Chapter 163: The Obedient Extermination of Qiongqi

Elder Cui, the head of the Punishment Hall, had watched over countless prisoners. Every time a disciple from the sect was locked up, his heart ached deeply. These were all sect disciples, yet none had expected them to end up in such a state.

Among the hundreds of prisoners, the one who pained Elder Cui the most was Nie Qiongqi. Once a prodigy of the sect, Nie had been a rare genius, someone the entire sect had placed their hopes upon, believing that the future glory of the Holy Sect would be realized through him. Yet no one had expected that he would lose his mind and murder his fellow disciples.

That single act alone was unforgivable.

The six-year sentence of lashes was the sect’s decision. Even if he had shown signs of remorse, the sect would have forgiven him and welcomed him back.

But the moment Nie Qiongqi was locked inside the Punishment Hall, he completely changed—defiant, lawless, and disrespectful toward anyone.

Now, for the junior disciple Lin to wish for Nie Qiongqi to return to the right path was simply a dreamer’s fantasy.

In the sect’s eyes, Nie Qiongqi had already fallen into madness, beyond any hope of salvation.

Yet when Elder Cui pushed open the door and saw the scene before him, his expression instantly changed. Nie Qiongqi’s shackles had been completely undone.

Looking closer, he saw Lin sitting there calmly.

“Junior Brother, are you alright?” Elder Cui quickly stepped forward in concern, fearing that the wicked disciple might have harmed Lin Fan. But seeing Lin Fan unharmed, he let out a sigh of relief.

Lin Fan gave a faint smile and waved his hand, indicating he was fine.

“You wicked disciple, what are you doing?” At that moment, seeing the murderous gleam in Nie Qiongqi’s eyes, Elder Cui angrily shouted. Nie’s cultivation had already been sealed by the Grand Elder, yet he still dared to act out—truly beyond redemption.

What misfortune for the sect, truly a tragedy.

“Hmph, kill you! I’ll die fighting you!” Suddenly, Nie Qiongqi, who had been quiet until now, exploded into rage, his eyes blazing with murderous intent, as if ready to fight to the death.

Even with his cultivation gone, he still wished to crush his opponent completely.

This kind of aura had nothing to do with cultivation. In Lin Fan’s eyes, Nie Qiongqi had completely changed. That violent nature had solidified, and changing him now seemed more difficult than climbing to the heavens.

Elder Cui’s face darkened, shaking his head in regret. This young man was beyond saving.

But just then, something happened that left Elder Cui and the other disciples in disbelief.

“Kneel.”

Lin Fan, sitting calmly and gently, spoke in a quiet, emotionless tone.

Lin Fan had already formed a plan. This fellow had now been subdued by him, though Nie still retained his violent nature toward others. For Lin Fan, this was actually a good thing.

Lin’s voice was ordinary, nothing special to Elder Cui and the others, but to Nie Qiongqi, it was like a thunderclap. His raging heart suddenly trembled, overwhelmed by an irresistible force that compelled him to obey.

“Thud…”

In an instant, Nie Qiongqi, who had been so fierce moments ago, suddenly dropped to his knees, his proud head bowed low, the murderous intent vanishing in a flash.

“This… this…” Elder Cui, who had been about to subdue Nie Qiongqi, stared in shock. He couldn’t believe his eyes—Nie Qiongqi, who had lost all humanity, actually obeyed Lin Fan’s command. It was simply inconceivable.

“How is this possible?” a disciple nearby gasped in astonishment.

“Nie Qiongqi has lost all sense of humanity and respects no one, yet now he’s so obedient?”

“What method did Master Lin use to subdue him?”

The disciples whispered among themselves, unable to believe what they were seeing. They had spent a long time around Nie Qiongqi.

Nie Qiongqi had always been powerful, showing no respect for anyone.

Once, the Sect Leader himself had come to persuade him to reform, only to be cursed out mercilessly. In anger, the Sect Leader had given him up to his fate. Now, to their astonishment, this invincible menace had actually obeyed Lin Fan’s command.

It was simply impossible.

“Hmph, how dare you speak to Elder Cui like that? Apologize now!” Lin Fan’s voice was calm yet carried an air of authority. To Elder Cui and the others, it was like thunder.

They had heard similar words from the Sect Leader before, but they had had no effect on Nie Qiongqi.

But now, whether they believed it or not, it was happening before their eyes.

Nie Qiongqi lifted his proud head, looking at Elder Cui and the disciples behind him, his eyes filled with fear.

“Elder Cui, I’m sorry. I was wrong.”

That short sentence, so ordinary when spoken by Nie Qiongqi, struck Elder Cui and the others like thunder.

Elder Cui’s astonished gaze locked onto Lin Fan. “Junior Brother, what method did you use?”

Elder Cui couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He had never imagined that this stubborn disciple would actually obey Lin Fan’s every word.

Lin Fan gave a faint smile, raised his head, and showed a look of regret. “These disciples are still children. They’ve strayed from the path, but we must guide them back. Though Nie Qiongqi may have a stubborn nature, he is not beyond redemption. I just spoke with him briefly, helping him understand some truths. The effect was good, but further observation is still needed.”

To Lin Fan, these disciples were all sect prodigies. And now, as a “Discipline Master” with such impressive abilities, he naturally couldn’t afford to waste such talent—he had to make full use of it.

If he could bring Nie Qiongqi under his tutelage, the future would be boundless.

Especially Nie Qiongqi, who, in Lin Fan’s eyes, clearly fit the template of a dark protagonist with ultimate potential. And that cultivation technique, “Undying and Unvanquished,” was clearly a powerful ability. There must be a great secret hidden within.

Though Lin Fan didn’t yet know exactly what that secret was, based on his experience with such stories, it would eventually come to light.

Judging from Nie Qiongqi’s current state, the story was still in its early stages.

Lin Fan’s mind was sharp, his thinking more flexible than most.

In the early stages, even the most powerful characters would eventually be running around like ordinary beings in the middle and later stages.

As someone with the greatest “plot armor,” Lin Fan naturally understood that the most important thing now was to quickly enhance his strength. Other matters could wait.

As Elder Cui listened to Lin Fan’s words, his expression subtly changed, filled with helplessness.

They had always wished for Nie Qiongqi to return to the sect, but Nie had lost his humanity and never gave them a chance.

Now, however, he obeyed Lin Fan so readily, leaving them all astonished.

At this moment, Lin Fan looked at the crowd, a slight smile playing on his lips. If Nie Qiongqi ever dared to defy him again, he would face the ultimate secret art of the “Discipline Master.”