Chapter 33: Sect Uprising

The next moment, a majestic little black dog appeared at the foot of Wanfa Peak. Gazing at Lin Qingxuan, who knelt there with his entire body cracked and shattered, the dog tilted its head, revealing a trace of confusion.

Seeing the little black dog, despair filled Lin Qingxuan’s eyes. His breath was chaotic, and his life-fire flickered like a candle in the wind, threatening to extinguish at any moment. When he saw Lin Jun arrive, a look of relief finally washed over his face. Yet, unwilling to give up, he gasped, "Save... save me! Be... be careful, Heavenly Sword Venerable! He... he is about to become a demon!"

Having uttered these words, he had intended to plead for his life, but he had exhausted his final strength. His flickering life-fire vanished in an instant. He remained kneeling there, his head drooping powerlessly; he was dead.

"Woof? Woof?"

Ye Zhetian barked at him twice, tilted its head, and satisfied that he was truly dead, it wagged its tail and trotted away.

Some time later, Lin Jun’s figure suddenly appeared. He looked at the corpse of Lin Qingxuan kneeling on the ground, falling into a brief silence, his frame appearing desolate. After a long while, he looked down at the body and began to chant a convoluted scripture. As his lips moved, no sound emerged; instead, golden, runic characters manifested in the air.

This was the "Great Detachment Sutra," hidden within Wanfa Peak, also known as the Great Detachment Art. The Great Dao is formless, and the greatest sounds are silent; this art was specifically used to grant liberation to those heavy with sin. Chanting it required immense magical power—a feat impossible for anyone below the Nascent Soul stage, and only Lin Jun could barely manage it.

As Lin Jun chanted, the golden characters drifted out, forming a vast cloud that enveloped the kneeling Lin Qingxuan. They slowly seeped into his chest, mending his body and restoring him to wholeness. After a long time, Lin Jun sighed. With a flick of his sleeve, a small grave rose from the earth at the foot of Wanfa Peak, and the soil shifted to bury Lin Qingxuan.

Having finished, Lin Jun stood in silence before the nameless grave for a long time. "In the end, it was I who brought you here, and it is I who sends you away..." Recalling the various stages of Lin Qingxuan’s infancy, Lin Jun let out a long sigh. He waved his hand to conjure a wooden plank, which he drove into the mound:

[Tomb of Lin Qingxuan]

Yet, no sooner had Lin Jun departed than the small grave suddenly cracked open. Lin Qingxuan, shrouded in black energy, resurrected from within in a bizarre fashion. Staring toward the direction of Wanfa Peak, his eyes burned with monstrous hatred.

"Lin Jun, I knelt until I died at your feet, yet you refused to sustain my life! It is clear that you never held me, your disciple, in your heart! For this deep grievance, do not blame me, Lin Qingxuan, for becoming a demonic sword and slaughtering your Wanfa Peak!"

With that, he transformed into a streak of black light and raced toward the direction of Heavenly Sword Peak.

Several days passed, and the Great Dao Sect suddenly trembled. A pillar of light, signaling the Spirit Severing stage, erupted from Heavenly Sword Peak. Accompanied by a tyrannical, malevolent aura, it shrouded the entire Great Dao Sect. In an instant, the sect was filled with rolling baleful energy, creating a scene akin to the apocalypse.

"What is happening?"
"What is going on?"
"Help... me!"

Countless disciples of the Great Dao Sect rushed out in panic, only to discover that a colossal, blood-red divine statue had appeared in the firmament above the sect. It radiated an eerie glow, branching into seven streams of blood-red energy that connected to a barrier of light—which had appeared out of nowhere to seal off the entire Great Dao Sect!

Disciples who reacted too slowly were instantly drained into withered corpses by the statue in the sky! Simultaneously, from the direction of the Sect Master’s Heavenly Sword Peak, even louder sounds of battle erupted. When the fighting ceased, "Lin Jun" appeared before the crowd, clad in black robes!

However, this "Lin Jun" wore an evil expression, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, and his body roiled with demonic energy—he was clearly not himself. In a corner of the sky, unnoticed by anyone, a palm-sized "Haotian Mirror" hovered, emitting a glow that broadcasted everything happening within the Great Dao Sect to the outside world!

Seeing that "Lin Jun" was the culprit behind this, the disciples below were filled with fury. They pointed at the "Lin Jun" in the sky and cursed him.

"Lin Jun! Is this your doing? What exactly are you trying to do!"
"Lin Jun! Despite being the honorable Peak Master of Wanfa Peak, how dare you strike at your own disciples! Release us at once, or when the Sect Master returns, you will suffer!"
"Have you noticed? This seems to be... the aura of the Seven Killings Sect?" a disciple said, trembling as he pointed at the statue in the sky.
"Lin Jun! I knew you weren't a good person! Now you’ve finally shown your true colors! You have truly fallen into the demonic path!"

The "Lin Jun" in the sky ignored them entirely. He held the severed heads of the other six peak masters in his arms and gripped the demonic sword that Lin Qingxuan had become. His Spirit Severing aura surged, blotting out the sky of the Great Dao Sect!

This "Lin Jun" looked toward Wanfa Peak, a mocking, triumphant smile on his face. Meanwhile, the "Haotian Mirror" had already branched into several "sub-mirrors," which had been placed in densely populated areas across the Tiannan Region. There, projected images showed the scene of "Lin Jun" slaughtering the Great Dao Sect to all who watched.

Countless sects witnessed the bloody scene and were filled with rage.

"Utterly devoid of conscience! I heard long ago that this Lin Jun was in league with the Seven Killings Sect, using evil arts to gain sudden power! I didn't believe it then, but now it seems that if this man is not removed, our Tiannan will never know peace!"
"A traitor to his master and ancestors—everyone has the right to execute him!"
"The Great Dao Sect is in danger, should we go to their rescue?"
"...Let us wait and see. This demon Lin Jun is powerful; we fear we are no match for him..."

In the Great Yan Dynasty, the Old State Preceptor looked at the scene, his heart filled with grief and indignation before the court officials. "Great Princess! You were so foolish!"

Meanwhile, voices of discontent rose throughout the Great Yan Dynasty.

"Look! If you don't discipline a woman, she will eventually cause a disaster! She had the honorable position of a Great Yan Princess, yet she insisted on apprenticing herself to that good-for-nothing Lin Jun."
"And now, are we expected to clean up her mess?"
"Send word to the Great Princess immediately to sever all ties with the demon Lin Jun! We must not let him tarnish the reputation of our Great Yan Dynasty!"

Boom!

At the same time, on Wanfa Peak, Ji Qingyou, who had been in deep meditation, heard the commotion outside. She opened her eyes, sensed the aura, frowned, and flew out in a flash.

"Woof!"

Accompanying her was the little black dog, Ye Zhetian. The dog was now glowing with golden light, looking quite majestic. Possessing a naturally keen sense of smell, it could detect the aura of unease.

The two disciples flew one after the other toward the danger at the center of the Great Dao Sect. Upon arrival, they witnessed the scene of their master, "Lin Jun," slaughtering the masses. Ji Qingyou’s expression shifted instantly. She could clearly feel that the person before her was not her master at all!

It was the Heavenly Sword Venerable in disguise! He was attempting to frame her master! A surge of fury rose in her heart!

The Heavenly Sword Venerable noticed them as well, but he held them in no regard. Maintaining the guise of "Lin Jun," he laughed and conjured a massive hand, attempting to "detain" them into the "Seven Killings Statue" in the sky!

"Hahaha, my dear disciples, you have arrived. Help your master control this 'Seven Killings Statue' and maintain the formation. Once I have slaughtered these people and broken through to a higher realm, there will be no shortage of rewards for you."

Hearing these words, the countless disciples below, who were being drained into husks, erupted in further curses.

"So that's it! No wonder your cultivation progressed so quickly! It turns out Lin Jun was using evil arts on all of you!"
"Lin Jun, don't be so arrogant! Even as a ghost, I won't let you off!"
"Gods! Save us!"

Outside, several major sects watched the scene, their faces turning ashen.

"Foolish! Great Princess, you were so foolish!"

In the Great Yan Dynasty, the Old State Preceptor stomped his feet and beat his chest as he watched Ji Qingyou on the screen.

Whoosh!

A massive suction force arrived, and Ji Qingyou’s expression changed. While the Heavenly Sword Venerable claimed he wanted them to "help maintain the formation," in reality, he intended to take their lives! She could already sense that within the Seven Killings Statue resided a mysterious, malevolent entity; once she got close, death would be certain!

But with the Heavenly Sword Venerable having broken through to the Spirit Severing stage, and with no demonic puppets by her side, his immense power was something she could not resist!