Chapter 500: Yanghuang Traitor, Layman Red Lotus's Divine Fire Spell

The news that the Yanghuang Sect’s new Peak Master of Azure Flame Peak had beheaded the Mad Beggar and displayed his head on a banner sent shockwaves through the realm.

He was considered the strongest individual killed by the nine major sects in their campaign to annihilate the Seven Kills Disciples.

And then… the number of Seven Kills Disciples began to increase explosively.

The reason was simple: the various pressures created by the nine major sects’ campaign, combined with the killing sprees of the Seven Kills Disciples, had begun to cascade downward.

The ultimate target wouldn’t be the prestigious families or wealthy gentry. In the end, the burden would be borne by the people at the very bottom.

Did they really think the nine major sects’ campaign was as simple as just sending disciples out to fight?

Logistical consumption, military expenditures, and a whole series of other costs had to be shouldered by the sects.

The sects couldn’t just create resources out of thin air, so they inevitably passed the costs downward.

As it trickled down bit by bit, the final result was easy to imagine.

It was a good thing that, for various reasons including the Seven Kills Disciples, the Yanghuang Sect had once again shelved its plan to form the Celestial Spirit Alliance. Otherwise, had war truly broken out, the land would have been crawling with Seven Kills Disciples.

This act of failing to extinguish the fire, only for it to grow even larger, made Zuo Fan increasingly furious.

Ever since his last transformation into the Slaughter Flame Demon, his emotions had been severely affected. He was irritable, quick to anger, and unable to control it.

‘This seems a bit like the Blood Sea Sutra of Slaughter. What in the world is this Flame Demon Body Refining Technique?’ Zuo Fan reined in his thoughts, realizing his condition was similar to that of the Seven Kills Disciples.

‘Could it be that the old man’s ancestors were also connected to Seven Kills Zhenren?’

He had previously learned from Sect Leader Xu Ziyang that the Tang Clan’s ancestor likely had some connection to their Yanghuang Sect’s founder, Yanghuang Zhenren.

Now, the enigmatic Seven Kills Zhenren was somehow involved as well. Zuo Fan could deeply empathize with the lust for slaughter, especially when he recalled killing the Mad Beggar.

‘Perhaps Qi Suian knows something.’ Zuo Fan desperately wanted to go back and ask him, but he couldn’t abandon his post.

Outbreaks of Seven Kills Disciples were happening everywhere, and he was run ragged trying to deal with them all. He had the will, but not the means.

‘To solve this problem with the Seven Kills Disciples, it’s not enough to just meet killing with more killing. We have to address the root cause.’

Zuo Fan knew the root cause. He hadn’t cared before, thinking he just needed to kill them all.

But that wasn’t working anymore. The more he killed, the more of them appeared. The only way was to reform the system from its very foundation, to let the pervasive hostility subside.

Otherwise, the Seven Kills Disciples could never be truly wiped out.

Therefore, he contacted Sect Leader Xu Ziyang, asking him to implement reforms from the top down.

Xu Ziyang’s reply was extremely formal, which meant it was also extremely vague, indicating that this matter would require a great deal of time to be processed.

This was not good news for Zuo Fan.

He had also heard some additional news—that Xu Ziyang’s mental state had also taken a turn.

Like Zuo Fan, he had become irritable and quick to anger, and his condition was even more severe. It was rumored that one of the Peak Masters had already died at Xu Ziyang’s hands.

The reason it was just a rumor was because the official story was that this Peak Master had defected and ultimately died in an accident.

There was no concrete evidence that Xu Ziyang had been the one to do it.

However, Zuo Fan didn’t believe it for a second. The dead Peak Master was one of the Sect Leader’s confidants. Where could he have defected to? Where could he have possibly received better treatment?

Had Xu Ziyang stepped down one day, that Peak Master would have been one of the strongest contenders for the Sect Leader’s position.

‘If the sect doesn’t resolve this internally, and they just rely on me to keep killing like this, I’m going to cause a major problem sooner or later.’ Zuo Fan sighed.

The next moment, his expression hardened. He shot to his feet and threw himself backward several paces.

A Red Lotus exploded right where he had been, its fiery petals spreading outward.

“That’s… the Red Lotus Divine Fire Spell.” Zuo Fan spoke the name of the Spiritual Technique grimly, his eyes fixed on the area outside his tent.

A tall, thin figure wrapped in white bandages appeared, Red Lotuses materializing around his body as he advanced, treading on the scorch marks left behind by the flames.

“You specialize in Blazing Flame Sword Qi, yet you can recognize the Red Lotus Divine Fire Spell? It seems you truly are a candidate for Sect Leader of the Yanghuang Sect.” The man’s tone was calm. “Zuo Fan, the Flame Demon.”

“Who are you? How do you know our Yanghuang Sect’s Red Lotus Divine Fire Spell?” Zuo Fan could sense that the Fire Spiritual Power emanating from this man was incredibly dangerous.

The Spiritual Techniques of the Yanghuang Sect were of three types: Yang, Fire, and Yang-Fire. The Spiritual Power radiating from this man was exceptionally pure, the kind that could only be cultivated by someone from the Yanghuang Sect’s Fire Vein.

“A child is a child, heh.” The man scoffed, then said, “You must have heard the name Cheng Zhen, I presume.”

Zuo Fan nodded. “Never heard of him.”

“So, you have heard of… huh?” The middle-aged man calling himself Cheng Zhen didn’t register it at first, but his expression quickly soured. “If you’ve never heard of me, then why the hell are you nodding?”

As the words left his mouth, Zuo Fan’s Li Huo Sword was already at Cheng Zhen’s face, stopped only by a single Red Lotus.

“So young, yet you’ve already gone bad. All you think about is sneak attacks.”

“Are these the kinds of dirty tricks Xu Ziyang taught you?” Cheng Zhen raised an eyebrow, his tone dripping with scorn.

“Speaking of which, that Xu Ziyang is no good, either,” Cheng Zhen said. A Red Lotus layered itself in his hand, and he slammed it into Zuo Fan’s chest.

“When we were apprentices, he fought me for our junior sister. When we entered the world together, he stole my spotlight. And later, he even snatched the Sect Leader position, which should have been mine.”

“So, tell me what you think.”

Zuo Fan had no time to answer. Cheng Zhen’s layered Red Lotus shattered his Li Huo Sword and slammed into his chest, caving it in on the spot.

If not for his powerful Pure Yang Infinite Skill keeping him clinging to life, circulating his Yang Fire Spiritual Power to repair the damage, he would have died then and there.

“I remember now. Cheng Zhen, the Yanghuang Sect traitor, also known as Layman Red Lotus.”

“A leading figure from the same generation as the Sect Leader.” Prompted by the man’s own words, Zuo Fan finally remembered who this so-called Cheng Zhen was.

“But I am curious. You’ve been gone for decades. Why come out now instead of waiting to die in some gutter?”

Zuo Fan knew he was no match. Cheng Zhen’s power far surpassed the Mad Beggar’s and was perhaps even greater than Xu Ziyang’s. Seizing the momentary gap in the conversation, he activated his Flame Demon form.

The after-effects of the Flame Demon form were severe, but not as severe as losing his life.

“Just a small mission from the higher-ups.”

“I don’t really have any feelings about the Yanghuang Sect anymore. It’s just that this mission happens to involve you,” Cheng Zhen said, looking with great interest at Zuo Fan’s revealed Flame Demon form.

“A mission? Care to elaborate?” Zuo Fan’s Li Huo Giant Sword launched a frenzied attack, but Cheng Zhen neutralized it with ease.

The Red Lotuses made of fire in Cheng Zhen’s hands were like dancing spirits, able to not only block Zuo Fan’s attacks but also launch counterattacks.

After only a few exchanges, Zuo Fan was already accumulating more and more injuries.

However, as he was wounded, the bloodlust in his consciousness began to take over. Not only did his power grow, but his entire fighting style changed.

This change was not a disadvantage, but an advantage.

The Li Huo Giant Sword swept out. Empowered by multiple buffs, it sent Cheng Zhen stumbling back despite his attempts to parry and block. Bloodstains blossomed on his bandages.

“I was starting to think you didn’t bleed. Turns out you do.” Zuo Fan used that single strike to assess Cheng Zhen’s condition.

‘His vast Fire Spiritual Power and rich combat experience are what allow him to suppress me,’ Zuo Fan thought. ‘But he’s still human. If one of my terrifying attacks lands, he’ll definitely be injured.’

“COUGH. Why wouldn’t I bleed? I’m only human, after all.” Cheng Zhen steadied himself and retreated several steps, moving out of Zuo Fan’s attack range.

Only then did he fix a burning gaze on Zuo Fan. “As expected of the one who possesses the Pure Yang Fire Seed. From a mediocre nobody to the Zuo Fan, the Flame Demon of today.”

“What Pure Yang Fire Seed? I am who I am today thanks to the help of a benefactor and my own tireless efforts.” Zuo Fan had no idea that he possessed a Pure Yang Fire Seed.

In his mind, his rise was entirely due to the Spiritual Techniques Qi Suian had given him and his own perseverance.

“Hehehe, you’re too naive.” Cheng Zhen didn’t believe a word. A benefactor? Tireless efforts?

Without innate talent, all of that is just empty talk.

The only reason Xu Ziyang became Sect Leader while he became a traitor to the Yanghuang Sect was that his own talent was inferior. Otherwise, even if he’d made a momentary lapse in judgment, the sect would have protected him, not Xu Ziyang.

A terrifying torrent of Fire Spiritual Power erupted from Cheng Zhen. He was done playing cat and mouse with Zuo Fan; he was about to get serious.

“I’ve said enough. Today, I’m taking that Pure Yang Fire Seed, and your life, I’ll be taking that as… well?”

He had just finished speaking when a pair of great, fiery wings sprouted from the back of the Flame Demon Zuo Fan had become. Then, he burst through the tent and fled.

The scene left Cheng Zhen completely dumbfounded. The escape had been far too sudden, without the slightest warning.

“Shameless, pragmatic, and powerful.”

“If you don’t die by my hand today, the next Sect Leader of the Yanghuang Sect will absolutely be you.”

“Unfortunately, do you really think you can get away?” Cheng Zhen said coldly. A Red Lotus appeared, transformed into a fiery shadow, and shot off in pursuit of Zuo Fan.

—————–

‘Layman Red Lotus is this strong? Damn it, he’s catching up again.’ Zuo Fan had planned to flee the moment the man stopped holding back and unleashed his terrifying Fire Spiritual Power.

The lust for slaughter didn’t make him an idiot. There was no point in fighting a battle he couldn’t win, only to get himself killed.

‘That “small mission” he mentioned must be about this so-called Pure Yang Fire Seed, but I don’t have anything of the sort.’

As he fled toward Red Sun Peak, Zuo Fan remained puzzled.

Clearly, Cheng Zhen had joined some powerful organization. This organization needed an item called the Pure Yang Fire Seed, and they believed he was the one who had it.

That was all the information Zuo Fan could piece together. He couldn’t just conjure up the rest out of thin air.

‘This is bad. He’s too fast. I’m afraid I won’t make it to Red Sun Peak.’ Zuo Fan sensed that Cheng Zhen was getting closer and closer.

The man was stronger than him. Even if the Red Lotus Divine Fire Spell itself was inferior to Zuo Fan’s own arts, the man had long since developed the Spiritual Technique far beyond its original power, creating all sorts of derivative effects.

It wouldn’t be difficult for him to catch up.