The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 200: Master, Phoenix Mountain Has Opened

The disciples of Jade Lake Manor never would have imagined that before the battle on Phoenix Mountain even began, their Manor Lord's life would be taken.

Though Li Wuxin was advanced in age and his movements had started to show signs of old age, he shouldn't have died suddenly like this unless trapped by the sinister barrier, causing his meridians to reverse.

In silence, the Jade Lake Manor disciples, all clad in green, knelt down one after another.

Their mournful cries shook the heavens, and everyone was grief-stricken. The disciple who had intended to confront Nan Gongsi no longer cared about settling scores. Sobbing, he crawled back to the side of the former Manor Lord, wiping away his tears with his sleeves, tears streaming endlessly.

Suddenly, a piercing buzz came from the massive barrier in front of Phoenix Mountain. Jiang Xi's expression changed, and he said sternly, "Someone fill in Li Wuxin's spot, or we'll all die here today!"

Xue Zhengyong simply turned around and shouted, "Yu Heng! Come lend a hand!"

There was no need for them to say it twice to Chu Wanning. He was most proficient in barrier magic. That shrill cry was a curse left behind by the vengeful phoenix spirit. The fact that they could touch upon this curse meant that the elders were close to tearing through the barrier. If they succeeded, great; if not, the curse's backlash would have the power to move mountains and fill seas, making it even more difficult to escape than the calamity fire at the Confucian Wind Sect.

He immediately flew over, his gaze as sharp as a dagger. With a wave of his sleeve, he struck forcefully at the spot where Li Wuxin had been.

Upon contact, Chu Wanning was startled and immediately looked at Huang Xiaoyue, standing beside him.

"..."

He saw Huang Xiaoyue drenched in sweat, trembling all over, his face flushed red as if he was exerting tremendous effort to channel his energy – the other sect leaders seemed to share this assumption.

However, Huang Xiaoyue could deceive others but not the barrier master, Chu Wanning.

The moment Chu Wanning took over from Li Wuxin, he immediately sensed the fiercely counterattacking force emanating from that position. This meant that Li Wuxin had just single-handedly taken on the demonic essence that two sect leaders were supposed to handle. Such an occurrence was rare in this collaborative formation, and there was only one possible explanation when it did happen – the caster standing nearby hadn't exerted any strength at all...

Huang Xiaoyue was merely putting on a show!

Chu Wanning's anger reached its peak, his dark brows furrowing coldly as he sternly shouted, "You... how dare you treat this so lightly!"

"H-How... What..." Huang Xiaoyue panted heavily, his voice barely audible like the buzzing of mosquitoes. It seemed as if he was on the verge of collapsing, and the surrounding sect leaders, upon hearing the commotion, turned their gazes over with whatever strength they had left.

"What is Grandmaster talking about... what 'childish game'..."

"What childish game? You well know what it is! Now get out of here, unless you want me to throw you out myself?!"

Xue Zhengyong couldn't contain his agitation and exclaimed, "Yu Heng, why are you being so fierce towards Daoist Huang? Look, he can hardly speak. If there's something wrong, let's dismantle the barrier first!"

Huang Xiaoyue's gaze wandered, only glancing at Chu Wanning, but his heart was chilled by the icy stare that resembled a sword sheathed in frost.

He didn't possess the strength to break through the Phoenix Barrier. His decision to rush forward and assist was merely to save face, ensuring that the Upper cultivation world would know the Jiangdong Sect still had power, and he, Huang Xiaoyue, still had some skills.

Unexpectedly, the useless Li Wuxin couldn't withstand the malevolence of two individuals and was instead struck back by the Phoenix Barrier, dying right beside him. And now, the one taking Li Wuxin's place was none other than—

Master Chu, who deserved a thousand cuts!

Sweat beads glistened on Huang Xiaoyue's greasy face, no longer forced but cold sweat. He was drenched in it.

What should he do?

At this critical moment, Huang Xiaoyue steeled himself, biting down hard on his tongue. A surge of warm blood flowed out, mixing with his saliva as it trickled down the corner of his mouth.

"Master... You've truly misunderstood me... After Lord Li withdrew his power, I truly... I truly... could not..."

He began coughing violently, spattering blood droplets into the air.

"I truly couldn't endure it anymore..."

How could Chu Wanning possibly fall for such a trick?

The difference in strength between Li Wuxin and Huang Xiaoyue was evident; there was no need to elaborate. If both were to give their all, how could Li Wuxin be the one to fall first?

In a fit of rage, he flicked his sleeve, launching Tianwen with one hand, forcefully sending Huang Xiaoyue tumbling several feet away.

"Scram!"

"Ahhhh!!"

The disciples of the Jiangdong Sect were startled and rushed forward, surrounding their respected elder.

Many of them glared at Chu Wanning with anger. "Why is Grandmaster Chu being so unreasonable?"

"Master Huang has already done his best! How can he just whip around and throw a tantrum as he pleases?!"

"Just because he has the ability, does he think he can bully people like this?!"

All these cries of anger and whispers fell on deaf ears for Chu Wanning. Filled with rage, his sharp phoenix eyes seemed to glint with an icy frost. Perhaps it was the reflection of the red light from the barrier, but even his pupils appeared slightly crimson.

"Scram."

The voice wasn't loud, but it was incredibly grim.

Anyone who knew Chu Wanning even slightly would understand that his scolding and berating still left room for negotiation. However, once he adopted this cold, repressed demeanor, there was no stopping him.

If anyone tried to intervene, Heavenly Questions' rage might very well claim their life.

Xue Zhengyong muttered, "Yu Heng… What's really going on…?"

"Huang Xiaoyue, did you truly exert yourself in the slightest to open the Phoenix Barrier?" Veins popped from Chu Wanning's hand, which was pressed against the barrier, due to his fury. "When Li Wuxin couldn't endure it anymore, did you honestly share any of his burden?!"

"What are you talking about?!"

A female disciple from the Jiangdong Sect shrieked.

"Our Director Yellow has already spat out blood, and you still say he hasn't tried hard enough? Do you have to wait until he dies like Lord Li before you're satisfied?"

Chu Wanning's dark brows burned with intensity as he was about to speak again. Suddenly, the Heaven-Connecting Barrier before him seemed to lunge into a frenzied oscillation. A crimson glow enveloped the palms of all the sect leaders.

Jiang Xi promptly responded, "Concentrate! This is the final layer! We're almost tearing it apart!"

"..."

Chu Wanning had no intention of further arguing with that group of lunatics. He turned his gaze back, focusing intently. With his hands clasped together above the barrier, he poured his immense spiritual energy, imbued with blazing fury, forcefully into the crack.

A deafening explosion echoed.

The earth trembled.

A massive rift opened in the Phoenix Mountain barrier, towering eight feet high and wide enough for five people to walk side by side.

Xue Zhengyong exclaimed with delight, "It's open! The barrier is open!"

Being close to the gap, he immediately peered inside but was suddenly assaulted by a wave of dark red miasma, causing him to cry out, "Ugh, how revolting!"

The other cultivators, no longer concerned about Azure Pond Manor or the Jiangdong Sect, rushed over to investigate.

Abbot Xuanjing of Wuji Temple, most sensitive to such phenomena, twirled his prayer beads and solemnly stated, "This is a site of accumulated corpses. The number of bodies and resentment on this Phoenix Mountain might be far greater than we initially imagined."

Jiang Xi's face was grim as he said, "Looks like that rat Xu Shuanglin is indeed hiding in this dilapidated mountain." As he spoke, he turned back and addressed the group, "Listen up, all of you. Those who were injured, cowardly, useless, or pretending to be something they're not."

When he mentioned pretending, his icy gaze swept over Huang Xiaoyue lying on the ground, followed by an almost imperceptible sneer.

"Leave these people at the foot of the mountain. The rest, follow me up."

Upon seeing Chu Wanning enter the crevice, Xue Meng hurried to follow but found Mo Ran nowhere near. Scanning his surroundings, he noticed a commotion where Nan Gongsi stood. It seemed the disciples of Green Pond Manor, consumed by grief and hatred, now sought revenge against Nan Gongsi. Despite being protected by Chu Wanning's barrier, Nan Gongsi was still surrounded by contorted, enraged faces, each with a crimson tongue cursing and spitting venom.

Xue Meng panicked, "Mo Ran, what are you doing? Everyone's going up the mountain, hurry up!"

"You go first, protect Master and Shi Mo. If you need help, send a petal signal immediately."

With no other choice, Xue Meng reluctantly left.

At this moment, only Green Pond Manor and Jiangdong Sect members remained at the foot of the mountain. Mo Ran tore his gaze from Xue Meng's retreating figure and said, "I understand your feelings, but the matter of the Sword Scroll was not done by Young Master Nan Gong. If you seek retribution, at least wait until you've captured Xu Shuanglin."

"That's two separate matters! Neither Xu Shuanglin nor Nan Gongsi will escape punishment!"

"Indeed! They both must pay the price!"

Zhen Congming was perhaps the only one among them still holding onto some semblance of reason. With reddened eyes, he glared at Mo Ran and said, "Grandmaster Mo, now that you're a grandmaster, as is your master, do the two of you grandmasters think it's acceptable to shield criminals and manipulate justice in this manner?"

Mo Ran replied, "I only wish for fairness in this matter. If you truly want to clarify what happened, you should follow the rules of the cultivation world. After the incident has settled, you should send Xu Shuanglin and the others to the Heavenly Sound Pavilion for interrogation. The ten major sects should then discuss together to determine justice. What does it mean to rush forward now and attempt to mercilessly kill someone who doesn't intend to retaliate?"

Zhen Congming: "…."

Someone shouted, "What ten major sects? Nine! Can the Confucian Wind Sect even be considered a sect?"

Zhen Congming suddenly said, "Eight." There were bloodstains on his face from wiping his master's injuries, which he had then used to wipe his own tears. The stains made him look pitiful and lost. "There are eight sects... The Green Pond Manor is also without a master."

"Senior Brother..."

He ignored the mournful cries of his junior disciples and slowly turned his head to look at Mo Ran. "After the Sky Splitting Battle, Master said that the Peak of Life and Death was still an upright sect. It seems now that he misjudged you."

Mo Ran: "..."

Zhen Congming asked, "Grandmaster Mo, are you really determined to protect these two beasts from the Confucian Wind Sect today?"

Before Mo Ran could answer, Nan Gongsi's hoarse voice came through. "Mo Ran, get out of here."

Ye Wangxi knelt beside Nan Gongsi, helping him up. It was truly remarkable that she didn't cry or panic; her voice was just hoarse. "Young Master Mo, ascend the mountain. This matter no longer concerns you."

Mo Ran turned his gaze and said, "Did you bow to my master for nothing? Since you're from my sect, how could it not concern me?"

Nan Gongsi: "You—"

Mo Ran turned back to face Zhen Congming. By now, it wasn't just the people of Green Pool Manor in front of him; disciples from the Jiangdong Sect were also eyeing them menacingly.

Huang Xiaoyue, supported by two female disciples, pretended to stagger closer. Gasping for breath, he lifted his eyelids to glare at Mo Ran. Then he waved away the disciples on either side, pointing a bony finger like a withered branch and declaring, "I've been steeped in the righteousness of the Upper Realm since childhood. How can I stand idly by while you commit such atrocities?"

Mo Ran said coldly, "Abbot Huang truly is a paragon of the Upper Realm. Just now, you were clinging to life by a thread, but in less than an incense stick of time, you're leaping around again, ready to mete out justice on behalf of heaven. Impressive."

"Hmph! Cough, cough, cough!!" Huang Xiaoyue seemed enraged to the point of a heart attack, clutching his chest and coughing violently. The performance was convincing, but Mo Ran didn't even bother giving him a second glance.

The green-robed disciples of Green Pool Manor and the purple-robed disciples of the Jiangdong Sect surrounded the trio, closing in, yet none of them made the first move.

Everyone knew that once this move was made, there would be no turning back.

Zhen Congming's voice was low. "Grandmaster Mo, I'll ask you one last time. Are you truly unwilling to step aside?"

"AHHH!!"

Before Mo Ran could respond, a shrill cry suddenly echoed from ahead. It was unclear which female cultivator had let out the sound, but then a torrent of muddy gray rocks spewed forth from the breach in the barrier on Phoenix Mountain.

Huang Xiaoyue exclaimed, "What is it? An avalanche?"

Mo Ran narrowed his eyes.

It wasn't an avalanche.

The others soon caught sight of it and gasped in horror.

Emerging from the fissure were waves of charred zombies! Their limbs clung to one another, and their burned flesh stuck together, still steaming with black water. Only with great effort could one discern their features.

"Ugh—" Someone couldn't stomach it and bent over to vomit.

"This is freaking disgusting..."

"Is the entire mountain filled with this stuff?"

"Just how many corpses are there…?"

Mo Ran was also struck with horror. At that moment, a heavy, muffled sound echoed through the sky. The barrier that the elders had just managed to tear open was now stirring, slowly closing in on itself once more.

It turned out the barrier could heal itself! It would seal shut shortly after being torn, preventing anyone else from entering!

Mo Ran grew anxious. "Let's ascend the mountain first. We can settle our grudges later. Xu Shuanglin is up there; are we really going to let the main culprit escape?"

The people of Jade Pool Manor hesitated, but Huang Xiaoyue stroked his beard and sneered. "Almost all the experts in the world are gathered at the top of that mountain. There's no need to worry about not catching Xu Shuanglin. But these two younglings from the Confucian Wind Sect are slippery as eels, escaping like lightning. If we let them slip away, we'll never have another chance."

"…Huang Xiaoyue." Mo Ran was livid. A crimson glow flickered in his hand, and Ghost Summoning was invoked. "Have you had enough?!"

The hundred or so people before him, upon witnessing the summoning of this divine weapon, all drew their blades and raised their weapons, watching him with extreme wariness.

Mo Ran knew he couldn't avoid a fierce battle this time. He himself would be unscathed, but judging by these people's mindset, they would likely hold his actions today against the Peak of Life and Death in the future…

At that moment, however, a deep, cold voice sounded from behind him.

"I invite everyone to proceed up the mountain. Nan Gongsi will remain here and not flee."

Huang Xiaoyue said, "Child, you speak so casually. Why should I trust you? Can you really draw a boundary and refuse to leave just by saying so?"

Nan Gongsi gave him a cold glance, stood up from the ground, and suddenly pushed Ye Wangxi out of Chu Wanning's barrier.

"Si!"

This barrier allowed only those inside to exit, not those outside to enter.

Nan Gongsi stood alone within, slowly drawing his sword. The gleaming blade illuminated his face inch by inch.

His chin, lips, nose tip.

Eyes.

Ye Wangxi realized what he was planning and slammed against the barrier, shouting, "Don't do anything reckless!"

"Our ancestor established our school with a doctrine: Greed, resentment, deceit, murder, lust, theft, and plunder – these are seven things a Confucian gentleman must never do," Nan Gongsi declared. "My father was not a virtuous man, violating this doctrine. However, in my twenty-six years, though I've been arrogant at times, I've never acted recklessly. As for these seven prohibitions, I have no regrets."

With a humming sound, the sword flowed like water, fully unsheathed.

"No!"

Mo Ran also understood what he intended to do. He tried to dispel the barrier Chu Wanning had set up, but it was too sturdy, and he couldn't break it down in a hurry.

He muttered, "Nan Gong..."

Nan Gongsi, however, didn't even glance at Ye Wangxi, nor did he pay attention to Mo Ran. He said, "Since all of you refuse to believe me today, I have no other choice. Fortunately, I've learned the art of imprisonment. I'll confine myself here now, so please don't involve any more innocents. Nan Gongsi draws a line on the ground, awaiting your return."

"Nan Gong!!"

Before his cry faded, blood spurted wildly.

Nan Gongsi's sword pierced the ground instantly, half its length buried in the soil.

Simultaneously, his left hand was also nailed to the earth—

He had impaled his own hand into the ground as if striking a snake's vulnerable spot with ruthless force. Lightning crackled around the sword, and the incantations of the binding spell swirled in the air.

Ye Wangxi knelt down, before the barrier.

Nan Gongsi's blood trickled down the sword hilt, staining the ground crimson.

No one could see Ye Wangxi's expression as she lowered her face, her hands gripping tightly onto the shimmering barrier, her knuckles turning pale and twitching in spasms.

This was a binding incantation used to pin demonic beasts, malevolent spirits, and livestock. Practitioners in the Upper cultivation realm were almost all proficient in it; it was a commonly recognized technique.

Nan Gongsi had used this incantation on himself.

His lips turned blue from the pain, his body trembling incessantly, but he didn't shed a tear. After a long while, he lifted his face, his eyes glowing bright red as he spoke through gritted teeth.

He said, "Come on."

"..." Mo Ran was rarely at a loss for words.

In his previous life, only Ye Wangxi had managed to do that.

And in this lifetime, he had met the person Ye Wangxi loved.

He used to be perplexed about what Ye Wangxi saw in Nan Gongsi, a young noble who cared only for looks and fawned over pretty girls, lacking in wit and intelligence. What could such a person possibly deserve from Ye Wangxi's affection?

Yet at this moment, he saw another Ye Wangxi.

Kneeling, disheveled, bleeding profusely, yet ruthless to the core.

Nan Gongsi.

"Leave already!!" Nan Gongsi roared. "What else are you worried about?! Do I need to nail my other leg to the ground as well?! Leave already!!"

Zhen Congming was the first to turn around.

He returned to Li Wuxin's lifeless body, arranging the sect leader's remains respectfully before lifting him up and starting back.

"Senior Brother!"

"Senior Brother, aren't you staying?"

"Senior Brother? Are we just leaving like this? Are we really going to let them off—"

Zhen Congming replied, "What's the point of staying? Who knows how long the battle on the mountain will last? Should we let the Sect Leader lie on the ground like this without even a proper coffin to rest in?!"

The disciples of Biotang Manor exchanged glances before bowing their heads in silence.

Zhen Congming approached Mo Ran and said as he brushed past him, "Grandmaster Mo, remember your words. After this battle, we'll meet at the Heavenly Sound Pavilion."

"Thankfully, there's still the Heavenly Sound Pavilion to uphold justice in this world." A disciple with reddened eyes, who had earlier spat on Chu Wanning, followed behind his senior brother with a deep grudge, "The Pavilion Master will surely act impartially so that our Master can rest in peace."

"Mo Ran, Nan Gongsi... you wicked ones, just you wait! You'll all get what's coming to you. Wait for death!"

Author's Note: There will be a flashback tomorrow, with the initial stages of Zero Point Five's darkening. It won't be too tragic, but I still need to give a warning for Zero Point Five's sake =)

Zero Point Five: Who is Your Esteemed Self? Even in my early stages of darkening, I'm a dangerous figure! How could I be compared to a naive fool like Two Point Zero? Chuckle.pgj

Song Qiutong: Your Majesty, it's a jpg...

Two Point Zero: Haha, illiterate is illiterate.

"The Heavenly Sound Pavilion"

A sacred hall for public trials in the cultivation world, even older than the Ten Great Sects.

The Heavenly Sound Pavilion was an entity that distanced itself from all mundane affairs in the cultivation world, only intervening when major cases arose to apprehend criminals and administer impartial judgments. It stood aloof from the world, maintaining its independence.

The Pavilion enjoyed immense prestige across the realms, drawing veneration from all corners. There were three main reasons for this: Firstly, it had stood firm for a thousand years, a venerable institution. Secondly, its Pavilion Masters were descendants of a divine-human union, ensuring the divine bloodline's continuity through hereditary succession. Thirdly, the Heavenly Sound Pavilion utilized a divine balance left behind by the gods on earth as its tool for judgment, a divine artifact that cultivators deeply revered due to their faith in the immortals.

Over the millennia, sects rose and fell, but the Heavenly Sound Pavilion remained constant.