When Elder Hou was hauled back before Master Zhihui, the old man's eyes carried nothing but desolation.
Humiliation.
He had never felt such utter humiliation.
Before the major powers of the Immortal Realm, as a Golden Immortal, he had been twice—no, three times—driven into an unbearably messy state by that mechanical killing demon who was only a celestial-level foe.
If this had been a straightforward, unimpeded fight to the death, he estimated he would have killed that bastard three or four times over!
But now, the Nine-Spirit Sword Venerable was clearly playing favorites.
He, an elder of the Dark Sect protected by the Way of Heaven and a Golden Immortal, had become nothing more than a backdrop for that mechanical demon to make a name for itself in the Immortal Realm.
Worse still...
“Elder Hou, you truly disappoint me,” Master Zhihui said, anger flickering beneath the cool beauty of her face.
Elder Hou opened his mouth to protest, but the words turned into a sigh.
He bowed his head and performed a proper daoist salute.
Master Zhihui swept her sleeve and Elder Hou trudged gloomily to the rear of the Dark Sect’s rank.
Around them, the celestials avoided him like a plague.