Volume One: The Miscellaneous Servants of Changshui County Chapter 116: The Traitor to the Sect

“Hahaha!” The Grandmaster of the Blazing Flame Sect strode over with a booming laugh and stood beside the Manor Lord of the Li Sword Manor. “Rest assured, from now on we will treat you well. After all, you are all part of the same family now!”

“Once you are fully integrated into the Blazing Flame Sect, it is not impossible for your descendants to one day become Grandmasters of our sect.”

“There will definitely be opportunities. Those young disciples, standing on the same level playing field, how far they advance in the future depends entirely on themselves!”

The Grandmaster of the Blazing Flame Sect was brimming with pride. He had expected to have to use some cunning, but to his surprise, he had easily brought the Li Sword Manor under his domain.

“Thank you, Grandmaster!” The Manor Lord of the Li Sword Manor cupped his hands respectfully. “From now on, I will assist you in promoting the glory of the Blazing Flame Sect!”

“Is that really so?” Suddenly, the Grandmaster’s expression shifted as he fixed his gaze sharply on the Manor Lord.

“What do you mean? Do you not trust me, Grandmaster?” The Manor Lord felt a flicker of unease stir in his heart.

“Do you think I’m foolish? I was approaching you while speaking just now for a reason,” the Grandmaster sneered and launched an attack. “I’ve already received news that you intend to use the power of the incomplete formation this time to destroy me!”

“Do you really think I’m an idiot? I was only trying to trap you, to find a way to restrain you.”

With his martial cultivation at the sixth rank, the Grandmaster of the Blazing Flame Sect struck swiftly.

The air around them stiffened, and then a hand grasped the Manor Lord’s throat. “Being one rank short makes all the difference. Can you stand against me?”

“Wu Fei, you!” The Manor Lord, realizing he had been betrayed, glared furiously at his disciple.

“Master, this has nothing to do with me!” Wu Fei hurriedly defended himself. “Although I am upset that you favor Lu Jiuzhang, I would never harm our sect.”

If not Wu Fei, then who?

The Manor Lord scanned the surroundings and saw an elder whose face betrayed panic.

Was it him?

Before the Manor Lord could question the elder, the Grandmaster of the Blazing Flame Sect had already seized his neck.

“Knowing who it is changes nothing,” the Grandmaster said with a smile.

“Master, conspiring with Lu Jiuzhang—whether we succeed or fail is uncertain. It’s better to peacefully merge with the Blazing Flame Sect,” the flustered elder admitted, having been found out. “If we fail, the Li Sword Manor’s situation will only worsen!”

“Strike, strike him! Mr. Lu!”

The Manor Lord was panicked. He had intended to lure the Grandmaster into a trap, then use the incomplete formation to slay him.

Now that he was captured by the Grandmaster, escape was bleak.

If that was the case, it was better to die together.

“Do it!”

Behind the hill, Zhong Zhengming spoke slowly, “If we delay any longer, he will die anyway.”

“Ninth Lord, Zhong is right. When luck turns sour, even drinking cold water can cause trouble. I thought it was Wu Fei who betrayed us, but it turns out the closest elder did.”

Big Black Dog chimed in.

Misfortune befalls no one but oneself!

He could have survived, but now he was doomed. At worst, they would burn a couple more incense sticks for him.

Lu Jiuzhang’s voice was grave. “Forgive me, Master!”

A talisman appeared in his hand. With a thought, the ground trembled violently.

The disciples of the ninth martial rank could barely keep their footing amid the shaking.

Illusory formations manifested, turning the world around into a dazzling array of colors.

From within the formation came a faint but unrelenting pressure.

This was an ancient great formation, its power diminished to a mere fraction of its former glory.

Back in the day, the Formation of the Treading Heaven Sect could even slay cultivators beyond the first rank.

But now, it was only strong enough to deal with someone like the Grandmaster of the Blazing Flame Sect.

After tens of thousands of years, the tides of time had changed all things; no matter how magnificent the structure, no matter how powerful the formation, what could they do now?

…

The Grandmaster of the Blazing Flame Sect was trapped inside the formation.

It unleashed tremendous energy, seeking to extinguish his life force.

“Hmph! Since I dared to come, I came prepared!” The Grandmaster slowly drew from his bosom a talisman.

“This was left behind over fifteen hundred years ago by a sect that once occupied this place.”

“When the Blazing Flame Sect searched that ruined sect’s resources, they found several such talismans.”

“These talismans have been preserved ever since, specifically to counteract the power of incomplete formations!”

Fortunately, someone had leaked the information; he had been well prepared.

Otherwise, coming here alone might have truly meant death by the incomplete formation.

As the talisman was activated, a protective energy shield enveloped him in a sphere three zhang in diameter.

The Manor Lord of the Li Sword Manor was also within the shield’s protection, temporarily unharmed.

The incomplete formation continued its assault on the talisman, while the Grandmaster held the Manor Lord with one hand, the other hand clasped behind him, his expression calm and composed.

“No need to use the incomplete formation anymore; it won’t kill him.”

Zhong Zhengming stood up. “Lend me your blade.”

At this point, only a direct confrontation could work.

He wasn’t sure if they could kill the Grandmaster of the Blazing Flame Sect by combining forces with the Manor Lord.

The odds were slim, but they had to try.

“Oh? You must be the newcomer, Zhong Zhengming!” The Grandmaster noticed Zhong atop the hill and spoke with interest. “Bian Yuan went after you. He hasn’t returned, which means he’s dead.”

“I’m quite interested in you. How about joining the Blazing Flame Sect?”

“That black blade you carry is intriguing. If you offer it to me, I might even grant you the position of Deputy Grandmaster.”

Deputy Grandmaster?

Would that be of any use?

The Blazing Flame Sect answered to him alone.

The Deputy Grandmaster was no different from the disciples inside; their fate was in his hands.

Today a Deputy Grandmaster, tomorrow perhaps a prisoner.

“This blade is not mine. Neither is your life. From now on, it belongs to the Lord of the Underworld.” Zhong Zhengming stood firm, pointing his blade at the Grandmaster coldly.

“Such boldness! Lord Zhong is formidable! Take him down!” Big Black Dog cheered.

Since it was not taking part in the fight, it made a lot of noise instead.

“Tsk, tsk, Big Black Dog, you sure talk a lot,” the Grandmaster of the Blazing Flame Sect snarled, baring his teeth. “Tonight, I’m having dog meat stew—cooked until the meat is tender!”

Damn! So ruthless?

Big Black Dog quickly backed away.

Zhong Zhengming then charged down from the hill. As he neared the ground, he leapt into the air, his figure suspended briefly before bringing his blade down in a slash.

His descent carried the momentum of the blade, aimed directly at the Grandmaster.

This strike was made with all his strength—the strongest slash he had ever delivered in his life!

Spiritual energy surged wildly around him, countless flashes of sword and blade light swirling in a circle.

As his blade cut through the air, all present stood solemnly and watched, struck by the brilliance of the attack!