Chapter Fifty-One: The Death of the Former Master of Mount Hua

A string of urgent warnings from the Sect Master System rang out by Jiang Yan’s ear, startling him just as he was about to say something to Zisu and the other two women.

“Ding. The mountain-guarding array has been destroyed. Nanmen Luo is seriously injured. Mu Yun is seriously injured...”

The system’s alerts followed one after another. In the blink of an eye, the Huashan sect’s protective formation was broken, the supply of spirit stones for the Azure-robed Talisman Soldiers was exhausted and the soldiers damaged, and both junior brothers Nanmen Luo and Mu Yun had suffered grave wounds…

Jiang Yan’s expression changed drastically. He turned to the three women and said, “No need for thanks. I have urgent matters to attend to and must return to my sect at once. Little monk, until we meet again. If you have leisure in the future, you are welcome to seek me out at Huashan.” With those words, he addressed the young monk, but before he had finished speaking, his figure transformed into a streak of golden light that skimmed along the ground and vanished.

As the little monk watched Jiang Yan depart in a flash of gold, his usually calm face showed a rare expression of astonishment. Staring in the direction where the light disappeared, he muttered to himself, “The Thirty-six Heavenly Techniques... the legendary Thirty-six Heavenly Techniques!”

Zisu stepped forward, blocking the little monk’s gaze, and asked respectfully, “Master, what did you say?”

The little monk started, coming back to himself when he saw Zisu before him. Smiling, he replied, “Lady Zisu, it’s nothing. I simply thought that Mr. Jiang’s movement technique is far from ordinary.”

A trace of surprise flashed across Zisu’s brow. For even a foundation stage monk to praise this movement technique—this Mr. Jiang is clearly not simple. After her initial shock, Zisu respectfully saluted the little monk. “Master, our sect faces urgent matters and we must hurry back. Your great kindness in saving our lives—Zisu will surely find a way to repay it.”

The little monk’s expression turned solemn. “One should not expect repayment for good deeds. This is the creed of Huasheng Monastery. Lady Zisu, if you hold such thoughts, then in future, help those in difficulty as you are able—that can be counted as a return for my small favor. Since your sect is in trouble, I will not see you off.”

Zisu stepped back, standing shoulder to shoulder with Duo’er and Ding Ning. The three women bowed respectfully to the little monk. “Master, we take our leave.”

…

Purple Robe Sect, Five Fingers Peak

Ding Ying, the Purple Robe Sect master at the peak of her Qi Refinement, was now clad in robes stained deep red with blood. Around her, the corpses of Purple Robe Sect women lay scattered. Surrounding Ding Ying stood four white-robed elders from Tianshan, each wielding a magical artifact.

Ding Ying glared fiercely at Lu Tiannan, the Tianshan Master before her, her voice trembling with rage. “Lu Tiannan, our Purple Robe Sect and your Tianshan Sect have neither old grudges nor recent enmity. Why do you act like this?”

Lu Tiannan laughed loudly, the icy gleam of the Lishui Frost Sword above his head flashing even colder. His tone was arrogant. “Ding Ying, you’re right—there’s no old feud. But blame yourself for not being what you once were. A grand second-class sect, reduced to only a single peak Qi Refinement cultivator, with no high-level practitioners left, yet still occupying such a vast spirit stone vein. Ours is not the only sect eyeing your wealth.”

Blood spurted from Ding Ying’s lips as she rebuked him, her voice weak but full of anger. “Lu Tiannan, so you covet our spirit stone mine after all! I heard you killed Huashan’s sect master, Ding Yuan, during the demon hunt. I wondered then—why would you fight over that broken mountain? Now I see you already had your eyes on Five Fingers Peak’s mine. If Huashan had advanced to a sect without ranking, its territory would span a hundred miles, including my Five Fingers Peak. Ding Yuan refused to hand over Huashan’s legacy, so you killed him. And now, having failed at intrigue, you resort to outright robbery!”

Lu Tiannan chuckled, pleased with himself. “Old crone, you are quite astute. Had Ding Yuan agreed to swap another peak for Huashan, there would have been no need for bloodshed. If my Tianshan had Huashan’s land, a single report to the Jinyan Sect would make Five Fingers Peak ours as well. Why bother wiping out your sect? A simple challenge between disciples, and your Purple Robe Sect would belong to us.”

“Bah!” Ding Ying spat contemptuously. “Lu Tiannan, don’t delude yourself. Even if I die today, I won’t let you succeed.”

With these words, Ding Ying crossed her palms before her chest, then flipped her wrists and raised her hands skyward. A surge of violent spiritual energy radiated from her, spreading across Five Fingers Peak, which was littered with her disciples’ corpses. Under its force, the magical instruments on the ground slowly rose into the air…

A sinister smile curved Lu Tiannan’s lips as he shouted, “Form the Lishui Frost Array!”

The four Tianshan elders stepped forward, forming sword fingers and directing the floating Lishui Frost Swords to bear down on Ding Ying…

…

Mount Huashan’s summit, before the sect’s grand hall.

Meng Lu regarded the imposing main hall of the Huashan Sect with some confusion. How could such a minor sect possess such a magnificent structure? He tossed Mu Yun and Nanmen Luo roughly onto the ground and shouted, “People of Huashan, listen well! Your two gatekeeping disciples—one fat, one thin—are in my hands. If you want them to live, come out and face me at once!”

“Come out and face me at once…”

His voice echoed across the empty summit, reverberating up and down the mountain, chilling to the bone.

“Who goes there, daring to trespass on Huashan?” A clear, spirited voice rang out from within the grand hall. In the next instant, a flash of blue-green appeared at the doorway: it was Tang Wan, dressed in water-lotus colored robes. Behind her, a small head peeked out—it was Yun Ying, clinging to the doorway to peer outside. Behind Yun Ying, another azure-robed Talisman Soldier stood motionless.

Meng Lu gave the nervous Tang Wan a disdainful glance and snapped impatiently, “Girl, fetch your sect master at once and return the spirit beast you stole from our sect. If you so much as object, I’ll reduce your sect to ashes.”

Tang Wan’s heart skipped a beat. So the Hound of Wailing Souls that senior brother brought back from the foot of the mountain had an owner after all, and now the owner had come to claim it.

Mu Yun roared angrily, “Scoundrel! How dare you slander our sect master? He didn’t steal your spirit beast—you’re just here for revenge, aren’t you?”

Meng Lu let out a sly chuckle and praised Mu Yun loudly. “Fatty, you’ve got a sharp eye. So you see I’ve come for vengeance. Very well, I’ll tell you plainly: today, I, Meng Lu of Tianshan, am here for revenge!”

“Tianshan!” Nanmen Luo, lying on the ground, suddenly clenched his teeth so hard they grated.

Mu Yun’s eyes reddened with fury as he glared at Meng Lu. “Tianshan Sect…”

Tears welled up in Tang Wan’s eyes. “You’re from Tianshan Sect?”

Meng Lu frowned in confusion—why did it suddenly feel so cold? But the pride of a disciple from a great sect quickly restored his composure. “What of it? Afraid now that you know my sect? Fear won’t help you…”

“Swish—swish—” Two green arrows shot through the air. Tang Wan had taken the initiative, launching the Azurewood Archery Technique.

“Again with the Azurewood Arrows!” Meng Lu cursed in annoyance. Was every disciple here practicing wood element arts? And all of them knew the top-tier Azurewood Archery? Though frustrated, he unhesitatingly unleashed the Frostshadow Sword Technique.

From his sword, countless tiny blades shaped like cold light rained down, intercepting Tang Wan’s arrows. In no time, her two arrows were shattered into pure spiritual energy, dissipating into the air.

Tang Wan felt a tightness in her chest as her arrows were destroyed; her meridians had already suffered injury. Yet she lifted her slender hand, and two more Azurewood Arrows formed overhead. Forming a sword with her fingers, she sent them whistling through the air at the startled Meng Lu…

Meng Lu’s expression shifted. With a swift step, he retreated more than ten meters, staring in shock at where he’d just stood. There, the tip of a bloodstained arrow protruded from the ground, blood still dripping along the path of his retreat.

“A third Azurewood Arrow!” Meng Lu’s face finally changed. He stared at Tang Wan in disbelief. “Little girl, you’re no ordinary talent—to form three Azurewood Arrows at once, you must have a rare wood-element constitution. Such a shame, wasted in a minor sect like this.”

With a wave of his hand, the Frostlight Sword became a streak of cold radiance, effortlessly shattering Tang Wan’s arrows. Without pause, it swept forward, dispersing the last arrow to spiritual mist.

Tang Wan’s chest tightened; blood spurted from her lips. Her knees buckled, and she dropped to the ground on one knee.

“Senior Sister!” Yun Ying screamed, dashing out of the hall, arms flailing, and rushed to Tang Wan’s side. The azure-robed Talisman Soldier flickered and appeared behind Yun Ying…

…

“Whew…” Jiang Yan collapsed unceremoniously to the ground, gasping for breath. The Golden Light Earth Tunneling Art was swift, but the consumption of spiritual power was immense. After half an hour, he had already stumbled out of the golden light twice. Even relying on Qi Gathering Pills to recover his strength, he could go no further.

“Ding. The sect is under attack. Tang Wan is injured…”

Jiang Yan’s brow furrowed. Junior Sister Wan was wounded too? This was a disaster. There were only four people left in the sect—if Wan was hurt, only Yun Ying remained. The little girl might be at the third level of Qi Refinement, but she was still just a child.

He was a hundred miles from the sect. Even if he pushed himself to the limit to reach Huashan, he’d likely run out of spiritual power and share in the sect’s doom.

“My sect… my sect…!” Jiang Yan’s heart burned with anxiety, but he was powerless to act…