Chapter Forty-Four: A Defeat Yet a Victory

He had already lost...

At that moment, a voice suddenly rang out, “Stop!”

Hearing the voice, Yang Nan finally breathed a sigh of relief. His ten-zhang demon form swiftly retreated, and the broken Yin-Eroding weapon, like a headless black serpent, sprang up with a buzzing sound, transforming once more into a crescent moon, guarding him. The headless serpent's body slithered slowly, missing scales and flesh, making it look particularly sinister and eerie. Blood poured from Yang Nan’s ten-zhang demon form, dripping down like a spring, gradually pooling into a small lake on the ground.

The anguished cries of the demon soldiers sent chaos thundering through his mind, like lightning and thunder. Yang Nan’s expression remained cold as he raised his hand lightly, and the severed snake head flew into his palm. With the black serpent weapon in hand and his demonic visage, he appeared utterly ferocious.

Staring at the broken weapon in his hand, Li Yun’s eyes seemed ready to blaze. He knew perfectly well that Yang Nan had relied on the fact that Li Yun dared not strike to kill, choosing to fight him head-on! Now that the Sword of Night’s Splendor was broken, repairing it would be immensely troublesome. The materials required were enough to shock anyone.

Yang Nan’s mana was exhausted; if the fight continued, he would surely lose. Li Yun could have slain him in an instant, but he had to stop—because the person who shouted was none other than Hu Yuan, the eldest brother of the inner sect.

To bully the young, to overwhelm the few with many—if a seventh-rank master fought a mere weapon master, what would happen if the sect leader heard of it?

Li Yun recognized the situation quickly, retracted his weapon, and laughed, “Brother Yang, your abilities are remarkable. I have truly broadened my horizons today. This was meant to be a friendly spar, but Brother Yang grew so excited he broke his own weapon—such a pity! Are you alright?”

Yang Nan did not withdraw his supreme demon form, his monstrous mouth replying calmly, “Thank you for your concern, Brother Li. I carelessly broke your weapon, and am quite ashamed.”

Li Yun suddenly burst into laughter and turned toward Hu Yuan, “So it was you, eldest brother.”

Hu Yuan’s thick beard bristled in anger, lightning flickered across his body, and his iron-blue face twisted into a cold smile. “Brother Li, how about you and I spar today as well? It’s been ages since I’ve exchanged moves with you!”

Seeing the broken black serpent weapon and Yang Nan’s blood-soaked demon form, Hu Yuan’s murderous intent surged. Though he hadn’t known Yang Nan long, he cared deeply for this junior brother. Seeing him beaten into such a state, how could he not be furious?

The Blade of Annihilation—one slash, a thousand thunderbolts descend, no enemy, only self!

Such a name was not given lightly! Even grandmasters might not withstand Hu Yuan’s self-sacrificing strike!

Li Yun’s heart trembled, though his face wore a bitter smile, “Eldest brother, you jest. I’ve just broken my sword’s tip—how could I spar with you now? Your power is unmatched; I am ashamed.”

His weapon was already damaged; to face Hu Yuan, a rank higher, would be folly.

Hu Yuan sneered, his icy gaze sweeping over Fang Wen, Yun Long, and Ji Han, sending chills through their hearts. Eldest brother had always been the guiding light for inner sect disciples, and with his accumulated prestige, who dared challenge the Seven-Star Blade in his hand?

“Disperse!” Hu Yuan said coldly. “Get out!”

Li Yun smiled freely and said to Yang Nan with deep apology, “I was careless. That weapon’s force was too sharp. If you need anything, come to Lanxue Peak for some healing pills.” Yang Nan’s injuries could fool others, but not him—a weapon master could never match a grandmaster.

Li Yun had only broken his sword’s tip, while Yang Nan had lost hundreds of demon soldiers and the head of his weapon! Who suffered more?

Yang Nan’s ruthless resolve made Li Yun even more wary.

Though Li Yun won, it felt like defeat; though Yang Nan lost, he seemed victorious.

Li Yun departed with Fang Wen and the others, while Hu Yuan, his beard bristling, shouted at the hesitant disciples, “Why are you still here? Get out!”

---

Yuan Lan, seeing the grand uncle’s fury, hurriedly drove the disciples out of the hall. Hu Yuan sighed and strode forward, “Junior brother, are you alright?”

Yang Nan sighed softly, white light flickering over him, and in an instant, the hall was littered with dead demon soldiers—over three hundred! Many had severed heads and limbs, their bodies torn apart, dying in agony. Li Yun’s icy, venomous sword energy was terrifying; Yang Nan had fought it barehanded, paying a heavy price.

“In the end, I’ve implicated them…” Yang Nan looked at the carnage, his heart wracked with pain.

The remaining demon soldiers silently gathered their fallen comrades. From the moment they joined the personal guard, they knew their master had given them the best—skills, weapons, even the Tianyuan Divine Talisman’s cave for cultivation. It was all for them to fight for their master.

To die for their master was a duty without regret. Otherwise, what purpose was there in being a personal guard?

Yang Nan, pale-faced, pressed his chest. His dantian was pierced with icy energy, stabbing like knives. His fists had clashed with Li Yun’s weapon aura, but thankfully most of the damage was absorbed by the three hundred demon soldiers; otherwise, the deadly sword energy would have shredded him.

Yang Nan was a fourth-rank weapon master; with his supreme demon form, he could at most reach the fifth grandmaster rank—far beneath Li Yun’s seventh rank. Without desperate measures, he would have lost within a single incense stick’s time.

But the price was the destruction of his Yin-Eroding weapon and three hundred demon soldiers lost.

Yang Nan gazed at the fallen soldiers, pain gripping him, yet he felt no regret. This battle had to be fought; otherwise, Li Yun would have pressed him even further. Without the sacrifice of three hundred demon soldiers, the Seventy-Two Demon Valleys would not be safe.

Without his foundation, what was Yang Nan as an inner sect disciple? Even the demon soldiers would suffer with him.

After this battle, Li Yun no longer believed Yang Nan incapable of fighting to the death. In pure weapon mastery, Yang Nan couldn’t match Li Yun—but let’s not forget, the valley still housed seven great demon kings! If it came to a real fight, who knew who would win?

Hu Yuan saw Yang Nan’s state and understood his purpose, sighing, “Junior brother, after this battle, unless they are certain, they won’t bother you again.” In the Kunlun Sect, only those as resolute and ruthless as Yang Nan could stabilize the Seventy-Two Demon Valleys.

Yang Nan nodded, storing the bodies with his Kingdom Ring. Hu Yuan handed him a bottle of pills, “Take these. The Calm Spirit Pill will ease your mana fluctuations. You’re hurt, no need to force yourself.”

Yang Nan laughed, took the pill, and said, “Thank you, eldest brother.”

After swallowing the Calm Spirit Pill, the chaotic foreign mana in his two major acupoints finally settled.

Not far away, Hun Yuan, Qian Ren, and Ren An approached. If Qian Ren hadn’t acted quickly and fetched Hu Yuan from Purple Qi Peak, Yang Nan would have suffered greatly.

“Junior brother, today’s battle was truly enlightening. I am ashamed I could not help.” Ren An apologized.

Yang Nan shook his head, “It was just a spar with Brother Li. Since Fang Wen and the others did not intervene, how could you interfere? I’m grateful you were here to support me.”

Ren An smiled, appreciating Yang Nan’s understanding. If Yang Nan had been beset by others, Ren An would have stepped in, but since Li Yun fought him one-on-one, he could not interfere, especially since Yang Nan wanted the fight.

Hu Yuan, after giving the pills, said, “Junior brother, when you’re done, return to Spirit Beast Mountain. With your talent, you’ll be a grandmaster within ten years, perhaps even a Venerable in decades. Then you can reclaim your honor. What you lack isn’t aptitude or resources—but time! I see it clearly; given time, Li Yun is nothing.”

A mere grandmaster—what is that? The true contest is who becomes a Venerable first.

Cultivators settle grudges with passion and resolve, even if it takes centuries.

---

Yang Nan nodded, deeply grateful for the care of his elder brother. Safe at Spirit Beast Mountain, once he attained grandmaster status, Li Yun would find it much harder to harm him. He understood Hu Yuan’s good intentions well.

Hu Yuan departed with Ren An, leaving Qian Ren to approach, patting his chest in relief, “Junior uncle, you’re too daring—challenging a seventh-rank grandmaster as a fourth-rank weapon master! Hun Yuan and I thought you were doomed.”

Hun Yuan slapped Qian Ren’s head, scolding, “Don’t talk nonsense! Junior uncle has deep fortune; how could he die?”

Yang Nan, seeing their undisguised worry, was moved. He replied calmly, “Li Yun wouldn’t kill me—at most, he’d humiliate me. Have you finished your tasks?”

Li Yun wouldn’t dare commit murder openly at Kunlun Mountain; he hadn’t the courage. Destroying his weapon was like breaking his arm, but Li Yun paid a price too.

Hun Yuan nodded, “Junior uncle, when the disciples heard they were going to Spirit Beast Mountain, they all rushed to join. They’re waiting outside; shall I call them in?”

Yang Nan nodded, and Hun Yuan soon led a group of young outer sect disciples in. Having just witnessed junior uncle’s prowess, their eyes shone with awe—strength has always commanded respect.

Yang Nan saw there were exactly thirty disciples. He nodded lightly, “You all know the situation at Spirit Beast Mountain. If you enter, you must obey my rules. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being merciless!”

The disciples responded in unison, “We will strictly obey junior uncle’s orders!”

Yang Nan was satisfied—they were shrewd, having spent time in the outer sect. If they hadn’t learned worldly ways by now, it would be laughable. He took out the broken snake head of the black serpent weapon and asked, “Who among you can repair this weapon?”

A damaged weapon greatly limits its master’s abilities. A sword without its tip—how can it cut?

The black serpent weapon had lost its head, its body scarred and nearly broken in several places. As outer sect disciples with basic skills, who could repair it?

Ten weapon-crafting disciples exchanged glances. This king-grade divine weapon was not something they could fix easily. If their first task under junior uncle failed, would they not be cast aside?

“Junior uncle, the forging method requires the Nine-Dragon Fire Platform. With it, I could restore the weapon!” A small, wild-haired disciple stepped forward.

“Nine-Dragon Fire Platform? Who are you?” Yang Nan frowned. He knew of such forging tools—using nine types of fire within nine crafted dragon bodies, each breathing fire to forge weapons or artifacts.

But it was impossible now to ask Bu Xu to help with the forging again; he could only try whatever was at hand.

Hun Yuan whispered, “Junior uncle, this is Bai Lian. He loves forging weapons, not cultivation—an odd genius among the outer disciples. Though only at the basic level, he often crafts high-grade artifacts, his skill in forging quite extraordinary!”

Yang Nan nodded. If Hun Yuan, shrewd as he was, trusted Bai Lian, he must have talent.

“Very well, we’ll discuss this back at Spirit Beast Mountain.” Yang Nan waved his hand. The broken weapon was a troublesome matter; judging by Li Yun’s heartache, repairing the Sword of Night’s Splendor wouldn’t be easy. Such duels rarely ended so bitterly among fellow disciples, and this feud with the Li family had only deepened...