46 Mutiny

In its wake, the swirl of lethal force now gathering above Xia Hu could have minced several disciples into pieces. But with masterful control of sword energies, Xia Hu ensured that the pearl-white orbs—hosts of this destructive force—didn't graze any of his peers. The sword orbs coiled in intertwining rings of razor-sharp qi. Xia Hu trod the sky, looming above his fellow disciples like an immortal descended from the Highest Heaven.

"Fellow Daoists, though most of us came for petty benefits rather than victory, we still devoted weeks of our lives—isolated from friends or foes—to prepare for this contest. Yet, the sect didn't hesitate to set up a sham trial where, in one way or another, Xinzi would come out on top. They spit on our hopes, take our lives for granted, and don't respect our efforts," Xia Hu said, making the disciples fall into a pensive state.