The other disciples eventually left and returned to their respective peaks. All of them would be talking about today's incident for a long time to come.
Qingyun Sect disciples came to challenge the Tower of Trials; one of them even cleared the tower. Following that, they challenged the first disciples of the nine peaks, and eight of the first disciples were defeated. They had been powerless to fight back. However, a female disciple from Chuyang Peak, a peak that most of them disdained and often ridiculed, stepped forward and nearly killed Qingyun Sect core disciple.
The disciples of Jiuyang Sect were both shocked and embarrassed by this.
…
Chuyang Peak.
"Senior Brother, was I amazing?" Zi Linglong asked as she hugged Jiang Ming's arm and swung it.
Zi Linglong was now close to 1.7 meters tall. She had snow-white skin, a sweet face, a pair of beautiful eyes, flowing hair, a fine body, and a pair of long legs. She looked like a painting that had come to life.
"Of course!" Jiang Ming gave her a thumbs-up. "Qingyun Sect is known as the Sacred Land of the Eastern Region. Their core disciples are very gifted, and yet, you almost killed one of them. You're more than amazing!"
A troubled expression appeared on Zi Linglong's face as she asked, "Will I get in trouble for beating him up so hard, Senior Brother?"
"Don't worry, it'll be fine. Qingyun Sect's experts won't come seeking revenge just because we beat up one of the core disciples. If they did, they wouldn't be known as the Sacred Land anymore," Jiang Ming said. Inwardly, he thought to himself, 'Don't worry. I'll head over there tonight and kill them!'
"Alright!" Zi Linglong's eyes lit up upon hearing Jiang Ming's words. "Since you're now at the Foundation Establishment Realm, no one will dare to call you mediocre anymore! I'm sure no one in the sect reached the Foundation Establishment Realms as quickly as you did!"
"It's all thanks to your Foundation Establishment Pills."
Zi Linglong giggled. "I'll make sure to get more of them for you!"
"In that case, I must make sure to stay on your good side, Junior Sister. Alright, wait here. I'll cook up a feast for you!"
"I'll give you a hand, Senior Brother!"
Laughter rang in the mountain once again.
Gu Hai felt reassured when he saw his disciples were still as close as ever. He stroked his beard as he enjoyed his tea. He would let the Sect Master worry about the repercussions of offending Mu Lei and Ge Changqing.
The sun that emerged after it stopped raining quickly disappeared again. The day was almost over. When night fell, the moon hung in its rightful spot in the east.
The two disciples admired the moon under the pavilion. They had a good view; it looked as though they could see to the ends of the world from where they were seated.
The mountain breeze that carried the sweet fragrance of the flowers caressed their faces.
"What do you want to do in the future, Senior Brother?"
"Me? I'll stay on Chuyang Peak and cook for you and Master. I'll spend my time cultivating, admiring the flowers and the moon. I'll live a carefree life! What about you, Linglong?"
"I'll stay with you, Junior Brother. Whoever dares to disturb your peace, I'll send them running!"
Jiang Ming laughed. "That sounds great!"
…
When it was close to midnight, Jiang Ming sent Linglong back to her room.
Zi Linglong's eyes flashed as she sat cross-legged on the bed.
'I remember Qingyun Sect's Mu Lei. At that time, he cultivated the furnace technique and devoured many geniuses' bloodline foundations to raise his strength. I didn't expect to catch his attention after awakening my phoenix bloodline ahead of time. Just as well. I'll kill him when the chance presents itself. Although many things have deviated due to certain events, the general trend remains the same. The devil sects should be making a move within ten years. There's also Bishui Sect. I wish to stay by Junior Brother's side forever but… After a few days, I should increase my strength again. My foundation has stabilized, and I'm at the 9th Extreme Golden Core Realm now. With this, I've already surpassed my past self. With this, I no longer have to concern myself with certain things…'
Zi Linglong mulled over her current situation and tried to imagine the future. She could not help but recall her past life as well. In the past, she had grown up happily under the protection of her master and senior brother. Everything was fine until the Yinmo Sect attacked, plunging the sect into chaos. At that time, her senior brother brought her along and fled for their lives. He experienced many hardships trying to protect her and nearly lost his life on several occasions. Moreover…
Zi Linglong's eyes brimmed with tears as she recalled the past. However, despite the tears, her eyes shone with determination as well.
She exhaled slowly and regulated her breathing before she continued refining her mana.
…
Jiang Ming stood at the window of his bedroom and looked at the world that was bathed in the moon's silver light.
Swoosh!
The Human Path Records flipped open.
Name: Mu Lei
Gender: Male
Cultivation base: 4th Extreme Golden Core Realm.
Background: Core disciple of Qingyun Sect.
Relationship: -93
Innate Talent: Eight stars (primary flood dragon bloodline).
Status: Since he left Jiuyang Sect, he has been cursing Zi Linglong, Chuyang Peak, and Jiuyang Sect. At this moment, he's tending to his injuries on a mountain 30,000 miles northwest of Jiuyang Sect.
"30,000 miles? That's quite a distance away…" Jiang Ming considered his options.
When he saw the relationship value had dropped another two points, he only sneered. 'I've never even spoken to you before, but you hate so much…'
Jiang Ming flipped to the next page that displayed Ge Changqing's information.
Name: Ge Changqing
Gender: Male
Cultivation base: Nascent Soul realm.
Background: Elder of Qingyun Sect.
Relationship: -33
Innate Talent: Eight stars.
Status: He had to retreat and bring Mu Lei and the others away. He resents the Sect Master of Jiuyang Sect for failing to appreciate his kindness and favor. He decided to destroy, if not kill, Jiuyang Sect Master when the chance presents itself. He grew even angrier when he thought about how Jiuyang Sect Master refused him and humiliated Qingyun Peak. He thinks Jiuyang Sect Master has a death wish. Moreover, he really wanted to kill Zi Linglong earlier for almost killing a core disciple of Qingyun Sect. He would have done so if they were not in Jiuyang Sect. Currently, he's watching over Mu Lei as Mu Lei recuperates on a mountain 30,000 miles from Jiuyang Sect. At the same time, he's also thinking about how he could spice the story up about how despicable Jiuyang Sect is when he recounts them to Mu Shuiyun, Mu Lei's mother.
"You didn't even look at me, and I don't think you even know me, but our relationship value is -33." Jiang Ming felt quite speechless.
A core disciple and elder of the Sacred Land should be tolerant. Why were these two people so petty? Were they so used to living an easy life that they could not tolerate any setbacks?
Subsequently, Jiang Ming expanded his senses and noticed his master was tempering his mana. His junior sister was cultivating as well.
Then, he activated a Formation. If his master or junior sister came looking for him, they would think he's cultivating due to the activated Formation.
"Junior Sister might cultivate outside the sect soon. I can't allow someone like Mu Lei, who harbors ill intentions toward her, to live!"
Jiang Ming stepped forward into the spatial network and vanished into thin air like a phantom. When he reappeared, he had just stepped past the Grand Formation and arrived outside the mountain.
When he took another step forward again, it was without ripples or disturbance in the air. He vanished again and reappeared 1,000 miles away in just a blink of an eye.
He used his Great Akasa Steps and traveled through the spatial network, which provided stealth and agility that greatly surprised him.
"If I can completely master the Space Sambodha, I'll definitely be able to travel through different spaces. It'd be like teleportation!"
Jiang Ming finally came to a stop when he was 100 miles away from his destination. He saw Ge Changqing and the others in the distance.
As though he had turned into a completely different person, the mana surged in his body as Devil Qi rose from his body.
Jiang Ming said gruffly, "There they are…" Then, he laughed maniacally for a moment before he said, "I'll kill all of you today, Ge Changqing, for destroying my sect in the past."