"The feud between the Jiang Family and Jiang Ling is none of my business, the Soul Refining Sect."
"As long as she is not within the sect, you may kill or torture her as you see fit."
Helian Jue's voice was deep and cold as his gaze swept over the Peak Master and elders who were arriving one after another behind him, his confidence growing stronger:
"But today, you forcibly broke through my mountain gate, injured my disciples, and destroyed my Formation —isn't that going too far?"
At this moment, the sky above the Soul Refining Sect was completely dark.
Hundreds of Peak Master, elders, and Seclusion Guest Elder from all walks of life came upon hearing the news.
Among them were more than a dozen True Immortal experts, their auras intertwined like dark clouds pressing down on the city, their power terrifying.
Confucianism has suppressed the world for tens of thousands of years. Although the Sword Sect is strong, it has never dared to act recklessly and has always been restrained in its actions.
For many years, they knew that Jiang Ling was a disciple of the Soul Refining Sect, but they never came to cause trouble.
This kind of ingrained thinking led Helian Jue and many other high-ranking members of the Soul Refining Sect to believe that Jiang Feng's actions today were truly "excessive."
We've already given your Sword Sect face by backing down.
Are you really going to push your luck? Do you really think my Soul Refining Sect is made of clay?
"Since you're not in the Soul Refining Sect, you're at my mercy?"
Jiang Feng chuckled lightly, his gaze sharp as a sword, sweeping across the dark mass of people, his tone suddenly turning cold:
"So she's in the Soul Refining Sect —what are you going to do about it?"
"Are you trying to stop me?"
As the last five words were uttered, the world suddenly turned cold, and the wind and clouds changed color.
A terrifying Sword Intent, capable of severing all laws and asserting absolute supremacy, swept across the entire arena like a tsunami.
"If disciples of the Soul Refining Sect are to be manipulated at will within the sect's borders, what face will the Soul Refining Sect have left?"
Helian Jue gritted his teeth, and a dozen True Immortal behind him stepped forward at the same time, their combined pressure forming an invisible mountain that forcefully resisted the impact of Jiang Feng's Sword Intent.
"How dare you! How dare you run wild in my Soul Refining Sect!"
"Sword Sect scum, go back to your arrogant Tianzhu!"
"Does my Soul Refining Sect really think it has no one left?!"
The scene erupted instantly, with hundreds of Immortal shouting in unison, their voices like thunder, their momentum overwhelming.
With their superior numbers and the support of Grand Formation, they truly didn't believe that Jiang Feng, alone with his sword, could overthrow the entire Soul Refining Sect!
"Jiang Ling-- "
Jiang Feng, however, acted as if he hadn't heard.
His gaze pierced through the crowd, precisely locking onto the figure in Red Dress. His tone was casual, yet carried an air of condescending arrogance:
"Do you think this Rabbling Crowd... can protect you?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Qiu Ruobai, the one-armed man who had been silent and numb behind him, suddenly raised his head.
No, at this moment, the one controlling that body is no longer Qiu Ruobai.
Two clusters of eerie green Soul Flame ignited in those empty eyes.
An aged, resentful, and hateful voice came hoarsely from his throat:
"Jiang Ling, you wicked monster who murdered your father--!!!"
The sound was like the wailing of an owl, piercing and heart-wrenching.
"Hurry up and come here—prepare to die!!!"
It's Jiang Pojun.
Zhang Lingyun silently stepped out of the crowd, her scarlet eyes fixed on Jiang Pojun, her voice as cold as ice:
"I killed my father because he deserved to die."
I killed my brothers because they deserved to die.
"Your father cultivated the Ruthless Dao in order to protect all living beings; the sacrifice of a few individuals is inevitable."
I never imagined that even now, you would remain so stubbornly unrepentant.
Jiang Pojun remained on the moral high ground, his voice carrying a condescending pain and judgment.
"Fart!"
Zhang Lingyun sneered, her eyes almost overflowing with Blood Light:
"Your Jiang Family is purely selfish and self-serving."
They want the fruits of that Ruthless Great Dao, yet they can't bear to see their own children suffer the pain of losing loved ones and bear the sins of Sea of Blood. So they find us, helpless Mortal, to be their scapegoats and stepping stones!
Now, they've put on the guise of protecting the common people and suddenly think they're Sage?
Bah!
"From top to bottom, inside and out, you are all hypocritical bitches!"
"You--!!"
Jiang Pojun's face turned ashen and his whole body trembled as he was scolded, but when he opened his mouth, he found that he could not refute her.
"Well said! They're all hypocrites, not as upright as my Demonic Dao."
"That's right, it's all bullshit..."
The members of the Soul Refining Sect were overjoyed and cheered.
Only one person--
Xing Tian.
He stood at the back of the crowd, his face so dark it was almost dripping with water, his eyes filled with an intense, unyielding resentment.
Three days have passed, and the Red Thread left by the Hong Yue has long since disappeared.
But the memories of those three days were like a persistent carbuncle, deeply etched into the depths of his Divine Soul.
He and Zhu Wuwang held hands and twirled around, stood embracing each other, whispered sweet nothings, and even... slept in the same bed.
Every scene made him feel nauseous and ashamed, and he wanted to kill himself.
When he regained consciousness, his romantic affair with Zhu Wuwang had already spread throughout the entire Soul Refining Sect.
Wherever he went, he could feel those subtle, probing, and even ambiguous gazes.
The disciples whispered among themselves, the elders shook their heads and sighed, and even his own lineage of Disciples and Grand-Disciples began to look at him strangely.
Disgrace and ruin, that's all there is to it.
Just as Pink Skull said, none of those who have survived this long in the Soul Refining Sect are fools.
Xing Tian immediately concluded that this must be the work of Jiang Ling and her good apprentice Zhang Yu!
"Jiang Ling... Zhang Yu..."
Xing Tian gritted his teeth, his nails digging deep into his palms, blood dripping from between his fingers, but he was completely unaware.
Xing Tian, filled with extreme hatred, silently moved to Helian Jue's side and whispered:
"Vice Sect Master, today's events were all caused by Jiang Ling alone. Why should my Soul Refining Sect fall out with the Sword Sect for her sake?"
The Sword Sect is powerful; we shouldn't risk the entire sect for their 'internal affairs'.
"Perhaps... we should expel Jiang Ling from the sect and let her fend for herself."
His tone was earnest, but his eyes were full of resentful calculation.
Helian Jue turned his head and saw Xing Tian. He subconsciously took half a step back, his brows furrowed.
He had also heard about the untold story of Xing Tian and Zhu Wuwang that had been circulating within the Soul Refining Sect these past few days.
As Xing Tian approached, those unbearable images involuntarily flashed through his mind, sending chills down his spine and raising goosebumps all over his body.
"Xing Tian,"
His voice was cold, carrying an undisguised aloofness:
"Although my Soul Refining Sect is Demonic Dao, we would never do something as shameful as selling out our disciples for personal gain."
This matter should not be mentioned again.
Several Peak Master and elders nearby also heard Xing Tian's words and cast strange glances at him, their eyes filled with disdain and contempt.
"Xing Tian, do you think all of our Soul Refining Sect are like you, all 'sissies' and not like men?"
"Exactly, you like playing with men's stuff, get lost!"
"Our Soul Refining Sect can fight among itself, but we will never tolerate outsiders bullying us!"
At this moment, the members of the Soul Refining Sect, who were usually scheming against each other, were surprisingly united.
Xing Tian's face turned ashen from the scolding, his anger almost bursting, and his hatred for Jiang Ling deepened even further.
"That certainly shows courage."
Jiang Feng, who was standing to the side, spoke calmly, his gaze falling on Jiang Ling, a hint of surprise and admiration flashing in his eyes.
"Your father was my most prized disciple. If you kill one of my disciples, then take one of mine in return."
He paused, and his tone softened somewhat:
"I observe that you possess the Sword Bone, have condensed Golden Body of Merit, and have cultivated the Jiang Family's swordsmanship with considerable skill."
Why not become my disciple and return to the Sword Sect with me?
Past grievances can be wiped clean.
This statement caused an uproar throughout the room!
Jiang Feng actually wants to take Jiang Ling as his apprentice?
Elder Jiang, no!!
Upon hearing this, Jiang Pojun was so anxious that his very Soul Body seemed to tremble, and he hissed:
"This wicked child murdered his father and brother, slaughtered his clan, and deserves to die a thousand deaths!"
How could you accept her as your apprentice?
"You have a problem with that?"
Jiang Feng frowned slightly and glanced over.
There was no oppressive aura, no Killing Intent, yet Jiang Pojun felt as if struck by lightning. His Remnant Soul trembled violently, and the words he was about to say stuck in his throat, unable to utter a single syllable.
Jiang Feng stopped looking at him and only looked at Jiang Ling, his tone calm:
"I, Jiang Feng, have only ever taken one disciple in my life, and that was your father, whom you have already killed."
If you are willing to become my disciple, you will be my last disciple, and you will receive my True Disciple and inherit my Legacy.
"With your Sword Bone and the protection of your Merit, your future achievements will surely be no less than mine."
He paused, then added:
"As for the Soul Refining Sect —I can promise that the feud between the Sword Sect and this sect is now over."
These words have already given the Soul Refining Sect a huge way out.
Upon hearing this, Helian Jue others had complicated expressions, but none of them spoke again.
If Jiang Ling is truly willing to become an apprentice, her predicament today will be resolved on its own.
All eyes were focused on Zhang Lingyun.