Volume 13, Chapter 819 – I Am Your Ancestor (Part 3)

“Master Zhong is really good at turning the tables. Today is Lingxi Sect’s ancestor worship ceremony. Friends from across the entire cultivation world have come to witness it. Why is it that only our Yanyang Sect is being blocked? Are you looking down on us, thinking Yanyang Sect has no one worthy?”

Mo Long spoke with mockery, his tone thick with shamelessness, like a rogue unafraid of boiling water.

“You know perfectly well why. Lingxi Sect does not welcome you,” Zhong Qin said bluntly.

“Why be so hostile, Master Zhong? Having a few more people attend is a good thing for your Lingxi Sect, isn’t it? Especially when your Immortal Ancestor descends, you’d want the crowd to be grand enough, wouldn’t you?”

“That’s right. Our Yanyang Sect’s Sect Master has come personally to pay respects. Isn’t that grand enough?”

“Don’t be ungrateful. The fact that Yanyang Sect is willing to set aside past grudges and show up to support you—that’s giving face to your Lingxi Sect.”

The upper echelon and disciples of Yanyang Sect all joined in, their tones dripping with sarcasm.

Zhong Qin’s beautiful eyes blazed with fury. She was about to erupt.

“Master, calm yourself. There is currently no one in Lingxi Sect who can stand against him,” Elder Fang beside her whispered a reminder.

Zhong Qin knew as well as anyone that patience in small matters was crucial to achieving greater goals. She forcefully swallowed the burning anger in her chest and turned away, preparing to begin the ancestral rite.

“This will be good,” someone in the crowd whispered. “Yanyang Sect and Lingxi Sect have deep-seated animosity. It’s obvious they’re here to stir up trouble.”

“No way. Everyone knows Lingxi Sect is summoning their ancestor to deal with the evil beings. If Yanyang Sect interferes, aren’t they helping the wicked? Aren’t they afraid those evil entities will attack Yanyang Sect in the future?”

“What are they afraid of? Isn’t there still the Immortal Alliance? I heard a rumor that the reason the Immortal Alliance hasn’t taken action is that they want to let the evil spirits punish the Jinshan Empire a bit.”

“Why? I haven’t heard of any enmity between the Jinshan Empire and the Immortal Alliance.”

“The reason is simple. With fewer and fewer evil beings, the common people have lost their awe of the Immortal Alliance. So they’re letting the evil ones run rampant for a while, then they’ll swoop in as saviors to reestablish their authority.”

“Ah, I see. So the Jinshan Empire is the scapegoat?”

“Heh, well, the teleportation gate is located here. They can only blame their own bad luck.”

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“Then Yanyang Sect must know the truth. That’s why they’re here today to make trouble?”

“Not necessarily. These two sects are mortal enemies. From Yanyang Sect’s perspective, Lingxi Sect is no better than the evil entities. If I were Yanyang Sect’s sect master, I’d come sabotage it too. Better to deal with one strong enemy than two.”

“True that.”

The onlookers murmured among themselves in hushed tones.

Zhong Qin ignored them all. Following tradition, she knelt, bowed, offered incense, and prayed. Then, she stepped in front of the immortal stele’s base, ready to conduct the blood sacrifice—the most likely method to connect with their ancestor.

Watching from a hidden vantage point, Qi Huang revealed a look of approval. Only a sect leader with both brains and backbone was worth her effort to help.

Zhong Qin raised her fair left hand above the base of the stele, gripped a dagger in her right hand, and was about to slash her wrist.

But at that very moment, a crescent-shaped arc of sword qi whistled past her shoulder, slicing cleanly into the base of the immortal stele.

BOOM!

The stele’s foundation, which had no trace of immortal power, was instantly shattered by the sword qi, blasted apart into chunks that scattered in all directions.

Zhong Qin stood frozen in shock, stone fragments cutting into her pale cheek as they flew by.

“Watch out!”

Elder Fang cried out in alarm, quickly activating a protective shield.

The audience fell silent, eyes wide with disbelief as they stared at Mo Long, the sect master of Yanyang Sect. No one had expected him to be so brazen as to destroy the stele’s foundation in broad daylight, under the eyes of the whole cultivation world.

Qi Huang made no move to intervene. Without the real Zhong Zhen appearing, she couldn’t yet claim the role of savior.

Zhong Qin slowly recovered from the shock. Turning to face Mo Long, her pupils trembled violently from overwhelming fury. Her silver teeth were clenched so hard they cracked.

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“Apologies, Master Zhong. I’ve been having some trouble controlling my true qi during cultivation lately,” Mo Long replied casually, as if brushing off a toddler.

“Mo Long, do you really think Lingxi Sect has no one left? You dare to destroy the immortal stele’s foundation in front of everyone?”

“He didn’t just destroy it, he even called it a mere broken rock. This is beyond insulting!”

“Mo Long, you’ve disrupted the ancestral ceremony. Your crime is unforgivable. Today, we’ll settle both new and old grudges.”

The upper echelon of Lingxi Sect were driven into a rage, losing all composure as they drew their weapons.

“Mo Long, today either you die, or I do.”

Zhong Qin could no longer restrain herself. Her arm trembled as a sharp sword appeared in her hand.

‘This is bad.’

Qi Huang frowned deeply. Even she wouldn’t be able to endure this.

“Master, don’t be rash! You carry the fate of Lingxi Sect… no, of the entire Jinshan Empire. If you must fight, do it after the ritual,” Elder Fang urgently pleaded again.

“But the stele base is destroyed. How can I continue the ritual now?”

“Indeed. Trying to contact our ancestor through a base without immortal energy was always far-fetched. And now, it’s completely broken.”

“Master, the enemy is right before us. If you continue the ritual now, you’ll only waste your blood and give them an opening.”

“Rather than that, you should preserve your strength and fight Yanyang Sect to the death!”

The rest of the frenzied leadership echoed the sentiment.

The members of Yanyang Sect, realizing their scheme had worked, began drawing their weapons in response.

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Qi Huang sighed silently. If Lingxi Sect actually charged in recklessly, things would become awkward. Whether she intervened or not, it would complicate matters.

Yet unexpectedly, Zhong Qin did not attack right away. Her delicate face showed a fierce inner struggle. Her red lips were bitten to the point of bleeding. But in the end, she slowly lowered her sword and walked toward the shattered remains of the stele’s base.

“Master, are you just going to let this go?”

“Indeed! Yanyang Sect has gone too far. If we back down now, how will we maintain any standing in the cultivation world?”

“Master, you’re the leader of our sect! Don’t let us down!”

Seeing her choose restraint, the disciples and elders of Lingxi Sect stood there awkwardly, at a loss for what to do.

Zhong Qin said nothing. She simply took out the dagger again and, without hesitation, slashed her wrist. Her blood trickled down in thin streams, splashing across the shattered base of the immortal stele, as though watering soil.

Qi Huang’s eyes lit up. She hadn’t expected this sect leader to truly be capable of such restraint. This woman was a true contender.

“Lingxi Sect really is enduring, huh? Still not fighting back?”

“This is ridiculous! Zhong Qin has completely disgraced the entire sect!”

“Disgraced? She’s humiliated all of Jinshan Empire’s cultivation world! Lingxi Sect is the largest sect in the empire. How will others see us after this?”

The crowd poured out their scorn and mockery.

“Such a fool. Clinging to a hopeless dream.”

Mo Long looked at Zhong Qin with disdain.

Tears of humiliation filled Zhong Qin’s eyes, but she showed not the slightest hint of hesitation. She kept pouring her blood over the fractured stele base, as if it were an offering. There was no regard for the pain or the danger.

Time passed.

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Her face grew visibly paler, but she did not stop.

“Master, please stop! If you keep bleeding like this, your life will be in danger!”

“She’s right! Why throw your life away for nothing? Let’s strike back and show Yanyang Sect what we’re made of!”

“Master, we beg you, stop this madness! You’re only making us a laughingstock!”

Their pleas were tearful, sincere.

But Zhong Qin’s expression only grew more resolute. She had clearly made up her mind to gamble everything. She knew that if the ancestor didn’t respond today, Lingxi Sect would fall. Not to evil spirits, but to Yanyang Sect, right here and now.

“Hahaha! This isn’t ancestor worship, it’s suicide! Master Zhong, if there’s anything you want to say, speak it now. Why be so stubborn? Rather than waste your blood, why not kneel and kowtow to me? I might even spare you all.”

Mo Long mocked her with venomous glee. Seeing Lingxi Sect’s strongest pillar throwing her life away like this, he grew even more arrogant and flamboyant.

THUMP!

Zhong Qin finally collapsed.

Elders rushed to her side in panic, only to see her pale face curl into a faint smile.

“Everyone… I’ve made contact with Ancestor Zhong Zhen.”

“What?!”

Mo Long’s face changed instantly.

The onlookers all froze.

Even Qi Huang stood dumbstruck, uncertain what to do next.