Chapter Four: The Slaying of the Elder

Su Yizhao remained as calm as ever.

The Grand Elder clenched his teeth and said, "Indeed, I admit that because of him, I received an extra Five Divine Realms technique and more cultivation resources. But that was in the past. Now, other disciples are also eligible to wear the gold badge, and he has lost all his cultivation—so why not reclaim the badge?"

Everyone's eyes fell upon Yang Yuanqing.

Yang Yuanqing straightened his back and offered a respectful salute. "Disciple Yang Yuanqing has already met all the requirements to wear the gold badge!"

A collective breath of relief swept through the crowd. Since a disciple still met the qualifications for the gold badge, and since the rewards would not diminish, it was only natural that the strongest should hold it.

"Hmph!" Liu Yushan snorted coldly, sweeping his gaze around. "What are your opinions?"

The surrounding four or five elders lowered their eyes. One of them spoke softly, "Hall Master, I think the Grand Elder's point is fair. The prestige of the gold badge must not be sullied in the slightest! Since Su Yizhao has lost his cultivation and can no longer uphold the badge's reputation, why not..."

"Such narrow-mindedness!" Liu Yushan cut the Fourth Elder off, his eyes fixed on the Grand Elder. "Yang Tianhe, your ambition is one thing, but I didn't think you had the nerve as well!"

Yang Tianhe's face was impassive. "The Hall Master has benefited greatly over the years—why not let me have a turn as well?"

At these words, silence fell once more. Could there be hidden motives at play?

Su Yizhao’s expression remained serene.

He had become a gold-badge Enforcer under Liu Yushan's tutelage. Whenever the sect offered rewards, it was the Hall Master who benefited most. This, to Su Yizhao, was only natural. Yet now, it seemed the Grand Elder was seeking to challenge that order.

Liu Yushan suddenly rose, furious. "Yang Tianhe, do you truly intend to push this to the extreme?"

The matter was now laid bare—there could be no reconciliation.

Yang Tianhe called out coldly, "Yuanqing!"

At once, Yang Yuanqing stepped forward. "Yuanqing is here!"

"As members of the Enforcement Hall, we should adhere strictly to the rules!"

Yang Yuanqing's figure flashed, instantly retreating four or five zhang. "Understood!"

He bowed slightly in Liu Yushan’s direction, then smiled. "According to sect rule eleven, I am entitled to challenge the gold-badge Enforcer. Su Yizhao, I challenge you now—you may not refuse or delay!"

Liu Yushan growled, "I do not consent! Su Yizhao will enter the Main Sect in one month—can you not wait even that long?"

Yang Tianhe’s face darkened. "Perhaps the Hall Master is unaware—the Main Sect has already revoked his exemption and granted it instead to the Mysterious Qi Sect of Spring River City, thirty thousand li away. Of course, if you have the ability, you may try to overturn their decision! But for now, I will wait no longer. Yuanqing, life-and-death challenge!"

A life-and-death challenge?

The entire hall froze.

Not only would this challenge determine victory or defeat—it would decide life and death. Such a challenge would never be issued except in the face of bitter hatred.

Liu Yushan’s face turned livid with fury, veins bulging as his fists clenched.

At that moment, Su Yizhao suddenly bowed to him. "Hall Master, I have never sought out nor evaded a challenge. Naturally, I will not be responsible for the consequences. Thus, I accept!"

Accept?

Nearly a hundred disciples stared at him in disbelief.

Su Yizhao turned to face Yang Yuanqing, four or five zhang away. "Eight days from now, I will fight you."

Yang Yuanqing’s smile froze. His fists clenched, and he cried, "Five days—no, now! Let it be a life-and-death duel! Summon!"

With the shout, a streak of cold light shot forth.

Almost a hundred disciples saw only a flash; the cold light was already at Su Yizhao’s face.

Liu Yushan’s aura surged explosively. Yang Tianhe watched with a cold smile.

A sudden assault—catching one off guard. Such tactics were long employed by Enforcement Hall disciples, but none had expected them to be turned inward.

Cold light sped toward Su Yizhao’s eyes.

His fingers formed a seal, and from nowhere, a flying sword appeared, slashing precisely at the incoming light.

A clear ring sounded—sparks flashed before his eyes as the cold light was revealed for what it was and fell from the air.

A silver flying sword dropped to the ground with a mournful hum.

"What...!"

"Impossible!"

"So fast?"

Astonishment swept the crowd.

Yang Yuanqing’s hands moved frantically as he shouted, "You—your cultivation..."

A muted sound—the next moment, a beam of white light shot from the back of Yang Yuanqing’s neck, trailing blood.

Su Yizhao regarded the blood streaming from Yang Yuanqing’s throat with a cold gaze.

Yang Yuanqing’s hands still moved, disbelief etched on his face.

From the moment Yang Yuanqing summoned his sword, only two breaths had passed.

Two breaths—and life and death were decided.

The crowd was so stunned they could not speak.

Only Yang Tianhe roared, "How dare you! Die—!"

Liu Yushan laughed aloud. "Ha! Yang Tianhe, if you dare make a move, I’ll take you down myself!"

Yang Tianhe ground his teeth and swung his right hand at Su Yizhao.

A whistling, the clash of steel—

Swords collided at lightning speed, shadows flickered—swift against swift.

In the blink of an eye, Liu Yushan and Yang Tianhe were locked in battle.

The crowd could barely follow the action.

Su Yizhao steeled himself, fingers moving in rapid succession. The white sword flashed.

Yang Tianhe sensed it, ready to mock Su Yizhao’s overreach—when suddenly, a sharp pain stabbed his chest. He looked down. A streak of white light pierced his heart, and blood welled forth.

Liu Yushan’s face was a mask of shock.

Yang Tianhe turned, disbelief in his eyes.

Blood stained his blue Daoist robe crimson.

Su Yizhao looked at him, utterly impassive, a sliver of white light swirling swiftly between his right-hand fingers.

The gold-badge Enforcer—his reputation was no empty boast.

Elder Brother Shi Feichen was right: strength, fortune, resolve, and talent—none can be lacking.

"You... you... impossible..."

Under the astonished gazes of all, Yang Tianhe collapsed.

A dull thud—blood seeped into the earth.

Su Yizhao bowed deeply. "Hall Master, it is true that I encountered some physical difficulties recently. Last night, I was fortunate enough to recover. The Hall Master will not blame me for killing him, I trust?"

The shock on Liu Yushan’s face slowly faded, replaced by a faint smile. "Excellent! Excellent! The gold-badge Enforcer lives up to his name!"

"The gold-badge Enforcer—worthy of the title!"

"The gold-badge Enforcer—worthy of the title!"

All the disciples present saluted in unison.

In nearly a century, not a single gold-badge Enforcer from the Enforcement Hall had entered the Main Sect.

Now they had witnessed the true might of the gold-badge Enforcer.

Their admiration was complete.

Su Yizhao’s gaze swept over the Fourth Elder, who shrank away, unable to meet his eyes.

The gold-badge Enforcer never holds back.

But today, he would make an exception.

He looked around the hall. Wherever his eyes passed, silence fell.

He spoke. "This morning, the Main Sect revoked my exemption. Now, I return the gold badge to the Hall Master. In a month’s time, I shall enter the Main Sect by other means."

Liu Yushan and the hundred disciples held their breath.

Other means—meaning the entrance trials.

The Mysterious Qi Sect presided over sixteen branches, ruling a territory of hundreds of thousands of miles. How many cultivators fought tooth and nail for a place in the Main Sect?

The city of Linhai, where the Main Sect resided, was fabulously prosperous, with a population in the hundreds of millions. It was a sacred land of cultivation, home to countless geniuses—so the Main Sect recruited almost exclusively from there.

Of the sixteen branches, only sixteen trial competitors would be accepted each year—unless exempt.

Those selected were either prodigies or possessed powerful connections.

How could ordinary disciples compete?

Su Yizhao gripped the gold badge in his right hand.

This badge had been stained with the blood of his foes—and his own.

Over the years, he had faced life and death countless times, but he had always preserved the badge’s honor.

He raised his hand gently.

The gold badge floated toward Liu Yushan.

Then, with perfect composure, he turned and left.