Chapter Sixty: Betrayal

“Wait a moment!” Before Shangguan Yu could finish speaking, Qiu Di abruptly stood up, waving his hand to cut him off.

Shangguan Yu frowned, perplexed as to why Qiu Di, who had always treated him with utmost respect, would suddenly contradict him. Though he was displeased, as the sect leader, Shangguan Yu possessed the necessary composure. He offered a faint smile and said, “May I ask what great insight the Elder has to offer?”

Qiu Di’s expression turned grave. “The Hunting Tournament concerns the reputation of our Jade Sword Sect. Not just anyone can participate, and your arbitrary decisions, Sect Leader, have left the disciples disgruntled!”

Shangguan Yu’s frown deepened as his gaze fell on Xue Renqi’s face, noticing that he, too, was watching him closely.

His heart stirred, but he burst into laughter. “And what exactly do you mean by that, Elder?”

“I mean that your autocratic behavior makes you unfit to lead the Jade Sword Sect!” The Elder’s tone was chilling, sending a shiver through those present.

At these words, the hall erupted. None of the disciples had expected the Elder to speak so bluntly; their hearts clenched in unison.

Duan Tianyi and Li Changfeng exchanged glances, each seeing a tacit understanding in the other’s eyes.

“Qiu Di, it’s not your place to dictate the actions of the Sect Leader! What are you plotting? Do you intend to rebel?” Li Huafei, Elder of the Earth Sword Branch, shot to his feet, shouting angrily.

Qiu Di snorted coldly. “Li Huafei, who do you think you are to address me that way? All these years, while Shangguan Yu secluded himself in cultivation, I alone handled all the affairs of the sect. The so-called Sect Leader enjoys all the glory without lifting a finger. What use is such a leader?”

Shangguan Yu narrowed his eyes. He recalled that Xue Renqi had already told him about Long Yun being pursued and the mountain bandits’ unusual activity. He had not made any decisions at the time, but he had secretly observed Qiu Di. He had not expected Qiu Di would choose this moment to act—years of wielding power had clearly inflated his confidence.

“You are committing treason!” Li Huafei roared, drawing his sword and pointing it at Qiu Di. “Abolish your cultivation and leave the Jade Sword Sect, or don’t blame me for showing no mercy!”

Qiu Di threw his head back and laughed. “Shangguan Yu, Li Huafei, you are both too naïve. Do you think I’d make a move without preparation?”

As soon as Qiu Di finished, over a thousand silhouettes suddenly emerged around the martial arena, surrounding the central group of disciples.

At that moment, Li Changfeng and Duan Tianyi also rose abruptly, taking their places behind Qiu Di.

Not only that, but within the Jade Sword Sect, nearly half the disciples drew their swords, turning their blades on their former brothers-in-arms.

Shangguan Yu’s face remained calm as he spoke coolly. “The bandits around the Jade Sword Sect—were they secretly trained by your men? I never imagined the grand Elder of the Jade Sword Sect would stoop so low.”

Qiu Di’s face twisted with rage. “For all these years, I have given so much to the sect! And what have you done, Shangguan Yu? Why should I continue to serve at your whim?”

Shangguan Yu shook his head slightly, knowing Qiu Di would not listen to reason now.

“If not for the Sect Leader, do you really think you alone could have kept the Jade Sword Sect so stable?” Long Yun suddenly spoke up, a glint of mockery in his eyes.

“Silence!” Qiu Di’s gaze turned murderous. “I never expected the Heart Sword branch to produce a freak like you—you’ve already crippled several of my top men. Boy, if not for you, my plan would not have been forced forward. Don’t worry, your death will be more glorious than the others!”

“Qiu Di, all these years, did you think I hadn’t seen through your schemes? I turned a blind eye, not because I wanted to give you a chance, nor because I couldn’t punish you—but because I never considered your strength worthy of my attention,” Shangguan Yu said calmly, his eyes brimming with unshakable confidence.

Qiu Di laughed. “You’re at the Innate Realm, and so am I. Do you think I fear you? I have worked tirelessly for years, and now my forces far outnumber yours. Do you really believe you can change anything?”

“One is enough to change the course of everything,” Shangguan Yu replied with a faint smile. Suddenly, his aura exploded outward, a powerful pressure blanketing the area.

A gust swept through—the immense pressure made Qiu Di’s face change dramatically.

After years of cultivation and plundering outside resources, he had barely broken through to the Second Innate – Spirit Fusion realm thanks to medicinal pills. He had assumed that, at worst, Shangguan Yu might be one level above him, but now he found he could not even gauge his opponent’s true strength.

Gritting his teeth, Qiu Di realized that Shangguan Yu’s power far surpassed his expectations, but since he had chosen to challenge him openly, he was prepared. Remembering the trump card in his hand, Qiu Di’s expression steadied.

“Do you still think you can seize control of the Jade Sword Sect with ease?” Shangguan Yu asked calmly.

Long Yun, watching from the side, couldn’t help but marvel. After so many years in seclusion, Shangguan Yu’s swordsmanship must have reached an extraordinary level. Qiu Di had truly brought disaster upon himself.

Qiu Di’s face turned pale, but he soon sneered. “Your cultivation does surpass my imagination, but do you really think you alone can change the situation?”

There was a sharp threat in Qiu Di’s words, and Shangguan Yu sensed trouble. Even after seeing his true strength, Qiu Di remained so fearless—he must have an ace up his sleeve.

Shangguan Yu fell silent. “What do you intend to do?”

Qiu Di sneered. “Get out of the Jade Sword Sect. From this day forth, I am the Sect Leader! I promise I won’t harm a single disciple.”

“Impossible!” Shangguan Yu snapped. “If I hand the Jade Sword Sect over to you, it will be destroyed. I cannot answer to my master in the afterlife!”

“Then don’t blame me for what happens next!” With a sudden wave of his hand, a faint fragrance drifted from the southwest, causing everyone to take a few deep breaths unconsciously.

“Hold your breath! The scent is poisonous!” Though Shangguan Yu had inhaled the fragrance twice, he quickly held his breath, his face changing at once.

“The aroma of Ten-Mile Fragrance isn’t bad, is it? Shangguan Yu, you overestimated yourself. If you’d fought me directly, I might have had to retreat. But your hesitation gave me this opportunity!” Qiu Di laughed.

Shangguan Yu frowned, feeling a sudden weakness throughout his body. Horrified, he quickly circulated his inner energy, suppressing the spreading poison for the moment.

One after another, the ordinary disciples—lacking Shangguan Yu’s robust cultivation—collapsed to the ground, their bodies limp and powerless.

Li Huafei and Xue Renqi staggered, then hastily sat cross-legged to focus their energy and resist the invading poison.

Many elders and disciples likewise sat down, pouring all their strength into resisting the toxin. The entire force of the Jade Sword Sect had been poisoned.

There was one exception: Long Yun.

Ten-Mile Fragrance was a ruthless poison from the Devil Sect—once inhaled, it dispersed inner energy, making it impossible to gather strength. Who knew where the Elder had acquired such a poison, but he had evidently calculated everything.

Yet Long Yun possessed the bloodline of the Dragon God—a sacred aura that was the bane of the Devil Sect’s energies. Although the poison troubled him briefly, it was swiftly neutralized by his bloodline. To avoid drawing attention, he too sat cross-legged as if affected.

With a flick of his finger, three streaks of green light shot out, landing before Shangguan Yu, Li Huafei, and his master Xue Renqi.

All three noticed the emerald pills before them, exchanged glances with Long Yun, and, without hesitation, discreetly swallowed them.

“Ten-Mile Fragrance from the Devil Sect—Shangguan Yu, you didn’t see this coming, did you?” Qiu Di made no move to stop them, his eyes as cold as ice.