Whoosh—
The Poison Blood Banner unfurled, stirring a wave of crimson energy.
Cangsong Daoren was about to strike and silence Ji Changfeng when he saw the youth form a sword seal and utter a hauntingly familiar incantation in a clear voice:
"Not seeking to slay immortals, but to cleave through ghosts and gods!"
The resonant words echoed in Cangsong's ears.
In that moment, he froze, stunned.
Swish—
The Poison Blood Banner slipped from his grasp, falling to the ground.
Cangsong stared at Ji Changfeng, dazed.
A figure from his past seemed to overlap with the youth before him. Trembling, Cangsong reached out toward Ji Changfeng, tears streaming down his face.
"Slaying Ghosts and Gods? This is Slaying Ghosts and Gods?!"
"Senior Brother Wan…"
Ji Changfeng's expression remained unchanged.
Once Slaying Ghosts and Gods was unleashed, there was no turning back—its relentless momentum allowed no retreat.
Clang—
A brilliant sword light flashed.
An unstoppable sword intent erupted, a crescent-shaped sword qi slashing toward Cangsong.
Rip—
The tearing sensation jolted Cangsong's senses. He snapped out of his grief, scrambling to retrieve the Poison Blood Banner from the ground.
Whoosh—
A wave of blood energy surged.
Cangsong's Upper Spirit Realm cultivation was unmistakable. With a casual gesture, he obliterated Ji Changfeng's Slaying Ghosts and Gods.
Having done so, Cangsong discarded the Poison Blood Banner without hesitation. His trembling gaze fixed on Ji Changfeng.
"Nephew Changfeng, you… where did you learn this Slaying Ghosts and Gods?"
"Is he… is he still alive?"
"Senior Brother Wan is alive, isn't he?"
Ji Changfeng's face remained impassive. "Martial Uncle Cangsong, I don't know what you're talking about. But… you can ask the Sect Leader, Martial Uncle."
The words had barely left his lips when Cangsong stiffened.
He sensed a chilling, oppressive gaze boring into him from behind.
Turning slowly, Cangsong met the eyes of Dao Xuan Zhenren, who stood clutching the Zhuxian Sword, his gaze heavy with barely contained fury.
"Cangsong, do you realize what you've done?" Dao Xuan's voice carried a weighty accusation.
Cangsong opened his mouth, but his thoughts were consumed by Slaying Ghosts and Gods.
"Senior Brother Wan… he didn't die, did he?" Cangsong pleaded, looking at Dao Xuan. "Sect Leader, Senior Brother, please, tell me! Senior Brother Wan is alive, isn't he? Please…"
Dao Xuan suppressed his anger, snapping, "You still acknowledge me as your Senior Brother?!"
His hand, gripping the Zhuxian Sword, trembled slightly.
If it weren't Cangsong standing before him, he might have already struck to purge the sect of this traitor.
"Senior Brother Wan… Senior Brother Wan…" Cangsong muttered, head bowed, tears streaming down his face like a helpless child.
Dao Xuan took a deep breath.
"Get to the Ancestral Shrine and kneel!" he commanded.
"The Ancestral Shrine?" Cangsong blinked, a realization dawning. His face lit up with joy as he summoned his sword and flew toward Tongtian Peak.
Dao Xuan retrieved the Poison Blood Banner from the ground, his expression dark, and followed.
"Nephew Changfeng, wait at Yuqing Hall," Dao Xuan's calm voice echoed through the air.
Ji Changfeng bowed slightly. "Yes, Sect Leader, Martial Uncle!"
With that, he summoned his Moxue Divine Sword and leisurely flew toward Tongtian Peak.
Sect Leader, Martial Uncle, you sure have an eye for people.
Spotting Cangsong as the traitor in one glance…
Ji Changfeng couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.
How will this play out?
What will Dao Xuan and Wan Jianyi do with Cangsong?
Logically, colluding with the demonic cult was a grave offense. Even in Qingyun Sect, it warranted death—or at the very least, the stripping of cultivation and imprisonment.
Tongtian Peak, Ancestral Shrine
Cangsong arrived, disheveled and wild-eyed.
His gaze immediately locked onto the one-armed elder holding a broom.
Though aged beyond recognition, Cangsong instantly knew—this was his Senior Brother Wan, the peerless Wan Jianyi of yesteryear.
"Senior Brother Wan…"
Cangsong threw himself forward, collapsing to his knees before Wan Jianyi, alternating between sobs and manic laughter.
"Junior Brother Cangsong? What's wrong with you?" Wan Jianyi asked, startled by Cangsong's sudden appearance.
"What's wrong? Hmph!"
"Take a look at what he's done!"
A furious voice rang out. Dao Xuan approached, holding the blood-red banner, and flung it to the ground in anger.
"The Poison Blood Banner?!" Wan Jianyi's eyes widened in shock.
The Poison Blood Banner was a demonic cult artifact, forged through vile methods requiring the blood essence of at least a hundred lives.
This banner, steeped in crimson aura, likely claimed over three hundred souls.
Wan Jianyi's expression darkened. His sharp eyes bored into Cangsong. "Cangsong, what have you done?!"
"Senior Brother Wan, I've failed you. I've failed Qingyun Sect…" Cangsong wept, confessing his collusion with the Wandu Sect and his plot to destroy Qingyun Sect to "avenge" Senior Brother Wan.
Silence fell over the scene.
Slap—
Wan Jianyi struck Cangsong across the face, his piercing gaze demanding answers. "Cangsong, do you understand the gravity of your actions?"
"Senior Brother Wan, I know I was wrong. I truly know…"
Cangsong knelt, disheveled, kowtowing repeatedly, begging for forgiveness, fully aware of his unforgivable sins.
"Hmph!" Wan Jianyi snorted coldly, pointing at Dao Xuan. "Why confess to me? He's the Sect Leader!"
Cangsong turned, kowtowing to Dao Xuan, his voice thick with regret. "Sect Leader, Senior Brother, I know I was wrong. I truly know…"
Dao Xuan's face remained grim.
He stared at Cangsong and said coldly, "Junior Brother Cangsong, in your eyes, am I so unfit to be Sect Leader?!"
Cangsong wept silently, unable to respond.
Deep down, he believed the position belonged to Senior Brother Wan, not Dao Xuan.
But in truth, Wan Jianyi's temperament made him ill-suited for leadership. Dao Xuan was the rightful choice.
"Alas…" Dao Xuan sighed softly.
He looked at Cangsong coldly. "Cangsong, since you haven't yet caused irreparable harm, I order you to infiltrate the demonic cult as a double agent and redeem yourself through deeds. However… your crimes cannot go unpunished. Once your mission is complete, I will strip your cultivation and confine you to the Ancestral Shrine to repent. Do you object?"
Cangsong bowed respectfully. "I obey Sect Leader, Senior Brother's command. I have no objections!"
Dao Xuan nodded. "One more thing—regarding the massacre at Caomiao Village, are you certain you had no involvement?"
Cangsong declared firmly, "Sect Leader, Senior Brother, Senior Brother Wan, I swear, the Caomiao Village massacre had nothing to do with me!"
Dao Xuan frowned, skeptical.
If not Cangsong, then… who?
The three exchanged puzzled glances, uncertainty clouding their thoughts
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