Killing Tan Is Benefiting All Living Beings

Zhao Huaiji's question went unanswered, because after that sweet, lark-like voice fell silent, Luojia Mountain's young mistress made her appearance.

Concealed by something that might have been a magical artifact or a treasure, her figure remained hazy and indistinct.

Yet this famed little beauty possessed unmatched authority.

Using Long Zhangyuan's attack as grounds, she directly drove the Sword Disciple Mountain group away.

"Are we just leaving like this?" Zhao Huaiji was naturally furious. The moment he saw his fellow disciples, he angrily demanded an explanation.

"That little girl isn't simple. Several people around her have reached this old man's level, and two from the Dong Family have also arrived..." The former master of the Demon Sect, who had successfully infiltrated them, explained unhurriedly.

In truth, he didn't care about those few at the Hundred-Year Cultivation level in the slightest.

Although his cultivation technique had been countered, making the past two hundred-odd years seem as though he had lived them for nothing, that didn't mean just anyone could restrain him.

Only someone like Su Huan'an of the Southern Sword could use the Heavenly Merit Canon Sword Canon of Severing Immortals to counter his Black Shadow Immortal-Saving Manual.

Against anyone else, even a Hundred-Year Cultivation practitioner wouldn't survive a single exchange with him.

After all, not everyone was qualified to cultivate a Heavenly Merit Canon. Take the Black Shadow Immortal-Saving Manual, for instance—counting him and the other two whose fates were unknown, there weren't even enough practitioners to fill one hand.

The other Heavenly Merit Canons were more or less the same.

After hearing the former master of the Demon Sect's explanation, Zhao Huaiji suppressed the dissatisfaction in his heart. With so many Hundred-Year Cultivation practitioners present, there was nothing they could do unless their senior sect brother, the sect master, came in person.

"Regarding Rainbow Cloud Valley, this nephew-disciple acted rashly!" Long Zhangyuan took the initiative to shoulder responsibility for what had happened earlier.

Long Zhangyuan's action undoubtedly greatly increased the favor the others, aside from the former master of the Demon Sect, felt toward him.

Though Long Zhangyuan's earlier actions had looked somewhat foolish—not only had he failed to accomplish anything, he had also offended quite a few people at once—this Heaven's Chosen had only been a cultivator for a few months. Before that, he had merely been a boy from a fishing village, so Sword Disciple Mountain's protectors could understand.

Thus, Zhao Huaiji said, "You were indeed somewhat rash this time, but it doesn't matter. Rather than blame yourself over this, you should think about how to behead Tan Shuchang."

"I will surely avenge the grudge of him nearly costing me my life!" At the mention of Tan Shuchang's name, a chill immediately entered Long Zhangyuan's eyes.

As the posthumous son of the Dragon-Controlling Crown Prince, he had yet to avenge his father when he had nearly lost his own life. Whenever he thought of it, his hatred for Tan Shuchang deepened by several degrees.

"Mm, good! And if you kill this Tan Shuchang, it won't only be revenge for yourself. It will also be removing a scourge for all living beings under heaven, securing a measure of blessing for the common folk!" Zhao Huaiji said, nodding repeatedly.

A decisive and ruthless Heaven's Chosen was the true Heaven's Chosen in Zhao Huaiji's eyes!

When Zhao Huaiji even brought up all living beings and the common folk, Long Zhangyuan couldn't help but freeze. Though he had never seen a Dao General's official robes before, he knew that from Tan Shuchang's attire, he ought to be an official of the Zixuan Dynasty.

"Has this Tan Shuchang truly committed such endless evil?" Long Zhangyuan couldn't help asking.

"What evil deeds he has committed, I don't know. After all, it's been many years since I came down the mountain. But I do know one thing: Tan Shuchang's master died at this villain's hands!" Zhao Huaiji sighed. "Though his master, Blackheart Elder, was a member of the demonic path, he was also acknowledged by a sentient treasure like the Chaos Fate Orb. Zhangyuan, you don't know this, but to gain the Chaos Fate Orb's recognition, one must be the most filial person under heaven!"

Because he hated the house along with its crow, and already disliked Tan Shuchang, Zhao Huaiji couldn't help beautifying that man-eating, cultivation-practicing Blackheart Elder.

"He even murdered his master! So cruel, and with no respect for his elders—this thief deserves death!" Upon hearing that Blackheart Elder had been a filial man, Long Zhangyuan, who had never met his parents and regretted being unable to show them filial piety, immediately cried out in anger.

"With this incident at Rainbow Cloud Valley, matters have indeed become rather difficult. Why don't we first find a place and discuss things at length?" It was the former master of the Demon Sect who spoke.

He truly couldn't stand listening anymore.

Good heavens, Blackheart Elder could be glorified like this?

He admitted that the youngster named Tan Shuchang was somewhat wicked, having inherited much of the ancient demons' true teachings and carrying a hint of a heavenly demon's air. But Blackheart Elder's evils were utterly too numerous to write down even with bamboo strips!

If Blackheart Elder hadn't been distantly related to him, a relative beyond five degrees of kinship, he would've been unable to resist taking action to cleanse the family himself.

He was a demonic cultivator, but that didn't mean he was a pervert!

"We'll follow Senior's suggestion. As for Tan Shuchang, today's grudge must be settled as soon as possible. Therefore, I will personally write a letter of challenge and invite him to a battle of life and death, to settle today's karma!" Long Zhangyuan could see Zhao Huaiji's displeasure toward Tan Shuchang. He himself harbored killing intent toward someone who had tried to harm him, so he immediately said this.

"Good. Since that's the case, Zhangyuan, write the challenge letter, and I'll deliver it. Since this is a battle for you to settle your karma, it should be made a little more grand!" Zhao Huaiji eagerly took the task upon himself. "I still have several old friends here. I can ask them to spread the news, so that little thief won't be able to flee without fighting."

"Then I'll trouble Martial Uncle!" What young man didn't crave fame? Hearing Zhao Huaiji's words, Long Zhangyuan had no intention of refusing.

Though the remaining protectors could tell that Zhao Huaiji's eagerness clearly meant he wanted to do something, none of them paid it much mind.

The former master of the Demon Sect saw through it as well, but he said nothing.

He had passed down the Black Shadow Immortal-Saving Manual, but Tan Shuchang wasn't his disciple.

And Demon Sect cultivation had always emphasized living and dying on one's own.

A short while later, Long Zhangyuan finished writing the challenge letter and handed it to Zhao Huaiji. Holding the letter, Zhao Huaiji waited there until the Peaceful Heart Charity Fair ended.

Yet even after everyone had left, Zhao Huaiji failed to find any trace of Tan Shuchang.

"What a crafty little thief!"

Zhao Huaiji gave a cold snort and concealed himself.

A moment later, he knocked on an Attendant's door.

That Attendant had long known Zhao Huaiji was coming, so he had cleared everyone from the surrounding area in advance.

After welcoming Zhao Huaiji inside, the Attendant immediately knelt and saluted. "This unworthy disciple, Shi Changkong, pays respects to Master!"

This Attendant held a tenth-grade rank, which counted as a very high position among the Attendants. Yet within Heavenly Wonder Tower, he wasn't known as Shi Changkong, but as Chu Xiujian.

However, it wasn't because Shi Changkong had been sent by Sword Disciple Mountain. Rather, Shi Changkong had committed an offense in his early years, and with Zhao Huaiji's help, he had changed his identity and hidden himself within Heavenly Wonder Pavilion.

"Give this letter to Tan Shuchang. Then tell him that near a hidden cave outside Heavenly Wonder Pavilion, you encountered a woman holding a Heavenly Wonder Token, and she asked you to deliver this letter to him," Zhao Huaiji instructed.

The Heavenly Wonder Token was a kind of token issued by Heavenly Wonder Pavilion. Whoever possessed one, regardless of status—even an ordinary person who had never cultivated—could make Heavenly Wonder Pavilion do one thing for them unconditionally.

Clearly, by deliberately creating this gap in the information, Zhao Huaiji wanted to use bait to fish someone out and lure them into investigating.