"Master!!!"
Among the Wudang Six Heroes, the youngest, Mo Shenggu, was the first to cry out.
The others were all visibly excited.
Yet when they saw the look of relief in Zhang Sanfeng's eyes, guilt surged over them like a tide.
"Master, this disciple has brought shame upon you!"
Song Yuanqiao lowered his head, like a child who had done wrong.
"Hahaha, as long as you're alive, that's enough. Don't end up like Cuishan, making an old man with white hair bury one with black—that would be the real tragedy. As for shame or no shame, that truly doesn't matter."
Seeing that all of them looked healthy and uninjured, Zhang Sanfeng immediately relaxed. He cupped his hands toward Chu Yang and bowed slightly.
"Many thanks, Daoist friend, for showing mercy!"
Chu Yang returned the gesture with a smile. "I have long admired Zhang Zhenren. To finally meet you today is an honor."
Zhang Sanfeng shook his head and replied, "How would I dare call myself a True Immortal in front of a true one…"
The moment these words left his mouth, the entire hall was shaken.
Even Ren Woxing, the leader of the Demon Sect, together with Dongfang Bubai, had been completely suppressed by this old man!
And yet he had just addressed that scholar as a "True Immortal"?!
That meant—
The scholar standing before them was actually stronger than Zhang Sanfeng himself, who was widely regarded as the greatest martial artist under heaven!
The Wudang disciples who had been acting arrogantly moments ago instantly turned pale with fear.
Yang Xiao and Wei Yixiao exchanged a glance, their faces lighting up with joy. From this very moment on, they resolved to make Chu Yang the next Cult Leader of the Ming Cult.
"Zhang Zhenren truly lives up to his reputation…"
Chu Yang sighed in admiration. Zhang Sanfeng was the only person who had been able to gauge his depth without even fighting him. He was unquestionably a cultivator.
"This Chu gentleman—since this old Daoist has already come, may I take my disciples away?"
The title "Chu Xiansheng" had already spread throughout the Ming martial world thanks to Miejue and Kongwen, though no one actually knew Chu Yang's true name.
As he spoke, Zhang Sanfeng's gaze sharpened. His fists were hidden within his wide Daoist sleeves, ready to strike at any moment.
In his eyes, although Chu Yang appeared harmless, anyone with ties to the Demon Sect was bound to be troublesome.
If the other party made a demand he could not accept, then there would be no choice but to settle matters with fists.
Yet to Zhang Sanfeng's surprise, Chu Yang merely nodded. Song Yuanqiao and the others immediately walked over to Zhang Sanfeng without encountering the slightest obstruction.
The transfer of "hostages" went so smoothly that Zhang Sanfeng was completely baffled.
Song Yuanqiao leaned in and quietly explained everything that had happened. Realization dawned on Zhang Sanfeng's face.
After listening, Zhang Sanfeng let out a long sigh and said, "During my seclusion, I never imagined so many things would occur in the martial world. Chu Xiansheng has ties with the disciples of the Ancient Tomb Sect, and He Taichong and the others slaughtered the innocent for the sake of martial arts—such people deserved death. One could say Chu Xiansheng acted on Heaven's behalf!"
As he spoke, Zhang Sanfeng turned to Li Mochou, bowed deeply, and saluted her.
"Miss, the Wudang Sect should have upheld chivalry and saved you from peril. Yet my disciples, for the sake of ensuring the Six Great Sects could uproot the Ming Cult, stood by and did nothing. This old Daoist failed in teaching them!"
Li Mochou's eyes filled with tears. This was the first time anyone had apologized to her for what she had suffered.
In truth, long before the Wudang Sect joined the campaign against the Ming Cult, she had already endured brutal interrogations. All that suffering was already set in stone and had little to do with them.
Feeling both ashamed and uncomfortable, Mo Shenggu muttered, "Master, back then we were acting for the greater good…"
Zhang Sanfeng glared at him, his beard and hair bristling, his voice booming like thunder.
"The greater good? What is the greater good?! If the lives of all under heaven are the greater good, does that mean you may sacrifice one innocent life for it? Did you ever ask whether that person agreed?!"
Mo Shenggu immediately fell silent, trembling.
Zhang Sanfeng's rebuke rang deafeningly through the hall, even leaving the Ming Cult members secretly admiring his bearing.
"Zhang Sanfeng truly is Zhang Sanfeng—nothing like those sanctimonious hypocrites who call themselves righteous."
"Like father, like son. The Eagle King's daughter falling for Wudang's Fifth Hero really was a fine match."
"If you look at it that way, our Ming Cult is practically related by marriage to Wudang."
"Enough nonsense—hasn't the Eagle King been gone for years already?"
"What's the problem with that? At worst, I'll swallow my pride and invite him back someday…"
Yang Xiao, Wei Yixiao, and the Five Scatterers whispered among themselves in a corner.
After leading Wudang in apologizing to Li Mochou, Zhang Sanfeng turned to Chu Yang and laughed freely.
"Chu Xiansheng has gone to such lengths simply to discuss the Dao with this old Daoist. In that case, I can only oblige. What do you say?"
Chu Yang stepped forward. His figure became like an illusion—like a mirage.
In the next instant, he had already appeared outside the hall.
Zhang Sanfeng's pupils shrank slightly as he praised, "What exquisite movement technique!"
As he spoke, he moved like a white crane spreading its wings—one lift, one leap—seemingly stepping upon flowing clouds as he flew out of the hall.
Most people were still dazed. Yang Xiao was the first to react and rushed out.
"A duel between two supreme masters—how could this old bat miss such a spectacle?!"
Wei Yixiao, whose lightness skill was the strongest, quickly came to his senses and followed, overtaking Yang Xiao in the blink of an eye.
Only then did everyone understand what "discussing the Dao" truly meant. They scrambled outside in a frenzy, leaving only Huang Rong, Li Mochou, and a few girls behind.
Yang Buhui asked curiously, "You're not going out to take a look?"
Huang Rong rolled her eyes. "I see it all the time. I'm sick of it—no interest."
As for Li Mochou, ever since the destruction of the Ancient Tomb Sect, she had developed an aversion to so-called supreme martial arts. Forget watching—she didn't even want to hear about them.
She quietly stayed by Xiao Longnü's side, her eyes filled with guilt.
Huang Rong shook her head. This kind of psychological trauma would take a long time to heal.
Seeing that they truly had no intention of going out, Yang Buhui called for her maid Xiao Zhao and ran outside.
Xiao Zhao glanced back at Li Mochou. The shackles on her body had only been removed because Li Mochou had pleaded for her. She wanted to stay and comfort her—but she could not disobey Yang Buhui.
On Bright Peak, Chu Yang and Zhang Sanfeng exchanged blows at incredible speed. Apart from a few people like Yang Xiao, everyone else could only see afterimages.
Zhang Sanfeng knew ordinary martial arts would mean little to Chu Yang, and he did not wish to waste this rare opportunity to discuss the Dao. Thus, he immediately revealed his greatest skill.
An indescribable aura radiated from Zhang Sanfeng as his movements became extremely profound.
Yin and yang intertwined. Hardness and softness complemented each other.
Chu Yang focused intently. The blood-red tomoe in his Rinnegan spun wildly, engraving every movement of Zhang Sanfeng firmly into his mind.
Whether it was an illusion or not, Chu Yang vaguely saw a massive Taiji diagram appear beneath Zhang Sanfeng's feet.
Black within white. White within black.
And the two of them stood respectively at the black and white poles.
Slowly rotating…
In that instant, it felt as though heaven and earth were overturned!
"So that's how it is!"
Feeling himself dragged into another space, Chu Yang was certain that Zhang Sanfeng had already entered the Dao through martial arts, reaching the level where martial prowess became divine.
Taiji Fist was no longer a supreme martial art—it had become a martial Dao divine ability.
"A true landbound immortal."
Chu Yang praised him sincerely. Zhang Sanfeng might well be the strongest person he had encountered in this world.
At this point, using the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms would be disrespectful to such a grandmaster.
Chu Yang clenched his hands. Grass and wood sprouted, gradually condensing into two wooden swords.
Zhang Sanfeng, who was executing Taiji Fist, brightened at the sight.
"Spells? This old Daoist thought such things were merely legends—who would have thought I'd witness them with my own eyes…"
As he spoke, black and white qi flowed across his palms. He drew his arms together before his chest, wrists turning, forming a "ball-holding" posture.
This was a classic Taiji Fist frame—Heaven and Earth Cradling the Sphere.
Only this time, Zhang Sanfeng truly held a sphere of black-and-white qi. He thrust forward, and the sphere hurtled toward Chu Yang.
Sun-and-moon brilliance burst from Chu Yang's twin swords. As he swung them, radiant light exploded outward, colliding head-on with the black-and-white sphere.
At the same time, the Taiji diagram beneath their feet began spinning violently.
Outside the formation, the onlookers craned their necks anxiously. From the moment the Taiji diagram appeared, they could no longer see the two men inside, as though some illusion had blocked their vision.
An identical thought arose in everyone's heart.
Could this… really be something mortals could do?
"Zhang Zhenren's methods have long transcended the realm of martial arts. Calling him a living immortal is no exaggeration!"
The usually unruly Yang Xiao felt both envy and jealousy in his eyes, along with a trace of unwillingness.
He too was a heaven-blessed genius—yet he could not even glimpse such a height.
As for everyone else, they had no room for such emotions. The gap was so vast that only shock remained.
"Chu Xiansheng won't lose… right?"
Worry flickered across Yang Buhui's face.
"Don't talk nonsense!" Huang Rong snapped, glaring at her. "Back in Mongolia, Little Chu even killed a Buddha—what's that old man compared to that?!"
That terrifying scene—like a battle between Buddha and demon—still lingered vividly in Huang Rong's mind.
In her view, no matter how strong Zhang Sanfeng was, he was still flesh and blood!
Yet her offhand remark drew snickers from the Wudang disciples.
"Killed a Buddha? Hahaha! Why don't you say he killed Avalokiteśvara and the Tathāgata while he was at it?"
"At that age, daydreaming is understandable. But mistaking fantasies for reality is just ridiculous, little girl."
"Blow it bigger! Why not say he's the Demon Lord incarnate?!"
"Hahahaha—utterly laughable!"
The mockery grew louder and louder. Coupled with the rolling eyes of the Wudang disciples, Huang Rong's face turned iron-blue.
Zhang Sanfeng's overwhelming strength had restored their confidence, emboldening them to ridicule others without restraint.
"Enough! Shut up!"
Song Yuanqiao glared angrily, his sharp gaze sweeping over the Wudang disciples who had been mocking Huang Rong. They were startled, immediately lowering their heads, trembling as they fell silent.
"Our Wudang Sect's conduct really needs a thorough cleanup," Yu Daiyan sneered as he looked at those disciples. "You sneered at this Mister Chu just now—did it ever occur to you that he imprisoned the six of us without lifting a finger?"
"What, in your eyes are the six of us also nobodies? Or not even fit to be called that?"
The Wudang disciples panicked and dropped to their knees one after another. "This disciple wouldn't dare!"
Mo Shenggu stepped in to smooth things over, calming his senior brothers' anger, and only then did the atmosphere ease somewhat.
"Miss Huang, the disciples were rash. Please don't take it to heart," Song Yuanqiao cupped his hands in apology.
Huang Rong, however, did not accept it. Her gaze bypassed Song Yuanqiao and fixed on the young Wudang disciples. "Don't say I didn't warn you—open your dog eyes wide later and watch carefully!"
Some disciples were unconvinced and were about to retort, but Song Yuanqiao shot them a severe look, forcing them back into silence.
"Miss Huang, don't stoop to their level. I believe Mister Chu really has killed a Buddha!" Yang Buhui declared firmly, making it clear she stood on Huang Rong's side.
Huang Rong quietly sidestepped a few steps, as if to say we're not that close.
Yang Buhui: "..."
While the two girls were secretly sparring, the Taiji formation enveloping Chu Yang and Zhang Sanfeng suddenly expanded, rapidly spreading outward.
"Everyone, retreat!"
Yin Liting, closest to the Taiji formation, backed away while warning the others to move. As he passed Yang Buhui, he subconsciously grabbed her hand, intending to pull her to safety.
Yang Buhui: "???"
She immediately panicked and shouted toward Yang Xiao, "Dad! This pervert is molesting me!"
Yang Xiao turned around, his eyelid twitching.
Yin Liting fell silent for a moment, then looked up at Yang Xiao with an earnest expression. "Listen, I can explain—"
Unfortunately, the Taiji formation gave him no chance. In the blink of an eye, it extended to their feet.
Seeing this, Yang Xiao immediately used the first level of the Great Shift of Yin and Yang, pulling both of them to his side.
He had only learned a little of it, but it was enough for this.
In the next instant—
The Taiji formation abruptly stopped rotating, then began to tremble violently. The yin-yang fish grew and shrank unpredictably, as though something inside were crashing about wildly.
A faint leakage of qi escaped, yet it weighed on everyone's hearts like a massive boulder, making it hard to breathe.
Even the sky above Bright Peak had unknowingly been covered by dark clouds, blotting out the sunlight.
A sense of an impending storm filled the air.
The Wudang disciples stared at the indistinct interior of the Taiji formation, a terrifying premonition rising in their hearts—that a demon god was about to emerge!
Boom—!
A bolt of lightning flashed, and torrential rain suddenly poured down over Bright Peak.
The Taiji formation seemed to reach its limit, forcibly torn apart by some unknown force. After a violent tremor, it vanished abruptly.
What appeared before everyone was a monstrous figure tens of zhang tall, with wings on its back and three heads and six arms!
"A demon! He really is a demon!"
"A monster!!!"
"Supreme Lord Lao, True Martial Emperor, all the gods—please manifest and save us!"
Many Wudang disciples were so shocked that they fainted on the spot.
Others soaked themselves in terror. Only a handful managed to retain their composure.
The Wudang Six Heroes stared at Huang Rong in utter horror. They had thought she was boasting, but now that a towering demon stood before them, slaying gods and Buddhas truly seemed possible!
"If he can even kill a Buddha… then Master wouldn't be—?!"Mo Shenggu was so frightened he lost himself, muttering endlessly.
Yang Xiao felt his heart pounding and his legs weakening. Beside him came Wei Yixiao's bitter laugh.
"Left Envoy Yang, our Ming Cult's temple is too small—it seems it can't hold a great Buddha like Mister Chu!"
In truth, the moment the Taiji formation shattered, Zhang Sanfeng had already lost. Yet gazing at Chu Yang, who now resembled a god or demon, a surge of heroic spirit rose in his heart.
A desire to test himself against Heaven itself!
The gale whipped the rain like lashes against Zhang Sanfeng's body, yet he seemed utterly unfazed, standing in the downpour and laughing heartily.
Once again he assumed the opening stance of Taiji—his left hand grasping the wind, his right hand grasping the rain. Wind and rain converged in his hands, transforming into a Taiji yin-yang fish.
Chu Yang looked down at Zhang Sanfeng, admiration in his eyes.
Worthy indeed of Zhang Sanfeng—peerless in bearing. To think he could achieve a breakthrough in the midst of battle, elevating the essence of Taiji yet another level.
The towering demon likewise reached out, seizing wind and rain, condensing them into a long spear and hurling it forward.
The spear collided with the Taiji yin-yang fish. A terrifying shockwave swept the surroundings, and wind, rain, and dark clouds were instantly wiped away.
Zhang Sanfeng could not escape unscathed—he was sent flying by the impact.
At last—
Their exchange of martial arts and Dao ended with Zhang Sanfeng's defeat.
The demon form dissipated.
Chu Yang slowly descended back to the mortal world.
Everyone stared at the scholar in a daze. Not a trace of irreverence remained in their hearts—especially among the Wudang disciples, who now looked at Chu Yang as if at a god.
After a long while—
Zhang Sanfeng prepared to leave Bright Peak with his disciples.
"To be able to discuss the Dao with a fellow cultivator today is this old Daoist's fortune. I never imagined that at this age, I could climb higher still."
Zhang Sanfeng chuckled, a radiant gleam deep in his eyes.
"I too have gained much insight," Chu Yang replied with a smile. He had firmly grasped the essence of the 'Dao' within Taiji; now all that remained was to settle down and contemplate it.
"I hope fate allows us to meet again someday, Mister Chu."
Zhang Sanfeng cupped his hands in salute, then led Song Yuanqiao and the rest of the Wudang disciples down the mountain.
"With matters here settled, it's time for us to go as well."
Chu Yang had Huang Rong and Li Mochou bring out the carriage and bid farewell to the Ming Cult members.
"I know well that the position of Cult Leader is unworthy of a divine figure like Mister Chu, and we would never dare harbor such hopes," Yang Xiao said with hesitation. "But as the saying goes, a drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring. You saved the lives of so many in our Ming Cult…"
"If you ever have need of us, Ming Cult members will brave fire and water without hesitation. I only ask that you do not look down on us."
Chu Yang pondered briefly, then nodded, accepting this bond of goodwill.
Wei Yixiao and the others were overjoyed.
"After this, the Ming Cult's reputation in the martial world will soar. Many people of dubious origin will surely try to join. I hope you keep yourselves clean—don't recklessly accept scum and commit evil deeds."
"In all future actions, take the fates of He Taichong and the others as a warning."
Before leaving, Chu Yang issued a few words of caution that sent a chill through Yang Xiao and the others' hearts. The meaning was clear: whether the Ming Cult would be saved or destroyed rested on a single thought of his.
After leaving Bright Peak, Chu Yang did not hurry back to the Southern Song. Instead, he toured the Ming lands, executing on the spot those who had taken part in the siege of the Ancient Tomb Sect and slipped through the net.
Among them were not a few figures lauded by righteous sects as "great heroes."
Even as the Ming martial world reeled in blood and chaos, once Zhang Sanfeng returned to Wudang Mountain, a piece of shocking news swept through taverns and rumor hubs across the land.
"Zhang Zhenren personally admitted defeat to that mysterious 'Mister Chu'!"
"Even Old Immortal Zhang lost?!"
"What are we supposed to do now? Who under heaven could possibly stand against that demon anymore?"
"Zhang Zhenren also said that this Mister Chu is a Dao cultivator with ties to the Ancient Tomb Sect, not a member of the Demon Cult. His recent actions were only directed at those who participated in the siege of the Ancient Tomb Sect."
"So that's how it is. No wonder when the Six Great Sects went up Bright Peak, the other three sects were fine. Shaolin, Emei, and Wudang are all monastic sects and didn't take part in fighting over the Nine Yin Manual."
"But then… how did Abbess Miejue and Abbot Kongwen lose their arms?"
"I heard Mister Chu had already let them leave, but they still made a move and angered him. Each of them ended up losing an arm."
"Isn't that just asking for trouble? Still, you have to admit—this Mister Chu has quite the temper."
"Heh. If I had martial arts that strong, my temper would be even worse than his!"
"Speaking of which, fewer and fewer people have been dying lately. It's been a long time since we heard news of some expert being killed by Mister Chu."
"Bah! Not everyone went to snatch that Nine Yin Manual. Only top experts could even join the fray—how would it ever be our turn?"
"Breaking news! Breaking news!"
"Senior Wind Qingyang of Mount Hua, who's been in seclusion for many years, came out and fought that Mister Chu at a ferry somewhere!"
"The two of them flattened the mountains on both sides of the river!"
"After Wind Qingyang was defeated, he left behind a single line of poetry before drifting away!"
"Like a Demon Lord descending from the heavens—truly the Year-Deity of the mortal world!"
The once-noisy tavern fell deathly silent, then erupted into a thunderous uproar!
At the same time, on Wudang Mountain, Zhang Sanfeng—who was lecturing his disciples on the Dao—also heard this piece of news.
He fell silent for a long while.
Then he chuckled softly.
"Demon Lord?"
"Year-Deity?"
"Quite fitting?"
Huang Rong drove the carriage swiftly back into Northern Song territory.
After the upheaval of the Ancient Tomb Sect, Li Mochou had become much more composed. Though she couldn't yet drive the carriage, she often stayed by Huang Rong's side, learning and trying to master the skill.
Chu Yang vaguely sensed that she was afraid he might abandon her.
This was a heart demon—something Chu Yang couldn't resolve with a few words. Only time could deal with it.
Little Dragon Girl often slept curled up in Chu Yang's arms, as if only then could she feel safe. Seeing the porcelain-doll-like child, Chu Yang had no heart to refuse her.
After being away for a month or so, the Northern Song martial world had also changed.
Qiao Feng vanished without a trace, rarely mentioned anymore.
Kang Min, the wife of the Beggars' Sect's former deputy leader Ma Dayuan, died suddenly of illness at home.
The much-anticipated Zhenlong Chess Game had just concluded, leaving Huang Rong—who loved bustling excitement—deeply regretful that she'd missed it.
"Keep going. There's an even bigger spectacle waiting for you."
"Where to?!"
"Tianshan. Piaomiao Peak. Lingjiu Palace."
Huang Rong sneaked a glance at Li Mochou, as if recalling something.
The mistress of Lingjiu Palace—Grandma of Tianshan—had also joined that scramble for the Nine Yin Manual. However, for various reasons, she hadn't gone personally.
Her subordinates—the Thirty-Six Cave Lords and Seventy-Two Island Chiefs—had run errands for her instead.
Grandma of Tianshan's reason for wanting the Nine Yin Manual was simple: she wanted to reference this so-called compendium of all martial arts to resolve the flaws in her Eternal Youth and Longevity Art.
She had practiced that art since the age of six. At thirty-six, she rejuvenated, taking thirty days. At sixty-six, she rejuvenated again, taking sixty days. At ninety-six, rejuvenation would require ninety days.
The drawback was that each time she rejuvenated, all her cultivation was lost. One day of training would restore the power she had at age seven, and every subsequent day equaled a year of progress. Moreover, every day at noon she had to drink fresh blood to practice.
During that period, if she encountered enemies seeking revenge, she would essentially be helpless, waiting to die.
And because she'd once been ambushed by Li Qiushui, she made a mistake during cultivation, causing her body to permanently remain in the form of an eight- or nine-year-old girl—an enduring pain in her heart.
But for Chu Yang and Li Mochou, regardless of Grandma of Tianshan's motives or methods, the punishment she deserved would ultimately fall upon her.
A moonless, windy night.
At the foot of Tianshan.
Lingjiu Palace had dispatched a large number of palace maids, standing in strict formation.
The Thirty-Six Cave Lords and Seventy-Two Island Chiefs also led their disciples to guard the area.
Such a massive array would give any force under heaven a headache.
And yet all this tension existed for only one reason—
A single carriage had entered Lingjiu Palace's sphere of influence.
It was a very ordinary carriage. Aside from the exceptionally fine horse pulling it, there was nothing noteworthy.
What everyone feared was the man sitting on the carriage shaft.
Recently, some called him the Demon Lord, others the Year-Deity.
But the most common title remained—
"Mister Chu."
In the past few months, spanning several nations' martial worlds, if one asked whose name was the most fearsome, it would unquestionably be this "Mister Chu."
One man sweeping the Six Great Sects.
First defeating Zhang Zhenren of Wudang, then overcoming the pinnacle swordmaster Wind Qingyang.
The number of famous sects shattered by his own hands was beyond counting; renowned heroes who died by his hand were innumerable.
Such fantastical achievements sounded like fairy tales, yet made people tremble at the mention.
Wherever he went, blood flowed like rivers.
Anyone even slightly connected to the destruction of the Ancient Tomb Sect could never atone, even with a hundred deaths.
Unfortunately, Lingjiu Palace was exactly such an unlucky party.
Not only had they failed to obtain the Nine Yin Manual, they had also provoked an incomparably terrifying fiend.
"Stick your head out and you get chopped. Hide it and you still get chopped. When will days like this ever end?"
"What are you afraid of? There are so many of us and only one of him. Everyone spits once and we'd drown him!"
"If numbers actually mattered, would we brothers have been enslaved by Grandma of Tianshan all these years…?"
"Shut up! If the Lingjiu Palace maids hear you, we'll all die! Have you forgotten what the Life-and-Death Talisman feels like?!"
At those words, the Cave Lords and Island Chiefs instantly fell silent.
The agony of the Life-and-Death Talisman went straight to the bone.
Compared to that, maybe dying at Mister Chu's hands would actually be a kind of release?
As wild thoughts raced through their minds, the sound of hoofbeats echoed through the night.
Under the moonlight, a very ordinary carriage gradually came into view.
It traveled through the mountains as if on level ground. Perhaps because the night was too dark, no one noticed that the carriage was actually floating above the road.
Everyone held their breath, then glanced toward Lingjiu Palace's representative—
Grandma of Tianshan's personal maidservants.
The Four Sword Maidens: Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum.
Plum Sword, dressed in red, stepped forward and looked at the scholar seated on the carriage, calling out clearly:
"Our Grandma has learned that Sir will be passing through the Tianshan route, and specially instructed us to see Sir off with a small token of goodwill. It is but a humble gift, yet we hope Sir will accept it."
The meaning was simple: I didn't get the Nine Yin Manual anyway. Take these gifts as an apology and let's call it even.
Plum Sword shot a glance toward Wu Laoda in the crowd, signaling him to deliver the prepared gifts to that "Demon Lord."
Wu Laoda's face immediately fell. He cursed inwardly, but quickly forced a smile and respectfully lifted a pile of glittering treasures, walking toward the carriage.
When he got close, Wu Laoda cautiously used the moonlight to sneak a look at the scholar before him.
He had expected a ferocious appearance—but instead saw swordlike brows and bright eyes, a face radiating a gentle, jade-like warmth.
He looked exactly like a mild Confucian scholar, completely unrelated to words like "Demon Lord" or "Year-Deity."
Wu Laoda froze, staring blankly—until he felt the man's teasing gaze on him. He jolted awake, breaking into a cold sweat!
"Chu… Mister Chu, this small gift—please don't disdain it," Wu Laoda stammered, his hands and feet icy, his tongue tied in knots.
Among those treasures were four or five fist-sized luminous pearls alone—calling them priceless was no exaggeration.
Yet Chu Yang didn't spare them a glance. He tapped lightly on the carriage and said softly, "Little girl."
Li Mochou poked her head out halfway, glanced at the treasures, said, "I don't want them," and then withdrew back inside.
Chu Yang shrugged helplessly and smiled.
"She says she doesn't want them. What should we do?"
Cold sweat poured down Wu Laoda's face. He forced an awkward grin and said, "Y-You should just take it. Children's words don't count for much."
"The problem is, I don't want it either…" Chu Yang replied lightly. "How about something more valuable?"
Wu Laoda swallowed hard. "More… more valuable than this?"
Chu Yang didn't answer. He only looked at him with a gentle, almost kind smile.
Wu Laoda's face went deathly pale. He seemed to have guessed what could possibly be more valuable than priceless treasures…
Trembling, he backed away step by step, not daring to turn his back on Chu Yang for even a moment, afraid that the next instant his head and body would part ways.
When Mei Sword saw Wu Laoda carrying the treasures back, she frowned. "Wu Laoda, what are you doing?!"
"Miss Mei… that Mister Chu wants something more valuable!"
Wu Laoda replied with a miserable expression.
Mei Sword looked utterly confused.
Wu Laoda had no choice but to spell it out. "The Demon Lord wants our lives!"
Mei Sword's face turned iron-blue.
The expressions of everyone else were no better.
"Utterly arrogant! Granny was unwilling to become his enemy, yet this man dares to press his advantage! Does he really think our Lingjiu Palace fears him?!"
"All divisions of Lingjiu Palace, heed my command! Form ranks and surround that carriage! I want to see just how capable this so-called Mister Chu really is!"
"Thirty-Six Cave Lords, Seventy-Two Island Chiefs—Granny orders you to take the lead! Whoever captures him will be freed from the Life-and-Death Talisman!"
It seemed Granny of Tianshan had long anticipated the worst and made arrangements early on, leaving Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum to issue orders in her stead.
Upon receiving the death order, Wu Laoda and the others were originally filled with despair. But when they heard that the Life-and-Death Talisman could be lifted, a flush rose to every face, their eyes turning manic.
Compared to death, the torment of the Life-and-Death Talisman was far more terrifying.
Shouts of killing shook the night as a swarm of martial artists charged recklessly toward the carriage. Behind them, the palace maids of Lingjiu Palace advanced in formation.
Chu Yang had no interest whatsoever in tangling with such riffraff. He directly released Conqueror's Haki.
Invisible shockwaves surged outward. One martial expert after another collapsed on the spot. Moments later, only the four sisters—Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum—remained standing at the foot of the mountain.
The once-imperious Mei Sword stood there, trembling violently.
She had never witnessed such a scene. She had only heard that the Demon Lord was "terrifying," but had never known in what way.
Now she had seen it with her own eyes.
"What do you plan to do with these people?" someone asked.
"They didn't directly harm me. I don't wish to take their lives."
"Fine. Then we'll follow the old rules—cripple their martial arts."
Hearing that their cultivation would be destroyed, Huang Rong popped her head out of the carriage with great enthusiasm and, with practiced ease, began shattering the meridians and dantians of Wu Laoda and the others.
She was so skilled at it that it was downright frightening.
Chu Yang always distinguished clearly between grudges.
Granny of Tianshan was the mastermind; Wu Laoda and the others were accomplices. As for the palace maids of Lingjiu Palace, aside from their master–servant relationship with Granny, they had nothing to do with the matter.
Back at Bright Peak, Chu Yang had only killed the heads of the Kongtong, Huashan, and Kunlun Sects, and had not troubled their disciples.
So he intended to spare these maids.
The carriage slowly approached the mountain path leading into Piaomiao Peak. Chu Yang tilted his head toward the stunned Four Sword Maidens and said politely, "If you don't mind, please make way."
The four women were terrified, their bodies trembling, yet they did not step aside.
They knew that once they moved, Granny of Tianshan—currently in seclusion—would be no match for this man.
They had been raised by Granny of Tianshan. That debt of upbringing alone was enough for them to give their lives.
"Commendable loyalty," Chu Yang said, nodding.
Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum clenched their teeth and drew their swords, prepared to fight to the death. Before they could even take a step, all four stiffened and collapsed to the ground simultaneously.
In the end, they weren't even first-rate experts. How could they possibly withstand the impact of Conqueror's Haki?
The Tianshan terrain was steep and treacherous, and Lingjiu Palace sat atop a perilous peak. Little Red couldn't make the ascent, so Chu Yang left Huang Rong, Li Mochou, and Little Dragon Girl at the foot of the mountain.
Huang Rong had wanted to go along, but worried about Li Mochou and Little Dragon Girl's safety, she abandoned the idea.
Thus, Chu Yang ascended the peak alone.
Tianshan was majestic, and in the silent night it gained an added layer of mystery.
Most of Lingjiu Palace's maids had been stationed at the foot of the mountain by Granny of Tianshan. Only a small number remained on the peak—so few they might as well not exist.
Whether on the mountain or below, Granny of Tianshan didn't care about their lives at all. As long as they could block Chu Yang, dying would be worth it.
In Granny of Tianshan's understanding, no expert under heaven could truly fight a thousand alone—not even her master, Xiaoyaozi.
Perhaps she believed that even Zhang Sanfeng and Feng Qingyang together were no match for her master, and that this Mister Chu, who had defeated the two of them, was nothing special.
Lingjiu Palace had nearly a thousand disciples. Add in Wu Laoda's group, and there was no reason they couldn't stop Mister Chu. Even a battle of attrition should wear him down.
"Demon Lord? Year-Deity?"
"Once my divine art is complete, I'll settle accounts with you. For now, enjoy your arrogance!"
After cultivating for a while, Granny of Tianshan still felt restless. Her harsh words sounded more like an attempt to bolster her own courage.
After regulating her breathing for half a quarter-hour, Granny of Tianshan circulated her energy once more.
Suddenly, the palace where she was in seclusion began to tremble.
Granny of Tianshan's eyes snapped open.
Rumble—!
Something terrifying seemed to be striking the palace from outside!
No—
It was striking the entire Piaomiao Peak!
Granny of Tianshan was horrified. Disregarding the risk of qi deviation, she forcefully halted her cultivation again and rushed out of the palace.
A young scholar was standing outside, using fists as large as sandbags to pound on the gate of Lingjiu Palace.
Since this was revenge for annihilation, there was no reason not to tear down the mountain gate.
Not just Lingjiu Palace—every sect Chu Yang had destroyed along the way received the same treatment.
First, smash the gate. Then, kill the leader.
Seeing this, Granny of Tianshan's scalp went numb.
She could guess who the scholar before her was with her toes…
So many people hadn't managed to stop him?
Just as Granny of Tianshan was struck with terror, Chu Yang suddenly lifted his head and looked in her direction.
Their eyes met.
Chu Yang grinned.
Granny of Tianshan's heart clenched violently, as if seized in a crushing grip.
She activated her lightness skill and turned to flee, but her body was seized midair by an enormous suction force. The scenery around her reversed at breakneck speed.
In the next instant, her neck tightened, as though caught in an iron vice.
"You're a pitiful one as well," Chu Yang said calmly. "For the sake of an illusory love, you ended up like this. Since you're about to die, let me tell you the truth—your senior brother, Wu Yazi, never loved you, nor Li Qiushui. The one he loved most was your junior sister."
At those words, Granny of Tianshan's body stiffened. She tried to turn her head, but with Chu Yang gripping her neck, the motion snapped it cleanly.
Even so, she stared at Chu Yang with unblinking eyes.
"What you said… is it true?"
With her eyes wide open, she clung to her last breath, desperate for a definitive answer.
"It's true," Chu Yang nodded.
"Hehehe… hahaha…"
A strange laugh escaped Granny of Tianshan's mouth as the light faded from her eyes.
Chu Yang placed her body at the foot of the mountain gate, then struck out with a palm, shattering the gate and burying both it and her remains together before Lingjiu Palace.
After that, Chu Yang entered the grand Lingjiu Palace, strolling through it at leisure.
When he reached the garden, a sweep of his Observation Haki revealed a hidden mechanism. After triggering it, the artificial rockery slowly shifted aside, revealing an opening.
Following the opening, Chu Yang entered a tunnel. It wound downward in spirals, clearly indicating a vast hollow within the mountain of Piaomiao Peak.
After an unknown amount of time, the scenery before him suddenly opened up.
A vast stone cavern came into view.
The stone walls on both sides had been polished smooth like mirrors, engraved with countless diagrams and texts. The complex lines depicted circulation routes of internal energy, many portions already missing.
Nearly a thousand diagrams dazzled the eyes.
Some were Xiaoyao Sect's ultimate techniques left behind by Granny of Tianshan, but many more belonged to the site's original owner.
Lingjiu Palace on Tianshan had originally been an ancient ruin Xiaoyaozi discovered by chance. A mysterious sect from centuries past—the Xiaoyao Sect were merely later occupants, birds stealing another's nest.
The mysterious martial arts carved into the stone walls were far more profound than the Nine Yin Manual. In Chu Yang's view, they could even be considered divine techniques.
Ordinary people would lose their minds and suffer splitting headaches if they stared too long—classic symptoms of mental overload.
Chu Yang had no such concern. After only a brief look, he memorized every diagram.
Sitting cross-legged, he closed his eyes and began deducing. After a while, surprise flickered across his face.
The martial arts left behind by this mysterious sect had immense reference value, on par with Zhang Sanfeng's Taiji fist intent, naturally imbued with Dao resonance.
"When he was young, Xiaoyaozi probably used these techniques as reference to create so many of the Xiaoyao Sect's wondrous martial arts," Chu Yang murmured.
Looking at the murals eroded by time, he felt a sense of regret.
If they had been complete, he would already possess a full cultivation method.
Leaving the cavern, Chu Yang did not destroy the entrance, choosing instead to depart directly.
Let those who come later enjoy the shade planted by their predecessors. Chu Yang had no interest in planting trees, nor in uprooting them so that future generations would have no shade.
From Piaomiao Peak to the foot of the mountain took but an instant. Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, Chrysanthemum, and Wu Laoda had yet to awaken.
Little Red snorted and pulled the carriage, disappearing into the night.
Before long, news of Lingjiu Palace's destruction spread through the martial world. All major sects were thrown into panic, like startled birds, their disciples living in constant fear.
Under such immense pressure, the martial worlds of the Northern and Southern Song decided to unite and convene a grand martial assembly, inviting the legendary "Mister Chu" to negotiations under a banner of peace.
(End of Chapter)