Chapter 22

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Chapter 22

At that time, Ji Yang was working with the Daoist of Ba Jing Tower to control thousands of flying arrows coming from the west. Then, from behind him, he heard Master’s stern warning: “Gong Wu!! Come back!!”

The young man turned around and saw Master Yan bringing her back from high up in the sky.

He felt something strange in his heart.

Little Wu was clearly deep in the group; even he would need to put in some effort to find her.

…What lured her into such a noticeable place?

The Tunneling Whale opened its bloodthirsty jaws, and dozens of people were fleeing one after another, trying to escape this dangerous place.

“Subei, go keep watch in the southeast!”

“Understood.”

He flew away, his keen ears capturing the sound of breaking air like the shattering of jade.

Those piercing arrows were extraordinary, able to break through a cultivator’s skin and Golden Core; the heavier ones would make the soul scatter immediately!

Not good!

Ji Yang quickly looked up and saw He Zhao Li drawing back his bow, ready to shoot three arrows towards Yan Fangji and Master Yan!

Master Yan! Little Wu!

Under the watchful gaze of many, the young girl used all her strength to push Yan Fangji a few inches away from the arrows, but her chest was pierced by three arrows in that instant!

At that moment, Ji Yang’s breath caught in his throat, as if the world had stopped.

He had killed her with his own hands, but that didn’t mean he could bear to see her die again with his own eyes.

On the contrary, she had died calmly and obediently under his sword, and he refused to allow anyone else to do such a harsh thing.

It was hard to tell if it was their childhood bond of depending on each other, the lingering affection in the cave, or possessiveness, jealousy, or something else.

Gong Wu’s body grew light; before she could even spit out a mouthful of blood, she died like a drifting feather in Yan Fangji’s arms.

Master Yan’s eyes widened in horror as he urgently called for her: “Gong Wu! Gong Wu!!”

More people witnessed the tragic scene, and the group of fleeing people fell into chaos.

“Someone’s dead, run!!”

“That arrow can pierce through barriers, get out of the way!!”

“I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die, help!!”

Moonfire Valley, with its generations of healers, had few disciples skilled in combat. Due to the prolonged conflicts with the Demon Realm, many of those previously injured were still recovering.

They frantically fled back into the Whale’s Belly, with several struck by stray arrows amid the chaos, some even losing half an arm to the arrows!

Amid the turbulent crowd, Ji Yang stood motionless.

Tu Xuixin, disregarding his own safety, concealed his form and snatched a fleeing disciple’s personal sword, flying to Ji Yang’s side.

You know full well your Junior Sister will be reborn!

Ji Subei, don’t complicate things!

As hundreds of pursuers closed in, they saw only him standing against the tide and hesitated to advance.

—Anyone who had opened their Spiritual Orifice could see he was a twenty-year-old high cultivator of the Opening Sun Realm!

Even the recently deceased Palace Lord Luo had only just reached the Opening Sun Realm; these lowly lackeys charging at him would be courting death!

Ji Yang watched as Yan Fangji carried Gong Wu’s lifeless body toward the Whale’s mouth, his gaze calm.

The death of a disciple was a common occurrence for both sects.

Some perished from cultivation mishaps, others fell while gathering herbs.

Every sect suffered losses; aside from Yan Fangji, no one spared a second thought for Gong Wu’s death.

Even after He Zhao Li lowered his bow, he merely clicked his tongue, lamenting only the loss of a disciple and not the failure to slay the Palace Lord of Liu Jia.

His heart was restless.

In the silence, Tu Xuixin, now invisible, flew before Ji Yang and firmly grasped his wrist.

“Let’s go.”

His tone was not a suggestion but a command.

As some reckless pursuers charged with swords raised, before Tu Xuixin could act, they collided with an invisible barrier and were impaled through the abdomen, falling with agonized cries.

“I’ve always felt she undervalues herself,” Ji Yang murmured, still gazing at He Zhao Li high above the clouds. “When others tell her to sweep, she sweeps without complaint.”

“When someone demands her life, she walks to her death without hesitation.”

“So what do you want?!” Tu Xuixin raised his voice, trying to pull him back. “Do you want her to obey only you, or for everyone to obey only her?!”

Ji Yang shook his head.

Without drawing symbols or forming arrays, he summoned dozens of swords into the air with a mere thought.

Like a phoenix calling its flock, like a dragon commanding the fish.

At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to kill He Zhao Li with his own hands.

Then, when Gong Wu awoke, he would scold her.

Having reached the Opening Sun Realm, Ji Yang could summon thousands of pounds of the five elements at will.

But he did not stop.

More and more swords flew uncontrollably toward him, shimmering in the sunlight like feathers returning to their wings.

Among them were the swords of the sword cultivators from Zhi Bai Guan and the weapons led by Jin Yan Tuo. So many of them.

Dozens, even hundreds, circled around him in a swirling vortex.

With varying lengths and different deadly techniques, yet at this moment, they obeyed only him.

After what felt like an eternity, Ji Yang finally turned his attention toward Tu Xuixin and responded to his earlier question.

“I want to kill He Zhao Li.”

Tu Xuixin watched anxiously, fearing that Ji Yang’s youthful recklessness would lead to spiritual energy depletion and death.

“Subei, spiritual energy isn’t meant to be used like this!”

“I don’t want to stop.”

Tu Xuixin placed a hand on Ji Yang’s right shoulder, immediately sensing the vast and profound spiritual energy still being drawn upon ceaselessly.

He Zhao Li was a Daoist at the level of Jade Balance; do you really plan to kill him while being outmatched?

Even a fifth-grade cultivator fighting a third-grade opponent would expend several times the effort, let alone crossing ranks. Are you insane?!

He knew he could only advise once more, and amidst the changing sky and howling wind, he exclaimed, “Ji Yang, you are a Daoist of the Path of Emotionless; do not give in to anger!!”

Ji Yang blinked his dark eyes, as though pausing to ponder for a moment.

Am I angry?

Within the seven marks of the Path of Emotionless, the mark of sorrow remained clear and steady, while the mark of anger glimmered faintly.

It seemed that because his emotions had not stirred, neither anger nor fury had arisen, yet they were on the verge of budding and growing another mark.

The youth lowered his gaze and smiled faintly, his long eyelashes casting a shadow.

He had witnessed with his own eyes as He Zhao Li’s Three Arrows pierced through Gong Wu’s lungs.

The originally slender and delicate girl, in an instant, her spirit scattered, dying like wild grass.

—What does it matter if I’m angry?

This thought surged forth, and the faintly glowing mark of anger was instantly shattered like powdered grains!

The youth swept his sleeve, as if not waiting for more swords to fly from others, and transformed the heavy spiritual energy within his dantian into sharp, double-edged blades, allowing the thousand-layer sword formation to gradually fan out.

Tu Xuixin sighed, realizing he could no longer restrain him. He placed his palms together and poured all his remaining internal strength into Ji Subei.

The river-like true energy of Jade Balance surged through his palms, first protecting Ji Subei’s Golden Core, heart, and lungs before allowing him to utilize it.

As the sword formation unfolded, the cultivators below stared in awe.

“What is this? Did he summon this all by himself?!”

“People from Moonfire Valley are so terrifying; he’s only twenty and can disarm hundreds of enemies’ swords?!”

“Who exactly is that Gong Wu to him?”

“My sword!! Give it back!!”

He Zhao Li chuckled, “Oh, a bold one among a bunch of cowards.

“Young man, why aren’t you running for your life?”

"You killed my loved one."

"Loved one?" He Zhao Li raised his eyebrows high. "Is she your sister?"

Ji Subei didn’t waste words with him; he raised his hand to set up the sword formation and charged at him!

He Zhao Li waved his whisk, and thousands of strong soldiers rained down around him, countless techniques aimed at killing him alone!

In that moment, even the people inside the Tunneling Whale forgot to escape into the water, staring at each other in shock.

Is he, is he insane?!

Does he really want to throw away his life in the Opening Sun Realm?!

Does he plan to kill all these thousands from Jin Yan Tuo for that female disciple?!

Tu Xuixin, who had been imprisoned without food or water for several days, had his spiritual energy reduced to less than thirty percent, and he had nearly given it all to Ji Yang.

He couldn’t hide any longer; he withdrew his hand and fell back, rejoining the depths of the crowd.

Meanwhile, in the vast expanse of clouds and water, the young man’s long hair flew in the fierce wind, and he made hand gestures to indeed strangle all who dared approach!

Ji Subei’s eyes were quick and clear; his superior cultivation roots surged as if he were about to go mad, fully activating all his potential!

He only wanted to kill one person.

He Zhao Li.

The young man leaped upward, and over a thousand spiritual swords spread out like white birds in flight, piercing through and killing many disciples of Jin Yan Tuo from below!

The sword formation shrank and moved like a hot knife through butter, leaving the rear army trembling in fear, too scared to act recklessly.

In an instant, he was before He Zhao Li.

The middle-aged man’s face darkened like water as he sneered.

"Looks like quite the tough character, but all this for a little girl?"

Ji Subei showed no expression; he raised his wrist to strike, but an illusion of He Zhao Li dissolved in front of him.

He saw He Zhao Li casually sitting on the Green Phoenix chair a hundred miles away, sipping tea leisurely.

"Formation, activate."

As soon as the words fell, formation eyes lit up in all directions within Jin Yan Tuo, the defensive formations created since the founding of the sect, along with the imperial mausoleum mechanisms!

Amidst the chaotic sound of rolling giants, more and more killing formations were activated, as if the entire sect had completely fallen under He Zhao Li’s control.

But before the new prison formation could close in on Ji Subei, there was a distant cracking sound of bones, and He Zhao Li’s head rolled to the ground, the tea spilling from his hands!

The thousand-layer sword formation continued to revolve around Ji Yang’s illusion, while the real person had long since infiltrated the enemy lines, completely severing the commander’s head!

At that moment, Tu Xuixin just peeked out from the crowd and clapped his hands, shouting in delight, "Beautiful!!!"

As expected of my disciple!!

Everyone watching was dumbfounded, hesitatingly joining in the applause, not fully accustomed to the development of events.

Ji Yang moved quickly, ripping out the Golden Core from the corpse, thoroughly cutting off any chance of He Zhao Li’s return!

He was splattered with blood, his blue robes stained dark, but his eyes remained pure and clear, like a clear night after heavy snow.

Dozens of formations lost their controller, only activating halfway before dimming and disappearing.

Ji Yang still held He Zhao Li’s Golden Core in his hand, his right eyebrow and face still streaked with blood.

He then turned his gaze to the group of Jin Yan Tuo disciples, who were retreating in fear, and spoke in a calm, measured tone.

"Moonfire Valley is but a humble sect, and we have no intention of meddling recklessly in your future paths."

"However, should another calamity like He Zhao Li arise in the future… the consequences will be unpredictable."

These words, carried by the remnants of Ji Yang’s spiritual energy, echoed far and wide, causing the expressions of those from Ba Jing Tower and Zhi Bai Guan to shift dramatically.

A humble sect??

You call a sect that can dispatch a single disciple to slay over a thousand people a humble sect?!

Shouldn’t Moonfire Valley be hosting the Yuan Xian Immortal Assembly next year?!

The disciples of Jin Yan Tuo began to retreat in disarray. Someone shouted, "Run!" and the remaining one or two thousand scrambled back upstairs, none daring to involve themselves further in this chaos.

Ji Yang, having overexerted his spiritual energy, feigned composure as he attempted to fly back, only to be swiftly intercepted by Yan Fangji.

"Now that things have come to this, we must demand an explanation from Jin Yan Tuo. We cannot leave in haste."

Yan Fangji, after all, had come as a representative of the Master Ancestor. With the tides of battle completely turned, it was imperative to settle all matters decisively to prevent future complications.

The young man’s lips were pale, but he nodded in silent agreement.

He allowed Tu Xuixin to approach and support him, taking a few steps before murmuring softly,

"Place Junior Sister somewhere warm and soft."

"She dislikes being uncomfortable."

Yan Fangji, still unaware of Gong Wu’s peculiar condition, nevertheless did not dare to neglect his savior and promptly instructed his disciples to attend to the matter.

Amid the chaos, Tu Xuixin steadied Ji Yang by the shoulder and glared at him fiercely.

"Showing off, are you? Your divine consciousness nearly shattered!"

Ji Yang, too exhausted to respond, simply endured the scolding.

"Risking yourself for others? Have you even considered the consequences if things had gone wrong?"

"Such recklessness—do you truly care for your Junior Sister? What foolishness!"

With He Zhao Li dead, most of the unrelated outsiders could now board the whale to depart or take to their flying swords.

As Ji Yang released his grip, hundreds of swords rained down onto the water’s surface like scattered beans, only to be swiftly summoned back by their owners.

However, the elders of Moonfire Valley, led by Yan Fangji, along with the witnesses from Zhi Bai Guan and Ba Jing Tower, had to negotiate the division of interests with Jin Yan Tuo’s temporary leader.

For the time being, they were unable to leave.

When Gong Wu slowly regained consciousness, the eerie silence around her was a stark contrast to the chaos she had witnessed before her death.

Tu Xuixin, unable to explain everything in just a few words, confirmed that his little disciple had indeed come back to life and then called over Ji Yang, who had been meditating to heal his wounds for some time.

Gong Wu, still disoriented from her rebirth, caught fragments of the explanation but struggled to grasp the full picture.

Ji Yang stood beside the stool, choosing not to sit.

Tu Xuixin leaned back, his spiritual energy depleted and his hunger gnawing at him, as he casually grabbed a plate of pastries to satisfy his appetite.

Ji Yang watched Gong Wu in silence, while his young Junior Sister attempted to lighten the mood with an awkward smile.

"Senior Brother, I was dead for several hours and don’t really know what happened."

"Why did you kill He Zhao Li?"

"Are you alright?"

Ji Yang remained silent, which frustrated Tu Xuixin, who slammed the mung bean cake onto the plate.

"Stop playing dumb! If you’re going to scold, then do it!"

Gong Wu immediately bowed her head, kneeling by the bed and too afraid to look at them.

Her original intention was to save Master Yan, so that shouldn’t be wrong.

But now she was dead in front of everyone. Was she really going to have to live using the Disguise Technique from now on…?

Gong Wu’s thoughts drifted further and further, and suddenly she felt a chill all around her.

The young man spoke with a serious face.

"Trying to show off, huh?"

"Your divine consciousness almost exploded just now."

Tu Xuixin nearly choked on the peach blossom pastry and almost couldn’t breathe.

Gong Wu was unsure why her master was coughing, too scared to lift her head after being scolded by her senior brother.

"Sticking your neck out for others? Have you considered the consequences if you mess up?"

Ji Yang’s voice was cold and sharp, cutting through her seemingly bland demeanor with even more severity.

"Being so reckless, do you care about your master?"

"What foolishness!"