Fierce Tiger in the Heart, Unleashed to Bite

"Senior Brother, do you think we can successfully take over the Celestial Master Temple's mountain gate in three days?"

"Yes, Senior Brother. The Celestial Master Temple is the most picturesque region of Wangwu Mountain. If we can seize it, it will greatly benefit our future cultivation."

"Exactly, exactly! Didn't you all feel it just now? Standing before the mountain gate, the vital energy was already more concentrated than in most places!"

The mountain wind whistled through the dense forest, carrying intermittent voices.

The scene zoomed in, revealing a wooden hut deep within the woods. Smoke curled from the chimney, and a fragrant aroma wafted through the air. Around a bonfire sat seven or eight Quanzhen Sect disciples, led by Feng Qi. Their faces were flushed with excitement and their spirits were high.

A woman, his junior sister, nestled in Feng Qi's arms.

Although the sect strictly forbade disciples from engaging in romantic relationships, few could endure such hardship. Especially given Feng Qi's status, many junior sisters willingly threw themselves into his embrace, and he couldn't resist.

Feng Qi chuckled, "Don't you worry, everyone. In three days, the Celestial Master Temple's mountain gate will belong to us!"

Some were curious. Feng Qi had been suppressed by Xue Ding at the sect exchange meeting. Although he had improved over the years, Xue Ding hadn't been idle either. How could he be so confident?

"Senior Brother, did you learn some secret art or undergo a modification with the Wang Family's technological martial arts? Your confidence is soaring!"

Before Feng Qi could speak, the junior sister in his arms couldn't help but boast, "Senior Brother Feng underwent a modification with the Wang Family's technological martial arts. Not only did he master a powerful martial art, but his understanding of our sect's 'Chongyang Palm' has also deepened. Little Xue Ding is no match for him~"

The junior disciples exchanged glances, their eyes filled with envy.

As of now, technological modifications were extremely expensive procedures. Without tens of millions, one couldn't even dream of modifying a relatively powerful martial art technique.

Feng Qi naturally didn't have such resources. The fact that the Wang Family was willing to modify him could only be due to his identity – the senior disciple of the Quanzhen Sect and the future sect leader.

"So that's how it is! Then we must congratulate Senior Brother Feng!"

"We are truly fortunate to be able to follow Senior Brother. Haha!"

"Who said we weren't? When we move into the Celestial Master Temple in the future, Senior Brother Feng, you must find us a good residence with abundant vital energy!"

"Do you even need to ask? How could Senior Brother not look out for us~"

"What is the mere Celestial Master Temple? In the future, Senior Brother will surely be a top prodigy among the younger generation in Huaxia. By following him, we will undoubtedly rise in status and achieve greatness!"

Whether the sweet words were sincere or not, Feng Qi didn't care. He simply enjoyed the feeling.

As excitement surged, his words naturally became more numerous.

"Haha, speaking of which, do you know why I'm so sure about Xue Ding?"

Everyone perked up their ears, their faces full of curiosity.

"I have a close friend who is a core disciple of the Celestial Master Temple and is very close to Xue Ding. He told me that Xue Ding had problems with his cultivation a few years ago. He had inner demons, and once he drew his sword to fight, his mind would become unstable and be invaded by these demons."

"Because of this, he has not dared to draw his sword for years, fearing that in a fight, his temperament would change drastically, ruining his reputation for false benevolence and hypocrisy, as well as the reputation of the Celestial Master Temple, haha!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was astonished. They never expected such a reason. No wonder Feng Qi had provoked Xue Ding so much at the mountain gate earlier – he wanted to force him to draw his sword, ruin his reputation, and strike at his heart.

"Xue Ding, oh Xue Ding, to think you'd end up like this. How arrogant you were at the exchange meeting, suppressing me in just a few rounds and making me lose all face. What are you to me now, haha!"

Whoosh~

The flames on the bonfire suddenly flickered violently, and a chill that pierced to the bone suddenly invaded their bodies and minds.

There was killing intent!

Feng Qi jolted awake and stood up abruptly.

His junior disciples also stood up one after another, looking around, thinking they had encountered some Evolved Beasts.

"Feng Qi, Feng Qi, only now do I realize how petty you are. Back at the exchange meeting, I showed you mercy, considering our families are both from Wangwu Mountain. I could have crushed you then and there, but I deliberately dragged out the fight for a few rounds."

"It's laughable that not only are you ungrateful, but you've held onto this grudge."

Xue Ding?

Seeing Xue Ding emerge from the darkness, Feng Qi's slightly tense heart immediately relaxed.

"I thought it was something else. So it's you, Xue Ding. What brings you here so late at night?"

"To kill you!" Xue Ding's voice carried a hint of excitement he was struggling to suppress.

"Kill me? Very well, draw your sword. I wonder if you can sheathe it after drawing it?"

Feng Qi grinned. Putting aside whether the other party would actually draw his sword, what if he did? He had already undergone the technological martial arts modification, gaining the martial arts attainments of decades of cultivation for free. He was no longer afraid of him.

"Draw my sword? No, I won't be using my sword tonight."

Not using his sword?

At this moment, Feng Qi suddenly noticed a long, black saber hanging from Xue Ding's waist, hidden behind the Celestial Master Sword.

"You can use a saber too?"

A fierce gale rapidly swept towards Feng Qi, the sound of the saber in the wind like a ghostly howl!

At that moment, Feng Qi was shocked.

The true energy, swirling like willow catkins in the wind, was not the noble energy of the Celestial Master Temple, but wisps of blood-red threads like those from hellish netherworlds. They swayed in the gale, resembling ghostly visages, terrifying and ferocious!

This is bad!

Upon feeling Xue Ding's aura, Feng Qi completely panicked.

The approaching gale was so fast it made his heart tremble. The ghostly faces in the wind instantly entered within a three-meter radius!

In the face of life and death, Feng Qi didn't hesitate to throw his junior sister out from his embrace. He himself took a few steps back, circulated his Chongyang true energy, and mentally issued a command to activate the Core. His arms instantly became even hotter, faintly red, and the surrounding air warped due to the high temperature!

Technological martial arts—Three Thousand Molten Gold Hands!

"Xue Ding! Times have changed. Do you still think I, Feng..."

He stopped mid-sentence!

In the whirlwind filled with sparks, a figure whose laughter resembled a vicious ghost had, at some unknown time, appeared right before him!

Puchi!

A blade edge, moving at extreme speed, pierced through Feng Qi's body!

The whirlwind receded and dissipated. Xue Ding, with a malicious grin, stood behind Feng Qi, covering his face as the blood from the blade dripped down, staining the ground.

"Heh heh, heh heh..." Xue Ding's shoulders trembled, and suppressed chuckles could be heard. A moment later, his laughter grew louder: "Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Senior Yuan, Senior Yuan... you were so right! This feeling... it's amazing!!"

Amidst his laughter, Xue Ding suddenly turned his head, his eyes ferocious. The beast he had desperately suppressed in his heart had completely broken free!

While Feng Qi was still staring blankly at the sword mark on his chest that he hadn't had time to defend against, the cold blade struck again. In an instant, dozens of slashes reduced him to pieces, his remains scattered across the ground!

"Hahaha! Hahaha! Feng Qi, Feng Qi, you're still so weak! Hahaha!"

His laughter made the surroundings even more deathly silent.

Several junior disciples of the Quanzhen Sect nearby watched the dismembered Feng Qi and their already dead junior sister, their hearts chilling.

Someone quickly spoke up, "Senior Brother Xue, this has nothing to do with us!"

"Senior Brother Xue, we..."

Puchi!

Puchi!

The blade light flashed again, demonic thoughts transforming into vicious ghosts, engulfing the dense forest.

Not long after, the mountain wind blew again. The flames flickered, and corpses lay strewn across the ground. No one survived.

The sky had yet to brighten.

Celestial Master Temple, on the cliff overlooking the mountain.

Zhou Shanling, a true disciple, ascended the cliff along the only path.

Beneath a pine tree twisted like a dragon, Xue Ding stood with his back to him.

"Eldest Senior Brother, why did you call me here so early?"

Xue Ding didn't turn around, gazing at the sea of clouds in the distance and the sun rising in the east.

Only when Zhou Shanling stood beside him, turning his head to look at him, did Xue Ding speak.

"Shanling, how has the Celestial Master Temple treated you?"

"Very well. Master treats me like his own flesh and blood, and Eldest Senior Brother, you've always treated me like a younger brother, taking great care of me," Zhou Shanling replied truthfully, his tone very objective.

Xue Ding took a deep breath, turned to face him, and a ray of sunlight fell on his face, his expression gentle and kind.

"Is that so? Since that's the case, why did you tell Feng Qi my secret? If I hadn't met Senior Yuan, I, Xue Ding, might not have survived this ordeal."

Zhou Shanling's expression changed. "Eldest Senior Brother, what are you talking about? I don't understand!"

Xue Ding remained silent, his right hand lightly resting on the hilt of the Celestial Master Sword stuck in the ground. "Draw your sword. Eldest Senior Brother will test if you've been diligent recently."

"Eldest Senior Brother, what are you doing! We are fellow disciples!"

"Draw your sword," Xue Ding repeated, his tone devoid of any emotion.

Zhou Shanling didn't dare to draw his sword. He knew clearly that his act of revealing Xue Ding's secret to Feng Qi had been exposed.

As the eldest senior disciple of the Celestial Master Temple, Xue Ding's cultivation was beyond anything other junior disciples could compare to.

He dared not draw his sword because of his demonic thoughts?

Zhou Shanling realized with utter clarity that the Xue Ding before him was no longer the Xue Ding of yesterday. He had broken through his shackles and dared to draw his sword!

With this realization, he became even more unwilling to draw his sword.

Eldest Senior Brother had always been kind, righteous, and upright. As long as he didn't draw his sword, Xue Ding would never harm someone who refused to resist!

Certain of this point, Zhou Shanling kept shaking his head, constantly recounting how they were like brothers and that he would never make a move, playing the emotional card.

"One last time, draw your sword."

"Eldest Senior Brother! Even if you kill me, I will never draw my sword against you. There must be some misunderstanding between us..."

The Celestial Master Sword was suddenly unsheathed, its hum clear and resonant.

Zhou Shanling's pupils widened in shock, and he raised his hand disbelievingly to touch the bloodstain on his neck.

"Eldest Senior Brother, you, you... you..."

"Rest in peace. The Celestial Master Temple will be better off without you."