Chapter 734
On behalf of the Green Mountain Sect, I apologize to you.
"After we entered this grand hall together, we discovered the trials left behind by the immortals," Zhang Yunfan recalled slowly. "The trials consisted of eight different tests, and each time we passed a test, we received a corresponding reward."
“We had agreed to act together and face the trials together,” he continued. “The first few trials went smoothly, and everyone benefited greatly.”
"And then what happened?"
"Then came the seventh trial, a test of one's Dao heart," Zhang Yunfan said with a wry smile. "It required everyone to speak their true thoughts, without any falsehood."
"In this trial, I stated that my moral compass is to protect others and punish evil while promoting good."
"Where are Lin Qingshan and the others?"
"They..." A flicker of disappointment crossed Zhang Yunfan's eyes. "Lin Qingshan said his Dao heart was to dominate the cultivation world, and the others expressed similar thoughts. Only I said I wanted to protect others."
Zheng Yi nodded; this did indeed fit Zhang Yunfan's character. This disciple had been kind-hearted since childhood and always thought of helping others.
"After the trial, the rewards for the Immortal Inheritance were distributed," Zhang Yunfan continued. "Because my Dao heart was the purest, I received the best inheritance—a complete set of Immortal Sword Techniques."
"While Lin Qingshan and the others also received rewards, theirs were far inferior to mine—just some ordinary cultivation techniques and magical treasures."
"And then they got evil intentions?" Zheng Yi asked coldly.
“Yes,” Zhang Yunfan nodded. “Lin Qingshan’s expression changed immediately. He said something like, ‘Why should I, a collateral descendant of the Zheng family, receive the best inheritance?’”
"A collateral disciple?" Zheng Yi's anger flared even more. "You are my direct disciple, and he dares to call you a collateral disciple?"
“I explained it to them, but they simply didn’t believe me,” Zhang Yunfan said bitterly. “And even if they did believe me, they wouldn’t let me go. Because that Immortal Sword Technique is just too precious.”
Zheng Yi took a deep breath, trying to control his emotions. He could imagine the situation at the time; faced with such a precious legacy, it was indeed difficult for those people to remain rational.
"And then they attacked you?"
“We won’t act immediately,” Zhang Yunfan shook his head. “Lin Qingshan is very cunning. On the surface, he congratulated me on obtaining the inheritance and even suggested that everyone celebrate together.”
"As a result, during the celebration, they poisoned the drinks."
"Poisoning?" Zheng Yi's eyes flashed with even more murderous intent.
"It's a very special poison called 'Spirit-Sealing Powder'," Zhang Yunfan explained. "This poison won't kill you immediately, but it will slow down a cultivator's spiritual energy circulation, greatly reducing their strength."
"By the time I realized something was wrong, it was too late; the poison had already taken effect."
"Then they revealed their true colors and demanded that I hand over the immortal inheritance."
"Of course I wouldn't agree, and that's how the conflict started."
"You fought against seven opponents by yourself, and you were even poisoned. It's really amazing that you've lasted this long." Zheng Yi looked at his disciple with heartache.
"If it weren't for the immense power of the Void-Breaking Sword Technique that my master taught me, I'd probably be dead long ago," Zhang Yunfan said gratefully. "But that Immortal Sword Technique..."
"They stole it?"
“No.” A hint of smugness flashed in Zhang Yunfan’s eyes. “At the last moment, I used a secret technique to seal the inheritance deep within my divine consciousness. Even if they kill me, they won’t get the inheritance.”
"Excellent!" Zheng Yi nodded approvingly. "Truly worthy of being my disciple!"
But then he became worried: "Won't that inheritance damage your divine sense?"
“Not for now, but if it goes on for too long, there are indeed risks,” Zhang Yunfan said. “Therefore, I must find a safe place as soon as possible to fully absorb the inheritance.”
"Don't worry, with your master here, no one can hurt you," Zheng Yi said firmly. "Where are those who betrayed you now?"
“They should still be looking for me elsewhere in the main hall,” Zhang Yunfan replied. “They thought I was on the verge of death, so they haven’t been pursuing me too closely.”
“Very well.” Zheng Yi stood up, his eyes burning with the flames of revenge. “It’s time for them to pay the price.”
"Master, please be careful," Zhang Yunfan said worriedly. "There are special restrictions here, and your cultivation level..."
"Don't worry, even if my cultivation is suppressed, dealing with a few treacherous villains is more than enough," Zheng Yi sneered.
He took out several precious healing pills and handed them to Zhang Yunfan: "You stay here and heal your wounds. I'm going to meet those 'heroes' of the Green Mountain Sect."
"Master." Zhang Yunfan wanted to say something, but Zheng Yi had already turned and walked towards the main hall.
After leaving the side hall, Zheng Yi's face turned extremely gloomy.
Betrayal was the act he hated most. Especially betraying his own disciples, which was an absolutely unforgivable sin.
"The Green Mountain Sect, is it?" Zheng Yi muttered coldly to himself, "Since you dare to betray the alliance and harm my disciples, don't blame me for showing no mercy."
He activated his divine sense, carefully searching the situation inside the hall.
Although his cultivation level was suppressed to the late Foundation Establishment stage, his divine sense was still much stronger than that of ordinary cultivators. Soon, he detected the auras of seven people on the right side of the main hall.
"Found it." Zheng Yi's lips curled into a cold smile as he walked in that direction.
To the right is the main trial area of the main hall, which has many rooms, each corresponding to a different test.
Zheng Yi followed the scent to one of the rooms and peered through the crack in the door to see what was inside.
Seven young cultivators were sitting together, discussing something. Leading them was a handsome young man dressed in the robes of a core disciple of the Green Mountain Sect; he was likely Lin Qingshan.
"Senior Brother, are we really doing the right thing?" one of the disciples asked uneasily. "After all, Zheng Yunfan is considered our ally."
"Allies?" Lin Qingshan sneered. "In the cultivation world, what eternal allies are there? Only eternal interests."
"But our sect teaches us to value promises and keep our word."
"Shut up!" Lin Qingshan interrupted sharply. "That Immortal Sword Technique is priceless; it could double the strength of our Green Mountain Sect. What does sacrificing an outsider matter for the sect's benefit?"
"Furthermore," another disciple chimed in, "that Zheng Yunfan is far too arrogant. What right does a collateral descendant of the Zheng family have to receive the best inheritance?"
"Exactly! The immortal's legacy should belong to our Green Mountain Sect!"
"Once we obtain that sword technique, we will be richly rewarded upon returning to our sect."
Hearing these shameless words, Zheng Yi's anger burned even brighter.
These people not only betrayed the alliance and harmed Zhang Yunfan, but now they are shamelessly defending their actions.
"Enough!" Zheng Yi couldn't hold back any longer and kicked open the door, walking straight in.
"Who goes there?" Lin Qingshan and the others immediately became alert and stood up. When they saw the person's face clearly, they were all stunned.
"Who are you? How come there are other people here?" Lin Qingshan asked in confusion.
Zheng Yi did not answer, but instead coldly surveyed the seven people present. Although he currently appeared to be just an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator, the majesty in his eyes made these young people feel a chill run down their spines.
"I'm asking you a question!" Lin Qingshan was enraged by Zheng Yi's disregard. "Who exactly are you? How did you get in here?"
"I am Zheng Yi," Zheng Yi said slowly, his voice carrying a chilling coldness. "Zheng Yunfan's master."
"What?!" Lin Qingshan and the others' expressions changed drastically.
Zheng Yi, a name that resounds throughout the cultivation world. The most outstanding genius of the Zheng family in this generation, an unparalleled expert at the peak of the Golden Core stage, and also Zhang Yunfan's master.
"Impossible!" Lin Qingshan forced himself to remain calm. "How could Senior Zheng Yi be here? The restrictions here only allow Foundation Establishment cultivators to enter!"
"Is that so?" Zheng Yi sneered. "Then how do you explain me standing here now?"
"It must be fake!" another disciple said boldly. "Someone is definitely impersonating Senior Zheng Yi!"
"Impersonation?" A dangerous glint flashed in Zheng Yi's eyes. "Then I'll show you what real strength is."
Although his cultivation level was suppressed, Zheng Yi's combat experience and skills remained unaffected. Moreover, only his cultivation level was suppressed; his techniques and sword intent were still top-tier.
"The Righteous Yang Sword Technique - Dawn Breaks!"
A dazzling golden light emanated from the longsword in Zheng Yi's hand, instantly illuminating the entire room.
Although the power of this sword light has decreased, the sword intent it contains is still pure and carries an irresistible majesty.
"This is... the Zheng Yang Sword Technique?" Lin Qingshan's pupils contracted sharply. "It really is Senior Zheng Yi!"
The Zheng Yang Sword Technique is a closely guarded secret of the Zheng family; no one but Zheng Yi himself can wield it. Moreover, the purity and majesty of this sword intent cannot be faked.
"Now you believe it?" Zheng Yi said coldly. "Since you believe it, then kneel down and accept your death!"
"Senior, spare our lives!" Lin Qingshan and the others immediately knelt on the ground. "We know we were wrong! Please spare our lives!"
"Admit your mistake?" Zheng Yi laughed sarcastically. "When you harmed my disciple, did you ever imagine this day would come?"
"Senior, we are willing to offer you all our gains, just please spare our lives!" Lin Qingshan pleaded desperately.
"Your gains?" Zheng Yi's eyes flashed with disgust. "What right do you treacherous scoundrels have to talk about gains?"
"The Righteous Yang Sword Technique - Under the Blazing Sun!"
An even more intense sword light erupted, as dazzling as the real sun.
Under the oppressive force of the sword light, Lin Qingshan and the others didn't even have the courage to stand up, and could only kneel on the ground trembling.
"Senior Zheng, please spare our lives for the sake of the alliance between the Qingshan Sect and the Zheng family!" Lin Qingshan's last hope was the alliance between the two families.
"An alliance?" Zheng Yi sneered repeatedly. "You were the ones who broke the alliance first, betraying my disciple. Since you don't care about the alliance, why should I abide by it?"
As he spoke, he raised his longsword, preparing to give these traitors their final punishment.
"Wait!" Just then, an aged voice came from outside the hall, "Patriarch Zheng, please show mercy!"
Upon hearing that aged voice, hope immediately shone in the eyes of Lin Qingshan and the others, as if they had grasped a lifeline.
"Grandmaster! It's Grandmaster!" Lin Qingshan shouted excitedly.
An elderly man with white hair strode into the room, dressed in the robes of a Green Mountain Sect elder. His aura was profound, and his cultivation was clearly not weak.
"Disciple greets Grandmaster!" Lin Qingshan and the others hurriedly kowtowed and bowed, "We beg Grandmaster to save us!"
The old man glanced at the disciples kneeling on the ground, his face extremely grim. Then he looked at Zheng Yi, cupped his hands in a salute, and said:
"I am Yun Zhonghe, the Supreme Elder of the Green Mountain Sect, greetings to Patriarch Zheng."
“Yun Zhonghe?” Zheng Yi frowned slightly. He recognized the name. Yun Zhonghe was a highly respected senior of the Qingshan Sect, whose cultivation had reached the Nascent Soul stage.
"Why did Patriarch Zheng want to kill my Green Mountain Sect disciples?" Yun Zhonghe tried to maintain a calm tone. "If there's any misunderstanding, we can sit down and talk it over."
"Misunderstanding?" Zheng Yi sneered, his grip on the sword unwavering. "Your virtuous grand-disciples betrayed the alliance, poisoned and harmed my disciple, and stole his inheritance. You call this a misunderstanding?"
Yun Zhonghe's face instantly turned ashen. He had sensed something was wrong as soon as he entered the main hall and hurriedly searched for his disciples, never expecting such a thing to happen.
"Qingshan, what exactly happened?" Yun Zhonghe asked sternly.
"Grandmaster, we..." Lin Qingshan stammered, not daring to tell the truth.
"Speak!" Yun Zhonghe slammed his palm on the ground, the powerful spiritual pressure causing the entire room to tremble. "Confess the truth!"
Under the pressure of his grandmaster, Lin Qingshan had no choice but to recount the entire story without daring to conceal anything.
After hearing the whole story, Yun Zhonghe's face turned extremely ugly. As the Supreme Elder of the Green Mountain Sect, he valued the sect's reputation above all else. Now that his disciple had committed such a treacherous act, it was simply tarnishing the reputation of the Green Mountain Sect.
"You insolent wretch!" Yun Zhonghe angrily slapped Lin Qingshan with his palm. "You have utterly disgraced the Qingshan Sect!"
Lin Qingshan was struck by the palm and coughed up blood, collapsing to the ground. Ignoring the pain, he quickly got up and continued to beg for mercy.
"Grandmaster, we know we were wrong! Please save us!"
"Save you?" Yun Zhonghe trembled with rage. "After doing such a disgraceful thing, you still have the nerve to ask me to save you?"
But since he was, after all, his disciple, Yun Zhonghe turned to Zheng Yi, trying to salvage the situation:
"Patriarch Zheng, these unfilial disciples have indeed done wrong. On behalf of the Green Mountain Sect, I apologize to you."
"An apology?" Zheng Yi's tone remained icy. "Do you think an apology can undo the harm done to my disciple?"
“Of course not,” Yun Zhonghe quickly said. “We are willing to make compensation. All the inheritances and treasures these disciples obtained will be returned to us. In addition, the Green Mountain Sect will pay another generous sum of compensation.”
"Compensation?" Zheng Yi scoffed. "Do you think my Zheng family lacks what you have?"
Yun Zhonghe was speechless at Zheng Yi's words. Indeed, with the Zheng family's strength and resources, they didn't care about the meager compensation from the Green Mountain Sect.
"Then what does Patriarch Zheng want?" Yun Zhonghe asked cautiously. (End of Chapter)