In less than half a minute, the once bustling and noisy street fell completely silent.
Carriages halted mid-journey, vendors froze with goods still in hand, pedestrians stopped in their tracks, and those eating forgot to chew. All eyes widened in disbelief as they stared blankly at the absurd scene unfolding in front of the Martial Soul Hall.
The air was so still that one could hear a pin drop. Many people's thoughts came to a complete standstill, utterly shocked by what they had just witnessed.
"That's Master Mashuono!" someone shouted, breaking the silence. Immediately, the entire street erupted back into noise, but now all the chatter was focused on Mashuono.
"Master Mashuono is usually such a kind old man. How could he do something so insulting to the Martial Soul Hall?" some couldn't believe what they'd seen.
"Who knows what madness has taken hold of him? Maybe this is how he really is—just a disguised scoundrel. I've seen plenty of those," others whispered cynically.
"Hiss... I remember he's already over eighty years old. To still be this vigorous and terrifying..." someone murmured.
"Ah! My eyes! I'm going to be blind... ugh..."
That sudden retching sound set off a chain reaction. Almost every man on the street began vomiting, and even the women were choking, their faces turning pale and sickly.
Jiang Chen, who was sipping tea nearby, sprayed Jing Wuming's face in surprise, his expression one of utter amusement.
Sisi had truly outdone herself, thoroughly ruining Mashuono's reputation.
Such a disgrace to the Martial Soul Hall's honor would surely spread like wildfire through the Tiandou Empire within days—and eventually across the entire continent...
"Sisi, aren't we going too far? This could cause irreparable damage to the Martial Soul Hall's reputation," Su Yuntao couldn't help but voice his concern.
Sisi shook her head. "The Martial Soul Hall's true strength is its power. This joke won't last long."
Time passed. Many people shook their heads and left, while others flocked to the scene. Intelligence agents from various factions quickly spread the news as soon as it happened...
At that moment, a steward of the Martial Soul Hall rushed out anxiously.
"Master Mashuono, what are you doing?" he demanded, attempting to stop him.
But Mashuono roared and slapped the unsuspecting steward away with a single powerful strike.
After a moment, Mashuono, filled with satisfaction, stood up and stretched vigorously facing the street.
"Life is truly wonderful!" he exclaimed joyfully.
"Huh? Why all the sudden noise?"
His surroundings shifted instantly—from the Martial Soul Hall's grand hall to the busy street outside.
Looking out at the thousands of onlookers, Mashuono's mind went blank, buzzing wildly as if it would explode.
His frail body trembled uncontrollably like a leaf in the wind. A mouthful of fresh blood threatened to spill out, but he forced it back down.
"Wasn't I inside the Martial Soul Hall? How did I end up on the street? Someone please tell me what's going on!"
Confusion flooded his mind as he desperately searched for Sisi's figure.
Then he spotted the woman nearby, eyes rolled back, barely breathing. His heart jolted fiercely. Unable to hold back, he spat a large mouthful of blood toward the sky and fainted on the spot.
"Master Mashuono!" the steward rushed forward, lifting him back into the Martial Soul Hall and forcefully closing the door.
A roar erupted from the crowd, the atmosphere growing even more intense as people debated what they had just witnessed.
"Huh? Why isn't that person moving?" someone asked.
"Yeah, she's completely still," another replied.
"Ergouzi, go check it out."
A skinny man resembling a monkey was kicked forward. He chuckled awkwardly and quickly approached the woman.
Getting close, Ergouzi felt a chill as he checked her nostrils.
"She's dead!" he shouted in shock.
The crowd gasped loudly again.
"Damn, she actually had that disease!"
Ergouzi stumbled back in terror and accidentally tumbled down the steps.
"What disease? Tell us!"
"That one! Oh my god, I'm terrified."
Faces turned pale, and the crowd quickly backed away. Who wouldn't be afraid of such a disease?
Except for a few healing-type soul masters who had some control over this disease, there was almost no cure. For ordinary people who contracted it, all that awaited was death.
The body would slowly rot away — the most horrifying torment under the heavens.
"Damn it, Ergouzi, you better stay far away from me..."
Over a thousand people scattered in fear as the farce finally came to an end.
Jiang Chen had completely lost his appetite. He followed the crowd alongside Jing Wuming, heading toward Noding Academy.
"Sisi, that woman's dead," Su Yuntao said quietly.
Sisi sighed, "I didn't expect it to end this way. We originally planned for her to hide out in another city, but I never imagined she would meet her end here."
"Perhaps it's for the best. She was already close to death — maybe this is a release for her."
"Let's wait and see. This matter will soon reach the Pope's Palace. Maybe the enforcers will come. Have you finished your report on Jiang Chen? With your contribution, you should be able to become the new hall master."
"Sisi, I never wanted to be the hall master. I... I might not be capable," Su Yuntao replied.
Sisi gently pressed her delicate jade fingers against Su Yuntao's lips. "I won't allow you to say you're not capable. You're the best."
...
"Young Master, aren't you going to personally kill Mashuono?" Jing Wuming asked, confused.
Jiang Chen shook his head. "It's fine like this. After today's events, even if he dies a hundred times, it won't be enough. The Martial Soul Hall will never let him off."
"This is finally over. Now I can focus on training peacefully at the academy."
...
That very afternoon, Chief Steward Zhou from the higher sub-hall came again, this time bringing several other stewards.
Except for Steward Zhou, who was a Soul Clan cultivator, the others had all reached the Soul Venerable rank. As soon as they arrived at Noding City's Martial Soul Hall, Mashuono was immediately detained.
They had no authority to handle him directly but would keep a strict watch, waiting for the enforcement team from the Pope's Palace.
Mashuono nearly died of fright upon waking and discovering the situation. Fortunately, among Steward Zhou's group was a healing soul master who saved his life just in time.
Meanwhile, as the Chief Steward of the Noding City Martial Soul Hall, Sisi naturally took over Mashuono's duties.
That very evening, a secret dossier was sent out through the Martial Soul Hall's exclusive transmission method, targeting the Pope's Palace.
By noon the next day, the Mashuono incident had finally roused the Pope's Palace. The Pope was furious and immediately ordered the enforcement team to rush to Noding City and escort Mashuono back to Martial Soul City to issue a formal apology.