The colorfully-dressed She Ziying stood beside Hong Yan, arms crossed in front of her chest. She laughed coldly, “Earlier, out of consideration for your former bond as sectmates, Senior Apprentice Brother Hong Yang tried to help that traitor. Who’d have thought she’d be so ungrateful as to spit in his face? It seems that the old saying is true after all: the pitiful have surely done something to deserve their misfortune!”

When they heard this, the nearby Wheel of the Moon disciples burst into uproar.

Hong Yang sighed and waved. “Ziying, no need to say anymore. If anyone is to blame, it’s me and my excessive concern for our former bond.”

He seemed so magnanimous and open-minded that the crowd couldn’t help but feel angry on his behalf.

Cha Jin found it rather funny.

This She Ziying was targeting her at every turn to curry favor with Hong Yang.

But Hong Yang? He was just using this as an opportunity to show off his poise and breadth of spirit.

The pair of them were simply ridiculous. 

“Cha Jin, you traitor. Turn yourself in and await your punishment already!” bellowed a powerful-looking young man in ornate robes, his voice booming like thunder.

Cha Jin glanced at him coldly. “Junior Apprentice Brother Fang Xiu, during my time cultivating in the Wheel of the Moon Sect, I looked out for you quite a bit. If I hadn’t been there, I’m afraid you couldn’t possibly have made it into the inner sect so quickly. Are you really going to kick your benefactor while she’s down?”

She was disappointed, and angry, too.

The distant Wheel of the Moon Sect disciples looked at each other. Everything Cha Jin said was true. In fact, if not for Cha Jin, Fang Xiu might never have made it into the Wheel of the Moon Sect at all!

However, Fang Xiu’s expression only darkened, and he roared, “You’re nothing but a traitor now, you bitch! Wouldn’t concerning myself with your former kindness be no different from betraying the sect myself?”

He spoke with a righteous air and complete confidence, and the crowd shouted its approval.

As a disciple of the Wheel of the Moon Sect, it was only right that he drew a line between himself and a known traitor!

A smug grin instantly spread across Fang Xiu’s face.

“Shameless and despicable.” Su Yi glanced at Fang Xiu, and a sharp light flashed through his eyes.

With the power of his divine sense, he could kill even an earthly immortal, much less a small fry like Fang Xiu!

The crowd then watched as Fang Xiu fell over with a thud. His smile froze in place, and blood leaked from the seven apertures of his face.

He died on the spot.

The clamoring, cheering crowd froze in terror.

Immediately afterward, a piercing shriek rang out—

“Who killed Junior Apprentice Brother Fang Xiu?”

“Dammit! What’s going on?”

“It was that guy!” Countless enraged, startled gazes turned toward Su Yi.

Earlier, they’d practically overlooked Su Yi’s existence. They figured that he was just some member of the Shen Family, and that he’d come here with Cha Jin to ensure she accepted her punishment. 

It was only now that they realized that something was amiss.

Whoever he was, he’d dared kill someone right in front of the Wheel of the Moon Sect’s gates!

Even Cha Jin was stunned.

To the best of her knowledge, Su Yi usually couldn’t be bothered to pursue petty grievances with small fries like Fang Xiu.

“He made me remember Chang Guoke,” said Su Yi offhandedly, sounding a bit rueful.

Cha Jin instantly understood. Su Yi was Chang Guoke’s benefactor, but he was also the Hidden Dragon Sword Sect’s enemy. This left Chang Guoke sandwiched between two opposing sides.

But from beginning to end, Chang Guoke had never forgotten his gratitude or turned on his benefactor.

Fang Xiu seemed far too shameless and despicable by comparison.

“Why are you all making so much noise?” Suddenly, a deep shout rang out, and a dark-robed, glaring middle-aged man emerged through the gates.

Zhao Chi.

An inner sect deacon of the Wheel of the Moon Sect.

“Deacon Zhao, that guy killed someone right in front of our main gate!” The Wheel of the Moon Sect disciples spoke up, one after another. All of them pointed at Su Yi, their eyes bulging with fury.

Zhao Chi’s expression darkened, and his eyes flashed like lightning. He locked onto the distant Su Yi, then bellowed, “Who are you? How dare you commit murder here, at the Wheel of the Moon Sect? Hurry up and tell me your name, or else you’ll die without a proper burial!”

His voice soared into the clouds.

Hong Yang seized the opportunity to say coldly, “Cha Jin, why aren’t you urging your companion to come quietly and await his punishment?”

She Zijing shouted in a huff, “You’re deranged and depraved! You’re simply out of control!”

Zhao Chi’s appearance made them feel like they had someone to rely on.

“Why couldn’t someone worthy of notice have come instead?” Su Yi shook his head, seemingly a bit disappointed.

Afterward, he looked up, fixed his distant gaze on the peak of Mount Rama, and said calmly, “Where are you, leader of the Wheel of the Moon Sect? Come on out, or else, don’t blame Su so-and-so for cleaving open your sect’s gates and wiping it off the map!”

His voice reverberated throughout heaven and earth. It wasn’t particularly thunderous, yet it shook the Wheel of the Moon Sect disciples’ souls, making their blood and qi churn.

Their expressions shifted, disbelief written all over their faces. How could this guy be so brazen? Does he really plan to contend with the entire Wheel of the Moon Sect?

Zhao Chi went rigid. Did he just say ‘Su so-and-so’? Don’t tell that young man in blue is that… living legend of the Great Zhou?

It was then that a dignified and grave voice emanated from the peak of Mount Rama.

“Su Yi, you’re finally here!” Each word clanged like metal clashing against metal, the sound rife with killing intent.

Su Yi!?

The Wheel of the Moon Sect disciples reacted as if they’d been struck by lightning. All of them were startled out of their wits.

They would never have guessed, not even if you hit them over the head, that the blue-robed young man beside Cha Jin was the famous imperial preceptor of the Great Zhou, Su Yi!

He was a terrifying, legendary existence!

“It really is him!” Zhao Qi gasped, and a chill coursed down his spine.

When he recalled how aggressive he’d been earlier, and all that talk of Su Yi dying without a burial, delayed terror surged uncontrollably into his heart.

“What? He… he… he… He’s Su Yi?” Hong Yang’s eyes widened, and his scalp went numb.

He was one of the Seven Sons of the Moon Wheel, a cultivation genius, yet it was as if he’d been hit over the head. He felt entirely out of sorts.

She Ziying was rooted to the spot as well; she felt as if she’d been plunged into an icy abyss.

They were all disciples of the Wheel of the Moon Sect. They understood Su Yi’s strength far better than any mundane martial artist ever could, and they knew how terrifying he was. This was the legendary but ruthless figure who’d cut down over ten Earthly Immortals in rapid succession!

When she saw this, Cha Jin realized that Su Yi’s prestige had spread throughout the Great Wei as well. He was so illustrious and terrifying that everyone knew his name!

Whoosh!

That voice reminiscent of clanging metal was still resounding through the air when a silhouette streaked over. It was a man in navy blue robes. His hair hung loose, and he wore a high-brimmed hat. His bearing was as forceful as the sea.

This was none other than Sect Leader Chu Yukou, a late-stage Grain Avoidance cultivator!

“Greetings, Sect Leader!”

The crowd reacted as if awakening from a dream, and all of them greeted their leader. Much of their stifled panic and terror faded; it seemed they’d found their pillar.

“All of you, retreat behind the sect gates.” Chu Yukou waved them away.

“Yes, sir!” The crowd left as ordered. All of them felt as if a massive weight had been lifted from their shoulders.

They weren’t so ignorant of their own strength as to clash with someone as terrifying as Su Yi.

Su Yi paid those minor characters no heed. Instead, he gazed at Chu Yuekou and said flatly, “Let’s hear it. Why are you targeting Cha Jin? With the methods at the Wheel of the Moon Sect’s disposal, I’m sure you’re well aware that she’s with me. I truly don’t understand why you’d target her even knowing that. Why seek out your own demise? Was losing Yun Zhongqi not enough for you?”

Yun Zhongqi!

When Su Yi brought up the deceased high elder’s name, Chu Yukou’s expression instantly grew unsightly, and a hint of grief appeared on his brow.

“In your eyes, the man you killed was just another person, but to me, he was like a close relative!” Chu Yukao said icily. “Yun Zhongqi was my master. He’s the one who brought me to the Wheel of the Moon Sect and the one who taught me. He treated me like his own son, and in my heart, I’ve always seen him as my father. Don’t you think I ought to get revenge?”

Su Yi’s brow furrowed. “In that case, why not directly declare war? Why resort to underhanded tactics and target a woman?”

Chu Yukou said coldly, “How could I have lured you to the Great Wei and all the way to our gates if I hadn’t used Cha Jin as bait?”

Su Yi finally understood. “I understand now. I already sensed that there was something strange about what happened with the Shen. So, I was the Wheel of the Moon Sect’s true target all along.”

“Of course!” Chu Yukou’s gaze was icy and indifferent. “Su Yi, you are indeed powerful, enough to strike terror into the hearts of the vast majority of the world’s Origin Dao cultivators. However, today, you’ll die without a proper burial!”

His voice brimmed with undisguised hatred.

Night had already fallen, and the light of dusk blazed like fire, shrouding the majestic Mount Rama in radiant light.

Su Yi stood before the massive mountain gates, staring down the distant Chu Yukou. The killing intent in the air was so oppressive that the spectating experts of the Wheel of the Moon Sect held their breath and watched with rapt, nervous attention. 

However, Su Yi only smiled, as if his interest had been piqued. “Oh? It seems you’re quite confident. I’m sure you’re relying on something, so hurry up and bring whatever it is out.”

He looked up into the rapidly darkening skies and said, “I certainly have no desire to spend the night out here in the wilderness…”

“Hmph!” Chu Yukou snorted coldly, then took a deep breath. He gazed at the deepest, most distant recesses of Mount Yama and clasped his fist. “Martial Uncle, it's beneath your status, but please exterminate Su Yi. Please, help me get revenge on High Elder Yun Zhongqi’s behalf!”

His voice spread far and wide.

Clang!

The bone-chillingly cold, low hum of a sword suddenly reverberated throughout the dusk.

At first, the hum was so soft, it was only barely audible. However, it gradually increased in pitch and intensity. In the end, it boomed like thunder and rumbled like an avalanche, the sound bearing down on heaven and earth and spreading far and wide.

Rumble!

Beneath countless Wheel of the Moon Sect disciples’ gazes, the churning sea of clouds parted. A perfectly clear rift formed, then spread, extending all the way to the mountain gate. 

A perfectly upright, lean figure appeared at the end of the rift, his hands behind his back. He was clad in gray, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes. His long hair was tied up, and he used a golden flying sword to hold it in place.

When he appeared, the humming ceased, and heaven and earth were silent once more.

The light shining through the colorful clouds illuminated his upright figure. He was so bright, the onlookers dared not look at him directly.

“The grand high elder!”

The entire sect stirred, all of them incomparably excited. Their faces filled with fervor and admiration.

Even Cha Jin’s expression changed. She naturally knew the grand high elder’s name. How could she not know of a legend like him?

Fifty years ago, he was the youngest Earthly Immortal in the Great Wei, and his attainments in the Dao of the Sword were so lofty that the nation’s other sword cultivators could only hang their heads in shame!

What terrifying heights had his cultivation reached now, after fifty years of seclusion?

“I wouldn’t have guessed it, but there’s actually quite an impressive expert here,” said Su Yi, sounding a bit stunned.