Chapter 61: True Colors

Long Yun silently circulated his inner power, dissolving all the effects of the “Fragrant Ten Li.” This so-called Fragrant Ten Li was nothing more than a common sedative, which had been refined with demonic energy by a master of the demonic sect, thus acquiring formidable potency. As long as the demonic energy could be neutralized, the remaining effects were no longer a threat. The sword intent within Long Yun’s body brimmed with righteous energy—the sacred aura of the Primordial Dragon God. Even his bones and blood now bore the Dragon God’s mark. With all these factors combined, though the Fragrant Ten Li was intensely sinister, it could not breach his body in the slightest.

The emerald-colored pills he flicked to Shangguan Yu and the others had been taken from Xu Lie. Xu Lie, hunted relentlessly, had consumed all his healing medicines, leaving Long Yun only three Bi Sheng Pills. However, he still carried a number of antidotes, also seized by Long Yun. While the Fragrant Ten Li was said to have no cure, Long Yun had just infused the pills with a trace of sacred power. After swallowing the pills, Shangguan Yu and the other two instantly sensed their potent efficacy and, circulating their true qi, worked in tandem with the medicine to expel the Fragrant Ten Li from their bodies.

“All of you are disciples personally cultivated by me, the Jade Sword Sect. Now, I offer you one last chance: submit to me, and you may remain disciples of the Jade Sword Sect. Otherwise…” A flash of murderous intent crossed Qiu Di’s face.

Qiu Di, Duan Tianyi, and Li Changfeng, the three elders, all wore faint, confident smiles. In their eyes, the outcome was already decided—no one poisoned by the Fragrant Ten Li could possibly purge it. Those disciples who had already defected to Qiu Di were his secret protégés. As for Chang Yi, the sect’s top expert, and Chen Long, the second, they had kept their integrity and had not sided with Qiu Di. It wasn’t that Qiu Di didn’t wish to win over Chang Yi, but Chang Yi was much like Shangguan Yu—devoted to cultivation, and Shangguan Yu had, whether intentionally or not, shielded him over the years. So, Qiu Di had never found an opportunity to act.

“Qiu Di, you are a righteous sect elder, yet you would use the demonic sect’s poison to betray your brethren. Do you not know such villainy will bring the wrath of the righteous path upon you?” Shangguan Yu, feeling the toxins being steadily purged from his body, deliberately spoke to stall for time.

Qiu Di snorted coldly and retorted, “You’re not worthy to lecture me. The victor is king, the loser the outlaw. If I kill you all, do you really think anyone will ever know what happened here?”

Shangguan Yu’s face twisted with anger, which only made Qiu Di more smug.

“To think your cultivation has reached such heights—what a pity. Today, you won’t escape, Shangguan Yu. You’ve overshadowed me long enough; it’s time for you to step aside.” Qiu Di’s gaze was sharp and cold.

With that, he swept his eyes over the Jade Sword Sect disciples sprawled helplessly on the ground. “Your time is running out. If you wish to surrender, crawl to me now. If not, death awaits you!”

“Nonsense! Who do you think you are? The Jade Sword Sect has been righteous for a thousand years—every sect master has been honorable and upright. A despicable scoundrel like you dares to dream of leadership? Kill us if you must, but we will never submit!” Chen Long, weakened and collapsed on the ground, roared in defiance.

At these words, those few disciples whose resolve had begun to waver instantly flushed with shame, their hearts pounding.

“Hmph!” Qiu Di’s eyes gleamed as he sneered, “Chen Long, is it? Fine, you truly have a backbone! Since you’re so unafraid of death, I’ll use you to set an example!”

“Changfeng, kill him!” Qiu Di did not move himself but turned to Li Changfeng.

Li Changfeng cursed inwardly—why him? Though today’s victory was certain, slaying a fellow disciple still made his heart struggle.

“Li Changfeng, didn’t you hear my order?” Seeing Li Changfeng hesitate, Qiu Di’s brow furrowed and his voice grew icy.

“Yes!” Li Changfeng felt cold sweat bead on his back. That brief hesitation might have already drawn the elder’s suspicion. Without further delay, he strode toward Chen Long.

As Li Changfeng approached, Chen Long curled his lips in disdain. “Li Changfeng, you’re an elder of the Jade Sword Sect, yet you let yourself be ordered about like a dog.”

Li Changfeng’s face reddened with shame as he gritted his teeth. “If you wish for death, I shall grant it!”

His sword flashed from its scabbard, its sharp aura crackling through the air as sword energy shot toward Chen Long’s throat.

Chen Long’s expression did not change; he looked at Li Changfeng as if watching a clown, which only deepened Li Changfeng’s murderous intent. His sword grew even more savage.

“A true man!” Long Yun silently praised. Chen Long’s defiance was worthy of respect.

Just as Chen Long was about to meet his end beneath Li Changfeng’s blade, a figure shot out from the crowd. The man had yet to arrive, but his sword energy howled ahead of him!

A mighty sword intent crashed down, enveloping Li Changfeng in an instant. Sword fingers thrust forward, dazzling sword light soared skyward—five strokes fused into one, unleashed in a single, overwhelming move!

Long Yun, at this moment, could not afford to hold back. To kill Li Changfeng, he had to be decisive; with Qiu Di watching like a tiger, there would be no second chance.

Thus, in this attack, Long Yun unleashed his full strength.

Sword energy raged violently, colliding head-on with Li Changfeng’s own. The resulting shockwave rippled outward in all directions.

“Hm?” The chief elder’s expression shifted as he saw Long Yun unaffected by the Fragrant Ten Li, repelling Li Changfeng with a single strike. Yet, seeing that Shangguan Yu and the others remained on the ground, his suspicion eased—at least his subordinates hadn’t tricked him with a fake poison.

“Long Yun!” Both Chang Yi and Chen Long stared in astonishment at Long Yun, who now stood before them. Alongside their surprise at his immunity, they felt a tinge of self-mockery regarding their own abilities.

Li Changfeng was one of the sect’s few experts at the Return to Origin stage, yet Long Yun, at merely the Bone Transformation stage, had forced him back—an achievement neither of them could claim.

“Long Yun?” Li Changfeng’s eyes darkened. “You’re not poisoned?”

Long Yun stretched lazily and said coolly, “You really think your demonic poison could harm me? You overestimate yourselves. You think I’d let myself be given genuine Fragrant Ten Li in a deal with tigers?”

“Good!” Before Li Changfeng could respond, Qiu Di strode forward, murderous intent blazing in his eyes.

“Long Yun, it’s just as well you’re unharmed. You’ve killed so many elders and disciples of my Heavenly Sword branch—now it’s time to settle the score!”

Long Yun nodded. “They deserved their fate. As for you, chief elder, you’re a fool as well. Knowing full well my strength, you still sent underlings to their deaths. If the sect is led by someone like you, I truly cannot approve.”

“That’s not for you to decide!” Qiu Di retorted coldly. “You may be powerful, but at most you’re the strongest among the acquired realm. Do you really think you can defeat someone of the innate stage like me?”

“Then let’s see if your arrogance is justified,” Long Yun replied with a laugh. He had witnessed Long Yun’s swordsmanship—already at a masterful level—and that mysterious Dragon Seizing Hand, making him a foe not to be underestimated.

Yet, with four full levels of difference between them, spanning the chasm between acquired and innate, Qiu Di was confident that, no matter how formidable Long Yun was, he would not be a match.

With this in mind, he smiled and said, “Long Yun, you’re bold, but you’ve chosen the wrong path. If you acknowledge me as your master, I’ll ensure you have resources beyond measure.”

Long Yun laughed heartily. “Our ways are incompatible. And besides, who wins or loses today is far from decided!”

“Then I’ll kill you first!” Qiu Di sneered. With a sudden leap, he drew his sword, its metallic ring piercing the air as he slashed down at Long Yun’s head!

Sensing the terrifying might of an innate-stage opponent, Long Yun’s heart skipped a beat. At this moment, he dared not meet force with force.

Instead, he deftly employed his movement skills, weaving through Qiu Di’s sword aura like a butterfly among blossoms, narrowly evading the deadly strike.