Chapter 3089 - The Three Founders’ Decree

Song Lan’s body fell apart, only to reform a moment later. He seemed unkillable.

Except that his face was deathly pale, and the way he looked at the heart devil had changed. He gnashed his teeth. “This is the Secluded Realm. According to the Mountain of the Secluded Ones’ rules, anyone who attacks another here...”

Boom!

A streak of sword qi descended from the heavens, destroying Song Lan’s body once more. The outcome wasn’t the least bit suspenseful, either.

The Secluded Ones’ eyelids twitched. Who could have failed to realize that the heart devil had the strength to overwhelm his opponent?

“You’re the ones who broke the rules. Now, you’re the ones trying to use the rules to your advantage. Are the Secluded Ones’ rules really just whatever Three Purities Mountain says they are?” The heart devil laughed coldly, then took a step forward and swung his palm just as Song Lan’s body reformed.

Bang!

Song Lan’s body was destroyed yet again. When he recovered, his face was even paler, and his eyes were full of disbelief. Is such power really possible for a mere heart devil?

The heart devil laughed. “You can’t even beat trash like me, so what does that make you? Are you perhaps... lower than trash?”

Bang!

Sword qi cleaved into Song Lan, destroying his body yet again. The distant onlookers’ bodies ached just watching it.

It was difficult to kill Dao Ancestors. They could recover so long as a single strand of their hair remained.

But destroying their bodies repeatedly would severely weaken their cultivation bases. It could even damage their foundations in the Grand Dao, and that was difficult to recover from.

Song Lan’s attempts to defend himself proved completely ineffectual, and his body was destroyed once more.

If things went on like this, he’d be finished!

“Three Purities Temple broke the rules, but haven’t you broken them, too?” said one of the Secluded Ones, a thin middle-aged man in yellow robes. “Even if you kill Song Lan in the end, who among the Secluded Ones will be convinced of our justice?”

The heart devil laughed derisively. “All I asked is for the Mountain of the Secluded Ones to uphold its own rules, but you disregarded me. Now, here you are, insulting me.

“The moment I carry out justice myself, here you are, going on about the rules again. You people sure are despicable!”

As he spoke, he destroyed Song Lan’s body yet again. Blood splattered the air. Then, he continued, “If you want justice on Three Purities Temple’s behalf, cut the crap, get over here, and accept death already!”

“You...!” The middle-aged man’s face was ashen. He looked at the other Secluded Ones. “Everyone, this is the Secluded Realm! Are you really planning to just stand back and watch this heart devil commit atrocities?”

Many of the Secluded Ones remained silent. They pretended not to have heard anything. Who’d recklessly take a stand in the midst of such a storm?

But several others couldn’t bear to watch any more of this, including Old Ghost Meng, the one who’d joined Song Lan in insulting the heart devil.

He roared, “Can’t you see? That bastard doesn’t take the Secluded Ones’ rules the least bit seriously! What will become of our rules if we just let him kill Fellow Daoist Song Lan? Don’t just stand there and watch! Aren’t you afraid that Three Purities Temple will hold you accountable?”

His voice boomed throughout heaven and earth.

Some of the Secluded Ones hesitated. It really would be unseemly to let things go on like this, and more importantly, it would indeed displease the three founders of Three Purities Temple.

Boom!

Song Lan’s body exploded once more. This time, the heart devil suddenly raised his hand and closed his fingers like a cage, trapping Song Lan’s shattered body and soul in his palm.

His palm was like a cage full of surging sword intent. It repeatedly sliced Song Lan’s body and soul to pieces.

Desperate, agonized cries emanated from between the gaps of his fingers. Countless onlookers watched on in horror.

Meanwhile, the heart devil turned to smile at Old Ghost Meng. “Earlier, you said I didn’t know how to do anything but flap my lips and borrow another’s prestige, but when I compare myself to you, I’m ashamed of my own inferiority.”

Old Ghost Meng glowered, “Go ahead, keep it up. The greater the commotion you kick up, the more brutal your ultimate demise will be!”

“Old Meng, send word to Grandmaster Lonely Heights. Hurry!” Song Lan roared from between the gaps in the heart devil’s fingers.

Old Ghost Meng said gravely, “I already sent word. I’m sure Senior Lonely Heights will be here soon!”

The Secluded Ones’ hearts shook. If Lonely Heights showed up, this would become a truly major incident!

The heart devil, however, couldn’t restrain his laughter. “That son-of-a-tortoise can barely protect himself right now. If he makes it here, I’ll twist off my own head and offer it to you as a football!”

What? Lonely Heights can barely protect himself? The onlookers listened in bewilderment.

Old ghost Meng’s heart clenched. He felt a powerful sense of foreboding, but out loud, he laughed coldly. “I refuse to believe it. The Mountain of the Secluded Ones won’t let a heart devil like you carry on like this!”

The middle-aged man in yellow, the one who’d spoken earlier, said, “When the heavens wish a man dead, they first drive him to madness. If we don’t eliminate this heart devil today, what shall become of our rules? What face will we Secluded Ones have left?”

The heart devil grinned, eyes narrowing into slits. “Go ahead, keep jumping around. Not just any insect is worthy of dying beneath my sword, you know.”

As he spoke, sword qi flowed within the cage on the palm of his hand, slicing Song Lan’s body and soul to ribbons once more.

Every time Song Lan recovered, he was torn apart again. The agony left him longing for death and screaming repeatedly.

The other Secluded Ones’ hair stood on end. All of them were fully aware of Song Lan’s strength. Who could have imagined that he’d seem so pathetically weak compared to the Big Boss’s heart devil?

Insect? Old Ghost Meng and the yellow-robed middle-aged man glowered, but neither of them dared to attack. The heart devil had suppressed Song Lan so easily. If they attacked him, they’d be no more than eggs flinging themselves against a rock!

All they could do now was wait for older, more powerful Secluded Ones to arrive!

They refused to believe that those on good terms with Three Purities Temple would just stand back and watch as the heart devil did whatever he pleased!

They’d only just thought this when a figure appeared out of nowhere. This was none other than Old Lord Gouchen!

“Your Excellency Gouchen!” Old Ghost Meng exclaimed with delight. Old Lord Gouchen was among the oldest of the Secluded Ones, and he’d always clearly differentiated between public affairs and personal grudges. No matter what happened, he’d prioritize the rules of the Mountain of the Secluded Ones.

Everyone knew it, too.

Thus, Old Ghost Meng said immediately, “You arrived at just the right time. That heart devil is trampling all over our rules. He brutally suppressed Fellow Daoist Song Lan. Please...”

But before he could finish, Old Lord Gouchen shook his head. “Three Purities Temple broke the rules. Surely others are permitted to get even, no?”

Old Ghost Meng froze, dumbstruck.

The middle-aged man in yellow had planned to fan the flames, but when he saw that Old Lord Gouchen’s attitude wasn’t what he’d expected, he clamped his jaw shut.

The other Secluded Ones were startled. Don’t tell me Old Lord Gouchen is just going to watch as Song Lan’s life is ground away? That doesn’t seem like him!

The heart devil watched through smiling eyes and continued tormenting Song Lan, grinding away his body and soul. He showed no sign of stopping despite Old Lord Gouchen’s arrival.

Old Lord Gouchen disregarded this, then said gravely, “If you really want me to get involved, well, Three Purities Temple erred first, and they must pay the price for it! Don’t you think so?”

“Your Excellency, I disagree!” Old Ghost Meng gnashed his teeth. “That heart devil isn’t one of us, and Fellow Daoist Song Lan is. Even if he was in the wrong, it ought to be up to Three Purities Temple to punish him, not some heart devil!”

The yellow-robed middle-aged man nodded hurriedly.

Old Lord Gouchen said expressionlessly, “In that case, I’ll stay out of it.”

No one knew what to say to that. Everyone was now fully aware that something wasn’t right here.

First, something had happened to Song Lan’s clone. That was the first unexpected development.

Then, Lonely Heights failed to respond to a call for aid. That was the second.

Now, Old Lord Gouchen’s refusal to help either side was unquestionably a third variable. Combined, all of this strongly suggested there was a reason the Big Boss’s heart devil was so fearless!

Old Ghost Meng took a deep breath, then said, “Your Excellency, if Three Purities Temple takes offense...”

But before he could finish, the entire hidden realm shook violently. Everyone watched in astonishment as an utterly dazzling arc of light shot through the dome of heaven, then arrived in a flash.

When it landed, it took on the form of a tall, stalwart man in worn-out Daoist robes. His features were coarse, his skin swarthy, and when he arrived, his whole body still flowed with the stinging light of the Grand Dao. His qi rumbled and boomed, making all of heaven and earth quiver.

The crowd stirred. Many of the Secluded Ones’ eyes widened in irrepressible shock.

Old Daoist Niu!

He wasn’t one of the Secluded Ones, but he was one of Dao Venerate Jade Purity’s attendants. His position was so lofty that even Song Lan, one of the grandmasters of the Great Purity lineage, had to address him as his senior.

Old Ghost Meng and the middle-aged man in yellow robes inwardly went mad with delight. Both were overcome with excitement.

Progenitor Jade Purity’s attendant had come in person. Who could fail to realize the implications?

“Junior Meng Yong greets you, Your Excellency Niu.” Old Ghost Meng stepped forth and bowed.

But just as he was about to decry the heart devil’s brutality, Daoist Niu said expressionlessly, “I already know what happened here. No need for you to say anything.”

Old Ghost Meng clamped his jaw shut, then smiled appeasingly. “Your Excellency, now that you’re here, I’m sure you’ll be able to get justice for Fellow Daoist Song Lan!”

But against his expectations, there was something off about Daoist Niu’s response. He disregarded Old Ghost Meng and looked at Old Lord Gouchen. “Our three founders issued a joint decree, then sent me to deliver it and make their position clear.”

Old Lord Gouchen was instantly solemn. The other Secluded Ones waited with bated breath.

Daoist Niu was Dao Venerate Jade Purity’s attendant, but he was far stronger than any ordinary Secluded One!

Now, he’d come to deliver the three founders’ joint decree. His words would determine what happened next!

“Please, go ahead and speak, Fellow Daoist.” Old Lord Gouchen inclined his head.

The heart devil watched from afar, Song Lan still screaming in the palm of his hand.

But Daoist Niu didn’t even bat an eye. He just scanned the crowd without the slightest hint of emotion and said gravely, “The three founders said that the Mountain of the Secluded Ones has its own rules, and they request that Old Lord Gouchen needn’t worry about offending them. They ask that he resolve this personally and said that anyone who breaks the rules must be punished—no matter who they are. Three Purities Temple does not demand special treatment!”

His voice boomed throughout the area, leaving the Secluded Ones stunned.

Old Ghost Meng and the yellow-robed Daoist froze, so astonished that they almost suspected they were hearing things.

Old Lord Gouchen’s heart shook. He felt a bit caught off guard. Daoist Niu isn’t here to back up his sectmates?

Off in the distance, the heart devil sighed. He looked down at Song Lan and murmured, “The three old codgers have sure disappointed me this time.”