The Ma-Ling duo went on a rampage!
Wherever the Ma-Ling duo went, no one dared to owe the Grand Sky Sect a single penny. All the resources piled up in the Spirit Crane Palace came from old debts that were previously considered uncollectible.
Logically, with so many resources recovered, the Great Elder should be happy.
But after hearing about the antics of Ma Liang and Ouyang Ling, the Great Elder couldn't muster even a smile.
Previously, everyone knew Ouyang Ling had no boundaries... but now it's clear that anyone who spends enough time with her ends up having no boundaries either...
Ma Liang has completely let himself go.
It's said that when he was at the Moon Wind Sect, he directly used the Feng City Formation to surround their mountain gate. The Moon Wind Sect Master was so furious that he pointed at Ma Liang and shouted, "Is this how a reputable sect behaves?"
And guess what Ma Liang said?
"I'm just an outer disciple of the Grand Sky Sect. Why are you acting so arrogant with me? Do you believe I won't defect to the Demonic Sect tomorrow and make it my first priority to wipe out your entire Moon Wind Sect?"
The Moon Wind Sect was genuinely terrified...Because Ma Liang's tone didn't sound like he was bluffing at all. He was indeed an outer disciple of the Grand Sky Sect, and he really dared to join the Demonic Sect!
The Moon Wind Sect chickened out...
Ma Liang and Ouyang Ling's duo had completely abandoned any sense of decency...
It turns out, when the debt collectors have even fewer scruples than you do, it's hard not to be scared.
The Great Elder was genuinely worried... When Ma Liang and Ouyang Ling went to collect debts, he didn't think much of it... But now, their actions don't seem like those of a reputable sect at all, even the Demonic Sect thinks their behavior is despicable to the extreme.
Recently, it's been heard that people have started coming forward to repay their debts voluntarily... Rather than waiting for Ma Liang and Ouyang Ling to come knocking, it's better to pay up on their own...
Chu Xinghe was left speechless after hearing all that Ma Liang and Ouyang Ling had done.
The pain was due to the sheer amount of resources recovered—are you two even human...
The speechlessness stemmed from the fact that their combination of tactics had turned the Grand Sky Sect into a hot topic of conversation.
The reputation of the Grand Sky Sect had been utterly ruined by these two.
Even though everyone knew the Grand Sky Sect might have had no other choice, given how shameless those debtors were, it still seemed a bit unbecoming for the sect's disciples to act in such a manner.
The Great Elder had already arranged for people to bring these two troublemakers back. If they were allowed to continue, who knows how many more bizarre incidents would occur.
Chu Xinghe was bewildered; he had calculated everything but overlooked Ouyang Ling...
Junior Sister Ouyang, you're truly ruthless... You've even managed to corrupt Ma Liang...
No debtor is as shameless as you, Ouyang Ling...
Soon, Ouyang Ling and Ma Liang were brought back.
The Great Elder was so angry that he directly cut off all resources for Ma Liang as an outer disciple, forbidding any resources from being given to him!
Ma Liang wasn't worried at all about this; the Great Elder only said he couldn't receive resources, not that he couldn't take them himself!
When it came time to deal with Ouyang Ling, she was defiant!
"Great Elder... I don't agree with what you said about me drugging the Sikong family. You should know best whether the medicine from the Eternal Spring Palace works or not, right?"
The Great Elder was dumbfounded... Ouyang Ling, do you even hear what you're saying... How would I know anything about the medicine from the Eternal Spring Palace!
Is that even normal medicine?
"Great Elder, the Sikong family lacks heirs, so I gave them some medicine to help. Just tell me, did their heirs flourish after taking my medicine or not!"
Chu Xinghe was at a loss for words regarding Ouyang Ling's statement.
My junior sister isn't wrong... Forget everything else, just tell me if their heirs flourished or not!
"And then there's the Young Sect Master of the Lihuo Sect, who said he wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with my Senior Brother Ma Liang... Isn't that just because he's coveting my senior brother's good looks?"
"And the Qibing Sect, their sect master personally asked for my help, and I did teach them our Ouyang family's secret techniques... If they didn't grasp the essence, it's not my fault..."
Ouyang Ming also came to the Spirit Crane Palace in person, and he agreed with his sister's words, feeling fortunate that he hadn't gone to the Lihuo Sect, or else the Young Sect Master might have coveted his good looks too...
The Great Elder was so angry he was at a loss... Please spare the Young Sect Master of the Lihuo Sect... Ouyang Ling, have some humanity... In just a few days, rumors have spread everywhere about the Young Sect Master of the Lihuo Sect's preferences...
The Young Sect Master of the Lihuo Sect is definitely ruined.
In the end, it was Ouyang Ming who was open-minded enough to make a decision.
"Great Elder, don't be angry. How about this, strip Lingling of her core disciple status and demote her to the outer sect."
The Ouyang family members all nodded in agreement with this punishment.
But just when everyone thought the Great Elder would make such a decision, he spoke up: "No need for that. From today onwards, the number of cooks in the Artifact Refining Palace will be halved, and they are no longer allowed to make pork knuckles!"
Upon hearing the Great Elder's punishment, the entire Ouyang family turned pale and immediately knelt before the Great Elder.
"Great Elder, please don't... This punishment is a bit too severe!"
"Great Elder, please reconsider... If necessary, demote our family head to the outer sect, but there's no need for such a heavy punishment!"
Ouyang Ling collapsed to the ground, her face full of despair.
Half the cooks gone?
No more pork knuckles?
What did I, Ouyang Ling, do wrong to deserve such a severe punishment?
Great Elder... I, Ouyang Ling, admit my mistakes... I'll never act recklessly again...
Half of the cooks left the Artifact Refining Palace amidst the Ouyang family's cries, and when countless pork knuckles, both cooked and uncooked, were moved out of the Artifact Refining Palace, it was said that Ouyang Ling fainted from crying.
Countless disciples of the Ouyang family were reduced to tears, and they all expressed on the spot, "Senior Sister Ouyang... please have some humanity!"
As the Ouyang family's punishment was announced throughout the sect, each palace shook their heads and sighed, acknowledging that the Great Elder's methods were indeed ruthless.
This set of punishments ensured that the Ouyang family would behave themselves...
But it was pitiful for Junior Sister Ouyang. It was said that in the days following the punishment, she cried every day and even had thoughts of ending her life...
Chu Xinghe was also filled with dread as he observed the Great Elder's punishment.
The Great Elder was indeed the Great Elder; his actions were ruthless to the extreme. With so many cooks and pork knuckles gone from the Artifact Refining Palace, how would they manage in the future?
However, while the future of the Artifact Refining Palace was uncertain, Senior Brother Ma Biao's days were definitely going to be tough.
After all, he was still responsible for collecting debts, but without the deadly duo of Ma Liang and Ouyang Ling, Senior Brother Ma Biao would find it very difficult to recover any debts.
In light of this, Chu Xinghe specifically went to visit Senior Brother Ma Biao.
As expected, Senior Brother Ma Biao was deeply troubled.
Chu Xinghe offered words of comfort to Senior Brother Ma Biao.
"Senior Brother, don't be so pessimistic. Our Grand Sky Sect is vast and prosperous; these debts are nothing!"
Senior Brother Ma Biao nodded in agreement with Junior Brother Xinghe's reassurance.
"Junior Brother Xinghe is right. Who doesn't have a few bad debts? Our Grand Sky Sect isn't bothered by these. Not to mention those who owe us, we also have debts we haven't repaid, so it's nothing!"
But just as Senior Brother Ma Biao was comforting himself, Chu Xinghe's eyes lit up.
Wait... what did Senior Brother Ma Biao just say?
Our Grand Sky Sect also has debts we haven't repaid?
Senior Brother is right! Seeing all the bad debts Ma Liang and Ouyang Ling collected these past few days, I haven't been able to sleep well...
Looking at all those resources, my heart aches... Thankfully, the Great Elder stepped in to cut off any further trouble for me.
But the resources that have been recovered are already here, and I can't just return them!
I've been so worried that I've eaten two fewer bowls of braised pork.
I never expected Senior Brother Ma Biao to open a whole new world for me!
As the number one sect in the world, should we not care about our reputation when we owe others?
So shouldn't we repay them? Moreover, as the number one sect, wouldn't doubling the interest when repaying be a way to make amends for the damage Ouyang Ling and Ma Liang did to our sect's reputation?
Chu Xinghe was so excited he almost jumped up and immediately went to the Great Elder to share his thoughts.
After hearing Xinghe's words, the Great Elder was silent for a long time before speaking: "Xinghe... actually... our Grand Sky Sect does have some debts, but since no one has come to collect, why should we rush to repay?"
Faced with the Great Elder's double standards, Chu Xinghe was dumbfounded.
Great Elder... what about the sect's reputation? What about the shamelessness of not repaying debts?
And they haven't come to collect... As the number one sect in the world, those we owe probably don't even dare to come and ask!
Unwilling to accept the Great Elder's suggestion to delay the matter, Chu Xinghe protested.
Repaying debts is a matter of principle, Great Elder, can this be delayed?
Not only can it not be delayed, but we must also speed up the process!
Faced with Xinghe's urgent request, the Great Elder had no choice but to explain.
The Grand Sky Sect does indeed have some debts, but it's not that we can't repay them; it's that the forces we owe no longer exist, and we have no way to repay them.
Chu Xinghe immediately rejected the Great Elder's explanation.
Great Elder, even if those forces no longer exist, and they themselves may have forgotten, as the number one sect, we cannot forget.
If the forces no longer exist, do they not have descendants?
Do they not have relatives?
Even if they don't... we can burn offerings for them!
In short, the Grand Sky Sect must repay all debts. If you're alive, we'll repay you; if you're dead, we'll burn offerings for your spirit!
Ma Liang and Ouyang Ling's debt collection antics have become known throughout the world, with many mocking our Grand Sky Sect for having no bottom line in debt collection. Now, we should use this opportunity to show the world!
Our Grand Sky Sect not only has no bottom line in collecting debts, but we also have no bottom line in repaying them!
Want to refuse our Grand Sky Sect's repayment?
No way!
Whether you want it or not is your business, but we must repay you!
If you have descendants, we'll repay them; if you have none and have passed away, we'll burn offerings for you!
Repaying debts! Our Grand Sky Sect is serious about this!