The outer disciples stared at the sect master, the Grand Elder and all the Elders in the sky with obvious shock in their eyes.
Liu Mei's words were like a bolt of thunder resounding in the air, immediately silencing the entire sect.
After a few more moments of silence, an outer disciple was the first one to speak in a low voice that couldn't hide his fear
''So we are actually prisoners in the sect?''
This disciple's words weren't loud, but they were clearly heard by everyone else around him, waking them up from their stupor!
''I will leave the sect!!''
It was unknown which disciple was the first one to say this, but countless disciples had started running simultaneously towards the city's gates!
Of course, in the population of a few millions, the 50.000 disciples that had heard Liu Mei's words weren't many.
However, once the rest of the outer disciples from the sect noticed nearly 50.000 outer disciples running towards the 'Floating Cloud city's' gates at the same time, they immediately understood that something was wrong!
One of the Elders from the Liu family was the first one to return back to his senses, and looking at these outer disciples with eyes filled with anger and killing intent, he shouted loudly in a booming voice
''STOP!''
Some disciples immediately stopped running, obviously intimidated by the Elder's anger, but more than half of them continued towards the city gates despite their fear!
The Elder from the Liu family immediately flew towards the city gates, and before the outer disciples could get there, he instantly closed the city gates, preventing anyone from leaving the sect.
After shooting an angry look at Liu Mei, he turned his eyes towards the dazed sect master who didn't seem to have recovered from his shock yet.
The most furious out of everyone however, was Liu Changpun.
He knew that even if they prevented the disciples from leaving, Liu Mei's words would surely spread throughout the 'outer city' like wildfire, and every outer disciple would know of this matter by tomorrow morning.
How was he going to become the sect master in the future if the sect was in a chaotic condition?
Liu Changpun wanted to curse Liu Mei until he was satisfied, but after seeing the black-armored knights and the skeletons who were floating next to her, he quickly gulped down his words.
Liu Mei however didn't seem to care about Liu Changpun's or anyone else's reaction.
After throwing one more look towards Liu Jian, she could finally leave the sect without any more burdens in her heart.
As for how Liu Jian chose to resolve this issue, this was something that he had to decide on.
After all, Liu Mei knew that the outer disciples would be unable to leave the sect right away, even if they wanted to.
In the forest around the sect, there were countless rank 1, rank 2 and even some rank 3 magic beasts lying in wait.
Aside from the most powerful disciples at the top 100 of the arena rankings, no one else could safely leave the sect by themselves.
As for whether Liu Jian was willing to give fewer benefits to the 4 remaining big families in order to help the outer disciples grow instead, this was up to him to decide.
Lin Huefeng sighed as she saw the sect becoming smaller and smaller in her eyes.
...
At the same time that Liu Mei's 'red-winged condor' was soaring in the sky, in the Lu family's mansion, the white-robed Lu Wen was tied up in the family dungeon with his hands and feet both cuffed on the wall behind him.
Lu Wen still hadn't regained his consciousness just yet, but the black-robed Elder named Lu Chen emptied a few buckets of cold water on his previous young master's head without any hesitation.
Feeling the cold water being splashed on his body made Lu Wen clear-minded once again, as he finally regained his consciousness.
As he opened his eyes however, Lu Wen found himself chained tightly, while in front of him was his 'loyal servant' Lu Chen standing next to a man who seemed to be in his early 30s.
The man's facial features were extremely similar to Lu Wen's, but his hair was a lot longer than his, and his eyes were actually a dark shade of brown.
The young man was wearing bright green robes, and was staring at Lu Wen with a smile on his face, not hiding the air of arrogance and superiority in his eyes in the slightest.
Lu Wen's face warped when he saw his older brother standing in front of him while his body was chained on the wall of the dungeon. After taking a deep breath to regain his bearings, Lu Wen looked at his elder brother coldly before he spoke in a commanding tone
''Lu Gong, untie me! How dare you imprison your own brother?''
It wasn't that Lu Wen and his brothers had a good relationship with each other which was why Lu Wen demanded to be uncuffed, but imprisoning a direct descendant was actually a grave crime in the Lu family!
Surprisingly, Lu Gong started to laugh, and looking at Lu Wen with a mocking look in his eyes, the eldest young master of the Lu family said coldly
''Little brother, this is the place where you will die. There is no reason to try and scream or shout, no one will hear you!
However, if you have any last words or unfulfilled wishes, you can tell your elder brother, hehe.''
Lu Wen's eyes widened incredulously when he heard Lu Gong's words.
He didn't believe that his brother had the guts to kill him, otherwise he would have done so long ago.
And yet, the look, the aura, as well as Lu Gong's body language, made Lu Wen believe that his brother wasn't actually bluffing.
Suppressing his fear, Lu Wen looked at his elder brother with a mocking look that didn't hide his amusement, before he asked with a smile on his face
''Lu Gong, you say that you dare to kill me? Why don't you try and see if you will live to see the sun rise tomorrow? Will grandfather or father let you go after you have killed your own brother?''
Instead of getting angry, Lu Gong smiled, and patting Lu Wen's cheek with his hand he said
''You traitorous snake, do you think that I could have imprisoned you without grandfather and father finding out about this?''
Seeing Lu Wen's eyes suddenly widen, Lu Gong smiled even wider as he continued
''Indeed, little brother, it's just as you have guessed! Father and grandfather must surely know about this.
Since you betrayed our family, you have to face punishment!''
Lu Wen could no longer keep his calm face, and looking at his older brother who had taken out a dagger from his waist and was now holding it in his hand, he asked angrily
''Lu Gong, stop spouting lies! When did I ever betray our family?''
Shaking his head, Lu Gong looked at his brother while still fiddling with the dagger in his hands and said mockingly
''Didn't you accept more than 20 early Heaven grade cultivators from the Meng family? Don't tell me that you didn't give them any promises in return, such as that you will cooperate with them in the future once you became the family head?''
Looking at his brother with disbelief in his eyes, Lu Wen seemed to have just realized where this matter was heading towards.
His grandfather already knew about the issue with the Meng family, and Lu Wen was certain that he had also tacitly agreed to this.
What had happened between then and now?
Lu Wen immediately got the answer to his question. The destruction of the Meng family!
Seeing that his younger brother had immediately understood what he meant without explaining everything, Lu Gong smiled and nodded his head, as he confirmed Lu Wen's thoughts.
''Indeed, since the Meng family is destroyed, you can no longer become the family head. After all, it is already known throughout the city that you accepted 23 inner disciples from the Meng family.
What will happen if the sect master's daughter learns about this issue and comes to destroy our Lu family as well?
After all, although our Lu family is certainly stronger than the Meng, we would certainly suffer in her hands because of you!
As you understand younger brother, we can only sacrifice you for the good of the family!''
''BULLSHIT!''
Lu Wen couldn't hold himself from flaring up!
Looking at his elder brother, he wanted to point at him with his finger, but he realized that he was still cuffed, so he could only shout angrily to vent his furious emotions!
''Lu Gong, this is obviously just an excuse that you fabricated!
You know that there is no way that Liu Mei would attack our family! Unlike the Meng family, we have never meddled with her or her Liu family! At most, she would only give us a few warnings to stay clear from the Liu's!''
With a smile on his face, Lu Gong nodded his head as he agreed with his brother's words.
Under Lu Wen's shocked gaze, Lu Gong then smiled before he answered
''You are right little brother, this is indeed just an excuse. However, it is still the truth that you have failed to become the family head. By betting on the Meng family, you have lost this time. Whether it is I or our little brother who becomes the family head, none of us would leave you alive.
After all, you are like a snake who will come to bite us once you are stronger.
Since you have lost your chance to become the family head, your own worth to the family and to grandfather's eyes has already plummeted!
After all, even princes in the mortal kingdoms kill each other in order to become kings, let alone us when we fight for the position of the Lu family head!''
Despair appeared in Lu Wen's eyes, while inwardly he cursed Liu Mei's nine generations countless times!
He knew that what Lu Gong said was true.
Even in the mortal kingdoms, princes wouldn't let each other alive, to let them gather their strength in secret and usurp the position of the king in the future!
Of course, if Lu Wen really hadn't cared for the position of the Lu family head, whichever brother of his eventually obtained that position, wouldn't do anything to harm Lu Wen.
Without saying another word, Lu Gong had a smile on his face, as he shot forward and plunged the dagger in his hand at Lu Wen's neck.
Blood gargled up in Lu Wen's throat while a look of hate had appeared in his eyes as he stared at his elder brother.
He opened his mouth with difficulty and tried to speak, but the only sound that came was the blood that was dripping down from his lips.
...
At the same time, Shun Long smiled lightly when he saw Liu Mei flying towards him with her mother sitting next to her, before he suddenly turned his eyes towards the Lu family's mansion.