Enemies Repelled Before the Mountain, Lives Contested in the Cave

---- Little Ring Mountain, Chongming Sect

Tie Liuyun noticed that the Third Tier Spirit Slave summoned by Yuan Jin looked quite familiar. While he was surprised, he stopped what he was doing.

The group that came from behind, still shrouded in dust, arrived boldly, either intending to use their power to intimidate others or simply to avoid further conflict, hoping to force Tie Liuyun to retreat in fear.

However, this was something that the Deputy Commander of the Demon Correction Office absolutely did not want to do.

He first gestured to calm the incessantly clamoring Xiezhi Iron Guard, then gave Ye Yuan Er a deep look before turning back and asking loudly, "May I ask which friends have come?"

"Yuan Buwen of Ding Prefecture pays his respects to the Assistant Commissioner."

"The Fearless Tower Yang Jue to pay his respects to the Vice Commissioner."

Upon hearing this, Tie Liuyun's expression turned even more unpleasant.

Yuan Buwen's fame over the past century goes without saying, and Yang Jue, as the top henchman under She Fu Yi, the master of the Fearless Tower, is also considered a formidable opponent among the Pill Master.

Even without mentioning the Third Tier Spirit Slave beside Yuan Jin, it would still take Tie Liuyun a great deal of effort to clean up these two alone.

"Yang Jue, it's one thing for Yuan Buwen to be involved with his illegitimate son-in-law, but does your Fearless Tower really want to get involved in this mess? Do you even know the consequences?"

Tie Liuyun's cold intimidation did not elicit any change in Yang Jue's expression. Instead of answering the question posed by the deputy commander of the Demon Correction Office Division, he simply said in a calm voice:

"After learning the news, my master has already sent a letter to Phoenix Cry Prefecture. I imagine the Ying Mountain Army is already on its way. And Lian Xuepu Lord Lian Peach-Burning Envoy of the Hehuan Sect in Three Ting Prefectures, has probably already sent a letter to inquire about your Demon Correction Office. I dare to suggest that the Commander should think of his own interests first."

"Fine!!" Tie Liuyun was not a man without cunning, but seeing Yang Jue and collected demeanor, he was so angry that he almost bit his teeth to pieces.

Turning back again, the composed expression had returned to Yuan Jin's face. Ye Zhengwen, though not particularly skilled, still dared to stand before the Azure Jue Guard formation, wielding his Spirit Artifact and glaring angrily at the arrogant Xiezhi Iron Guard.

At this point, Tie Liuyun knew that this trip would be fruitless. If he delayed any longer, and all the members of the Double Brightness Alliance gathered, he might not be able to escape unscathed.

Originally, according to his previous plan, coercing Chongming Sect was only a one-off deal. However, he did not expect that even without Kang Dabao and Jiang Qing, Chongming Sect would react so swiftly, which made all his efforts futile, and he had no choice but to give up.

However, this departure might not be so smooth. Tie Liuyun had just snorted coldly and was about to turn around and walk away.

At this moment, Yuan Jin uttered another word, his tone indifferent yet conveying a resolute and unquestionable intent:

"Wait, sir! I have something to say!"

"Ha, let me hear what you have to say?" Tie Liuyun's face grew even more sinister, and his tone was icy as he spoke.

Most of the Xiezhi Iron Guard under Tie Liuyun's command had been trained by him for over sixty years. Upon hearing the commotion, they picked up their swords and shields again, and their fierce aura returned. A sense of elite skill swept over the crowd, making the troops in front and behind them seem rather inexperienced.

Yuan Jin remained unfazed, and as always, neither humble nor arrogant, he stepped forward and spoke calmly:

"Cloud Horn Prefecture is a fiefdom personally bestowed upon my sect leader by the current emperor. The current emperor's words carry the weight of imperial authority and are lawful and impartial; no one is unaware of or disobeys what he says."

However, relying on his profound cultivation and considerable seniority, the Assistant Commander has repeatedly led his disciples to cross borders and humiliate the disciples of noble families due to personal grudges. This time, I will personally report this to the Office of the Duke of Qin in my capacity as the Chief Clerk of the Marquis of Martial Peace's Residence, and let the dukes of the mansion decide right and wrong."

Tie Liuyun's expression turned serious again. "You little brat, you dare to scare me?!"

"This junior is merely fulfilling his duty," Yuan Jin said fearlessly, his gaze sharp, which earned him the secret admiration of Yuan and Yang in the audience.

Tie Liuyun's tone grew even colder, his gaze even more icy. "Believe it or not, even if a few rotten garlic cloves come to help, this magistrate still has the means to slaughter your entire family?"

These words were rather blunt, causing everyone in the room to tense up even more. Yuan Jin's face remained expressionless, neither sad nor happy, and his tone revealed no emotion whatsoever.

"Does the Vice Commander know that a hundred years ago, our Chongming Sect only had three people? If they were frightened out of their wits by a few words, my Sect Leader would truly lose face."

Upon hearing the sound, the Demon Correction Office Division opposite him turned red and white in turns. His eyes darted between the Xiezhi Iron Guard and the Azure Jue Guard for a while. After hesitating for an unknown amount of time, he finally just narrowed his eyes, concealed his murderous intent, and turned away.

"Give Way!!"

It was indeed the superior's fury that Yang Jue show no sign of resistance; its body was extremely weak.

Hearing the urging, Yang Jue bowed and gestured to the group of cultivators behind him to make way.

A murmur of discontent arose from among the Xiezhi Iron Guard, but it was quickly quelled by Tie Liuyun and his men. Yuan Jin did not stop his actions even at this point.

He exchanged a glance with Ye Zhengwen, who showed some hesitation. In the end, he ordered Liu Ya, a disciple of the Punishment Hall, to quickly bring the person over.

Seeing that the Demon Correction Office soldiers who had been captured by the Chongming Sect had now appeared in the arena, the cultivators had no time to be surprised before they heard Yuan Jin say, "Wait a moment, Vice Commissioner! This junior will slaughter some sacrificial animals to send you off!"

"What a reckless brat! He really has guts!"

This time, not only was Tie Liuyun furious, but even Yuan and Yang, who had come to help, were surprised. "This kid Yuan is deliberately trying to embarrass Tie Liuyun. If he provokes the two families into a fight, I wonder what benefits the Chongming Sect will gain."

Just as a fierce battle was about to end before it even began, Yuan Jin, this junior, insisted on causing trouble. Yuan Buwen and Yang Jue naturally furious. However, as angry as they were, they couldn't simply ignore it.

After Tie Liuyun's fierce shout, more than ten fresh heads rolled all over the ground. The splattered blood added a splash of color to the Six-Leaf Azure Lotus Great Banner in front of Yuan Jin, making it incredibly vivid. It stung the eyes of the cultivator watching from afar, who was almost speechless.

"How arrogant!"

"Commander, you can't just leave like this!"

"Commander, if you leave now, the reputation of my Demon Correction Office will be ruined!"

As pillars of blood shot into the sky, furious shouts emanated from the Xiezhi Iron Guard. Gradually, even this battle formation could no longer be maintained, causing Tie Liuyun's sword-like eyebrows to furrow even more tightly.

Surprisingly, Tie Liuyun, despite his anger, did not take any action. Instead, he spoke in a cold voice, mimicking Yuan Jin's earlier words. "Your family has wrongfully killed Demon Correction Office- Slaying Division today. I will also present this to the officials of the government and ask them to decide right from wrong."

The latter ignored Tie Liuyun's ferocious appearance, merely glancing sideways at the vermilion color on the banner before speaking in a deep voice:

"Please proceed, sir. Just remember this: this is the fiefdom under the jurisdiction of my Marquis of Martial Peace's Residence. The power of life and death was bestowed upon us by His Majesty when my sect leader, senior brother, Core Formation. If you truly believe His Majesty has misjudged people and insist on telling him, then you may leave."

Tie Liuyun's eyes turned red with rage, and he nearly snapped the Law Treasure in his hand. At the same time, shouts of challenge surrounded him, making him dizzy and his eyes filled with the bloodstain on the banner opposite him.

"Walk!"

"Assistant Commander!!"

"Smack!"

The Demon Correction Office Division commander who had spoken was caught off guard and took a solid foot of force. He was then sent flying by the force, vomiting blood and expelling fragments of his internal organs. This terrified all the other cultivators who had offered their advice, and they dared not speak.

"Walk!!"

At this moment, Tie Liuyun waved his sleeve, Xiezhi Iron Guard finally fell silent. They obediently reorganized their formation, sent out a few more men to retrieve the blood-vomiting Pill Master, and then rushed back with Tie Liuyun.

Only after watching this infamous team completely disappear into the sky, beyond the reach of Divine Sense, did Yuan Jin and Ye Zhengwen finally relax and feel much more at ease.

The former felt relieved but also regretful. He still harbored the thought that "if you don't kill the snake, you'll suffer the consequences."

He only thought that if he could provoke Tie Liuyun to make the first move and cause a bloody battle between the two families, even if the Azure Jue Guard, with their incomplete numbers, were no match for them, it would not be difficult to hold out until the soldiers from the counties and villages of Cloud Horn Prefecture, the more than 400 righteous families from Cold Crow Mountain, and the various families of the Double Brightness Alliance gathered.

At that time, no matter how elite Tie Liuyun's Dao soldiers were, they would only be defeated.

Even if Tie Liuyun manages to escape this calamity thanks to his Golden Core form, his combat skills are only average. Losing the Xiezhi Iron Guard, this Daoist army, would be a loss far more severe than simply "injury to the bone."

If the Sect Leader Kang Da, whose fame resounds across several states, were not present, and Yuan Jin, a mere True Cultivator, was able to accomplish this, then the prestige of the Chongming Sect would undoubtedly have grown to an unimaginable extent.

Furthermore, if that time truly comes, the charges against the Chongming Sect presented to the Office of the Duke of Qin can certainly be further elaborated upon.

This would truly be significant for the high-ranking officials of the Duke's mansion, unlike the current situation where it would at most earn Tie Liuyun a few mild reprimands and admonitions.

In contrast to Yuan Jin's gloomy expression, Ye Zhengwen was overjoyed.

After all, Tie Liuyun's Xiezhi Dao Soldiers were indeed famous. Although the Azure Jue Guard were also considered elite, and the Yuan Household of Ding Prefecture and the Fearless Tower family of Fa Prefecture were also there to help, they might not necessarily be able to gain the upper hand in battle against the Xiezhi Dao Soldiers.

If that's the case, then the casualties must be enormous, something that no one in the Chongming Sect wants to see.

However, Ye Zhengwen secretly praised Yuan Jin's change in personality.

Although the former may not be good at handling tedious tasks in ordinary times, his decisiveness in this major matter truly demonstrates his boldness and makes Ye Zhengwen feel inferior.

At least Ye Zhengwen was far less ruthless and intolerant of death than Yuan Jin.

"He can now Double Brightness Second Yuan, the Chongming."

Ye Zhengwen sighed briefly and then stopped, for at this moment, it was not his place to be idle.

The cultivators from the Yuan Household and Fearless Tower, who had come from afar, had been well taken care of and had sent messages to various outside families. However, they still needed to be compensated for some of their travel expenses in order to show the Sect Leader Kang Da.

Yuan Jin spent a long time before coming down from the banner. He and Duan Anle then helped Ye Zhengwen with some writing and calculations, as well as welcoming and seeing off guests. They were so busy that they only managed to catch their breath around noon the next day.

Tie Liuyun's sudden visit was indeed dangerous. If Yuan Jin had not handled it carefully, the two families could have turned against each other, resulting in a bloodbath.

However, this was largely thanks to the trust and respect of Sect Leader Kang Da, who even entrusted such Third Tier Spirit Slave to his junior brother. Otherwise, no matter how outstanding Yuan Jin's courage was, he probably wouldn't have had the audacity to challenge Golden Core cultivator.

Upon reading this, Yuan Jin began to worry about his senior brother's whereabouts again:

"I wonder what the situation is like with my senior brother now?"

---- Chenjiang County cave abode, Kang Changping

The one who let out the scream was Feng Buyao. Her beautiful face, which seemed to evoke pity, was covered in blood lines, and her mind was in complete chaos.

Even a discerning eye wouldn't need to look closely to know that this person had been ambushed by some evil or sinister means. If no one else could help, then death was the only option.

However, You Song, who was rushing over, had no time to pay attention to the lovely girl in front of him.

Even if he would be held accountable by the Grand Master Preceptor Huang Mi upon returning, he had to find the person who had plotted against Feng Buyao and protect himself first.

Ultimately, whether one's own life or the faith in Preceptor Huang Mi is more important, You Song had already reached a conclusion in his mind.

However, the person in the shadows was highly skilled at concealing their tracks. Even though You Song took out the Star-Seeking Compass, a Law Treasure, to investigate, he still couldn't find any trace of them.

Fortunately, Hou Mingfa arrived at this time, and Feng Buyao was finally able to be taken care of.

Regardless of whether Hou Mingfa had the ability to break the Evil Method on Feng Buyao, You Song simply made a small cut on his fingertip, squeezed out a few drops of his primordial Essence Blood, and placed them on the Star-Seeking Compass. This made Hou Mingfa's face turn a little paler before he was able to discern some clues.

"You scoundrel, so this is where you are!"

You Song exclaimed in surprise only after a long period of hard work. Then, he pinched his fingers into a sword, and a bright bolt of lightning appeared in his hand, about to strike the stone wall in front of him.

Unexpectedly, a restriction suddenly appeared in front of the stone wall. Although it was eventually annihilated by the lightning, it still bought a chance for the blood-red light hidden within it to escape.

"You thief, don't run! Where did this Evil Cultivator come from? Quickly take this thunderbolt from me!"

You Song's tone was fierce, and his hands moved swiftly with magical incantations, unleashing several bolts of lightning in succession. However, each time he was about to touch the blood-red light, a restriction would come to his aid, causing him to fail each time.

"How could he be so familiar with this cave abode? Could he be the master of this place?!" Upon thinking this, You Song's killing intent intensified, but the streak of blood light was extremely agile and could not be caught by the lightning in his hand.

Just as he was struggling against the bloody light, a scream came from the spot where Hou Mingfa was left behind.

"Third Brother, help me!"

"Damn it, the Incarnation Technique!!" You Song was immediately shocked and quickly dispersed his hand seals and fled.

Before he even reached Hou Mingfa, he discovered that the latter was just as decisive as he was.

Seeing that he was in danger and had only suffered minor injuries, he Feng Buyao, who was lying in his arms.

The Sixth Palace Master only summoned a bone flute. When he played it, a large number of vengeful ghosts with incomplete spirits surrounded him, forming a barrier, which barely saved his life.

Hou Mingfa's cultivation level was not high, but his mastery of the art of ghost refining was quite profound.

But among the fierce ghosts was a woman with severed ears, whose ear canals emitted endless sound waves, enough to disturb the minds of most Golden Core cultivators;

Another group of tattooed demon soldiers, wielding swords and halberds, brought with them the pain of burning souls;

There is also a hideous creature with an owl-like beak, each of its ghostly heads being extremely solid, capable of even penetrating a cultivator's physical body and devouring their Golden Core;

Ordinary Golden Core cultivators would struggle to cope with even a single technique. However, Hou Mingfa did not flinch at all when he saw the blood-red light opposite him.

He didn't even use any magical Law Treasure or Spirit Artifact; every move he made was a display of masterful blood magic.

It must be said that although these methods are indeed evil, in terms of the power of their Law Technique, they are far more powerful than Hou Mingfa's ghost-refining skills, which he has always been proud of.

However, the attack failed, and the blood-light, entangled by Hou Mingfa's methods, also lost its swift movement. Just then, You Song, who had rushed back, locked it in the middle with Hou Mingfa.

The three were locked in a fierce battle, but Feng Buyao, left unattended, didn't know what to do. He could only endure the excruciating pain and move haphazardly under its indescribable agony.

It's unclear how much time passed after all that rolling and twisting, but she eventually fainted.

But when he opened his eyes, Feng Buyao saw a familiar person completely naked and exclaimed in surprise, "Seventh Brother?"

The fat, burly monk and his disciples, lying in the room, had clearly been subjected to some kind of torture. Even though Feng Buyao exclaimed in surprise, they showed no reaction whatsoever.

However, her self-rescue efforts despite the excruciating pain were not entirely in vain.

At least she could see that besides the disciples of the Cloud Marsh Shaman Venerable Hall, there was also a burly and robust cultivator in a Daoist robe in the dark cave, staring at her expressionlessly.

"Kang Dabao!?"