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Within Mount Shu, a sword light descended rapidly, hurtling straight toward the Demon Prison Tower, drawing the attention of everyone on the mountain.
Soon, the figure's features became clear.
"Jiang Qing, you have violated sect rules by falling in love with the Venerable Devil's daughter! Come forward and admit your transgression at once!" Sect Lord Chang Hao of Mount Shu roared in fury.
"I'm going into the Demon Prison Tower!" Jiang Qing shouted back, his aura sharp and imposing.
"Insolent fool! Do you think Mount Shu's laws mean nothing to you?" Chang Hao's rage intensified, his eyes burning crimson.
"You've imprisoned Rouxia! Today, no one will stop me!" Jiang Qing's face was icy, his aura surging wildly, and his Sword Intent soared skyward.
"Outrageous! Jiang Qing, have you lost your mind? Do you even know what the Demon Prison Tower is?"
"Even if Yue Rouxia is inside, do you think you can just waltz in and out as you please?" an Elder roared.
"I don't care about any of that!" Jiang Qing turned to face the Demon Prison Tower. "Open the gates!"
With a thunderous shout, Jiang Qing activated a Secret Method, attempting to force open the tower's massive gates.
Dugu Yuyun watched from the sidelines, his expression conflicted. He wanted to tell his Senior Brother that Mount Shu hadn't captured Yue Rouxia, but he doubted Jiang Qing would believe him. He knew this was a scheme orchestrated by the Venerable Devil. Jiang Qing's power was overwhelming; unless the Sect Lord intervened, none present could hope to match him.
Rumble!
Under Jiang Qing's Secret Method, the Demon Prison Tower's gates trembled violently, slowly beginning to open.
Seeing this, Chang Hao could no longer suppress his inner rage.
"You bastard! Chang Yi acted like this, and now you dare to do the same, Jiang Qing!"
"Today, this Sect Lord will show you the consequences of violating Mount Shu's rules and disregarding the law!"
The intent of the Heavenly Sword permeated all of Mount Shu. At that moment, every disciple on the mountain was shocked to discover that the swords at their waists and on their backs were trembling in fear.
Invisible Qi Swords erupted from the void, and the Sword Array that covered all of Mount Shu materialized, its massive golden sword form slowly rotating into motion.
"Don't push me!"
Sensing this overwhelming force, Jiang Qing whirled around, his eyes burning crimson, as if possessed by a demon.
"You…!"
Chang Hao was shaken, overwhelmed by Jiang Qing's frenzied aura.
Mount Shu was home to many talented individuals, but true paragons were rare. Chang Hao was undoubtedly one of them. Despite his stubborn and conservative nature, he deeply valued talent. He had always shown remarkable tolerance toward Jiang Qing, viewing him as his successor to lead Mount Shu. Now, his anger toward Jiang Qing stemmed more from disappointment at his lack of ambition and sorrow for his misfortune. But what good would come from driving Jiang Qing mad?
"Jiang Qing, don't act rashly! Mount Shu hasn't captured Yue Rouxia. This is a plot by the Venerable Devil!" Chang Hao pleaded, his tone softening as the overwhelming sword intent in the heavens momentarily subsided.
"I don't believe you. I'm going in to see for myself!" Jiang Qing retorted coldly.
Mount Shu held great importance in his heart, but Yue Rouxia was his wife, and she carried his child. The sect's preemptive capture of his wife had plunged him into anguish, driving him to the brink of madness.
"If you enter, you'll never be able to leave! Don't act impulsively!" Chang Hao shouted.
Demon Prison Tower was a place for imprisoning demons. For a Cultivation's Way practitioner, especially one from Mount Shu, entering such a place meant certain doom.
"Whether I can get out doesn't matter to me!"
"All I care about is seeing her again!"
Jiang Qing's voice was icy, but softened slightly when he spoke of the woman.
The Demon Prison Tower's gate had already swung open halfway. Without hesitation, Jiang Qing stepped inside, his figure vanishing from sight in an instant.
Chang Hao witnessed this scene firsthand, his eyes burning with fury and his heart twisting with anguish, yet he could find no outlet for his rage.
Finally, he clenched his fists and roared skyward.
"Aaaaah!"
At that moment, the Heavenly Sword Qi above Mount Shu surged wildly, shattering clouds, cracking the sky, and suffocating the air, leaving everyone in awe.
For three consecutive days, Chang Hao sat cross-legged in the Everlasting Pavilion. His once-black hair had turned white, making him appear much older. His eyes had grown cloudy and dim.
Mentally and physically exhausted, the Jiang Qing incident had left him utterly drained.
"Sect Lord, yesterday at noon, Yue Rouxia broke into the Demon Prison Tower," Dugu Yuyun sighed.
This news struck a heavy blow to all of Mount Shu. Jiang Qing, a peerless hero destined to become Sect Lord, had entered the Demon Prison Tower, effectively depriving Mount Shu of its leader. The loss was deeply lamented.
Chang Hao's right hand trembled as his lips moved slightly. In the end, he could only let out a long sigh and wave his hand dismissively.
Dugu Yuyun nodded silently, bowed respectfully, and turned to leave.
At this critical moment, with the Immortal Sword Faction poised for a decisive battle against the Venerable Devil, the Jiang Qing incident cast a dark shadow over the impending conflict.
Just then, another Elder rushed into the room, his face etched with urgency.
"Sect Lord, Chang Yi has returned!"
Upon hearing that familiar name, both Chang Hao and Dugu Yuyun, who was about to leave, stiffened.
"He... he... he!" Chang Hao stammered, repeating the pronoun three times, his voice trembling with sudden, overwhelming excitement.
He couldn't explain his reaction, but at that moment, his emotions surged uncontrollably. Perhaps, deep down, despite his animosity toward this junior brother, a part of him still acknowledged the man's worth.
After a few breaths, Chang Hao finally suppressed his sudden elation. He took a deep breath, his eyes gleaming with renewed clarity, and his entire being, Essence, Energy, and Soul, felt refreshed.
"Who else is with him? Did that Demoness come too?"
From what he knew, this man was even more reckless than Jiang Qing. Not only had he fallen in love with a Demoness, but he had also injured eight Elders and dared to challenge Mount Shu.
"Just him, with a single sword!" the Elder replied.
"Hmph! If you don't bring that Demoness here and lock her in the Demon Prison Tower until she repents, you're truly a fool!" Chang Hao roared in fury.
The Elder hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping when he saw the Sect Lord's dark expression.
"What do you want to say?" Chang Hao demanded, abruptly rising to his feet.
The Elder was about to speak when a voice suddenly echoed across Mount Shu:
"Chang Hao, I've come!"
Buzzing!
As the words rang out, Sword Intent surged forth, instantly enveloping the entire mountain. The Sword Array above Mount Shu flickered incessantly.
It was Chang Yi! Not only had he dared to romance a Demoness, confront his fellow disciples, and injure his own sect members, but now he had the audacity to step onto Mount Shu and publicly address the Sect Lord by name before the entire sect.
"Chang Yi!"
Chang Hao stood in the Everlasting Pavilion, his face ashen, his fists clenched.
"You lack discernment between right and wrong, acting recklessly and arbitrarily. You expelled female disciples and ruined Jiang Qing!"
"As the Laws and Morals Elder, I have come today to demand justice from you!"
Two more thunderous sentences echoed across the square, causing the disciples' eyes to widen in shock. In that instant, a figure materialized before the Everlasting Pavilion of Mount Shu.
A young man in azure robes, with sword-like brows, starry eyes, and a longsword at his waist.
"You dare blame me?"
Chang Hao was furious, his anger so intense that he burst into mocking laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent, Chang Yi!"
"Have you come to cause trouble for this Sect Lord?"
"Such audacity!"
Dugu Yuyun and the Elder exchanged silent glances, speechless at the Sect Lord's sudden shift in demeanor.
They knew that despite Chang Hao's anger, he was secretly pleased by Chang Yi's return.
Yet the nature of their relationship remained a mystery to outsiders, perhaps the phrase "love-hate" captured it best.
(End Of This Chapter)