There was no explosion, no thunderous roar, no tremor. Ripples simply spread abruptly across the view, and then A Corner Cave-Heaven went black.
Jialan Fairy hurriedly formed a sword finger and circulated her mystic power to stabilize the cave-heaven, lest the explosive energies pour out and damage the facilities.
Only when color returned to the world did everyone finally see the scene inside.
Yan Zhen and the Spirit Mountain Ancestor stood motionless in their original positions, as if they had never exchanged blows at all. Only the “background” around them was gone.
Silence fell over the entire arena. No one knew what the outcome was.
The Spirit Mountain Ancestor’s arms trembled faintly.
“Why didn’t you kill this old man?”
Yan Zhen gazed calmly at his opponent.
“You wanted to die by my hand, forcing me to bear the infamy of slaying a senior meritorious servant—inciting conflict between me and the three Supremes, Qing, Wu, and Xue, am I right?”
The Spirit Mountain Ancestor lowered his eyelids and said nothing.
“It’s not just them. If I had truly killed you, plenty of others would harbor resentment, including the other two Ancestors. But I won’t indulge your wish, and I won’t put the Holy Lord—my master—in a difficult position.”
Yan Zhen’s tone was even, but those familiar with him knew he was suppressing the rage boiling inside.
“Your time is nearly up. You had roughly half a jiazi left, but after acting out twice for Ling Jun’s sake, you probably have no more than a decade remaining… I’m different. I’ve just advanced to the Mystic Ancestor Realm, extending my lifespan to five centuries. In time, I’ll reach Mystic Venerable, Mystic Saint—even the Emperor Realm! I have my whole future ahead of me. There’s no need to sully my hands with the blood of a half-dead relic like you over a fleeting grudge.”
“As long as this old man draws breath, I won’t let you off.” The Spirit Mountain Ancestor glowered. “Kill this old man, and you’ll have no worries left.”
“By our prior agreement, you’re no longer a Supreme Elder after this battle. Hell, even without that agreement, you weren’t anymore—you don’t deserve the title!”
The Spirit Mountain Ancestor shuddered, an inexplicable unease rising within him.
Yan Zhen pointed to the side and continued.
“Look around at the people here—including the disciples you taught, the students you mentored, even the Holy Lord, my master. See the expressions on their faces! For the sake of a personal grudge, you brazenly tapped the sect’s foundations against one of our own… You tried to provoke me, but I won’t take the bait. You’re the one who lost his composure, Uncle-Master Ling Shan. That’s why you no longer deserve the title of Supreme Elder.”
The Spirit Mountain Ancestor’s eyes bulged as he swept his gaze beyond the cave-heaven. The looks from his followers had changed—no longer filled with awe and reverence, but with disappointment and pity, as if they were staring at a doddering madman rather than a venerable Half-Saint Ancestor!
His heart quaked violently. Overwhelming regret and resentment threatened to burst from his chest, finally shattering his poise.
“No—no! This old man never entertained such thoughts. You’re slandering me, you vicious brat!”
Yet Yan Zhen merely regarded him with pity.
“That’s enough. You’ve lost.”
It was as if Yan Zhen’s words had struck the Spirit Mountain Ancestor’s reverse scale. He erupted in fury.
“You bastard! This old man hasn’t lost! How could this old man lose to some snot-nosed kid like you? Get back here and take one more strike from this old man—I’ll scatter your soul and erase you from existence!”
Yan Zhen ignored him. With starlight beneath his feet, he strode outward step by step.
Enraged, the Spirit Mountain Ancestor lashed out with a palm strike. But A Corner Cave-Heaven abruptly shrank, transforming into a Pure White Lotus that imprisoned him within. No matter how he struggled, it was futile.
Jialan Fairy spoke slowly.
“Stop this, Uncle-Master Ling Shan. You’ve lost yourself to madness.”
“Holy Lord?” The Spirit Mountain Ancestor stared blankly at that pure, flawless, and beautiful figure. He felt as though she and his two junior brothers were impossibly distant. “Changsheng, Jingang—you—”
Ancestor Changsheng and Ancestor Jingang both bowed their heads with sighs.
How could they fail to see it? The death of Ling Jun, combined with his utter defeat at the hands of this junior Yan Zhen, had birthed a heart demon in the Spirit Mountain Ancestor.
For a soul cultivator, a heart demon was the greatest foe. The slightest carelessness could lead straight to the demonic path.
Jialan Fairy’s expression held neither joy nor sorrow.
“Uncle-Master Ling Shan, you’ll remain inside from now on. Purify the demonic thoughts in your heart and hopefully awaken in time—lest your soul scatter to the winds after death, forever barred from reincarnation.”
She formed a hand seal. The white lotus imprisoning the Spirit Mountain Ancestor flew toward Supreme Peak and into his cave abode, where layer upon layer of seals enveloped it.
Jialan Fairy cast a deep glance at Supreme Peak before withdrawing her gaze.
“This entanglement ends here. You all know right from wrong in your hearts. Let this be a lesson—may nothing like it happen again. Otherwise, I will show no mercy.”
The assembled disciples bowed with clasped fists in unison.
“We obey the Holy Lord’s teachings.”
“Disperse.”
Jialan Fairy flicked her wide sleeve. Every disciple, deacon, and elder on the island transformed into streams of light, returning to their respective peaks—like white lotuses blooming in exquisite splendor.
In that moment, the sect’s disciples were filled with admiration for the Holy Lord’s heaven-defying arts. They soon recalled Holy Son Highness’s Three Fires Fusion as well…
A mere Mystic Ancestor Realm cultivator who had bested a Half-Saint Ancestor—Holy Son Highness was truly terrifying!
The disciples felt the pressure even as a swell of pride rose in their chests.
The island was left only with the highest echelons, along with the Evil Consort, Yan Zhen, Cai Lian, and the others.
Jialan Fairy spoke again.
“Uncle-Master Changsheng, Uncle-Master Jingang—you should return as well. Leave the meeting matters to me and the seven Peak Lords. No one will disturb you further.”
The two Ancestors inclined their heads slightly. In perfect unison, they glanced at Yan Zhen.
“You’ve taken an excellent disciple, Jialan.”
“The future belongs to the young now. We’re just old fogeys who have to accept it—haha.”
They laughed as their figures faded away.
Jialan Fairy turned to the seven Peak Lords behind her, her tone turning stern.
“Go back and keep your disciples in line. If there’s another misstep, you’ll be punished alongside them.”
The seven Supremes’ hearts clenched. They heard the anger in the Holy Lord’s voice and hastily bowed in acknowledgment. A whirl of vertigo followed as they were hurled back to their mountains. Each secretly wiped away a cold sweat.
The Holy Lord rarely lost her temper, always so compassionate and gentle, like the goddess of mercy Guanyin herself. That was precisely why her anger was all the more frightening.
With the hangers-on dispersed, Jialan Fairy finally approached Yan Zhen, an apologetic look on her face.
“Yan’er, are you all right? I’m sorry—I didn’t stand by your side. Are you… angry with me?”
Yan Zhen shook his head. He was just about to comfort his grieving Holy Lord master when the Evil Consort yanked him into her embrace. His handsome face sank into her bountiful bosom, drawing twitching stares from Jialan Fairy, Cai Lian, Xian’er, and the other women.
“Of course he’s angry.” The Evil Consort said coldly. “Yan’er already promised this palace that he’ll come to Dead City to cultivate under me. Find yourselves another obedient Holy Son—you won’t be seeing Yan’er anymore!”
“Quit spouting nonsense, Evil Consort.” Jialan Fairy said, displeased. “Our sect’s Holy Son isn’t yours to whisk away whenever you please. Hand Yan’er over at once.”
“You don’t even care about him—why fight to keep him?”
“I’ll make it up to Yan’er for this incident, you wicked woman. Don’t try to sow discord.”
Without another word, the Evil Consort opened a space portal and retreated into the darkness, Yan Zhen still clutched in her arms.
Jialan Fairy’s brows furrowed. She gave immediate chase.
