Hao Buren's Blood Palm was already at his face, its Sha Qi aura like a knife, stabbing painfully into his cheek.
On the brink of life and death, Zhang Yu suddenly looked up, a resolute glint in his eyes, and let out a long cry:
"Heaven and earth possess righteous energy, which manifests itself in myriad forms—"
The voice was not loud, but it was like metal striking the ground, sounding exceptionally clear and melodious in front of the howling wind of Yin Wind Crimson Flame Peak.
Below are Rivers and Mountains; above are the Sun and Stars.
As the second sentence was uttered, the surrounding Yin Wind seemed to pause slightly, as if some invisible force was gathering.
Hao Buren was taken aback, then sneered:
"Why recite nonsense when you're about to die?"
Die!
He pressed his palm force down again, the murderous aura as Sha Qi as ink, and slammed it down fiercely!
But Zhang Yu ignored everything, took a deep breath, and poured all the pent-up resentment, unwillingness, and hatred for the weak into the Ode to Righteousness.
"In man, it is called 'vast and righteous,' overflowing and filling the Blue Heavens —!!!"
"Boom--!!!"
As the three lines of poetry fell, the world suddenly changed.
The sky, which was originally covered with Dark Clouds, suddenly cracked open.
A pure white, vast, and Righteous Qi, like the dawn breaking through the sun, descended from the Nine Heavens and poured into Zhang Yu like a waterfall!
"What?"
Hao Buren's pupils shrank sharply. The moment the Sha Qi in his palm touched the Righteous Qi, it melted away like ice and snow meeting the blazing sun!
"Ah--!!!"
He screamed in agony as he was sent flying backward by the overwhelming Righteous Qi. His chest felt as if it had been struck by a heavy blow, and he coughed up a mouthful of black blood!
In the sky, all the Peak Master were watching the spectacle changed color.
"The Righteous Qi?"
This kid... he can actually stir up the righteous energy of heaven and earth?
What poem was he reciting?
"It has such power?"
"A disciple of the Soul Refining Sect has stirred up Righteous Qi... This is Astonishing Wonder of the Ages!"
Zhu Wuwang was also stunned. He stared intently at the pure white radiance on Zhang Yu's body, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Zhang Lingyun's eyes lit up. Taking advantage of his distraction, she slashed out with her sword. The Golden Light of Merit and the Righteous Qi intertwined, actually splitting a crack in Zhu Wuwang's Myriad Souls Banner!
"Puff--!"
Zhu Wuwang coughed up a mouthful of blood, staggered backward, and his face turned deathly pale.
Zhang Yu stood rooted to the spot, his Righteous Qi surging like a tide. He slowly raised his head, looked at the horrified Hao Buren, and said, word by word:
"Now, it's my turn."
Then, Zhang Yu recited poetry continuously, one line of "Ode to Righteousness" after another, echoing endlessly in the sky above Crimson Flame Peak like metal and stone falling to the ground.
"True character is revealed in times of adversity, and its deeds are recorded in history."
With each recitation, the Righteous Qi descending from the Nine Heavens grew stronger, and pure white light surged like a tide, illuminating his entire body as if a god had descended to earth.
He held no sword, yet with a thought, his Righteous Qi condensed into an invisible sword blade, mimicking Jian Wuwei 'Jian Wuwei "Autumn Water Sword Technique," slashing at Hao Buren one sword after another.
This is Zhang Yu's most capable attack method so far, but in the eyes of those knowledgeable Peak Master, it is ridiculously simple, full of flaws, and crudely made.
Yet each sword strike contained Awe-Inspiring Righteous Qi specifically designed to subdue evil spirits. Wherever the sword passed, the yin energy dissipated and the Ghost Qi dissolved, with each strike becoming more powerful than the last.
"It is found in the Qi Grand Historian’s Bamboo Record, and in the Jin Dong Hu’s Brush."
Zhang Yu's poetic voice rose again, and the mighty sword light pierced the sun like a rainbow, shattering Hao Buren's protective Sha Qi into pieces.
Hao Buren retreated repeatedly, his face pale, his eyes filled with terror.
He cultivated the Demonic Dao, and his Cultivation entirely based on Yin Soul and Sha Qi. At this moment, he was completely suppressed by this Awe-Inspiring Righteous Qi, and could only dodge in a sorry state, facing constant danger.
As Zhang Yu continued chanting, boundless Righteous Qi enveloped the entire Crimson Flame Peak like a celestial curtain.
Those disciples with Cultivation on the peak felt as if they were in a furnace, their bodies stinging with pain, and they screamed in agony.
Even the Peak Master watching the spectacle from the air had to use their internal energy to defend themselves, their faces turning grim.
"I fucking hate this stuff the most... Righteous Qi, it makes me feel terrible."
"Just who is this kid?"
"Can reciting a few lines of poetry really evoke such a powerful and righteous spirit from heaven and earth?"
The pink-robed Peak Master frowned slightly, yet still couldn't resist a coquettish laugh. She lightly waved her hand, fanning her robes to reveal a large expanse of snow-white skin.
"Little Brother ~ please stop your Divine Ability, I... can't take it anymore~"
Her voice was charming and alluring, and her eyes sparkled with desire. If it were an ordinary cultivator, they would probably have already been captivated.
"Pink Skull, stop with your act."
If you dare to seduce my disciple again, I'll kill you.
Zhang Lingyun roared angrily, her eyes revealing murderous intent.
In her words, she already referred to Zhang Yu as her "disciple"—the only convenient way to explain his identity at the moment.
Disciple?
Zhang Yu was speechless.
Is this a sign of Master-Disciple Love?
Do I have to follow Yang Guo's example, cut off one of my arms, and then raise an eagle?
Although he was lost in thought, his attacks did not slow down at all. His mighty Sword Qi poured down like a torrential rain, making Hao Buren breathless and almost completely dissipating his murderous Sha Qi.
With her restraints removed, Zhang Lingyun had no more scruples.
The Golden Light of Merit intertwined with the blood-red Sword Intent, and the attack was like a storm, forcing Zhu Wuwang to retreat repeatedly. Cracks spread on the Myriad Souls Banner, and it was already showing signs of collapsing.
"Ah--Master, save me!!"
When Zhang Yu recited the Ode to Righteousness "This is the spirit that is so powerful and majestic, its fierce spirit will last for eternity," the Righteous Qi erupted like a volcano, transforming into a pillar of light that reached the sky and completely engulfed Hao Buren!
"No--!!!"
Hao Buren let out a final, piercing scream as his body rapidly dissolved into ashes in the vast white light, his soul scattered and gone.
In his dying moments, his eyes, filled with fear and resentment, stared intently at Zhang Yu, as if asking:
"You, a disciple of the Demonic Sect... what gives you the right to use Righteous Qi?"
Not only was Hao Buren perplexed until his death, but the Peak Master watching the battle were also filled with doubt.
"If I'm not mistaken, this kid doesn't have a trace of Confucianism Literary Dao Cultivation within him."
In other words, his ability to summon Righteous Qi stemmed entirely from those few lines of poetry he uttered.
"Doesn't that mean... he relied on his Supreme talent and the ability to recite masterpieces, which is why he resonated with the heavens and earth?"
"My God, where did Jiang Ling find this monster?"
"Zhang Yu's Righteous Qi was still increasing, already enough to suppress Devil Cultivator at the first or second rank of Land Immortal level."
The crowd began to murmur amongst themselves, their gazes toward Zhang Yu shifting from disdain to surprise and suspicion, even tinged with a hint of apprehension.
The Pink Skull on Skull Peak covered its lips and chuckled softly, its eyes sparkling with allure.
She stared at Zhang Yu with great interest, muttering to herself, "Interesting~ If I get the chance, I'll definitely try to snatch this little guy away from Jiang Ling and give him a good 'pampering'."
On the other side, Zhang Lingyun had completely gained the upper hand.
The Golden Light of Merit illuminated the sky, and the blood-red Sword Intent danced wildly like a dragon.
With sword strike after sword, she forced Zhu Wuwang into a retreating retreat. Cracks spread across the Myriad Souls Banner like a spider web, and its Soul Power dissipated, bringing it to the brink of collapse.
"Jiang Ling, are you really going to kill us all?"
Zhu Wuwang's face turned deathly pale, and a hint of panic finally flashed in his eyes.
"When you were training my Crimson Flame Peak disciples to enter the banner, did you ever consider showing mercy?"
Zhang Lingyun's voice was icy cold, her Sword Force surged again, and the Golden Light of Merit scorched the sky like the blazing sun as she slashed her sword towards Zhu Wuwang's brow!
This sword strike is a fatal blow!
"Jiang Ling, haven't you made enough of a scene?!"
At the critical moment, a furious roar, like a thunderclap, came rolling in from beyond the sky.
Before the words had even finished, a figure in black robes appeared before Zhu Wuwang like a ghost, raising his hand and shattering Zhang Lingyun's deadly sword strike!
The newcomer was tall and imposing, with a cold and stern face, eyes as deep as abyss, and an aura as vast as the sea and as imposing as a mountain. He was actually an Eighth Rank Land Immortal!
It was none other than Soul Refining Sect, Chief Seat the Enforcement Hall of the Soul Refining Xing Tian!
His gaze, sharp as lightning, swept over the chaotic scene before finally settling on Zhang Lingyun, his voice as cold as iron:
"Fellow disciples killing each other, committing violence in public, Jiang Ling, do you have no respect for the sect's rules?"