Chapter Seventy-One: The Sky-Splitting Sword

Within the grand hall, the Crimson Sun Pearl—the prized treasure of Mystic Truth Temple—suddenly erupted in strange transformation, shattering into a haze of blood-red mist and driving the disciples of the Seven Absolutes Sect and Mystic Truth Temple into madness.

To cultivate demonic arts is the gravest taboo among righteous sects; years ago, the True Lord of Blood Shadows was betrayed, his martial prowess destroyed, and met a tragic fate. With all eyes upon them, the pitiful Elder Pine found himself unable to defend against the accusations, and the disciples of Mystic Truth Temple were swiftly surrounded by the experts from the Seven Absolutes Sect, the Marquis’s Estate, and several major sects.

“Mystic Truth Temple dares commit such evil! Seize these demonic traitors at once!” Chu Qingyun, shocked and furious, would not let go of Mystic Truth Temple, which had secretly submitted to their foes and clandestinely cultivated demonic arts.

“Wait, I beg you, hear my words!” Elder Pine’s heart was in chaos. His disciples had never practiced demonic arts; clearly, they were being framed. Though he knew not why the Crimson Sun Pearl had transformed so, it was clear that now was not the time to confront the righteous sects.

Simma Yan glared fiercely, his voice harsh: “Your temple’s treasure is itself a demonic artifact—how else could Cheng Feng, during his soul’s departure, still harm Elder Huo with his physical body?”

Elder Pine had noticed that even Seven Absolutes Sect disciples were affected, and his suspicions toward Simma Yan faded. He replied anxiously, “Master Simma, Mystic Truth Temple and Seven Absolutes Sect have coexisted on Cangyun Mountain for a hundred years; why would we destroy our own foundation by instructing disciples to practice demonic arts? This is clearly a plot to ruin us. Do not let yourself be used by villains.”

Simma Yan sneered, “Your temple has long harbored ambitions to swallow my sect. Was not the succession ceremony of Danxia Sect’s chief on Qingyang Peak orchestrated by Mystic Truth Temple? Yet Heaven has eyes—today your schemes are laid bare. Do you think mere words will allow you to escape?”

“Today, Mystic Truth Temple will not interfere in Danxia Sect’s affairs. Everything on Qingyang Peak will be left to the young marquis’s discretion, and I swear to Heaven our temple has never cultivated demonic arts.” A bead of sweat slid down Elder Pine’s brow, knowing that one misstep today could spell catastrophe for his sect.

A cold gleam flickered in Chu Qingyun’s eyes. “I am hardly worthy to decide the fate of Danxia Sect, but the fact that Mystic Truth Temple’s disciples practice demonic arts is undeniable, Elder Pine. You owe everyone here an explanation.”

Elder Pine shuddered inwardly, suddenly recalling the young priest who had slandered his disciples. He quickly retorted, “Just now, this person claimed our disciples practiced the Blood Condensation Art. Clearly, he was manipulated by those seeking to frame us…”

Chu Qingyun pointed to a nearby pool of black blood and a blood-stained black robe, interrupting coldly, “Elder Pine, the boy has already died by your hand. When the Crimson Sun Pearl erupted, he became nothing but a pool of black blood. To blame a dead man—do you not find it laughable?”

Elder Pine’s face changed as he looked at the blood and robe on the ground, his voice bitter, “He was never one of our disciples. If you doubt me, you may ask any of my followers.”

Qi Fei, watching everyone’s expressions, was shocked—Zhuo Jin’er was truly remarkable, slipping away unnoticed right under their noses. Mystic Truth Temple would not escape calamity today.

“Elder Pine, save your words. If you are innocent, surrender and let the marquis decide your fate,” Simma Yan, sensing the enmity between Chu Qingyun and Mystic Truth Temple, spoke provocatively.

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“Elder Pine, Master Simma speaks true. Your temple’s treasure now exudes demonic energy, so it is likely someone within has practiced demonic arts. Let the marquis judge.” The elder from the Righteous Virtue Sect, having seen the Crimson Sun Pearl burst forth with demonic energy, was now suspicious of Mystic Truth Temple.

Elder Pine’s face darkened as he gazed at the calm Chu Qingyun, his mind racing. He pondered how his sect had offended the marquis’s son, for Chu Qingyun had pressed relentlessly with Seven Absolutes Sect to target his temple. If they surrendered, it would surely mean death.

His heart troubled, Elder Pine exchanged glances with Elder Cloud, only to find hesitation on his old friend’s face as well.

Within the hall, Mystic Truth Temple’s disciples were filled with dread; Yang Zheng and his disciples were pale and trembling.

At this impasse, several disciples of Qingyang Peak, covered in blood, burst in from outside. “Master, disaster has struck!”

Yang Zheng, already beside himself, quickly asked, “What has happened?”

The disciples, faces stricken with fear, replied in trembling voices, “Outside, Mystic Truth Temple disciples have begun slaughtering one another. Had we not dodged quickly, we would have fallen to their madness.”

Qi Fei and Mo Zhanpeng were deeply alarmed, uncertain if the outer disciples had escaped Mystic Truth Temple’s rampage. With chaos in the hall, none dared act rashly.

Simma Yan, master of Seven Absolutes Sect, eyed them like a tiger; Qi Fei sighed inwardly, hoping that Zhuo Jin’er, who had slipped away using the secret arts of Yin-Yang Dao, might remember their pact and save Xu Yi and the others.

“Young marquis, why do you hesitate? Mystic Truth Temple is clearly hiding demonic cultivation!” Simma Yan, fearing delay, shouted, “Seven Absolutes Sect disciples, heed me! Mystic Truth Temple’s cultivation of demonic arts makes them our enemy. We must not let these villains escape!”

Elder Pine and his disciples were furious; Simma Yan was clearly driving them to ruin. They cursed the bizarre turn of events that had led Mystic Truth Temple to be framed.

With the Seven Absolutes Sect and other righteous masters closing in, Elder Pine racked his brain for a solution. At that moment, Elder Clear Void, bloodied from slaying his own maddened disciples, shouted, “Brother, can’t you see? The Marquis’s Estate and Seven Absolutes Sect want us destroyed. Rather than await death, let us fight our way off Qingyang Peak and seek justice from our elder later.”

Resolute, Elder Pine thought that escaping Qingyang Peak was the only hope; later they could appeal to the marquis and clear their name.

Elder Cloud saw the resolve in Elder Pine’s face and was horrified.

Before he could intervene, Elder Pine activated his mystical arts, transforming his primordial soul. A golden stream of light flashed, and his figure suddenly grew immense.

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At that moment, Simma Yan and the Chu family elder, two innate martial experts, struck together at Elder Pine, who had just unified his soul and body into the true mystical form.

A cold light flashed in Elder Pine’s eyes—sharp as a winter star—and his mystical form erupted in dazzling golden light, splitting apart in an instant.

A palpable gale of power howled forth, the radiant gold dispersing the combined attack of the two martial experts, smashing open the stone wall of the hall.

“Brother, take the disciples and flee!” Seeking to preserve his sect, Elder Pine relied on the power of his mystical transformation, urgently instructing Elder Clear Void to lead the disciples out.

“Escape? It won’t be so easy.” Simma Yan secretly sneered; having risked collusion with Yin-Yang Dao disciples to frame Mystic Truth Temple, he would not let them escape.

The righteous sects joined Seven Absolutes Sect in blocking the broken side of the hall, determined not to let suspected demonic cultivators go.

Furious, Elder Pine summoned his true energy and launched a deadly attack. Another blaze of golden light burst from his mystical form, shaking the entire hall as if the earth shuddered, a scorching wave blasting through the dome and soaring to the heavens.

Elder Clear Void, knowing his brother’s power, did not hesitate, leading the disciples to follow Elder Pine’s transformation, activating mystical arts to rise into the air.

At that moment, Qi Fei, observing coldly from the side of the hall, was suddenly struck with terror. Above the hall’s shattered dome, a mighty, awe-inspiring sword force flashed into being.

Elder Clear Void’s face changed as he hurriedly activated a protective barrier, but the terrifying sword energy tore through the sky and crashed down onto the shield.

The sword force was overwhelming—rending the heavens with a single blow, it shredded the protective barrier formed by Mystic Truth Temple’s disciples. The hall resounded with the roar of collapsing stone and the cries of suffering disciples.

Though Elder Pine had repelled the martial experts’ assault, he was powerless to save Elder Clear Void and the disciples as they were swallowed by the terrifying, domineering sword energy.