kuteng felt his heart pounding with fear.

Just a moment ago, he had clearly felt the Princess's anger.

This meant...

The Princess really was called here by Wang Jianqiang!

Thinking of this, he trembled, his breathing stalling for a moment.

On the other side.

Haishan, seeing Elder Kuteng seemingly under attack, suddenly groan and retreat after releasing "Tianyu."

His expression was one of shock.

Then he couldn't help but swallow hard.

Just now...

Was it the Princess who attacked Elder Kuteng?

How transcendent is the Princess?

When has she ever lost her composure like this in front of the public?

Now...

She had actually clashed with an Elder in public for the sake of Tianyu!

How could a lowly thing like Tianyu possibly know the Princess?

And how could he be so protected by the Princess?

Is he worthy?

At this moment.

A wave of near-insane jealousy made his eyes instantly turn blood-red.

Beside Haishan.

A look of bewilderment appeared on Honghe's face.

She knew Tianyu's background very well and had never heard Tianyu say he knew the Princess.

When did he get to know the Princess?

To actually be held in such high regard by the Princess!

Whoosh~

After the dragon-horse caught Wang Jianqiang, its figure flashed and returned to the front of the White Jade Sedan.

Spiritual Power chains extended from its body, connecting back to the White Jade Sedan.

The Mermaid Princess looked over, and upon sensing that "Tianyu's" life force, while weak, was stable, she breathed a secret sigh of relief.

She shifted her gaze to look at Kuteng.

Kuteng's whole body tightened, his scalp went numb, and he didn't even dare to take a full breath.

A moment later.

Only after the Mermaid Princess moved her gaze away did he let out a long sigh of relief.

After the Mermaid Princess's gaze left Kuteng, she looked at the crowd all around.

After sweeping her gaze over everyone, an ethereal voice slowly entered the ears of every person present, "Can anyone tell me what exactly happened here?"

Hearing the Mermaid Princess's inquiry.

Kuteng's heart skipped a beat, and he secretly cried out that it was bad.

He gritted his teeth and said, "Princess, Tianyu took the initiative to incite a battle among kin and severely wounded them; the methods were ruthless and violated clan rules, I..."

"I didn't ask you."

Before he could finish speaking, the Mermaid Princess suddenly looked at him with an indifferent expression, interrupting his words.

Kuteng's expression froze, and the words that had yet to leave his mouth were choked back.

The Mermaid Princess swept her gaze over the surrounding crowd again, then fixed it on a Cultivator of the Black Scale Lineage whose cultivation was at the Spirit Severing Mid Stage, "You, tell me."

The Black Scale Lineage Cultivator who had been named by the Mermaid Princess felt a surge of intense excitement upon hearing this.

It was as if being named and questioned by the Mermaid Princess was a tremendous honor.

Without the slightest hesitation, he recounted everything that had happened before, point by point.

Haishan, Honghe?

Luring Tianyu here?

Plunder, betrayal?

Being framed for the main crime?

After hearing about Tianyu's ordeal, although the Mermaid Princess's expression still remained unchanged.

Yet anyone could perceive that the aura on her body had turned cold!

"Elder Kuteng, you seem to have..."

"Fabricated a false case."

Hearing the Mermaid Princess's words, Elder Kuteng's face instantly turned pale.

It's over~

At this moment, he no longer held the slightest shred of wishful thinking in his heart.

With the Mermaid Princess's intelligence, after hearing everything that happened here, it was impossible for her not to guess the cause of the matter.

He dared not play any more tricks.

His legs went weak, and he knelt directly in the void, "Princess, it is all this old man's fault; I beg the Princess for mercy."

The Mermaid Princess was silent for a moment, then said indifferently, "Kuteng, you are an Elder of the clan, so you must be aware that no one can stand above the clan rules."

Kuteng's expression stiffened, and he nodded.

Seeing this, the Mermaid Princess continued, "Since that is the case, then let it be handled according to clan rules."

"You colluded with Haishan to plot against Tianyu, which is considered the crime of harming kin, and you deserve to be put to death."

Upon hearing this, Kuteng's body swayed, and the color instantly drained from his face.

Just at this moment, the Mermaid Princess's voice sounded again, "However, considering the contributions you have made to the clan over these years, and the fact that the clan is currently in need of manpower, the death penalty can be waived."

Hearing this, Kuteng felt a surge of joy.

"Do not be happy too soon."

The Mermaid Princess shook her head, "The death penalty can be waived, but the living punishment is unavoidable."

"Effective immediately, your position as Elder is revoked, and you must report to the mining area within half a month at the latest."

"You are required to guard the mining area for three hundred years; you may not return until the term is up."

After hearing his punishment, Kuteng felt a wave of bitterness in his heart.

The environment in the mining area was harsh and not at all suitable for cultivation.

Guarding the mining area for three hundred years was equivalent to wasting three hundred years of time.

This punishment could not be described as anything but heavy.

However, compared to the death penalty, it was already much better.

Thinking of this.

The unwillingness in his heart instantly dissipated, and he nodded to the Mermaid Princess with a face full of gratitude, "Kuteng obeys."

After speaking, he stood up and prepared to leave.

"Wait."

Just as Kuteng turned around, the Mermaid Princess's indifferent voice sounded again.

"The matter here has not yet been resolved; Elder Kuteng, you wouldn't be expecting me to help you clean up this mess, would you?"