Chapter Thirty-Four: Taking Action

Zhang Xuzhong, emboldened by the talisman in his hand, showed not the slightest fear in the face of his master’s and fellow disciples’ furious glares. The courtyard was deadlocked with tension.

At that moment, Elder Sun, who had finally managed to calm the outer disciples, hurried into the rear courtyard. Seeing the crowd encircle a sect disciple beneath an odd, oppressive air, Elder Sun asked in surprise, “Elder Mo, what is going on here?”

A nearby disciple quickly answered, “Master, Zhang Xuzhong turned out to be an agent of the Xuan Zhen Temple. He even used a sinister technique just now and nearly injured Brother Luo.”

Zhang Xuzhong looked at Elder Sun with a mocking smile. “Elder Sun, you’ve toiled for decades at Dawn Rosy Cloud Sect, yet your cultivation is still stuck at the first stage of Divine Mind in the Mystic Gate. Why not come with me and turn toward the light? If you master the arts of Xuan Zhen Temple, your power will surely soar one day.”

Elder Sun’s face flushed with anger. “Ungrateful traitor! You dare betray your sect? Even at the cost of my life, I will kill you!”

Zhang Xuzhong waved the talisman in his hand arrogantly. “Elder Sun, after so many years practicing the Mystic Gate arts, can’t you see that this very talisman in my hand is enough to kill you all?”

Elder Sun’s expression changed. He stared coldly at the talisman and sneered. “First, you have not mastered the Mystic Gate arts, so you lack true energy. Second, the talisman in your hand is merely a message talisman. Do you really think—”

Suddenly, Elder Sun’s heart trembled at the mention of Xuan Zhen Temple. If this traitor had already defected, the message talisman in his hand might indeed summon masters from Xuan Zhen Temple atop Azure Sun Peak.

Zhang Xuzhong scoffed, “Now that you’ve seen my talisman, you’re all too frightened to act, yet you still dream of challenging Xuan Zhen Temple? How laughable.”

Mo Zhanpeng was furious and about to strike down his rebellious disciple, but Elder Sun grabbed his arm tightly. “If we lose our cool over a trifle, our grand plans will fall apart. Do not let this traitor provoke you.”

Seeing Elder Sun restrain Mo Zhanpeng, Zhang Xuzhong grew more confident, his arrogance swelling. “Since none of you dare lay a hand on me, I’ll take my leave. If any of you reconsider, I can introduce you to the elders of Xuan Zhen Temple.”

Qi Fei, observing from the side, noticed the disciples’ faces. Though they were furious at Zhang Xuzhong’s betrayal, despair flickered in their eyes. To those who had fled Azure Sun Peak, Xuan Zhen Temple was a colossal force; compared to it, the outer sect of Dawn Rosy Cloud was insignificant.

Qi Fei thought, If Zhang Xuzhong leaves unscathed, today’s disciples will surely lose heart. Master and Elder Sun have worked hard to calm the outer disciples, but this upheaval could undo everything. If Zhang Xuzhong is not subdued, it will be impossible to unite the outer sect and join with Seven Severance Sect, Huo Zhongmou, and others to contest Azure Sun Peak for leadership.

Unlike before, when he concealed his strength, Qi Fei had now achieved the Fifth Heaven of Martial Arts, possessed the supreme Spiritlink Jade, and mastered unparalleled arts of both good and evil. Fully recovered from his injuries, he was now a peerless figure among the three great sects of Cloudy Mountain.

His life-and-death battle with Guo Huai at the Cliff of Reflection had changed his outlook. Even against the mighty Xuan Zhen Temple, Qi Fei now had the confidence to carve a bloody path out of Cloudy Mountain.

Rather than continue hiding from his master and fellow disciples, Qi Fei decided to seize this opportunity—kill Zhang Xuzhong with thunderous force to warn the deceitful. Let all in the outer sect remember the fate awaiting those who covet him.

Just as Zhang Xuzhong was about to leave, a calm voice sounded from the crowd.

“Brother Zhang, please wait.”

Zhang Xuzhong and the others turned to see Junior Brother Qi, who had just entered the rear courtyard, step forward calmly.

“Qi Fei?” Zhang Xuzhong was surprised, then sneered, “What, do you want to follow me to Azure Sun Peak and join Xuan Zhen Temple?”

Qi Fei shook his head and smiled. “My master has shown me great kindness; how could I do as you have and commit such a shameful betrayal?”

Zhang Xuzhong’s anger flared. “Qi Fei, you’re the worthless wretch who dug your way out from the Cliff of Reflection—how dare you mock me?”

Unfazed, Qi Fei replied, “Each man has his path. Since you’ve chosen to betray the sect and join Xuan Zhen Temple, I, Qi Fei, unworthy though I am, will cleanse our house for my master’s sake.”

Zhang Xuzhong stared, then pointed at Qi Fei and laughed. “With what? That useless arm of yours?”

Qi Fei lifted his tightly wrapped right hand. “Whether I am useless, you’ll soon discover. I challenge you, Brother Zhang, with this crippled hand.”

“Qi, don’t be rash. Zhang Xuzhong is a match for Senior Brother. You’re still injured—how can you face him?” Jiang Yifan cried out, anxious to stop him.

Qi Fei remained composed. “No matter. Against a bully who relies on strength, I will show no mercy.”

Zhang Xuzhong sneered, “You’re just trying to distract me so your master can snatch the talisman. Do you take me for a fool?”

Qi Fei shook his head and turned to Mo Zhanpeng and Elder Sun. “I beg Master, Elder Sun, and all senior brothers to leave the courtyard, so I may settle this with the traitor.”

He then bowed to Mo Zhanpeng, guilt in his eyes. “I was unfilial—when I escaped from the Cliff of Reflection, I kept things from you. Once I deal with this traitor, I’ll confess my faults.”

Before Elder Sun and the others could object, Mo Zhanpeng, who knew Qi Fei’s true abilities and that he had once struck at Elder Guo Huai, declared loudly, “Qi Fei, I have always said—I am not that old scoundrel Guo Huai. I trust you. Today, you step forward to defend the sect; I am gratified. Even if you’ve hidden things from me, I know you have your reasons. Don’t disappoint me today.”

Under the shocked stares of the others, Mo Zhanpeng promptly exited the courtyard. “What are you waiting for? Since Qi Fei is willing to act, leave him to it.”

Luo Dingshan stared in disbelief at the calm youth before him. Could Qi Fei truly be stronger than him, able to do what even his master could not?

Soon, everyone withdrew, leaving only the unruffled Qi Fei and the now uneasy Zhang Xuzhong.

As the two locked eyes, Zhang Xuzhong, for reasons he couldn’t name, felt an odd pang of regret.

He had relied on Xuan Zhen Temple’s might and the talisman in his hand, but after his earlier carelessness against Luo Dingshan, he now doubted whether he could leave unscathed. The sight of Qi Fei’s calm demeanor filled him with a vague sense of dread.

Qi Fei, as if alone in the world, slowly unwound the bandages from his right hand, revealing a palm covered in old wounds.

Zhang Xuzhong’s confidence returned. Mo Zhanpeng and the others had left the courtyard, and Elder Sun’s disciples, barely at the Spirit level of the Mystic Gate, could do nothing from outside. He cursed himself for being rattled by this feeble trickster. Since the brat dared provoke him, he would send him to the underworld before leaving, to vent his rage.

Though Mo Zhanpeng and the others were gone, Qi Fei dared not fully reveal his true power. Quietly circulating his energy, he resolved to kill Zhang Xuzhong using only his Third Heaven martial arts.

Zhang Xuzhong sneered, “Qi Fei, you’ve chosen your own death. You can blame no one else—”

Qi Fei, face darkening with impatience, cut him off. “Enough talk. Fight.”

Zhang Xuzhong tucked away the talisman, murder in his eyes. Leaping into the air, he thrust his spear, three cold flashes darting straight for Qi Fei’s face—his full strength unleashed.

But Qi Fei, now a master of fist and sword, moved with ghostly swiftness, nimbly evading the deadly strike.

Zhang Xuzhong tensed, preparing to crush the talisman, but in that instant Qi Fei leapt forward, his right hand splitting into three shadows that struck Zhang Xuzhong’s chest like lightning.

Blood blossomed from three wounds, and Zhang Xuzhong let out a piercing scream as a gruesome hole burst open in his chest.

With only the cultivation of Martial Arts Third Heaven, Qi Fei had unleashed the first and supreme technique of the “Heaven-Slaying Sword Canon”—the Soaring Cloud Thrust.

Zhang Xuzhong died with eyes wide as bells, unable to believe he had been slain in a single move by the very hand he thought useless.

The wailing in the courtyard sent a chill through the hearts of the disciples outside. They muttered to themselves that Qi Fei had been reckless to seek death, and prepared to rush in for a look—only to see Qi Fei, robed in white, calmly emerge from the courtyard.

He lifted the talisman with a faint smile. “I have fulfilled my duty.”