Chapter 232 - 229: Father

Chapter 232: Chapter 229: Father

He collected the corpse, carrying the Separation Huo Dragon Pearl.

In that secluded spot, he burned the body until only a pile of white ash remained, then diverted a mountain stream to wash the ash away.

Soon, not a single trace of the man remained.

Chen Qingyang performed these tasks with practiced ease, deliberately making Zhao He watch. As expected, the more Zhao He saw, the more terrified he became.

The killing, the disposal of the body—it was all as smooth as flowing water. This was clearly not his first time.

"Immortal, your Sword Formulas are incredible. Could they be from the Tai Xu Sect’s Tai Hao Sword Institute?"

The so-called Six Arts of Immortal Cultivation originally did not include the Sword Dao. It was only because the Tai Xu Sect’s Tai Hao Sword Institute was so formidable that it gave rise to what the Tai Xu Sect calls the Seventh Art: the Sword.

This just went to show the fame of the Tai Hao Sword Institute. The very first Golden Core True Monarch Chen Qingyang ever heard of in the Tai Xu Sect was the Tai Hao Sword Master.

"You certainly know a lot, even guessing my origins. You’ve already helped me kill one person. Once the other two are dealt with, I’ll take you back to the Tai Xu Sect to help you cultivate your Yin Spirit. The Demon Dao is not the righteous path, after all."

Whether he believed these words or not, Zhao He’s Divine Soul snapped out of a brief daze and began nodding repeatedly. "Yes, yes, yes. I will do as the Immortal commands."

He let out a long sigh. Small golden characters floated before his eyes. He had stolen 5,423 Immortal Seedlings this time, which was no small amount for someone at the Essence Condensation Fifth Realm.

Without hesitation, he added them all to the Danxia Nourishing Truth Sword Manual, making sure to leave just enough so he wouldn’t break through for the time being.

He would wait until he had shored up his progress with the Great Soul Scripture before attempting a breakthrough.

He then took out some Spirit Stones to recover. He had overexerted himself just now, damaging his Meridians. After a short rest, the strain had eased considerably. Now that his Cultivation had increased again, the next kill wouldn’t be so difficult.

"Of the Three Temple Masters, who has the highest Cultivation, and who has the lowest?"

Zhao He, locked within the Separation Huo Dragon Pearl, didn’t wait long before replying, "The Third Temple Master’s should be the highest, the Grand Temple Master’s the lowest, and the Second Temple Master’s is in the middle."

"Now that one of them is dead, will the remaining two come looking for him if he’s gone for too long?"

But Zhao He shook his head. "No, absolutely not. The Immortal must have noticed that the Second Temple Master was the only one who could still think for himself. The other two are like blocks of wood. Without the Second Temple Master to give them orders, they won’t move an inch. They’ll just stay in their rooms and continue their Cultivation."

"And even without the Second Temple Master’s Blazing Technique, the remaining two still possess their Gang Breath. Together, they are extremely difficult to handle. If you try to force an attack, even with the Immortal’s Daoist Swordsmanship, you risk attracting the attention of the Demon Sect."

Chen Qingyang sneered and clenched his fist. The surrounding Li Yang Earth Fire instantly seared Zhao He’s Divine Soul, causing him to feel a wave of pain. "You knew the remaining two would become as unresponsive as stones and hard to defeat, yet you had me kill the Second Temple Master first. What exactly is your motive?"

Seeing the look on Chen Qingyang’s face, Zhao He was thoroughly frightened.

He had a gut feeling about Chen Qingyang—the man was mercurial, his mood shifting from dark to light in an instant. He could never guess what Chen Qingyang was thinking or what he might do next, yet his own thoughts were always laid bare before him.

"I... You’ve wronged me..."

"Enough. I don’t want to hear it. I just want to know your plan for what comes next."

Zhao He fell silent for a moment. "If I still had my physical body, I could appear before them and find a way to split them up. But now... that’s impossible!"

With that, he prostrated himself before Chen Qingyang again. "Immortal, every word I’ve spoken is the truth! Even if you burn me to death right now, I can’t change the result... Unless... unless... Ah, it’s better if I don’t say it!"

He then adopted a posture of baring his neck for the blade, as if leaving his fate entirely in Chen Qingyang’s hands.

Chen Qingyang knew he was up to something, but he held his temper for the moment. "Speak. I won’t hold it against you."

Zhao He then said, "I’d rather not. This plan requires the Immortal’s complete trust. If you don’t trust me, you’ll surely blame me after I explain it. I’m risking my life to help you, but you might not be sincere with me in return."

Chen Qingyang didn’t get angry. Instead, he became extremely patient. "Why don’t you tell me first and let me hear it?"

"I will go to them in my Divine Soul Body and tell them I was attacked. Since those two Temple Masters are charged with guarding this place, they will certainly come with me to get revenge on my behalf."

"Then, I’ll lead them east while you, Immortal, create a disturbance to the west. I’ll take that opportunity to suggest we split up. Without the Second Temple Master to make decisions for them, they’ll be like headless chickens and agree. Then we can wait for our chance to strike, and we will succeed."

It was an idea Chen Qingyang obviously couldn’t agree to, yet Zhao He had proposed it anyway. This wasn’t the display of cleverness he had shown at the start.

’Perhaps my own ruthlessness made him realize I’ll inevitably kill him, which is why he’s suddenly changed his strategy.’

Using the two Temple Masters to turn the tables was now his only path to survival.

’This man cannot be allowed to live any longer.’

"Let me think about it."

Zhao He actually thought Chen Qingyang was seriously considering it. A look of joy spread across his face. "Immortal, if you trust me, I’ll also be... Ah! You—!"

Just like that, a wisp of flame flickered past. The man was completely dead, and the Cultivation of an Essence Condensation Second Realm expert was added to the Danxia Nourishing Truth Sword Manual.

[Danxia Nourishing Truth Sword Manual: (31,753/52,000)]

’It’s a hassle, but my Cultivation is growing quickly. After I deal with those other two, I should reach the 40,000 mark. Then I can’t stay here any longer.’

As for the other Disciples in the Daoist Temple, Chen Qingyang thought it over and decided it was best not to touch them.

The man who died in the first Daoist Temple had vanished without a trace. At the very least, that temple was now leaderless, and it would take them some time to sort things out.

The man and woman from the second Daoist Temple had left of their own accord, so the Demon Sect would likely have a hard time determining whether they were missing or still alive anytime soon.

The only slip-up had been at this third Daoist Temple. But who would suspect a Daoist Sect Disciple was behind it?

Therefore, as long as he didn’t launch an indiscriminate attack, the Demon Sect wouldn’t become too vigilant. The resulting confusion and delays would be enough to cover his escape.

For now, the priority was to find a way to dispose of the remaining two. He should avoid touching anyone else if possible.

Zhao He had said something crucial earlier: of the three, only the Second Temple Master could think for himself. With him dead, the other two were like headless chickens.

Since they were headless chickens, he just needed to give them something to do and see how they’d react.

With a flicker of his will, the Conscious Fish was once again on the Divine Maiden Statue. A moment later, a Disciple noticed something was wrong with the Array.

Chen Qingyang waited quietly for another moment and saw the two brothers, one old and one young, approaching together.

"Something’s wrong. There’s a problem with the Array. We’ve failed the task Master gave us. Come and take a look," the young man said first.

The old man followed him, circling the Divine Maiden Statue. "Mm, there is a problem."

The young man clutched his head, suddenly enraged. "I know there’s a problem! I don’t need you to repeat it! You have to tell me what to do!"

The old man saw his brother’s fury and blinked. "I’m telling you what to do. I’m telling you the Array has a problem. See?"

The young man grew extremely agitated, clutching his head tightly. He looked as though he was trying to think but couldn’t, a deep pain blooming in his mind.

Chen Qingyang saw everything clearly. He mentally reviewed the principles of this Dharma Gate again. ’These Demon Sect methods are truly vicious. The three brothers are living a fate worse than death, trained like dogs!’

The surrounding Disciples all exchanged glances, but remembering the man who had been seriously injured a few days prior, no one dared to speak a word.

The Grand Temple Master just kept repeating himself while the Third Temple Master remained in a state of fury...

Suddenly, the Third Temple Master snapped his head up to look at one of the Disciples. "Useless! You’re all useless! Why are you so quiet now? Hurry up and give me an idea!"

"Th-this..." Before the man could finish, he was sent flying by a heavy punch. In that instant, Chen Qingyang stole one thousand Immortal Seedlings.

It turned out the Qi Refining Ninth Realm Disciple couldn’t take the blow at all and was killed on the spot.

’This is so sudden. If they keep fighting among themselves, I won’t have to waste my time here. I can just wait to collect the Immortal Seedlings.’

"Ah... he’s dead..." Looking at his own fist, the Third Temple Master seemed to fall into an even more conflicted state.

"Ah, dead. He’s dead. Really dead..." the Grand Temple Master started repeating again.

At that moment, the Third Temple Master’s consciousness seemed to stir, his mind clearing slightly. "Second Brother... right, where is Second Brother? He’s usually the one in charge."

He pointed at a random Disciple. "You, tell me where Second Brother went."

"Re-replying to the Third Temple Master... I heard someone say the Second Temple Master went to the Red Spiritual Spring to practice his Cultivation. Should I... go and fetch him?"

The Disciple stammered.

Seeing that the Third Temple Master’s gaze had moved off him, the man let out a long sigh of relief. At least his life was spared.

"Right. Second Brother. I have to go find Second Brother now." With that, he ignored everyone and ran straight in the direction of Chen Qingyang’s hiding spot.

The others wanted to follow, but after a glance at the muttering Grand Temple Master, they all chose to stay with him instead. It seemed safer here.

Chen Qingyang quietly retracted his Conscious Fish. The Array began to gradually restore itself, though no one had noticed yet.

The Third Temple Master ignored everyone, rushing straight toward the Red Spiritual Spring by himself.

This time would be much easier. Chen Qingyang held his breath, focusing his energy as he prepared for a fatal strike.

"Second Brother... Second Brother..."

He circled the Red Spiritual Spring, looking left and right, but there was no sign of his second brother. The Third Temple Master’s anger gave way to panic.

He called his brother’s name again and again. Suddenly, a dragon’s roar erupted in his ears. A brilliant, dragon-shaped flame rushed straight into his mind, and a powerful force exploded within him.

"Second Brother! Second Brother...!"

The Third Temple Master cried out in pain, shouting his brother’s name a few more times.

Chen Qingyang struck with his sword from the same position as before, aiming straight for the heart from behind. He pushed his Sword Qi to its limit, and a brilliant Danxia burst forth, tearing straight into the man’s flesh.

Just as he was about to press the attack and destroy the man’s Divine Soul completely, he felt his Sword Qi meet a sudden resistance.

The Third Temple Master turned his head and saw his face. "You’re not... from the Demon Sect..."

A burst of Pure White Gang Qi erupted from his body. It was immensely powerful, even enveloping Chen Qingyang, and it was this very Gang Qi that had blocked his Sword Formulas.

’Incredible. He can still resist even at this stage?’

Chen Qingyang gripped his sword with both hands, assuming the same desperate, all-or-nothing stance as before. A powerful wave of Sword Qi surged forth, annihilating the Gang Qi in an instant.

The Third Temple Master looked at him, his once-muddled eyes growing clearer.

Within those pupils, Chen Qingyang saw another figure emerge.

It was a figure who looked remarkably like the youth before him, only slightly older. His eyes were filled with sorrow, yet also a sense of release, as if he were finding liberation in death.

"Help me kill my eldest brother... Father... Oh, Father..."

Using the last of his strength, he glanced in the direction of True Demon Mountain, and then he was gone.

’It seems that in his final moment, he remembered who he once was.’