Chapter Thirty-Three: Elder Sun De
“What? Zhang Yan is dead?”
In the Treasure Hall of Qingyang Peak, Elder Sun De, upon hearing the news of his prized disciple’s death, flew into a rage and shattered the tea table before him with a single palm strike.
“Who killed him?”
Watching Elder Sun De’s fury, the disciple below trembled and replied, “It… it was Lin Cheng, the core disciple of Hidden Sword Peak…”
At the same time, angry shouts echoed from Elder Wu Neng’s residence in the inner sect.
“Hidden Sword Peak? Lin Cheng… that disciple who only recently joined the sect?”
“Impossible. Before entering, he was only at the third stage of True Qi. Even if his talent is extraordinary, it’s impossible for him to reach the level where he could slay Peng’er and Zhang Yan in such a short time…”
“Master, this is absolutely true. There were at least a thousand disciples watching at the Life and Death Platform. All witnessed Lin Cheng fighting Senior Brother Zhan Peng and Senior Brother Zhang Yan alone…”
After speaking, Li San dared not even breathe, bowing quietly at the bottom of the hall.
In truth, he felt a faint excitement in his heart at this moment. He and Zhan Peng were both disciples of Elder Wu Neng, but he had always been oppressed by Zhan Peng. He dared not resist, knowing Zhan Peng had the backing of Dongfang Yu. Now that Zhan Peng was dead, he finally had a chance to rise.
Above, Wu Neng’s eyes flickered as he pondered, then he asked again, “Did he really kill them directly on the Life and Death Platform?”
Li San replied, “Absolutely, Master.”
Wu Neng took a deep breath and waved his hand.
“You may leave for now…”
Li San bowed, “Li San takes his leave. Master, please take care of yourself.”
Once Li San had departed, Wu Neng slowly turned around, his figure seeming to age in that moment. He knew well what kind of person Zhan Peng was, but regardless, Zhan Peng had been his most favored disciple over the years; it was impossible not to feel anger.
Yet Lin Cheng was the personal disciple of Master Hidden Blade, and he had slain Zhan Peng fair and square on the Life and Death Platform. For now, Wu Neng could only suppress his fury and cast his gaze toward the Treasure Hall.
With that old fellow’s temperament, he certainly would not let this matter rest.
Just as Wu Neng expected, upon learning his beloved disciple had been killed, Sun De, in his rage, transformed into a streak of rainbow light and sped toward Hidden Sword Peak.
“Lin Cheng, you wretch, come out and face your death!”
From afar, a thunderous roar filled with murderous intent swept across the skies and entered Hidden Sword Peak.
Lin Cheng, who was meditating, slowly opened his eyes and rose to his feet.
As soon as he stepped out of his cave, a figure landed before him and, without a word, hurled a punch.
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Lin Cheng barely had time to defend before he was sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground. Blood spurted from his mouth; he felt as if all his internal organs were shattered. The Five Element Sword Body instinctively activated, desperately suppressing the lingering force of the punch.
Struggling to lift his head, he saw the attacker: clad in a crimson robe embroidered with black clouds, gray hair draped over his shoulders, and eyes as large as bronze bells glaring fiercely at him.
He survived!
Sun De felt a moment of surprise. He was a Pill Realm expert; though the punch was casual, it should have been impossible for someone not yet at the Spirit Realm to withstand.
Sun De’s eyes narrowed, a cold killing intent flashing within them. Just as he was about to strike again, a blurred shadow swept in, interposing itself between Lin Cheng and Sun De, and transformed into a man.
Upon his back was a sword case; his somewhat disheveled black hair was tied up casually. Despite the stubble on his face, he radiated an aura of righteousness. At his waist hung a wine gourd, giving him an unrestrained, roguish air.
“Elder Sun, do you think Hidden Sword Peak has no one to stand up to you? For an elder to attack a junior—how disgraceful…”
“Heh, so it’s you… Drunken Sword, Master Hidden Blade’s second disciple. Do you really think you can stop me?”
“I know well I am no match for Elder Sun. But if you wish to harm my junior brother, you’ll have to get past me first. Forgive my boldness, but I must ask Elder Sun for a few pointers…”
“Arrogant brat! Let’s see how many moves you can withstand!”
With these words, Sun De’s aura surged, his robe billowed, and an unmatched fist force attacked.
Drunken Sword dared not be careless; with a gesture, seven swords flew from his sword case, forming a sword formation behind him that charged toward Sun De.
“Seven-Star Sword Formation: Break!”
As Drunken Sword and Sun De battled fiercely, two other figures quickly arrived—Han Meng and Niu Shisan.
Seeing Lin Cheng gravely injured and barely alive on the ground, Niu Shisan glared at Sun De, biting down hard in fury. Han Meng immediately administered a healing pill to Lin Cheng and began channeling her cultivation to aid his recovery.
On the battlefield, after ten exchanges, Drunken Sword was already showing signs of defeat, barely managing to hold Sun De at bay.
This was no small feat; Sun De was a Pill Realm master, a whole realm above. If not for the extraordinary combat prowess of sword cultivators and the aid of the Seven-Star Sword Formation, Drunken Sword could not have held out this long.
Boom!
Taking another punch head-on, Drunken Sword slid back across the ground, carving a deep trail as his sword plunged into the earth, barely stabilizing himself.
“Step aside… Today I seek only Lin Cheng’s life, to avenge my murdered disciple…”
Sun De was shocked—Drunken Sword had managed to last twenty rounds across a realm’s difference. Was the combat power of sword cultivators truly so formidable?
Supported by his sword, Drunken Sword rose slowly, his gaze unwavering as he faced Sun De, with no trace of fear.
“I do not know what grievance lies between you, but within Hidden Sword Peak, I will not allow anyone to harm him!”
Drunken Sword’s staunch defense filled Lin Cheng with gratitude; he felt for the first time that Hidden Sword Peak was truly a home.
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“If you insist on blocking me, don’t blame me for disregarding Master Hidden Blade’s face…”
Sun De was about to strike when a distant, ethereal voice drifted over.
“You, Sun De, have never shown me any respect…”
As the voice fluctuated near and far, light gathered in the field, and Master Hidden Blade appeared, stepping forward.
“Greetings, Master.”
“Greetings, Master.”
“Respectful greetings, Master.”
…
Seeing his arrival, everyone rejoiced and hurried to pay their respects.
“Master…” Behind, Lin Cheng struggled to rise, but even with Niu Shisan’s support, he could not manage it.
Master Hidden Blade glanced at Lin Cheng, flicked his finger, and a pill radiating pure energy slipped into Lin Cheng’s mouth, its powerful medicinal force gradually restoring his wounds.
Turning to face Sun De, his voice grew cold. “Who gave you the audacity, Sun De, to disregard Hidden Sword Peak and dare to storm my domain seeking blood?”
Sun De replied, “Master Hidden Blade, it’s not as you think. Lin Cheng… he killed my disciple first. I beseech you to see the truth…”
The sweat broke out on Sun De’s forehead at Master Hidden Blade’s words. Only when facing him directly did Sun De experience the suffocating pressure.
Master Hidden Blade simply stared at Sun De in silence.
“If you doubt me, you can ask your disciple Lin Cheng. It was because he killed Zhang Yan that I, in a moment of anger, lost my reason. I meant no disrespect to you, Master…”
Under Master Hidden Blade’s gaze, Sun De felt a chill and hurried to explain again.
“Master, Zhang Yan and the others gravely wounded my brother before, nearly killing him. I challenged them to a duel on the Life and Death Platform and slew them there. I believe I did no wrong. Since they once sought our lives, why should I show them mercy?”
With the strength of the pill restoring him, Lin Cheng steadied his wounds and replied directly to Sun De’s words.
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