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墨書 Inktalez
Human Sacrifice
The Leader of the Azure Cloud Sect first vaguely brushed over the matter of the extermination of Yang Sanqian's disciples from the Serpent Cult, and then shifted the focus onto Zhang Jianzi, instructing everyone to search for his whereabouts. I couldn't understand what he meant by that.
"The third matter concerns an incident in the Inner Sect. Song Yuan, ranked tenth on the Dragon-Tiger List, openly killed a disciple within the sect. He has been punished by being made to reflect on his actions in isolation on the back mountain. Qianqiu has handled this well," the Azure Cloud Sect Leader said, glancing at Song Qianqiu beside him. The other disciples looked at Song Qianqiu with admiration in their eyes.
The Sixth Elder spoke up, "Respected Leader, there are rules in our sect. The Azure Cloud Sect strictly prohibits infighting among disciples, and even those on the Dragon-Tiger List cannot be exempted."
The Azure Cloud Sect Leader nodded, saying, "I have already sent someone to bring him here; he should be arriving soon."
Before long, a disciple flew down from the mountain and landed before the Azure Cloud Sect Leader. He respectfully reported, "Respected Leader, Song Yuan is missing."
"Missing?" The Azure Cloud Sect Leader exclaimed in surprise. "How could he go missing while being punished on the back mountain?"
Cao Bohou interjected, "He probably fled out of fear of punishment. Song Yuan has never had much sense of collective honor. Ever since he became a top expert on the Dragon-Tiger List, he has bullied others and repeatedly claimed that his abilities were solely self-taught. Now that he has been punished by Senior Brother on the back mountain, he must have escaped."
The Azure Cloud Sect Leader was furious. He declared, "After this meeting, organize the disciples to search the nearby mountains. As soon as you find Zhang Jianzi's whereabouts, notify me immediately. If you find Song Yuan, kill him without mercy! He clearly does not take our Azure Cloud Sect seriously!"
"Yes, Leader!" everyone responded in unison.
"Leader, what about the vacant position on the Dragon-Tiger List?" the Grand Elder asked.
The Azure Cloud Sect Leader replied, "The tenth position on the Dragon-Tiger List will still be determined through combat; it will go to whoever is capable. Grand Elder, you shall oversee this matter personally."
The Grand Elder bowed his head in agreement as the Azure Cloud Sect Leader turned away with a grim expression and walked toward the main hall on the mountain.
During this sect assembly, I stood below and observed the upper echelons of the sect. I noticed a woman standing next to Song Qianqiu; she was voluptuous and tall with an alluring figure. Her phoenix-like eyes slanted upward, giving her an enchanting aura. At her waist hung a beautifully crafted sword sheath; if I guessed correctly, it contained my Fish Intestine Sword.
The woman before me must be the Sword Princess.
However, I had not seen Li Lao or Yunxi at all.
After the crowd dispersed, many Managers and Elders from the sect organized their disciples to venture out in search of Zhang Jianzi and Song Yuan. I quietly slipped away from the group and made my way to the Outer Sect's Scripture Repository, but upon arrival, I found the doors tightly shut, and Li Lao was nowhere to be found.
I asked an Outer Sect disciple and learned that the Scripture Repository had been closed for several days. The Outer Sect Disciple had reported this to Elder Jin multiple times, but no one had come to address the issue.
I couldn't quite understand why, if Zhang Jianzi had truly been to Azure Cloud Mountain, he hadn't left by now with everyone searching for him. Why did both the Azure Cloud Sect Leader and Daoist Grandmaster predict that Zhang Jianzi was hiding nearby? What could he possibly be doing here?
The Martial Dao Classic was something every sect coveted because once mastered, it could counter all Daoist Arts. Yet, what no one knew was that the most formidable aspect of the Martial Dao Classic was its ability to allow its practitioner to learn a cultivation method in an instant—something that could take others years to master.
When I found Lin Jingyu, he was still limping slightly. I casually tossed him a bottle of Ointment and said, "This is for your injuries. When will the Inner Sect competition take place?"
Lin Jingyu replied, "Ming Zhongwu, in front of the Inner Hall."
"How confident are you?" I asked.
Lin Jingyu responded, "Everyone knows I am allied with the Sword Princess; they will think twice before making a move. Moreover, there aren't many experts in this generation of Azure Cloud Sect's Inner Sect. Although there may be some hidden talents, I have a ninety-nine percent confidence."
"That's good enough. I'll be staying at Birch Cave tonight; you can handle tomorrow's competition," I said.
"Understood," Lin Jingyu replied respectfully.
Though Lin Jingyu was merely a disciple at the early Foundation Establishment Stage, his rapid improvement in such a short time and stable fluctuations in Dao Qi indicated he must have encountered some fortuitous events. With his own confidence at ninety-nine percent, I felt reassured. Given my current sensitive status, it wasn't wise for me to expose myself too much; if the higher-ups in the sect took notice, it could lead to unwanted trouble.
Upon arriving at Birch Mountain, I stepped into Song Yuan's Cave. The interior was elegantly decorated, exuding a tranquil ambiance, and the living facilities were fully equipped, even featuring a cauldron for alchemy.
If I were to concoct potions and brews in Birch Cave, I would certainly not be disturbed by others.
On the second afternoon, while I was meditating in the Cave, a series of knocks echoed from outside. I opened the door to find Lin Jingyu standing there, battered and bruised. Upon seeing me, Lin Jingyu said, "The Cave at Birch Mountain is yours now."
I let my Dao Qi seep into Lin Jingyu's body and discovered multiple fractures within him, along with several meridians that had been shattered. Although I hadn't witnessed the battle firsthand, I could imagine the ferocity of the fight. He must have fought desperately for the tenth position on the Outer Sect's Dragon-Tiger List.
I helped Lin Jingyu into the Cave and fed him some Millennium Medicine King Ointment to aid his recovery. The following morning, the Inner Sect's Young Steward delivered a considerable amount of elixirs and items. Upon seeing me open the door, he expressed surprise, saying, "I didn't expect you to have quickly befriended the newly risen expert on the Dragon-Tiger List, Lin Jingyu."
After accepting Lin Jingyu's rewards, I replied, "Lin Jingyu has already rested; I'll take these items for him."
The Young Steward remarked, "Lin Shixiong has changed significantly now that he is favored by Sword Princess. You should address him as Shixiong from now on."
"How I choose to address him is my business; you need not concern yourself with it. Leave!" I snapped back and closed the door. Recently troubled by many matters, I had no patience left for those who fawned over others.
A series of knocks sounded again from outside. The Young Steward, offended by my disrespectful attitude, attempted to provoke me. With a loud thud, I struck the door with my palm; my Dao Qi surged through it and sent the Young Steward flying far away, blood spewing from his mouth.
The chaotic Dao Qi within me surged wildly, leaving me in an unsettled state. This feeling was unpleasant, akin to being possessed by demonic energy.
The path of cultivation is incredibly arduous; without a master to guide one through confusion, one could easily fall into madness and face dire consequences. It is no wonder that Taoists emphasize maintaining a calm mind during their practices; restlessness can destabilize one's Dao heart.
When Lin Jingyu awoke and saw the rewards and Dragon-Tiger List token on the table, he gathered them up and walked into the inner room of the Cave. He then respectfully said, "Brother Yang Hao, this is a gift from Jingyu for you."
"How is your recovery coming along?" I asked in a deep voice.
"There's nothing serious anymore," Lin Jingyu said. "Thank you, Brother Yang Hao, for your concern."
"You can take half of the Qi Gathering Pills for your usual cultivation. I won't restrict your freedom, but I need to use the Cave myself. You can move to the Disciples' Quarters or stay in the wooden house outside the Cave. We won't interfere with each other, and don't bring anyone to Birch Mountain," I coldly reminded him.
"I understand, Senior Brother." Lin Jingyu showed no signs of dissatisfaction, maintaining a humble attitude.
At that moment, a creaking sound came from outside the door; it was the sound of the door being pushed open. Lin Jingyu stepped out and said, "Jingyu greets Senior Sister."
"The Sword Princess?" There was only one woman on the Inner Sect's Dragon-Tiger List, ranked second—the Sword Princess. The only one who could make Lin Jingyu call her Senior Sister was likely her.
The Sword Princess responded with a hum, "I heard you won a spot on the Dragon-Tiger List, so I came to take a look."
Lin Jingyu replied, "Thank you for your concern, Senior Sister. Jingyu is flattered."
The Sword Princess said, "I don't have the leisure to concern myself with you; I'm just here to see if you can still accommodate someone. A junior brother needs to stay here, and I also wanted to ask you for a Foundation Pill for him."
"This..." Lin Jingyu's face showed difficulty as he said, "It's not that I don't want to give you the pills, Senior Sister, but there is only one Foundation Pill, and I've already given it to someone else. Moreover, this Cave cannot accommodate others."
"You rejected me without even thinking about it, Lin Jingyu. It seems I've underestimated you," the Sword Princess sneered coldly. "You dare to refute my words!"
Lin Jingyu replied, "Jingyu doesn't dare; it's just that the Inner Sect regulations state that each mountain peak is specifically for the personal cultivation of disciples on the Dragon-Tiger List. Although I am grateful for your favor, principles cannot be changed. I hope Senior Sister will not make things difficult for me."
"What if I insist on making things difficult for you?" the Sword Princess scoffed.
Lin Jingyu lowered his head and dared not speak. The Sword Princess continued, "Don't think that just because you're on the Dragon-Tiger List I won't dare to kill you. Initially, I thought about leaving half of the Cave for you after you obtained your spot on the Dragon-Tiger List. But now it seems that's unnecessary. Hand over the Foundation Pill and get out of here."
“Sword Princess, you truly are impressive. I need that Foundation Pill, so I can't hand it over to Senior Sister. As for this Cave, I also need it. Since Senior Sister wants to bring newcomers, why not take them back to your own Cave instead of arranging them in someone else's?” I stepped out of the room within the Cave and looked at Sword Princess.
Upon seeing me, Sword Princess frowned slightly and asked, “Who are you?”
“I am the one who delivered your sword. The Fish Intestine Sword that Elder Hong gave you originally belonged to me,” I replied.
“Oh, so you're the one who provided the sword. It seems you've had some fortunate encounters to rise to the Inner Sect in such a short time, and now you think you're ready to challenge me?” Sword Princess smirked lightly, her phoenix eyes concealing a hint of danger.
I said, “Sword Princess, your reputation precedes you. Ranked second on the Dragon-Tiger List, you stand alongside the divine Song Qianqiu. How could I dare to challenge you? However, this Cave truly cannot accommodate anyone else.”
“Your words are quite bold, but I wonder if you have any real skills to back them up.” With that, Sword Princess flicked her fingers, sending a gust of wind towards me. I leaned aside just in time to narrowly avoid it.
“Senior Sister, please spare him. Brother Yang Hao is my friend; if he has offended you with his words, please forgive him,” Lin Jingyu interjected.
“Get lost!” Sword Princess swatted Lin Jingyu away with a single strike and then directed her palm towards me, unleashing a wave of Dao Qi that left no room for evasion.
A yellowish light enveloped my arms as I resisted Sword Princess's attack, but I was still slammed against the wall of the Cave.
“It seems you're not much after all,” Sword Princess remarked.
“I would like to return those words to you.”
Before I could finish speaking, I suddenly dashed towards the wall beside the Cave. Unfolding a scroll in my hand, nine flying daggers shot out in an instant while I ran along the edge towards the outside of the Cave.
With a furrowed brow, Sword Princess drew her Fish Intestine Sword and deftly deflected each of the nine daggers one by one.
"You want to run!"
The Sword Princess lunged forward with her sword.
"I just don't want to break anything in the house. If I have to fight, I'll take it to your place; that's just poor etiquette." I extended my index finger, sending an almost invisible Silver Thread Shuttle towards the Sword Princess. Sensing something was off, she swiftly angled her Fish Intestine Sword to the side, severing the Silver Thread in two. One piece of the Silver Thread grazed a lock of her hair.
I stood outside the Cave in a wide open space, looking at the Sword Princess with a fearless expression.
The Sword Princess retracted her Fish Intestine Sword and slowly drew a white longsword from behind her back. As the sword emerged, the air around us instantly grew colder.
"You force me to kill you; don't blame me."
With a single stroke, she unleashed a chilling wave of sword energy that surged toward me. I desperately activated the Wind Spirit Technique and dodged to the side. Despite having learned quite a bit about movement techniques from Dao Jing, facing such a formidable opponent like the Sword Princess and her fierce attacks still left me affected by her sword energy, causing my blood to stir and my lips to turn pale for a moment.
The Sword Princess struck again with another slash, her sword energy menacing. I rolled on the ground as several Birch Trees behind me were instantly cut down, their stumps cleanly severed.
Just as I was contemplating whether to use the Dragon Abyss Sword, a cold voice echoed from above: "The Sword Princess is truly impressive; she shows no mercy even when killing her own kind."
Perched atop one of the Birch Trees was a woman in red, her face as frosty as ice—none other than Yunxi.
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